Bartholomew County Jail inmates will be allowed special visitors later this month. Jail officials say that those who visit Bartholomew County Jail inmates must be at least 18-years-old. However, no age restriction visits are allowed on numerous special occasions throughout the year.

No age restriction visits will next be held January 22-24.

If you would like to visit an inmate, you are encouraged to dress conservatively and wear nothing that promotes gangs, drugs and weapons. Clothing must also be free of profanity and obscenities. You must also bring a state-issued photo ID.

A report of a disturbance led to five arrests at a North Vernon apartment. Just before 8 p.m. Tuesday, police there were called to 156 West Walnut Street. After an investigation, officers obtained a search warrant. A Madison man, 31-year-old James McAuliff IV, was renting the apartment. He was arrested for Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Possession of Methamphetamine.

Also arrested were:
Frank Bailey, 19, North Vernon – Outstanding warrant for Possession of Cocaine;
Breaunna Mayes, 22, North Vernon – Visiting a Common Nuisance;
James Wheeler, 19, Seymour – Visiting a Common Nuisance;
Junara Bailey, 43, North Vernon – Visiting a Common Nuisance;

North Vernon Police arrested two people on drug charges. At 4:13 p.m. Tuesday, officers responded to a report of drug activity in the parking lot of a sports bar in the 300 block of Hoosier Street.

Police dog Zobi was summoned to the scene and alerted to the odor of drugs inside the vehicle. Officers reported finding drug paraphernalia and a small amount of meth in the possession of the driver, 27-year-old Michael Davis–Taylor, of North Vernon. He is facing preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Paraphernalia.

A passenger, 37-year-old Jeffery A. Bower, also of North Vernon, was arrested for an active arrest warrant. He was wanted in Jennings County on charges of Failing to Appear for Possession of Methamphetamine, Public Intoxication, Possession of a Device Used to Trick a Drug Screen and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Indiana State Police are investigating the Columbus Police Department, after two officers were accused of claiming they were at work for the city, while actually working a second job.

Lt Matt Harris explains:

Harris said that the accusations were made in September. An internal investigation was started then and the situation was referred to troopers in November. It will be up to the state police to determine if any laws or internal policies were violated by the officers, Harris says.

31-year-veteran Ron May agreed to retire and Dan Meister, at the time a lieutenant with 22 years at the department, has been demoted to the rank of patrolman. He has been assigned to non law-enforcement activities while the investigation continues.

Harris said he had no information on when the Indiana State Police investigation might wrap up.

Efforts to combat the local drug epidemic continue. The Bartholomew County Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to appropriate a federal grant for the coming Adult Drug Treatment Court. The body took action freeing up $124,063 for the court. Brad Barnes, director of Bartholomew County Court Services, explains that the federal grant is reimbursable…

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Barnes says that the federal grant will cover salaries and benefits for a case manager and public defender.

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This is the first of a four-year grant.

Judge Kelly Benjamin gives an update on the status of the court.

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Benjamin says the hope is for the court to be up and running no later than April 1st. She says that she expects the court to be able to handle around 25 caseloads at a time once it is established.

Those who want to run for municipal office can begin filing on Wednesday. Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps says potential candidates can file their paperwork when the Voter Registration Office in the courthouse opens at 8 a.m.

You have about a month to decide if you’d like to be a candidate…

Phelps says there are candidacy requirements. Candidates must be a registered voters and have no felonies. In addition…

Candidates can file at the Voter Registration Office inside the Bartholomew County Courthouse.

A Seymour grandmother and grandson are dead after a suspected murder/suicide. The Seymour Police Department says that just before 5 p.m. Monday, dispatchers received a 911 call from 68-year-old Wanda Huber. Authorities say that Huber made sure that police had her correct address, noting that a murder had just occurred. There was no further contact during the call.

When police arrived at the home, at 1705 South Walnut, they reported finding Huber’s body. She apparently died from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. Officers also found an injured teen in the home. He also suffered a gunshot wound to the head. The teen was flown to University Hospital in Louisville, where he passed away late Monday night.

Seymour Police say an autopsy on Huber was carried out Tuesday morning in Seymour. Those results are pending. An autopsy of the boy is pending in Louisville. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, but they are currently treating it as a murder-suicide.

The Bartholomew County Highway Department is adjusting the timing of a road closing.

Bartholomew County Road 300E between 800 North and 900 North, will be closed to traffic on Wednesday and Thursday. That will be from 7 a.m.  until 5 p.m. both days. The County Highway department says there will be soil borings and testing going on in the area.

The closing had previously been announced for later in the week.

Ivy Tech Community College in Columbus will be hosting a celebration of Indiana Food & Drink later this month.

The event will feature several local food and beverage producers. Bethany Messersmith, the Ivy Tech library director, explains.

The participants will include Nichole and Derek Young from Oh Sweetie Specialty Treats, Rick Bush from Bush’s Market and Mike Spagnuolo from Bear Wallow Distillery.

The guests will take part in a panel discussion about the past, present and future of their businesses and they will also be providing samples of their products for attendees to try.

The event is part of Ivy Tech’s continuing Columbus Past, Present and Future series of events, meant to draw community interest and involvement with the campus on Central Avenue near the airport.

The free community event is sponsored by the University Library of Columbus and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. It will be January 31st starting at 6:30 at the Columbus Learning Center lecture hall.

It looks to be a windy afternoon.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a Wind Advisory for our area. The agency is reporting winds will be strong this afternoon and early evening with sustained winds of 30 mph and gusts of up to 45. Loose objects in your yard or on you porch could be blown about.

The wind advisory is in effect from noon to 8 p.m. tonight.