Columbus resident Greg Pence will be the new Republican Congressman for Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District.

He defeated Democrat Jeanine Lee Lake in the race for the Congressional seat formerly held by his brother, Vice President Mike Pence. The Indiana Secretary of State’s office reports that with 83 percent of the state’s precincts counted, Pence won 64 percent to Lake’s 33 percent. Libertarian Tom Ferkinhoff received 3 percent of the vote.

Pence says improving infrastructure for communities in the district will be a focus for him.

He says improving infrastructure for communities in the district will be a focus for him as he reaches out to work with the Trump Administration…

Pence says he won’t move to Washington D.C., adding that he wants to make sure all residents in the district can communicate with him…

Pence says his business background will enable him to better compromise than others.

In local races for the Indiana Statehouse, State Sen. Greg Walker, the incumbent Republican, defeated Democrat Ross Thomas 62 percent to 38 percent in State Senate District 41.

Walker says he’s humbled by the victory.

Sen. Walker also congratulated newly elected State Rep. Ryan Lauer for his victory in the race for Indiana State Representative District 59. Walker says that both families have grown close over the campaign.

Lauer defeated Democrat Dale Nowlin and Libertarian Clyde Myers in the race for Indiana State Representative District 59 with 57 percent of the vote compared to Nowlin’s 40 percent. Myers drew just under three percent in that race. Lauer says there are a number of issues he wants to tackle…

Lauer will take over the seat from current Republican Rep. Milo Smith, who opted not to seek reelection.

In the race for State Representative District 69, which includes very southern Bartholomew County along with parts of Jackson, Jennings and Jefferson counties, Incumbent Republican Rep. Jim Lucas of Seymour won with 69 percent of the voters over Democrat Steve Schoettmer of Elizabethtown.

Northeastern Bartholomew County is in Statehouse District 57, where Republican incumbent Rep. Sean Eberhart was unopposed.

With the absentee votes tallied and all of the county’s 18 vote centers reporting, Bartholomew County Republicans will continue to have a lock on local government.

Bartholomew County set new record vote totals today, with the highest voter turnout since 1982, according to County Clerk Jay Phelps.

We had 26,873 voters cast ballots, which shattered the 1982 record of 23,949 voters. Nearly half of those ballots, 11,780, were cast early either at the county courthouse, the early voting satellite sites or by mail-in ballot. That is a turnout of 52.97 percent of the county’s 50,729 registered voters.

State Sen. Greg Walker, the incumbent Republican, defeated Democrat Ross Thomas 62.47 percent to 37.53 percent in Bartholomew County’s portion of State Senate District 41.

Republican Ryan Lauer defeated Democrat Dale Nowlin and Libertarian Clyde Myers in the race for Indiana State Representative District 59 with 56.85 percent of the vote in Bartholomew County compared to Nowlin’s 40.55 percent. Myers drew 2.6 percent in that race.

In the County Council District 1 race in eastern Bartholomew County, between Republican Scott Bonnell and Democrat Hanna Omar, Bonnell pulled 65.22 percent of the vote, with Omar carrying 34.78 percent.

And in the County Council District 4 race in southwestern Bartholomew County, incumbent Republican Jorge Morales defeated Democrat Lynne Fleming 64.67 to 35.33 percent.

Most of the Bartholomew County countywide races were uncontested this election. With the races for County Commissioner, Sheriff, Prosecutor, Superior Court 1 Judge, Clerk, Auditor, Assessor, Recorder and Treasurer all held by Republicans who were not opposed. Two County Council races were also unopposed.

Bartholomew County voters are in favor of the proposed balanced budget amendment. The public question carried 73 percent of the Bartholomew County voters.

U.S. Senate candidate Mike Braun is leading incumbent Sen. Joe Donnelly 57 to 38 percent in local voting.

CNN has called Indiana’s 6th Congressional District for Columbus resident and Republican Greg Pence. In Bartholomew County tallies, he is leading his Democratic opponent Jeanine Lake 60 to 37 percent.

Further down the ballot,  incumbent Hope Town Council members won over their two challengers for the two at-large seats on the council by a margin of three votes. Democratic incumbent Jerry Bragg drew with 28.41 percent of the vote, followed by Republican incumbent Clyde Compton with 25.46 percent of the vote. Democrat Chelsea Warriner came in just behind Compton with 25.09 percent of the vote. Republican “Lou K” came in last with 21.03 percent.

Clifford Town Board winners are Carroll D. Thompson, Danny James and Ed Stone, all of whom are Democrats.

There were 7,790 voters who cast straight Republican Party ballots, compared to 2,571 Democrat straight-party voters. 17 people voted Libertarian straight-party tickets.

The city of Columbus’ purchase of the Fair Oaks Mall property is one step closer to being a done deal.

The city of Columbus has partnered with Columbus Regional Health and Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County to offer to purchase the more than 35 acre site for $5.9 million. The current breakdown of costs is $4,087,500 from the city, $1,362,500 from CRH and $450,000 from Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County. Mayor Jim Lienhoop says the goal is to create an indoor sports facility for the parks department, enhanced by an on-site a CRH facility. The specifics of how and what the site will be developed into has yet to be established.

The city council voted unanimously on Oct. 16th to create the non-profit group, Fair Oaks Community Development Corporation. Mary Ferdon, the city’s director of administration, says there are eight directors, with the city naming six and CRH naming two. During Monday night’s council meeting, the body voted to set aside the money and authorize the FOCDC to purchase of the property.

Officials say the plan is to close on the property in mid-December. Inspections at the site are ongoing and the purchase agreement can be withdrawn until Dec. 1st. Mayor Lienhoop says that leases at the mall are being honored and that no retailer is being forced out immediately by the impending purchase.

A Columbus man is facing drug-dealing charges after police found that the plates on his vehicle were fictitious.

Columbus police noticed the vehicle in the 1100 block of Washington Street at about 5:30 p.m. Monday evening and talked to the driver, 35 year old Christopher M. Bennett. Bennett turned out to have a suspended driver’s license and he was arrested.

He also turned out to have a large amount of methamphetamine hidden in his pants, plus digital scales and corner cut baggies in his vehicle, according to police reports.

He is facing charges of dealing and possessing meth and possession of drug paraphernalia, in addition to driving on a suspended license with a prior conviction.

Many candidates on the Bartholomew County ballot will be having a stress-free election night. All of the countywide races are unopposed and they will all be filled by Republicans.

Those include:

• Superior Court I Judge Jim Worton
• Prosecutor Bill Nash
• Clerk Jay Phelps
• County Commissioner Carl H. Lienhoop
• Sheriff Matt Myers

Current County Treasurer Pia O’Connor is unopposed in her race for county auditor and current auditor Barb Hackman is going to be the next county treasurer. Both candidates had reached the end of their second term in their previous offices and were unable to seek re-election under state law.

Tami Hines is unopposed in her race for county recorder. She previously served two terms as county clerk.

Ginny Whipple will be serving her first term as county assessor. She is unopposed today in her race to replace outgoing assessor Lew Wilson.

County Council incumbents Laura DeDomenic and Mark Gorbett are uncontested in their races for re-election.

In the statehouse, Republican State Rep. Sean Eberhart is running unopposed for the Shelbyville-centered District 57 seat that includes northeastern Bartholomew County. Republican State Sen. Chip Perfect is also unopposed for the senate District 43 seat which covers eastern Bartholomew County.

All of the seats on the Bartholomew Consolidated and Flat Rock-Hawcreek school boards are uncontested today. In BCSC, Jill Shedd, Rich Stenner and Kathy Dayhoff-Dwyer are going to be re-elected, as will newcomer Julie Bilz. In Flat Rock-Hawcreek, Pat Walters and Dr. John Harker will be re-elected along with new board member Chad Miller.

Races where your vote matters

Among the few Bartholomew County races on the local ballots are two seats on the County Council. Republican Scott Bonnell and Democrat Hanna Omar are running to represent eastern Bartholomew County while incumbent Republican Councilman Jorge Morales is defending his seat against Democrat Lynne Fleming in the southwestern portion of the county.

There is also a four way race between candidates for the two seats on Hope Town Council and five people running for spots on the Clifford Town Board.

In the statehouse, Bartholomew County voters, along with those in Johnson County, will be helping decide between incumbent Republican State Sen. Greg Walker or Democrat Ross Thomas in State Senate District 41. There is a three-way race for the Indiana House District 59 seat that represents most of Bartholomew County and Columbus with Republican Ryan Lauer, Democrat Dale Nowlin and Libertarian Clyde Myers.

The very southern part of Bartholomew County, along with parts of Jefferson, Jackson and Jennings counties will be voting for State House District 69 between Republican incumbent Rep. Jim Lucas and Democrat Steve Schoettmer.

In addition to the statewide races, Bartholomew County voters will be helping decide who will replace Republican Luke Messer in the 6th Congressional district race – Republican Greg Pence, Democrat Jeanine Lake or Libertarian Tom Ferkinhoff.

After months of debates, campaigns and get out the vote efforts, it is actually time to cast your vote. Polls are open in Indiana from 6 to 6 today. In Bartholomew County there are 18 vote centers spread throughout the county where you can cast your ballot.

Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps says there have already been record setting numbers of voters both at the early voting polling machines and in mail-in ballots. As of last night, there had been 11,749 early votes cast. Phelps says this bests not only recent mid-term elections, but also doubles the early vote totals in the 2008 and 2012 presidential election years.

Make sure you bring a valid form of state ID when you head out to vote. The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles says it will keep all of its offices open until 6 p.m. this evening. The BMV will renew or issue new drivers licenses or state ID cards to anyone who needs to update their ID in order to vote.

If you have any questions about voting today, you can call the Bartholomew County voter registration office at 812-379-1604.

We’ll have live election coverage starting at 6 p.m. tonight here on News Talk 1010 WCSI and 98.1 FM.

Bartholomew County Vote Center locations:

Bartholomew County voters can cast ballots today at one of 18 voting centers across the community. These replace the previous precinct polling locations. The voting centers are at:

Election Day Sites:

1. Flintwood Wesleyan Church, 5300 25th St, Columbus, IN 47203
2. St. John’s Masonic Lodge, 4131 Rocky Ford Rd., Columbus, IN 47203
3. Grace Lutheran Church, 3201 Central Ave., Columbus, IN  47203
4. Healing Waters Church, 2330 Midway St., Columbus, IN 47201
5. Donner Center, 739 22nd St., Columbus, IN 47201
6. East Columbus Fire Station, 935 Repp Dr, Columbus, IN 47201
7. The Commons, 300 Washington St., Columbus, IN 47201
8. Main Source Bank, 2310 W. Jonathan Moore Pike, Columbus, IN 47201
9. Terrace Lake Church, 4260 W. 200 S., Columbus, IN 47201
10. Faith Lutheran Church, 6000 W. State Road 46, Columbus, IN 47201
11. Bartholomew County REMC, 1697 W Deaver Rd, Columbus, IN 47201
12. Elizabethtown Fire Station, 10203 E. Legal Tender, Elizabethtown,  IN 47232
13. Shiloh Baptist Church, 11988 E. State Road 46,  Columbus, IN 47203
14. Hope Moravian Church, 202 Main St., Hope, IN 47246
15. Clifford Fire Station, 7850 N Depot St., Clifford, IN 47226
16. German Twp. Fire Station, 9428 Main St., Taylorsville, IN 47280
17. Southwest Fire Station, 8500 S. State Road 58, Columbus, IN  47201
18. White Creek Lutheran Church, 16270 S. 300 W., Columbus, IN 47201

For more information, you can go to bartholomew.in.gov

Voters in Jackson County have a number of contested local races to decide on Tuesday.

In the race for Sheriff, Democrat Jeffrey Walters faces Republican Rick Meyer to determine who succeeds current Sheriff Mike Carothers. Sheriff Carothers is unable to run for reelection due to term limits.

Jackson County voters will also have a say in who represents them in Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District. Incumbent Republican Rep. Trey Hollingsworth is being challenged by Democrat Liz Watson.

In Statehouse District 65, which includes Brown County and portions of Jackson, Monroe and Johnson counties, Republican incumbent Chris May faces Democrat challenger Jared Stancombe.

Incumbent Republican Jim Lucas faces Democrat Steve Schoettmer in the battle for Indiana House District 69.

In Statehouse District 73, which includes all of Washington County and parts of Jackson, Orange, Lawrence, Clark and Harrison counties, incumbent Republican Steve Davisson faces Democrat Buford DeWitt.

In the race for Jackson County Council District 1, Republican incumbent Michael Davidson of Seymour is being challenged by Democrat Catherine Stuckwisch of Brownstown.

The District 2 race features two political newcomers. Republican Mark Hackman and Democrat Barry Stuckwisch are both residents of Seymour.

In County Council District 3, incumbent Republican Brian Thompson faces Democrat Mary Voss Burgmeier.

In County Council District 4, Republican Kari Luedeman Storey faces Democrat Mandy Ward.

In the race for Jackson County Recorder, Democrat Clifford Summers faces Republican Amanda Cunningham Lowery.

We’ll have live election coverage when polls close at 6 p.m. Tuesday on News Talk 1010 WCSI and 98.1 FM.

Voters in Jennings County have a number of contested local races to decide on Tuesday.

Sheriff Gary Driver faces Republican William Kenny Freeman. Driver is completing his first term as Sheriff. Freeman is a retired lieutenant colonel with the Army National Guard.

In the race for County Commissioner District 3, incumbent Republican Matt Sporleder faces Democrat Nick Megel.

In County Council District 2, incumbent Democrat Larry Maschino faces Republican Mandy Gauger Creech.

In County Council District 4, incumbent Democrat Tony Eder Sr. faces Republican Charlie Webber

In the race for County Auditor, incumbent Democrat Kay Sue Vance faces off against Republican Tessia Salsman.

Democrat Larry Franks and Republican Amy Gwin Thompson are running for Jennings County Clerk of Courts. The winner will replace outgoing Clerk Sandra Vance, who is facing Republican Mary Dorsett Kilgore in the race for County Recorder. The winner will replace outgoing Clerk Janice Ramey.

Polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. We’ll have live coverage when the polls close on News Talk 1010 WCSI and 98.1 FM.

A traffic stop in North Vernon led to a pair of drug arrests. At about 11:30 p.m. on Friday, officers stopped a vehicle for a minor violation. Authorities say that police dog Zobi alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. A subsequent search revealed 3.5 grams of marijuana. Information gathered during the traffic stop led to police getting a search warrant for an address on Vintage Trace.

Officers descended on the address where 43-year-old William Smith and 18-year-old Kevin Burton, both of North Vernon, were detained. Officers searching the home reported finding 25 grams of marijuana, several prescription only pills not stored in a prescription container, a large amount of plastic packaging bags, digital scales and a smoking device.

Smith is facing preliminary charges of Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Possession of a Controlled Substance and a Legend Drug Violation.

Burton is facing preliminary charges of Dealing in Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana and Maintaining a common nuisance.