Sandy J. McGee. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.
A woman from West Terre Haute was arrested in Columbus Saturday night, accused of drunk driving and drug-related charges.
Columbus police say that 57-year-old Sandy J. McGee was arrested after an incident on Third Street where she nearly drove her SUV into another vehicle. Officers stopped the vehicle and noticed that McGee was slurring her words and had an open bottle of beer in a cupholder, according to police reports.
She was arrested and as officers prepared to tow her vehicle, they allegedly found methamphetamine inside. She is facing preliminary charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and with endangerment, and possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Despite pouring rain, Saturday morning’s deliveries of toys and other presents to families in need around Bartholomew County went off almost without a hitch.
Ben Noblitt, co-chairman of the Columbus Fireman’s Cheer Fund, explains that the volunteer drivers delivered to 1,227 children this year. He praised the community’s support for the oldest operating charity in Bartholomew County.
Noblitt said that each child on the Cheer Fund list received five new toys, two used toys, three stocking stuffers, books and a stuffed animal. They also delivered bags of fruit and candy, with excess bags being donated to Love Chapel.
He said that they were also able to give away about 130 new bicycles for all of the children that requested them. He said that this is only the second time the Cheer Fund has been able to provide all-new bicycles.
A few traditional details had to be put off because of the heavy rains including Santa’s ride in an antique open-air fire truck and the mayor delivering presents in Tillie, the department’s miniature fire truck. And volunteers taking returned items outside were completely soaked.
Noblitt said planning is already beginning for next year’s Cheer Fund Drive. The fire department is hoping to build a new Cheer Fund facility at the airport, but Noblitt said the charity has also been talking to United Way of Bartholomew County about extending their contract at the 13th Street facility. The Cheer Fund can continue to store toys at the United Way building until details are worked out..
Seymour Police are looking for your help identifying the victim hit by a vehicle last night.
Police say that the woman was struck by a vehicle on West Tipton St. just a little after 6 Sunday evening. She has not yet been identified. Police say that she has red hair.
If anyone knows the identify of the pedestrian, you should contact the Seymour Police Department and speak with Lt. John Watson or Sgt. Brandon White. You can call (812) 522-1234
A police-action shooting in Johnson County sent one teenager to the hospital. Johnson County Sheriff Doug Cox says that deputies were summoned by the New Whiteland Police Department to investigate the scene, located at 719 Harvest Meadow Way in Whiteland.
Authorities say that at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, a resident at the home called for police in reference a runaway juvenile in possession of a gun. A New Whiteland Police Officer responded, then requested back-up. As the second officer arrives, gunshots are fired. Shortly thereafter, the 17-year-old boy exited the home and pointed a gun at the police who both fired upon the teen, striking him several times.
The juvenile was transported to an Indianapolis Hospital. His condition is unknown.
Jordan Fulkerson; photo courtesy of Johnson Co. Sheriff’s Dept.
While awaiting a warrant for the home, authorities say a second person either fled the home, or was returning when he saw police. Jordan Fulkerson was captured and arrested on outstanding warrants for Bond Revocation and Invasion of Privacy.
He is being held without bond.
Sheriff Cox says that this incident may be tied to one Thursday night. In that incident, the New Whiteland Police Department and Whiteland Police Department pursued a vehicle which eventually stopped in the area of Tracy Road and U.S. 31. From there, the occupants fled and allegedly fired at pursuing officers.
The city of Columbus and Columbus Regional Health’s purchase of the Fair Oaks Mall property is complete.
The city of Columbus partnered with Columbus Regional Health and Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County to offer to purchase the more than 35 acre site for $5.9 million. Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County offered $450,000 in assistance after a pair of appraisals put the value of the site at approximately $5.45 million. By law, cities and municipalities are not allowed to purchase property for more than it appraises for.
Mayor Jim Lienhoop says the goal is to create an indoor sports facility for the parks department, enhanced by an on-site a CRH facility. The specifics of how and what the site will be developed into has yet to be established. That work is expected to begin in earnest early next year.
The city council created the non-profit group, Fair Oaks Community Development Corporation to handle the transaction and to manage of the site.
A Bartholomew County inmate has been formally charged for his alleged role in a fight at the jail.
Angelito Carmelo Mercado is charged with Battery Causing Serious Bodily Injury, a Level 5 Felony. The Sheriff’s Department says the charge stems from an incident on the evening of November 8th. Mercado allegedly attacked another inmate and broke his nose. Mercado was behind bars for probation violation and an outstanding Bartholomew County warrant. Authorities say he was awaiting transfer to the Indiana Department of Correction.
“We have been working with the Prosecutor’s Office since this incident occurred,” said Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers. “It is very difficult to get inmates to talk; however, to be clear, we will not tolerate this in our jail. The safety of staff, inmates and the public is our number one priority,” added Myers.
A new partnership between Columbus and Bloomington to encourage entrepreneurship in the region now has a name and a board of directors.
The partnership, first announced in October, will be called Velocities and it is designed to accelerate innovation in South Central Indiana over the next three years by developing an entrepreneurship-minded culture and infrastructure.
The partnership is between Indianapolis-based Elevate Ventures, along with Dimension Mill in Bloomington and the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce. Cindy Frey, president of the Columbus chamber says the two communities are actually very complimentary.
The $2.5 million agreement includes up to a $1.5 million contribution by Elevate Ventures and a $1 million combined contribution from Bloomington and Columbus. The funding will support initiatives such as investments in local high-potential and high-growth businesses.
Frey says the partnership has already been able to direct local startup companies to funding from Elevate Ventures.
The board membership is split between Columbus and Bloomington organizations. Members include Frey and:
Lynn Coyne, President of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation
Pat East, Co-Founder and CEO of Hanapin Marketing and Executive Director of Dimension Mill
Dave Glass, CEO of LHP Engineering Solutions
Rick Johnson, Jr., President and CEO of Johnson Ventures Inc.
Chris LaMothe, CEO of Elevate Ventures
Jane Martin, Retired Venture Capitalist
You can hear more from Cindy Frey tomorrow morning on News & Views starting at 9:30 on Saturday on News Talk 1010 WCSI and 98.1 FM. A repeat airs Sunday at 9 a.m.
Our news-gathering partners at The Republic are announcing that newspaper publisher Chuck Wells is stepping down.
He plans to leave next week and to acquire and operate a local business. Wells has been publisher locally of the Republic in Columbus, the Seymour Tribune, the Brown County Democrat and the Daily Journal in Frankiln.
Developmental Services, Inc. is asking for your help to support its Client Emergency and Enhancement Fund. Tom Harpring with DSI explains the purpose of the fund…
Harpring says these funds cover expenses including: shelter, medical care, transportation and other needs.
An effort to provide clothing for those in need will cap off that project with an event on Saturday at the America and Robie Anderson Community Center on McClure Road.
The Love Campaign clothing drive will hold a “Come Fill a Bag event” from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the eastside center, where those in need can come and pick up clothing for their whole family.
Cristina Villani, organizer of the project, said she started the project after meeting a family in need through her job at a rock climbing gym. She said this is her first time organizing such an event.
After the project began to gain momentum, she said other organizations jumped in to help. Those included the United Way of Bartholomew County, Sans Souci and Ivy Republic at Ivy Tech Community College Columbus.
Ultimately, more than 500 pieces of clothing were donated, she said. Families will be able to take up to 10 items of gently used clothing on Saturday.
