Columbus police say that a previously convicted and deported felon is accused of trying to distribute more than four pounds of methamphetamine in the city.

According to Columbus police reports, officers began investigating 42-year-old Robert Bustos Jimenez Jr. for drug trafficking in August. On Sept. 29th, after a short chase he was arrested by law enforcement including the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, ICE and the Columbus SWAT team.

Officers determined he was having large amounts of meth shipped here from other parts of the U.S. On October 1st, investigators intercepted a package being shipped to Bustos Jimenez. Columbus police dog Argo alerted to drugs inside and a search found four pounds of methamphetamine.

Bustos Jimenez was formally charged with dealing methamphetamine Tuesday by the prosecutor.

The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are possible.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department

Cummins is embracing the infrastructure bill that was signed into law by President Biden on Monday.

It’s a bill that will advance upgrades to the country’s roads, bridges, and broadband Internet.

But, the bill also has key elements that Cummins vice-president Jennifer Rumsey says will help steer the country towards more environmentally friendly options when it comes to transportation.

“In particular one of the key areas for us is the focus on de-carbonization and investing in a range of different technologies that we think will be critical to building out infrastructure that can help our nation de-carbonize,” Rumsey told Inside Indiana Business.

She says the bill has money for investing in new hydrogen fuel-cell technology, batteries, and other forms of carbon-cutting tech for cars, trains, and other forms of transportation.

Cummins has traditionally been a diesel engine manufacturing company that employs thousands of Hoosiers in Columbus, Seymour and Indianapolis. But, with the approval of the infrastructure bill, Rumsey says the company is expanding its profile beyond that.

“It’s critical for our customers to start to move to lower-carbon technologies,” she said. “In five years, we hope that we continue to see progress in reducing and advancing engines and then continuing to see infrastructure build-out in some areas. That’s where this infrastructure investment is going to help.”

Some of that “build-out” Rumsey refers to includes charging stations for electric vehicles and upkeep for hydrogen full-cells.

Last year, the company held its first-ever Hydrogen Day, an event to discuss the future of its hydrogen fuel technologies and the company’s plans to embrace it.

Story courtesy of Network Indiana

Seymour police have made an arrest after $3,400 in power tools were stolen from a local business.

According to Seymour Police reports, someone broke into the Seymour Manufacturing business on North Broadway Street after 3 a.m. on November 7th, taking battery-operated power tools. But the shop had video surveillance, allowing for a description of the suspect.

On Nov. 12th, an employee of the company followed a suspect who matched that description to a home at Fifth and Blish streets. Police arrived on scene and questioned a resident who denied being involved in the burglary as well as denied police access to search a shed on the property.

However, during an interview 22-year-old Jordan Ackeret of Seymour admitted to the burglary, police say. After obtaining a search warrant, police recovered Milwaukee and Ryobi power tools in the shed that had been taken from the business.

Ackeret was arrested on preliminary charges of burglary and theft.

Volunteers at Camp Atterbury are asking for thousands of pairs of shoes for the Afghan refugees still living at the base.

Earlier this week, Team Rubicon said they need over four thousand pairs of shoes for kids and adults. The nearly five thousand Afghan refugees at the base rely mostly on donations, and need the shoes as winter moves in. Team Rubicon says new bras, fingernail clippers, bottle brushes, and new or gently used men’s and women’s pants are also needed. About two thousand refugees have resettled from the base.

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks Inc.

There is a new U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. Zachary A. Myers was sworn in this week and will serve as the top federal law enforcement officer in the district.

Myers most recently served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maryland. where he worked in the Baltimore Division’s Major Crimes Unit and in the District of Maryland’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Previously, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, where he worked in the General Crimes Unit.

Myers will lead an office of 42 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 46 support professionals. The office is in charge of criminal prosecutions, civil litigation, and promoting public safety.

Myers grew up in Indianapolis. He earned his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center, a masters from George Washington University and his bachelors degree from Stanford University.

He was nominated for the post by the president and confirmed unanimously by the Senate.

Heritage Fund: the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is announcing more than $107,000 in grants to local organizations for the most recent grant cycle.

The largest grant went to Salvation Army of Columbus for $45,000 to help replace a roof. Other grants include $35,000d to the Alliance for Substance Abuse in Bartholomew County, $20,000 to Recover Out Loud, and $7,500 to Family Service Inc.

The Heritage Fund grants come from the Community Fund, which distributes between $600,000 and $700,000 to local not-for-profit groups. The grants are in support of Youth Development, Substance Abuse, Neighborhood Revitalization, Innovation and Creativity and being a Welcoming Community.

The deadline to apply for the next grant cycle is December 1st.

Columbus City Utilities have issued a boil water advisory for the Northbrook Addition and the city airport, east of Ray Boll Boulevard.

The advisory is due to a water main repair in the area. You should boil any water for five minutes before using it for drinking, cooking or food preparation.

Customers will be notified when the advisory is lifted. If you have any questions you can call 812-418-6435.

The Yellow Trail Museum will be kicking off the holiday season with Christmas of Yesteryear, from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday on the Hope Town Square.

There will be tree lighting and German Christmas carols performed on the bandstand starting at 5. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the museum. There will also be a bake sale at the museum along with children’s Christmas crafts.

Re-enactors will portray historical figures at the bandstand from 5:30 to 7 p.m. There will also be a live nativity on the empty lot on the north side of the town square and carolers at Willow Leaves of Hope.

The shelterhouse on the town square will be hosting games.

Downtown merchants will be open late with specials and restaurants on the square will also be open for dining.

More than 100 people turned out for a rally on the steps of the Brownstown courthouse Tuesday, to protest the death of Ta’Neasha Chappell while in the custody of the Jackson County Jail.

The group carried signs such as “Say Her Name” and spoke in support of Chappell and her family’s search for information about her death. The rally was organized through the Justice 4 Louisville group that has also been involved with the Breonna Taylor case. According to organizers, Chappell’s family has yet to receive a cause of death for her, or a death certificate.

Her family filed a lawsuit in October, suing Jackson County authorities for $30 million dollars. The complaint alleges that the sheriff, jail commander and jailers were indifferent to getting the 23-year-old Louisville, Kentucky woman medical treatment after she fell ill on July 15th in the jail.

She was taken to Schneck Medical Center on the afternoon of July 16th, where she died later that evening. Her death is being investigated by the Indiana State Police.

Chappell was being held at the jail on various charges after an incident in May, where she was accused of theft from the Edinburgh Premium Outlet Mall, then fleeing from police at speeds of up to 100 mph through Bartholomew, Jackson, Scott and Clark counties, before crashing into the rear of a truck near Clarksville.

State Police at the scene of the rally said that it was a very peaceful event with a good turnout.

Bartholomew County courts will seek more money for interpreters, after a change recommended by the Indiana Supreme Court.

Bobbie Shake, grant administrator for the county, sought approval yesterday from the Bartholomew County Commissioners for a grant application to seek $11,500 to pay certified court interpreters.

Up until now, the county has been using uncertified translators who are cheaper, but the Supreme Court is recommending the change to certified interpreters, which will cost the county more. Previously, Circuit Court applied for a grant for court interpreters, but other courts did not. That led to an emergency funding request last year when Superior Court 2 needed to pay for an interpreter.

Shake suggested that all the courts would apply for the state grant together, allowing for more flexibility and funding for interpreters.

Shake also presented a new grant application for $132 thousand dollars to improve court security and technology. The grant would cover wayfinding computer screens on each floor of the courthouse that would direct visitors to the appropriate court room, as well as a computerized check-in system so that those appearing in court won’t have to check in with court staff.

Commissioners voted to approve the grant applications.