Two North Vernon residents, one of them wanted by authorities, were arrested Monday night.

A spokesperson for the North Vernon Police Department (NVPD) says that the arrests were the result of a traffic stop at 9:04 p.m. in near a gas station on South State State street. Authorities say that the driver, 20-year-old Dugan J. Carter, and his passenger, 20-year-old Brandi M. Long, were both apprehended. The NVPD says that Carter was arrested on an outstanding warrant out of Jennings County. They say that Long was arrested on a Misdemeanor charge of Possession of Paraphernalia.

Authorities say that Carter and Long were booked in the Jennings County Jail. Bond information was not available.

Two Columbus residents were arrested Monday on methamphetamine related charges after traffic stops.

According to reports from Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the police department:

25-year-old Nadia Brown was stopped at about 5:30 near Seventh and Washington streets for having an expired tag on a license plate that allegedly belonged on another vehicle. During a search of the vehicle officers allegedly found syringes including one containing methamphetamine. She was arrested on preliminary charges of possession of a legend drug injection device and possession of methamphetamine.

54-year-old Eloy Salinas was arrested after a stop at about 7 p.m. near Seventh Street and Pleasant Grove. A search of his vehicle allegedly revealed a bag of methamphetamine. He is facing preliminary charges of driving while suspended, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine and a Bartholomew Superior Court II warrant

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department wants to encourage you to take an inventory of your valuable items, to record any serial numbers and to store that inventory in a safe place.

While that inventory won’t help you keep from being robbed or keep your belongings from getting destroyed in a disaster, it will make it easier to recover your belongings, to help document the crime, if police find a stash of stolen items and to file insurance claims.

Detective Sgt. Chad Swank explains the importance of recording the serial numbers of items that have them.

“Any item that you may have, whether it is a TV or a laptop computer, there are hundreds of thousands of those made,” Swank said. “So, we have got to be able to distinguish theirs from all the others out there. So, having that serial number is the really the only way we can do that. Having that serial number allows us enter the item into the nationwide computer database. So if any officer anywhere in the nation comes across that item, if they run that serial number, they are going to know that it is stolen. And in turn we are going to know that we have a lead for the investigation, as well.”

Swank said that is important that once you make your list, to keep it somewhere safe.

“I know we have had victims in the past who have serial numbers for their guns, but they keep them in their safe with all the guns,” Swank said. “But then someone broke in and took the entire safe. So, they have no serial numbers to let us know about.”

The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic will have a permanent home on Franklin Street in downtown Columbus. The Philharmonic is announcing that the Haddad family foundation has donated the building that has housed the orchestra’s offices since 2003.

The 5,000 square foot building at 315 Franklin Street houses staff offices, a music library and storage space, in addition to space for private and group music lessons, youth ensemble rehearsals and other activities.

Bob and Helen Haddad have been big supporters of the Philharmonic since 1987 with the founding of the Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir. In the 1990s, they headed the push for the orchestra’s endowment, including a $500,000 challenge gift. The couple have also funded the orchestra’s education director staff position with an annual grant for many years.

The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic moved out of The Commons in 2003.

It’s almost time to start early voting for the May primary election.

Primary voters will be choosing their party’s candidates for president, but also voting for candidates for Bartholomew Circuit Court judge, county commissioner and at-large county council members, among others.

Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps said early voting at the courthouse begins on April 5th and ends on May 2nd.

Phelps says that there will be early-voting opportunities aside from the courthouse. Those locations will be at Donner Center, Main Source Bank on the west side of Columbus and Flintwood Wesleyan Church. These new locations are scheduled to be open April 25 through the 30th. Hours will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. that Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 30th.

Phelps says that he, and his office, are looking forward to this election. He notes that this will be the first county-wide election to use vote centers instead of traditional precincts. Last year’s Columbus municipal elections also used voter centers, but only for the voters in city limits.

He says that they have learned much since last-year’s city elections. He noted that in some vote-centers, voters had to wait up to two hours to cast their ballot. Phelps says that he is hopeful that they have taken the proper steps to keep these kinds of delays from happening again.

However, he added that this election is expected to see a high turnout as the state’s primary elections are expected to help actually help decide the winners on both the Republican and Democrat Presidential ballot.

Click for vote center locations

Ivy Tech Community College is inviting you to shop at what is being called an “upscale garage sale” that offers gently used professional attire, casual clothing, and other items for very low cost.

Randy Proffitt, Ivy Tech’s executive director of marketing and recruitment, says the two-day event, called “Ivy Republic,” will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 7 and 8. He says is will be held in Room 200 of Poling Hall on the Ivy Tech Columbus campus. Proffitt says that this event is open to Ivy Tech students, staff, faculty, as well as the public.

Ivy Republic provides “clothing that works for you” — gently used professional and casual clothing and accessories that are sold for only $1 per item. All funds raised provide a scholarship each year for Ivy Tech students.

“Ivy Republic helps Ivy Tech students and community members find the professional clothing they need as they start or advance their careers,” said Nina Loesch, Ivy Tech Assistant Director of Financial Aid and chairwoman of the Ivy Republic Committee. “Everything is sold for the very low cost of one-dollar, from suits to jewelry and shoes, which benefits a scholarship that is awarded to Ivy Tech students.”

Proffitt says that professional clothing is the primary focus of Ivy Republic. He explains that this event is held twice each year, once in the fall and once in the spring. This spring, Proffitt says that Ivy Republic will once again offer additional items that include casual clothing, small household and decorative items, DVDs and CDs. He stresses that all items have been donated by Ivy Tech faculty and staff and are in good condition.

Proffitt adds that Ivy Republic will also feature a silent auction with prizes that can be bid on. He says that proceeds from the silent auction also contribute to the student scholarship.

Local law enforcement chaplains and a group of police spouses will host a “Thin Blue Prayer Line” on the steps of Columbus City Hall on Friday. Columbus Police Department Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says the event is being held in light of recent law enforcement deaths, including Howard County Deputy Sheriff Carl Koontz, who was killed on March 20th.

“We are excited about having the community come together to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and to pray for the well- being for everyone in public safety,” said Harris. He went on to say that the event will feature remarks by local clergy and spouses of law-enforcement officers.

Patrick Galligar, director of Pastoral Care at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Columbus, says that “there are so many of these type of events in the news that we can become numb to them.” He went on to say that, “this prayer event can be a place where we stand and acknowledge we are better together, and none of us is ever alone.” Galligar also says that the event is not only to grieve and comfort those who have lost a loved one, but to pray for God’s protection for those who rush in to danger to protect others.

Harris says that the end of the ceremony, which begins at 11:30 a.m. and is expected to last about 15 minutes, everyone will be encouraged to join hands to make a prayer line. He adds that refreshments will be served after the event. You are encouraged to take part.

The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) is closing in on hiring a new superintendent. The board held a special public hearing Monday evening outlining the contract that it plans to offer a candidate.

A BCSC official said that the search has been narrowed down to a few finalists. While names weren’t discussed, that same official told WCSI that a successor to Dr. John Quick would be named on April 11, “if all goes well.”

BCSC Board President Dr. Jill Shedd and School Corporation Attorney Kelly Benjamin presented the contract proposal during the meeting, held at the BCSC Administration Building. Shedd explained that, by law, the initial contract has to be three-years in length.  She added that after the third year, employment with the district is year-to-year. The proposed contract includes:

• Annual Salary (1st year) $170,000
• 10.5% Retirement
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Annual 401(a)/403(b) Plan Contribution
• $500,000 Life Insurance
• Annual Auto Allowance of $10,000
• Annual Professional Development Allowance and Membership Fees of $4,000
• One‐time moving expense not to exceed $5,000 if moving from out-of-district
• 20 paid vacation days and recognized holidays, as well as the same number of sick and general leave granted all teachers and administrators.

No votes were taken, as Monday’s meeting was simply a public hearing. The next meeting, scheduled for April 11 at CSA-New Tech, will include a vote on the contract and, possibly, the introduction of the new superintendent. Dr. John Quick, is retiring at the end of this school year.

You can view a full copy of the draft contract at the BCSC website at www.bcsc.k12.in.us

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is trying to track down the person who damaged 11 mailboxes in the western edge of the county over the weekend.

Judy Jackson, spokeswoman with the sheriff’s department, says that deputies began receiving reports of the damaged mailboxes near the Bartholomew and Brown county line. She said 9 were found damaged along White Horse Road and two on Bellsville Pike.

Jackson said mailboxes are considered federal property and federal law makes it a crime to vandalize them or to deface or destroy any mail deposited in them. Violators can be fined up to $250,000 or imprisoned for up to three years for each act of vandalism to a mailbox.

If you have any information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, regarding the person  responsible for vandalizing these mailboxes, you can call the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office at 812-379-1650 or use the Tip Line at 812-379-1712.

The Bartholomew County Highway Department reports that due to ongoing road improvements, Bartholomew County Road 325W, between County Road 200 North and Lowell Roads, will be closed from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. starting Wednesday and running through Friday.