Several rivers and streams in our area remain under flood warnings today after heavy rains Sunday.
Minor flooding is subsiding. Among the affected rivers are Driftwood River and East Fork White River in Seymour.
The Driftwood River at Edinburgh has dropped back below the minor flood stage as of this morning according to the stream gauge at the Hendricks Ford Bridge. The flood warning on Driftwood River remains in effect until this afternoon.
East Fork White River near Seymour came within inches of the moderate flood stage, but it has crested in the minor flood stage and is on its way back down, according to storm gauges. The river is expected to drop completely below flood stage by Thursday morning according to forecasts.
The flood warning on East Fork White River at Seymour remains in effect until Thursday evening.
Columbus firefighters say that clothes caught fire in a dryer at an east Columbus laundromat yesterday afternoon.
The fire at the Speedy Clean Laundromat on Gladstone Avenue was reported at about 2:51 Monday afternoon as a structure fire. Columbus police arrived on the scene and discovered the fire was within a dryer unit. They used a fire extinguisher to put it out and a bystander pulled the smoldering pile of clothes outside the store.
Firefighters arrived and used water to fully extinguish the burning clothes, as well as ventilation fans to remove smoke from the business. The damages to the building are estimated at $15 thousand dollars. No injuries were reported and firefighters say the cause of the fire was accidental.
Funeral services for former Bartholomew County Sheriff Rick Hill will be Friday at Jewell Rittman Family Funeral Home. Hill died Sunday at the age of 74.
Among his survivors are his wife, Lisa as well as his four children, Gregory Lynn Hill (wife, Sonia, grandchildren, Ciara Morgan, Hayden Hill, Amelia Hill and Hudson Hill,) Dustin Rick Hill (partner, Brittany Heitz, grandchild Kennedy Hill), a daughter Amber Nicole Mudgett (Hobbs-Hill) (Spouse; Shawn, grandchildren; Devon, Gavin) and BethAnn Lynn Hill (grandchild, Braelynn Jo Hill)
Visitation will be from 3 until 8 p.m. Thursday and one hour prior to Friday’s services at the funeral home. Funeral services will be at 1 Friday. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery with the Bartholomew County Veteran’s Honor guard performing military rites.
Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home asks that attendees wear masks and practice social distancing.
Zachary Ping. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.
Columbus police arrested a man Saturday after he allegedly threatened witnesses who saw him enter someone else’s car.
The witnesses saw the man, later identified as 33-year-old Zachary D. Ping, going through vehicles in a parking lot near Sixth and California streets at just before noon Saturday. He then allegedly threatened those who saw him..
When police arrived, Ping was shouting in the middle of the street. Police went to arrest Ping, but he tried to walk away, refusing to stop, according to police reports.
Officers used a Taser to subdue Ping and he was taken to the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of intimidation, resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct.
Jennings County deputies arrested a wanted man last week after he ran from officers and tried to hide in the woods.
The sheriff’s department is reporting that Thirld A. Ross was wanted on Jennings County warrants for a probation violation and for failing to appear in court on a charge of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
Deputies determined that Ross was at a home in Spencer Township and at about 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, they arrived to arrest him. Deputies say that Ross ran into the woods but was quickly arrested.
He is facing new charges of resisting arrest and possession of a syringe.
Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department
Former Bartholomew County Sheriff Rick L. Hill has died.
The sheriff’s department is announcing that Hill died early yesterday morning at the age of 74. He served as Bartholomew County Sheriff from 1987 to 1990.
He is survived by his wife Lisa. Arrangements are being made through Jewell Rittman Funeral Home in Columbus.
Several rivers and streams in our area are under a flood warning today after heavy rain Sunday.
Among the affected rivers are Driftwood River and East Fork White River in Seymour. Minor flooding is expected.
The National Weather Service says between one and two inches of rain fell over the area.
East Fork White River at Seymour passed into the minor flood stage yesterday afternoon and is expected to crest at just over 16 feet later this afternoon. That is about a foot below the moderate flood stage. It should drop back below flood level by Wednesday.
Driftwood River at Edinburgh just hit that minor flood stage of 11 feet this morning. It is expected to crest at about 12.1 feet by this evening and to drop back below the flood stage by Tuesday afternoon.
Flat Rock River at Columbus is expected to crest right at its minor flood stage of 11 feet later this afternoon, however it is not under a flood warning. East Fork White River in Columbus is expected to crest later today about half a foot below its flood stage.
The flood warning remains in effect until early Wednesday morning.
The weather service says you should be aware of your surroundings and don’t drive into high water. Turn around and don’t drown.
The National Weather Service in Indianapolis is warning about the danger of areal flooding due to this morning’s heavy rain.
You can expect to see flooding in low-lying area, streams and rivers. An areal flooding advisory is in effect until 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon. As of 9:15 a.m., between half an inch and two inches of rain had fallen in our area.
The weather service says you should be aware of your surroundings and do not drive into high water. Turn around and don’t drown.
Affected area counties include: Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson and Shelby counties.
The local Legal Aid office holding a Housing and Eviction Clinic for residents of the agency’s eight county district on Tuesday.
The agency says that the COVID-19 housing crisis has created a need for renters to know their rights and responsibilities Volunteer attorneys will provide information related to housing and eviction issues between 3 pm and 5:30 Tuesday afternoon.
To take part you must pre-register by calling Legal Aid between 12 pm and 2 Tuesday at 812-378-0358.
The district includes Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Rush, and Shelby Counties.
Christopher J. George. Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Jail
Bartholomew County’s Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team arrested three people on drug related charges Thursday in an apartment across the street from St. Peter’s Lutheran School.
According to police reports, they received information about the dealing of fentanyl and heroin at the apartment. After detectives arrested several people on drug-related charges, police had enough information to serve a search warrant at the home in the 800 block of Fourth Street.
Detectives found more than 10 grams of fentanyl/heroin, methamphetamine, synthetic drug material, stolen property, syringes, drug-related paraphernalia and a significant amount of packaging material used to make illegal drugs ready for distribution.
Evidence photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.
34-year-old Christopher George was arrested on preliminary charges of dealing in cocaine, conspiracy to commit theft, maintaining a common nuisance, several drug possession charges, possession of a syringe and possession of stolen property.
Carrie Narozny is being accused of dealing in a narcotic, maintaining a common nuisance, resisting law enforcement, several drug possession charges, possession of a syringe and drug paraphernalia and possession of stolen property.
Charles F. Russell. Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Jail.
24-year-old Charles Russell of Columbus was also arrested on a preliminary charge of visiting a common nuisance
The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office.
