An Elizabethtown man was arrested on drug charges after a report of a person acting suspiciously in a store parking lot in Columbus yesterday afternoon.

Columbus police were called to the parking lot in the Columbus Shopping Center at about 2:50 p.m. yesterday afternoon after a man was reportedly attempting to get into vehicles. Police saw a man discarding items near a parked vehicle and after the man entered a store, officers determined that the items being thrown away were drug paraphernalia.

As 23-year-old Daniel S. Kelsay Jr. left the store, he was arrested and officers report finding he was carrying marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin.

He is facing charges of possession of a syringe, drug paraphernalia and the drugs.

Five finalists from six counties in southeastern Indiana recently presented their ideas for a chance at winning $2,750 as part of the next-generation youth entrepreneurship initiative known as the Maverick Challenge.

The Maverick Challenge program is designed to give high school students hands-on experience in the practice of entrepreneurship. Students from Bartholomew, Scott, Jennings, Jackson, Franklin, and Ripley counties took part in the regional competition. It was started in 2008 by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise Columbus. Since then, over 1,000 students from more than 15 high schools across eight counties have participated in the Challenge and over $75,000 has been awarded to students.

Organizers say that finalists presented their ideas to a panel of regional judges consisting of entrepreneurs, service providers, educational representatives, and other community leaders.

2018-2019 Maverick Challenge Winners

1st Place- P.E.F.F. Co-Treyton Brown and Sam Everett- Scott County;
Business Idea: Created a quality farm animal feed, using biodegradable burlap bags, with premium quality ingredients while lower the cost to the consumers and farmers.

2nd Place- Kolt Electronic- Koltan Hauersperger and Brooks Wathen- Jennings County;
Business Idea: Created a system called “PLSS” (Power Line Safety System) to help regulate the voltage in power lines and stop the flow if there is a drop. Helping to reduce the number of injuries and deaths associated with power line malfunction.

Honorable Mention- Growing Memories- Alex Bamonte- Franklin/Ripley County;
Business Idea: Created a business for those looking for alternatives to traditional burial services when a loved one dies. Custom memory vessels that also allow their loved ones and pets to be remembered.

Finalists included:
TempSense- Emils Vigants, Krista Blackburn, Kiersten Meister- Hauser High School;
Business Idea: Created a product and service that will help kids get interested in computer science.

The Blue Rose Project- Katie Rohlfing- Brownstown High School;
Business Idea: Created a non-profit mobile organization that helps young girls improve self-esteem, image, and self-worth.

Bartholomew County REMC will be moving utility poles along a portion of Country Club Road next week. Officials say this project will require a road closure on County Club Road from State Road 46 to the first entrance of Harrison Lake on the city’s west side.

The road closure will begin on Tuesday, February 26th and will continue on weekdays for approximately three weeks as the weather allows. An alternate route will need to be taken during weekday hours of 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. when signs are posted indicating the road is closed.

The Columbus Area Arts Council invites you and your family to downtown Friday evening. Kaitlyn Smith is program manager for the Arts Council.

This month’s event is a play called “Alice in Neverland” put on by the Know Theatre out of Cincinnati.

First Fridays for Families is held inside the Commons. Doors open Friday at 5:30. The show begins at 6 p.m.

For more information, visit artsincolumbus.org.

A program aimed at helping young women be safe as they transition into adulthood is being held locally. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, explains the SAFE program…

SAFE stands for Situational Awareness For Everyday. The free program includes instructors offering advice and tips on how to stay safe, along with physical tactics training.

A session for senior girls at Columbus East is set for Thursday, March 7th during the regular school day.

The date for the Columbus North session has not yet been set.

There is still time to register for next week’s Lead by Design: An Inspirational Initiative being hosted by IUPUC’s Office for Women and the Center for Business and Economic Development.

The networking breakfast will start at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, March 7th at Mill Race Center with the panel discussion starting at 8.

The discussion will focus on diversity in the community and how that diversity can fuel economic development.

The moderator for the panel discussion will be Nicole Pence Becker, owner of Pence Media Group. Panelists will include:

• Julie Abedian, vice president for Community Partnerships and Corporate  Responsibility with Columbus Regional Hospital.
• Ryan Brewer, associate director of finance and MBA director at IUPUC.
• Julie Goodspeed-Chadwick, professor of English, affiliate faculty in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies and director of the Office of Student Research at  IUPUC.
• Chatney Gelfius, independent Mary Kay senior sales director.
• Kevin Jones, associate professor of management  at IUPUC.
• Hanna Omar, member of the Columbus Board of Zoning Appeals and in commercial banking at JP Morgan Chase Bank

Registration ends on Monday and the event is free. You can register here.

Columbus firefighters were called to Cummins Fuel Systems yesterday after a man set himself on fire.

Capt. Mike Wilson says that rescuers were called to the National Road plant at 4:34 p.m. Tuesday on a report of a person with chemical burns. But when firefighters reached the designated smoking area outside the facility they found a man in his 20s who told firefighters that he had ignited his clothing with a lighter.

He was conscious and alert when firefighters arrived and the injuries were mostly superficial burns which did not appear to be life-threatening. He was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital by ambulance for treatment.

A Hope man is behind bars in Johnson County after a disturbance in Whiteland Tuesday morning.

Johnson County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 5200 block of North 525E at about 10:40 am. When they arrived, they met with two people who explained that two others had stolen their SUV and fled.

While deputies continued to speak to the pair, a member of the Greenwood Police Department located the SUV at Main Street and County Road 325E. The Greenwood Police Officer says he tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop.

The driver, 31-year-old Demetrius Ford, led several agencies, including Greenwood Police, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Beech Grove Police Department, through the streets of southern Marion County, until he bailed out of the vehicle at the Beech Grove Middle School. From there, Ford allegedly fled on foot. He was captured moments later.

During the course of the investigation it was found out that Ford had another occupant in the car with him when he left the initial scene on CR 525E in Johnson County. She was identified as 20-year-old Columbus woman. Police say she exited the vehicle on Main Street in Greenwood when the initial traffic stop was being made and Ford began fleeing.

Ford is facing preliminary charges of Auto Theft, Battery and Felony Resisting. He also has a pending warrant out of Bartholomew County. He is also currently on Probation through Bartholomew County.

Authorities say Ford was transported to an area hospital, as they suspect he ingested illegal drugs prior to his arrest.

The Milk Bank and Columbus Regional Health are co-hosting one of central Indiana’s first breast milk donation drives. Women who are currently or have recently finished lactating are encouraged to donate their stored, surplus milk to care for ill and fragile infants across the region.

The drive is Wednesday from 2 to 5:30 p.m. in Cafeteria Dining Room D at CRH. Donors will be asked to fill out a medical history form and complete a quick blood draw to determine the best use of their donated milk.

Ideal candidates for milk donors are non-smoking women in good general health who take limited or no medications and herbal supplements. For clarification on eligibility, contact The Milk Bank at 877.829.7470 or visit themilkbank.org/donate-milk.

A water main break has led to a Boil Order in Nashville. The town and its utility department announced the order Tuesday afternoon after the break at 54 East Franklin Street.

Officials say that homes and businesses in the following areas should boil all cooking and drinking water prior to consumption:

748-1170 Clay Lick Road;
Hill Top Lane;
Treetops Drive;
960-1304 Old SR 46;
Mail Pouch Lane;
Eads Lane;
McGee Road;
Tuck A Way Ridge;
Highland Drive;
Coffey Hill Road;
1325-1878 SR 135 North;
Ridgeway Drive;
Pine Tree Hills;
Dogwood Ln.;
54 E Franklin St.;
123 E Main Street;
150 School House Lane

This Boil Order is in effect through 4 p.m. Friday.

Customers with questions should call Nashville Utilities at (812) 988-5526.