A North Vernon man was arrested on drug charges after a Tuesday night traffic stop. Lt. Mike Mowery, spokesman for the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, says that at approximately 11:13 p.m. Deputy Thomas Mellencamp attempted to stop a car at Poplar Street and North State Street in North Vernon. Police say the car accelerated, turning left onto Rogers Lane and then onto Main Street before coming to a stop at Main Street and South Gum Street.

Deputy Mellencamp made contact with the driver, 35-year-old Jeremy Clark, who reportedly confessed to having a suspended driver’s license. During the investigation, Deputy Mellencamp reported finding a small bag containing approximately ½ gram of heroin. Clark then allegedly grabbed the heroin and threw it, then resisted arrest. Deputy Mellencamp, Deputy Sgt. Allen Ritchie and NVPD Officer Isaac Barkes attempted to detain Clark but they say he continued to resist and fought with them. Sgt. Ritchie then deployed his K-9 Partner Vampir, allowing the officers to gain control and make the arrest.

Police say that a search of the vehicle also revealed a glass smoking device with white residue commonly used to smoke methamphetamine.

Clark is facing preliminary charges of:

Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony
Possession of a Narcotic Drug, Level 6 Felony
Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony
Obstruction of Justice, A Misdemeanor
Resisting Law Enforcement, A Misdemeanor
Possession of Paraphernalia, B Misdemeanor

Clark was treated at the scene by Rescue 20 and then transported to the Jennings County Jail where he is being held on a $3,155 bond.

A local man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after Columbus Police say he crashed a stolen car into a house and fled on foot. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the police department, says that at approximately 12:38 p.m., officers observed a stolen car speeding in the area of Hinman Street and Indiana Avenue. Harris says the stolen vehicle nearly struck a Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department patrol car before crashing into a house on South Hinman Street. The house suffered minor injuries.

Police say the driver, 26-year-old Cameron B. Sampson, of Columbus, fled on foot before being apprehended a short time later. Sampson, who was wanted on a Bartholomew County Warrant, is facing preliminary

charges of Auto Theft, Leaving the Scene of an Accident and Resisting Law Enforcement.

The city of Columbus is being asked to help fund renovations for the former offices of “The Republic.” The building, situated across the street from City Hall and the Bartholomew County Courthouse, will house the IU School of Art, Architecture + Design, J. Irwin Miller Masters of Architecture Program. Mayor Jim Lienhoop says that Indiana University is pouring millions of dollars into the program locally.

Lienhoop says he believes the program will further the city’s goal of expanding employment opportunities.

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Total renovations are expected to cost $2 million, with half of that amount coming from other area partners. The Redevelopment Commission will be asked to fund the other $1 million. Mayor Lienhoop says that it’s important for the city to show a willingness to partner with the university.

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That formal request is expected at the Redevelopment Commission’s May 21st meeting. If approved, the request will go to city council for consideration on June 5th.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission is scheduled to hold a special meeting this afternoon focused on a community partnership with the Indiana University School of Art, Architecture and Design.

Today’s meeting, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at City Hall, is set to include Mayor Jim Lienhoop, John Burnett with the Community Education Coalition and Tom Morris, Vice-President of Facilities and Capital for IU.

A March draft document from IU to city officials requested $2 million from the community to support the launch the IU Master of Architecture program. The Community Education Coalition has pledged to help the school refurbish the building on Second Street that used to house The Republic newspaper. The J. Irwin Miller Masters in Architecture program is slated to begin this fall.

Legal Aid has announced a number of free Legal Aid Clinics in our area. These clinics are aimed at low-income residents. Organizers add that they are held each month in Bartholomew County.

The Legal Aid Clinic and Pro Bono Program utilizes local volunteer attorneys. Organizers say these attorneys offer free legal consultations to low-income individuals to further the mission of equal access to justice within our community. They say that even those who are unable to afford an attorney should have legal assistance.

Individuals coming to the Legal Aid Clinic can expect to receive a 10 minute consultation to answer general questions, offer legal information or to receive other limited assistance or advice. These in person consultations are on a first come, first serve basis. Legal Aid says there is no need to register in advance.

Upcoming regional clinics will be held in:

BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY: Legal Aid Office, United Way Center from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, May 21
Monday, June 25

BROWN COUNTY: Brown County Public Library from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, July 10

JACKSON COUNTY: Jackson County Public Library from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, June 6

RUSH COUNTY: Rush County Public Library from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, July 9

In addition, the Johnson County Bar Association also holds a Free Legal Clinic for low income residents the second Wednesday each month from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Law Resource Center, located at 170 North Jackson Street in Franklin. Their upcoming clinics will be June 13th and July 11th.

Indy 500 driver Stefan Wilson, driver of the No. 25 Driven2SaveLives Honda of Andretti Autosport, will be in Seymour on Monday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Freeman Field Airport. The Seymour Police Department says that Wilson will be driving one of their police cars through several different driving courses set up by the department and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute/Traffic Safety Division.

Wilson and the Indiana Donor Network will be in Seymour promoting the Driven2SaveLives campaign which raises awareness for organ, tissue, and eye donation. This campaign is an extension from 2016 in which Stefan drove in the 100th running for the Indiana Donor Network. The 2018 Driven2SaveLives car will feature the names of 25 people who are on the waiting list for a lifesaving transplant.

Organizers say that Wilson’s personal connection to organ donation is through his older brother, Justin Wilson, who was killed in a racing accident in 2015. They say that Justin was able to save five lives through the gift of organ donation.

Wilson will also assist the Seymour Police Department and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute by promoting seat belt awareness as they begin their “Click It or Ticket” seat belt blitz starting on May 11th. The blitz, lasting through June 3rd, targets those drivers and passengers throughout the country not wearing a seat-belt.

A Columbus woman wanted on a warrant was arrested Thursday after a Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted her at her job. Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s department, says that at approximately 11:01 p.m., Deputy Leah Burton stopped at a business in the 2600 block of West Jonathan Moore Pike when she saw 38-year-old Taressa Stargel waiting on customer. Deputy Burton knew that Stargel had an outstanding warrant so she parked her patrol vehicle and entered the business.

No longer seeing Stargel inside, Deputy Burton went outside to the back door. She reports that Stargel exited the back door as Columbus Police Officer Drake Maddix arrived to assist.

Police say that Stargel was in possession of a cut white and green straw with white residue inside. Her purse allegedly contained marijuana. When Stargel was arrested, she reportedly told authorities that had no additional drug-related items in her possession. However, when Stargel was booked in the Bartholomew County Jail, a correction’s officer reported finding a cut bag containing a white crystal substance in her possession.

In addition to the warrant, Stargel was arrested on preliminary charges of Probation Violation, Possession of Methamphetamine, Trafficking with an Inmate, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Stargel is being held without bond.

The Columbus Redevelopment Department has announced that Kelly Geckler will serve as its Project Coordinator. Heather Pope, department director, says the position “will assist the Commission’s implementation efforts of various public and private improvement projects to further grow the City’s economic base.” Geckler is set to serve as a community advocate to build awareness of redevelopment issues, participate in special project teams and assist in conducting studies of future projects in Columbus.

Officials say that Geckler, a Columbus resident of 16 years, has been involved with various community organizations. These include Turning Point Domestic Violence Services, Dwellworks LLC, Lincoln Center Figure Skating Club, Energy Matters Community Coalition, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation and First Presbyterian Church. She is currently a Board Member of the First Presbyterian Church Foundation and the Women’s Giving Circle of Bartholomew County.

Seven candidates, five Republicans and two Democrats, are actively campaigning to win the District 59 seat at the Statehouse being vacated by retiring Rep. Milo Smith of Columbus. The district covers most of Bartholomew County. Mary Kohen and Dale Nowlin are running in the Democratic primary.

We asked the candidates why they are the best candidate to represent the district.

Kohen says she would work to benefit all Hoosiers.

Nowlin says that education is vital to the state’s interests and that he is in a unique position to serve the district.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face the winner of the Republican primary being contested between Lew Wilson, JoAnne Flohr, Ryan Lauer, John Counceller, and Allen Smith. Benjamin Chastain is also on the Republican ballot, but he is not actively campaigning.

Counceller says the fact that he is an outsider should make him an attractive option for voters.

Flohr says being a female and not being a politician will allow her to bring a new perspective to the Statehouse.

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Wilson talks about why he’s the best candidate…

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Lauer says that his service on the Bartholomew County Council is a good indicator of how he’ll serve at the Statehouse.

Smith says his previous service to the community will serve him well at the Statehouse.

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The primary election is May 8th.

Work continues on efforts to address the opioid epidemic in Bartholomew County.

The Columbus City Council voted this week to approve an additional appropriation from new money being collected from the county’s recently enacted income tax increase. Mary Ferdon, the city’s director of administration, explains that one-million dollars is being put into the substance abuse non-reverting fund. She adds that the public funding board, comprised of officials from the city, county and Columbus Regional Health, met last week and approved the board itself, as well as the accountability committee. The later of which is scheduled to meet in the coming weeks…

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Ferdon stresses that the accountability board cannot spend money on its own…

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This action comes after the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County held it’s annual report to the community last week. Council voted unanimously to approve the additional appropriation.