INDOT is going to be having a public information session this evening (Nov. 7) to talk about a road improvement project coming up next year on U.S. 50 in Seymour. They are looking for your opinions on the project, which will fix the pavement on U.S. 50 from just east of Agrico Lane to U.S. 31. They are going to improve the intersection with U.S. 31, widen the bridge over Sandy Branch and add a multi-use pedestrian path, sponsored by the City of Seymour.

Tonight you will be able to look at displays and talk to the project’s designers.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., presentation begins at 6 p.m. at Seymour City Hall

More than 100 people turned out for a groundbreaking ceremony Monday afternoon near the site of the overpass project at State Roads 11 and 46 in Columbus.

Mayor Jim Lienhoop talked about the quick turnaround in getting proposals approved. He credited state officials, specifically the Indiana Department of Transportation.

Mayor Lienhoop also credited City Engineer Dave Hayward for helping state officials understand to understand the gravity of the situation.

Lienhoop talked about how when his administration took office in January of 2016, it had two major goals: attacking the addiction epidemic and coming up with a plan to deal with the increase in train traffic on the west side of town. Lienhoop says he’s proud of the way the community has come together with the creation of ASAP and The Hub.

The overpass project, estimated to cost between $32 million and $35 million, is expected to ready for traffic by the end of next year. It will take vehicle traffic over the railroad.

North Vernon residents will be choosing their mayor and city council representatives on Tuesday.

Mayor Mike Ochs, an incumbent Republican, is facing a challenge from Democrat Colleen Malone.

Three of the five seats on city council are also being contested.

In District 1, incumbent Republican Jack Kelley faces Democrat David Shaw.

In District 3, Democrat Connie Rayburn, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Baron Wilder.

Republican incumbent Jerry Lamb is defending his At-Large seat on the council against Democrat Matthew York.

Trent Wisner, a Democrat representing District 2, is unopposed, as is District 4 incumbent Republican Brian Hatfield.

Ballots can be cast Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the following locations:

District #1
Grateful Grubb Restaurant
412 S. Madison Ave.

District #2
Bethel Baptist Church
77 Norris Ave.

District #3
First United Methodist Church
240 W. Poplar St.

District #4
St. Mary’s Parish Center
212 Washington St.

Centra Credit Union is donating more than $30,000 to Bartholomew County non-profits. The donations are a portion of 41 grants of $2,500 each to non-profits within the communities served by Centra, totaling more than $100,000 throughout central and southern Indiana.

“Centra Team Members love being able to support the causes they care about through this program, and we are proud to be able to support the communities we serve with these donations,” said Centra Community Involvement Officer Jenni Carr. “We chose to support many local non-profits, along with a few national organizations like the American Red Cross and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.”

The local non-profits selected include 13 that are in Bartholomew County: Love Chapel, Foundation for Youth, Advocates for Children, ASAP of Columbus, Bartholomew County School Supplies Assistance Program, Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund, Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center, Our Hospice of Southern Indiana, Sans Souci, Turning Point, Bartholomew County Humane Society, LifeDesigns and Orphan Grain Train.

“These wonderful organizations support a similar mission and serve the local communities where Centra has a presence. Credit Unions were built on the premise of People Helping People, and we are excited to provide support to these causes,” Centra President and CEO Rick Silvers said.

Selected organizations are currently being notified of the donations with the funds being delivered to the selected non-profits by the end of November.

The Bartholomew County Highway Department says that the intersection of County Road 800 North and Executive Drive is closed to all traffic. The closure is expected to last two to three weeks for utility extensions. You are asked to avoid this area if at all possible.

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.

A Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy on patrol captured a wanted local man over the weekend.

Just before 10 p.m. Saturday, Deputy Ryland Fluhr was patrolling in the 200 block of Patterson Road when he saw a man he knew to have an outstanding arrest warrant out of Bartholomew County.

As the deputy exited his patrol vehicle, the man went behind a residence and would not respond to commands. As other deputies arrived to assist, Deputy Fluhr observed the man crawl into a shed. Deputy Fluhr gave verbal commands for the man to exit the shed; however, the subject did not comply. A short time later, the man, identified as 44-year-old Shawn Timothy Gilley, of Columbus, was arrested on preliminary charges of:

Possession of Methamphetamine
Possession of Marijuana
Possession of Legend Drug Injection Device
Possession of Paraphernalia

Gilley remains behind bars without bond.

A Johnson County woman was arrested on drug charges late Friday night in Bartholomew County.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that at approximately 11 p.m., a deputy was driving behind a vehicle on northbound Indianapolis Road when the driver activated the left turn signal. The vehicle then veered right onto the shoulder of the roadway before making a wide left turn onto Lowell Road. As the vehicle approached the stop sign, it turned directly in front of a vehicle traveling northbound on US 31 forcing that vehicle to change lanes to prevent a collision.

The deputy initiated a traffic stop in the area of Southline Drive and US 31. After making contact with the driver, 38-year-old Amy Adair, of Franklin, police dog Bravo was deployed and alerted to the odor of narcotics inside the vehicle.

Adair was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Heroin and Possession of Legend Drug Injection Device.

She has since been released.

A Franklin man was killed in a Friday morning crash in Johnson County. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene in the 5700 block of South US 31 in Franklin at 6 a.m.

Investigators say that 24-year-old Dillan Anthony Martin, of Martinsville, was driving a car on southbound US 31 just north of 5700 South US 31. Martin told investigators that he was in the right lane following another vehicle. The vehicle in front of him switched to the left lane. Martin then struck a moped driven by 50-year-old Matthew Aaron Frye. Frye was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say it is unknown if the driver in front of Martin saw the moped and that was the reason they made the lane change.

The investigation is ongoing, though authorities say that speed and alcohol have been ruled out as possible factors in the crash. Martin has cooperated with Accident Investigators.

The Bartholomew County Highway Department says that County Road 800 North and Executive Drive, will be closed at the intersection to all traffic, beginning Monday, Nov. 4^th, at 8 a.m. That closure is expected to last for approximately 3-4 days for utility extensions.

You are asked to avoid this area.

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.

An Illinois woman was arrested Thursday as part of an investigation into a stolen vehicle.

Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess says that deputies responded to the 6600 block of East County Road 650S in Edinburgh. During the time of the call , police were in the area searching for a suspicious female. The female was believed to have fled earlier in the day from the Hilltop Motel while a warrant was being served on another individual from the county’s “Drug Round-Up” operation.

Authorities located the stolen pickup near the intersection of State Road 44 and Sugar Creek Road. A deputy activated his emergency lights and siren, only for the pickup to speed away, driving the wrong way and passing three vehicles. The vehicle pulled over about a quarter-mile down the road.

The driver, 34-year-old Michelle T. Wess, of Quincy, IL, was arrested for Auto Theft, Resisting Law Enforcement Using a Vehicle, Possession of Injection Device and Possession of under 30 Grams of Marijuana. Wess was also wanted on a warrant out of Marion County for Auto Theft, Possession of a Narcotic and Possession of Paraphernalia.