The deadline to file to run for citywide office in Columbus has passed. The Bartholomew County Voter Registration Office closed filing at noon on Friday. All incumbents, from Mayor Jim Lienhoop to all seven members of city council, filed for reelection.

Many will have no opposition in their primary election. These include Republicans: Clerk-Treasurer Luann Welmer and Council members Tim Shuffett and Frank Miller, and 2nd District Councilwoman Elaine Wagner, a Democrat.

Mayor Lienhoop is facing a challenger in the Republican Primary. Local resident Glen Petri is running against the first-term mayor. The winner faces no Democratic challenger in November’s general election.

For City Council District 1, incumbent Republican Dascal Bunch is being challenged by Christopher Rutan in the GOP primary. Rutan previously ran for council as a Democrat. The winner faces no Democratic challenger in November.

For City Council District 2, Republican Jim Hartsook is running unopposed in his primary. He’ll face Wagner in the general election.

For City Council District 3, incumbent Republican David Bush faces a primary challenge from Russ Poling. Bush was selected by party leaders in December to finish the term of former Councilman Frank Jerome. Poling is currently serving in his second term on the Columbus City Plan Commission.

The winner of that primary will face Democrat Nancy Hoover, who is unopposed in her party.

Democrat Michael Schoumacher and Ross Thomas are slated to face Republicans Miller and Shuffett for the District 4 and District 5 seats in November.

A bevy of contenders are campaigning for the two At-Large seats on the council. Incumbent Republican Laurie Booher is being challenged by Josh Burnett and John D. Counceller. Incumbent Democrat Tom Dell is joined on the Democratic ballot by Grace Kestler.

This year’s Primary Election is May 7th. The General Election is Nov. 5th.

Indiana State Police had a busy day on Wednesday. Traffic stops and investigations led to numerous arrests and the removal of illegal drugs from the streets.

At about 2 p.m., a trooper conducted a traffic stop on I-65 in Jackson County. Authorities say a passenger, 40-year-old Betty Jo Skinner of Seymour, was found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine and heroin. She was arrested on felony charges of Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Narcotic Drug.

At approximately 9 p.m., the Indiana State Police-Versailles District Criminal Patrol Team executed a search warrant at 745 Miller Lane in Seymour. During the search, troopers reported finding approximately 38 grams of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Two residents were arrested on numerous charges. Steven Venegas, 36, and Amanda Mikel, 25, are facing preliminary felony charges of Dealing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine and Maintaining a Common Nuisance. They both face a misdemeanor charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Indiana State Police say these arrests show the agency’s commitment to continue to pursue those who choose to be involved in criminal activity. They encourage anyone with information on ongoing drug activity to contact your area State Police Post.

A Columbus woman is facing charges after she allegedly refused to leave an area business. Just before 6 p.m. Wednesday, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a convenience store at the intersection of N US 31 and W 650 in Taylorsville, after dispatch received a 911 hang up.

On arrival, employees told deputies they had asked 28-year-old Catina Caudill to leave the store multiple times but she refused. Authorities say Caudill was at the cashier’s counter but retreated behind the counter and a physical altercation began. Police say Caudill continued to physically resist law enforcement as she was arrested.

Caudill is facing preliminary charges of:

Criminal Trespass
Resisting Law Enforcement
Battery on a Public Official
Disorderly Conduct

She remains behind bars on $21,000 bond.

A Michigan man was killed Thursday night on Interstate 65 in Jackson County. Indiana State Police say that at approximately 10 p.m., ISP Troopers responded to northbound I-65 near the 43 mile marker to investigate a fatal crash involving a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle.

The initial investigation indicated a pickup being driven by 55-year-old David A. Buchanan, of Stanwood, MI, was traveling northbound on I-65. For an unknown reason, Buchanan’s vehicle left the roadway and entered the median where it became stuck. Authorities say Buchanan left the vehicle and walked northbound on I-65.

Buchanan entered into the northbound lanes of I-65 where he was then struck by a Jeep being driven by 23-year-old Franklin N. Reed, of Nashville, TN. Buchanan was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Jackson County Coroner’s Office. Reed was not hurt.

The northbound lanes of I-65 were closed for approximately four hours for crash investigation and cleanup. Jackson County Animal Control responded to the scene and took possession of a dog that was left in Buchanan’s vehicle.

Toxicology results are pending on both Buchanan and Reed. The investigation is ongoing.

Two area men were honored by Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers for their roles in saving the life of woman in a Christmas-Day crash.

On that day, Tim Meeks and Johnny Smith were driving southbound on Interstate 65 in separate vehicles when they noticed smoke coming from an area between a side access road and the interstate. The pair exited at the 64 mile marker and made their way to the scene at CR 300S and Crossing Lane. The pair arrived at the same time and found a vehicle, on its roof, on fire. The pair were able to save the driver, Debra Stephens, by

dragging her away from the burning vehicle.

Meeks and Smith received an Award of Valor from Sheriff Myers, who thanked them for their bravery.

Investigators say Stephens was driving east on County Road 300S when her vehicle left the roadway, went through a chain-link fence and hit an embankment. The fire began soon after.

Stephens was airlifted to Eskenazi Hospital’s Burn Unit. She is recovering and attended Thursday’s ceremony. Stephens thanked Meeks and Smith with hugs and told the men that she wouldn’t be alive without them.

A Columbus independent living community is evacuating around 20 residents due to flooding. Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Dept., says a nearby retention pond and its overflow is full, and water is approaching the the Green Tree Assisted Living facility, located at 4745 Pine Ridge Drive.

Firefighters arrived on the scene at 3:46 p.m. Thursday. Although no water entered the facility, firefighters requested a precautionary evacuation of the ground floor residents. Wilson says the Columbus Department of Public Works has deployed to pump trucks to the scene to aid in lowering the water level of the retention pond.

Firefighters will remain on the scene until all ground floor residents have been relocated. Authorities say many affected residents will be staying with family members.

Bartholomew County Emergency Management has upgraded the county’s travel status has been upgraded to an Advisory Level. You should use caution when traveling with full concentration on the road. Several roads have high water or are closed due to high water. Highway crews are attempting to keep up with the closures, but authorities say they are running out of signage.

County officials say that even though Advisory Level allows for traveling, you are encouraged to avoid it if at all possible. Conditions overnight and wet roadways could result in some slick spots.

Multiple roads in Johnson County are closed due to high water and area authorities have been helping motorists who have chosen to drive through high water.

Sheriff Duane Burgess says one call occurred at 2744 South CR225W, Franklin, where a driver chose to drive through extremely high water. Three people had to be rescued by the Bargersville Fire Department. Rescuers gathered the trio from the roof of the vehicle as water rushed into it.

Sheriff Burgess says the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team are on stand-by awaiting to assist. Authorities are imploring you to not drive through high water. They say you do not know how deep the water is, how swift its moving.

The Johnson County Highway Department is out placing barricades up closing multiple roads. You are asked to obey the signage and not drive around the barricades.

Here is a list of roads that are currently closed:

Congressman Greg Pence, a Columbus Republican who represents Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District, recently announced members of his District staff.

“I could not be more excited to announce our District staff,” Congressman Pence said. “This team has a wealth of experience throughout Indiana’s 6th Congressional District, and I am confident that Hoosiers will be well served in every community we are privileged to represent.”

Those named were:

Ryan Jarmula, District Director and Deputy Chief of Staff

Jarmula previously served Indiana’s 6th District as a member of then-Congressman Mike Pence’s legislative staff in Washington, D.C. He has experience in the Indiana Statehouse, serving in policy and communications roles for then-Governor Mike Pence before joining the Trump-Pence campaign in 2016. Most recently, Jarmula served as a Special Assistant to the President in the White House.

Liz Dessauer, Deputy District Director

A graduate of Hanover College, Dessauer most recently served as the political director for Congressman Pence’s campaign. Previously, Dessauer worked on the re-election campaign for then-Governor Mike Pence, before he became the Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States.

John Hatter, Constituent Services Representative

Hatter serves as Congressman Pence’s liaison to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Defense. He also serves as the Congressman’s military service academy coordinator. In addition to working in the nonprofit and higher education communities, Hatter worked for former U.S. Senator Dan Coats in Washington, D.C. and for former Congressman Luke Messer in the 6th District. Hatter served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Karrie Pardieck, Constituent Services Representative

Beginning in 2001, Pardieck worked for then-Congressman Mike Pence, serving Indiana’s 6th District by helping constituents with Social Security concerns. She then worked for former Congressman Luke Messer throughout his tenure, serving as a constituent liaison regarding Social Security and Medicare issues.

Dale Buwalda, Constituent Services and Field Representative

Buwalda has over 16 years of experience in public policy and governmental affairs at the local, state, and national level, most recently as Field Director in Indiana’s 6th District for former Congressman Luke Messer. Buwalda will serve constituents on issues involving U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the IRS, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and healthcare issues.

Misty Hollis, Constituent Services and Field Representative

Hollis was elected to two terms as a city councilor at-large in Richmond and currently serves as executive director at the Richmond Family YMCA, as well as a board member of Richmond Power and Light. She currently serves as the Republican Chair of the 6th District.

Jordan Hall, Field Representative

Hall joined Congressman Pence’s political campaign in October of 2017, serving as Congressman Pence’s Special Assistant. In this role, he traveled throughout the 6th District, meeting with state and local officials, business leaders, and constituents. Hall graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana in 2017 with a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics.

Pence has a local office located at:
555 First Street
Suite B
Columbus, IN 47201
Phone Number: (812) 799-5230

Two dogs were rescued from a house fire by neighboring teens. Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Department, says firefighters were dispatched to 111 Reo Street for a possible structure fire at 1:17 p.m. on Wednesday.

A witness told investigators that Shannan Lawson saw the smoke and called out for her son, Jackson, 18. Jackson said that he and a 17-year-old friend ran to the house and knocked on the door. Jackson told investigators that he knew his neighbor had dogs in the home and that the neighbor was likely at work. Jackson said that smoke was coming from the windows and doors as he knocked on the door and called out to anyone who may have been inside. He said that there was no reply from the interior of the home, including an absence any barking from the dogs. Jackson and his friend kicked in the door and found the two dogs in the bedroom. Both dogs were rescued and removed from the smoke filled home before firefighters arrived. Neither the dogs, nor the teens, were hurt.

Crews arrived on the scene to find light smoke coming from windows and doors. An interior extinguishment crew entered to home and found a small fire confined to a bedroom. Crews reported that the fire had burned a two foot by two foot hole in the bedroom floor. Firefighters attempted to access the home’s crawl space from an opening on the exterior of the home. Due to the size of the access door and the inability for a firefighter to enter the space with firefighting gear, firefighters used a chainsaw to cut a crawl space access hole in the bedroom floor. After gaining access to the crawl space, firefighter discovered two floor joists were significantly damaged by fire. The entire area was doused with water.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Damages to the home are estimated at $10,000.