Garden plots are still available in the Community Garden located off Cessna Drive in Columbus. City officials say that small plots are $15 and large plots are $25. City residents can plant flowers, vegetables, and herbs. Water and mulch are provided free of charge.
For more information on obtaining a plot, visit the Office of Community Development on the second floor of City Hall or call (812) 376-2520.
Cummins is receiving kudos for its diversity in the workplace. DiversityInc has named the Columbus-based power supplier as one of the Top 50 Companies for Diversity for a 12th consecutive year. Cummins ranked 12th on the 2018 annual list, which included more than 1,000 participating companies.
“The more we grow and expand globally, the more important it is that we attract and develop employees from around the world who have the knowledge and skills to work effectively in the markets in which we do business,” said Kelley Bertoux Creveling, Executive Director – Global Diversity and Right Environment. “We’re at our best when we fully include those unique perspectives, experiences and languages – truly leveraging the power of diversity and inclusion.”
The DiversityInc Top 50 list, issued yearly since 2001, recognizes the nation’s top companies for diversity and inclusion management. These companies excel in such areas as hiring, retaining and promoting women, minorities, people with disabilities, LGBT and veterans. The DiversityInc Top 50 ranking is based on data obtained through organizations that fill out a survey.
This year in addition to making the Top 50 list, Cummins was named to three of DiversityInc’s specialty lists:
• #9 for Top Companies for Supplier Diversity
• #7 for Top Companies for Executive Women
• #20 for Top Companies for Executive Diversity Councils
A Bartholomew County man was arrested Sunday night for auto theft. Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that at approximately 10:39 p.m., Deputy Adam Warner was dispatched to a possible stolen vehicle report in the 300 block of North Jackson Street in Hartsville.
Deputy Warner observed a vehicle sitting on the side of the road and made contact with the driver, 32-year-old Nicholas L. Porter, of Columbus. Authorities say that they learned that Porter had an outstanding Bartholomew County warrant.
Porter was arrested on new preliminary charges of Auto Theft and Receiving Stolen Property.
Passing a stopped school bus with its stop arm out and lights flashing, led to the arrest of a Columbus woman yesterday afternoon.
The incident happened at about 2:50 p.m. yesterday on Jonesville Road, according to Columbus police. An officer saw the bus, which had stopped to let children out, and a white car disregarded the signs and signals, instead passing the bus and continuing up Jonesville Road.
Police stopped the car and found that the driver, 30 year old Lyzette Berrios Torres turned out not to have a driver’s license. She was arrested and is now facing charges of reckless driving by disregarding a bus stop arm and operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license.
Bartholomew County deputies arrested a man accused of stealing a vehicle and then fleeing from police Saturday afternoon.
33-year-old Christopher .D Branum is facing preliminary charges of auto theft/receiving stolen auto parts, resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, reckless driving and driving without ever receiving a license.
Deputies were called to the Taylorsville area at 2:33 p.m. Saturday afternoon after a vehicle was stolen from a convenience store, when a deputy saw the vehicle speeding away on East Street. After a short chase, the driver, later identified as Branum, ran off the road and ran away. Deputies saw Branum run into a house in the 500 block of West Park Street, where he was arrested.
The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic SALUTE! concert is Friday night and downtown traffic will be affected. The Indiana Department of Transportation issued a permit allowing the city to restrict traffic on State Road 46 between Franklin and Brown Streets Friday evening. INDOT says that, beginning at 5:30 p.m., traffic will be routed from eastbound State Road 46 / Second Street to First Street. The south lane of westbound State Road 46 / Third Street will also close at that time. This traffic pattern is scheduled to continue until 11 p.m.
Friday night’s concert begins at 7 p.m. and will be held on the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans lawn. This is a free event and you are invited.
A Missouri man was arrested Sunday night in Jennings County on drunk-driving charges.
The North Vernon Police Department says that at 8:48 p.m., officers responded to a call about suspicious activity in the 2400 block of North State Road 3. When police arrived, they reported finding a vehicle leaving the area. Officers executed a traffic stop and arrested 60-year-old Nicholas Andal, of Chillicothe, on a preliminary charge of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.
The city of Columbus will help fund renovations of the former offices of “The Republic” if a plan approved Monday by the Redevelopment Commission receives city council approval. Indiana University’s School of Art, Architecture and Design plans to open the J. Irwin Miller Master of Architecture program in the building this fall. The school is asking for local help of $2 million toward the renovations, with half of that coming from the city and half from other community partners.
Mayor Jim Lienhoop says that IU is pouring millions of dollars into the program locally. He explains that it is important for the city to demonstrate that it is willing to form partnerships and “buy-in” to project such as these. Lienhoop says that the program will shine a brighter light on the architecture of Columbus while furthering the city’s goal of expanding employment opportunities.
The Redevelopment Commission voted 4-0 to approve funding $1 million for the work out of the city’s downtown TIF district. Don Trapp abstained. Since the commission cannot spend more than $500,000 on a project without city council approval, the council is expected to consider the proposal at its next meeting on June 5th.
Work continues towards groundbreaking for the new overpass taking vehicle traffic over the railroad tracks at State Road 11 and Jonathan Moore Pike in Columbus. George Dutro is a member of the Railroad Community Committee.
Dutro says that there are five property owners being notified. He says that two are public entities and three private ones.
Dutro says that at this stage, the project is in the hands of the state. He says there is nothing the city could do at this point to expedite the project along any quicker.
Dutro talks about what happens next…
Dutro gave the update during the close of Monday’s meeting of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission. No official action on the overpass was taken.
The Bartholomew County Highway Department is reporting that County Road 800S had reopened, after more than a month of repairs from flood damage to a bridge.
The road had been closed between State Road 11 and U.S. 31 since early April, when flooding undercut a bridge. The Highway Department estimated 10 days ago that the road could reopen in as few as two weeks, depending on the weather.