The leaders of Columbus, Nashville and Bloomington are outlining plans for a new partnership to address climate change in what they are calling Project 46.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop, John Hamilton, mayor of Bloomington, and Nashville Town Manager Sandie Jones held a ceremony Friday to kick off the initiative. The goal is to work together to find ways that the three communities can mitigate the local effects of climate change. Committees made up of a cross-section of the communities’ government, corporate, non-profit and educational institutions will eventually be organized and tasked with coming together to propose joint mitigation strategies.

The immediate goal is to convince the city, town and county governing bodies to pass enabling resolutions supporting the goals and providing funding. The initial funding goal is to raise 50 cents per capita, or just over $25,000 for Columbus and almost $40,000 for Bloomington, towards the efforts.

Photo: Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop speaks at a climate change alliance event held Friday at the Nashville Town Hall. White River Broadcasting photo

Seymour police are looking for your help finding a hit-and-run driver after a man was killed and and his daughter was injured while crossing the street Friday night.

According to the Seymour Police Department, the incident happened at about 10:46 p.m. in the 600 block of South Vine Street when a man’s body was reported in the street. Police found no signs of life but began life-saving measures until paramedics and firefighters arrived. A 911 call from the man’s daughter reported that she and her father were crossing the street when they were both hit by a vehicle which didn’t stop.

The man was pronounced dead after being taken to Schneck Medical Center and the daughter was treated for injuries to her face, hand and leg. The names of the victims have not been released while the accident remains under investigation.

Police believe a dark-colored passenger car was involved in the crash.

If you have any information, you are asked to call the Seymour Police Department at 812-522-1234 .

Flood warnings continue on area rivers after last week’s heavy rains.

The heaviest flooding in southern Indiana is at East Fork White River in Seymour, which is still just above the moderate flood stage. However it crested Saturday at just over a foot above the 17 foot moderate flood stage and is on its way down. It should drop back to minor flooding by tonight but will stay in minor flooding through Thursday according to forecasters.

Driftwood River crested yesterday at 14.08 feet, just above the moderate flood stage. It has dropped back to minor flooding this morning and is expected to drop back below flood levels by tomorrow morning.

East Fork White River at Columbus continues to have minor flooding. This morning it is at 10.2 feet, just over a foot above the minor flood stage. It is forecast to return below flood levels by Tuesday morning.

Flat Rock River at Columbus crested yesterday at 12.79 feet, or about one foot and nine inches above the minor flooding level. It dropped back below flood levels yesterday evening.

Minor flooding also continues on Sugar Creek near Edinburgh through late this afternoon.

The National Weather Service is warning that flooding caused by heavy rain runoff continues this morning in our area.

A flood warning is in effect until 10 a.m. for an area that includes Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson and Shelby counties.

We are also under a high wind advisory today, with gusts of up to 45 mph possible. That lasts until 5 p.m. this afternoon.

River flood warnings  continue for our area. Those include:

• Youngs Creek at Amity: Moderate flooding this morning, expected to return to minor flood level this afternoon and returning below flood levels by Monday.
• North Fork Salt Creek at Nashville: Just above moderate flood level of 17 feet this morning.
• Sugar Creek near Edinburgh: Minor flooding this morning, expected to drop back below flood level by Sunday morning.
• Driftwood River: Minor flooding this morning, rising to just above moderate flood level by Sunday afternoon. Returning below flood level by Tuesday morning.
• Flatrock River at Columbus: Minor flooding this morning, cresting at 13.1 feet by Sunday afternoon, 2.1 feet above minor flood stage. Returning below flood levels by Monday morning.
• East Fork White River at Columbus: Just inches below minor flood level this morning, cresting at 10.6 feet by Sunday afternoon, 1.6 feet above the minor flood stage. Returning below flood levels by Monday morning.
• East Fork White River at Seymour: Just inches below moderate flood level this morning, cresting at 17.7 feet by Sunday morning, .7 feet above the moderate flood stage. Dropping back to the minor flood stage by Monday morning, and returning below flood levels by Wednesday.
• Muscatatuck River Vernon Fork: Minor flooding this morning, returning below flood levels soon.

Bartholomew County updated its list of roads closed and with high water as of 8:30 a.m. Saturday:

Roads closed: 

• 400 W – between Deaver Road (Cowboy Corner) and Somerset Lane
• 930S / 400 W
• Noblitt Park
• Mill Race Park
• In front of 8521 W 700 S, road has caved in.
• 400 N – Tinkey Bridge

Roads under high water:

• South Gladstone in the S curves
• W. 850 S. / S. 400 W. HIGH WATER but will be closed soon.
• SB lane – 11000-Blk S Jonesville Rd.
• 10th / McClure – EB side 10th
• Columbus Center/Marr Rd
• 10th/ Gladstone – EB side 10th
• SR58 / 700 S
• SR58 / Seymour Road
• 800 N between SR9 and Marr Rd
• 400 W – north of Deaver

A tip about a stolen laptop led to the arrest of nine people on drug-related charges in Seymour Thursday.

According to the Seymour Police Department, officers were alerted that a stolen laptop belonging to a Jennings County trustee was at a home in the 100 block of St. Louis Avenue. When they went to the home to investigate they discovered evidence of drug use there.

After getting a search warrant, officers found controlled substances, prescription medication, drug paraphernalia, street signs belonging to the city of Seymour and Jackson County Highway Department, as well as two beer kegs from a local brewery.

Officers also discovered that the living conditions were so bad at the home that they called in the Seymour building commissioner and the Seymour ordinance administrator to inspect the location. Those officials along with the Jackson County Health Department will work with the owner of the home to bring it up to code.

Among those arrested were 70-year-old Joseph Laupus of Seymour on charges of theft, possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia. 32-year-old Eduin Recarte of Seymour was arrested for theft, possession of paraphernalia, and an outstanding Jackson County warrant. 36-year-old Justin Hickman of Vallonia is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance, a syringe, and  paraphernalia.

Those three were also being accused of maintaining a common nuisance.

The other six were arrested on charges including visiting a common nuisance.  Among those was 52-year-old Karen Dubbin of Seymour who is also being charged with dealing in a controlled substance, as part of a Jackson County Sheriff’s Department case.

Other arrests:

• David Burke, 51, of Seymour: Visiting a common nuisance and possession of paraphernalia.
• Darryl Booker, 55, of Seymour: Visiting a common nuisance.
• Theresa Long, 55, of Seymour: Visiting a common nuisance.
• Matthew Nance, 38, of Columbus: Visiting a common nuisance.
• Corrie Burch, 34, of Columbus: Visiting a common nuisance.

An Edinburgh man is facing drug charges after he was arrested leaving a gas station early Friday morning.

According to Columbus police, officers noticed 23-year-old Coy A. Miller leaving a gas station in the 3300 block of West Jonathan Moore Pike at shortly after midnight. They recognized he was wanted on an outstanding Bartholomew County warrant and stopped him outside the gas station.

A search revealed fentanyl in his pants pocket.

He was arrested on a preliminary charge of possession of a narcotic as well as the outstanding warrant.

Photo: Evidence photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

Tonight is the annual Community Dinner to support the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair.

Formerly known as the Rural-Urban Dinner, the event will start at 6:30  p.m. at the Bartholomew County REMC Family Arts Building at the fairgrounds.

Dinner will include pulled pork BBQ, chicken breast, baked beans, macaroni and cheese and homemade pies.

It will be followed by the auctioning off of sponsorships for the naming of various days of the fair, and of streets on the fairground.

The dinner is one of the biggest fundraisers for the fair. The dinner is a free will offering.

You can get more information online at bartholomewcountyfair.com or on the fair board Facebook page.

The National Weather Service says our area is in danger of flooding from expected heavy rain today and overnight.

A flood watch due to excessive runoff is in effect for south central Indiana including Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson and Shelby counties.

Forecasters say between 2 and 4 inches of rain is expected through Saturday morning. Locally higher amounts are possible and thunderstorms are expected. The greatest concerns for heavy rain will be tonight.

The flood watch is in effect through Saturday morning.

The agency has also issued a flood warning for area rivers including the East Fork White , Big Blue, Driftwood and Flatrock rivers from Saturday afternoon to Sunday, April 2nd. Minor river flooding is forecast on Flatrock River and East Fork White River at Columbus, with moderate flooding forecast on Driftwood River and on the East Fork White in Seymour.

Bartholomew County Emergency Management says some roads already have high water and the intersection of Deaver Road and County Road 400W is closed.

Emergency officials are also warning of high winds likely on Saturday. You can expect winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts of up to 45 mph through Saturday afternoon

Ivy Tech Community College Columbus Science Club will be holding a cleanup of the Flat Rock River next month..

The cleanup will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 1st, at Owens Bend Park. That is on North County Road 25E near East county Road 550N.

Snacks and water will be provided, and Ivy Tech Biology t-shirts will be given away while they are available.

For more information, contact Dr. Tom Sobat at [email protected].

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office and Turning Point Domestic Violence Services have been training together on domestic violence intervention.

According to the sheriff’s department, Detective Kevin Abner made a presentation to Turning Point staff to familiarize them with the role of law enforcement in responding to domestic violence incidents. Abner reviewed applicable criminal state statues as well as the process for developing probable cause for an arrest.

Kathryn Miller, director of Legal Advocacy for Turning Point, trained the deputies on the role of Turning Point in the response to domestic violence incidents as well as the services provided by Turning Point. That included Turning Point’s victim shelter and their advocacy services such as assistance in filing for protective orders.

Whittney Loyd, president of Turning Point said, that collaboration and continuing education between the two organizations strengthens the community community response to incidents of domestic violence.”

Sheriff Chris Lane said that providing the best possible outcomes for domestic violence victims requires a comprehensive approach by both law enforcement and agencies that advocate on the part of the victim.