A Columbus woman was arrested on drug charges after allegedly walking away after crashing into a stop sign Saturday.

According to reports from the Columbus Police Department, officers tried to stop a speeding car on 10th Street. The driver then crashed into a stop sign and began walking away from her vehicle. Police stopped the woman and found that she was 44-year-old Angel Tucker of Columbus, and that she didn’t have a valid driver’s license.

A search revealed she was carrying a syringe that police believe contained fentanyl. She was taken into custody and is facing charges for possessing the drug and syringe, as well as drug paraphernalia, plus leaving the scene of an accident and driving while suspended with a prior conviction.

Schneck Medical Center in Seymour is announcing that it is now offering Mako SmartRobotics to change the way knee and hip replacements are performed.

Schneck says it is one of the few facilities in the region to use the system which combines planning based on CT scans, haptic technology and data analytics to improve joint replacement outcomes.

The system allows the surgeon to make a detailed plan before entering surgery, to adjust the plan as needed and to guide a robotic arm to execute that plan.

For more information on joint replacement surgery and Mako SmartRobotics, you can call Schneck Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at 812-524-3311, or visit SchneckOrtho.com.

A reported gun in a vehicle caused a lock-down and protective sweep at Sand Creek Elementary in Jennings County yesterday.

According to Jennings County Sheriff’s Department reports, deputies, school resource officers and North Vernon police were called to the school at about 8:30 yesterday after witnesses reported a vehicle might have guns in it.

The vehicle had already left the school when police arrived, but school resource officers found the vehicle and spoke with the driver. Authorities determined that the gun was a plastic toy being played with by a child in the back seat.

The sheriff’s department says that the school conducted the proper lock-down procedure immediately after receiving the report. Deputies conducted the sweep of the school and parking lot, finding no threats.

Edinburgh police made three arrests on drug charges after serving search warrants over the weekend.

According to Edinburgh Police Department reports, the first was on Friday when police served a warrant in the 200 block of North Walnut Street. Inside, police discovered about 20 grams of methamphetamine, half a cram of cocaine, prescription drugs and marijuana.

59-year-old Dara Simpson was arrested on charges including dealing and possessing methamphetamine, as well as for possessing the other drugs.

On Saturday, police served a search warrant for a home in the 400 block of North Kyle Street. Police say that 44-year-old James Hardin tried to shut the door on officers, despite police announcing a search warrant. Police discovered 7 grams of methamphetamine, prescription drugs and three bags of marijuana.

Hardin was arrested on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement and for possessing the drugs.

38-year-old Troy Herren was also arrested for drug possession charges.

Candidates continue to file to run for election in Bartholomew County’s upcoming primaries as the deadline quickly approaches.

Since our last report a week ago, Republican Sen. Todd Young has filed for re-election. In the Congressional District 9 race, which now covers southern Bartholomew County, former Congressman Mike Sodrel has filed as a Republican to run for the seat being vacated by Republican Trey Hollingsworth. Democrat Isak Asare has also filed to run for District 9.

In the Congressional District 6 race, Columbus incumbent Republican Congressman Greg Pence filed for re-election with Mark J. Powell and Zach Smith filing as Republicans to run against him in the primary.

In the Statehouse District 69 race, Democrat Chad Harmon has filed to run and in the District 73 race, Bob Carmony and Edward K. Comstock II filed to run as Republicans.

In the countywide races, Democrat Quisha Jackson has filed to run for county clerk. Incumbent Republican County Councilman Mark Gorbett filed to run for re-election.

At the township level, Andrew Sekeres III is running for Columbus Township Trustee as a Democrat, Lisa Moore as a Republican for Flatrock Township Trustee, David Dwyer as a Republican for Harrison Township Trustee, Sue Anne Lee as a Republican for Jackson Township Trustee and Tami May as a Republican for Ohio Township.

The last day to file for the local major party races is noon on Friday, in the county clerk’s office. The primary election is Tuesday May 3rd.

The former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence is testifying to the House January 6th Committee. CNN reports Marc Short testified to the committee in-person during a lengthy session last Wednesday. Short was with the Columbus native and former Indiana governor at the Capitol on January 6th, 2021 and also was a part of a White House meeting two days before the attack. It is not known yet if Pence himself will testify to the committee

This report comes just days after former President Trump reiterated statements that Pence should have overturned the election result, even though he legally did not have the right to do that. Trump said that Pence “could have overturned the Election” if he wanted to.

Trump made that claim as there’s now a push to change a law called the Electoral College Act. It spells out how the Electoral College results get tabulated. Trump again repeated claims about “fraud and many other irregularities” in the 2020 presidential election.

The White House is condemning the remarks. Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that Trump’s comments show “how unfit he is for office.”

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks Inc.

A winter storm watch is in effect in our area from Wednesday night through late Thursday night or early Friday morning.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis says affected area counties includes Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, and Johnson counties. Heavy mixed precipitation is expected with snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches in central and southern Indiana. Rain is expected to switch over to a wintery mix in southern Indiana early Thursday morning.

The agency says snow, sleet and freezing rain will have the potential to damage trees, utility lines and roofs.

The National Weather Service is warning that travel could be very difficult. And you can expect hazardous conditions during your morning commute.

Forecasters are saying that there is a great deal of uncertainty still on where the storm will hit and the exact timing.  At least 90-million people are in the path of heavy snow, ice, and bitter cold.