North Vernon is postponing its planned grand opening of  Tripton Park. That’s after construction delays that are being caused by the heavy rain in recent weeks.

According to the city, the event, which was originally scheduled for August 3rd, will now be put off to a later date, that will be announced. The city says that the park project is about 65 percent complete now. Crews are trying to catch up when there are dry days and they are able to get to work.

Park features such as the welcome center, playground and shelter houses are expected to be finished by this fall, while outside features such as the parking lot or landscaping have not yet been started.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is warning of a new version of a utility scam that is making its rounds in the community.

Scam callers are claiming to be from Duke Energy and told one victim that they would be shutting off power in a half hour unless immediately paid a past due amount.

Because scammers are able to spoof phone numbers on Caller ID, the call may even appear to be coming from the utility company. Officials say that the utility companies will not make such demands over the phone and urge you to hang up and call the utility directly from a number such as the one on your monthly bill.

Experts also say that legitimate companies will never require you to buy gift cards or prepaid debit cards at a store in order to pay off a bill.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center is reporting the following roads are closed due to high water:

• 625 S between 100W and 200W
• Ferguson Road
• 800S between SR 11 and U.S. 31
• 400N between U.S. 31 and River Road including TInkey Bridge
• Telman Camp Road between Indianapolis Road and 200W
• Jonesville Road at State Road 46 and at County Road 550S.
• South Gladstone between Marr Road and just east of 300S
• Southern Crossing just east of Jonesville
• 900N at 300E

Roads with high water that are still passable include:

• Road 200S by Rock Creek School
• East Legal Tender Road
• East Base Road near Jewell Village

A flash flood watch remains in effect in our area through tomorrow night with the potential for heavy rain today and tomorrow, according to the National Weather Service. That rain will be falling on already saturated ground, leading to the danger. An additional 2 to 4 inches of rain is expected in some locations tonight and tomorrow morning.

Flood warnings remain in effect for rivers in our area including the Flat Rock, Driftwood, and East Fork White Rivers.

In Columbus this morning the East Fork White River was running about two feet above the minor flood stage. In Seymour, the river is still in the moderate flood stage, about nine inches before it gets back to minor level.

Columbus and Bartholomew County officials have agreed on a plan to fund a residential program coordinator to help treat drug-addicted inmates at the Bartholomew County Jail.

Both the city and county councils have agreed to fund the $57,500 requested to cover salary and benefits for the remainder of 2019. Chief Deputy Chris Lane with the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department explained during Tuesday night’s city council meeting that the job description for the position has been established, but a hire has not yet been made. He added that the person selected for the position would have to have the proper education and resume.

City council voted unanimously to approve the appropriation. County council approved the measure last week. Both bodies will need to approve it a second time. That’s expected to be completed by early July.

Brown County State Park and Abe Martin Lodge will be closed through Thursday, June 20th. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says the closure is due to a lack of usable water supply caused by the heavy rainfall over the last several days.

Officials say there is still too much sediment from last weekend’s heavy rainfall coming into the system to allow the production of potable water. State Parks staff members are contacting guests with reservations through Thursday evening in the campground and at the Abe Martin Lodge with cancellation notices. With additional heavy rainfall predicted, DNR officials say closure beyond Thursday will be a day-by-day decision.

Staff members are working in partnership with DNR’s Division of Engineering, consultants and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to ensure that when the park reopens there is safe drinking water and water for all needed uses across the park.

A Decatur County man has been promoted to director of Nature Preserves. Ronald Hellmich, who has worked in the DNR Division of Nature Preserves for more than 32 years, was promoted to the position of division director this week.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says that the Greensburg resident has served as coordinator of the Indiana Natural Heritage Data Center of DNR Nature Preserves for the past four years. Before that, he served as data manager for the center for 20 years.

Hellmich holds a J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, a master’s degree from the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in natural resources from Ball State University.

Hellmich replaces John Bacone, who retired in January.

State Road 135 is closed between County Road 850 N. and County Road 890 N. in Jackson County for bridge approach repair at Kiper Creek, north of Freetown. Officials with the Indiana Department of Transportation say the road will be closed for approximately three days, weather permitting.

Drivers are encouraged to use U.S. 50 to I-65 to State Road 46 as an alternate route.

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.

Columbus Regional Health is inviting you to an open house of the new Treatment and Support Center. The center is scheduled to begin serving patients on July 1st.

The Treatment and Support Center is an outpatient treatment program for those suffering from substance use disorder. CRH officials say the program consists of comprehensive psychosocial services, including individual and group counseling, behavioral health therapies, medication-assisted treatment when appropriate and family support services. They add that the center will accept patient self-referrals, as well as provider referrals.

The open house is set for June 27th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the center, located at 2630 22nd Street. Attendees will get to tour the facility, meet the staff and learn more about the programs and services be offered. Light refreshments will be available.

CRH says that parking will be available in the employee lot at the west end of 22nd Street.

Due to water valve break, the Town Of Nashville/Nashville Utilities has issued a Boil Order for the following area:

– 726-1170 Clay Lick
– 597 Coffey Hill Road
– 801-989 Eads Lane
– 637-935 Highland Drive
– 1098-1104 Hill Top Trail
– 768-845 Mail Pouch Lane
– 465-765 McGee Road
– 418- 1408 Old State Road 46
– 1055-1080 Treetop Lane
– 204-1185 Tuck-A-Way Ridge

Residents and businesses affected in these areas are asked to boil their drinking and cooking water until 4 p.m. on Friday, June 21st.

Nashville Utilities has contacted all customers affected by this boil order, but any customer who may feel that their service has been affected is asked to contact them at (812) 988-5526.

A North Vernon man is behind bars on drug charges.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department says that shortly after 7:30 p.m. Monday, deputies responded to a possible overdose near the old school in Vernon. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with 24-year-old Nicholas Barlow who was standing near a vehicle. While speaking with Barlow, deputies reported seeing a bag containing 2.5 grams of crystal substance in the passenger seat.

Barlow was checked by Jennings County EMS at the scene and refused treatment. He was arrested on a preliminary charge of Possession of Methamphetamine and is being held on $3,155 cash bond.