The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a flood warning for East Fork White River at Seymour that goes into effect tomorrow morning.
Minor flooding is forecast, according to the agency. The river is expected to rise to the minor flood stage of 12 feet by Thursday morning, and to crest at about 12.2 feet by Thursday afternoon. Everything should be back to normal by Friday.
As of this morning the river is at 7.7 feet, which is still a normal level.
Bartholomew County Commissioners will be bringing in a contractor to help them evaluate proposals for rural broadband internet.
Earlier this month, the commissioners had sought proposals from companies that were willing to provide rural broadband to the county, for a share of $4 million set aside from federal COVID-19 relief funds. Two companies submitted proposals, AT&T and Meridiam Infrastructure North American Corp.
But commissioners said yesterday that the proposals are extremely detailed and technical. Commissioner Carl Lienhoop said each of the proposals were more than 100 pages. Commissioner Tony London said that they would be doing a great injustice to the people of the county if they did not get a professional opinion.
To help them decipher the proposals, they are hiring Scott Rudd, a statewide expert in broadband. Previously Rudd worked in the lieutenant governor’s office on broadband issues. Rudd would be paid $125 an hour to evaluate the proposals, not to exceed $10,000.
Commissioners still hope to be able to make a decision within a few weeks.
The Indiana Attorney General’s office is warning about scams that could try to take advantage of those making end-of-the-year charity donations.
Many charities solicit donations at the end of the year to put their group on a solid financial footing and to build a strong foundation, however scam artists try to take advantage of the surge of requests to trick you into misdirecting your charitable gifts.
Attorney General Todd Rokita suggests that you research any charity you are thinking about donating to. He says don’t be fooled by sound-alike names scammers might use to mimic legitimate charities. You should make sure you are dealing with the real charitable organization
You should be leery of year-end appeals from unknown or unfamiliar organizations. You might get those requests by phone, mail, email, and/or social media. If they do reach out to you by phone, don’t agree to donate any money without further researching the organization.
The attorney general says you should always donate by credit card rather than cash, to ensure you can access the protections available through your credit card company. And make sure you haven’t signed up for a recurring donation unless that was what you meant to do.
The attorney general’s office recommends researching charities before donating, at these websites:
A statewide Silver Alert has been issued for a missing Deputy man.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the disappearance of 60-year-old Robert Mark Keith. He is a white man 5 feet 7 inches tall, 140 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black shirt and black pants.
Keith was last seen on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. He is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance.
If you have any information on Keith, you should contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 812-265-4344 or call 911.
More than 50 people continue to be hospitalized for COVID-19 in Bartholomew County, but that is still shy of the all-time high last year of 59 people.
According to the figures released yesterday by the community COVID-19 task force, there are 52 people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Bartholomew County. The number has stayed above 50 for most of December, with the most recent dip below that on Dec. 21st with 48. Across the southern Indiana District 8, 51 percent of the intensive are unit beds are being used for COVID-19 patients, 32 percent for other patients and nearly 17 percent of the ICU beds are unoccupied across the district.
According to the task force, about 57 percent of the county’s population is fully vaccinated, or 47,457 residents. State department of health figures show that 18,823 people are fully vaccinated and have received a booster dose of vaccine.
The last Bartholomew County deaths from COVID-19 were two people on Dec. 18th. The highest single day number of deaths from COVID-19, came a year ago on Dec. 29th, with five reported deaths in the county.
You can usher in 2022 by taking a hike at one of Indiana’s state parks, forests, or lakes.
First Day Hikes are a healthy way to start the year and a chance to get outside, exercise, enjoy nature, and connect with friends, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Nearly all of Indiana’s state parks and lakes, as well as some state forests, will offer hikes.
First Day Hikes will happen at state facilities including area location such as: Brown County State Park, Clark State Forest, Clifty Falls State Park, Hardy Lake, Jackson-Washington State Forest, Monroe Lake, Morgan-Monroe State Forest and Yellowwood State Forest.
Some hikes require advance registration. For a complete list, information on how to register and where to meet, visit the DNR website.
Story courtesy of Network Indiana
The National Weather Service in Indianapolis says that you could see some locally heavy rain today, with possible flooding and ponding in some low-lying areas.
Up to two inches of rain are possible in some spots.
The weather alert includes Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson and Jennings counties. Isolated thunderstorms with lightning are also possible this afternoon.
The National Weather Service says there is a danger of heavy rain and flooding starting Tuesday and going into the rest of the week in central and southern Indiana.
All of our local counties are in the area of concern, including Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson and Shelby counties.
A warm front is expected to arrive early Tuesday and continue on through Tuesday night with a cold front passing through central Indiana later Tuesday. Those systems, combined with very moist air could lead to heavy rain. The agency says 1 to 2 inches of rain is possible tomorrow and that will be falling on already saturated ground. Both areal and river flooding are possible.
The exact locations for the high water are not yet clear, nor the severity, according to the weather service.
A Jennings County civilian is being recognized for his help stopping a fleeing fugitive last year.
Sheriff Kenny Freeman recently presented Kevin Birge with the Civilian Medal of Appreciation. According to the sheriff’s department, an armed fugitive from Clark County had fled from Jennings County deputies in March of 2020, driving into a field where the vehicle got stuck. Deputies followed the vehicle into the field and became stuck in the mud themselves. The deputies began chasing after the suspect on foot, when Birge pulled up beside the deputies in his vehicle, giving them a ride to a safe area near the fugitive. The suspect was then taken into custody without further incident.
Freeman praised Birge, saying that without his help, the fugitive might have gotten away. Freeman said that it is nice to see that the “community still supports law enforcement and still believes in law and order.”
Deputy Drew Heilers also received a merit award for his role in the arrest.
Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.
North Vernon police have joined a nationwide effort to crack down on impaired drivers during the holidays.
Operation Drive Sober or get Pulled Over is running through New Year’s Day, with more than 200 agencies around Indiana taking part.
Officers say that they are working to raise awareness not just about impaired driving from alcohol or illegal drugs. They warn that some prescription and over-the-counter medications can also affect a person’s ability to drive safely. You should follow all medicine warning labels or consult with your doctor before driving.
The high-visibility overtime patrols are being funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
If you see a suspected impaired driver, you should call 911.