U.S. Congressman Greg Pence (R-IN-06) released the following statement on the signing of the United States and China Phase One trade agreement:

“In an historic victory for Hoosier farmers and workers, President Trump has delivered a fair trade deal with China,” said Congressman Pence. “I have long maintained that Congress has the utmost responsibility on behalf of our farmers to pass USMCA. With that landmark trade deal moving forward, the Trump Administration has hit it out of the park with the Phase One China trade deal. The steadfast loyalty and support from American farmers has been rewarded, and today’s signing will only bolster the booming Trump economy.”

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew A. Myers has announced three staff promotions.

Sergeant T. A. Smith has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in BCSO’s Road Division. Lt. Smith began his career in law enforcement in 1981. He is a graduate of the National FBI Academy.

Deputy Brent Worman has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant in BCSO’s Road Division. Sgt. Worman began his career with the Sheriff’s Office in 2010 as a Correction’s Officer. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

Deputy Andrew Whipker has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant in BCSO’s Road Division. Whipker began his career with the Sheriff’s Office as a Merit Deputy in 2015. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

“These deputies have the qualifications they need for their new positions and I am pleased that they have accepted the opportunity to expand their leadership skills,” said Sheriff Matt Myers.

These promotions come after three other deputies were suspended and demoted for their inaction in serving an emergency detention order for 38-year-old Derek Henderson, of Columbus. He died after being shot in the head, chest and abdomen in the early morning hours of Saturday, Jan. 4th. Authorities say that he was carrying a baseball bat when he entered the home of a neighbor he didn’t know in the 2000 block of Home Avenue. The homeowner shot and killed Henderson.

Sheriff Myers says the investigation revealed that deputies saw and talked with Henderson in his home on Home Avenue hours before his death, but he refused to leave the home or to allow the deputies inside. Myers says the deputies eventually left the scene and made no further attempt to serve the emergency detention order.

A local man was arrested for driving while intoxicated after he was reportedly spotted passed out behind the steering wheel of a vehicle at a Columbus intersection on Tuesday night.

Columbus Police responded to the area of Second Street and Brown Street at about 9 p.m. in regards to the man, who was apparently unconscious for several minutes. CPD identified the man as 26-year-old Matthew Scott Barker, of Columbus. While later speaking with Barker, the officers noted that he had a strong odor of alcohol beverage on his breath and had difficulty maintaining his balance.

Barker refused to submit to a chemical test and officers applied for and received a search warrant for a blood draw at Columbus Regional Hospital. Barker was arrested on a preliminary charge of DUI (endangerment).

The 23rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. day breakfast in Columbus is set for Monday at The Commons.

A hot buffet breakfast will be served at 7 a.m. followed by a program starting around 7:30 a.m. This event is sponsored by the African American Pastors Alliance. The breakfast is free and you are invited to attend.

Columbus Regional Health is receiving accreditation for its chest pain center.

The hospital announced recently that the American College of Cardiology has recognized CRH with the Chest Pain Center Accreditation with PCI and Resuscitation. That came after an onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.

Hospitals that have earned the accreditation have proven their competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have coronary angioplasty available around the clock every day of the year.

A drug treatment program is up and running in the Bartholomew County Jail, providing treatment that would cost tens of thousands of dollars in the outside world.

Sheriff Matt Myers said that the program has officially launched this week. It provides qualifying inmates with treatment at no cost.

Theresa Patton, drug treatment coordinator for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, said that the inmates, a literal captive audience, will be able to get treatment that few could afford outside of the walls of the jail. She talks about the cost just to get started in a treatment program on the outside.

Many insurance programs will only pay for two weeks of partial hospitalization, instead pushing patients to outpatient treatment. Further steps in the treatment process continue to add thousands of dollars to the cost, she said. For example, three hours of group therapy can cost $250 each session.

Insurance also is reluctant to pay for second rounds of treatment after a relapse, Patton said.

Medicaid can pay for the poorest addicts to get treatment, but it only pays about a 100th of the cost of a program, meaning many programs will not accept the assistance, she said.

For addicts young enough to still qualify for their patient’s insurance program, they can try to get treatment while still eligible for that coverage.

Patton said the jail treatment will be at least a 90-day-program, with individual counseling and group therapy for 10 hours a day. She said the program will eventually grow to include 24 men and 24 women at a time.

For many who have fallen into addiction, and gone through relapses, jail becomes their default detox center and a last chance at escaping from their drug abuse, Patton said.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department has released more information about a fatal crash Tuesday morning.

Investigators say that at about 1:37 a.m., deputies responded to the 17000 block of East State Road 46 for a single-vehicle traffic accident. Upon arrival, deputies found a car inverted onto its top in the yard of a residence. Two people were located away from the vehicle. It is believed that both had been ejected from the vehicle during the crash. On arrival, an area resident was performing CPR on one of the subjects. Further life saving attempts were made by first responders, but one person, 18-year-old Ethan Matthew Nielsen was pronounced dead at the scene. Coroner Clayton Nolting says that Nielsen’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and neck.

The other person was flown by Stat Flight medical helicopter to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis with serious injuries. Their identity has not yet been released.

The incident remains under investigation.

The Arby’s restaurant on 25th Street is serving a limited menu after a fire Tuesday morning.

Columbus Firefighters responded to the scene at approximately 9:30 a.m. on a report of fire. When firefighters arrived on the scene they were advised by restaurant management that a small fire had been extinguished by employees.

Arby’s management told firefighters that restaurant employees reported hearing a popping sound from the area of the grease fryer station. As the employees tried to determine the source, they saw an orange glow on the wall behind the fryer. Employees disconnected power to the fryer and pulled the fryer away from the wall. At that time, small flames were visible behind the grease fryer. Using a damp towel, employees were able to smother the flames and extinguish the fire.

Arby’s staff says that the restaurant is open. They can only serve sandwiches and drinks. Fried items are unavailable for now.

No injuries were reported.