For the most up to date weather and flood information, check out our weather page here. 

The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for rivers and streams throughout south-central Indiana, with most of the flooding coming Sunday evening. However, as the rains continue there is a chance of flash flooding.

According to the agency, one to two inches of rain fell across central Indiana Thursday and Friday with up to six inches in some areas. Additional rainfall of four to six inches is expected from now through Sunday evening.  All of central and southern Indiana are under a flash flood watch, with the danger of quickly rising waters.

Many area rivers are under a flood warning through Sunday night and later.

Among the rivers affected in our area are the East Fork White, Driftwood, Flatrock, Muscatatuck and Big Blue.

As of Saturday morning the worst flooding in the area is expected in Shelby County along the Big Blue River. That river is expected to go into major flooding by Sunday afternoon, with a crest of 18.2 feet. That is a few inches above the major flood stage. The weather service says anything above 18 feet means a major flood hitting Shelbyville.

For other area river forecasts:

• The Driftwood River at Hendricks Ford Bridge is at 3.75 feet as of about 8:30 a.m. today, and is expected to hit 15.8 feet by Sunday night. That  would be moderate flooding and just over a foot below major flooding.
•  The Flat Rock River at the U.S. 31 bridge in Columbus was at about 3.88 feet at 8:30 a.m today, and is expected to hit 13.9 feet by early Monday morning. That is minor flooding and just over a foot below the moderate flood stage.
• East Fork White River at Columbus is at 1.47 feet as of 9 a.m. today and is expected to crest at about 12.8 feet by Monday afternoon. That is minor flooding and just over a foot below the moderate flood stage.
• In Seymour, East Fork White River is at 3.11 feet at 7:45 a.m. today and is expected to crest at about 17.6 feet by Wednesday morning. That is moderate flooding and just over a foot below major flooding.
• In Vernon, the Muscatatuck River is expected to crest at crest at 17.8 feet by tomorrow morning, which would be minor flooding. It was at 5.75 feet as of 8:30 a.m. this morning.

The National Weather Service warns that you should never drive into flood water. If you come across water over the roadway they say “Turn around and don’t drown.”

Columbus East High School student, Brook Snyder will host a “Friendly Animal Adoption Event” next month to benefit the animals at the Columbus Animal Care Services Shelter.

City officials say the event will be held on Saturday, October 6th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Columbus Animal Care Services building at 2730 Arnold Street.

A donation drive for the shelter is also being held. You are being asked to donate cash or these specific items:

Food – especially Puppy & Kitten Food
KMR Kitten Milk Replacer Powder & Bottles
Pill Pockets
Dog Treats
Cat Treats
Clay (Non-Scoop-able) & Scoop-able Cat Litter
Dog Bones (Rawhides, Nylabones or otherwise)
Dog Toys
Cat Toys
Dog Shampoo
Cat Shampoo
Frontline (all sizes)
Rabbit treats
Dog Collars (all sizes – new and gently used)
Dog Leashes
Bleach
Dawn Dishwashing Liquid
Paper Towels
Newspapers
Old Bath Towels
Large bottles of Hand Sanitizer

Officials say that cash donations go into the adoption medical fund and are used for both additional medical expenses and towards preparation of dogs going on the Canine Express Transport program to New England shelters.

For more information, call Columbus Animal Care Services at (812) 376-2505.

Jeannine Lake, the Democratic candidate in Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District race is bringing her Straight Talk Tour to Columbus on Monday.

Lake, who is facing Republican Greg Pence in November, will be at the Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 7850 West Goeller Boulevard from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. From there, she’ll appear at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, located at 2651 California Street from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Bartholomew County Democratic Party says these are great opportunities to get to know the candidate and ask questions.

The leader of Love Chapel is retiring. Elizabeth Kestler, who has served as executive director of the Christian nonprofit agency since August 1999 is retiring in January.

A special event takes place Saturday to mark a half-century of service for Love Chapel. Kestler explains…

Kestler says there will be plenty of food as well. Saturday’s event is being held at the Commons from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kestler adds that everyone is invited, especially those who’ve benefited from Love Chapel and the hundreds of volunteers that have helped over the years.

Columbus police arrested a man after a 100 mph car chase that ended with a wrecked Chevy Camaro.

Police were originally called to a hit and run crash at 10th Street and National Road at about 8:45 p.m. last night. Columbus police and Bartholomew County deputies located the vehicle a short while later and tried to stop it. Instead, the driver, later identified as 36-year-old Dustan Phares, of Columbus raced off on Taylor Road, police report.

He crashed near Marr Road and County Road 450N, sending the car into a farm field. And then he tried to run away, but was found hiding in a field, police report. After being taken to Columbus Regional Hospital to be checked out after the crash and to have his blood drawn for an alcohol test, he was arrested.

He is facing charges including resisting law enforcement in a vehicle, resisting law enforcement, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, criminal mischief, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Indiana Department of Transportation crews will be closing the left lane of northbound Interstate 65 over the nights next week between Columbus and Seymour.

Concrete trucks will be using the lane to haul paving materials between 9 p.m. in the evening and 6 a.m. in the morning Monday through Saturday. That work will be going on between the Jonesville Road and Walesboro exits.

You will also see single lanes closed in both the northbound and southbound area around the Denois Creek bridge over the next few weekends. That works starts on Friday evenings at 6 and runs through noon on Sundays.

This is all part of the state’s $143 million Next Level Roads project widening the highway between Seymour and Columbus.

Columbus congressional candidate Greg Pence is getting the endorsement from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A senior official of that group was at Zaharakos yesterday with Pence to announce the recommendation. Ron Eidshaug, vice president of Congressional and public affairs for the U.S. Chamber:

Eidshaug talked about the areas where the Chamber’s legislative agenda match up with the congressional candidate’s:

Pence is former head of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Indiana chamber, which has also endorsed him.

From his prior experience, Pence said he learned the importance of the Chamber of Commerce and in the businesses of a community.

The Republican Pence is running for the 6th Congressional District seat that his brother, Vice President Mike Pence, previously held. He faces Democrat Jeanine Lake in the November election.

Camp Atterbury’s commanding officer is inviting you to come by the base on Saturday for Community Day.

This is the first base open house for Col. Felicia Brokaw.

Brokaw took over as commander in June. She is the first female commander of the Atterbury and Muscatatuck military training bases.

The community day events will include live fire exercises, music, demonstrations of helicopter rescues and dog searches, and static displays.

Many of the static displays focusing on the history of the base.

The static displays will also include displays of military vehicles and presentations by military-related organizations including the Veterans Affairs Administration and recruiters for the Indiana National Guard.

Musical performances will be by the Southern Indiana Pipes and Drums and the 38th Infantry Division Band.

The live fire demonstrations on the base’s ranges will include howitzers, grenade launchers and machine guns. Weather permitting, the 122nd Fighter Wing will provide demonstrations of the firepower of their A-10 aircraft.

Community Day at Camp Atterbury will be Sept. 8th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., starting at Building 722.  The static display area opens at 10 a.m. Live fire demonstration begins at 2 p.m.

Bus transportation will take visitors from the parking lot to the static display area, and to the ranges for the live fire exercises. Those buses are accessible to those who are disabled.

The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to close U.S. Highway 50 next week at the railroad crossing located in Seymour between Indianapolis Avenue and East Street. The closure is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday through 6 p.m. Thursday.

A state highway detour routes motorists around this U.S. 50 rail closure via U.S. 31, State Road 250 and State Road 11. Louisville & Indiana Railroad crews will replace existing rubber panels at the U.S. 50 crossing with new concrete panels. This involves removing tracks and adjusting the elevation.