The Bartholomew County Highway Department says that the intersection of County Road 800 North and Executive Drive is closed to all traffic. The closure is expected to last two to three weeks for utility extensions. You are asked to avoid this area if at all possible.
If you are looking for more traffic information, download the WAZE app for your smartphone and join the WCSI Traffic team powered by Crew Car Wash. You can find updated traffic information on our website, on-air and on the app.
A Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy on patrol captured a wanted local man over the weekend.
Just before 10 p.m. Saturday, Deputy Ryland Fluhr was patrolling in the 200 block of Patterson Road when he saw a man he knew to have an outstanding arrest warrant out of Bartholomew County.
As the deputy exited his patrol vehicle, the man went behind a residence and would not respond to commands. As other deputies arrived to assist, Deputy Fluhr observed the man crawl into a shed. Deputy Fluhr gave verbal commands for the man to exit the shed; however, the subject did not comply. A short time later, the man, identified as 44-year-old Shawn Timothy Gilley, of Columbus, was arrested on preliminary charges of:
Possession of Methamphetamine
Possession of Marijuana
Possession of Legend Drug Injection Device
Possession of Paraphernalia
Gilley remains behind bars without bond.
A Johnson County woman was arrested on drug charges late Friday night in Bartholomew County.
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that at approximately 11 p.m., a deputy was driving behind a vehicle on northbound Indianapolis Road when the driver activated the left turn signal. The vehicle then veered right onto the shoulder of the roadway before making a wide left turn onto Lowell Road. As the vehicle approached the stop sign, it turned directly in front of a vehicle traveling northbound on US 31 forcing that vehicle to change lanes to prevent a collision.
The deputy initiated a traffic stop in the area of Southline Drive and US 31. After making contact with the driver, 38-year-old Amy Adair, of Franklin, police dog Bravo was deployed and alerted to the odor of narcotics inside the vehicle.
Adair was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Heroin and Possession of Legend Drug Injection Device.
She has since been released.
Bartholomew County deputies say a driver was under the influence when he crashed into a utility pole and the garage of a house Sunday.
The incident happened at about 9:06 p.m. Sunday evening in the 10000 block of East County Road 50N. 35-year-old Tyler Burton of Columbus allegedly was driving when his vehicle left the road, striking the pole, then careening through a yard before crashing into the garage.
He was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital to be checked out before being arrested on a charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence.
No one was injured, deputies say.
A Columbus man is being accused of stealing money from a restaurant cash register and then knocking an elderly woman down as he fled the scene.
Police say the incident happened around 1 p.m. Friday afternoon at a restaurant in the 3100 block of Jonathan Moore Pike. 29-year-old Justin A. James allegedly asked a cashier for change, and then grabbed money from the till. As he ran from the restaurant, an 87-year-old woman was knocked to the ground, injuring her wrist and cutting her face.
Police found James Friday night and he was arrested in a vehicle on Chestnut Street with the assistance of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.
He is facing charges of strong-arm robbery and battery and was wanted on two outstanding warrants.
A Columbus man is being accused of criminal recklessness with a firearm after shots were fired at an apartment complex Saturday night.
Police say they were called to the 3700 block of Williamsburg Way aat 8:15 p.m. Saturday night after reports of shots being fired. They found shell casings outside an apartment and ordered those inside the apartment to exit.
After detaining the four people who were inside, interviews led officers to arrest 25-year-old Jamontrae D. Bennett.
Police say they checked several other apartments in the area and no damage or injuries were reported.
An Indiana State Trooper is recovering after being hit by debris yesterday when his vehicle was rear-ended while he made a traffic stop
Senior Trooper Kyle Black had pulled a vehicle over at about 9:45 a.m. Sunday morning on U.S. 421 in Ripley County. His unmarked vehicle, with its emergency lights on, was behind the stopped vehicle on the shoulder of the highway, when it was rear-ended by 77-year-old Mary Ann Holman of Holton.
Black was standing outside of his vehicle when it was hit and he was struck by debris. He suffered a leg injury and was taken to Margaret Mary Hospital in Batesville, where he was treated and released. Holman was taken to King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
A North Vernon man was killed in a Sunday afternoon crash, according to Indiana State Police.
Troopers report that 25-year-old Craig Coons was thrown from his vehicle in the crash at about 1:30 p.m on Jennings County Road 150E near County Road 650N in rural Jennings County. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Jennings County Coroner’s Office.
The initial investigation indicates that he was driving northbound, left the side of the road and struck a utility pole, according to state police.
The vehicle flipped over and he was ejected. Troopers say he was not wearing a seatbelt.
Election Day is tomorrow, but you can still vote early until noon today at the voter registration office in the Bartholomew County Courthouse.
Polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at eight voting centers across the city. Those will be at Flintwood Wesleyan Church, St. John’s Masonic Lodge, Grace Lutheran Church, Donner Center, Bible Church of Columbus, The Commons, German American Bank on Jonathan Moore Pike and Terrace Lake Church.
Columbus voters are choosing from a full slate of candidates for Columbus City Council, with every race being contested between Republicans, Democrats and one independent. At the top of the ballot Republican Mayor Jim Lienhoop and Clerk-Treasurer Luann Welmer are running unopposed.
The race in City Council District 1 pits incumbent Republican Dascal Bunch against Democrat Jerone Wood and independent Michael Kinder.
Elaine Wagner, the incumbent Democrat in City Council District 2, is running for re-election against Republican Jim Hartsook.
In City Council District 3, incumbent Republican Dave Bush is facing Democrat Katea Ravega.
Frank Miller, the incumbent Republican in City Council District 4 is running for re-election against Democrat Michael Schoumacher.
In City Council District 5, incumbent Republican Tim Shuffett is facing Ross Thomas, a Democrat.
In the four-way race for the two at-large seats on the council, incumbent Republican Laurie Booher and Democrat Tom Dell are running against Republican Josh Burnett and Democrat Grace Kestler.
Most Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles branches will have extended hours today and Tuesday so patrons can get appropriate ID to allow them to vote.
During the extended hours, branches will only process new, amended, or replacement ID cards, and renewed, amended, or replacement driver’s licenses and learner permits. New driver’s licenses and learner permits will only be processed provided the customer has previously completed all required testing. Customers who are required to take a knowledge or driving skills exam to obtain or renew a license may choose to apply for a free ID card to use for voting purposes.
Branches will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday.
We’ll have election results live tomorrow night after the polls close on News Talk 1010 WCSI and 98.1 FM and you can look for complete results on our website.
A Franklin man was killed in a Friday morning crash in Johnson County. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene in the 5700 block of South US 31 in Franklin at 6 a.m.
Investigators say that 24-year-old Dillan Anthony Martin, of Martinsville, was driving a car on southbound US 31 just north of 5700 South US 31. Martin told investigators that he was in the right lane following another vehicle. The vehicle in front of him switched to the left lane. Martin then struck a moped driven by 50-year-old Matthew Aaron Frye. Frye was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say it is unknown if the driver in front of Martin saw the moped and that was the reason they made the lane change.
The investigation is ongoing, though authorities say that speed and alcohol have been ruled out as possible factors in the crash. Martin has cooperated with Accident Investigators.