Columbus native Greg Pence made his case to local Republican supporters Saturday for election to the Sixth Congressional District — protecting the work of President Donald Trump.

Pence, took the stage in a barn at Hackman Farm Market Saturday along with Mike Braun, a businessman hoping to unseat Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly. They both stressed the importance of Republicans getting out to vote this fall and donating to candidates they support.

Pence expressed frustration with the insurance provided through Obamacare.

He said that Democrats would work to weaken U.S. security.

Pence also touted the Republican president’s work on the economy.

And Pence said that the country is once again on the right path.

Pence is running against Democrat Jeanine Lake for the seat in Congress that was formerly held by his younger brother, Vice President Mike Pence.

A Northbrook Drive home was seriously damaged in a Sunday afternoon fire sparked in a bedroom.

Smoke alarms alerted the 83-year-old homeowner, who had been napping, and she found heavy flames coming from the bedroom of her adult grandson. She fled and the grandson returned home to fight the fire with a garden hose, slightly burning his arm, says Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Department.

Firefighters arrived at about 3:30 and battled the fire. After extinguishing the flames they found that the bedroom was extensively damaged, and the fire burned through the floor. It also extended into the attic and smoke and fire damage was found throughout the home. Wilson estimated that the damages were $84,000.

The grandson said he had been in the bedroom about three hours before the fire started. Firefighters looked through the debris for several hours but the cause of the fire remains undetermined, Wilson said.

A tip from an East State Street business led to the arrest of four people on drug-related charges Friday afternoon in Columbus.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is reporting that three people entered the business and acted suspiciously including taking photos of the business at about a quarter til 3 Friday afternoon. They then drove off down State Street.

A deputy pulled over the vehicle a short time later at U.S. 31 and State Road 46. A police dog alerted to the odor of narcotics inside the vehicle and a search revealed a detergent bottle containing pills and a crystalline substance according to police reports. Baggies, scales and other drug paraphernalia were also found.

The driver, 40-year-old Ryan L. Chandler of Edinburgh was arrested
along with passengers, 33-year-old Leslie Houchin of Columbus, 36 year old Amy McPherson of Indianapolis and 47-year-old William Carey of Greenwood.

Preliminary charges include:

• Chandler – Maintaining a common nuisance and possession of paraphernalia
• Houchin – Visiting a common nuisance
• McPherson – Visiting a common nuisance and possession of paraphernalia
• Carey – Possession of a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine and visiting a common nuisance.

Columbus firefighters battled a blaze in the detached garage of a vacant home early Sunday morning.

Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the fire department, says that firefighters were called to the home in the 900 block of California Street at just before 12:25 a.m. Sunday morning and found the garage fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters quickly knocked out the flames using hand lines.

The garage was a complete loss and the heat of the fire damaged neighboring garages and the vinyl siding on nearby homes, Wilson said.

Damages are estimated at $15,000 and there were no injuries.

Schneck Medical Center is looking for volunteers. Stephanie Furlow, the hospital’s director of marketing and public relations, says that due to the growth at Schneck, the medical center needs more people willing to donate their time. Volunteers are asked to work one four-hour shift per week, but can work more if they would like.

Furlow says that Volunteers serve in various areas of the hospital including the gift shop, admitting and information desks, and various hospital departments. They also transport patients, deliver patient and interdepartmental mail and patient flowers.

For more information on the volunteer opportunities at Schneck, call Amy Cockerham, Volunteer Coordinator, at (812) 522-0439.

A Wednesday night traffic stop led to the arrests of two people. Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that at about 10:37 p.m., Sgt. Kris Weisner initiated a traffic stop on southbound US 31 at Lowell Road.

While speaking with the driver, 26-year-old Caren Lea-Ann Piper, of Seymour, authorities reported seeing drug-related paraphernalia inside the vehicle. K9 Bolt was deployed and alerted to narcotics inside the vehicle. A search allegedly uncovered methamphetamine, marijuana and nine meth pipes.

Piper was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia and Operating a Vehicle while Never Obtaining a Driver’s License.

A passenger, 21-year-old Christian Najera, of Columbus, was arrested on a preliminary charge of Possession of Paraphernalia.

A $25,000 grant will allow the Columbus Area Arts Council to operate a new gallery and cultural space on Sixth Street downtown.

The grant was awarded by the Efroymson Family Fund, a fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, and it will allow for a two-year pilot program for the new center, according to an announcement by the Arts Council.

The space will feature programs such as exhibitions, projects and ties to community events that are happening in the downtown Arts & Entertainment District. There will also be internships available for both high school and college students.

The first event will feature local artists and will premiere on Friday, Sept. 7th. The new center is going to be at 411 Sixth Street, beside the Arts Council’s offices. For more information you can go to artsincolumbus.org

Indiana State Police are investigating the death of an inmate Thursday at the Bartholomew County Jail.

61-year-old Cathy A. Hull of Columbus died at the jail yesterday afternoon, according to troopers.  Jail staff found Hull unconscious in a cell at the jail at about 4:30 p.m. in the afternoon and called paramedics. She was pronounced dead at the jail.

Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police, says that no foul play is suspected and toxicology results are pending.

Hull was being held after being arrested Wednesday by Columbus Police on a warrant for a probation violation.

Bartholomew County deputies report that they made an arrest in a battery investigation that started last weekend in Hartsville.

Deputies were called to the community at about 3:40 p.m. Sunday afternoon on a reported battery. On Wednesday, a warrant was issued and deputies arrested 37-year-old Kyle Keller of Hartsville on a preliminary charge of battery with serious bodily injury.

He was being held on $150,000 bond as of this morning, according to the sheriff’s department.

It’s been an uneventful start to the new school year. That’s the message from BCSC Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts.

Roberts noted that along with new students entering the district, there are new teachers as well.

To aid in their success, Roberts says that BCSC has a teacher academy to help these new teachers develop within the vision of the school corporation. In addition, new teachers have been assigned a mentor that will meet with them throughout the year to make sure that there is constant feedback to help them succeed.