East Fork White River at Seymour remains under a flood warning from the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. The river dropped below the moderate flood stage Monday evening.

As of this morning the river was at 16.2 feet, about four and a half feet above the 12 foot minor flood stage.

Based on forecasts, the river is set to drop out of flooding altogether by Wednesday morning.

Columbus Parks and Recreation Department is announcing that several local facilities are closed due to high water. That includes portions of the People Trail along State Road 46, Mill Race Park and Noblitt Park.

After the water recedes and crews have a chance to clean up the mud and debris left behind, the facilities will reopen.

Many rivers and streams in our area remain under flood warnings from the National Weather Service in Indianapolis.

The agency says that includes East Fork White River at Columbus and Seymour, Flat Rock River and Driftwood River. While most of the rivers have crested, some will have flooding until mid-week.

According to the river gauges, East Fork White River at Columbus has dropped back below the flood stage as of this morning. East Fork White River at Seymour is still in the moderate flood stage at about two tenths of a foot above the 17 foot moderate flood level. It is on its way down and should drop back into minor flooding this evening and leave the minor flood stage by Wednesday afternoon.

You can see many local river levels here.

The Bartholomew County Health Department will be offering a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at 2625 Fox Pointe Drive on Saturday, July 24th.

The clinic will be giving doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to those 18 years old or older. It will take place at the health department offices between 1 and 4 p.m.

There will be free gifts for those who get vaccinated.

Walk-ins are welcome but you can also register by going to ourshot.in.gov.

North Vernon police are looking for information about a driver who may have left the scene of an accident Friday after the crash of a motorcycle.

According to police reports, the crash happened at about 5 p.m. on Friday afternoon on West Walnut Street near the Oak Meadows apartments. Police say that a child who was a passenger on the motorcycle was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the motorcycle was also taken to the hospital with moderate injuries.

Investigators believe the cyclist had to react to a vehicle that cut in front of the bike, leading to the crash.

If you have any information about the crash, you are asked to call the North Vernon Police Department at 812-346-2345 or 812-346-1466

A new book is shedding light on former Vice President Mike Pence’s actions during the January 6th attack on the Capitol.

According to our news-gathering partners at TTWN Media Networks Inc. , The Washington Post reports the book, written by a pair of reporters and called “I Alone Can Fix It,” explains that the Columbus native told his security detail “I’m not leaving the Capitol.”

He reportedly refused to get into an armored car and instead was taken to a secure location in the building along with his family.

Supporters of former President Trump stormed the building in protest of Congress certifying the election results. The book claims Pence didn’t want to leave because he believed it would give those supporters what they wanted.

A Jackson County volunteer firefighter has been arrested, accused of stealing $20,000 from the department through fake invoices.

Indiana State Police say that they arrested 44-year-old Christopher L. McKain of Seymour after a 10 month investigation into the theft of funds.

According to police reports, investigators were called in by the Jackson-Washington Township Fire Department in September. Investigators say that McKain was tasked with various jobs for the department. He allegedly claimed the jobs were finished, submitted fake claims for the work supposedly from area businesses or submitted fake claims that he had purchased items for the work. The fraudulent invoices were then submitted to the fire department treasurer for payment.

McKain was arrested Friday on preliminary felony charges of theft and forgery.

Indiana State Police are investigating the death of an inmate from the Jackson County Jail.

According to troopers, 23-year-old Ta’neasha Chappell of Louisville died at Schneck Medical Center after being brought from the jail by ambulance Friday.

Chappell had originally been arrested by Indiana State Police on May 26th.

On Saturday, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department requested troopers investigate the incident and an autopsy was conducted Sunday. Investigators are still waiting for the autopsy report and toxicology results. The case remains under investigation.

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools have released slight revisions to the school reopening plan that will be presented to the school board tonight for approval.

The draft plan recommends that the use of face coverings be optional for all staff members and students. However, they are recommended for those at risk or who are not vaccinated.

Masks will be required on school buses, due to the federal mandate for masks on public transportation.

Among other measures being proposed by BCSC, the draft plan now recommends physical distancing of 3 feet in classrooms. However contact tracing will be conducted for those who are within six feet of each other. And the use of hallway lockers will be allowed, but managed to limit opportunities for large group gatherings.

The draft plan will be presented to the school board at its meeting tonight. That meeting will start at 6:30 in the Administration Building on Central Avenue and can be watched on YouTube.

You can find a summary of the revisions here.

12:30 p.m. update

Bartholomew County Emergency Management reports the following roads are closed due to high water:

Cummins will be partnering with Chevron to develop hydrogen fuel and other alternative energy sources for vehicles.

The two companies announced the framework for the partnership yesterday, saying they will collaborate to advance public policy supporting hydrogen as a decarbonizing solution, to build demand for hydrogen powered vehicles and industrial applications, to develop the infrastructure for hydrogen fuel and to leverage Cummins electrolyzer and fuel cell technologies at Chevron refineries.

A Chevron spokesman says hydrogen is one of the solutions the company is looking at to lower carbon emissions. Others include renewable natural gas, blending renewables into fuels, processing bio feed stocks and abatement projects to lower the carbon footprint at refineries.

Amy Davis, president of New Power at Cummins, says that an energy transition is happening and the Columbus-based engine manufacturer recognizes the critical role hydrogen will play in the energy mix. Cummins has deployed more than 2,000 hydrogen fuel cells and 600 electrolyzers around the world.

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