IUPUC honored those who have helped the community during the annual Circle of Leadership Celebration Thursday night in Columbus.

David Elwood was recognized with the 2018 James G. Simms Leadership Award. The award, established in honor of the late James G. Simms for his vision, perseverance, and dedication in founding the IUPUC campus in the 1970s, recognizes “inspiring individuals who have generously given their time, talent, and treasure to advance IUPUC’s mission.”

David Elwood graduated from Olivet Nazarene University in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, and began his career in Columbus as a psychologist with Bartholomew County Mental Health and Guidance Center. Elwood went on to earn his master’s degree from Southern Illinois University and his Ph.D. in Psychology from Purdue University.

In 1980, Elwood and his son, Mark, founded Elwood Staffing, where he continues to serve as chairperson of the board.

Elwood began serving on the IUPUC Board of Advisors in 2008. He now also serves on the IUPUC Mental Health Counseling Advisory Council.

IUPUC also recognized Chris Reading with its 2018 Distinguished Alumnus Award. The award recognizes a deserving alumnus who has “demonstrated outstanding professional contributions and accomplishments, service to the community, and service to the university.”

Reading received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from IUPUC in 2005, and his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 2000.

School officials say that Reading served as president of the IUPUC Alumni from 2009-2011, was instrumental in increasing the visibility and reputation of the organization, and has helped increase the scholarship fund through fundraising events. In addition, Reading was active in larger, university-wide Indiana University Alumni Association events, as well as encouraging IUAA magazine and other publications to more prominently feature IUPUC.

A Columbus man wanted on a Bartholomew County warrant was arrested Thursday evening. Columbus Police say that at around 5:45 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 2100 block of State Street in regards to a man with a warrant at that location. Police spoke with 40-year-old Jerome S. Brantley and confirmed the warrant.

While speaking with Brantley, the officers say they could smell marijuana coming from his vehicle. A search of Brantley’s vehicle reportedly uncovered marijuana, methamphetamine and Hydrocodone pills.

In addition to the warrant, Brantley is facing new preliminary charges of
Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Marijuana.

We’re seeing record early voting in Bartholomew County. Jay Phelps, county clerk, explains…

Phelps says he expects numbers similar to the 2016 general election.

Early voting continues Friday at the Bartholomew County Courthouse Voter Registration office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. There are three early voting centers open Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. They are: Those satellite locations are at Donner Center, Flintwood Wesleyan Church and at German American Bank on Jonathan Moore Pike.

Early voting ends at noon Monday at the courthouse.

President Trump’s middle son, Eric Trump, stopped in Columbus Thursday afternoon for a rally with supporters at Zaharakos to benefit Republican Greg Pence. He spoke about how the Trump and Pence families grew closer throughout the 2016 Presidential campaign.

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Trump says this campaign stop was a lot more personal.

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Pence says the help from the Trump family has been invaluable.

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As for Pence’s plans in the campaign’s closing days…

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Pence faces Democrat Jeannine Lake to represent Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District in Tuesday’s election.

The Columbus Municipal Airport is asking for your input in identifying the the needs and preferences regarding a possible outdoor recreational area at AirPark Columbus.

The AirPark has seen significant growth over the past few years, with more than 2,000 employees spread over 60 businesses. In order to share its success and give something back to the community, airport officials say the idea of this recreational area emerged.

“The Columbus Airport Board and staff have spent several months looking at options for how best to use the greenspace and open areas in the Columbus AirPark to best serve both residents and visitors,” said Brian Payne, Columbus Airport Director. “The next step is to ask for community input to see which of the options is most appealing to citizens.”

You are encouraged to share your thoughts about possible features to be included in the outdoor recreation by completing an online survey at surveymonkey.com/r/airpark. The deadline to submit your survey is Nov. 16.

Bartholomew County Treasurer Pia O’Connor is reminding taxpayers that the fall installment of 2018 property tax bills is due November 13th.

Payment options include:
• Mail — Send remittance to Bartholomew County Treasurer’s office, PO Box 1986, Columbus, IN 47202. Must be post marked by the due date.
• Banks – must have statement – Centra Credit Union, First Financial Bank, German American Bank, Jackson County Bank or Salin Bank.
• 24-hour drop box — Third Street side of Governmental Office Building, 440 Third St. Envelopes provided. Include copy of statement, parcel number or address.
• In person — Treasurer’s office during business hours, 8 a.m.to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. The County Treasurer’s office will be closed on Tuesday, November 6th for the General Election and on Monday, November 12th in observance of Veteran’s Day.
• Credit card — Instructions on back of statement or bartholomew.in.gov. Credit card companies will assess a fee.

O’Connor says that a five-percent penalty will apply for any payments as many as 30 days late. After December 10th, a 10-percent penalty will apply.

For more information, visit bartholomew.in.gov or call the Treasurer’s Office at (812) 379-1530.

Two Jennings County residents were arrested Wednesday night when North Vernon Police went to investigate suspicious activity when three people went behind a gas station. When officers went to investigate, two of them ran off, but were quickly caught.

One suspect, 26-year-old Nicole A. Stephens, of North Vernon, had an active warrant issued out of Jennings County for failure to appear. She was arrested.

The other suspect, 28-year-old William F. Baugh, of Scipio, allegedly dropped drugs during his escape attempt. Police say they were able to recover 7.5 grams of methamphetamine packaged in separate bags, a bag of prescription pills not in their prescription container and other drug paraphernalia. Authorities add that Baugh was also wanted on a state police warrant.

Baugh is facing preliminary charges of:

– Dealing in Methamphetamine
– Possession of Methamphetamine
– Legend Drug Violation
– Possession of Paraphernalia

Water is rising and impacting area roads. The Bartholomew County Emergency Management Agency says that the following roads have high water but remain open at this time:

S Jonesville Rd. / E 650 S   Water over SB lane.

500 S/300 E.

800 N/ West of 425 E.

W 250 S/S  400 W

N 500 E/E 275 N  Water over 1 lane.

A grant from the Columbus Rotary Club is helping to attack the opioid epidemic locally. Bob Morrison is a member of the Rotary Club and White River Broadcasting Station Manager. He explains that the grant is funding training for the SMART Recovery Program, a 4-Point Program that helps people recover from all types of addictive behaviors.

Organizers say the program includes many ideas and techniques to help someone change their life from one that is self-destructive and unhappy to one that is constructive and satisfying. SMART Recovery was founded in 1994 and is an abstinence-based, not-for-profit organization with a self-help program for people having problems with drinking and using.

Morrison explains that the program trains 25 volunteers to provide help after an addict steps through the initial stages of recovery.

Morrison notes that the Rotary Club pursued this project out of a desire to make a positive impact on the community. Rotary members discussed the drug problem in our area and determined that they could best help by focusing on recovery. That led to the local club reaching out to its district leadership.

The training program will be held at Hotel Indigo. After training, SMART Recovery facilitators will be able to start and lead more recovery meetings throughout the community. SMART Recovery is being coordinated by the Recovery Programs team of the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress.

The Ivy Tech Community College Criminal Justice Club will host a State of Indiana Court of Appeals hearing at 1 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Columbus Learning Center Auditorium. The hearing, which is part of the court’s traveling “Appeals on Wheels” program, is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend to learn more about the judiciary and appeals process.

The court will hear oral arguments in the case of Sebastian D. Durstock vs. the State of Indiana. Durstock is appealing his conviction of dealing in a narcotic drug, a Level 2 felony, and sentence of 17 and a half years in prison with two and a half years suspended to probation.

The case stems from an incident on Jan. 13, 2017, in which Lawrenceburg police officers and emergency medical providers responded to the report of an unconscious woman. As they were assisting the woman, officers heard water running in the restroom. According to the case, Sebastian Durstock walked out of the restroom, and officers noticed that he appeared to be under the influence of opiates. A resident of the apartment gave officers permission to search the bathroom, where the officers found a backpack containing a gun and a scale. The officers did a pat down search of Durstock for weapons and said they felt an object consistent with a syringe in his pocket. Officers removed the item, which they said was a syringe, and placed Durstock under arrest for unlawful possession of a syringe. During a search due to the arrest, officers found a bag containing fentanyl in Durstock’s pocket.

Durstock’s appeal raises three issues: whether the trial court erred by admitting evidence found on Durstock’s person during the pat down search; whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain his conviction; and whether his sentence is inappropriate.

Traveling oral arguments are just like oral arguments in the Court’s Statehouse courtroom. A bailiff calls the court into session, the judges enter, and lawyers for the parties present their arguments to the judges and answer the judges’ questions. Following the hearing, the court will take questions about the law and the judiciary in general, but not about the case they’ve just heard.