Authorities are warning about several types of scams circulating after the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in the past few weeks.

The Indiana Attorney General’s office is offering tips on how to protect yourself from some of the more common scam attempts.

If you need repairs after the storm damage, authorities say that you should make sure to take your time making a decision and don’t let a would be contractor pressure you into making a decision. Instead, you should do your research on the proposed repairs, making sure that they are charging rates that you can afford for the work you need done.

You can talk to friends and family members to get recommendations on reputable contractors and check the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and the Better Business Bureau to see if there are complaints or information on any contractor you are considering.

The attorney general’s office cautions you to always be skeptical if someone shows up at your door, saying that they saw damage to your home from the street, that they are working in the neighborhood already or that they are offering a special deal that is only available for today only.

And, in general, it is probably best to go with a well-respected, well-reviewed local contractor instead of someone who you only know through a flashy ad, or who shows up at your doorstep pressuring you to accept their offer.

Scammers also can try to get you to give up your money to questionable charities.

According to the attorney general, you should be wary of those offering to provide aid or services to victims of disasters. Don’t feel pressured to make an immediate donation. You should be able to take as much time as you need to feel confident that your money is being used legitimately. Remember that a real charity will accept your donations any day of the week.

You should be wary of attempts to solicit donations by phone, email, mail or social media. Make sure you are dealing with a legitimate organization, rather than a sound-alike scammer. Authorities suggest researching the name of the organization or cause before handing over your money.

If you do want to make a donation, make sure to donate by credit card. That allows you to be protected should the donation turn out to be questionable.

You can find links with more information on researching charities at CharityNavigator.org, CharityWatch.org, Give.org, and Guidestar.org.

If you suspect you’ve encountered a scam attempt you should report it immediately to the Indiana Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at indianaconsumer.com or by calling 1-800-382-5516.

A Jackson County man has been arrested for the murder of his father.

According to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Departments, deputies began investigating the death of 76-year-old Larry D. Fox of Norman on January 30th. After collecting evidence and conducting interviews detectives identified his son, 28 year-old Robert W.D. Fox, also of Norman as the suspect in the case.

Sheriff’s deputies and Seymour police arrested the son at about 4:50 p.m. Saturday without incident on a charge of murder.

INDOT will be looking for your thoughts next week on a proposed project in Jennings County.

According to the agency, a public hearing will be held on Tuesday for the proposed Muscatatuck River bridge rehabilitation project located on Park Road in Crosley Fish and Wildlife Area in Jennings County. You will have a chance to talk with the project team, to receive the latest updates for the project, and to provide your official public comments.

The purpose of the project is to rehabilitate the bridge so that it can continue to be used by motorists. That will include rehabilitating the truss, bridge deck, gusset plates, low chord, and secondary truss members. Replacing concrete, pier caps, and handrail are also included in the project. The estimated construction cost is about $942 thousand dollars.

Construction is expected to begin next year and the bridge will remain closed while construction is in progress.

The hearing will be at the Jennings County Public Library on Indiana 3 in North Vernon with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and a presentation beginning at 6 p.m.

The public comment period ends on May 7th. If you can’t make the meeting you can still leave your comments:

By email: [email protected] or [email protected]
By phone: 317-806-4342 or 812-528-1868
By mail: Egis Atten: Kristin Wing, 8320 Craig Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46250
Questions: 855-463-6848
Project information, including the presentation will be available online at Seymour.indot.in.gov

Duke Energy says that a Columbus lineman is heading to an international competition in October.

According to the power company, Travis Vidal of Columbus was part of a team that took third place at the International Lineman’s Rodeo last week. The other members of the Journeyman Team were Marc Mitchell of Noblesville and Chase Nickell of Carmel.

The competition tests skills such as as climbing poles, handling tools, making equipment repairs and performing rescue operations. Categories of tests include equipment repair, pole climbs and “hurt man” rescues. The competition also promotes safety, camaraderie and teamwork.

Winners from last weekend’s Midwest Lineman’s Rodeo in Plainfield will advance to the International Lineman’s Rodeo to be held in Bonner Springs, Kan., on Oct. 18th.

Duke Energy is celebrating its crews today on National Lineworker Appreciation Day. The company has more than 10,000 employees and contract lineworkers across Duke Energy’s teams in the Carolinas, Florida and Midwest. April has been especially busy for lineworkers in Indiana, with the major storms, tornadoes and flooding requiring repairs for nearly 100,000 customers.

Nickell said that his kids don’t always want him to leave home, but they understand people are without power and they are proud of their dad.

Photo: A Duke Energy team took 3rd Place in the Journeyman Team competition held in Plainfield last weekend. From the left, Travis Vidal of Columbus, Marc Mitchell, Chase Nickell, along with Chris Lange, regional senior vice president of power grid operations for Duke Energy. Photo courtesy of Duke Energy

A transformer fire in downtown Columbus Wednesday afternoon caused a power outage downtown and several reports of fires.

According to the Columbus Fire Department, the incidents started at about 3:53 p.m. Wednesday afternoon after a fire alarm went off at the Volunteers of America of Indiana residential building in the 700 block of Washington Street. Firefighters arrived to find residents being evacuated and no obvious signs of smoke or flames. But the building was without power and there was a faint smell of smoke inside.

Firefighters traced the alarm to a basement storage room where they found sprinklers had activated, dousing a fire that destroyed several shelved items.

Further investigation traced the outage to a nearby transformer which had an electrical arc, sending a surge of energy into the building. The ground wire carried the charge into the building, where the cable was wrapped around a water pipe, which transferred the charge to the metal storage rack holding the items.

A witness also reported seeing sparks coming from the transformer fire behind the Washington Street address.

Damage from the fire was isolated to the storage room.

While firefighters worked at the first scene, they received reports of a strong electrical odor at Yes Cinema on Jackson Street but there was no evidence of a fire.

Once power was restored downtown, the fire alarm system at the Armory Apartments on Washington Street alerted to a structure fire there. But firefighters couldn’t find any sign of a fire there, and suspect the original electrical disturbance triggered the alarm once power had been restored.

Fire investigators say that the sprinkler system at the Volunteers of America of Indiana residential building also put out a cooking fire at the building in March.

Forecasters say we could be in for some heavy rain starting tonight and over the weekend.

The National Weather Service says that the front pushing across Indiana bring a marginal risk of excessive rainfall in most of the state, as it stalls overhead. However, our area would be among the driest through Sunday, with up to an inch of rain likely according to forecasters. Other areas of the state are expecting up to three inches of rain.

We could also see some thunderstorms starting this afternoon and into tonight. Some could turn severe across southern Indiana with damaging winds and large hail possible Saturday.

A project that will close State Road 9 north of the Bartholomew County line is now expected to begin on Monday.

According to INDOT, the highway will now close about five miles north of the Bartholomew/Shelby County line starting on April 21st as crews replace a drainage structure. The work will be going on between Shelby County Roads 750S and 800S at the Amos Ditch. The official detour takes State Road 46 to Interstate 74.

The highway is expected to be closed until mid-Mays but the work schedule is dependent on the weather.

Work was expected to start on the drainage structure replacement project on in March but was delayed.

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

White River Broadcasting’s 66th annual WCSI Community Easter Egg Hunt gets underway Saturday at 10 a.m. in the morning.

For the second year the hunt will be held indoors at the Circle K Fieldhouse in Nexus Park, the former Fair Oaks Mall on 25th Street.

There will be four separate areas set up for children younger than 2, from 3 to 4, from 5 to 6 and from 7 to 8. Local police, fire, companies and organizations will have information available at Nexus Park.

At 11 a.m. in the morning we will be hosting the WKKG Egg-Ceptional Community Easter Egg Hunt, also at Nexus Park. This hunt is for children with sensory or mobility issues.

Children should bring their own baskets.

Jennings County would be losing a judge under a proposal approved yesterday by the Indiana Senate.

The bill, promoted as a cost-savings measure, would eliminate judges in Jennings along with Blackford, Carroll, Gibson, Greene, Monroe, Newton, Owen, Pulaski, Rush and Scott counties, along with six juvenile magistrate positions in Marion County, if it becomes law.

The state Senate added an amendment to the bill, based upon a formula that weighs case load against how many judges there are in the county.

The state’s fiscal team estimates the elimination will save the state about $749,000 in Fiscal Year 2027, and as much as $2.7 million by FY 2032. Judges in Indiana make about $183,000 per year and magistrates make about $146,000.

The bill now heads back to the House, where it originated. If the House doesn’t approve of the changes, the House and Senate can negotiate in a conference committee.

Story courtesy of Network Indiana

Jennings County Courthouse photo courtesy of usda.gov

There is a chance we could see some bad weather on Friday.

According to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, Bartholomew County is under a marginal risk for severe weather on Friday. Forecasters say that a cold front will be moving southeast into our area, bringing widespread thunderstorms. Some of those could turn into strong to severe storms late Friday afternoon into Friday night. The greatest danger is from 11 p.m. Friday evening into 7 a.m. Saturday morning.

They say that damaging winds and large hail will be the most likely hazards from the storms. There will be multiple rounds of rain expected through the weekend, with isolated flash flooding also possible.

Emergency officials say that you can prepare by identifying a safe spot at home and at work, should the weather turn severe.. A basement or storm shelter is best, but an interior room, stairway or hall without a window or door to the outside is also acceptable.

You should also make sure that flashlights and radios have fresh batteries and that your cell phones are charged.