A Seymour woman died in a crash earlier this week on U.S. 50.

According to the Indiana State Police, rescue workers were called to the crash at about 6:20 a.m. Tuesday morning at the intersection with Stevens Way on the west side of the city. Police say that 41-year-old Anna E. Grove was driving east bound on U.S. 50 when she attempted to turn north in front of a box truck. The box truck, driven by 55-year-old David Gosman of Greenfield collided into the passengers side of Grove’s car.

Grove was taken to Schneck Medical Center by Jackson County medics, where she was pronounced dead by the Jacskson County Coroner’s office.

Gosman was not injured.

Troopers say that crash reconstructionist were called to the scene. The westbound lanes of U.S. 50 were for more than two hours while the crash was investigated and cleaned up

The investigation remains ongoing.

Troopers were also assisted at the scene by Seymour police and firefighters.

Flooding is nearly over in our area.

East Fork White River at Seymour dropped down to the minor flood stage overnight and is expected to return to normal levels by early Saturday morning. That comes after the river crested on Sunday afternoon at 19.78 feet, just over a foot below the record flood level of 2008.

Photo: East Fork White River on Saturday afternoon, overlooking the site of the former dam just north of the Indiana American water plant.  WRB photo

Today is the deadline to register to take part in the Seymour Good Friday prayer breakfast hosted by Mayor Matt Nicholson.

Organizers say this is a chance for attendees to come together to celebrate the beginning of spring and to renew their faith.

The cost is $16 for the buffet breakfast. the breakfast will start at 7 a.m. on April 18th at The Pines Evergreen Room on U.S. 31. Doors will open at 6:30 a.m. Services will start after everyone is seated and the program will end by 8 a.m.

You can drop off your reservation in the mayor’s office at 301-309 N. Chestnut Street in Seymour.

Cummins is announcing that John Gaidoo is being appointed as vice president and chief legal officer. He will succeed Nicole Lamb-Hale who is becoming chief administrative officer and corporate secretary.

According to the Columbus-based engine manufacturer, the chief legal officer, leads Cummins’ legal functions globally and serves as a core member of the Cummins Leadership Team, working with business and functional leaders to advance the company’s strategic and operational priorities.

Gaidoo currently serves as Vice President – Senior Deputy General Counsel.

A U.S. Marines Corps veteran, and graduate of Indiana University for his undergraduate and law degrees, Gaidoo has been with Cummins for 14 years. He has served in roles including creating the Crisis Action Management Plan, serving as Executive Director of Human Resources for Cummins Emission Solutions, leading the global Labor Relations team and serving as lead lawyer for the COVID-19 Risk Management Team.

Before joining Cummins, Gaidoo practiced labor and employment law at the Baker & Daniels law firm in Indianapolis.

The promotion takes effect on June 1st.

Bartholomew County property tax bills should be hitting your mailbox soon.

According to county Treasurer Barb Hackman, the tax bills are scheduled to be mailed today, and will include details on the installments due on May 10th and on November 12th.

Hackman has pointed out that most residents with mortgages have their property taxes paid through an escrow account automatically. Even if that is the case, you will still receive a bill with the current amount and comparison of last year’s tax bill, but it will be watermarked as being “For Informational Purposes Only.”

If you need to make a payment, you have several options including through the mail to the treasurer’s office, in person at the Governmental Office Building on Third Street, at one of the two drop boxes located at the office building, at local banks including Centra Credit Union, First Financial Bank, JC Bank, Horizon Bank and German American. You can also pay by phone by calling 844-278-9126 or you can find a link to pay online here: https://bartholomew.in.gov/treasurer.html#view-pay-taxes-online

A Terre Haute man has been arrested, accused of threatening a local legislator.

Network Indiana is reporting that threats were made against state Rep. Jim Lucas, a Seymour Republican, both through voicemails and on Facebook, say Indiana Capitol Police.

Police have not revealed the contents of those messages.

After a search warrant was served Monday, police arrested 55-year-old Robert L. Bennett of Terre Haute who is facing four counts of felony intimidation.

Lucas represents District 69 in the statehouse, which includes the far southern portion of Bartholomew along with parts of Jackson, Scott and Washington counties.

Story courtesy of Network Indiana

Note: This information will be updated as it becomes available.

Bartholomew County officials say that State Road 11 between Garden City and Southern Crossing at County Road 450S has reopened, as well as Southern Crossing itself.

According to Bartholomew County Emergency Management, roads still closed include:

• 800 S, east of SR11
• Water Street
• 8155 N 330W
• Double Y Saddle Club

Closed parks:

• Mill Race Park
• Noblitt Park
• Heflen Park

Seymour firefighters battled a large blaze at a factory in the community yesterday morning.

According to Seymour Fire Department, firefighters were called to the scene of the fire at Seymour Manufacturing on North Broadway Street at 6:47 a.m. Tuesday morning. Units from all three Seymour fire stations responded to the scene and found heavy smoke and large flames coming the roof. The fire appeared to be in the “wax dip” area of the factory, which is were fire starter blocks are produced.

Firefighters used aerial trucks on two sides to knock down the flames and crews with hand lines were able to go in to fight the fire inside. The fire department says the blaze was brought under control within 30 minutes. Firefighters continued to work in the area for more than six hours to overhaul and cleanup the site.

All workers evacuated from the factory safely. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Community leaders are expressing their gratitude to local rescue workers and crews who kept people safe and are working to get their communities open again, after the flooding that started a week ago.

Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon explained:

Bartholomew County Commissioners President Carl Lienhoop:

Leaders are also crediting changes made after the 2008 flood for helping reduce damage and improve warnings ahead of last week’s heavy rain. They are saying that better flood prediction rain gauges in area rivers give advance warning, better flood maps allow for properties to be built so they are not in he flood plain and higher elevations of newer construction means they are above flood waters when they do come.

Seymour Mayor Matt Nicholson said that despite the near-record flooding, the city escaped with minimal damage. He praised the efforts to provide sandbags for those in the community that needed them.

Photo: State Road 11 during the weekend flooding. photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

Toyota Material Handling North America is announcing its five-member senior leadership team after integrating the Raymond Corporation under the Toyota umbrella.

Toyota Material Handling announced in January that it was formally absorbing the Raymond Corporation, a company it has owned as a separate entity for more than 24 years. The two have combined under the Toyota Material Handling banner however, the company also plans to continue to maintain unique brand identities. The integration process completed last week.

Earlier this week the Columbus-based company announced that Brett Wood will continue to serve as president and CEO as well as a senior executive officer for parent company Toyota Industries Corp.

Michael Field will be the company’s chief operations officers. Previously he served as president and CEO of the Raymond Corporation.

Sam Coles will be Chief Sales & Marketing Officer. He most recently served as President of Toyota Material Handling International in Sweden.

Tony Miller will be Chief Supply Officer. He most recently was Toyota Material Handling’s Senior Vice President of Operations, Engineering & Strategic Planning.

Mark Taggart will be chief administrative officer. He previously was Toyota Material Handling North America’s Chief Financial Officer President of Raylease.