The Orange County Extension Service and Orange County 4-H Inc. Annual Meeting is Sept. 27. The deadline for reservations is Sept. 22.

The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at the Orange County Community Center.

To buy tickets, call the extension office at (812) 723-7107 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit the extension office at 205 E. Main St. during those hours.

The cost of the meal, catered by Lost River Career Cooperative culinary class, is $4 per person.

Tanya Hall, Purdue Extension regional extension educator for community development, will be the speaker.

Work will begin soon to fix an historic bridge that collapsed on Christmas Day in Paoli.  The bridge was constructed in the 1800s.

The one-lane iron bridge over Lick Creek near downtown Paoli collapsed after a semi truck got stuck while trying to cross.

Officials say the driver, Mary Lambright, was carrying six times the posted limit.

The closure of the bridge has been an inconvenience for Paoli residents who must use an alternate route to get into town.

Work to rehab the bridge should start in a few months. It has taken months to get quotes and deal with the trucking company’s insurance.

“Basically, what they’re planning to do is pick the bridge up off the stream, set it in the street just south of where it’s placed, and rebuild it right there on the street, and then set it back on the foundation,” said Don Brewer, President of the Orange County Commissioners.

Brewer expects it will cost around $700,000 instead of the original quote of over $1 million.

“If that’s the case, we’re fairly certain the insurance company will take up the full tab so the taxpayers won’t be out any money at all,” Brewer said.

County leaders are also looking at adding height clearance bars before the bridge to deter large trucks from trying to cross it. Work should be finished in the spring.

An early morning crash sent a Bloomington man to the hospital after his vehicle hit a semi head on, closing State Road 37 for most of the morning.

Just after 7:30 this morning a southbound Ford passenger vehicle approaching Bryant’s Creek Road collided head on with a northbound 2007 International semi inside the SR 37 / I-69 Construction Zone.

The Ford was driven by Ryan R. Dixon, 29 of Bloomington.

For unknown reasons, Dixon drove left of center and failed to negotiate the right hand curve in his path.

Dixon, who was initially trapped inside his vehicle, was rescued by emergency crews at the scene and transported to IU-Health Bloomington for treatment.

The driver of the semi, Steven M. Levine, 58 of Bloomington was not injured.

Assisting at the scene – Morgan County Sheriff’s Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, IU-Health Bloomington EMS, Bloomington Township Fire Department, Washington Township Fire Department & I69 Development Partners.

Indiana State Police Sgt. Ryan Miller is the investigating officer.