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Shoplifting complaint leads to drug arrest charges

By
Julie McClure
-

Columbus police arrested a suspected shoplifter on drug-related charges after he fled from officers.

Elijah J. Ferril, 27, 1902 Caldwell St., Columbus, was arrested on charges of theft, resisting law enforcement, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.

Police were called to the 700 block of Whitfield Drive about a theft in progress at about 3:15 a.m. Saturday, Harris said.

Ferril is accused of wrapping his sweatshirt around a pair of speakers and was attempting to exit a store without paying, Harris said.

He fled on foot when confronted by officers and store security and was arrested a short time later, Harris said. Officers found a spoon with heroin residue on it on him before transporting him to the Bartholomew County Jail, Harris said.

Ferril was released from the Bartholomew County Jail after posting $20,000 bond, jail officials said.

Out of Nowhere

By
Ted Schultz
-

For two years, Charlie Allen was a junior varsity cross-country runner.

This fall, the junior was Columbus North’s top finisher in most of its meets.

Allen’s drops in time and leaps in production can be traced to one simple factor — training for triathlons. He took that training to a higher level over the summer, and that transferred over to cross-country season and his selection as The Republic Boys Cross-Country Runner of the Year.

This summer, Allen won Columbus Challenge sprint triathlon and Tri Louisville. He credits the swimming and biking with helping his running.

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]

Click here to purchase photos from this gallery

“It gives my legs a rest while still building my oxygen delivery system,” Allen said. “I had the oxygen there, so once I started running, it just kicked in.”

Allen didn’t win any cross-country races this fall, but was a consistent high finisher for the Bull Dogs. He finished fifth in the Conference Indiana meet to earn All-Conference honors and was third in the Brown County Sectional and fourth in the Brown County Regional. His personal-best of 16 minutes, 7 seconds for 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) came at the Louisville Trinity Invitational.

A 63rd-place finish at the state finals has left Allen striving for a better one next year. He hopes to place in the top 25, which would earn him All-State honors.

In the meantime, Allen is currently swimming for North. He plans to run track again in the spring and continue training for triathlons. He is thinking about doing cross-country and track or triathlons in college.

Allen was a little shocked at being the top cross-country runner for his team, but he wasn’t surprised by his times because knew he was in shape from the summer triathlon training.

Rick Weinheimer, who has coached the Bull Dogs for three decades, couldn’t recall too many runners who had gone from JV one year to No. 1 runner the next.

“I would think that’s one of the biggest jumps we’ve ever had somebody make,” Weinheimer said. “I think this season gave him a chance to prove to himself how much potential he has in this sport. I think he can have just an outstanding year next year.”

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”At a glance” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

The 2016 The Republic All-Area Boys Cross-Country team

Charlie Allen, Columbus North: The junior finished third in the Brown County Sectional, fourth in the Brown County Regional, 38th in the Brown County Semistate and 63rd at state

Elijah Brooks, Columbus North: The senior finished fourth in the sectional, third in the regional, 18th in the semistate and 89th at state.

Eli Fischer, Columbus North: The senior finished seventh in the sectional and regional, 33rd in the semistate and 111th at state.

Alec Embry, Columbus North: The senior finished eighth in the sectional, ninth in the regional, 47th in the semistate and 115th at state.

John Sluys, Columbus North: The sophomore finished 48th in the semistate and 78th at state.

Alex Hendrix, Jennings County: The sophomore finished third in the Southwestern (Hanover) Sectional, sixth in the regional, 19th at semistate and 113th at state.

Franklin Sanders, Jennings County: The junior finished fourth in the Southwestern (Hanover) Sectional, 12th in the regional, 40th at semistate and 77th at state.

Carter Leak, Jennings County: The freshman finished fifth in the Southwestern (Hanover) Sectional, 19th in the regional, 43rd in the semistate and 163rd at state.

Paul Bean, Columbus East: The senior finished second in the sectional, 14th in the regional and 46th in the semistate.

Wyatt Wyman, Brown County: The junior was fifth in the sectional, eighth in the regional and 21st in the semistate.

Honorable mention

Brown County: Job Lawson. Columbus East: Jonathan Clayton, Josh Sensanbaugher, Michael Zieleniuk. Columbus North: Peyton Shelton, Drew Smith, Justin Spoon, Drew Thompson. Hauser: David Seelye. Jennings County: Dalton Craig, Ryan Gasper, Wayne Komsi. Trinity Lutheran: AJ Goecker.

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Out of Nowhere

By
Ted Schultz
-

For two years, Charlie Allen was a junior varsity cross-country runner.

This fall, the junior was Columbus North’s top finisher in most of its meets.

Allen’s drops in time and leaps in production can be traced to one simple factor — training for triathlons. He took that training to a higher level over the summer, and that transferred over to cross-country season and his selection as The Republic Boys Cross-Country Runner of the Year.

This summer, Allen won Columbus Challenge sprint triathlon and Tri Louisville. He credits the swimming and biking with helping his running.

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]

Click here to purchase photos from this gallery

“It gives my legs a rest while still building my oxygen delivery system,” Allen said. “I had the oxygen there, so once I started running, it just kicked in.”

Allen didn’t win any cross-country races this fall, but was a consistent high finisher for the Bull Dogs. He finished fifth in the Conference Indiana meet to earn All-Conference honors and was third in the Brown County Sectional and fourth in the Brown County Regional. His personal-best of 16 minutes, 7 seconds for 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) came at the Louisville Trinity Invitational.

A 63rd-place finish at the state finals has left Allen striving for a better one next year. He hopes to place in the top 25, which would earn him All-State honors.

In the meantime, Allen is currently swimming for North. He plans to run track again in the spring and continue training for triathlons. He is thinking about doing cross-country and track or triathlons in college.

Allen was a little shocked at being the top cross-country runner for his team, but he wasn’t surprised by his times because knew he was in shape from the summer triathlon training.

Rick Weinheimer, who has coached the Bull Dogs for three decades, couldn’t recall too many runners who had gone from JV one year to No. 1 runner the next.

“I would think that’s one of the biggest jumps we’ve ever had somebody make,” Weinheimer said. “I think this season gave him a chance to prove to himself how much potential he has in this sport. I think he can have just an outstanding year next year.”

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”At a glance” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

The 2016 The Republic All-Area Boys Cross-Country team

Charlie Allen, Columbus North: The junior finished third in the Brown County Sectional, fourth in the Brown County Regional, 38th in the Brown County Semistate and 63rd at state

Elijah Brooks, Columbus North: The senior finished fourth in the sectional, third in the regional, 18th in the semistate and 89th at state.

Eli Fischer, Columbus North: The senior finished seventh in the sectional and regional, 33rd in the semistate and 111th at state.

Alec Embry, Columbus North: The senior finished eighth in the sectional, ninth in the regional, 47th in the semistate and 115th at state.

John Sluys, Columbus North: The sophomore finished 48th in the semistate and 78th at state.

Alex Hendrix, Jennings County: The sophomore finished third in the Southwestern (Hanover) Sectional, sixth in the regional, 19th at semistate and 113th at state.

Franklin Sanders, Jennings County: The junior finished fourth in the Southwestern (Hanover) Sectional, 12th in the regional, 40th at semistate and 77th at state.

Carter Leak, Jennings County: The freshman finished fifth in the Southwestern (Hanover) Sectional, 19th in the regional, 43rd in the semistate and 163rd at state.

Paul Bean, Columbus East: The senior finished second in the sectional, 14th in the regional and 46th in the semistate.

Wyatt Wyman, Brown County: The junior was fifth in the sectional, eighth in the regional and 21st in the semistate.

Honorable mention

Brown County: Job Lawson. Columbus East: Jonathan Clayton, Josh Sensanbaugher, Michael Zieleniuk. Columbus North: Peyton Shelton, Drew Smith, Justin Spoon, Drew Thompson. Hauser: David Seelye. Jennings County: Dalton Craig, Ryan Gasper, Wayne Komsi. Trinity Lutheran: AJ Goecker.

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Water main break closes Eighth Street

By
Staff Reports
-

Due to a water main break, Eighth Street is closed to traffic between Wilson Street and Reed Street in Columbus, city officials said. There is no information when it will reopen.

Legislator doing all-out pledge blitz for North band to perform in inaugural parade

By
Staff Reports
-

An all-out pledge blitz is underway today to try to raise $125,000 to sent the Columbus North High School Band to the inaugural parade in January in Washington D.C.

Rep. Milo Smith, R-Columbus, is leading the effort to raise the money today, and has about $20,000 pledged so far. But that’s not enough to commit to sending the band at this point, and he is planning the all-day blitz today to seek donations. He is asking anyone who is able to pledge $625 to pay for one band member to perform in the parade.

No funds are being collected until the pledges reach the goal of $125,000. The band is expecting an invitation from the inaugural parade committee as Vice President-elect Mike Pence, a North graduate, had asked that the band participate.

The $125,000 is the amount estimated for 200 band members and staff to make the trip. If enough corporate and private donations come through, the trip also will include some Washington, D.C., sightseeing opportunities.

An account has been established at Salin Bank’s locations in Columbus and Edinburgh to accept donations under the title “Columbus North Band Boosters inaugural parade fund.”

Smith is asking anyone who wishes to pledge to the effort to get the band to Washington D.C. email him at milo@milosmith.com today.

For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.

Three injured in accident at County Road 600N and Marr Road

By
Staff Reports
-

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputies and Indiana State Police are continuing to investigate an accident at East County Road 600N and Marr Road.

Three people were injured when a vehicle and van collided at the intersection at about 2:36 p.m. Sunday.

The daughter of a local county official, as well as her grandparents, were among those injured in a two-vehicle accident Sunday afternoon in front of the Armuth Acres subdivision.

Chloie Phelps, 8, the daughter of Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps and his wife, Emily, was taken to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis for what her father described in a social media post as “observation.”

The girl suffered minor injuries to her torso and foot, as well as a chipped tooth, during the 2:36 p.m. collision at North Marr Road and County Road 600N, Phelps wrote on his Facebook page.

Although Chloie was a front seat passenger in a van that rolled four times before coming to rest upside down, Phelps said photographs make the accident look worse than it actually was.

But the child’s grandfather, Tim Dillingham, operations manager of Ditech Inc. in Edinburgh, sustained serious neck and pelvis injuries.

Although he and his wife were both taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Kim Dillingham’s injuries do not appear to be as severe as those suffered by her husband, Phelps wrote.

Since Tim Dillingham is a reserve deputy with the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, the accident investigation was handled by the Indiana State Police.

For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.

 

Around Town – December 5

By
Staff Reports
-

• Orchids to

• all the participants in the Kiwanis Santa Fun Run/Walk for Riley Hospital for Children; your participation is appreciated.

• Tristen at Verizon on 46 West for great customer service.

• Holly Karr for her letter to the editor about the true silent majority.

• Marina at Walmart for helping me add onto my gift card Saturday afternoon, from a grateful customer.

• the Festival of Lights Parade and the marching of the Columbus East band.

• Sandy and Yvonne at CVS for all your help with enlarging our photos.

• Happy Birthday to

• Barbara Fivecoat, from your family and Donna.

• Shirley Kreutzjans, from your family, the DeLay’s and Donna.

• Candace Carr, from Joseph Hart Chapter DAR.

• Breanna McClain, from friends at the Moravian Church.

• Mike Moody, from Aunt Elsie.

• Tristan Galbraith.

• Angel Allman.

• Brooke Meek.

• Brent Berkenstock.

• Caleb Adams.

• Jennifer Hardy.

• Connie Sue Delay, from your siblings.

• Buffy Merideth, on No. 11, from Mark, Mom and Dad.

• Roberta, with love from your husband Randy, Mother, Wanda, Allen and all the family.

• Maggie Matlock, from Nan and Pap Matlock.

Looking Back – December 5

By
Staff Reports
-

2006

Community Animal Rescue Effort received a $10,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to assist with the group’s spay and neuter efforts and educational programs.

1991

Rezoning was requested by Prestwick Square Inc. of Richmond to allow development of an apartment complex on the northwest corner of Marr Road and McKinley Avenue.

Leader weighs in on plan

By
Staff Reports
-

A state committee’s report calling for a shorter test to replace ISTEP+ included the backing of the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. top administrator.

Superintendent Jim Roberts was among 21 people on the 23-member committee, to vote in favor of recommendations to state legislators, which include moving the testing period from its current March-April time slots into a single period in May to help stem classroom disruptions caused by the standardized exams, now taken by more than 400,000 Indiana public and private school students a year.

The committee was formed by the General Assembly after it voted earlier this year to mandate that the ISTEP test be replaced for the 2017-18 school year, although it is unlikely a new exam will be ready by then. Lawmakers are expected to consider the testing revamp during their session that starts in January.

Roberts said he supports having the testing period reduced and noted that the recommendation would put the burden on the state to ensure that high school students gain credentials in specific trades. That would add requirements, meaning the state would have to pay for career-ready assessments for students, he said.

Students in Grades 3 through 8 would face math and language arts exams each year, while fourth- and sixth-graders also would take a science test.

The recommendation includes calling for testing companies to provide results within a month of the tests.

Roberts also said the recommendation also would allow school districts to have local control of how assessment results are tied to teacher evaluations.

However, it does not specifically address linking student test performance to teacher compensation.

Roberts said he is not in favor of comparing one school to another.

“All of us need to be accountable to our students,” he said.

Although there were early conversations among panel about IREAD-3, a standardized third-grade reading assessment, Roberts said no further action was taken as part of the ISTEP recommendation. Roberts said he was in favor of having reading measured at the end of third grade rather than as a standalone assessment.

House Education Committee Chairman Robert Behning, an Indianapolis Republican, said he believed the state would ultimately end up with a different-looking exam, but that the current test probably will be used for the next school year.

“By pushing it too quickly, you’re going to end up having problems,” he said. “You’re better off doing it more deliberately and making sure you have a quality product in the end.”

The ISTEP exams have been plagued by long delays in results and growing time needed for students to take the tests, prompting widespread complaints from parents and educators.

Outgoing state schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz voted against the panel’s recommendations and objected during Tuesday’s meeting about not being allowed to offer changes to the proposal.

Committee chairwoman Nicole Fama, a principal in the Indianapolis Public Schools district, described the report as a consensus among the members.

Ritz, a Democrat about to leave office after losing her re-election bid, said the proposals represented a status quo on testing.

The recommendations will do nothing to shorten the time of the test and will not save Hoosiers any money nor reduce the high stakes associated with ISTEP, she said.

Committee member Wendy Robinson, superintendent of the Fort Wayne Community Schools, said she hoped legislators realize that a single exam can’t be used to determine the progress of students and also evaluate the performance of teachers and schools.

“Every expert who testified told us we were using ISTEP for too many things, that no one test can do four or five different things,” she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Local Police, Fire – December 5

By
Staff Reports
-

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following information was summarized from the records of city, county and state police, and fire and hospital agencies.

Arrests

Thursday

Jeremy D. Morgan, 29, 2216 Hawcreek Ave., Columbus, probation violation, 4:59 p.m., by Community Corrections, held with no bond.

Amy N. Adair, 35, Franklin, Bartholomew County warrant, 6:07 p.m., by the Columbus Police Department, held in lieu of $10,000 bond.

Mark D. Napier II, 33, Greenwood, out-of-county warrant, 7:40 p.m., by the Indiana State Police, held with no bond.

Sommer L. Biddinger, 19, 3545 N. County Road 250W, Columbus, Bartholomew County warrant, 11:55 p.m., by the Columbus Police Department, held in lieu of $2,500 bond.

Friday

Nesha L. Parker, 44, 2449 Orchard Creek Drive, Columbus, theft, 4:37 a.m., by the Columbus Police Department, released on $5,000 bond.

Olivia E. McNeill, 19, 2126 Maple St., Columbus, Bartholomew County warrant, 1:18 p.m., by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, held in lieu of $5,000 bond.

Fire, medic runs

Friday

12:24 a.m. — Injury in the 10000 block of East County Road 100S.

7:42 a.m. — Injury at the intersection of East County Road 800S and South County Road 375E.

9:42 a.m. — Injury in the 5900 block of West County Road 265N.

10:24 a.m. — Injury at the intersection of 25th Street and Central Avenue.

10:47 a.m. — Injury at the intersection of Rocky Ford Road and Central Avenue.

4:28 p.m. — Injury in the 1100 block of 25th Street.

4:43 p.m. — Injury in the 1900 block of Westminster Place.

5:35 p.m. — Injury in the 100 block of South Brooks Street.

5:53 p.m. — Injury at the intersection of 13th and Chestnut streets.

7:02 p.m. — Injury in the 4100 block of Waycross Drive.

Incidents

Thursday

7:17 a.m. — Leaving the scene of a personal-injury accident in the 800 block of Cottage Avenue.

7:27 a.m. — Personal-injury accident at West County Road 800N and North County Road 200W.

8:12 a.m. — Theft in the 2600 block of Boulder Drive.

8:33 a.m. — Burglary in the 9900 block of East Diane Drive.

9:16 a.m. — Theft in the 2300 block of North County Road 850W.

9:18 a.m. — Theft in the 16000 block of East Lake Shore Drive.

10:29 a.m. — Theft reported in the 2900 block of 10th Street.

12:52 p.m. — Theft reported in the 1400 block of 25th Street.

2:20 p.m. — Public intoxication in the 800 block of Lindsey Street.

3:30 p.m. — Property-damage accident in the 1400 block of 25th Street.

3:44 p.m. — Battery reported in the 200 block of Wehmeier Street.

3:56 p.m. — Personal-injury accident at Seventh Street and Central Avenue.

4:01 p.m. — Property-damage accident at 15th Street and Hawcreek Avenue.

4:14 p.m. — Theft reported in the 9700 block of East St. Joe Court.

5:17 p.m. — Leaving the scene of a property-damage accident at Washington Street and U.S. 31 North.

5:30 p.m. — Property-damage accident at U.S. 31 North and West Robin Way.

6:06 p.m. — Theft in the 3400 block of Sandstone Circle.

8:05 p.m. — Theft in the 500 block of Second Street.

8:26 p.m. — Theft in the 1100 block of Saylor Drive.

9:23 p.m. — Illegal residential entry in the 5200 block of Miami Drive.

10:55 p.m. — Personal-injury accident in the 2000 block of Dawnshire Drive.

Friday

1:51 a.m. — Residential burglary in the 1000 block of Pennsylvania Street.

1:57 a.m. — Theft reported in the 700 block of Chestnut Street.

2:38 a.m. — Shoplifting in the 700 block of Whitfield Drive.

5:51 a.m. — Property-damage accident at the intersection of East County Road 450S and South Jonesville Road.

6:53 a.m. — Property-damage accident at the intersection of West County Road 200N and North County Road 325W.

8:39 a.m. — Theft reported in the 300 block of Smith Street.

8:45 a.m. — Business burglary in the 500 block of Washington Street.

8:49 a.m. — Property-damage accident in the 500 block of Third Street.

8:57 a.m. — Property-damage accident at the intersection of Taylor Road and U.S. 31 North.

9:34 a.m. — Leaving the scene of an accident in the 1400 block of 25th Street.

10:10 a.m. — Theft reported in the 2200 block of Newton Street.

10:10 a.m. — Property-damage accident at the intersection of 17th Street and Central Avenue.

10:19 a.m. — Theft reported in the 700 block of Jonesville Road.

10:21 a.m. — Property-damage accident in the 3000 block of U.S. 31 North.

11:17 p.m. — Fraud in the 2900 block of U.S. 31 North.

11:59 a.m. — Theft reported in the 12000 block of North County Road 50W.

12:22 p.m. — Property-damage accident in the 800 block of West County Road 450S.

12:22 p.m. — Shoplifting in the 2500 block of Eastbrook Plaza.

12:55 p.m. — Property-damage accident in the 1200 block of Seventh Street.

1:11 p.m. — Property-damage accident in the 200 block of South Marr Road.

2:01 p.m. — Battery in the 1400 block of 25th Street.

2:20 p.m. — Battery in the 2800 block of Yellowwood Court.

2:52 p.m. — Property-damage accident in the 1000 block of Second Street.

2:56 p.m. — Shoplifting in the 700 block of Creekview Drive.

3:02 p.m. — Theft reported in the 200 block of Della Road.

5:26 p.m. — Property-damage accident at the intersection of Franklin and 15th streets.

5:44 p.m. — Battery in the 200 block of Coovert Street.

5:51 p.m. — Property-damage accident at the intersection of 13th and Chestnut streets.

9:03 p.m. — Theft reported in the 1400 block of 25th Street.

8:14 p.m. — Leaving the scene of an accident in the 2400 block of Northpark Drive.

9:14 p.m. — Theft reported in the 1500 block of Azalea Drive.

9:54 p.m. — Theft reported in the 1800 block of Chestnut Street.

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