Monthly Archives: February 2019

Rutan to remain on Republican ballot for Columbus City Council

The Bartholomew County Election Board found this morning that it had no grounds to remove City Council candidate Chris Rutan from the May Republican primary ballot.

He was facing accusations of financial wrongdoing in his role as a rental property manager, but there have been no felony convictions against the candidate.

For their part, election board members were constrained to consider only a very narrow set of reasons a candidate could be removed from a ballot including their age, residency, party affiliation and whether they were a convicted felon. Board president Jim Holland said that the board could not hear or make judgments on any issues outside their purview.

Board attorney Pete King made the point that no one would want the three-person panel to be making decisions on whether a candidate was moral enough to deserve to be on the ballot, because that is a slippery slope.

The board voted 3-0 to allow Rutan to remain on the ballot. He will face incumbent City Councilman Dascal Bunch in the May Republican primary for the District 1 seat representing parts of downtown and eastern Columbus.

State police to hold sobriety checkpoint in Jackson County

Drivers in Jackson County will see a sobriety checkpoint this weekend, according to Indiana State Police. Troopers from the Versailles Post will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint at an undisclosed location in Friday and Saturday.

They say that drivers passing through the checkpoint area should have their licenses and registrations ready to present to troopers. Drivers will only be detained briefly while troopers determine whether further investigation is necessary.

Troopers are looking for drivers who are alcohol or drug impaired and pose a danger to others and themselves.

If you see a vehicle exhibiting erratic driving behavior, call 911 and give a complete description of the vehicle, its location, and direction of travel. These reports can be made anonymously.

Entrants sought for student arts, essay contests on human rights

The Columbus Human Rights Commission is looking for entries for its annual arts and essay contests. The theme of this year’s Benjamin M. King Essay and J. Irwin Miller Art contests is “You Belong in Columbus.”

The contests are open to Bartholomew County students in fifth through 12th grade in categories for elementary, middle and high schools.

Winners will each receive a $100 award, an award-winning book, and tickets to the Human Rights Commission annual dinner

The due date for all essays and art is 5 in the afternoon of Monday, March 25.

Organizers are also looking for community members to judge the entrants.

For more information you can call 812-376-2532

Community welcomeness improves overall, minorities see lower hospitality

Bartholomew County is an increasingly welcoming community, according to a survey by Heritage Fund, but it still lags in some areas.

Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County says this is the third survey of its type since the Welcoming Community Initiative was started in 2004.

More than 1,700 people took part in the survey last year and overall found increasing welcomeness. But the community was seen as less welcoming for those of lower incomes, minorities and the LGBTQIA community. The survey found that all minority racial and ethnic groups ranked lower than the average, however the Hispanic population had the highest ratings for a minority group.

Heritage Fund is identifying five areas for improvement, including inclusivity, community engagement, entertainment, community liveability and access to information.

Heritage Fund officials say that over the next few months, survey results and themes will be presented to community groups and stakeholders. Anyone interested in learning more about the survey can contact Heritage Fund at 812-376-7772.

Cummins announces appointment of four new VPs

Cummins Inc. announced the appointment of four new Vice Presidents of the company on Monday. They are:

Cary Chenanda – Vice President, Cummins Electronics and Fuel Systems

Cummins says these businesses have shown dramatic improvement in technology and profitability under Chenanda’s leadership. He is described as a “long-time leader” at Cummins, having served in many different parts of the company.

Julie Furber – Vice President, Electrified Power Business

Cummins says this is a challenging leadership role as the business is new, the market is starting to develop, and the technology is rapidly changing. Company officials say Furber brings the tireless energy, strategic leadership and customer focus the company needs to launch this start-up business. Furber has proven herself to be a capable leader who understands Cummins’ customers, business and its people.

Diana Rey-Marrero – Vice President, Cummins Business Services

Cummins Business Services provides hundreds of support services that keep its global workforce focused and productive. Company officials say Rey-Marrero has demonstrated strong leadership in several functions over her career, both at Cummins and at other companies.

Shon Wright – Vice President, Cummins Turbo Technologies

Cummins says its Turbo Technologies business is critical to many of the company’s key customer relationships. Under Wright’s leadership, company officials say CTT is a highly successful and profitable business for Cummins. Wright has held leadership roles in several areas of Cummins before becoming the CTT leader.

Wanted North Vernon man arrested in Columbus

Tyron Brown; photo courtesy of Columbus Police Dept.

A North Vernon man wanted on a felony warrant was arrested in Columbus Saturday evening after he was seen disregarding a stop sign while riding a bicycle. Columbus Police say that at approximately 6:45 p.m., officers saw 41-year-old Tyron J. Brown riding a bicycle near 10th Street and Cottage Avenue. Brown reportedly disregarded a stop sign and was stopped by officers a short time later.

Police say Brown initially gave them a fake name. The officers determined Brown’s identity a short time later and confirmed he was wanted on a felony warrant out of Jennings County. Brown was taken into custody and booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on a new preliminary charge of False Informing.

Rutan faces challenge to his Columbus City Council run

The Bartholomew County Election Board will be hearing a challenge Tuesday to City Council candidate Chris Rutan’s run for office.

However, on first blush it doesn’t appear that there is anything to remove him from the ballot.

A Columbus resident, William Tapscott, filed a complaint against Rutan’s candidacy citing concerns and accusations about financial details surrounding Rutan’s time as a rental property manager several years ago. He is seeking to void Rutan’s candidacy over character concerns.

However Jay Phelps, the county clerk, says that while the Election Board is required to hold a hearing, it does not appear that there is anything in the complaint that falls under the board’s jurisdiction.

The board is limited to consider issues such as whether a person is in good standing with their political party, whether they live in the correct district, or whether the candidate is a convicted felon.

And there is no indication that the issues outlined in the complaint have ever led to criminal charges, Phelps says.

Phelps says the last candidacy challenges locally came about 8 years ago over whether candidates were really Republicans.

Phelps makes up one third of the election board.

For his part, Rutan says that the complainant is a former friend and they had a falling out several years ago.

Rutan denies the charges made in the complaint.

Rutan believes he will be vindicated Tuesday.

Rutan is running in the Republican primary for City Council District 1 which represents parts of the downtown area and the former East Columbus. He is facing incumbent Republican Dascal Bunch in the May primary.

The election board meeting is open to the public. It will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the voter registration office at the courthouse.

Pence welcomes residents to Columbus office

WRB staff photo

Congressman Greg Pence, a Columbus Republican, held an open house at his Columbus office Friday afternoon. He and his staff met dozens of residents during the event.

Pence says he plans to continue living in Columbus and commuting to work.

Pence says the government shutdown made it difficult to get much accomplished.

Pence says it is important to have an office in the same city where he lives. His team moved into the building, at 555 First Street, in early January. You can reach Pence’s Columbus office at (812) 799-5230.

North Vernon man faces drug and counterfeiting charges

A North Vernon man is facing drug and counterfeiting charges.

On Thursday at about 10:30 a.m., the Jennings County Sherriff’s Department served a felony arrest warrant in Lovett Township. Upon arrival at the home, they made contact with the wanted person, 37-year-old Jason Farris. Farris was wanted out of Jennings County for passing counterfeit bills.

Further investigation led to deputies allegedly finding numerous prescription and controlled substances, as well as multiple syringes and paraphernalia inside of the home. Farris was arrested on the following preliminary charges:

– Jennings County Arrest Warrant for Counterfeiting – Level 6 Felony;
– Possession of Syringe – Level 6 Felony;
– Violation of Legend Drug Acts – Level 6 Felony
– Possession of Controlled Substance – Level 6 Felony
– Possession of Paraphernalia – A Misdemeanor

Meth dealing investigation nets eight arrests in North Vernon

North Vernon Police arrested eight people after serving a search warrant at a property in the 1500 block of West Locust Street earlier this week. Officers say it was part of an investigation into methamphetamine dealing.

At 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, the North Vernon Police Department Emergency Response Team entered the home with the assistance of other officers. Police also searched a garage/residence on the property. NVPD reports that officers confiscated 91 grams of methamphetamine, along with drug paraphernalia, baggies and a digital scale.

Arrested were:

William White, 46, North Vernon, charged with Dealing in Methamphetamine over 10 grams, Possession of Methamphetamine over 28 grams, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Norma Stokes, 45, North Vernon, Possession of Methamphetamine and Maintaining a Common Nuisance.

Darlene Walterman, 55, North Vernon, Possession of Methamphetamine and Maintaining a Common Nuisance.

Troy Young, 53, North Vernon, Possession of Methamphetamine and Maintaining a Common Nuisance.

Emily Marthin, 30, Madison, Visiting a Common Nuisance.

Levi Young, 34, Dupont, Visiting a Common Nuisance.

Jacob Campbell, 50, Commiskey, Visiting a Common Nuisance.

Shiela Campbell, 46, Madison, Visiting a Common Nuisance.