Jackson County Sheriff Rick Meyer says that deputies responded last night to a vehicle that crashed into an area pond.

That happened when a driver missed the 90-degree turn in the 4000 block of North County Road 950E and went into the water. The sheriff says the driver got himself out of the vehicle and was not injured. Dive team members were called in to assist in getting the vehicle out of the water.

That comes on the heels of a Friday incident where Indiana State Police Trooper Sgt. Steven Wheeles rescued a woman from her vehicle after she drove into a Jackson County pond.

At about 3 p.m. Friday, Wheeles responded to a reported crash on State Road 11 north of Seymour, where a woman was trapped inside a vehicle that was in the water. Wheeles arrived at the sinking vehicle near County Road 800E and found the driver, 23-year-old Megan Fleetwood of Jeffersonville trapped inside. He used a hammer to break out the back window and pulled Fleetwood to safety.

Wheeles injured his hand and arm in the rescue. He and Fleetwood were taken to Schneck Medical Center for treatment.

The City of Columbus has launched a new section of the City website aimed at bicyclists and pedestrians called “Bike Walk Columbus.”

Emilie Pinkston, senior planner with the Columbus Planning Department, says the website features an online interactive map of existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities which will continually be updated to reflect the most current inventory of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in Columbus and Bartholomew County. She says this tool can be used at home or on the trail to assist bicyclists and pedestrians with route planning.

Pinkston says the website also features an interactive map of ongoing bicycle and pedestrian-related construction projects. This map is intended to provide up-to-date information on the various public infrastructure projects underway in the City of Columbus and Bartholomew County that include sidewalks, bicycle lanes, trails, and similar infrastructure.

The Bike Walk Columbus website is available at columbus.in.gov/bikewalk/.

A grant of over $1 million will allow the creation of low-income housing in Seymour.

Thrive Alliance says it has received a $1.2 million allocation of low-income housing tax credits from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. These funds will enable Thrive Alliance and partner Jonesboro Investments to move forward with construction of Crossroads Village, a $12.5 million, 64-unit affordable apartment complex at 500 South Poplar Street in Seymour.

“We are extremely pleased to have IHCDA provide funding to make this project a reality,” said Mark Lindenlaub, Thrive Alliance Executive Director. Lindenlaub credited local officials in helping bring the project to fruition. “The involvement and support of Mayor Luedeman, the city council, and other community leaders has been invaluable in helping move this project forward,” he said.

In June, the Seymour City Council voted to provide tax abatement for the project and to invest $51,000 in local funding to install new sidewalks around the property.

Officials say the complex also benefits from a unique relationship with neighboring Schneck Medical Center, which plans to provide on-site access to health screenings, health education and counseling services, nutrition education, dementia care and other services.

“We are pleased to partner with Thrive Alliance to help address the growing demand for housing in Seymour and Jackson County,” said Jacob Sipe, Executive Director of IHCDA. “Crossroads Village will also support the City of Seymour’s continued revitalization and redevelopment efforts while at the same time providing a new housing option for seniors.”

The project is slated for completion in 2022.

Residents in Decatur County can chat with staff of their U.S. Representative. Congressman Greg Pence, a Columbus Republican, announced Friday that his team will host Community Office Hours for constituents in Greensburg on Monday, Nov. 25.

Members of Pence’s staff will be available to meet with Hoosiers and help on topics including assistance with federal agencies, grant applications, the purchase of U.S. Flags, military academy nominations, and tours of Washington, D.C.

Monday’s event will be held in the Plan Meeting Room at Greensburg City Hall from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. You are invited.

INDOT is reporting that work has begun on the overpass project that will take traffic into downtown Columbus over the railroad tracks at State Roads 11 and 46.

The agency reports that you will see little effect through the spring, but you should keep an eye out for construction traffic entering and exiting the work site and there will be equipment and materials being delivered in the coming weeks.

The work will eventually realign State Road 46 at the downtown bridges and create two large circular interchanges that will reroute and lift traffic over the tracks..

You will see lane restrictions and closures late next summer and fall.

They expect to open the new interchange in 2021.

Cummins, Inc. is preparing for an expected downturn in business next year.

At a meeting with analysts and shareholders Thursday in New York City, members of the company’s leadership team shared plans to effectively manage through what they are calling a cyclical downturn by lowering structural costs by $250  to $300 million in 2020.

President and COO Tony Satterthwaite explained the cost-cutting will include reducing discretionary workers, employee shifts and overtime.

He said the company is also saving by reorganizing its North American distribution network.

Satterthwaite reiterated that while battery and fuel cell technologies have been a clear focus of Cummins, its investments in diesel and natural gas platforms would continue. He says that “diesel will be the primary source of energy in commercial vehicles for many years to come.”

Chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger explained that the management team has experience in making it through downturns.

At the meeting, called the Cummins Analyst Day, Chief Financial Officer Mark Smith reminded investors that Cummins has a strong track record of improving cycle-over-cycle profitability and cash flow.

You can read more from the company’s announcement here.

The Ivy Tech Columbus Science Club is hosting a river cleanup in downtown Columbus from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 in downtown Columbus.

The cleanup will focus on the west bank of the river between Second and Third streets. The club welcomes all who are interested in helping to clean up the river.

Officials say that parking will be available along the People Trail just west of the Indiana 46 westbound bridge. Gloves and trash bags will be provided, as will snacks and water.

Two men were arrested on drug charges after a Wednesday traffic stop in Jackson County resulted in the discovery of a large amount of suspected methamphetamine.

The incident began at approximately 10:30 a.m. when an Indiana State Police Trooper conducted a traffic stop on northbound I-65 near the 39 mile marker, just north of Crothersville. During the stop, police became suspicious that criminal activity was taking place. ISP police dog Jinx conducted a sweep of the exterior of the vehicle and alerted to the odor of illegal drugs coming from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered a plastic bag containing more than one pound of suspected crystal methamphetamine.

The driver of the vehicle, 37-year-old Zachary D. Williams, of Lafayette, reportedly gave police a fake name. A passenger, 39-year-old Mark A. Sneed, of Louisville, was also found to be in possession of suspected marijuana.

Williams was arrested on charges of Dealing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, False Informing and Identity Theft. Sneed was charged with Dealing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Marijuana.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers says that an arrest has been made in a reported stabbing yesterday morning near Taylorsville.

30-year-old Ross K. Stroud of Columbus was arrested on a preliminary felony charge of aggravated battery.

This investigation is ongoing.

Two Columbus residents are facing drug charges after police stopped the car they were in for having an expired tag.

Columbus police report that they stopped the vehicle at about 4:50 p.m. Wednesday afternoon near 17th and Maple streets. A police dog alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle and a search revealed a bag of methamphetamine.

The driver, 41-year-old Anne M. Lovelace and her passenger, 34-year-old Kristopher A. Lobdell were arrested on a preliminary charge of possession of methamphetamine.