A big event coming up Saturday for Ducks Unlimited, an area wetlands and waterfowl conservation group. Jimmy Weddle, an organizer for the group’s annual dinner, explains the mission of Ducks Unlimited.

Weddle explains along with a catered meal and drinks, there will be raffles for gear and items from area businesses.

Saturday night’s event is being held inside the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds Family & Arts Building from 5 p.m. to 9.p.m. Tickets are $40 for an individual, $60 for a couple and $15 for those under age 18. Weddle says that ticket price includes the catered meal, drinks and the cost of your annual membership to their organization.

You can purchase tickets through midnight Friday at ducks.org/indiana.

The Bartholomew County Democratic Party will be hosting a party to live stream the announcement of South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg running for President of the United States.

The event will be held Sunday, April 14th at party headquarters, located at 1417 Chestnut Street. Doors open at 1 p.m. The announcement is expected to be live streamed at 1:45 p.m.

Refreshments will be provided and all are welcome.

You can test out your trivia knowledge on Saturday and help the Bartholomew Consolidated School Foundation with an event at The Commons. Suzi Bruin, executive director of the foundation, invites you to take part in the foundation’s Game Time Gala Trivia Soiree.

She says the funds raised will help support the foundation’s efforts to support the school district.

Cocktail attire is recommended. Tickets are $50 and are available online at BCSFstars.org.

IUPUC will be opening a Mental Health Counseling Clinic next spring. The clinic will serve IUPUC, Ivy Tech Community College Columbus, and Purdue Polytechnic Columbus campuses, as well as Bartholomew County residents.

The clinic will primarily operate as a training center for graduate students in IUPUC’s master’s degree program in Mental Health Counseling. The school will renovate a space on the campus that will allow for four simultaneous individual, group, or family counseling sessions.

Dr. Darrin Carr, director of the graduate program, says there should be both short-term and long-term benefits to the community from the clinic.

“Once open, the clinic will provide an immediate value through the counselling services it delivers to the residents of Bartholomew County,” Carr said. “In the long term, the additional training provided to our graduate students will better prepare them to take on the challenges they will face as mental health counselors in South Central Indiana after graduation.”

The major funders for the project are Columbus philanthropists Tom and Barbara Schoellkopf and the center will be named in their honor. Funding also includes donations received during the 2018 IU Day crowdfunding campaign which were matched by David and Ella Elwood.

Other local funding is coming Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, the Clarence & Inez Custer Foundation, and the Elizabeth Ruddick Nugent and Walter C Nugent Foundations.

Columbus police are identifying the driver injured in a chase near Central Middle School yesterday afternoon.

37-year-old Shawn P. Wainscott of Columbus is facing charges of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, aggressive driving, reckless driving, failure to stop after an accident, and criminal recklessness. Additionally, he was wanted on a parole warrant.

An officer tried to stop Wainscott’s vehicle near Sixth and Smith Streets at about 4:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon but he refused to pull over and tried to flee from police.

Lt. Matt Harris says Wainscott sped west on Seventh Street and sideswiped a vehicle traveling east near Central Middle School. That vehicle was driven by 29-year-old Thorn M. Murphy of Columbus who was uninjured.

Wainscott’s vehicle crashed into a nearby yard, flipping over and landing in the 700 block of Pearl Street. Police say a female passenger ran away but was captured a short time later by a police dog. She was later released..

Wainscott was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment before being taken to the Bartholomew County Jail.

Two people died in a crash on State Road 3 near County Road 25 East in Jennings County at about 1 p.m. yesterday afternoon.

Indiana State Police say a vehicle being driven by 78-year-old Erma M. Campbell of North Vernon crossed the centerline, hitting head-on into a vehicle being driven by 45-year-old Rhonda R. Steinert of North Vernon. They were both pronounced dead at the scene of the crash by the Jennings County coroner’s office. .

State Road 3 was closed for about three hours while the crash was investigated and cleaned up.

Former Bartholomew County Deputy Prosecutor Adam Norman has been named deputy director of the state’s Child Support Bureau. In this position, Norman is tasked with ensuring the state meets all federal and state requirements related to child support services.

“Adam brings a wealth of well-rounded knowledge to his new role,” DCS director Terry Stigdon said. “I know he will serve as an ambassador for Indiana’s child support program.”

Stigdon says that Norman will provide subject matter expertise during the transition to INvest, the state’s upgraded child support records and payments system. He adds that Norman will also continue the division’s work to make sure child support services effectively reach those across the state who need it most.

“I am excited to continue working for the families of Indiana in a new and broader capacity,” said Norman, who has served as assistant deputy director. “I have held a variety of roles in child support, both at the county and state level, and this position was a natural next step for me to continue expanding the great work of our Indiana child support team.”

The Columbus Park Foundation has announced it recently elected Jordan Hilber as its newest member to serve on its Board of Directors. Hilber, a senior financial analyst at Cummins Inc, is a Columbus native, and a co-founders of the Columbus Craft Beerfest Company.

“The Columbus Park Foundation is made up of a very dedicated group of directors and we are pleased to welcome our newest member. Jordan comes to the table with a wide array of talents and fundraising expertise which will be invaluable to our board,” said Board President Chip Orben. “Throughout the year our volunteer board members diligently work and support the mission of the Columbus Park Foundation, which is to maintain and enrich the vitality of the Columbus Department of Parks and Recreation and its facilities,” said Orben.

The Columbus Park Foundation’s stated mission is to aid and encourage the Columbus Department of Parks and Recreation in the acquisition, conservation and development of lands for parks and recreation purposes, among other goals.

One person was hospitalized after he and a passenger allegedly fled from a traffic stop Wednesday afternoon in Columbus. Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman, says that at approximately 4:30 p.m., an officer tried to stop a vehicle near Sixth Street and McKinnley Avenue. Authorities say the vehicle refused to pull over and tried to escape the officer.

Harris says the suspect sped west on Seventh Street when it sideswiped a vehicle traveling east on Seventh near Central Middle School. The suspect’s vehicle traveled into a nearby yard and flipped over before coming to a stop in the 700 block of Pearl Street. Police say a female passenger fled on foot, but was apprehended a short time later by the CPD K-9 Division.

The driver was transported to Columbus Regional Health for undisclosed injuries. Authorities note that the driver of the eastbound vehicle was not injured.

Lt. Harris notes that Indiana State Police and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department are assisting in this ongoing investigation.

Police say that additional details, including the identity of the two suspects, will be released in the near future.

The Jennings County Clerk’s Office has found a new polling location for this year’s city elections. Shawn Gerkin, North Vernon’s clerk-treasurer, explained to city council in March that the usual polling location at the Bethel Baptist Church on Norris Avenue is unavailable for the 2019 primary and general elections.

Specifically, county officials inquired about using the Carnegie Government Center in the 100 block of East Walnut Street. Council voted to allow the use of Carnegie for the May primary election, only if other options were exhausted. Gerkin says Councilwoman Connie Rayburn played a big part in finding and arranging to have a polling location at the former office of the mayor, located at 275 East Main Street.

This year’s primary election is May 7th. The general election is Nov. 5th.