Two highways in Jackson County will be closing this week and another have restrictions as contractor crews work in the area.

According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, State Road 58 will be closing near Norman and U.S. 31 will be closing north of Uniontown. Both projects are set to start on Tuesday.

State Road 58 will be closing for up to five weeks between North Jackson County Roads 1250 W and 975 W while crews replace a small drainage structure. The detour will take State Road 446 to U.S. 50 and to State Road 135.

U.S. 31 will also close for about five weeks so crews can replace a culvert. That will be about two and a half miles north of Uniontown between East Jackson County Road 50 S and West Base Road. The detour follows State Road 250 to Interstate 65 to U.S. 50.

INDOT also says that traffic on State Road 11 will be restricted between Jonesville and Seymour starting Tuesday, due to bridge work.

According to the agency, crews will be rehabilitating a bridge in Jackson County, about two miles north of Seymour, just north of the blue bridge and a mile south of the interchange with Interstate 65. You can expect temporary traffic signals to be in place while the work is going on.

The work is scheduled to wrap up in July.

The work schedules are dependent on the weather.

INDOT urges you to slow down, to drive without distractions, to use extra caution and to be alert to worker safety in all work zones.

Columbus Regional Health will be offering an opportunity fair later this month where you can check out careers at the hospital and explore your interests.

According to the hospital, the Discover CRH: Connect Your Skills to Healthcare fair will be a two day event from 3 to 6 p.m. on April 17 and 8:30 a.m. to noon on April 18. That will be in the Innovation Center, on the lower level of the hospital on 17th Street in Columbus.

In addition to medical careers, Discover CRH will also be showcasing the professional, technical, and creative fields and opportunities available at CRH. There are part-time, full-time and volunteer positions available.

You are encouraged to register for a time slot and can find more information here: www.crh.org/events/discover-crh.

Our area continues to be one of those with the best chance for a clear view of Monday’s solar eclipse.

Forecasters say the threat of cloud coverage continues to loom over much of the the path of totality.

The latest forecast from the National Weather Service says people from Texas into Arkansas and possibly in Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania and western New York could have their viewing of the eclipse impeded by clouds.

The regions from central Indiana to southern Missouri and northern New England are the areas with the best chances for clear viewing according to forecasters.

Our forecast for Monday is partly sunny with a high of 74.

TTWN Media Networks contributed to this report

The Town of Hope is in the eclipse spirit with a festival continuing today and running through the big event Monday.

Calling it the Total Eclipse of the Hope, organizers with Main Street of Hope say that the Hope Town Square will be filled with art, science projects, games and live entertainment and music along with food and merchandise vendors.

Local businesses will have extended hours for shopping and dining in the small town.

Main Street of HOPE is offering primitive RV and Camper sites nearby. You can stay at sites that include portable toilets and washing stations.

You can get more information on the Main Street of Hope Facebook page.

An Edinburgh man was arrested after being found with drugs in a Columbus park.

According to the Columbus Police Department, an officer was making an extra patrol a t Noblitt Park at about 5:40 p.m. Thursday afternoon whne he noticed a suspicious vehicle parked near the entrance. The officer talked with the vehicle’s occupant and noticed the smell of burnt marijuana coming from inside and saw several large knives.

A search of the vehicle uncovered marijuana as well as a pipe with methamphetamine.

44-year-old Joshua L. Pennington was arrested on preliminary charges for possessing the drugs and drug paraphernalia.

A flood warning continues for East Fork White River at Seymour.

According to the National Weather Service, the river continues to be in the minor flood stage but appears to be cresting. This mornign the river is at 15.6 feet, which is more than three and a half above the minor flood stage, and a foot and a half below the moderate flood stage. The river is expected to drop below minor flood levels by Saturday evening.

In Bartholomew County, officials closed County Road 800S between U.S. 31 and State Road 11 near Azalia because of high water over the road. The road is expected to reopen this morning.

You can find information on all local river levels here: https://1010wcsi.com/weather-forecast/#flooding

The National Weather Service has also issued a freeze warning in our area. Temperatures as low as 28 are expected. That goes into effect from 2 to 10 Saturday morning.

A fire led to an evacuation Thursday of a retirement home in Columbus.

According to the Columbus Fire Department, they were called to the Four Seasons Retirement Center on Taylor Road at about 10:36 a.m. Thursday morning after a smoke alarm went off. The center’s staff discovered that a water heater was on fire in a utility closet. Smoke began filling the building and residents were evacuated. Staff also turned off power to the water heater and closed the center’s fire doors.

Firefighters used thermal imaging scanning to locate the fire in a control panel. It was put out with water fire extinguishers. The building was ventilated to make sure all harmful gases were removed.

The fire was isolated to the water heater and did not cause any more damage to the building. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but firefighters believe it was electrical in nature.

No injuries were reported

Photo courtesy of Columbus Fire Department