Note: This story has been updated.

A Franklin man was injured in a crash near Edinburgh Thursday morning.

According to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, at about 7:50 a.m. in the morning, a vehicle on County Road 800E, north of Road 650S left the road, crashed into a telephone pole and tree and flipped onto its side, trapping the driver inside. Edinburgh Fire Department crews rescued the driver identified as 32-year-old Cody L. Morris.

He was flown by medical helicopter to Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment. Deputies say he suffered a head injury.

Photo courtesy of Johnson County Sheriff’s Department.

Note: This story has been updated.

An Indianapolis driver was arrested after a low speed chase through Bartholomew, Johnson and into Marion counties Wednesday evening.

According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, a deputy on patrol noticed a vehicle driving at 36 mph in a 55 mph zone on northbound U.S. 31 near West County Road 550N at 8:28 p.m. Wednesday evening. The vehicle then came to a sudden stop in the middle of the road, before heading north again on the highway.

The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle as the driver took the northbound ramp to Interstate 65, but the driver continued onto the interstate. That’s where he made unsafe lane changes, drove on the shoulder, and made several speed changes. Officers from other agencies joined in the pursuit and deployed tire deflation devices. But the driver continued on despite running over six of the tools.

Finally at a speed of 24 mph on the interstate in the Southport area, an officer from the Beech Grove Police Department used his patrol vehicle to force the driver into a spin and stop. Police arrested 71-year-old Donald Seawood of Indianapolis and he was taken back to the Bartholomew County Jail. He is facing charges of resisting law enforcement using a vehicle and operating a vehicle without a license.

The sheriff’s department says Seawood has had at least three previous cases of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle.

A state grant could help bring new sports facilities to Jackson County.

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority is announcing a fundraising campaign for pickleball courts in Brownstown, under the state’s CreatINg Places program.

The Jackson County project would be for four outdoor pickleball courts in the Brownstown Town Park. Organizers with the Brownstown Pickleball Association have until April 7th to raise their half of the funds, or $15,000.

Angela Sibrel of the Brownstown Pickleball Association said the project would not only contribute “to the creation of a recreational space but also fostering a healthier and more connected community.”

The CreatINg Places program began in 2016 and matches funds for projects submitted by non-profit groups and local governments up to a $50,000 thousand dollar state match. So far, more than $10.8 million in public funds have been donated for Indiana projects, generating $8.7 in state matching grants.

Pledges can be made through patronicity.com  You can also make donations in person or by mail through the Community Foundation of Jackson County.

Graphic courtesy of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and Brownstown Pickleball Association.

A suspect is now facing a murder charge in Johnson County after the victim of a shooting has died.

According to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, 35-year-old Jacob P. Harville of Franklin died Wednesday. He had been taken to St. Francis Hospital in serious condition after being shot shortly before noon Monday on North County Road 625E near Franklin.

Police arrested 33-year-old Alicia M. Haupt of Franklin shortly after the incident on preliminary charges including Attempted Murder. After a review by the prosecutor’s office, the charges have now been upgraded to murder, conversion and pointing a firearm at a person.

She is now being held without bond in the Johnson County Jail.

The City of Columbus will be changing the route for its Bus 3 starting on Monday to add Nexus Park to the system.

According to the Columbus Transit Department, several stops will be added to accommodate the Columbus Regional Health portion of the former Fair Oaks Mall on 25th Street. Temporary bus stop signs will be added at the new locations along the return route from the hospital.

Route 3 runs from the downtown bus depot at Mill Race Park to the north and east side of the city, including 25th Street and National Road, coming back from the Bartholomew County Health Department offices on Fox Pointe Drive.

The new route will be updated Monday on the Columbus Transit app. You can get more information or sign up for alerts at https://columbusindianatransit.com. Or call the transit office at (812) 376-2506.

Map courtesy of Columbus Transit Department.

Emergency workers rescued a woman who fell down a cliff at the Muscatatuck Caverns in Jennings County Wednesday.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to assist Rescue 20 medics and Campbell Township Fire Department at about 6:29 p.m. Wednesday evening after a woman fell down a 60-foot tall cliff at the caverns near Butlerville. Medics Paige Bush and Andrew Wiley led a rope rescue mission to get the patient to safety. The rescue took about two and a half hours.

After bringing her back up the cliff, she was flown by helicopter to a trauma center for treatment of serious injuries.

Sheriff Kenny Freeman praised the rescue workers as heroes, saying they train constantly to provide the best care possible to victims.

Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.

There is still time left for candidates to file for office in this year’s elections. The filing period runs through noon on Friday.

Since last week several candidates have filed for office. That includes Democrats Nancy Merbitz and Zack Patchett for County Council At-Large and Republican Peter Begin for Hope Town Council, Ward 2.

Several candidates have also filed for Republican party positions as state convention delegates and precinct committeemen.

Among the offices up for election this year in Bartholomew County are two seats on the Bartholomew County Commissioners and three at-large seats on the County Council, as well as Superior Court 1 Judge, county coroner and surveyor and state representatives.

You can get more information in Bartholomew County at the County Clerk’s voter registration office at 812-379-1604.

A reminder that the Bartholomew County Historical Society will be holding an opening reception for two new exhibits this evening.

The museum will be hosting new exhibits on the Bartholomew County connection to the 1904 Worlds Fair in St. Louis, and the Soul of Philanthropy/And Still We Rise displays created in previous years for Black History Month.

The reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight at the historical society museum at 524 Third Street. Light snacks and beverages will be provided.

You can get more information at bartholomewhistory.org

Graphic courtesy of Bartholomew County Historical Society

A Jennings County deputy is receiving the Knights of Justice Award from the American Police Hall of Fame.

According to the Jennigns County sheriff’s department, Deputy Morgan Gabbard took the lead in investigating the disappeareance of an elderly woman in October. Multiple police agencies were involved in the search. The investigation found the woman in Kentucky and she was safely returned home.

Sheriff Kenny Freeman presented Gabbard with the award recently.

Photo: Deputy Morgan Gabbard receives an award recently from Sheriff Kenny Freeman. Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools recognized Sandy Watts this week as the newest member of the district’s education Hall of Fame.

Watts mostly served as a third grade teacher during her time as an educator. She began with the district in 1980 and retired in 2015, starting at Smith Elemntary before moving to Fodrea for four years, and almost 19 years at Taylorsville Elementary. Her last 12 years were at Parkside Elementary.

Dr. Jim Roberts, BCSC’s superintendent, said that the nomination letters for the award called Watts a tireless leader for education with a can-do spirit. They said she was a master teacher and the entire community is her extended classroom.

Watts accepted the award after a reception and presentation at this week’s BCSC school board meeting.

Photo: Sandy Watts is inducted into the BCSC Hall of Fame Monday by Dr. Jim Roberts. Photo courtesy of BCSC.