Cummins is announcing that it has completed the acquisition of Jacobs Vehicle Systems.

The Columbus-based engine manufacturer announced plans to acquire the company, the maker of the famous “Jake Brake” system, in February. Cummins says the addition of JVS brings new technologies that will provide growth opportunities for Cummins’ platforms.

JVS is a supplier of engine braking, cylinder deactivation, start and stop and thermal management technologies. Cummins expects those to be key components to meeting emissions regulations.

In 1961, JVS was founded when Clessie Cummins, the founder of Cummins, invented the first engine brake for commercial vehicles for JVS, referred to as the “Jake Brake.”

Jacobs Vehicle Systems will report to Cummins Turbo Technologies within the company’s Components segment.

JVS has roughly 600 employees with manufacturing facilities in Bloomfield, Connecticut and Suzhou, China.

Wednesday night’s storms produced a small and weak tornado in southeastern Indiana.

Forecasters yesterday confirmed that an EF-0 tornado touched down in Decatur County. The National Weather Service says the tornado was on the ground for about two minutes, and hit about three miles west of Millhousen. No one was hurt.

Forecasters say the tornado was 25-feet wide and had a maximum speed of 84 miles per hour.

Reported damage included a lean-to roof and wall on the east side of a farm outbuilding being demolished. Sheet metal roofing and wood were thrown between 200 and 400 yards to the north and north-northwest and a 2×4 was driven into the ground about 20 yards north of the damaged building. A small horse trailer was also picked up and thrown on the north side of County Road 800S.

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks Inc. 

A flood warning remains in effect for East Fork White River at Seymour through Monday morning. Minor flooding is expected and minor flooding is ongoing.

The river is at 13.1 feet this morning which is just over a foot above the 12 foot minor flood stage. It is expected to crest at 13.4 feet by Saturday afternoon. It should drop back below flood level by Sunday afternoon.

The weather service urges you not to drive onto flooded roadways. Turn around and don’t drown.

White River Broadcasting flooding information page

INDOT will be holding an open house in Edinburgh later this month to take public questions and outline an upcoming project on State Road 252.

The proposed $6 million project will replace the pavement on State Road 252 between U.S. 31 and Interstate 65. replace a drainage structure east of U.S. 31 and replace or expand sidewalks along State Road 252. The goal is to enhance safety along the corridor and to reset the service life of the roadway. The contract is currently scheduled to let to contractors in fall of 2024.

At the meeting, you will be able to learn more about the project and provide official comments to the project team.

The open house will be on Wednesday, April 27, at the Edinburgh Community High School cafeteria on Keeley Street. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and a presentation will begin at 6 p.m.

A North Vernon motorcyclist died in a crash Thursday morning in Ripley County.

According to Indiana State Police reports, 48-year-old Christopher Kincaid was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on State Road 48 by the Ripley County Coroner’s office.

Troopers say that Kincaid was driving his motorcycle eastbound on the highway, just east of State Road 129 at about 7 a.m. in the morning when he crossed the centerline into the path of a truck being driven by 54-year-old Charles Eckstein of Sunman. Kincaid was thrown from the cycle in the crash, suffering fatal injuries.

Eckstein was not injured.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

A Scottsburg man died in a four-vehicle crash on U.S. 31 south of Seymour yesterday afternoon.

According to Indiana State Police reports, 43-year-old Ronnie Brickley Jr. of Scottsburg was pronounced dead after the crash at about 3 p.m. yesterday by the Jackson County Coroner’s Office.

State police say that Brickley was driving north on U.S. 31 near County Road 275N when he crossed the centerline into the path of a dump truck being driven by 74-year-old Larry Pike of Seymour. Brickley’s pickup struck the side of the dump truck and then went into the path of a second dump truck being driven by 31-year-old Nicolas Merritt of Seymour. Trooper say Merritt tried to avoid the crash but the vehicles hit head on.

A car driven by 62-year-old Lawanda Halfacre of Deputy was driving behind Brickley on the highway and was struck by debris, slightly injuring her and causing minor damage to her vehicle.

Neither of the dump truck drivers were injured. The truck are owned by King’s Excavation of Seymour.

U.S. 31 was closed for about four hours while the crash was cleaned up and investigated.

Some area residents are without power this morning after last night’s storms.

As of 7:30 a.m. today, Duke Energy is reporting about 3 customers without power in Bartholomew County, stretching from Garden City to almost the Brown County line. The Jennings County area has about 150 Duke customers without power with almost 100 in the Butlerville area and 50 in North Vernon.

About 65 more Jackson County REMC customers are without power in the North Vernon area.

A flood warning is in effect for East Fork White River at Seymour from this afternoon to Monday morning. The National Weather Service in Indianapolis reports that more than one inch of rain fell in some areas will lead to minor flooding along the river.

The river is at 7.23 feet this morning, which is not in the flood stage. But it is expected to rise into minor flooding by this afternoon, cresting about a foot and a few inches above the 12 foot minor flood stage by early Friday morning. The river is expected to remain in minor flooding until Sunday evening.

No flooding is forecast on the river in Columbus. However the Driftwood River is rising. It is expected to crest at 10.8 feet by early Saturday morning, just inches below the minor flood stage.

The weather service urges you not to drive around any barricades or drive vehicles onto flooded roadways. Most flooding deaths occur in vehicles.

White River Broadcasting flooding information page

A tornado may have touched down in Decatur County during last night’s storms. Media reports from Cincinnati say that local law enforcement confirmed a touchdown occurred in southern Decatur County around 9 p.m. last night between Westport and Millhousen.

Decatur County Emergency Management says that they will be out today to view and to verify any damage reports found after day light. If you had any damage, you should contact the agency at 812-663-2004 or email [email protected]