The Columbus Regional Health Joint and Spine Center will be hosting a free joint pain seminar.

The session will take place from noon to 1 p.m., February 18 at Mill Race Center. Dr. Darryl A. Tannenbaum, a board certified orthopedic surgeon, is an ankle, elbow, foot, hand, hip, joint replacement or revision, knee, shoulder, sports medicine, and wrist Specialist. He’s slated to discuss the latest research on pain management, surgery and getting the best outcomes for returning to an active lifestyle.

This seminar is free, however, registration is required. For more information or to register, visit crh.org/events.

New State Rep. Ryan Lauer, a Columbus Republican representing District 59, successfully got his first bill passed in the Indiana House of Representatives. The body voted unanimously in support of Lauer’s legislation imposing tougher penalties on government officials and employees who are convicted of stealing public funds.

Lauer says House Bill 1192 would require public servants who steal public funds to reimburse the stolen amount through their pensions, if they cannot pay the amount back themselves. Currently, a person cannot be required to use their pension to pay off debt, even if it would be used to repay stolen tax dollars.

Lauer says this bill would be an important deterrent to discourage officials from violating public trust. “We need to protect taxpayers by ensuring offenders are held responsible when theft occurs,” Lauer said. “Many times, thieves spend the stolen money before they are caught. This legislation would help enable communities to get their public funds back even when offenders no longer have the money.”

Toyota Industries North America, Inc. announced Wednesday that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Hoist Liftruck Mfg., LLC. The agreement for the company went into effect Feb. 8th and the new company will be known as Hoist Material Handling, Inc.

“We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished in building a terrific brand and quality products,” said Hoist Founder Marty Flaska. “I am retiring and will no longer be part of the business, but the company is in good hands. It’s an honor to hand it off to the industry leader Toyota.”

“This is the perfect next step in the expansion of our Toyota Heavy Duty line,” said Jeff Rufener, President of Toyota Material Handling U.SA. “Hoist has been a great manufacturer of heavy-duty equipment for years and brings a group of passionate, talented associates that will help us in our role as a full-line equipment supplier. We are excited about the future of Hoist Material Handling.”

The acquisition of Hoist Material Handling adds to Toyota’s presence in Indiana. Headquartered in East Chicago, with a 550,000-square-foot factory, Hoist has nearly 25 years of experience manufacturing heavy-duty cushion tire and pneumatic forklifts, reach stackers, container handlers and associated equipment.

Indiana State Police are reporting that southbound Interstate 65 remains shut down between Walesboro and Seymour after a fatal traffic accident involving five vehicles. Two semis were fully engulfed in flames about two miles south of the Jonesville Road exit. Traffic is being diverted onto U.S. 31 and the southbound lanes are closed at the Walesboro exit.

Troopers say that they expect this will be a lengthy closure. It is expected to take into early this evening before all of the vehicles involved can be removed. Crews will then have to inspect the roadway for possible damage.

ISP says the northbound lanes had been closed, but are now reopen.

Details about the crash, and those involved, have yet to be released.

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

From the Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center as of 10:30 a.m., Wednesday:

High Water

• Marr Rd north of 600 N
• 50 W, north of 550 N
• Carr Hill Road between Morgan Willow Trace and Appleblossom Lane. Water in SB lane near Morgan Willow Trace.
• 450 N. between Talley Rd and N 250 E
• 150 E between Southern Crossing and 300 S
• 800 S between SR11 and US31

Closed

• 400 N between River Rd and US 31

A Jennings County fugitive was injured after police dog, Axel, took him into custody yesterday afternoon.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department reports that deputies tried to serve the warrant on 43-year-old Aaron Burton of North Vernon at about 4:30 p.m. yesterday in Spencer Township, but he refused to obey officer’s commands or  to show his hands. Deputy Cody Low sent Axel in and Burton was taken into custody.

He was taken to St. Vincent Jennings Hospital to be treated for his injuries before being taken to jail on a new charge of resisting law enforcement and the original warrant for failing to appear in court on a charge of possession of methamphetamine.

Area rivers are expected to see minor flooding again today and going into tomorrow and Friday.

East Fork White River in Columbus is expected to peak at a few inches below flood level by Thursday morning. The river at Seymour is in the minor flood stage now and will peak again late Thursday night or Friday morning, about a foot below moderate flood level.

Flat Rock River and Driftwood River are expected to rise above the minor flood stage by this afternoon. The flood warning expires Thursday afternoon for Flat Rock and Friday morning for the Driftwood.

Meteorologists say the rain so far this month has been record-breaking. This has been the wettest February since records started in 1894. It is the fifth-wettest month of all time.

A fire yesterday morning damaged the kitchen, roof and ventilation system at the Taylorsville Burger King restaurant.

German Township Fire Chief Matt Lynch says crews from his department and Clifford Volunteer Fire Department were called in at 5:58 a.m. in the morning after workers discovered smoke in the building. Columbus Fire and Columbus Township Fire & Rescue were also called in for more backup and for their ladder trucks.

Firefighters encountered heavy smoke in the building and located the fire between the building’s roof and the drop ceiling in the kitchen. Firefighters on the roof discovered the fire extended to the building’s rubber roof and the kitchen ventilation system. The fire was under control at just before 7 a.m. in the morning. Crews were on scene until about 8:30 a.m. pulling the ceiling, looking for additional fire and ventilating the building.

Lynch said firefighters faced one unexpected complication when a pickup truck driver decided to run over one of the charged fire hoses. The hose ran from the hydrant at Speedway next door to the restaurant.

Although no one was injured by the mishap, Lynch warned that by running over a fire hose you are putting firefighters at risk and possibly cutting through the hose. If that happens, commanders would have to pull crews out of the fire until the hose can be replaced.

Two Columbus residents were arrested on drug charges after a traffic stop in southern Jackson County turned up more than pound of methamphetamine.

Indiana State Police were patrolling near the Scott and Jackson county border Tuesday when they noticed a pickup with false or fictitious plates and following other vehicles too closely in the northbound lanes of Interstate 65. After the vehicle was pulled over, troopers brought in police dog Teague who alerted to the odor of drugs. A search revealed a pound and a quarter of meth hidden under the truck. Troopers also report finding marijuana, a syringe and more than $4,500  in cash.

53-year-old Gregory S. Nasby and 46-year-old Teresa M. Burns were both arrested on preliminary charges of dealing and possessing methamphetamine and dealing marijuana. Burns is also facing a charge of possession of syringe.

A drug court and a residential treatment center for women are a step closer to becoming reality. Over the past few weeks, the ASAP Board presented a plan to local officials to fund the Fresh Start Recovery Center. The center is a residential treatment program for pregnant women and women with young children. The board recommended that the city of Columbus and Bartholomew County split a one-time $200,000 payment to get the program established. City Council approved $100,000 in funding out of Substance Abuse Non-Reverting Fund during it’s meeting last week. County Council approved funding it’s $100,000 contribution during its meeting Tuesday night. These contributions will be utilized to refurbish the old post office site at Seventh and Washington streets.

County Commissioner Carl Lienhoop says he’s excited.

Officials indicate they hope to have the recovery center up and running by the end of this summer.

The ASAP Board also recommended that the city and county split the cost of an Adult Drug Recovery Court. The court is designed to integrate substance abuse and mental health treatment, drug testing, sanctions and incentives. The hope is to reduce recidivism, as well as offer hope and opportunity for those in the system. The city and county split funding $92,603 to get the court established.

County Councilman Mark Gorbett voted to fund both…

Judge Kelly Benjamin, who will preside over the drug court, says the hope is to start the program in April.