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 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair kicks off today.

Organizer Annie Romine says there will be numerous displays, rides and the return of an old fair favorite.

The fair officially opens at 5 p.m. today and it is Bartholomew County Republican Party Day. The midway is offering $20 wristbands and the Indiana Pulling League will have an event at the grandstands at 7 p.m. The band, Ferguson Road, will be performing at the Farm Bureau Building,  also starting at 7 p.m. tonight.

The Bartholomew County 4-H Fair continues on Saturday with grandstand entertainment featuring the Demolition Derby sponsored by the Kroot Corp at 7 p.m.  Mount LIberty Way will be performing at the Farm Bureau building at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Midnight Madness starts at 8 p.m.with $15 wristbands Saturday.

Saturday is both Pardiecks Hot Tub Day at the fair and Military Appreciation Day.

This year’s fair runs through Saturday, July 13th.

You can get a full rundown of this year’s fair activities at bartholomewcountyfair.com.

Two people were arrested on drug charges after a traffic stop near Crothersville on Interstate 65 this week.

The Indiana State Police are reporting that a trooper stopped a pickup truck on I-65 Northbound in southern Jackson County at about 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. The trooper’s police dog Jinx alerted to the odor of drugs coming from the vehicle.

A search revealed about 28 grams of suspected methamphetamine inside. State police arrested both the driver of the vehicle, 33-year-old Ryan C. Plessinger, of North Vernon and his passenger, 57-year-old Rose Z. Victorino, of Crothersville on drug charges.

At the Jackson County Jail, Victorino was found to be carrying about another 40 grams of suspected methamphetamine.

Plessinger and Victorino are facing felony charges of dealing and possessing methamphetamine.

The Town of Hope will be hosting the second of its summer car cruise ins starting tonight at 5 p.m. on the Town Square.

Top Hat Blues Review is playing at the bandstand starting at 6 p.m.

This month’s featured event is a baby contest and there is still time to enter. You can register for $5 at the shelterhouse and prizes are being donated by Jana Jones Photography, Zaharakos, Dairy Queen and Chuck E. Cheese.

The car cruse-ins are held on the first Friday of each month through October.

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.

Stakeholders in Columbus continue to work on the future of the Fair Oaks Mall property. As part of the Fair Oaks Mall Master Plan process, you’re invited to attend one of four upcoming public engagement meetings. These meetings are designed to help you learn more about the project and offer your input.

The first public meeting is set for Thursday, July 11th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Fair Oaks Mall. Dates for future public engagement meetings will be announced at a later date.

The Fair Oaks Community Development Corporation, made up of Columbus Regional Health, The Heritage Fund of Bartholomew County and the City of Columbus, have contracted with MKSK to develop a Master Plan. City officials say the company will also design ideas for the best use of the mall and Donner Center properties for recreation and community wellness purposes.

More information on the project is available online at columbusparksandrec.com/about/reports/.

Three North Vernon residents were arrested on alcohol-related charges after a weekend incident.

North Vernon Police say that just before 8:30 p.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to the area of North State Street and FDR Drive for a report of two UTVs driving recklessly in a parking lot. Officers arrived in the area and found the vehicles parked and unoccupied.

While officers were observing traffic in the area, they say both UTVs began to travel from FDR Drive to Henry Street. Police initiated a traffic stop on one of the UTVs driven by 19-year-old Todd Madden. A second officer then stopped the other UTV, driven by 24-year-old Dustin Coleman, in the area of West O&M Avenue.

Madden and Coleman were both arrested for Operating While Intoxicated. Madden is also facing a charge of Minor Consumption. A passenger, 19-year-old Maggie Mote, was also arrested for Minor Consumption.

Columbus Fire Chief Mike Compton has announced that he’ll be retiring from the department in mid-July. Chief Compton was sworn as a firefighter on January 22, 1988 by Mayor Robert Stewart.

Over his three decade career, Chief Compton was promoted through the ranks of Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Battalion Chief. On January 1, 2016 Compton was appointed Chief of Fire by Mayor Jim Lienhoop. Chief Compton’s official retirement date will be July 23rd.

Chief Compton, led to a major capital funding request to replace CFD’s aging vehicle extrication rescue equipment and the refurbishment of a 20 year old rescue vehicle. He also oversaw the development of the department’s first Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program that allows drones to aid emergency personnel.

“As my career with the Columbus Fire Department comes to an end, it cannot be overstated that the support of the department personnel, Mayor Lienhoop and his staff, the Columbus Common Council, the Board of Public Works and Safety, and all of the City’s departments, made the job fulfilling and satisfying,” said Compton.

Mayor Lienhoop expressed gratitude for Compton’s service. “Chief Compton has a deep understanding of what a well-run fire department should look like and he worked hard to make that happen. He is well-respected and dedicated to the men and women who work for the Columbus Fire Department; his leadership will be missed.”

Mayor Leinhoop has selected Paul A. Lay, currently serving as Deputy Chief of Fire Department Operations, as the next Chief of Fire. Lay will take over as Fire Chief on July 23rd.

City officials say that Lay has served as the Deputy Chief of Operations since 2016, and has served the Columbus Fire Department since 1997. Lay has held the rank of Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain before being named Deputy Chief under Chief Mike Compton. Lay also served with the Shelbyville Fire Department prior to joining CFD. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve our community as Chief of Fire,” said Lay. “I look forward to working with Mayor Lienhoop and our city administration, our community partners, and the men of women of the Columbus Fire Department.”

Fireworks season is in full swing with many people setting off the devices in anticipation of Independence Day. But emergency officials warn you to be careful in your celebrations.

Capt. Mike Wilson with the Columbus Fire Department explains that the most common fireworks cause the most injuries.

Wilson said that bottle rockets and other projectiles are frequently the cause of eye or facial injuries. But the most common injury is damage to hands and fingers caused by firecrackers.

Even the lowly sparkler reaches temperatures hot enough to melt glass.

Parents should be especially vigilant if they are allowing their children to be around fireworks. And they should avoid distractions that could keep them from noticing potential danger.