A Greenwood woman died Saturday night in a crash on Interstate 65.

The Indiana State Police say that 51-year-old Traci McCracken died after being thrown from her vehicle in the crash. The accident happened at about 11 p.m. Saturday night near the Southport Road exit on northbound Interstate 65.

State police say that McCracken’s car veered off the road into a ditch and then rolled several times. The Indianapolis Fire Department and other rescue workers tried to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are still trying to figure out what caused McCracken to leave the road and they don’t yet know her cause of death, according to police reports.

A Columbus man was arrested Saturday in Johnson County, accused of pointing a shotgun at his brother during a dispute at their mother’s home near Franklin.

According to reports from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, the incident happened at about 8:50 a.m. Saturday morning, when the brother went to the mother’s vacant home on County Road 550E to cut the grass. As he was getting his lawnmower from the garage, 46-year-old Harold W. Oliver allegedly came up with the shotgun and threatened him, over a smell he said was coming from a neighbor’s sewer.

Oliver also allegedly told his friend, 35-year-old Rodger Hodson, that he would pay Hodson $20 to beat up Oliver’s brother.

The brother left and called police.

As deputies were en route they came across a van matching the description of Oliver’s vehicle. When they pulled it over they found a black shotgun inside. Oliver was arrested on charges of criminal recklessness and pointing a firearm.

Hodson was wanted on a Johnson County warrant and he was also arrested.

The elevator at Columbus City Hall remains out of order after storms a few weeks ago knocked it out of service. City officials say that they expect it to be repaired and back in service by Friday, June 30th.

In an effort to make all public meetings are accessible, the following meetings have been moved to Hamilton Center, located at 2501 Lincoln Park Drive, for the week of June 26 – June 30:

Tuesday, June 27 – Board of Works & Safety at 10 a.m.
Tuesday, June 27 – Board of Zoning Appeals at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 28 – Exec. Committee of Columbus Human Rights Commission at 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday, June 28 – Columbus Human Rights Commission at 4:30 p.m.

If you need to take care of business at city hall and you have accessibility needs, call (812) 376-2500.

A Westport man is headed to prison after pleaded guilty to felony drug-related charges this week. “The Greensburg Daily News” is reporting that 65-year-old Robert E. Ward, Jr. was sentenced to 11 years in prison on a charge of Possession of Methamphetamine and two years in prison on a charge of Visiting a Common Nuisance. The paper says that these sentences run concurrently, making Ward eligible for parole in September of 2024.

According to the report, the sentences were handed down after a plea agreement following Ward’s arrest on multiple drug-related charges in November of 2015. Investigators said they found 11 guns, more than $4,100 in cash, methamphetamine and other drugs when they raided Ward’s Westport home.

The paper reports that Ward posted a $200,000 bond and was free ahead of a June 22, 2016 court hearing, which he allegedly skipped. His bond was revoked and an arrest warrant was issued. Days earlier, on June 5, 2016, Ward was arrested on unrelated charges in Jennings County after he allegedly led deputies on a high-speed chase. In that incident, Ward was charged with Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle and Possession of Methamphetamine. He again posted bail and was released. Authorities say that Ward then fled to Kentucky.

The newspaper says that an anonymous tip led authorities to a Louisville VA hospital. There, they found and arrested Ward, ultimately returning him to Decatur County.

For more on this story, visit GreensburgDailyNews.com.

A 17-year-old driver and and an older teen are under arrest after a hit and run accident.

Columbus police were called to the area of 7th Street and Central Avenue at about 6:40 a.m. Thursday after a car struck a curb and road sign, then fled the scene. The vehicle was found with damage along the passenger side in the 1100 block of Phoenix Court shortly after the crash.

The 17-year-old driver put his hands up and dropped the car keys as police approached. He appeared unsteady and was having a hard time keeping his eyes open, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the police department. Officers also could smell a strong odor of marijuana. A second suspect, 18-year-old Kyle P. Reardon of Columbus, was allegedly found to have marijuana and drug paraphernalia in his pockets and he was arrested on possession charges.

The underage driver was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital to have his blood drawn and tested and then arrested on preliminary charges of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. He was taken to the Bartholomew County juvenile detention center.

Bartholomew County deputies are reporting that a shoplifting call at a Taylorsville convenience store turned into a drug arrest Thursday morning.

Deputies say that when they arrived at the store, they found a store clerk following a woman to her car. Video recordings in the store showed the woman allegedly taking items from the store without paying for them. When confronted by police and ordered to drop her bag, she tried to run away, according to police reports.

Police say that they allegedly found syringes hidden in a glasses case in the bag as well as a spoon with drug residue. Deputies say that the woman, 26-year-old Danielle N. Hurley, of Columbus, also admitted to taking heroin earlier in the day.

She was arrested on preliminary charges of possession of a legend drug injection devices, resisting law enforcement and conversion.

BBQ, Blues and Brew is coming up in downtown Columbus on Saturday.

Erin Hawkins, marketing director with the Columbus Area Visitors Center, explains the popular event.

Hawkins says the festival is organized by Kurt Schwarz, the owner of Fourth Street Bar and Steve Leach, of The Garage Pub. Hawkins says that it has become one of the most popular events in downtown Columbus

She says it features award-winning BBQ grill masters preparing their work in a relaxed atmosphere.

There will also be a kids zone and three bands playing rock and blues. It starts at 11 a.m. Saturday morning and runs until 10 p.m.

Faded Memories Blues Review will take the stage at 11:45 a.m., with Wayne Ellis Watson and Bluescake at 3:30 p.m. and headliner Oddz R starting at 7:10 p.m.

The event is free. BBQ, Blues and Brew is sponsored by Main Source Bank.

The Hauser FFA will be holding a celebration tonight after a recent graduate was elected to a top post in the state organization. There will be a public reception tonight for Natalie Taylor, who was elected earlier this week as state reporter. The reception will be at 6 tonight at the Hauser High School auditorium.

The owner of a missing hunting dog is thanking the Indiana conservation officers and volunteers who helped search a Jennings County cave for the dog and eventually bring the animal home safely.

Kyle Short, the dog’s owner, explains that he went hunting late Tuesday night…

Short says that he called some friends to help search for the dog before entering the cave…

Short says he is humbled by the help offered by friends and strangers alike…

DNR called in their cave rescue team to help search, but couldn’t find Frank. Officers said they hoped that the dog had found another exit to the cave.

Short says that the DNR, friends and strangers all pitched in to help…

Short says he is very thankful for all of the help. Frank turned up later in the day Wednesday, some two-and-a-half miles from the cave. Short says that he’s doing fine.

Authorities are warning of a scam targeting local homeowners.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers says he was contacted by the county recorder’s office, about a company that has been offering to provide a copy of your property deed. That’s at a cost of $89.

However, the county recorder’s office will only charge you a dollar a page for the same documents, Myers says.

The sheriff warns that the company may be targeting those who have recently purchased homes, or made changes to their deed.