Jennings County deputies and Westport police arrested three people last week on drug and child neglect charges, after what started as a search for stolen property.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department is reporting that they sought a search warrant for a Country Squire Lakes home last week after receiving information from Westport police about the possible location of property stolen from that community.

The agencies worked together to serve the warrant on Thursday and allegedly discovered the stolen property, along with methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to police reports. Two children at the home were taken into the custody of the Indiana Department of Child Protective Services.

Three people were arrested:

• 39-year-old Larry Marksberry Jr. on preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and stolen property, along with felony neglect of a dependent.
• 32-year-old Brittany Morgan and 53-year-old Carl Morgan, both on preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia, along with felony neglect of a dependent.

Many local school districts had closings or delays today. Bartholomew Consolidated Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts talked recently about how those decisions are made.

He said crews begin assessing county roads, talking to highway officials and police at about 4 a.m.

Roberts said that those investigating the road conditions have a group phone call at about 4:50 a.m.  to make a decision.

They then make an announcement by 5:15 a.m., getting the word out using local media, social media and the district’s own e-alert system.

Roberts suggested you follow the school district on Facebook or Instagram.

A traffic stop on Interstate 65 in Jackson County turned into a three-county chase yesterday morning that ended in a crash.

State Police report that they pulled over a vehicle about two miles south of Seymour for a traffic violation. It turned out that the driver, 45-year-old Anthony Glenn of Louisville was wanted on several felony warrants including evading police and wanton endangerment. When the trooper tried to arrest Glenn, he allegedly took off down the interstate.

In Scott County, Glenn’s vehicle ran over a tire deflation device placed in his way by deputies. He continued on into Clark County until he lost control, struck a guardrail and flipped the vehicle. He was taken to Scott Memorial Hospital for treatment and then to jail.

Glenn is facing numerous charges including resisting law enforcement in a vehicle, reckless driving, and operating while intoxicated.

Columbus firefighters had to deal with the frigid cold this morning to fight fires at an aluminum smelting factory on Inman Drive.

An employee at Nikkei MC Aluminum saw flames inside the facility at about 3:30 a.m. this morning and called firefighters. Four engine companies and two rescue companies were dispatched to the scene, along with support and command staff.

When emergency crews arrived, the company’s 10 employees who had been working at the time had already evacuated and no one was injured.

Firefighters found heavy smoke inside the building. And while the sprinkler system had activated, the fire was above the sprinklers in the steel i-beams overhead and in a dust collector system on the outside of the building, says Capt. Mike Wilson with the fire department.

Firefighters discovered that the fire had ignited in dust and debris in the i-beams in the ceiling, then spread to other accumulations of flammable materials in the facility, causing several more spot fires.

Company officials told firefighters that the fire originally appeared in an afterburner furnace that is meant to limit the amount of pollution that goes into the air.

It took firefighters about two hours to get all of the fires under control, Wilson said. There’s no word yet on how long the plant will be out of commission.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Management Agency has downgraded the county’s travel status to an Advisory Level. It’s the lowest level of local travel advisory, meaning that routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation, and individuals should use caution or avoid those areas.

County officials say that roads have improved since Sunday. There are still going to be some slick spots and roads will still be snow covered in areas. Temperatures will again remain below freezing tonight.

Columbus officials say there is relief from these cold temperatures for those who need it. Those individuals are encouraged to come to the Community Engagement Center, at 1951 McKinley Ave. during the day. Those needing a place to stay overnight should reach out to the Brighter Days Homeless Shelter, at 421 South Mapleton Street. The shelter opens at 6 p.m. The phone number is (812) 344-4512.

Columbus Township Trustee Ben Jackson is praising the employees at the Brighter Days homeless shelter for their efforts to keep the homeless warm, safe and fed in this weather.

Authorities had originally planned to take care of the homeless during the day Saturday at the Community Engagement Center, Jackson wrote on Facebook. But scrapped that plan after the county banned all travel until 5 p.m. yesterday afternoon under a travel warning. Authorities shifted to a plan to shelter those who needed it at the Brighter Days shelter instead.

Jackson said that required staff to stay over shift, to volunteer to prepare a full lunch, and added a lot of extra logistics. Brighter Days is a joint effort between the trustee’s office and Love Chapel.

If you know someone who needs shelter in this weather you can bring them to Brighter Days at 421 South Mapleton.

Bartholomew County deputies are continuing a search for a missing man, Joseph Ross.

Last week, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, along with Jennings County deputies, Indiana State Police, and the FBI were searching a Jennings County field, looking for information about the missing man.

Authorities have been searching for 25-year-old Joseph Ross of Brownstown, since he went missing on May 31st. He was last seen heading into woods near Amberly Addition in Columbus and has not been seen since.

Ross is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs between 135 and 145 pounds. He has blond hair and hazel eyes.

If you have any information you should contact, Detective Terry Holderness with the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office at 812-565-5927. You can also call the sheriff’s department Tip Line at 812-379-1712 Tips can be left anonymously.

Correction: An earlier version of this story mischaracterized the current travel status. That information has been corrected below.

Our area is under a Wind Chill Advisory from the National Weather Service.

Forecasters say the wind chill could hit 20 below. That’s cold enough to cause frostbite to exposed skin in about 30 minutes.

The Wind Chill Advisory is in effect until noon.

Bartholomew County, along with Brown, Decatur, Jackson and Jennings counties,  remains under a Travel Watch this morning.  A Travel Watch means that conditions are threatening to public safety, according to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Only essential travel is recommended, such as driving to work or for an emergency.

Emergency action plans should be put in place by schools, businesses, government agencies and other organizations.

Johnson and Shelby counties are under a Travel Advisory.