The Student’s Fund of Hope is using strategically placed toilets to pay off families’ school lunch debt.

Whitney Budd, one of the organizers of the Flush Out Hunger fundraiser says that tfour toilets are being placed on people’s property.

For a $10 donation you can get rid of the toilet, for $20 you can send it to someone else and for $30 you can make it sure it doesn’t come back. The four toilets are painted in food-related themes and bright colors.

The goal is to raise $2,000 to pay off past due lunch accounts for students at Hope Elementary and Hauser Jr. Sr. High School. Throughout last school year, the fund paid for almost $3,000 in overdue lunch accounts.

The fundraiser runs though July 29th. In the first day, the fundraiser has already raised more than $400 and required 10 toilet moves by volunteers.

You can get more information on how to send a toilet, by going to the Student’s Fund of Hope Facebook page.

The city of Columbus will start regulating pedal cabs under an ordinance that received final approval from Columbus City Council Tuesday night. Pedal cabs are used to shuttle paying passengers on a fixed route. They are powered by a single pilot with an electric motor.

The ordinance requires a $200 per pedal cab licensing fee, proof of insurance and a check of the criminal backgrounds of operators and company officials. In addition, all pedal cab operators must register each of their vehicles with the Office of Community Development.

The ordinance also bans commercial rental scooter operations in the city until such time as officials come up with rules covering their use.

Many larger cities have struggled with a surge of interest by businesses in providing the rental scooters to tourists and others. Issues in other cities have focused on the safety of the scooters, their use on sidewalks and the clutter they bring. Most scooter companies allow the devices to be abandoned once they reach their destination and until they are rented by another customer.

Council stresses that the ordinance doesn’t ban personal use of these scooters.

The council vote was unanimous.

A Nashville man is behind bars after authorities executed a search warrant for his Plum Creek Road home on Monday.

Indiana State Police and the Brown County Sheriff Department executed the warrant at the home of 35-year-old Christopher James. He is suspected of dealing “large amounts” of meth from that location.

Inside the residence, Troopers reported finding over 100 grams of methamphetamine, along with ecstasy, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, pills and dimethyltryptamine. In addition to the drugs, police found six long guns and four hand guns. Authorities say that of the hand guns had an obliterated serial number, while another had been reported stolen out of Lanesville, Indiana.

James is facing preliminary charges of:

• Dealing methamphetamine over 10 grams (with Firearm) – Level 2 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine over 28 grams (with Firearm) – Level 3 Felony
• Possession of Stolen Firearm – Level 6 Felony

A wanted Harrison County man was arrested Monday, July 15th, on additional drug charges after a traffic stop on I-65 in southern Jackson County.

At approximately 3 p.m. a trooper stopped a car on I-65 Northbound near the 43 mile marker for a violation. During the traffic stop, the trooper learned that a passenger in the vehicle, 35-year-old Cecil L. Stewart, of Elizabeth, was wanted on a felony warrant for Robbery out of Floyd County.

After being placed under arrest, troopers say Stewart was found to be concealing approximately five grams of suspected methamphetamine, along with syringes and additional drug paraphernalia. A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 85 grams of additional suspected methamphetamine.

Stewart was arrested on the warrant along with additional charges of Dealing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Syringe and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The driver of the vehicle and another passenger were released from the scene.

An unaccompanied two-year-old led to the arrest of a North Vernon man. The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department says that at approximately 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, deputies were dispatched to the area of Bending Willow Way and Wildwood in Country Squire Lakes after the child was found in the roadway. Upon deputies’ arrival, the child was located and officials from the Division of Family and Children were contacted to take custody of the toddler while deputies searched for the parents.

Deputies went knocking door to door seeking information about the child and might live. At approximately 11 a.m., Sheriff Kenny Freeman was able to make contact with an individual that knew where the child belonged.

Investigators determined that the boyfriend of the child’s mother was supposed to be watching the toddler when the child left through the back door. Also during the investigation, it was determined that the boyfriend, 30-year-old Eddie Swindall II, was in possession of prescription drugs that were not prescribed to him. Swindall is facing preliminary charges of:

– Possession of Controlled Substance – Level 6 Felony
– Neglect of a Dependent – Level 6 Felony
– Violation of Legend Drug- Level 6 Felony
– Possession of Paraphernalia – B Misdemeanor

The Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team arrested two Columbus residents on multiple drug-related charges on Monday, July 15th. The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office, targets the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County.

Authorities served an arrest warrant on 20-year-old Bryce Hatton at his home in the 900 block of California Street. They say the warrant came about as a part of an investigation into drug dealing. A search of the home allegedly uncovered illegal narcotics, Fentanyl, marijuana, drug-related paraphernalia and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Hatton, who was also wanted on Bartholomew County warrant for two counts of dealing illegal narcotics is facing preliminary charges of:

– Dealing in Cocaine
– Dealing in Marijuana
– Possession of Cocaine/Narcotic
– Possession of Marijuana,
– Maintaining a Common Nuisance,
– Possession of Paraphernalia

Hatton remains behind bars in lieu of $316,000 bond.

While officers were serving the warrant on Hatton, they also arrested 19-year-old Isabell Nida. She is facing preliminary charges of:

– Dealing in Cocaine
– Dealing in Marijuana
– Possession of Cocaine/Narcotic
– Possession of Marijuana,
– Maintaining a Common Nuisance,
– Possession of Paraphernalia

Nida remains behind bars on $66,000 bond.

Columbus East High School students will see a revamped auditorium under a plan adopted last night by the school board. Bartholomew Consolidated schools approved a contract with Dunlap & Company construction last night and a change order that would mean $3.8 million dollars in renovations to the auditorium.

Dunlap was the low bidder for the project at about $4.4 million dollars and their bid was approved Monday night. But the change order was also approved to bring the price of the project down by more than $549,000 — within the project’s budget — by downgrading some amenities including reducing some of the lighting, and going with a cheaper soundboard and speaker system.

The systems would be upgradeable, if they need to expand in the future, school officials said. For example, more LED lights could be added and controlled by the new system, or additional speakers could be installed.

The goal is to bring the East auditorium up to the same quality level of the Columbus North High School auditorium, school officials said.

The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation is likely to continue its partnership with the city of Columbus with efforts to help students prepare for life after the classroom. The city’s redevelopment commission unanimously approved a resolution to provide a workforce development grant of $750,000 to BCSC out of local tax-increment financing funds during its meeting Monday afternoon.

The funding will benefit iGrad and the school corporation’s STEM programs. iGrad is designed to help at-risk students meet graduation requirements and move onto post-secondary education or into the workforce. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Funds are used to broaden and encourage learning and skills in these areas.

The funding will also aid in transition planning efforts for special needs students. This includes post-secondary career plans, including paid work experience and training. Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts says transition planning efforts are paying dividends.

Roberts adds that students aren’t the only beneficiaries.

Roberts says local support is critical for BCSC to fulfill its mission of preparing the next generation.

The redevelopment commission voted unanimously to approve the request. The city council will need to give its approval before the money can be granted. That’s expected in the coming weeks.

Columbus police are looking for two suspects accused of robbing a cell phone store Sunday evening.

The incident happened at about 6 p.m. Sunday evening when the two armed men entered the store on Jonathan Moore Pike and demanded money. They soon left with an undisclosed amount of cash and cell phones.

Both of the suspects are black men between 20 and 40 years old.

One was about 5’7″ to 5’8″ with a stocky build and broad shoulders. He also had a bandage on his left arm from his elbow to his wrist. During the robbery he was wearing a blue and yellow hooded sweatshirt, khaki pants and black sunglasses.

The second man was 6’2”-6’3” with a slender build. He was wearing blue plaid pajama pants, a dark hooded sweatshirt and black sunglasses.

If you have any information, you should contact the Columbus Police Department at 812-376-2600. Tips and information can left anonymously.

A girl was bitten by what is believed to be a copperhead snake while at a Brown County State Park campground over the weekend.

Authorities with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources say that the girl suffered two puncture wounds to her ankle after running around a tent and up to the treeline at about 9:15 p.m. Saturday night.

The family called 911 and took her to meet a Columbus Regional Hospital ambulance at the park entrance and she was taken to IU Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis.

DNR says that the girl will make a full recovery.

Although the snake was not found, despite a search by authorities, copperhead snakes have bitten park visitors previously. The attack fit the pattern of previous attacks — happening in the dark, and the victim was not using a flashlight in the poorly lit area.

DNR says that the venomous snakes are a vital part of the ecosystem managing rodent populations and in turn reducing the number of ticks. Authorities also point out that it is illegal to kill a snake on Indiana State Parks property.