A Crothersville police officer was seriously injured after his stopped patrol car was struck from behind by a semi on Interstate 65 Friday morning.
Indiana State Police say that 45-year-old Officer Michael A. Weiler and another officer were blocking traffic on the interstate in their police cruisers, providing traffic control for a highway maintenance crew near Crothersville.
At about 6 a.m., a semi driven by 37-year-old Harvest L. Beacham collided with Weiler’s vehicle, flipping it off the east side of the roadway where it landed upside down.
Weiler had to be rescued from the wreckage and then was flown to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis with serious injuries. Beacham was uninjured.
A reminder, that the State Road 11 and Interstate 65 interchange in Jackson County is due to close today for three months, while a new interchange is built at that location.
The official detour will take State Road 46 in Columbus to U.S. 31 and then to U.S. 50 in Seymour.
INDOT asks that you slow down, use extra caution and drive without distractions through all work zones.
The new interchange is expected to reopen in November.
INDOT says that you will be seeing lanes closing overnight on the new State Road 11/State Road 46 overpass starting this evening.
Crews will be applying the final level of asphalt, according to INDOT. The work is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. in the evening through 6 a.m. in the morning for the next two weeks.
Paul Horn. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.
A Louisville, Kentucky man is accused of threatening a store worker with a knife, while trying to steal a piece of computer equipment from a Columbus store.
Columbus police say that they were called to the Walmart store on Whitfield Drive at about 2:20 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. A store security officer told police that he suspected a man of trying to steal a computer hard drive and when the employee checked the bathroom, the suspect threatened the worker with a knife.
Police found an open knife in the pocket of the suspect, 45-year-old Paul Horn and he was arrested on a preliminary charge of intimidation with a deadly weapon and an outstanding warrant from out of the county.
A COVID-19 testing site in Columbus is moving to Fair Oaks Mall.
Mary Ferdon, director of administration and community development for the city, said that OPTUM/Logistics Health will begin operating the testing site at the former JC Penney’s store in the mall, starting on Monday and lasting through at least late September.
The previous site has been at the Armory at the Columbus Municipal Airport. But OPTUM and the state of Indiana approached the city about finding a new location, because the Armory does not have air conditioning and is now centrally located in Columbus.
The Fair Oaks Mall site is now jointly owned by the city and Columbus Regional Health. The city and CRH say that they see the testing as a valuable service for the community and see a need to provide safe and accessible access to a testing site.
The Fair Oaks Mall Community Development Corp. entered into an agreement with OPTUM this week.
Columbus City Utilities is issuing an emergency boil water advisory for customers on Cayman Court from Cottonwood Drive to the end of the street. Utility officials say that a water leak required them to shut off water this morning while emergency repairs were made.
You should boil any water you plan for cooking or drinking for five minutes before using it.
Columbus City Utilities will notify customers that the water is safe again after it passes laboratory testing.
If you have any questions you can call the Water Service Hotline at 812-418-6435.
Crothersville Community Schools Superintendent Terry Goodin, who also serves as a state representative, is sick with COVID-19.
State Rep. Terry Goodin
In a statement, Goodin said he was alerted last week that he had possible contact with someone who had the disease. He was tested a week ago and received the positive result on Monday.
Goodin said that he is currently suffering from COVID-19 symptoms, including what he called “a skull-cracking headache, fever, body aches and cough,”
Goodin said he did not have any contact with teachers or students. The Crothersville superintendent’s office is in a separate building attached to the school.
Goodin said he is isolating from his family until cleared by his physician.
He stressed that the virus is real and he urged Hoosiers to take it seriously, to listen to medical experts and to protect yourself, your family and your neighbors.
Goodin, a Democrat, represents portions of Clark, Jefferson, and Scott counties.
Legal Aid will be holding a free phone-in clinic for residents of area counties on Tuesday, Aug. 18th
The phone clinic will be 3 to 5:30 p.m. although you have to register beforehand. An attorney will call you back during the clinic hours.
The Legal Aid Clinic and Pro Bono Program uses local volunteer attorneys, to provide free legal consultations to low-income individuals whom might not otherwise be able to afford the counsel of an attorney.
The phone-in clinic is for residents of Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Rush, and Shelby Counties.
You can register by calling Legal Aid at 812-378-0358 on Tuesday, between 12 and 1:30 p.m.
Area bands are planning a free concert at Donner Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Rockin’ Picnic in the Park will feature an open stage from 12 to 2:30 p.m. for those who want to perform. Pushville Panic will take the stage at 3 p.m., Sudden Impact will perform at 5 p.m. and GTR Good Time Review will headline the all ages show at 7 p.m.
You should plan to use the space in the park to socially distance and bring chairs and coolers to enjoy show.
9 a.m. update: INDOT now says that contractor E&B Paving Inc. plans to close the S.R. 11 interchange at I-65 in Jackson County (Exit 55) on or after Monday, August 17. The closure was originally scheduled to begin August 10 and was delayed to August 24, but has now been set for this coming Monday.
INDOT has rescheduled work at the State Road 11 and Interstate 65 interchange in Jackson County.
Originally set to begin Monday , the three-month long closure will now start Monday, Aug. 17th.
The $7.8 million dollar project will construct a dog-bone shaped intersection, replacing the existing ramp layout. The new interchange will feature two single-lane roundabouts with interior truck aprons on either side of the State Road 11 overpass, resembling a dog bone from above.
INDOT says that the “Dog bone” interchanges increase safety as intersection conflict points are significantly reduced, vehicle speeds are slower, stop signs and signals are eliminated, and traffic is able to move more efficiently through the area.
This safety improvement is part of the $143 million dollar project adding travel lanes to Interstate 65 between Columbus and Seymour. The new interchange is expected to reopen in November.
The official detour will take State Road 46 in Columbus to U.S. 31 and then to U.S. 50 in Seymour.
INDOT asks that you slow down, use extra caution and drive without distractions through all work zones.
