Jennings County deputies say that a man tried to flee through woods on his motorcycle before eventually getting stopped by a ravine.

The incident started at about 2 p.m. on Friday afternoon while deputies were using their new off-road vehicle, and noticed a driver run through a stop sign .  Instead of stopping for officers, the driver took off, eventually going off-road before reaching a creek he couldn’t cross. The driver, identified as 34-year-old Michael Hubbard of North Vernon then tried to run away, before being taken into custody a short distance later.

He was arrested on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, reckless driving, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and driving while suspended.

Columbus police say a suspected shoplifter had allegedly stolen items falling from his pants when he tried to run from police Sunday night.

Officers were called to the Whitfield Drive Walmart store at about 10 p.m. last night for a reported shoplifter and as officers arrived 22-year-old Skyler J. Blair of North Vernon broke away from store security and ran away.

As an officer chased after Blair through the parking lot, items began falling from his pants. After he was arrested on preliminary charges of theft and resisting law enforcement, the items were rounded up and taken back to the store.

When Cummins celebrates its 100th anniversary in downtown Columbus on Saturday, the company will have some special guests.

Sally Leyes, director of internal communications for the Columbus based diesel engine manufacturer, explains that will include nearly 100 of Clessie Cummins descendants and family.

Clessie Cummins grandon, Matt, is traveling from Oregon in his Cummins powered Ram pickup to attend the celebration.

The company was incorporated in February 1919 in Columbus. On that day this year,  company locations around the world held celebrations on that day. But they are also holding celebrations all summer long at company locations across the world, Leyes said.

Starting in May and lasting through September, each Cummins site will hold its own localized version of the celebration event.

Saturdays event in Columbus is the only one in Indiana and employees from Seymour to Indianapolis will be attending. It is limited to Cummins employees and retirees and their families but about 13,000 people are expected.

Downtown activities will include live music, food, displays and tours of the Cummins headquarters building. Shuttle buses will be taking visitors from satellite parking locations including the lots at the CEP and Cummins Fuel Systems.

The downtown activities are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the area around Mill Race Park including Jackson and Fifth streets and the headquarters parking lot.

A Nineveh man was injured Sunday evening after his off road vehicle flipped over, pinning him underneath.

According to Indiana conservation officers, 58-year-old Richard Hogue was riding the vehicle in woods on private property. That was near the 9000 block of Sweetwater Trail at about 6:25 p.m. Sunday evening in Nineveh. Johnson County paramedics took him to Johnson Memorial Hospital where he is being treated for back and chest injuries.

Conservation officers say that Hogue was not wearing a helmet or other safety equipment and alcohol appears to have been a factor in the crash.

The Trafalgar Police Department assisted at the scene.

The Jennings County School Corporation is seeking applicants to fill the remaining term of former JCSC School Board member James Warren Lucas. This vacancy cover District 1, comprising Bigger, Campbell, Columbia and Vernon Townships.

Those interested in this position must meet the following qualifications:

– Be a registered voter in the territorial limits of Jennings County School Corporation and have been for at least one year.

– Have resided in one of the townships in District 1 for at least one year.

– Be at least 21-years-old.

– Do not hold any elective or appointive political office under the jurisdiction of any precinct, township or county unit.

– Have no interested in any contract with, or claim against Jennings County School Corporation, either directly or indirectly.

Applications may be picked up at the Jennings County School Corporation Central Administration Office Building, 34 West Main Street, North Vernon. They must be returned no later than June 19th by 4 p.m.

If you would like to comment on the rate changes requested by Brown County Water Utility, Inc., you now have that opportunity.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, the state agency representing consumer interests in cases before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, is reviewing the utility’s request and is scheduled to file testimony on July 26th.

Along with its legal and technical review, the OUCC is inviting written consumer comments through July 19th.

Brown County Water Utility is a not-for-profit entity providing service to more than 5,300 retail customers. Its current base rates were approved in 2015.

The utility’s proposal would raise its overall rates by nearly $302,000, an 8.8 percent increase over current revenues. However, rates for Brown County Water Utility residential customers would decrease by 14.2 percent. Rates for Brown County Water Utility commercial and industrial customers would rise by 35.6 percent, while wholesale rates charged to the Town of Nashville would rise by 154.1 percent under the utility’s request.

Brown County Water officials say the utility is seeking the changes due to higher operating and maintenance costs and to pay for capital improvements. These include main, hydrant, valve, meter, and service line replacements.

The Town of Nashville has formally intervened in the case. Any testimony it may file is also due on July 26th.

Consumers who wish to submit written comments for the case record may do so via the OUCC’s website at in.gov/oucc/2361.htm, by email at uccinfo@oucc.IN.gov, or by mail at:

Consumer Services Staff
Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor
115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South
Indianapolis, IN 46204

The OUCC needs to receive all written consumer comments no later than July 19th.

Comments should include the consumer’s name, mailing address, and a reference to “IURC Cause No. 45210.” Do not include account numbers or other sensitive information. Consumers with questions about submitting written comments can contact the OUCC’s consumer services staff at 1-888-441-2494.

An IURC evidentiary hearing is scheduled for September 19th at the PNC Center, located at 101 West Washington Street in Indianapolis. A final decision in the case is expected sometime this year.

Updates on this case are being posted on the OUCC’s website at in.gov/oucc/2505.htm.

Be prepared for possible traffic delays if you are headed into Brown County on Saturday. The Indiana Department of Transportation says it has issued a permit to close State Road 135 through Nashville beginning at 10:30 a.m. for the annual Murat Shriner’s parade. State Road 135 is scheduled to reopen at approximately 1:30 p.m. In the event of rain, the parade and closure will be extended until 2 p.m.

The Nashville Police and Brown County Sheriff’s Departments will assist with the closure.

The parade detour routes are as follows:

– Northbound traffic: Pat Reily Drive/Jefferson Street/Washington Street/Johnston Street/Mound Street/Jefferson Street/State Road 135;
– Southbound traffic: Artist Drive/Commercial Street/Old State Road 46/Snyder Road/State Road 46

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

A Decatur County man was arrested after a Thursday afternoon on several charges after a crash.

Just before 2 p.m., the Indiana State Police received 911 calls about a pickup truck driving recklessly on northbound I-65 near Jeffersonville. Callers reported that the driver was driving aggressively. There were also reports that both he and a passenger were hanging out the windows and making obscene gestures towards other drivers.

A trooper observed the vehicle making lane changes without signaling. However, the trooper was in a state-owned car without lights or siren and was not in uniform. He continued to observe the truck as it sped away and reported seeing the driver make several reckless lane changes without signaling and passed multiple semi-trucks utilizing the right-hand emergency lane. Authorities say the driver was also slowing and sometimes stopping in traffic for no apparent reason and drove into the median more than once.

Other troopers and officers from nearby agencies attempted to locate and catch up the vehicle. At one point, the truck was observed taking the Memphis exit and completely disregarding the stop sign at the bottom of the ramp before re-entering the interstate and continuing northbound at a high rate of speed.

Officers were able to catch up to the truck near Scottsburg. That police department gave chase. The truck soon entered the median near the 35 mile-marker where it overturned and crashed.

The driver was identified as 27-year-old Paul Clifton Barger Jr., of Westport. He is facing preliminary charges of:

– Felony Resisting with a Vehicle – Level 5 Felony;
– Resisting Law Enforcement – A Misdemeanor;
– Possession of a Legend Drug – Level 6 Felony;
– Operating While Intoxicated – C Misdemeanor,
– OWI Endangerment – A Misdemeanor;
– Reckless Driving – A Misdemeanor.

Barger was booked in the Scott County Jail.

The female passenger was treated and released from the scene. She was not charged.

A gas leak led to evacuations in Bartholomew County Wednesday night, after a driver struck a gas line and then left the scene.

Bartholomew County deputies are reporting that the incident happened shortly after 9 p.m.  Wednesday night in the 5000 block of Jonesville Road. A driver had struck a utility gas line that was now leaking.

Deputies and Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department firefighters evacuated several nearby residents. And the road had to be closed down for about an hour and a half until the gas company could secure the leak.

Authorities say they don’t have a description of the vehicle in the hit and run accident and they don’t have a suspect.

No injuries were reported.

A local man is under arrest after a stabbing yesterday morning at the LaRae Apartment complex in Taylorsville.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called to the scene at about 5 a.m. that morning and talked to a a 24-year-old man who had been attacked with a knife. The victim was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital where he was treated for his injuries and then released.

The investigation led deputies to an apartment occupied by 20-year-old Nathan Boesche. Boesche was arrested on a preliminary charge of battery with a deadly weapon.

Deputies are also crediting German Township Volunteer Fire Department for assisting at the scene, cleaning up blood in the parking lot.