U.S. 31 will be closing in southern Jackson County for most of the rest of the year.

According to INDOT, contractors will be closing the highway near Uniontown starting on Monday, July 28th as crews replace a bridge over Lewis Branch. That will be just north of Uniontown between East Jackson County Road 50S and East County Road 150S.

The project is expected to take until late November. The work schedule is dependent on the weather. The official detour will take State Road 250 to Interstate -65 to U.S. 50 and then back to U.S. 31.

This work is part of a $2.4 million contract awarded to E&B Paving. It was originally scheduled to start in June but was delayed.

INDOT reminds you to slow down, to drive without distractions and to be alert to worker safety in all work zones.

The Columbus People Trail along Jonathan Moore Pike will be closing, starting on Monday while the trail is reconstructed.

According to the city engineer’s office, the work will start from the Third Street bridge and continue west to Carr Hill Road, along State Road 46.

The work is expected to last until Friday, Aug. 1st, but the work schedule is dependent on the weather.

A local non profit group will be offering a training to help adults recognize signs of child sexual abuse.

Family Service Inc. is announcing that the Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children training session will be held later this month. It is aimed at helping adults who work with kids prevent the abuse, recognize the signs and then be able to react to protect the child.

Organizers say the workshop is appropriate for all adults who work with children including teachers, coaches, medical staff and clergy.

The session will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on July 30th. You will need to register in advance. You can call 812-372-3745  or visit: https://www.d2l.org/training-catalog/stewards-of-children/.

A new interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana has been sworn in. The U.S. Justice Department says that Tom Wheeler II was sworn in this week. President Trump has nominated Wheeler to the role, pending his confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

Wheeler is the former Acting General Counsel to the U.S. Department of Education. He is a graduate of Pike High School and earned his bachelor’s and law degrees at Indiana University. Prior to entering government service he was a partner at Indianapolis law firms Bose McKinney & Evans LLP and Frost Brown Todd.

He previously served in the Justice Department as acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and as Senior Adviser to the White House Federal Commission on School Safety

Wheeler is a former Chair of both the Indiana Recount and Election Commissions.

Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon is inviting anyone interested in the future of downtown Columbus to come out Monday to hear the results of the Columbus Downtown 2030 study.

The Columbus City Council and Redevelopment Commissions will have a joint meeting on Monday to hear the recommendations.

Ferdon explains:

Ferdon said that thousands of people have taken part in the study whether through online surveys, individual interviews or public forums.

Consultants will be unveiling the results of the study, which has been in an information and public input gathering phase since it was launched late last year. The goal is to update and refine strategic goals for specific properties in downtown Columbus in light of current information and trends.

That will be going on starting at 4 p.m. in the Cal Brand meeting room at City Hall.

No official business or decisions are expected to be made with the exception of the approval of the claims.

The meeting is open to the public and you are invited to attend.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, a Columbus native, says the Trump administration needs to release all the findings connected to the late sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein.

Uproar has been growing since the Justice Department said there was no Epstein client list connected to the abuse of young girls and that no further information would be released.

Pence told CBS News that the time has come for the facts to be given to the American people, although the names of the victims should be protected.

President Trump, who for years had supporters demanding the release of the client list, is now calling the entire thing a hoax perpetrated by Democrats.

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks

Photo: Mike Pence campaigns on Independence Day 2023. File photo

Some customers of Nashville Utilities are under a boil water advisory after a water main break on McDonald Drive.

According to the town, the boil water advisory affects some customers on McDonald Drive and Spearsville Road.

Under a boil water advisory, you should bring water to a full boil for three to five minutes before drinking it or using it in food preparation.

The boil water advisory is in effect until 4 on Friday afternoon.

If you have any questions you can call Nashville Utilities at 812-988-5526.

Johnson County authorities are investigating after a juvenile was shot early Wednesday morning near Greenwood.

According to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to a home on Heritage Lane at about 1:20 a.m. yesterday morning about a report that a person was shot. Deputies discovered a boy with what appeared to be an accidental gunshot wound to the leg. Deputies provided medical aid until medics arrived and he was taken to a hospital.

The firearm involved was recovered from the residence.

The boy has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home, deputies say.

Two other juveniles were present at the scene and they are cooperating with the investigation. More information, including the names of the victims and witnesses, is not being released because they are juveniles.

The shooting remains under investigation. Results of that investigation will be submitted to the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office to review for any potential charges.

INDOT says there is a new four-way stop on State Road 252 in Edinburgh.

According to the state agency, the intersection of State Road 252 and Lind Drive or South County Road 900W began operating as an all-way stop this week. The goal is to help improve safety at the intersection. INDOT says you should make sure to use extra caution in the area, as drivers adjust to the new traffic pattern.

This change is part of a construction contract awarded to E&B Paving, Inc.

The Edinburgh Police Department says that State Road 252 is open again from Interstate 65 into the town. That includes new pavement from Timbergate to Lincoln Street. Police warn that there will be a period where the road may be slick due to the asphalt oils.

Paving will continue into the town limits as the road project continues.

We could see some bad weather early today and this evening. Forecasters say most of southeastern Indiana is under a marginal risk for storms that could bring some strong winds.

The first round of storms are expected this morning and early afternoon, followed by a second round of storms from 5 to 9 p.m. this afternoon and evening. We could see some heavy rain and some isolated, damaging wind gusts.