Samantha R. Anderson. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.
Two people were arrested after they fled from Columbus police last night near 25th and Maple streets.
Police report that they tried to pull over a vehicle at about 9:10 p.m. last night after noting that it did not have the correct license plate. But the driver took off, tearing through Columbus alleys and streets until coming to a stop about 10 minutes later in the 700 block of Maple Street.
The driver 27-year-old Samantha R. Anderson and 33-year-old Christopher D. Branum, both of Columbus, were both arrested at gunpoint. Police found that the two also both had outstanding warrants.
Anderson is facing new charges of reckless driving, criminal recklessness, driving while suspended with a prior conviction and resisting law enforcement in a vehicle. Branum was arrested on two outstanding Bartholomew County Warrants.
Voters in eastern Bartholomew County will be deciding between Republican Scott Bonnell and Democrat Hanna Omar in the District 1 County Council Race.
The seat is currently held by Republican Chris Ogle, but Ogle did not seek re-election.
Bonnell, 56, is a Columbus Fire Department firefighter and fire inspector, as well as a farmer. He is married to Lois and they have two children. He attended St. Peters Lutheran School, Columbus East High School and Purdue University, as well as the National Fire Academy. He has been Farm Bureau president in Bartholomew County for eight years.
Omar, 36, is married to Nebil A Baqhum and they have a son. She works for a financial institution and has bachelors and masters degree in political science from Fordham University. She also holds an MBA from IUPUC. Although she has never run for office before, she serves on the Columbus Board of Zoning Appeals. She is a member of Bartholomew County Indivisible, is organizing the FFY’s Great Girls and Wonderful Women event.
We asked the candidates how the county council can best provide for road repairs.
Bonnell said that current funding seems sufficient.
Omar said she has been talking to people and reading about creative ways to improve road funding.
We asked the candidates about plans to borrow $6 million dollars for a new highway garage.
Omar said she needs to understand the project better before coming to a conclusion..
Bonnell said the current garage definitely needs refurbished or replaced.
You can hear the complete answers to these questions and others on our website.
Four candidates are running next week for the two open seats on the Hope Town Council. Republicans Clyde Compton and Louis Kujawski and Democrats Jerry Bragg and Chelsea Warriner are in the running..
The 52-year-old Bragg is finishing his first full term on the Town Council after serving one year of a previous member’s term. He works as a lead glasier, working with glass.
The 64-year-old Compton has served three terms on the council including two years as president of the Council. He is retired.
Kujawski will appear on the ballot at “Lou K.” He is 56, works around the house and says was a write-in candidate for president in Indiana when Barack Obama was seeking the presidency.
Democrat Chelsea Warriner is executive director of the Community Center of Hope and the 30-year-old has never run for office before. She is treasurer of the Hope Area Chamber of Commerce.
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.
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.
Nicole Stephens; photo courtesy North Vernon Police Dept.William Baugh; photo courtesy North Vernon Police Dept.
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:
An Indianapolis woman’s refusal to leave a gas station Wednesday night led to her arrest on a variety of charges.
Columbus police report that they were called to the station on County Road 450S at about 9:45 p.m. and found an intoxicated woman behind the wheel of a vehicle, who was refusing to leave the store parking lot. She was identified as 40-year-old Jessie L. Harmon and had an outstanding Marion County warrant, charging possession of cocaine and identity deception.
After police took her into custody on the warrant, they discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Indianapolis. And a search revealed drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine in the vehicle.
Harmon was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for a blood draw and then to the Bartholomew County jail on preliminary charges:
