Weather forecasters are warning about the chance of heavy rain and flooding later this week.

The National Weather Service says rounds of heavy rainfall are expected Thursday through early Saturday with the heaviest rain expected in southern and south central Indiana. Between 4 to 5 inches of rain are expected across our area. But an area south of Bloomington, including western Jackson County could receive even more. That area is expected to get 5 to 7 inches of rain.

The rain is expected to come in two waves with the first coming Thursday night, then Friday night into Saturday.

You can expect flooding of low-lying and flood prone areas and flash flooding will be a danger in those areas hardest hit.

Columbus officials are planning a grand opening of the 1821 Bicentennial Trail in downtown.

The 1821 Trail extension runs along First Street behind the Bartholomew County Jail, Columbus City Hall and the former Republic building, all the way to the Robert N. Stewart Bridge on Second Street. It includes historical markers, mini-plazas, a gateway element and other amenities.

The extension nearly completes the People Trail loop around the city. The final piece will be part of the riverfront development project that would connect the 1821 segment to the trail that ends on the northern side of the  Second Street bridge.

The grand opening is set for Thursday April 6th from 9 to 10 a.m. at the intersection of 1st and Washington Streets, behind City Hall.

Two area rural communities will received part of $127.6 million in federal transportation dollars to fix their roads.

The Indiana Department of Transportation is announcing that 38 cities, towns, and counties across rural Indiana would receive the money to invest in local road and bridge improvements, as well as sidewalk and trail projects. Combined with local funds, approximately $156.9 million is being invested to improve transportation infrastructure in the communities receiving funds.

Statewide the projects included 26 bridge rehabilitation/replacement projects; 11 resurfacing/reconstruction projects; seven traffic safety projects and three projects that involve sidewalks, ADA ramps, and trails.

Locally, Shelbyville is receiving almost $2 million in funding to improve Amos Road, and Greensburg is receiving $5.2 million to improve Greensburg Park Road.

The projects will be made ready to go out to bids during the fiscal year starting in July 2027. That includes designs, engineering and purchasing land. For some projects, INDOT will also provide funding for some of those expenses.

Rural communities were invited to submit project applications to INDOT for potential funding during a call for projects announced last fall.

Schneck Hospice in Seymour is announcing a new series of its GriefShare seminars.

GriefShare is a 13-week program open to anyone coping with a loss. The hospice says that GriefShare seminars feature video sessions and discussion. You will gain access to GriefShare resources to help you recover from your loss. Topics will include Living with Grief, the Journey of Grief, the Effects of Grief, Your Family & Grief..

The hospice says that GriefShare is a caring group of people who will make sure you don’t have to go through the grieving process alone.

The GriefShare program is being held in three locations in Seymour and North Vernon.

The Point: 311 Myers Street, Seymour, April 6-June 29, 7 -8:30 p.m. Information:  812-522-2060

First Baptist Church: 505 Community Drive, Seymour, April 4-June 27, 10-11:30 a.m. Information: 812-522-1909

Lord of Life Lutheran Church: 3330 State Road 3, North Vernon, April 4-June 27, 6:30-8 p.m. Information: 812-498-2252

Registration is not required, but preferred.

The leaders of Columbus, Nashville and Bloomington are going to be announcing a new partnership this week, aimed at curbing climate change.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop, Nashville Town Manager Sandie Jones, and Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton will be holding an announcement event Friday at the Nashville Town Hall. They will be talking about the next steps in what they are calling a “bipartisan, cross-sector, multi-county effort to address climate change.”

In October, the mayors hosted a seminar on the challenges of climate change. More than 100 participants from Bartholomew, Brown, and Monroe Counties took part in the half day event, including representatives from the private, nonprofit, educational, and government sectors. The intent was to look at the challenges of climate change and to explore measures to prepare for, to mitigate and to adapt to those challenges.

Friday’s event will include presentations by the mayors and town manager. It will start at 11 a.m. at the Nashville Town Hall.

Bartholomew County Commissioners are not planning any changes to the county’s animal control ordinances. That comes after months of requests by animal rights activists concerned in particular by the plight of several abused dogs in the community.

Commissioners heard concerns again on Monday from residents about the treatment of animals. They cited recent incidents including the shooting death of a dog near Hartsville. The residents asked for the reinstatement of the county’s animal care commission and stricter laws against animal abuse.

However Commissioners President Tony London said the commissioners will not be recreating the commission, nor will the ordinances change. He said that the severe incidents mentioned were already illegal under the current laws. And a situation with a dog having no food and water and being left out in the elements is also covered under the county ordinances.

London said the commissioners are satisfied with the ordinances already in place, and he hopes people will continue to improve the treatment of their animals.

Jennings County deputies arrested four people Friday on drug-related charges in what they are calling Operation Clover Leaf.

The St. Patrick’s Day arrests came after two traffic stops in less than an hour Friday afternoon, according to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department reports.

Deputies say that they stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation at about 3:30 p.m. Friday in Campbell Township. Department police dog Axel alerted to the smell of narcotics in the vehicle and a search revealed about 7 grams of fentanyl. Kelly Simmons and Heather Roberts, both of North Vernon were arrested at the scene. Roberts and Simmons are both being accused of possession of a controlled substance.

About an hour later Sheriff Kenny Freeman and a deputy stopped a vehicle another vehicle in Campbell Township and Axel was brought to the scene, where the dog alerted to the smell of narcotics. A search revealed about 114 grams of methamphetamine.

Robert Deppe and Amanda Ross were arrested at the scene. Both are facing charges of dealing in and possessing methamphetamine.

Photos courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.

The community will be able to get an early look at a project through IUPUC’s Office of Student Research this week.

Yamileth Martinez will be displaying her project, “In the Shadows: Immigrant Stories”, which features the stories of six anonymous undocumented immigrants through their art and stories as well as Martinez’s own story.

Martinez is a senior in the IUPUC School of Education. Through her project, she hopes to better understand how discrimination against national origin, language, and citizenship status are perpetuated through immigration policies.

She said the undocumented immigrants come here to live their dreams, but many live, drive and work in fear.

The project will also include a survey, to measure the attitudes of participants. There will also be display of the artwork of Alejandra “El Rallonadero” Carrilo and food from Morales Antojitos.

“In the Shadows” is one of 13 projects that will be presented next month as part of IUPUC’s annual Office of Student Research Exhibition.

Thursday’s presentation will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Thursday at the Landing in the Columbus Learning Center on Central Avenue.

A Columbus man was arrested on drunk driving charges after a three vehicle pile-up Sunday evening.

According to the Columbus Police Department, the incident happened at about 8:20 p.m. Sunday night in the 4000 block of 31st Street. Witnesses told police that one of the drivers was headed east on 31st Street, when he rear-ended another vehicle. He then put his car in reverse and backed into another vehicle.

Police talked to the suspected driver, 62-year-old Sheldon Beck and noticed that his speech sounded slurred. He was uncooperative during attempts at field sobriety tests and refused a blood draw. A warrant was issued for his blood and he was then arrested on a felony charge of operatinve a vehicle while intoxicated.

Former Vice President and Columbus native Mike Pence is urging supporters of former President Trump to stay calm if Trump is arrested tomorrow. Pence says the potential indictment of Trump is “deeply troubling” but adds “violence will not be tolerated.” Trump has urged his supporters to “take back our nation” amid protests.

Pence is also criticizing the Manhattan District Attorney for possibly pursuing charges against his former boss. Appearing on ABC’s This Week, Pence said indicting a former President would be a politically-charged move and insisted New York City has bigger problems to worry about.

Former President Trump says on social media he expects to be arrested on Tuesday in connection to the hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels when he was running for the White House in 2016.

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks