Bartholomew Consolidated high school sophomores will have a new class schedule format by the time they become seniors.

The school board approved the new block scheduling format last night. Where students today have the same eight classes each school day, under block scheduling classes will be twice as long, and there will be half as many classes each day. Classes would repeat every other day under the new schedule.

The change would take effect in the 2020-2021 school year, meaning this year’s juniors and seniors will never take part in the block scheduling format.

Board member Pat Bryant voted against the proposal, saying that he had hoped to hear from the teachers who will be affected by the change and have to carry it out. Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts said that teachers did take part in the various committee meetings and discussions before the decision reached the school board level.

The temporary closure of a section of State Road 45 in Brown County has been postponed.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says that due to recent rain, the closure of State Road 45, near Bean Blossom Creek, between Carmel Ridge Road and W. Lost Branch Road, has been postponed until May 6th. That date is dependent on the weather. Officials say the road is expected to be closed for approximately five days for a culvert replacement project.

The Jackson County Visitor Center Board of Directors met recently and distributed promotional grants to three area groups. A total of $1,550 was split among the Jackson County Public Library, Muscatatuck Wildlife Society and the Jackson County Antique Machinery Association.

The library received $400 for promotion for its “Family Fun Day” event. Muscatatuck a $400 grant for its “Wings Over Muscatatuck” Migratory Bird Festival brochure. The Jackson County Antique Farm Machinery Show received $750 for its promotional efforts.

Bartholomew County Road 50 North, between 850 E and 1000 E, is closed until around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23rd. County Highway Department officials say crews are replacing pipe in the are.

You should avoid the area.

If you are looking for more traffic information, download the WAZE app for your smartphone and join the WCSI Traffic team. You can find updated traffic information on our website, on-air and on the app.

The Jennings County Clerk’s Office has released the polling locations for this North Vernon City Primary on May 7th. They are:

– Precinct NV-1A and NV-1B: Prior Mayor’s Office, 275 E Main St; This location changed from the Solid Rock Youth Center.
– Precinct NV-2A and NV-2B: Bethel Baptist Church, 77 Norris Ave; In a previous story, we incorrectly reported that this location would not be open.
– Precinct NV-3A and NV-3B: First United Methodist Church, 240 W Poplar St
– Precinct NV-4A and NV-4B: St Mary’s Parish Center, 212 Washington St

Elections officials say that early voting will be available for two days, April 27th and May 4th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Jennings County Courthouse in Vernon.

A Hartsville man was arrested after a police chase on Sunday. At about 7:30 p.m., Columbus Police were dispatched to a possible intoxicated driver headed east on 25th Street. When CPD attempted a traffic stop, the suspect refused to pull over.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Sellers and Deputy Frank Munoz saw the suspect vehicle traveling at a high rate and pursued it to the intersection of State Road 9 and East State Road 46 where it collided with a guardrail.

The driver, 68 year-old Steven Jordan, was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for minor injuries before being booked on preliminary charges of Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated-Endangerment, Reckless Driving and Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle. Authorities say he has since been released.

“This man put himself, my deputies and the public in danger by not stopping as the law requires,” said Sheriff Matt Myers. He added, “I am glad that no one was seriously injured.”

If you have out-of-date or other unwanted medications sitting at your home, there is a chance to get rid of them tomorrow, while protecting the environment and potential drug abusers in the community.

The Drug Take Back initiative will be from 10 to 2 Tuesday in the Fair Oaks Mall parking lot on 25th Street. That will be outside the former JC Penney location.

You will be able to drive up and drop off your unwanted pills. Neither sharp objects, nor liquids will be taken.

A wanted man is under arrest in Columbus. That’s after walking into a west side Columbus restaurant early Sunday morning, where a group of Columbus officers were eating.

Police say that 30-year-old Samuel T. Allison was wanted on warrants out of Bartholomew, Fountain and Marion counties. He was arrested at about 2 a.m. Sunday after walking into the restaurant in the 2200 block of Jonathan Moore Pike, where officers immediately recognized him.

During the arrest, officers allegedly discovered a bag of methamphetamine in his clothes. He is now also facing charges for possessing the meth, in addition to the outstanding warrants.

A fourth person has been arrested in last week’s fatal shooting at Country Squire Lakes in Jennings County.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department reports late Saturday night that 25-year-old Destiny Bailey was taken into custody and is being held at the county jail. She was being sought on a charge of assisting a criminal. The sheriff’s office asked for the public’s help finding Bailey on Saturday through social media and reported her arrest at just before midnight.

23-year-old Donavon Booker died Monday night after being shot once in the chest outside a home in the 3900 block of Squire Lakes Boulevard.

30-year-old Stephon Moore of Louisville was allegedly caught on home security cameras shooting at Booker and two other men outside the home. He is facing charges of murder and attempted murder. He was caught in Louisville along with two others:

• Frank Bailey, who is is facing charges of battery resulting in bodily injury and disorderly conduct.
• Fashion Ellis who is being accused of Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon

The sheriff’s department reports that all three are waiting to be extradited back to Jennings County.

A Vallonia man died in a Friday night crash near Seymour.

61-year-old Lamar Anderson died in the head-on crash at about 9 p.m. Friday night on State Road 258 west of Seymour.

According to Indiana State Police, Anderson was driving westbound, when he left the road, hit a guardrail and his truck came to a stop facing the wrong direction in the eastbound lanes. His vehicle was then struck head-on by an SUV being driven by 70-year-old Elizabeth Helwig of Seymour.

Anderson was pronounced dead by the Jackson County Coroner’s office. Helwig was taken to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries, troopers report.