Flood warnings remain in effect for local rivers and streams. The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for Flat Rock River, Driftwood River and East Fork White River at Columbus and Seymour. Moderate flooding is happening on the Driftwood and East Fork White River at Seymour. Minor flooding continues on Flat Rock and East Fork White River at Columbus.

The peak flooding has already moved past on the Driftwood and Flat Rock rivers and East Fork White River at Seymour. It should clear Columbus on East Fork White River later this morning, according to weather service estimates.

Current road closings in Bartholomew County include:

• Jonesville Road/State Road 11 between State Road 46 and County Road 200S
• Jonesville Road between 450S and 550S
• County Roads 150E and 175E at Southern Crossing
• Southern Crossing itself
• County Road 800S at the gates
• 400N between U.S. 31 and River Road and Tellman Road.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers is warning drivers not to drive around barricades and do not move those barricades or signs indicating roads are closed. Tickets are being issued at closed roads. Driving into high water doesn’t just put you at risk, but also rescue workers who are called to save you from the floodwaters.

The Bartholomew Consolidated School board will be considering asking voters to increase their property taxes to raise teacher and staff pay in the school district.

The school board tonight is set to consider putting a referendum on the May primary ballot.

We talked recently with Dr. Jim Roberts, BCSC’s superintendent, about the approval process to get the tax increase before the voters.

School officials estimate that the proposal would add $7.79 cents a month to the property taxes of the average home owner in the district.

The school board has two January meetings to approve a referendum.

Roberts said that although originally proposed as a larger tax hike going to a wider variety of school district needs, the board will consider a scaled back version at tonight’s meeting. 100 percent of the new revenue would go to improve pay for teachers and staff, along with school security.

While the proposal presented at last month’s board meeting included money for maintenance and supplies, those have been dropped.

The board meets at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Northside Middle School and you are invited to attend.

Ivy Tech Community College will present Dueling Pianos – Encore Number Four later this month as a fundraiser for emergency scholarships and programs in Columbus.

The show features two pianists on stage, taking request both to play songs… and to stop playing songs, as they duel by music.

Kelly Kiste,  an organizer for the event, talked recently about the format:

Kiste explained the need for the fundraising:

The performance will be Jan. 31st at the Commons in downtown Columbus. Doors open at 6 p.m. The show kicks off at 8 p.m.

Tickets are available online at connect.ivytech.edu/duelingpianos.

Columbus police are investigating a Friday night accident that sent a local man to IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis in critical condition.

Police were called to the 2400 block of Beam Road at about 9 Friday evening after a pedestrian, 43-year-old Joshua L. Chaplin, of Columbus, was hit by a mini-van. He was breathing but unconscious and suffered serous injuries to his head and legs.

The driver, a 16-year-old girl, said that she was driving north on U.S. 31 when Chaplin walked from the sidewalk in front of her vehicle.

Updated 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12th

Heavy rains Friday and Saturday are leading to minor to moderate flooding on local rivers and roads closed throughout the area.

The National Weather Service expects flood levels similar to those of June of last year. Rain is expected to be done in our area this morning through Tuesday afternoon.

Area rivers that are under flood warnings include:

• Flatrock River through late Sunday night. The river was in the minor flood stage as of 9 a.m. today and should have already peaked.
• East Fork White River at Columbus until Tuesday morning. The river was in the minor flood stage as of 9 a.m. today and is expected to peak later today.
• Driftwood River near Edinburgh until late Tuesday night. The river was in the moderate flood stage as of 9 a.m. today and is expected to peak later today.
• East Fork White River at Seymour until late Thursday night. The river was in the moderate flood stage as of 9 a.m. today and should peak by Monday morning.
• Big Blue River until Monday morning. The river was in the moderate flood stage as of 9 a.m. today and was expected to peak this morning.

According to Bartholomew County emergency officials, roads that are closed include:

• South Gladstone in the curves
• Gates on 800S
• 400N between U.S. 31 and River Road.
• 150E and Southern Crossing
• 175E and Southern Crossing
• Southern Crossing
• Jonesville Road between 450S and 550S

Several roads have high water but have not yet been closed. Authorities warn that you should never attempt to drive through high water. Vehicles were reported stranded in Jennings County Saturday night. Roads with high water:

• Brentwood/Middle

The city of Columbus is announcing the promotion of Robin Hilber to be the assistant director of Community Development.

In her new role, Hilber will oversee code enforcement, Ethnic Expo, tax abatements, housing related issues and projects, the Community Garden, and community grant projects.

Hilber has been with the city for four years and most recently served as programs coordinator in the community development department.

A wanted man running away from Columbus police repeatedly warned that he had a gun, but no weapon was found.

After finally being tackled and arrested, 24-year-old Lakota K. Snyder of Seymour told officers that he thought they would call off the chase if police thought he was armed.

The incident started at about 8:35 p.m. Thursday evening when officers spotted Snyder near U.S. 31 and Hawcreek Avenue. He was wanted on several Jackson County warrants and allegedly ran from officers. He is now facing new charges of resisting law enforcement and possession of methamphetamine.

Flat Rock-Hawcreek schools are making a $1.6 million dollar renovation of Hauser Jr./Sr. High School’s agriculture space.

Shawn Price, the school superintendent, says that the school has drawn statewide and national attention for its ag program and now they will have a facility to match their achievements.

Part of the renovation is turning an underused woodworking shop into a space for modern farming technology.

He said incorporating technology and flexibility were some of the key design considerations.

The project planners made sure the renovated space including room to display all of the program’s awards and trophies.

Among the more recent honors, Hope FFA and the Hauser ag program became the first school in the state to be awarded a grant from Microsoft for a farming product in development. The software giant is working with schools nationwide on a product called FarmBeats that analyzes soil conditions.

Price said that construction on the ag facility should be finished in time for students to move into the renovated building after spring break.

A Hope man arrested Tuesday for murder has been placed on an additional 72-hour hold.

Seventy-seven year-old James Mee is accused of stabbing and killing his son, 50-year-old Charles Mee, and injuring his wife, 78-year-old Barbara Mee during the incident in the 200 block of Scott Street in Hope. Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that a court affidavit states that Charles Mee, who had been stabbed in the neck, had called 911 himself and told the emergency operator that his father had stabbed him. The younger Mee died shortly after arriving at Columbus Regional Hospital.

The report states that investigators were told that James T. Mee suffers from dementia and was not entirely aware of what was happening.

The additional 72-hour hold was granted on Wednesday.

For more on this story, visit therepublic.com.

A longtime member of the Columbus Fire Department will be retiring.

The Columbus Fire Department announced the retirement of Fire Inspector, Captain Matt Noblitt. Noblitt, who retires with 35 years of service. His official retirement day is Friday, Jan. 10th.

Noblitt was promoted to Administrative Captain in 2001 when he was named the department’s Public Information Officer. During his first year in that position, Noblitt drafted plans for what would late be recognized at “Tilly”, the department’s miniature tiller truck . Noblitt and his father, Robert Noblitt, and the department’s mechanical division, built Tilly in 2001 with the concept that Tilly could be used as a tool for fire safety education and community involvement.

In 2014, Noblitt was promoted Fire Inspector. As inspector, Noblitt was responsible for the annual inspections of public buildings and any new construction projects within the city, as well as the investigation of fires. Noblitt also a member of the Bartholomew County Fire Investigation Team. Noblitt’s also worked to revise and update of the City’s Fire Ordinance, which was signed info effect one year ago. Through the course of his 35 year career, Noblitt has served under 10 Fire Chiefs and four Mayors.

Columbus Fire Chief Andy Lay commends Noblitt for his contributions to the Department and Community, “Captain Noblitt has been an outstanding advocate for the safety of our community through his work in risk reduction and code enforcement. On behalf of the Columbus Fire Department, I thank Matt for his hard work and dedication, and I wish Matt the best in his well-deserved retirement.”

The Columbus Fire Department plans to announce Noblitt’s successor at a later date.