Monthly Archives: July 2019

SR 7 work to begin next week in Bartholomew and Jennings counties

Milestone Contractors will begin a $4.1 million asphalt resurface project on a 14-mile section of State Road 7 in Jennings and Bartholomew counties next week.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says that work will take place from the north junction of State Road 3/U.S. 50 Bypass in Jennings County to U.S. 31 in Bartholomew County. Work is expected to start Monday, Aug. 5th.

INDOT says that crews will begin with nighttime patching operations, followed by milling and paving. All work is scheduled to take place between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. The majority of work will take place on week nights and early mornings, with the possibility of occasional weekend work.

Drivers should expect nighttime lane closures along the route and exercise caution in and around the work zone. Flaggers will be present to maintain traffic. Watch for stopped and slowed traffic in the area.

The project is expected to be complete by November 15.

Southern Crossing traffic to be impacted next week

Traffic delays through Southern Crossing (State Road 11 to U.S. 31) are expected next week.

The Bartholomew County Highway Department says that traffic will be down to one lane beginning on Monday, August 5th, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. for milling and asphalt overlay. You are urged to avoid the area if possible. If you must travel through the area, watch for flaggers and expect delays.

Work is expected to take three days.

Tornado sirens spark concerns from area residents

Correction: An earlier version of this story had Shannan Hinton’s title incorrect. She is director of emergency management in Bartholomew County.

Authorities are looking into why Bartholomew County’s Everbridge e-alert system did not sound yesterday when tornado sirens were activated. A rare cold air funnel was sighted in the northern part of the county, but there was no tornado.

Shannan Hinton, director of Bartholomew County Emergency Management,  said that multiple spotters reported the funnel and alerted dispatchers who, according to policy, sounded the tornado sirens. However, while tornado sirens activated, the county’s Everbridge e-alert system did not send messages or phone calls to residents, leading to some confusion in the community.

Hinton said county emergency officials are investigating why the Everbridge system was not activated.

The National Weather Service did not issue any tornado warnings or watches which would have prompted an automatic Everbridge alert and alerts over our radio stations. The weather service in Indianapolis did send out an alert explaining the likelihood of the cold air funnel phenomenon but that was after the Bartholomew County sirens had already been activated.

According to the weather service, cold air funnels are associated with thunderstorms or showers that form in deep, cold core, large-scale low pressure systems. Officials say these funnel clouds normally protrude a few hundred feet downward from the parent clouds, rotate and last only a few minutes before dissipating.

In rare cases when their circulations does reach the ground, cold air funnels cause only minor damage.

The National Weather Service message from yesterday morning:

National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
1148 AM EDT Tue Jul 30 2019

…COLD AIR FUNNELS POSSIBLE TODAY…

Generally funnel clouds develop and occur in conjunction with conditions that produce severe thunderstorms.

An entirely different conditions prevails across Central Indiana today. There is little potential for severe thunderstorms.

Research studies of funnel cloud occurrences indicate that a different type of funnel cloud forms when weather conditions are similar to those of today. these are called cold air funnels and are not as violent as those associated with warm and humid conditions.

Cold air funnels are associated with thunderstorms or showers that form in deep…cold core…large-scale low pressure systems. These funnel clouds are smooth and narrow. The parent storm or shower is not particularly tall or intense. These funnel clouds normally protrude a few hundred feet downward from the parent clouds…rotate or spin like a top…and last only a few minutes before dissipating.

In rare cases when their circulations does reach the ground…
cold air funnels cause only minor damage. More reports of small funnel clouds are possible over Central Indiana today. Warnings will be issued if any of them touch the ground.

Cummins 2Q revenue up over last year

Revenues are up at Cummins. The Columbus-based company reported second quarter revenues of $6.2 billion increased one percent from the same quarter in 2018.

Cummins says increased truck production in North America and stronger demand in North American power generation markets was partially offset by lower demand in oil and gas and international truck markets. Currency negatively impacted revenues by two-percent primarily due to a stronger U.S. dollar.

The company says that second quarter sales in North America set a new record and improved by seven percent while international revenues decreased by six percent. Sales in North America increased in all segments except Power Systems. International revenues declined primarily due to lower truck demand in China, Europe, Brazil, and India.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in the second quarter were a record $1.1 billion, or 17.0 percent of sales, compared to $897 million or 14.6 percent of sales a year ago. Net income attributable to Cummins in the second quarter was $675 million ($4.27 per diluted share), compared to net income of $545 million ($3.32 per diluted share).

“We achieved record revenues, EBITDA, and operating cash flow in the first half of 2019, extending our track record of raising performance cycle over cycle,” said Chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger. “While we do expect to see a moderation in demand in the second half of the year, our financial strength combined with our diversified geographic and end market exposure will enable us to generate strong profits, continue to invest in future growth, and return cash to shareholders.”

Cummins now expects 2019 revenue to be flat. This lower outlook is driven by reduced truck demand in international markets, moderating parts demand in North America and the impact of a stronger US dollar. The company announced that it continues to expect EBITDA to be in the range of 16.25 to 16.75 percent of sales and plans to return 75 percent of Operating Cash Flow to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases.

Area law-enforcement receives new RADAR/LIDAR

Area law-enforcement agencies were among these receiving new RADAR and LIDAR speed enforcement devices. The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute is distributing 1,000 new devices among 162 state and local police agencies. The units are being purchased with $1.6 million in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds.

Dash-mounted RADAR systems are used while patrol vehicles are moving or stopped, and can measure traffic speeds in the same and opposing directions. Hand-held LIDAR devices help officers spot speeding drivers through several lanes of traffic or obstructions such as trees and bushes.

Recipients include:

– Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Dept.: 10 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Brown County Sheriff’s Dept.: 5 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Decatur County Sheriff’s Dept.: 4 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Franklin Police Dept.: 8 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Greensburg Police Dept.: 4 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Greenwood Police Dept.: 10 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Jennings County Sheriff’s Dept.: 5 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Johnson County Sheriff’s Dept.: 2 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Nashville Police Dept.: 5 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Seymour Police Dept. 5 RADAR , 1 LIDAR
– Shelby County Sheriff’s Dept.: 5 RADAR, 1 LIDAR

Federal grants administered by ICJI’s Traffic Safety Division fund training, equipment and overtime enforcement law-enforcement costs.

Board of Works approves property transfer

Columbus Parks and Rec will have additional storage space after action taken by the Board of Public Works and Safety. Jamie Brinegar, the city’s director of finance, explains that the site at 1360 Jackson Street is attractive to the parks department.

The board voted unanimously on Tuesday to transfer ownership of the property from Parks and Rec to the city.

The Columbus Parks Board voted unanimously last week to purchase the site for $205,000. The property is owned by Norma Lienhoop, aunt of Mayor Jim Lienhoop. The mayor has recused himself from all business related to the proposed purchase.

The former Machinery Moving site was found to have environmental contamination during the appraisal process. However, local officials expressed confidence that the issue can be remedied at little expense locally. Pam Harrell, director of business services for Columbus Parks and Rec, explained during the July 24th meeting of the parks board that there is a solution to the cleanup issue.

Once the property is in the city’s name, discussions with Indiana Brownfields can move forward.

Hepatitis A vaccination clinics being held Thursday in Columbus

The Bartholomew County Health Department and Indiana State Department of Health are joining to offer free Hepatitis A vaccinations at a pair of upcoming events. On Thursday, Aug 1st, these vaccinations will be offered from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Clarity Testing Clinic, located at 1950 Doctor’s Park Drive, Suite B.

Hepatitis A vaccinations are also available the same day from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Clarity Pregnancy Clinic, located at 2420 East. Seventh Street.

Health officials say those most at risk include:

– The homeless
– Those who have recently been in jail
– Those who use illicit drugs
– Those who have had close contact with an infected person

Free HIV testing and Hepatitis C testing will also be offered.

Funnel clouds possible this afternoon

If you see a funnel cloud this afternoon, don’t be alarmed.

Bartholomew County Emergency Management says that a different type of funnel cloud forms when weather conditions are similar to those of today. These are called cold air funnels and are not as violent as those associated with warm and humid conditions.

Cold air funnels are associated with thunderstorms or showers that form in deep, cold core, large-scale low pressure systems. Officials say these funnel clouds normally protrude a few hundred feet downward from the parent clouds, rotate and last only a few minutes
before dissipating.

In rare cases when their circulations does reach the ground, cold air funnels cause only minor damage. Bartholomew County EMA says that warnings will be issued if any of them touch the ground.

EMA officials say that tornado sirens were activated today as a result of multiple reports from first responders of a funnel cloud being spotted north of the airport toward the Taylorsville area. Protocol for dispatch also stipulates that all sirens are sounded in such an event. Officials say an Everbridge alert did not go out with the activation, though one should have. They are investigating why that didn’t happen.

Exhibit Columbus to kick off with designer/public conversations

Exhibit Columbus will soon be unveiling this year’s architecture and design installations complementing the city’s most famous landmarks. This is the second time for the installations in and around downtown Columbus, which are created every other year by designers and architects from around the world.

The opening weekend starts on Friday Aug. 23rd with public conversations talking to those creators about their work. Anne Surak, artistic director for Exhibit Columbus, explains.

Those will start at 4 p.m. Friday at North Christian Church and will pick up again on Saturday morning at First Christian Church.

Surak said the goal is to have the public engage with the designers and how they approached the creative process relating to Columbus’s world-famous architecture.

There will also be a ticketed party in Mill Race Park on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 24th to celebrate the opening of the installations. You can get more information and find links to tickets at exhibitcolumbus.org.