Digital access cards are now available at the Bartholomew County Public Library.

Library staff say that by obtaining such a card from the library, area residents will have access to the library’s collection of downloadable materials of eBooks, audio books, digital magazines and music. This new service also provides access to databases for language learning, genealogy research, online courses, financial information, and more.

To obtain a digital access card, go to mybcpl.org and click “Your Account” at the top of the page to find the link to the digital access card application.

The digital access card does not allow items to be checked out from the library building.

A motorcycle fire in Jackson County led to the arrest of a Marion County man. At approximately 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Indiana State Police responded to the fire on southbound I-65 near the 51 mile marker.

Investigators determined that 36-year-old Jerry Ray Jones was piloting the motorcycle when it became disabled. They say Jones pulled the motorcycle into the southbound scales area and began to work on it. At some point, the motorcycle caught fire. When troopers arrived, they could not locate Jones. Workers in the area told them that they saw a man leave the area and head west across a field.

Troopers located Jones on County Road 1000 East, just north of Seymour. Upon identifying him, he was found to be wanted on a warrant for Possession of a Syringe and an additional warrant for a parole violation. When troopers searched the bag Jones was carrying, they reportedly found a loaded handgun, approximately 120 grams of suspected methamphetamine, suspected Xanax, syringes and approximately $1,600 in cash.

Jones was arrested on new felony charges of Dealing

Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of a Syringe. He is also facing a misdemeanor charge of Driving While Suspended.

The Redding Township Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the bike fire. No injuries were reported.

A large pot of food left unattended on a stove top filled a local restaurant with smoke Tuesday morning. At approximately 7:44 a.m., Columbus firefighters were called to a possible structure fire in the 3800 block of 25th Street after a passerby called 911 to report smoke coming from the roof the building.

The restaurant was closed and all doors were locked, causing crews to force open a door. Once inside, firefighters encountered a large amount of smoke. While searching through the kitchen area, firefighters found a large pot of food product burning on gas stove-top. Firefighters turned off the gas supply to the stove and carried the cooking pot to the parking lot.

A secondary search of the business confirmed the building was empty. Investigators determined that the fire was accidental. Damages from the smoke are estimated to be minimal.

Three new officers have joined the Columbus Police Department. They were sworn in by Mayor Jim Lienhoop during Tuesday’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting. They are:

Alex Hill is a 21-year-old Columbus resident who graduated from Columbus North High School. While in high school, Hill was a Columbus police cadet for two years. Hill graduated from Ball State with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. She also completed an internship with the Muncie Police Department and later became a reserve officer at their agency while working with their drug task force.

John Busack is 23-years-old and graduated from Columbus East High School. He graduated from IUPUI with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. Busack has been employed with Bartholomew County Community Corrections for the past two years.

Adriane Polley is a 21 year old Columbus resident and a graduate of Columbus Christian School. Polley enlisted in the Army National Guard where he became a weapons squad team leader. Prior to coming to CPD, he worked in the Bartholomew County Jail.

CPD leadership says these new officers will spend the next several weeks undergoing training at the department before they attending the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in September.

Detectives from the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team arrested two people on numerous drug charges after a lengthy investigation. On July 3rd, authorities executed a search warrant at 6770 S. County Road 650 West in Bartholomew County.

Detectives reported finding narcotics and paraphernalia inside the home of 54-year-old Troy E. Smith and 31-year-old Kelly D. Starke. While investigators were inside the house, Smith and Starke returned home. When they saw the officers, the pair allegedly tried to flee in their vehicle. However, officers utilized a tire deflation device and the couple were taken into custody. They are facing the following preliminary charges:

Troy Smith: Dealing in Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamine, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Illegal Drug Labs, Bartholomew County Warrant, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Kelly Starke: Possession of a Controlled Substance, Dealing in Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamine, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Illegal Drug Labs

Both Smith and Starke remain incarcerated at the Bartholomew County Jail. Authorities say that additional charges are possible, as the investigation is ongoing.

Two local residents are facing charges after they allegedly broke into a Columbus home Sunday night.

The Columbus Police Department says that officers were dispatched to a home in the 700 block of Smith Street at about 11:40 p.m. after receiving a call that two people were trying to break in. The residents told the officers that a man and woman were pulling on their door and causing a disturbance outside their home.

While officers were speaking with the residents, the suspects 29-year-old Clifton S. Burton and 24-year-old Ophelia C. Garcia, both of Columbus, were spotted inside the home immediately next door. Police say that when Burton and Garcia spotted the officers, they fled to the back of the house. Officers later confirmed with the homeowner that the pair were not supposed to be there.

CPD says that Burton and Garcia are being held on 48-hour holds on the following preliminary charges:

Clifton Burton: Burglary, Possession of Methamphetamine, Residential Entry;
Ophelia Garcia: Residential Entry

Summer break for area students has just got underway. However, the Bartholomew County United Way is looking ahead to make sure students have what they need when they return to class in August. Alicia Monroe talks about the school supply drive for all county school-aged children.

Monroe explains that the United Way is accepting donations to help the cause.

To receive free supplies, a student’s parent or guardian must register for the supply drive by calling (812) 375-2216. That number is answered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. officials the registration deadline to get guaranteed supplies is July 18th.

Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews are set to begin chip sealing an eight-mile section of State Road 11 in Jackson and Bartholomew counties this week. INDOT says the work, from a quarter-mile north of I-65 to about five miles south of State Road 46 (Southern Crossing), should begin on or after Tuesday, July 9th. The work is dependent on the weather.

Drivers should expect delays in the area due to lane closures in the work zone. Flaggers will be on hand to manage traffic. You are reminded to pay attention and follow all rules in work zones. Don’t drive distracted.

If you are looking for more traffic information, download the WAZE app for your smartphone and join the WCSI Traffic team. You can find updated traffic information on our website, on-air and on the app.

Correction: Due to a source error, the suspect’s last name was incorrect in a previous version of this story.

A wanted North Vernon man was arrested early Thursday morning in Jackson County. Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies made the stop at about 4:30 a.m. after a car without working headlights or taillights was spotted turning south on Meadowbrook Drive from East Tipton Street in Seymour.

Authorities say that the driver, 33-year-old Calin R. Thomas, initially gave deputies a fake name and identification. It was then learned that he had an active felony warrant out of Jennings County for Residential Entry and Criminal Trespass. During the arrest Thomas allegedly tried to resist officers, but was quickly detained.

Thomas is facing new preliminary charges of False Reporting, False Identity Statement and Resisting Law Enforcement. He is also being held on the Jennings County warrant.

The city of Columbus will start regulating pedal cabs under an ordinance that received initial approval from Columbus City Council Tuesday night. Pedal cabs are used to shuttle paying passengers on a fixed route. They are powered by a single pilot and an electric motor.

The pedal cab proposal would require a $200 per pedal cab licensing fee, proof of insurance and a check of the criminal backgrounds of operators and company officials. Mary Ferdon, the city’s director of administration, explained that the ordinance requires any pedal cab operator to register each vehicle with the Office of Community Development.

The ordinance is also banning commercial rental scooter operations in the city until such time as officials come up with rules covering their use.

Many larger cities have struggled with a surge of interest by businesses in providing the rental scooters to tourists and others. Issues in other cities have focused on the safety of the scooters, their use on sidewalks and the clutter they bring. Most scooter companies allow the devices to be abandoned once they reach their destination and until they are rented by another customer. City leaders in Nashville, TN are considering banning them outright after a man on a scooter was struck and killed by a motorist.

Councilman Frank Miller stresses that the ordinance doesn’t ban personal use of these scooters. Council members expressed concerns about safety and clutter.

Miller stresses that the ordinance doesn’t ban personal use of these scooters.

Council will consider finalizing the ordinance at its July 16th meeting.