There are only a few days left in a fundraising drive to aid in the relocation of “Special Dogs and More,” currently located inside the Fairoaks Mall in Columbus. Randy Lapidus says the restaurant opened 10 months ago. He explained that the idea for the business came about after a loved one suffered brain trauma. With that, the idea to create a business that allows those with disabilities to work, was born.

Lapidus says the initial plan was to stay in the mall for two to three years. However, he says that the loss of businesses and foot-traffic at the mall has resulted in the need of a new location. He says they’ve found a great location on Washington Street.

Lapidus adds that the deadline to raise the needed $50,000 is Wednesday. As of Friday evening, just over $30,500 has been raised. Lapidus notes that if the goal isn’t reached, they keep none of the pledged money. For more information on this fundraising effort, visit “Special Dogs and More” on Facebook or their fundraising page at http://bit.ly/2uT2JSm.

A retired Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputy has been formally charged in Bartholomew Superior Court 1 with child molestation. Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that 72-year-old Larry Scott is facing:

– two counts of Child Molesting Involving a Child Younger than Age 14;
– one count of Possession of Child Pornography;
– one count of Performing Sexual Conduct in the Presence of a Minor;
– one misdemeanor count of Possession of Paraphernalia;

According to the report, Scott worked as a Ceraland security volunteer. He is accused of molesting a 12-year-old boy at his camper on July 21st. He is also accused of taking a photo on his phone of the child during the incident.

Scott was quickly arrested after the start of the initial investigation. His stay in the Bartholomew County Jail was extended to allow prosecutors additional time to investigate and file formal charges. Those charges came down Friday shortly before Scott was set to be released.

For more on this story, visit therepublic.com.

Cummins Inc. announced a settlement agreement has been reached with JM Turbo Technology Corporation precluding the manufacture or sale of products that infringe Cummins patents.

As part of the settlement agreement, JM Turbo Technology acknowledged it illegally marketed and sold turbochargers protected by Cummins’ patents and other intellectual property rights registered in multiple countries. In addition, Cummins patents were infringed, valid and enforceable. Conditions of the settlement include JM Turbo Technology’s agreement to stop all manufacturing, importation, exportation, advertising and/or sale of all infringing products. The settlement also calls for JM Turbo Technology to destroy all existing inventory of the infringing products.

A Garden City resident is facing charges after allegedly trying to sell stolen property. Caitlyn Gross, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that the department received a report from the Bartholomew County Fair Board on Wednesday that one of their utility vehicles, valued at approximately $9,000, was stolen over the past several days.

Gross says that detectives from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office and Joint Narcotic Enforcement Team were able to determine that the UTV was located at a property inside the trailer park. Detectives approached the residence and made contact with the occupant, 45-year-old Rhonda Oliphant. Authorities say they learned that the UTV was hidden on the property and that Oliphant was allegedly trying to sell it, knowing the UTV was stolen.

Oliphant was arrested on preliminary charges of Auto Theft and Receiving Stolen Auto Parts. She is being held on $7,500 bond. Gross adds that a search warrant was obtained for the home and that the investigation is ongoing.

Cummins on Thursday announced the production of the two millionth engine at its Jamestown Engine Plant in Jamestown, New York. Company officials say the Jamestown plant remains one of the company’s largest manufacturing facilities, accounting for 14.7 percent of Cummins total engine production in 2017.

Jamestown is home to the production of Cummins heavy-duty engine technologies including the X15, ISX12, X12, ISM11 diesel engines and ISX12N natural gas engine as well as historically the ISX15 diesel engine and ISX12 G natural gas engine.

“We credit much of our success to the hard-working employees that commit themselves every day to provide products and services that meet or exceed our customers’ expectations,” said Anna Dibble, Cummins JEP Plant Manager. “They work to provide this company with quality products that we feel proud to stand behind.”

A Columbus man was arrested Wednesday afternoon on a gun charge. Caitlyn Gross, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says at approximately 5:17 p.m., deputies were advised of a warrant for 23-year-old Joshua Irvin for theft of a firearm. With the assistance of JNET, deputies went to a home in the area of the 800 block of Cottage Avenue. When they got there, Irvin allegedly fled inside the home. Officers made entry into the home and took Irvin into custody. His bond was set at $11,000.

A suspicious vehicle led to the arrests of three Columbus residents Wednesday afternoon. Caitlyn Gross, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that at approximately 2:24 p.m., deputies received a tip of a suspicious vehicle in the area of West Shady Lane, possibly being involved with illegal drugs.

Deputy Brandon Sellers found the vehicle leaving the area and initiated a traffic stop for a moving violation. The occupants of the vehicle were identified as 31-year-old Sonja Dougherty, 32-year-old Jessica Hynes and 39-year-old Keith Wilder. Deputy Matt Bush and K9 Diesel arrived to assist and Diesel apparently alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle.

During the search of the vehicle, authorities reportedly found multiple syringes and paraphernalia. Deputies later learned that Wilder had an outstanding warrant and an outstanding body attachment.

Dougherty was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device and Maintaining a Common Nuisance. Dougherty’s bond was set at $65,000

Hynes is facing preliminary charges of Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device and Visiting a Common Nuisance. Her bond was set at $63,500.

Wilder was arrested for the outstanding warrant and outstanding body attachment. His bond is set at $2,889.26.

Foundation For Youth teenagers will confront the opioid crisis in Bartholomew County with a message of prevention and hope in a special performance Saturday at Central Middle School.

Organizers say that “WE KNOW,” written and performed by the FFY teens, will address the multifaceted impact of opioid abuse as part of the organization’s programming geared at spreading prevention messages to children and teens.

The performance is supported by a Project Prevent grant from ASAP and Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.

“WE KNOW” will be presented at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the school’s Grey Boy Theatre, 725 Seventh St., in Columbus. The program is free and open to the public. Parents are encouraged to attend with their children.

A Bartholomew County man accused of child molesting will remain behind bars until at least Friday morning. Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that a jail hold for 72-year-old Larry Scott has been extended to allow prosecutors more time to prepare and file formal charges.

Scott was arrested over the weekend at Ceraland Park by Indiana State Police after an investigation at the campgrounds. He is facing preliminary charges of child molestation, child exploitation, vicarious sexual gratification, child solicitation, sexual battery and possession of paraphernalia. The newspaper says that Scott is a retired Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy who volunteered with the night-time security detail at Ceraland. According to the report, Scott was also a reserve deputy for the department until Sheriff Matt Myers terminated that relationship after the arrest.

For more on this story, visit therepublic.com.

A wanted Michigan woman was arrested early Wednesday morning after a traffic stop. Caitlyn Gross, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that at approximately 2:27 a.m., K-9 Deputy Matt Bush was patrolling southbound on I-65 near the 72-mile marker when he saw a car with a Michigan license plate.

Gross says that Deputy Bush received information that the license plate was connected to an active warrant for conspiracy to commit controlled substance delivery manufacturing cocaine, heroin or narcotics out of Ogemaw County, Michigan. Bush then initiated a traffic stop just south of the 68-mile market exit. He made contact with driver, Charla Wolf of Monroe, MI. When police learned that Wolf had an active warrant, she was arrested.

As the investigation continued, Deputy Bush reported smelling marijuana inside the vehicle. As he began to search Wolf, she allegedly grabbed the deputy’s hand to interfere with his search. Bush restrained Wolf and removed a bag of what was believed to be cocaine from her pocket.

During a search of the vehicle, authorities reported finding another large bag containing what was believed to be approximately 100 grams of cocaine, along with marijuana, approximately 39 grams of shrooms, several bags, scales, some pills and drug paraphernalia.

The sheriff’s department says the street value for 100 grams of cocaine is approximately $10,000.

In addition to the outstanding warrant, Wolf was arrested for Dealing in Cocaine, Dealing in a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, Battery on an Officer, Possession of marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Sheriff Matt Myers says that his office will continue to do all it can to fight drugs. “Our county has a major interstate that travels through it, which can lead to an increase in drug trafficking,” said Myers. “This is why we work so closely with other agencies in hopes to eliminate drug activity in our community.”