The National Weather Service says that bitterly cold weather is spreading through central Indiana. A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect until 11 for an area including Shelby and Johnson Counties northward with wind chills of -15 to -20 below zero.

Brown, Bartholomew, Decatur and other counties to the south are not going to see the worst of it, but wind chills of -10 are still possible in some southern areas.

If you must be outside this morning, you should dress in layers and cover your exposed skin, according to forecasters.

A Scipio man was arrested early this morning on drug related charges after a traffic stop in Columbus.

According to reports from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, a deputy pulled over a vehicle near 8th Street and Central Avenue at about 12:09 this morning. The deputy found that the driver, 36-year-old Jason Austin of Scipio did not have a valid driver’s license. A Columbus Police Department dog alerted to the smell of narcotics in the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle uncovered drugs and drug paraphernalia, as well as a rifle and handgun.

Austin is facing preliminary charges for possessing cocaine, marijuana, a controlled substance, a legend drug, drug paraphernalia and a syringe or needle, as well as driving with a suspended license with a prior conviction.

Evidence photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

The American Red Cross says its blood supply remains at dangerously low levels and it needs blood donors.

The Red Cross says it received more donations after issuing its first-ever blood crisis alert, but it needs more people to give in the weeks ahead to recover from the worst blood shortage in more than a decade.

Severe winter weather is making rebuilding the blood supply even more difficult.

If you’d like to donate, you can make an appointment to give blood by using the Red Cross app, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

Supporters of the city of Columbus animal shelter are urging you to get your pets spayed or neutered and to take advantage of a low-cost program the shelter offers to perform the service.

Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services says that residents can sign up their pets for the shelter’s clinic transport service. Pets are picked up in Columbus in the morning and transported to low-cost clinics in the Indianapolis area. They are then returned to their owners in the evening. Prices range from $40-$45 for cats and $50 to $90 for dogs.

A rabies vaccination is required and can be administered at the clinic for for an additional cost. Vaccinations and microchipping are also available. The transport services runs several times a month.

Nicohl Birdwell Goodin, manager of the city shelter, says that spaying and neutering can extend your pet’s life and helps protect them from future health issues.

You can sign up for the services here. After you complete your application you will be contacted as soon as spaces are available.

With the start of tax filing season yesterday, United Way of Bartholomew County is announcing free tax assistance through the VITA Volunteer Tax Assistance program.

The program offers free tax filings to Bartholomew County residents who need assistance preparing their own tax returns. The assistance is available to those who make $64,000 or less, those with disabilities, who are elderly and limited English-speaking taxpayers. IRS-certified volunteers provide income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.

Income tax assistance appointments will be conducted through mid-April at Nexus Park. Reservations for a tax appointment will be taken on a first-come, first serve basis.

Appointments can be made by calling 812-375-2216. Spanish speakers may make an appointment by calling Su Casa at 812-375-9370.

For more information, go to www.uwbarthco.org/taxes.

Columbus police arrested a shoplifting suspect after a chase by vehicle and on foot Sunday afternoon.

According to reports from the Columbus Police Department, officers were called to the Whitfield Drive Walmart at about 5:15 p.m. Sunday afternoon about a shoplifting suspect leaving the store parking lot. Officers spotted the suspect and stopped the vehicle on 10th Street. But as officers tried to talk to him, he took off. Police pursued the vehicle until the suspect stopped in the 3800 block of Colonial Drive, where he ran away.

He was arrested a short distance away. The stolen property was found and returned to the store. Police arrested 36-year-old Malcom L. Gilliland of Columbus on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement in a vehicle, resisting law enforcement on foot and driving while suspended with a prior conviction.

Police say additional charges are possible.

There are just 15 Afghan refugees remaining at Camp Atterbury, and they should be gone by the end of the week. Governor Holcomb and other leaders from around the state commemorated the end of “Operation Allies Welcome” on Monday at the base.

The operation has been an effort to help refugees from Afghanistan resettle and find a new life in the U.S. At the peak last fall, Indiana hosted more than 7,000 refugees from Afghanistan. About 700 of them plan to live in Indiana permanently.

Columbus Congressman Greg Pence toured the operation several times. He said everyone at Camp Atterbury always showed the refugees top-notch “Hoosier hospitality.”

Indiana National Guard Adjutant General R. Dale Lyles said the guard and other military team members responded within days to the needs of the refugees. Lyles has seen a lot of conflict during his time, so it was refreshing for him to see so many people helping.

Story courtesy of Network Indiana and TTWN Media Networks Inc.

Major General R. Dale Lyles, 59th Adjutant General of Indiana, speaks during a press conference about military personnel’s enduring support to Operation Allies Welcome at Camp Atterbury, Ind. on Jan. 24th. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Northcutt, 14th Public Affairs Detachment

Bartholomew County Commissioners have signed off on a plan to provide jail prisoners with limited use tablets while they are incarcerated. But one county commissioner adamantly opposed the program.

Jail Commander John Martoccia presented the proposal at yesterday’s commissioners meeting as a contract amendment with Homewav LLC, which maintains telephone and communications systems in the jail. Martoccia said that the jail now has limited kiosks inmates can use but there are too few, with two stations for more than 30 inmates in a cell block.

Under the proposal, each inmate would receive a tablet. The tablets will not have access to the general internet, but will allow inmates to take GED classes, access the law library, apply for jobs and purchase selected books, videos and music. They can also order commissary items.

The tablets would be provided at no cost to the county. If they are intentionally damaged, the inmates would face repair costs as well as potential criminal charges, Martoccia said.

Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz opposed the plan, saying that it would give inmates more reason to pressure family members and friends for money to purchase content and to provide money for the commissary fund. Plus he does not like the idea of an inmate laying in bed, in a warm jail cell, watching movies.

Kleinhenz ultimately voted against the proposal, which passed 2-1.

Columbus police are urging you to be cautious if you receive a phone call about a loved one supposedly in jail.

The department says they have received several reports of fraud with scammers pretending to be jail staff. In one case, the scammer claimed that the victim’s son was involved in an accident and later arrested. The scammer then claimed that $10,000 was needed to be mailed to an out-of-state address in order to bond the son out of jail and to keep the story out of the newspaper.

The victim mailed the money but family members contacted authorities who were able to work with the parcel company to intercept the package. The son had not actually been arrested.

Police say that the scammers are convincing and use high pressure tactics to work on the victim’s emotions. You should never send currency, gift cards, checks or other valuables to unknown people.

If you have any questions about whether someone asking for money is legitimate, you can contact the Columbus Police Department at 812-376-2600.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources law enforcement division is announcing that Conservation Officer Robert Klakamp has been selected as the District 8 Officer of the Year.

Klakamp is assigned to Jackson County and has been a conservation officer since 2016. He is a field officer, serves as an airboat operator, field training officer, and venomous reptile handler.

District 8 includes counties in south-central Indiana including Jackson County.

Earlier this month, the division announced that Conservation Officer Chris Long has been selected the District 9 Officer of the Year. In addition to his normal duties as a field officer, he also serves as a side-scan sonar operator.

District 9 includes Decatur and Jennings counties, among others in southeastern Indiana.

The district awards puts Long and Klakamp in the running for the Pitzer Award, which is given to the top overall conservation officer in the state. The Pitzer award is named after Conservation Officer James D. Pitzer, who was fatally shot while investigating illegal hunting activity on Jan. 2, 1961, in Jay County.