The Indiana Department of Transportation began rehabilitation work Wednesday at Edinburgh on State Road 252 between U.S. Highway 31 and Interstate 65.

INDOT officials say the workers spent the day saw cutting areas to be patched under a $317,500 pavement preservation contract. Full-depth pavement repairs, including a lengthy one in State Road 252’s eastbound lane just west of Big Blue River, is scheduled to begin next week. Partial-depth asphalt patching will follow. Crack sealing operations are slated to begin May 12.

Through all operational phases, flaggers will direct motorists around moving worksites. Dave O’Mara is the state’s prime contractor. Subcontractor Reece Seal Coating of Indianapolis is responsible for crack and joint sealing.

INDOT says that all work along this 2.5 mile section of State Road 252 in Johnson and Shelby Counties should be completed prior to the Memorial Day weekend.

A local woman was arrested early Wednesday morning at a Columbus store on drug and auto theft charges. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that shortly before 3:30 a.m., officers were called to the 700 block of Whitfield Drive in regards to a loss prevention officer needing help with someone inside the store.

When the officers arrived, they spoke with store security and 27-year-old Ashley Hadley, of Columbus. A short time later, officers confirmed a local warrant for Hadley’s arrest and she was taken into custody. Harris says the officers also spoke with Hadley about a stolen vehicle they recovered at a Columbus apartment complex.

While at the Bartholomew County Jail, the corrections staff reported finding a syringe containing heroin that Hadley had concealed in her clothing.

In addition to the Bartholomew County warrant, Hadley is facing preliminary charges of Auto Theft, Possession of Heroin and Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device.

The Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives will be having a kickoff event tonight for a new website dedicated to the historic 301 Washington Street.

That site is called “301 Washington Street: Cornerstone of Columbus.” 301 Washington Street is closely tied to the Irwin/Sweeney/Miller family and their history with the community. It contains the completely restored office of former Cummins CEO J. Irwin Miller.

The kickoff event will be in The Red Room at the Bartholomew County Public Library on Fifth Street starting at 6 p.m. tonight.

Indiana State Police say that a missing elderly man has been discovered safe in Florida. Police had been looking for 78-year-old Tommy Dale Allman who went missing on his way from Scottsburg to Columbus to visit family yesterday.

Police say that Allman was traveling to visit family and was last heard from Tuesday morning at 7:33 a.m. when he was en route from Scottsburg to Columbus.

Columbus Regional Health’s CEO and his wife are establishing a fund to help those struggling with addiction and their families.

The Jim and Joan Bickel Family Fund for Substance Abuse Assistance will be administered through the CRH Foundation. The Foundation announced the Bickels’ gift yesterday, saying that the donation is motivated by the family’s own experience trying to navigate the system and to find treatment for a loved one.

The fund will focus on substance abuse treatment programs identified by the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County.

The amount of the initial donation was not disclosed.

The Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County is set to give an address to the community Wednesday night during a special event at The Commons. Beth Morris, with Healthy Communities Initiative, says that law enforcement will be on hand to help you get rid of unwanted and expired medications.

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Morris says that a limited number of drug lock-boxes will be available as well. She adds this drug take back event will run from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Morris stresses that only prescription medications can be accepted during Wednesday night’s event. No sharps, liquids or illegal drugs.

A North Vernon woman is facing charges after she was found passed-out in a school parking lot. Sgt. Andrew Richmond, spokesman for the North Vernon Police Department, says that on Thursday, April 19th, Officer Mike Holliday responded to a report of a driver passed out behind the wheel of a mini van in the back parking lot of North Vernon Elementary School.

Richmond says the call began when 32-year-old Frantisca Delpapa was noticed by school employees slumped down behind the wheel of her running van. Officers arrived and were told she had been in the parking lot for about five minutes. Officer Holliday made contact with Delpapa and reported seeing signs of drug intoxication. Police searched Delpapa’s van and reported finding a concealed glass methamphetamine smoking pipe and a marijuana cigarette. A search warrant was obtained for a blood sample in the course of the investigation.

Delpapa was then arrested and taken to the Jennings County Jail. As she was being booked, jail staff reported finding that Delpapa had a hidden metal tin in her clothing that contained eight prescription pills identified as Clonazapam, a schedule 4 controlled substance. Delpapa is facing the following preliminary charges:

1. Trafficking with an Inmate (a controlled substance) – level 5 felony
2. Possession of a Controlled Substance – level 6 felony
3. Possession of a Legend Drug – level 6 felony
4. Possession of Methamphetamine – level 6 felony
5. Possession of Marijuana – A misdemeanor
6. Possession of Paraphernalia – A misdemeanor
7. Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated – A misdemeanor
8. Public Intoxication – B misdemeanor

The investigation is ongoing.

A North Vernon man was arrested after a motorcycle chase Monday evening. The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department says that at approximately 6:38 p.m., Deputy Thomas Mellencamp tried to stop a motorcycle for expired registration and disregarding a stop sign at Country Manor and Stoningham Way. The motorcycle allegedly accelerated and a pursuit began. Authorities pursued the motorcycle to Earlham Way where the driver, 37-year-old Robert Vogel, allegedly drove through a field. They say the motorcycle then entered a wooded area and crashed. Vogel then allegedly fled on foot. Deputy Mellencamp gave chase and caught Vogel after about 100 yards.

Authorities say that Vogel was wanted on warrants out of Jackson and Jennings counties. After being cleared by Rescue 20, Vogel was booked into the Jennings County Jail on the following preliminary charges:

Resisting Law Enforcement with a Motor Vehicle – Level 6 Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement – A Misdemeanor
Driving while Suspended with a Prior Conviction – A Misdemeanor
Reckless Driving – B Misdemeanor
Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident – B Misdemeanor

Vogel was being held on $2,055 bond.

Columbus City Councilmen Dascal Bunch and Tom Dell will be holding a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday at the Robie and America Anderson Community Center on McClure Road.

Mayor Jim Lienhoop and Dave Hayward, the city’s engineer and executive director of public works will also be in attendance to answer any questions.

A Columbus moped driver was arrested on drug charges after being pulled over for a traffic violation early this morning.

52-year-old Jeffrey T. Jessie is facing charges of possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia as well as driving while suspended following this morning’s traffic stop.

Columbus police report that an officer stopped Jessie at about 2:30 a.m. this morning near 13th and California streets for a minor traffic violation, and discovered the suspended license. As he was being taken into custody, a search of his clothing revealed the drugs and paraphernalia, police allege.