Monthly Archives: October 2019

Kentucky man loses life after crash in Jackson County

Photo courtesy of Indiana State Police.

A Kentucky man died after a single-vehicle crash late Wednesday night in Jackson County.

Indiana State Police say the investigation indicated that 53-year-old Robert O. Bell, of Radcliff, was driving a semi pulling a trailer near the 45 mile marker near Seymour when it left the west side of the interstate before coming to stop just off the roadway. Troopers and other first responders arrived and began administering CPR to Bell, who was unresponsive. He was transported to Schneck Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators learned that Bell was on the phone with someone just prior to the crash and indicated he was suffering from a medical emergency. Evidence from the scene indicated that the crash itself did not appear to be the cause of Bell’s death.

The investigation is ongoing.

Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund ready for chili fundraiser

The Columbus Fire Department is holding a chili fundraiser Friday night at the Fair Oaks Mall. Ben Noblitt with the department explains.

Cost is $5 for a bowl of chili, drink and desert. For $7, you get all that, as well as a Jimmy John’s sandwich. Noblitt says that $10 gets you an endless bowl of chili. Firefighters will also be raffling off some items for those in attendance.

You can line up for chili at the former JC Penny store in the mall starting at 5:30 p.m.

Money raised goes toward the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund, which provides Christmas gifts for the needy children of the community.

Election 2019: Council candidates consider downtown riverfront project

The city of Columbus has been looking at ways to replace the dam between the Second and Third street bridges, to shore up the riverbanks and possibly install attractions that would lure residents and tourists to the area.

We asked candidates for Columbus City Council about their thoughts on the downtown riverfront and plans for developing the area.

In City Council District 3, incumbent Republican Dave Bush is facing Democrat Katea Ravega.

Bush said there is a safety issue with the low head dam.

Ravega said that she doesn’t know if it is possible for the city and businesses will get back what they will put into the riverfront project.

Frank Miller, the incumbent Republican in City Council District 4 is running for re-election against Democrat Michael Schoumacher.

Miller said that safety concerns means some work has to be done.

Schoumacher agreed that the dam and the trash site need to be addressed.

In City Council District 5, incumbent Republican Tim Shuffett is facing Ross Thomas, a Democrat.

Shuffett says that the riverfront project has grown from a desire to connect the People Trails, remove the dam and fix the riverbank.

Thomas says the city must take care of the dam and the erosion, and he would like to see the People Trail connection.

In the four-way race for the two at-large seats on the council, incumbent Republican Laurie Booher and Democrat Tom Dell are running against Republican Josh Burnett and Democrat Grace Kestler.

Dell said that connecting the People Trail also allows the city to fix other problems in the area.

Burnett said there is one common question that residents have about the project.

Booher said the dam work must be done and she likes some of the other proposals.

Kestler said that some beautification can be done as part of the other repairs at a minimal cost.

The race in City Council District 1 pits incumbent Republican Dascal Bunch against Democrat Jerone Wood and independent Michael Kinder.

Wood said that the safety problems need fixed, but the rest needs to be weighed against other needs.

Bunch said that the dam is a hazard that needs to be addressed

Kinder said he favors the dam cleanup and the People Trail connection.

Elaine Wagner, the incumbent Democrat in City Council District 2 is running for re-election against Republican Jim Hartsook.

Wagner said that she agrees that the city needs to remove the dam and shore up the banks.

Hartsook said he is concerned about how any new project will be maintained

Early voting continues from 8 until 5 today and tomorrow at the Bartholomew County courthouse voter registration office and 10 to 6 at the satellite voting center at Donner Center.  Both locations will be open on Saturday from 8 to 3. Early voting wraps up on Monday from 8 to noon at the courthouse.

Election Day is Tuesday. Polls will be open from 6 to 6.

North Vernon moves trick-or-treating to Friday; High winds forecast

North Vernon police say that the community’s trick-or-treating hours are being moved to Friday.

Police Chief James Webster announced yesterday that the city will hold trick or treating from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday evening. Madison Avenue will also be closing in the area of Stellar Plaza to host the community Sweet Street, Webster said.

It is going to be a windy Halloween night in parts of our area. The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a wind advisory for an area including Johnson and Shelby counties lasting from 3 p.m. this afternoon to midnight. The agency reports wind gusts as high as 45 to 50 miles per hour are possible with sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph.

You can expect to see tree limbs falling and any unsecured items in your yard getting blown about.

Several turn out to celebrate 130 years of the Crump

WRB staff photo

Area residents interested in saving the historic Crump theater in downtown Columbus got a chance to take a look at the inside of the historic structure during an event Wednesday evening. Jessica Schnepp is the administrator for the “Save The Crump” Facebook group. She coordinated the event to celebrate 130 years for the building. Schnepp explains why the event was held.

The stage, seating area and balcony were closed off to visitors. Visitors milled around the lobby and in front of the building.

Schnepp says that, currently, there is no plan in place to rehabilitate the building.

More than 100 people visited the Crump during Wednesday night’s event.

If you would like to learn more about efforts to save the theter, visit “Save The Crump” on Facebook.

Cummins successful in infringement legal fight

Cummins on Wednesday announced successful legal actions against Turbotechsnab LLC and Weifang Yuhang Turbocharger Co. Ltd. for infringement upon Cummins’ trademarks and patents.

Cummins officials say that in the decision reached by the Moscow City Arbitrazh Court, Turbotechsnab was held to have infringed Cummins’ HOLSET trademarks. The court awarded an injunction against Turbotechsnab prohibiting further illegal use of Cummins’ HOLSET trademarks in connection with selling, offering to sell, storing and advertising turbochargers. Additionally, the court ordered Turbotechsnab to pay damages and fees to Cummins.

As part of the settlement with Weifang Yuhang Turbocharger Co. Ltd., that company agreed to cease and desist purchasing, making and selling any nozzle ring product that infringes Cummins’ patents, and agreed to destroy all existing infringing stock.

“For more than 100 years Cummins has created dependable quality power technologies and we are committed to defending our intellectual property for the success of our customers,” said Shon Wright, Vice President of Cummins Turbo Technologies. “With support from our global partners, we will continue to survey the global marketplace to ensure the company’s intellectual property is protected.”

Greenwood man accused of child molesting

Authorities in Johnson County arrested a Greenwood man for molesting a child.

Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess says that on Tuesday, Oct. 29, deputies arrested 51-year-old Richard M. Huffman at his home in the 4100 block of West Countyline Road.

Sheriff Burgess says that on the evening of Sept. 4th, 2019, a deputy responded to the home in reference to a request to speak to an officer. The request was made by the alleged victim’s mother. During the interview it became known that Huffman had been suspected of touching the woman’s eight-year-old daughter inappropriately.

During the course of a forensic interview with the victim, the little girl said that Huffman touched her inappropriately approximately four months prior to the time of the report.

Police say that Huffman, who is hearing impaired, refused to speak with investigators. He is facing one count of Child Molesting.

Huffman remains behind bars on $40,000 bond.

Local man arrested on drug charges after traffic stop

Anthony W Brown; Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Dept.

Columbus police officers arrested a local man on several charges after a Monday night traffic stop. At approximately 9:30 p.m., officers stopped 51-year-old Anthony W. Brown, of Columbus, near McKinnley Avenue and Gladstone Avenue after he was seen driving a truck with a suspended driver’s license.

A short time later, a police dog arrived and alerted to the odor of narcotics inside Brown’s truck. While searching the vehicle, officers reported finding over 30 grams of methamphetamine, as well as a small amount of marijuana.

Brown is facing the following preliminary charges:

Dealing in Methamphetamine (Level 2 Felony)
Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 3 Felony)
Maintaining a Common Nuisance (Level 6 Felony)
Driving While Suspended (Class A Misdemeanor)
Possession of Marijuana (Class B Misdemeanor)

CPD investigating death at Youth Services Center

The Columbus Police Department is investigating a death at the Bartholomew County Youth Services Center. On Tuesday night, officers were dispatched to the facility at 2350 Illinois Avenue at approximately 10:25 p.m. after receiving a call about a juvenile male who tried to hang himself.

Officers along with paramedics and Columbus firefighters administered aid to the juvenile who was later pronounced dead.

An autopsy on the juvenile is scheduled for late Wednesday.

The identity of the youth has not yet been released.

IUPUC panel to look at value of diversity in economic development

IUPUC’s Office for Women and the Center for Business and Economic Development are organizing a breakfast discussion tomorrow about the role diversity plays in economic development.

Lesley Bradley, coordinator for the Office for Women and an organizer of the event, explains that studies show increasing diversity is just good economic policy.

Bradley explains that studies show that greater diversity leads to business success. Even those who are not in a business leadership role can benefit from the panel discussion, she said.

The panel discussion will be moderated by Nichole Pence Becker. Panelists for the discussion will include:

  • Whitney Amuchastegui – Executive Director, Su Casa Columbus
  • Kevin Jones, Ed.D. – Associate Professor of Management, IUPUC
  • Ian Kohen – Director Corporate Responsibility, Cummins Engine and Component Businesses
  • Kathy Oren – Executive Director, Community Education Coalition

The Lead by Design: Inclusion Revealed panel will start at 7:30 at Mill Race Center.

For more information go to iupuc.edu