An Indianapolis man was arrested after Bartholomew County dispatchers were alerted to a possible impaired driver.

At about 10:19 p.m. on Thursday, deputies were dispatched to a possible intoxicated driver traveling southbound on I-65 near the 90-mile marker. Deputies located the vehicle near the Taylorsville exit and initiated a traffic stop.

Police say the driver, 26-year-old Brandon Arnold, appeared to be under the influence of some type of drug. Following clearance from Columbus Regional Hospital, Arnold was arrested on preliminary charges of Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated and Possession of Marijuana

He has since been released.

An Indiana State Police Captain and Bartholomew County resident has been promoted to Major.

The Superintendent of the Indiana State Police, Douglas G. Carter, announced the promotion of Capt. David P. Travis to the rank of Major. Major Travis will serve as the Special Operations Commander, and oversee the various components therein to include Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.), Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Aviation, K-9 Teams, Motorcycle Units and Special Event Planning.

Travis, who is originally from Fort Wayne, is a 1984 graduate of the former Elmhurst High School. In 1988, he earned his Bachelor Degree in Aviation from Indiana State University. In December of 1990, Travis graduated from the 48th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy, and was appointed as a Trooper and assigned to the Indiana State Police Post in Seymour, where he served for 19 years. During that time, Travis had attained the ranks of Corporal and then First Sergeant.

In 2009, Travis transferred to the Indiana State Police Post in Sellersburg following the closing of the Seymour Post. In 2010, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and served as the Sellersburg District Commander until 2016, when he transferred into the Special Operations Planning Section.

In 2017, Travis was promoted to the rank of Captain, and he served as the Assistant Commander of Special Operations until this recent promotion. During his career, Travis has served the Indiana State Police in the following disciplines: Field Training Officer, Tactical Intervention Platoon, S.W.A.T, Clandestine Laboratory Team, and Lead Firearms Instructor for the Indiana State Police Recruit Academy.

Indiana State Police are investigating the theft of a large tractor and farm implements from southwest Decatur County. The stolen items were recovered, but the investigators are asking for your help in locating those responsible.

Troopers were called to County Road 600 South and County Road 1000 West in Decatur County at approximately 9 a.m. Tuesday after a Case 435 Quadtrac tractor was stolen from a field that morning. The tractor was connected to two farm implements at the time of the theft and they implements were also stolen.

The following day, Wednesday, Sept. 18, troopers found the tractor on County Road 420 West near Downeyville in rural Decatur County after receiving a tip. The two farm implements were located on Thursday, Sept. 19, near Zenas in rural Jennings County after they were spotted by an Indiana State Police helicopter.

The Indiana State Police continues to investigate the theft and is asking for your help in locating those responsible for the theft. Due to the size of the tractor, investigators believe the suspect may have had prior experience in operating similar equipment.

Anyone with information is urged to call Master Trooper Rob Ewing, Indiana State Police-Versailles Post at (812) 689-5000.

Two area organizations were among the six recipients of the Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence for extraordinary initiatives in protecting the environment.

“I am pleased to award this year’s Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence,” said Bruno Pigott, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. “These Awards recognize Indiana’s leaders who have implemented the most innovative, sustainable, and exemplary programs or projects.”

Cummins, Inc. was recognized for Energy Efficiency/Renewable Resources. The Columbus-based company entered into a virtual power purchase agreement in August 2017 with EDP Renewables North America to expand a wind farm in northern Indiana, as part of ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Jennings County Pollinator Committee in North Vernon was recognized for Land Use/Conservation. The “Share Some Space” initiative is about protecting and increasing local pollinator populations in Jennings County. Since the start of the project in 2015, 800 total habitats have been created throughout the county. In addition, a total of 2,500 acres of new pollinator habitat has been created and 7,700 new native flowering plants have been planted.

Commissioner Pigott and Rebecca Holwerda, Senior Operations Director for Governor Eric Holcomb, presented the awards during the 22nd annual Pollution Prevention Conference and Tradeshow held at the Marriott North in Indianapolis.

The Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence is an annual program to recognize Indiana’s leaders who have identified and implemented innovative environmental practices into their programs and facilities.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers, who serves on the National Homeland Security Committee and Drug Enforcement Committee for the National Sheriff’s Association, is back home after attending the Southwest Border Sheriffs’ Conference in Tucson, Arizona. Myers was joined by five other Indiana Sheriffs and the Director of the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association.

The Sheriffs were briefed by the Chief of the United States Border Patrol about the apprehension numbers, the conflicting reports of children being separated from their families. In addition, fraudulent families were explained, along with how children are being exploited by cartels.

Sheriff Myers and the others were then given a 10-hour inspection tour of the border, stretching for more than 40 miles. In addition to human trafficking, there is a large amount of marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl being smuggled into the USA on a daily basis. Sheriff Myers says, “The border issues between Mexico and the United States is definitely a National Security issue for the United States and should NOT be a political issue.” “Drugs coming into our country is a national problem – it affects all Americans, not just those living in bordering cities and counties. This is a problem that reaches across America and even into Columbus, Indiana.”

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers has been appointed to the National Sheriff’s Association Drug Enforcement Committee. This appointment comes after Myers’ appointment to the NSA Homeland Security Committee, earlier this year.

“Since 2015, our agency’s greatest focus and number one priority has been/is drug eradication – particularly targeting people who provide illegal narcotics to Bartholomew County residents”, said Sheriff Myers.

“I am honored to serve on two National Committees,” said Myers. “My goal remains to focus on keeping drugs out of Bartholomew County and and to continue working with other law enforcement agencies. Both of these appointments give me a better opportunity to do so.”

Daviess County, KY Sheriff Keith Cain, chairman of the NSA Drug Enforcement Committee, said: “Sheriff Meyer’s knowledge and experience will provide our Committee invaluable input as we continue to combat the challenges of substance abuse in our respective Counties.” “I’m pleased he has accepted our invitation to serve in this capacity.

The Bartholomew County Radio Flyers are holding a special event this weekend.

John Vinson is an organizer for the Joe Grube Memorial Warbird Fly-In, taking place at the reclaimed Petersville landfill, located about 3.5 miles east of Columbus on 25th Street. Vinson spoke recently with John Foster on AM Columbus.

Vinson says this is the 10th annual edition of this event. It takes place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is free to attend and concessions will be available.

You can hear more of John Foster’s interview with John Vinson on our website at 1010wcsi.com. You can click on Programs and then AM Columbus.

For more on the Bartholomew County Radio Flyers, visit bcrcfliers.org.

An investigation by Indiana State Police Detectives into the falsification of a handgun purchase application led to four Bartholomew County residents being arrested on numerous charges.

Detectives began the investigation in July when the Indiana State Police was notified that 59-year-old Frank L. Hiatt, of Columbus, had allegedly falsified a handgun purchase application while attempting to buy a handgun from a business in Greensburg. The investigation determined that Hiatt attempted to buy a handgun from the store on June 28th. While completing the required paperwork to purchase the handgun, authorities say that Hiatt indicated he was not currently under any indictment for felony charges and was not an unlawful user of marijuana or any other controlled substance. Hiatt’s handgun purchase application was denied at the time and he was not able to purchase the gun.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Hiatt had pending charges in Bartholomew County from March 11 of this year after he was arrested by the Indiana State Police-All Crimes Policing Team on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana and Maintaining a Common Nuisance.

As a result of the investigation, a warrant was issued for Hiatt. On September 10th, troopers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post along with deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department went to Hiatt’s home in the 16000 block of East County Road 265 North. While at the residence, troopers reported finding methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Hiatt, along with three other men at the home, were arrested on drug-related charges.

– Hiatt was arrested on the original warrant. He was additionally arrested on charges of Obstruction of Justice, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Possession of Paraphernalia.

– Charles Hiatt, age 62, of Columbus, is facing charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Visiting a Common Nuisance and Possession of Paraphernalia.

– Rodney Hiatt, age 52, Columbus, was arrested on a charge of Maintaining a Common Nuisance.

– Johnny Watson, age 53, Hope, was arrested on a charge of Visiting a Common Nuisance.

A Columbus man was arrested after a foot-chase Wednesday evening.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that at about 6:12 p.m., Deputy Dylan Prather was traveling south on Pearl Street when saw a local man that he knew had an outstanding arrest warrant. After making contact with the subject in the 800 block of Pearl Street, the man 47-year-old Shawn Mace, of Pearl Street, allegedly took off running.

Following a pursuit and a short altercation, Mace was taken into custody on preliminary charges of:

Resisting Law Enforcement
Possession of Methamphetamine
Outstanding Warrant

Mace remains in BCJ in lieu of $122,500 bond.

Prather is a member of the Intelligence Led Policing Unit which is a collaboration among the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office. The ILP Unit focuses on high profile offenders who are involved in drug related crimes and property crimes throughout Bartholomew County.

The Columbus Park Foundation will cease operation of the ColumBike program.

Chip Orben, Columbus Park Foundation President, announced Thursday that the foundation will cease operation of the program on November 1st. “We tried several different business models to sustain the program and while we had many very loyal riders, it never reached enough rides and sponsors to allow it to be sustainable,” added Orben.

Foundation officials say that residents may continue to use ColumBike, for free, through October 31st.