A local man was arrested on a number of drug charges after a traffic stop Sunday night. Officer Alyson Rech, Columbus Police Department spokeswoman, says that Officer Brandon Decker stopped a vehicle at 11:15 p.m. near Indiana Avenue and Mapleton Street after he noticed that it did not have working tail lights. After Decker stopped the car, he noted that the driver, 25-year-old Julian White, was moving his hands and appeared to concealing something in his lap. When White got out of the vehicle, Decker says he saw four blue pills in the driver seat, along with several pill bottles that did not belong to White. During the stop, Officer Branch Schrader deployed his K-9 partner, Argo, who detected the odor of narcotics coming from the car. A search of the vehicle allegedly resulted in the discovery of a burnt spoon containing methamphetamine, two syringes and several pills that were not prescribed to White.

White was arrested on preliminary charges of:
Possession of a Legend Drug
Possession of Paraphernalia
Possession of Methamphetamine
Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device
Maintaining a Common Nuisance

Columbus Parks and Rec are accepting nominations for the Jack Cramer Ideals of Athletic Competition Award. The award is sponsored by the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department in memory of Jack Cramer, a former local athlete who died at the age of 33 in 1978.

This award is presented annually to a male and female senior high through adult aged athlete, coach or sports organizer. All nominees must live or work in Bartholomew County.

Last year’s winner in the female category was Alison White and Kendal Hammel in the male category.

Nomination forms are available at Donner Center. The deadline to submit nominations is June 15.

The Indiana State Police-Versailles Post will conduct its annual memorial service on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the post.

Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, public information officer for the Versailles Post, says that since 1933, forty-six Indiana State Police employees have died in the line of duty. He says that five troopers from the Versailles District were among them. Wheeles says that troopers, as well as other law enforcement officers from the area, will gather Wednesday to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Those being honored include:

Trooper George A. Forster, died May 17, 1941, in an automobile crash on State Road 3 near Paris Crossing in Jennings County.

Trooper Earl L. Brown, died August 31, 1955, after being shot by a suspicious person who was walking on the old US 31 (State Road 11) near Columbus in Bartholomew County.

Trooper Robert C. Gillespie, died June 8, 1962, in an automobile crash while en route to a call for assistance in the town of Mitchell.

Trooper William R. Rayner, died December 18, 1966, after being shot by a suspect in a stolen vehicle in Decatur County.

Trooper Andrew P. Winzenread, died April 25, 1997, after being struck by a semi-tractor trailer after stopping to assist a disabled motorist on I-74 in Decatur County.

Wednesday’s service is expected to last approximately 30 minutes.

Two people were arrested Wednesday night after Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputies tried to serve a search warrant. Judy Jackson, department spokeswoman, says that just before 11:30 p.m., Deputy Leah Burton was attempting to serve a warrant on 34-year-old David Hadley, of Edinburgh. She made contact with Amber Halstead, who allegedly said that Hadley was not in the home.

Deputies Brent Worman and Jarod Aspenson arrived to assist. While searching the home, the deputies located a trap door near the attic. They entered the attic and found Hadley under the insulation.

Hadley, who authorities say was wanted on outstanding warrants out of Johnson County, was arrested on a preliminary charge of Violation of a Protective Order. He is being held in the Bartholomew County Jail without bond.

Halstead was arrested on preliminary charges of False Reporting and Obstruction of Justice. She has since been released.

The former mayor of Columbus who filed a lawsuit against the city’s police department was unsuccessful in getting the case moved out of Bartholomew County. However, the case brought by Kristen Brown will be heard by a special judge.

The former mayor has been battling city officials on issues related to information being made available to the public since she was replaced by current Mayor Jim Lienhoop in January of 2016. During Lienhoop’s first year in office, Brown filed 10 public-information requests, as well as a number of complaints with the Indiana Public Access Councilor about what she perceives as the city’s lack of transparency. Brown’s lawsuit centers on one of those complaints.

Brown filed the lawsuit in February, alleging that the Columbus Police Department and Chief Jon Rohde failed to document and provide her with information regarding an alleged domestic disturbance in August of 2016 involving a married couple employed by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department. In CPD’s incident report provided to Brown, both parties are named and the “crime incidents” are noted to be “Vandalism/Miscellaneous” and “Domestic Disturbance.”

In her complaint, the former mayor argues that the information provided to her by city police is inadequate under the law. Brown is asking for “factual circumstances surrounding the incident” as well as descriptions of any injuries, property or weapons involved. The Indiana Public Access Councilor agreed that Brown received “insufficient detail” as it relates to the specifics of the incident. When the former mayor pressed Chief Rohde for additional information, she received a communication from the city’s attorney that the department had provided her with all of the information in their records.

Brown’s lawsuit is asking for the court to impose a $100 civil penalty against the police department, declare that the department violated the Indiana Access to Public Records Act, issue an injunction directing CPD to provide her with the information she is requesting, as well as award her money for attorney’s fees and other “just and proper relief.”

Brown also filed a motion for a change of venue in this case, requesting it be taken out of Bartholomew County. Superior Court II Judge Kathleen Coriden denied that request. She did, however, assign a special judge. Court officials say the case will be heard by Judge Richard W. Poynter, of Jackson County.

As for what happens next, Alan Whitted, attorney for the city of Columbus, filed a motion to dismiss the case. He says that he cannot discuss the matter with the media at this time due to the lawsuit. Judge Poynter has yet to rule on the city’s request.

A proposed annexation and rezoning for a new housing development on the west side of Columbus is on hold, for now. The city council heard proposals Tuesday night from Jeff Bergman, the city-county planning director, and representatives for Arbor Homes on a plan to set the groundwork for an approximately 300-home development near Princeton Parks.

The proposal includes the annexation of just over 154 acres, including adjacent road right-of-way. Just over 151 acres are the property of one owner, who requested the annexation. All of this acreage is currently zoned “Residential: Single-Family 2.” Arbor Homes, the company pursuing the development, is asking for the property to be rezoned “Residential: Single-Family 3,” which would allow them to build more homes on the property. In earlier dealings with the Columbus Plan Commission, Arbor explained that the development would consist of 312 lots. The Plan Commission ultimately voted unanimously in favor of Arbor’s request.

Tuesday night’s city council meeting drew several dozens of concerned residents, many from the Princeton Parks neighborhood. They objected strenuously to the development, expressing concerns about traffic, utilities, fire protection and the effect on schools.

Arbor representatives argued that many of the fears expressed by residents were unfounded, noting studies and communications with city departments like fire and utilities. They also noted that road improvements in the area are included in the development proposal. That did little to assuage audience members and members of city council who expressed many of the same concerns. Chief among them was fire service as train traffic in the area is slated to ramp up exponentially in the coming years.

The council ultimately voted to table both the annexation and rezoning requests in the hope of getting answers to their concerns. Both matters are scheduled to be heard again at the next council meeting on June 6th.

The investigation into a fire at a more than century-old factory in Shelbyville remains under investigation.

“The Shelbyville News” is reporting that the city’s fire department responded to the call at Old Hickory Furniture at 12:16 p.m on Monday. The factory is located in the 400 block of South Noble Street. Fire Chief Tony Logan told the newspaper that the blaze was under control within 50 minutes. The paper is reporting that the fire began around a paint booth in the factory.

No injuries were reported. Damage estimates to the business, which the paper says opened in 1899, have not been made available.

For more on this story, visit shelbynews.com.

A Decatur County man was arrested Monday night after Columbus Police say he led them on a chase. Lt. Matt Harris, department spokesman, says that at about 7:25 p.m., Officer Tony Kummer encountered a car traveling north on Central Avenue that failed to stop for a red light at 17th Street and nearly struck his patrol car. Kummer tried stopping the car, but he says the driver refused to pull over. Police say the driver fled through a nearby alley and escaped a short time later near 20th Street and Caldwell Place. Harris says that the pursuit was then terminated. However, Officer Kummer was able to get a the vehicle’s license plate number, which revealed that the vehicle’s owner lived in the 2800 block of 17th Street. When officers arrived a short time later, they found the vehicle parked in the driveway. They then reportedly found the suspect, 30-year-old Bobby Richards, of Westport, in the backyard. While searching Richards, officers reportedly found marijuana and a glass pipe in his clothing.

Richards was arrested on preliminary charges of:

Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle;
Operating a Vehicle Without Obtaining a License;
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia;
Possession of Marijuana

he Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is looking for the driver in a hit-and-run Monday night involving a young child. Judy Jackson, department spokeswoman, says that deputies were called to the Elkland Hills Mobile Home Park at 8:42 when a two-year-old girl tried to cross the roadway, only to be struck by a vehicle witnesses described as “driving at a high rate of speed”.

The driver, described as a skinny white male with dark hair, briefly stopped then fled the scene. Jackson says that a passenger in the vehicle, who originally identified herself to the child’s mother, has neither responded to telephone calls nor has she contacted authorities regarding the incident.

The child was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital where she was treated and released for a fractured left foot.

If you have any information about this hit-and-run, you are asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at (812) 379-1650. You may also send an email to sheriff@bartholomew.in.gov or adam.warner@bartholomew.in.gov. Tips and information can be left anonymously.

Work on developing Columbus’ downtown riverfront district is ongoing. Heather Pope, the city’s redevelopment director, says that one method for gathering public information is already in the books. She explained that a public survey offered on the city’s website, as well as via mail, was recently completed.

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Next comes more work by the city’s consulting firm.

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Pope says that whatever is ultimately approved will have to take the limitations of the site into consideration.

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Pope says that information will then be forwarded to the Riverfront Steering Committee, then the Community Committee.

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City officials stress that no one suggestion is being considered at this time. They say it is all about gathering the information to determine the best use for the area that will benefit the community.