Eight candidates are looking to replace Seymour Mayor Craig Luedeman. The three-term Republican announced in November that he would not seek a fourth term.

Five Republican and three Democrats are aiming for the city’s top job. They are:

Matthew Nicholson currently represents Seymour’s Third District. He is facing former Jackson County Council President Bridey Grant Jacobi, Matt Rowe, Thomas Joray and Nathan Otte for the Republican mayoral nomination.

Rexanne Early Ude, executive director of Schneck Foundation, is facing Jim (Mike) Kelly and Tyler Henkle for the Democratic nomination.

Contested primary races include Council District 3, where Republicans Chad Hubbard and Joshua Dailey campaign to replace Nicholson.

District 4 incumbent James Rebber is being challenged by Seth Davidson in the Republican primary.

Four people are running to replace Clerk-Treasurer Fred Lewis, who announced that he would not seek reelection. In November, Democrat Kristine Hackman will face the winner of the Republican primary, consisting of current Council At-Large member Darrin Boas, Dave Stidham and Robin Ann Carpenter.

This year’s Primary Election is May 7th. The General Election is Nov. 5th.

The deadline to file to run for citywide office in Columbus has passed. The Bartholomew County Voter Registration Office closed filing at noon on Friday. All incumbents, from Mayor Jim Lienhoop to all seven members of city council, filed for reelection.

Many will have no opposition in their primary election. These include Republicans: Clerk-Treasurer Luann Welmer and Council members Tim Shuffett and Frank Miller, and 2nd District Councilwoman Elaine Wagner, a Democrat.

Mayor Lienhoop is facing a challenger in the Republican Primary. Local resident Glen Petri is running against the first-term mayor. The winner faces no Democratic challenger in November’s general election.

For City Council District 1, incumbent Republican Dascal Bunch is being challenged by Christopher Rutan in the GOP primary. Rutan previously ran for council as a Democrat. The winner faces no Democratic challenger in November.

For City Council District 2, Republican Jim Hartsook is running unopposed in his primary. He’ll face Wagner in the general election.

For City Council District 3, incumbent Republican David Bush faces a primary challenge from Russ Poling. Bush was selected by party leaders in December to finish the term of former Councilman Frank Jerome. Poling is currently serving in his second term on the Columbus City Plan Commission.

The winner of that primary will face Democrat Nancy Hoover, who is unopposed in her party.

Democrat Michael Schoumacher and Ross Thomas are slated to face Republicans Miller and Shuffett for the District 4 and District 5 seats in November.

A bevy of contenders are campaigning for the two At-Large seats on the council. Incumbent Republican Laurie Booher is being challenged by Josh Burnett and John D. Counceller. Incumbent Democrat Tom Dell is joined on the Democratic ballot by Grace Kestler.

This year’s Primary Election is May 7th. The General Election is Nov. 5th.

Indiana State Police had a busy day on Wednesday. Traffic stops and investigations led to numerous arrests and the removal of illegal drugs from the streets.

At about 2 p.m., a trooper conducted a traffic stop on I-65 in Jackson County. Authorities say a passenger, 40-year-old Betty Jo Skinner of Seymour, was found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine and heroin. She was arrested on felony charges of Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Narcotic Drug.

At approximately 9 p.m., the Indiana State Police-Versailles District Criminal Patrol Team executed a search warrant at 745 Miller Lane in Seymour. During the search, troopers reported finding approximately 38 grams of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Two residents were arrested on numerous charges. Steven Venegas, 36, and Amanda Mikel, 25, are facing preliminary felony charges of Dealing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine and Maintaining a Common Nuisance. They both face a misdemeanor charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Indiana State Police say these arrests show the agency’s commitment to continue to pursue those who choose to be involved in criminal activity. They encourage anyone with information on ongoing drug activity to contact your area State Police Post.

A Columbus woman is facing charges after she allegedly refused to leave an area business. Just before 6 p.m. Wednesday, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a convenience store at the intersection of N US 31 and W 650 in Taylorsville, after dispatch received a 911 hang up.

On arrival, employees told deputies they had asked 28-year-old Catina Caudill to leave the store multiple times but she refused. Authorities say Caudill was at the cashier’s counter but retreated behind the counter and a physical altercation began. Police say Caudill continued to physically resist law enforcement as she was arrested.

Caudill is facing preliminary charges of:

Criminal Trespass
Resisting Law Enforcement
Battery on a Public Official
Disorderly Conduct

She remains behind bars on $21,000 bond.

A Michigan man was killed Thursday night on Interstate 65 in Jackson County. Indiana State Police say that at approximately 10 p.m., ISP Troopers responded to northbound I-65 near the 43 mile marker to investigate a fatal crash involving a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle.

The initial investigation indicated a pickup being driven by 55-year-old David A. Buchanan, of Stanwood, MI, was traveling northbound on I-65. For an unknown reason, Buchanan’s vehicle left the roadway and entered the median where it became stuck. Authorities say Buchanan left the vehicle and walked northbound on I-65.

Buchanan entered into the northbound lanes of I-65 where he was then struck by a Jeep being driven by 23-year-old Franklin N. Reed, of Nashville, TN. Buchanan was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Jackson County Coroner’s Office. Reed was not hurt.

The northbound lanes of I-65 were closed for approximately four hours for crash investigation and cleanup. Jackson County Animal Control responded to the scene and took possession of a dog that was left in Buchanan’s vehicle.

Toxicology results are pending on both Buchanan and Reed. The investigation is ongoing.

An areal flood warning is continuing in our area through this afternoon.

The National Weather Service had originally scheduled the surface water flood warning in Bartholomew, eastern Johnson and Shelby counties to expire at 11 a.m.  this morning.

The agency is reporting 2 to 4 inches of rain fell yesterday and on top of the already saturated ground and Wednesday’s rain, that is causing flooding throughout the area.

The areal flood warning now expires at 5 p.m. today.

Authorities are warning the public not to drive into high water over roadways. Dispatchers say that there have already been several incidents on State Road 11 south of Columbus that have led to water rescues. Those going around barriers are being ticketed.

Authorities say you do not know how deep the water is, how swift its moving, or what is below the water’s surface. And you are not only putting your own life at risk, but also the lives of rescuers trying to save you.

Indiana Conservation Officers are reporting that they were called to 26 of these high water related emergencies from yesterday afternoon until this morning in southern Indiana.

River flood warnings will continue in our area through Sunday and Monday in some locations. Minor to moderate flooding is forecast. The worst river flooding in Bartholomew County is along the Driftwood River which is having moderate flooding. The flood warning for the Driftwood is in effect until Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service

The agency in Indianapolis says a flood warning on Haw Creek will expire this afternoon with minor flooding. Flat Rock River at Columbus is having minor flooding and that flood warning lasts through Sunday morning. East Fork White River in Columbus will continue under a flood warning through Sunday evening, with minor flooding.

East Fork White River in Seymour is under a flood warning through Tuesday. Moderate flooding is forecast.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Management Agency is reporting the following high water spots and road closings as of 12 p.m. Friday:

High Water

• 800 N/500 E
• Tannehill Rd @ 330 W
• 300 S west of 250 E has water over the road.
• 600 N/Marr Rd
• 580 West, N of Old Nashville
• 10000-blk of Old Nashville
• 200 W/Lowell Rd
• 200 W at W 100 N
• 600 N/150 E
• E 225 N FROM SR9 TO NEWBERN RD
• 700 N / 100 W to 250 W
• W 550 N, east of US31, road is covered
• N 1200 E NORTH OF E 200 N
• Golden Maize Dr – Candlelight Village
• Marr Rd, north of Sawin Dr, and south of the river and Bridgepoint
• E 550 N/N 400 E
• 600N/ EAST OF 325E
• 50W NORTH OF 550N
• 11TH/ IOWA ST
• Pleasant Grove between 7^th and Mckinley

Closed Roads

• SR11, between SR46 and Garden City
• SR11, north of 550 S
• Southern Crossing between SR11 and 150E
• 400N between River Rd and US31
• 930S between 300W and 400W
• 800 S between SR11 & US31
• 930 S/SR58
• S Gladstone in the S-Curves
• Longshore Dr at Rocky Ford Rd – Candlelight Village
• E 450 N, between 250 E AND Talley Rd
• 250 S , west of 400 W
• 400 W, between 850 S and 930 S

The Hope Area Chamber of Commerce will be holding a networking event tomorrow morning at WiLLow Leaves of Hope.

Jon Myers, owner of the Columbus Bar, will be talking about his work as a business advisor with the Southeast Indiana Small Business Development Center. He will be offering tips on how to make your small business work.

The event will be from 8 to 10 and will include a breakfast buffet. There is no cost, although you can make a free will donation.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has extended the areal flood warning for our area including Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Johnson and Shelby Counties.

Local law enforcement is reporting widespread flooding with numerous road closures this morning. The weather service says  2 to 4 inches of rain fell across the area Thursday. That is combining  with rain from Wednesday to cause the widespread surface flooding.

Those floodwaters are expected to recede this morning with the areal flood warning expiring at 11 a.m.

Bartholomew County Emergency Management has upgraded the county’s travel status to an Advisory Level. County officials say that even though the Advisory Level allows for traveling, you are encouraged to avoid it if at all possible. Conditions overnight and wet roadways could result in some slick spots.

Authorities are warning the public not to drive into high water over roadways. Dispatchers say that there have already been several incidents on State Road 11 south of Columbus that have led to water rescues. Those going around barriers are being ticketed.

Authorities say you do not know how deep the water is, how swift its moving, or what is below the water’s surface. And you are not only putting your own life at risk, but also the lives of rescuers trying to save you.

River flood warnings will continue in our area through Sunday and Monday in some locations. Minor to moderate river flooding is expected. East Fork White River at Columbus is expected to crest at a foot below the moderate flood level early Saturday morning. In Seymour, the river will crest this evening about six inches below the major flood level.

Driftwood River is expected to crest this evening at about a foot above the moderate flood stage, and Flat Rock River will have minor flooding, cresting tonight a few inches below the moderate flood level.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Management Agency says as of this morning, the following roads have dangerous high water, or are completely closed.

High Water

Two area men were honored by Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers for their roles in saving the life of woman in a Christmas-Day crash.

On that day, Tim Meeks and Johnny Smith were driving southbound on Interstate 65 in separate vehicles when they noticed smoke coming from an area between a side access road and the interstate. The pair exited at the 64 mile marker and made their way to the scene at CR 300S and Crossing Lane. The pair arrived at the same time and found a vehicle, on its roof, on fire. The pair were able to save the driver, Debra Stephens, by

dragging her away from the burning vehicle.

Meeks and Smith received an Award of Valor from Sheriff Myers, who thanked them for their bravery.

Investigators say Stephens was driving east on County Road 300S when her vehicle left the roadway, went through a chain-link fence and hit an embankment. The fire began soon after.

Stephens was airlifted to Eskenazi Hospital’s Burn Unit. She is recovering and attended Thursday’s ceremony. Stephens thanked Meeks and Smith with hugs and told the men that she wouldn’t be alive without them.

A Columbus independent living community is evacuating around 20 residents due to flooding. Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Dept., says a nearby retention pond and its overflow is full, and water is approaching the the Green Tree Assisted Living facility, located at 4745 Pine Ridge Drive.

Firefighters arrived on the scene at 3:46 p.m. Thursday. Although no water entered the facility, firefighters requested a precautionary evacuation of the ground floor residents. Wilson says the Columbus Department of Public Works has deployed to pump trucks to the scene to aid in lowering the water level of the retention pond.

Firefighters will remain on the scene until all ground floor residents have been relocated. Authorities say many affected residents will be staying with family members.