The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a flash flood warning for counties in our area including Bartholomew, Decatur, eastern Johnson, Rush and Shelby counties. .

Thunderstorms are producing heavy rain across the area. Up to two and a quarter inches of rain has already fallen in some areas, with more rain on the way on already saturated ground. In addition to the torrential rain, wind gusts of up to 50 mph are also happening. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly.

The flash flood warning is in effect until 5:15 p.m. this afternoon.

An areal flood warning has also been issued for our area extending past the flash flood warning. That is for surface flooding due to the rain in area counties including Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson and Jennings counties and that warning is in effect until 7:30 p.m. tonight.

A river flood warning is also in effect until Sunday.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Management Agency is reporting high water across the following roads:

• 800N/500 E
• SR58 just south of Myers Grocery
• State Road 58 W of 400 W
• Base Rd/300 E
• State Road 46 W across from ABC Stewart    WB lane
• 800S W of SR11
• Tannehill Rd at 330 W
• Wolfcreek Rd at 50 S
• County Road 300E W of US 31
• Area of 2501 S Whitehorse Rd
• 50N east of Clifty Creek School
• State Road 9 at the Shelby Co Line
• 25^th/Marr RD
• Northbound lane of Central Ave north of Rocky Ford
• 200S Terrace Lake Rd
• 400N between River Rd and US 31 is closed
• 930S between 300W and 400W is closed

Flood warnings are going into effect on area rivers this afternoon. The Driftwood River and East Fork White River at Seymour are both expected to have moderate flooding. In Seymour, the river is expected to crest a few inches below the major flood level by early Saturday morning.

Flat Rock and East Fork White rivers at Columbus are expecting minor flooding. Those flood warnings go into effect at 1 p.m. and are in effect through Sunday.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers says that one driver already found out the dangers of high water over the roadway this morning. He says a driver tried to go through floodwaters at County Road W. 930S and ended up in the water in a ditch beside the road.

The driver was uninjured but the sheriff says you are putting not just your own life at risk, but also those of the rescue workers who try to bring you to safety. He says if you see a flooded roadway, turn around.

County Road W. 930S is now closed between Roads 300W and 400W, the sheriff says.

According to the Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center, other road closings and high water include:

• County Road 400N between River Rd and U.S. 31
• County Road South 400W at West 850S.

In Columbus, several sections of the People Trail system in Mill Race and Noblitt Parks are closed due to high water. The city Parks and Recreation crews will evaluate these flooded areas on Monday.

Congressman Greg Pence, a Columbus Republican who represents Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District, recently announced members of his District staff.

“I could not be more excited to announce our District staff,” Congressman Pence said. “This team has a wealth of experience throughout Indiana’s 6th Congressional District, and I am confident that Hoosiers will be well served in every community we are privileged to represent.”

Those named were:

Ryan Jarmula, District Director and Deputy Chief of Staff

Jarmula previously served Indiana’s 6th District as a member of then-Congressman Mike Pence’s legislative staff in Washington, D.C. He has experience in the Indiana Statehouse, serving in policy and communications roles for then-Governor Mike Pence before joining the Trump-Pence campaign in 2016. Most recently, Jarmula served as a Special Assistant to the President in the White House.

Liz Dessauer, Deputy District Director

A graduate of Hanover College, Dessauer most recently served as the political director for Congressman Pence’s campaign. Previously, Dessauer worked on the re-election campaign for then-Governor Mike Pence, before he became the Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States.

John Hatter, Constituent Services Representative

Hatter serves as Congressman Pence’s liaison to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Defense. He also serves as the Congressman’s military service academy coordinator. In addition to working in the nonprofit and higher education communities, Hatter worked for former U.S. Senator Dan Coats in Washington, D.C. and for former Congressman Luke Messer in the 6th District. Hatter served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Karrie Pardieck, Constituent Services Representative

Beginning in 2001, Pardieck worked for then-Congressman Mike Pence, serving Indiana’s 6th District by helping constituents with Social Security concerns. She then worked for former Congressman Luke Messer throughout his tenure, serving as a constituent liaison regarding Social Security and Medicare issues.

Dale Buwalda, Constituent Services and Field Representative

Buwalda has over 16 years of experience in public policy and governmental affairs at the local, state, and national level, most recently as Field Director in Indiana’s 6th District for former Congressman Luke Messer. Buwalda will serve constituents on issues involving U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the IRS, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and healthcare issues.

Misty Hollis, Constituent Services and Field Representative

Hollis was elected to two terms as a city councilor at-large in Richmond and currently serves as executive director at the Richmond Family YMCA, as well as a board member of Richmond Power and Light. She currently serves as the Republican Chair of the 6th District.

Jordan Hall, Field Representative

Hall joined Congressman Pence’s political campaign in October of 2017, serving as Congressman Pence’s Special Assistant. In this role, he traveled throughout the 6th District, meeting with state and local officials, business leaders, and constituents. Hall graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana in 2017 with a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics.

Pence has a local office located at:
555 First Street
Suite B
Columbus, IN 47201
Phone Number: (812) 799-5230

Two dogs were rescued from a house fire by neighboring teens. Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Department, says firefighters were dispatched to 111 Reo Street for a possible structure fire at 1:17 p.m. on Wednesday.

A witness told investigators that Shannan Lawson saw the smoke and called out for her son, Jackson, 18. Jackson said that he and a 17-year-old friend ran to the house and knocked on the door. Jackson told investigators that he knew his neighbor had dogs in the home and that the neighbor was likely at work. Jackson said that smoke was coming from the windows and doors as he knocked on the door and called out to anyone who may have been inside. He said that there was no reply from the interior of the home, including an absence any barking from the dogs. Jackson and his friend kicked in the door and found the two dogs in the bedroom. Both dogs were rescued and removed from the smoke filled home before firefighters arrived. Neither the dogs, nor the teens, were hurt.

Crews arrived on the scene to find light smoke coming from windows and doors. An interior extinguishment crew entered to home and found a small fire confined to a bedroom. Crews reported that the fire had burned a two foot by two foot hole in the bedroom floor. Firefighters attempted to access the home’s crawl space from an opening on the exterior of the home. Due to the size of the access door and the inability for a firefighter to enter the space with firefighting gear, firefighters used a chainsaw to cut a crawl space access hole in the bedroom floor. After gaining access to the crawl space, firefighter discovered two floor joists were significantly damaged by fire. The entire area was doused with water.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Damages to the home are estimated at $10,000.

Columbus Firefighters responded to numerous calls about a possible structure fire at Papa John’s Pizza in Eastbrook Plaza. Capt. Mike Wilson, department spokesman, says firefighters were dispatched to the restaurant at about 11:38 a.m. Wednesday on reports of black smoke coming from the roof of the building. Engine Co. 4 was the first unit to arrive on the scene and reported smoke showing from the roof. As the engine company prepared to investigate, they were met by Papa John’s employees who reported that everyone was out of the business. Papa John’s employees told firefights that the lights inside the business has just began to flicker when a passerby came into the store to warn of a possible fire on the roof. Employees stated that prior to learning of the possible fire, they did detect an odor of smoke and could hear a unidentified “popping sound”. No smoke was visible inside the store.

As additional stations arrived at the scene, electrical arcing was witnessed from the area of the roof. Additional booming was heard by the firefighters below. Within a short time, firefighters witnessed the electrical service lines separate from a transformer in the alley behind the business. Engine Co. #2 and Truck Co. #1 set up their ladder apparatus to gain access to the strip mall’s roof. There, they found a small section of the rubber membrane roof covering on fire. Roof Truck Co. # 1 extinguished the flames.

With all fire threats addressed, firefighters turned the scene over to Duke Energy and Papa John’s. While fire investigators are unsure of the exact cause, an undetermined electrical event contributed to the incident.

No one was hurt.

The restaurant is open.

A Hendricks County man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after a short vehicle pursuit. At approximately 4:43 p.m., a Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy was at the intersection of 800 S/S US 31 when a vehicle, reported as a possible drunk driver, passed.

The deputy pulled behind the vehicle and observed it crossing the center line multiple times. The deputy tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle continued southbound. Indiana State Police responded moments later and deployed stop-sticks, ending the chase.

The driver, 46-year-old Jason Daniel Taylor, of Brownsburg, was arrested on preliminary charges of:

Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated
Operating a Vehicle with a BAC of .15 or more
Resisting Law Enforcement in a Vehicle

Taylor remains behind bars on $20,000 bond.

No injuries were reported.

The Mill Race Theatre Company will be performing “Cabaret” Friday and Saturday at The Commons.

Janie Gordon, the director and music director for the show, says that the musical is set in pre-World War II Germany and features uplifting music alongside darker themes.

She said the musical is blessed with great music by Kander and Ebb, who also created “Chicago” and other hits during their long career together.

Gordon said that the theater company has put together a great cast and live band performances. The stage will have an extension into the audience and it will feel like a real cabaret, she said.

She said that the music is very catchy, but the undertone deals with the rise of Naziism in Germany — the opposite of the musical tone. The show would be appropriate for teens and older, Gordon said.

The shows start at 7:30 p.m. you can get tickets or more information at millracetheatre.org.

Cummins is reporting record-setting revenues of $23.8 billion for last year, 16 percent higher than 2017.

The company announced its fourth quarter and year end results this morning. According to the company, revenues in North America increased 19 percent last year and international sales grew 12 percent.

Earnings for the year, before interest and other deductions, were also a record, with $3.5 billion in 2018, compared to 3 billion in 2017. The revenue as a percent of sales fell slightly, going from 14.8 percent in 2017 to 14.7 percent last year.

Based on the current forecast, Cummins projects revenues for this year to be flat or up to 4 percent.

You can read the entire statement, here.

The Community Education Coalition is receiving a nearly $1 million dollar grant for its Economic Opportunities through Education Network.

The national nonprofit Strada Education Network announced the grant of $997,000 yesterday saying it would support the coalition’s efforts in workforce training for adult learners, expansion of Ivy Tech Community College IT programs, and fund college / career success strategies to improve education for low-income adults and the area’s growing Latino population.

The Community Education Coalition was selected from hundreds of applicants in the competition. Strada Education Network announced the competition last year to prioritize investment in working adults who need to increase their skills in a shifting labor market and in disconnected youth who are neither working nor in school.

The Community Education Coalition announced that the money would support efforts including:

• College readiness initiatives for students and families to promote educational success and a college-going culture, focused on high demand STEM careers.
• Latino college and career coaches for middle and high school students.
• New or expanded Ivy Tech Information Technology education programs at four Ivy Tech Community College sites Batesville, Lawrenceburg, Columbus and Madison.
• An IUPUC and Ivy Tech Columbus. project  to increase college retention rates through instructor-driven, student-delivered approaches, and leverages outcomes based professional development models.
• Expanded support for workforce training for adult learners. Jennings County Adult Educational Center, McDowell Education Center and River Valley Resources will be able to increase the number of adult learners enrolling and completing credentials.

Cummins is celebrating its 100th anniversary today.

The company was founded in Columbus in February 1919, growing from the dream and engineering skill of Clessie Cummins and the financing of W.G. Irwin. With $50,000 in backing from Irwin and the use of Irwin Mansion’s garage on Fifth Street, the company’s goal was to manufacture and sell internal combustion engines with diesel technology and their accessories, attachments, tools, machinery or appliances.

The formal paperwork establishing Cummins Engine Co. was signed at the Columbus Chamber of Commerce offices on February 20, 1919.

Our news-gathering partners at The Republic are reporting that company employees will be celebrating at Cummins facilities around the world today including cupcakes at American facilities and similar treats at plants in other countries.