Jackson County authorities are announcing the name of a man whose body was found last week near East Fork White River just west of Seymour.

According to the sheriff’s department, the man has been identified as 26-year-old Morrissey R. McClain Jr. of Louisville, Kentucky. Authorities were alerted at about 7:11 p.m. last Thursday evening after his body was discovered in the woods near the Bell Ford Bridge. An autopsy was conducted on Tuesday and there is no evidence that suggests foul play, according to police.

The cause of death is still pending results from the autopsy and toxicology reports. The investigation is ongoing.

A weekend house fire killed a North Vernon man.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department says deputies were called to a house fire in Vernon Township at about 11:53 a.m. Saturday morning. They found the home fully engulfed in flames and witnesses said someone was trapped inside.

A body was recovered from the fire after it was extinguished. 65-year-old Mark Ramey of North Vernon was pronounced dead at the scene.

The sheriff’s department and Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office are investigating the cause of the fire.

Flood warnings continue for area rivers and streams as Tuesday’s heavy rain moves downstream.

According to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, rainfall of up to four inches hit parts of central Indiana. Minor flooding is happening and minor flooding is forecast.

Sugar Creek at Edinburgh is at just over a foot above the minor flood stage. It is expected to drop back below flood level this morning. Driftwood River near Edinburgh is expected to crest about six inches below the moderate flood stage this morning and return to normal levels this afternoon.

East Fork White River at Columbus and Flatrock River at Columbus are expected to crest just barely into minor flooding later this morning. In Seymour, East Fork White River is already a foot above the minor flood stage and is expected to crest at about three foot above the minor flood stage by Friday morning. The river won’t return to normal levels until Saturday afternoon.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department reported that two people had to be rescued yesterday after getting caught by high water. Authorities urge you not to drive around barricades or into high water.

Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

A former Columbus police officer is returning to the force.

Officer Maren McCrary was sworn in on Tuesday by Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon.

McCrary graduated from Eastern Illinois University and served as an officer with the Muncie Police Department. She then worked for the Columbus Police Department for almost seven years, serving as a patrol officer, detective and polygraph examiner. She left the department and worked as a forensic investigator at a child advocacy center.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

The Columbus Human Rights Commission is looking for your nominations for the William R. Laws Human Rights Award.

According to the commission, the award recognizes a group of members from the community, a community organization, or an individual who has made a substantial contribution to Columbus in any areas of human and civil rights, equity, inclusion, belonging, and social justice.

Nominations for the Laws Award should be submitted to the Human Rights Commission by 5 p.m. in the afternoon on  April 25th. You can send in nominations by mail, e-mail or drop them off in person in City Hall. Forms are available at City Hall and through the city’s website at columbus.in.gov.

If you have any questions, you can call the Human Rights Commission at (812) 376-2532.

Area rivers and streams are under flood warnings after Tuesday’s heavy rain.

According to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, rainfall of up to four inches hit parts of central Indiana. Minor flooding is happening in some spots and minor flooding is forecast.

Flood warnings are in effect for rivers and streams including:

Sugar Creek near Edinburgh until Thursday afternoon and Youngs Creek at Amity until Thursday morning. Flood warnings have also been extended through Sunday morning for East Fork White River at Columbus and Seymour, Driftwood River near Edinburgh, Flatrock River near Columbus and Big Blue River at Shelbyville.

East Fork White River at Columbus and Seymour is expected to enter the minor flood stage this evening, with the river cresting tomorrow morning in Columbus and tomorrow evening in Seymour, both in the minor flood stage.

You can check out the most recent river levels here: https://1010wcsi.com/weather-forecast/#flooding