Columbus police are investigating the death of a truck driver in a Tuesday night crash on Interstate 65.

According to Columbus Police Department reports, 51-year-old James McGoff, of Louisville, Kentucky was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at about 11:20 Tuesday night after his semi ran off the road and crashed just south of the Columbus exit.

The southbound lanes were closed for several hours for the crash investigation. A second closure was set to start at about 10 p.m. last night and last about 6 hours while crews worked to finish cleaning up the debris. That was between the Columbus and Walesboro exits. During the closing traffic was rerouted U.S. 31 and State Road 46.

The city of Seymour is holding an open house this afternoon for the renovated City Hall.

You can stop by for punch and cookies and tour the new renovations. There will also be a tour of the new public art exhibit, which has 50 submissions by 36 artists.

Seymour City Hall is at 301 to 309 North Chestnut Street. The open house is from 4:30 to 6:30.

Seymour-area officials says that the local Sertoma Club has received very few entries for those who need gifts from the Jackson County Sertoma Christmas Miracle program.

Gifts are only available for children 12 and under. You can apply to receive gifts for your children, legal guardianships, stepchildren or foster children. Applications for nieces, nephews, grandchildren, neighbors or any other children will not be accepted.

No gifts or more than $35 will be sought.

You can get copies of the application form on the City of Seymour Facebook page, at the Seymour, Crothersville, and Medora Libraries, at the local WIC offices, at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, or at Jackson County United Way offices.

Applications are due by December 18th.

Duke Energy is offering tips on how you can save money on your winter heating bills.

According to the power company, you can reduce your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting when you are home. When you leave your home, you should bump the thermostat down a degree or two.

Duke also suggests changing the air filters on your furnace regularly. The company said that is one of the easiest things a customer can do to support heating efficiency. A dirty air filter makes a heating system work harder, which uses more energy.

On sunny winter days, you can leave drapes and blinds open to allow the sun to warm the house. You should close them at night to help insulate your home.

For more Duke Energy winter heating cost-cutting suggestions, you can go here. ()

Two people are facing drug-related charges after police investigated a vehicle abandoned in the middle of the road in Country Squire Lakes Tuesday.

According to reports from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to the scene of the abandoned vehicle at about 10:47 a.m. Tuesday morning. While at the scene, police stopped another vehicle they believed was related to the abandoned one.

When police searched the second vehicle they found that a back-seat passenger, 21-year-old Jason Duncan of North Vernon, was carrying almost two ounces of methamphetamine, a firearm and other drug-related items. A second passenger, 23-year-old Beth Vidoloff of North Vernon, was found to have drug paraphernalia.

Duncan is facing preliminary charges of dealing in and possessing methamphetamine, a legend drug acts violation, and for possession of a syringe, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Vidoloff is being accused of possessing the drug parapheralia.

A retiring nurse in the Jennings County Jail has been recognized by a national police organization.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s department is reporting that Nurse Lisa Carmer was presented with the Civilian Medal of Appreciation from the American Police Hall of Fame by Sheriff Kenny Freeman. The award recognizes Carmer for her commitment “to support the law enforcement profession and efforts to protect fellow citizens (inmates) and for setting an admirable standard for all to follow.”

Carmer began her work with the department in 2006. She has been responsible for overseeing the medical concerns of inmates and establishing policy and guidelines for medical treatment of inmates. Freeman said that work will be used for years to come.

Photo: Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.

Columbus firefighters battled a blaze in a boat that was being salvaged near a city home today.

According to reports from the Columbus Fire Department, firefighters were called to a reported vehicle fire in the 2000 block of McKinley Avenue at about 9:50 this morning. They discovered a fire burning in a boat about 25 feet from the nearest home.

After first attempting to put out the fire with a hose line, firefighters discovered that the fire continued inside the boat’s cabin. It couldn’t be extinguished until they cut a hole in the side and removed burning seat cushions and other materials. After removing those, they were able to extinguish the fire with water.

The owner said that he was in the process of salvaging parts from the boat. He was removing the fuel tank when it contacted an ignition source and caught on fire.

A nearby shed was also heavily damaged in the fire. No one was injured and the fire was determined to be accidental.

Photo: Photo courtesy of Columbus fire Department.

You can expect lanes of Interstate 65 to be closed tonight as crews clean up from a fatal crash Tuesday evening.

According to Columbus Police Department reports, 51-year-old James McGoff, of Louisville, Kentucky was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash about a mile south of the Columbus exit at about 11:20 p.m. Tuesday night after his semi ran off the road and crashed.

The southbound lanes were closed for several hours for the crash investigation. A second closure will start at about 10 p.m. tonight and will last about 6 hours while crews work to clean up the debris.

That will affect the area between the Columbus and Walesboro exits. Traffic will be rerouted on to State Road 46

The Columbus Police Department is announcing that the agency has again by certified by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement agencies, or CALEA.

According to a report from Columbus Police, this is the third consecutive certification for the department.

Accreditation is an ongoing four-year process where the department must show that it follows international guidelines for policing and organizational practices. Agencies must comply with standards in policy and procedures, administration, operations, and support services.

At the end of the fourth year, CALEA assessors visit the agency for a review. After confirming  compliance, the Commission voted unanimously to award the Columbus Police Department it’s third award.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop said that the reaccreditation “confirms that our city is served by well-managed and professional law enforcement.”

Two students in IUPUC’s Master’s of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner program have been selected for  the Indiana Area Health Education Center Scholars program.

The school is announcing that Alicia Tembo of Columbus and Susan Brandenburg of Indianapolis have been selected for the program’s class of 2023. The program is part of a national initiative to prepare tomorrow’s health professionals to become leaders who serve those who need it the most.

In Indiana, the program is designed for those who have a drive to provide care to rural and medically underserved communities across the state.