You will see lanes closed overnights on Interstate 65 between Columbus and Walesboro starting tonight and lasting into October.

According to INDOT, the northbound lanes of Interstate 65 will be reduced to a single lane between the Walesboro and Columbus exits from 8 at night to six in the morning while the crews perform diamond grinding operations. That work is expected to last through the end of the month.

From about Oct. 2nd to the 15th, crews will have lanes closed on the interstate while they install permanent pavement markings, shoulder corrugations and raised pavement markers in the same area.

Force Construction is the contractor for the work.

The work schedule is dependent on the weather.

INDOT asks you to slow down, to drive without distractions and to be alert to worker safety in all work zones.

You will see some downtown Columbus streets closed tomorrow afternoon and evening as the Indian Association of Columbus celebrates India day.

According to the Columbus city engineer’s office, Fourth Street will be closed from Jackson to Washington Street and from Washington to Franklin. Washington Street will remain open, but there will be security in place to assist pedestrians.

The event set up and street closures will begin at noon, with the event itself running from 4 to 9:30 p.m. The event will include musical performances, food and booths.

A traffic stop last night led to the recovery of a stolen handgun and the arrest of the vehicle’s driver.

According to the Columbus Police Department, officers noticed a vehicle with only one working headlight at about 11:20 p.m. Wednesday night near 11th and California streets. Police pulled the vehicle over and while talking with the driver noticed he appeared to be very nervous.

Police noticed a gun next to the driver’s seat during the stop and secured it. After checking the serial numbers, they found that it had been reported stolen out of Indianapolis.

The driver, 22-year-old Elias D. Marshall was arrested on a preliminary charge of theft of a firearm, possession of stolen property.

A Columbus Regional Health plan to develop a huge swath of farmland on the west side of the city has been adopted by Columbus City Council as part of the city’s master plan.

It includes homes, businesses, parks and eventually a new hospital between Interstate 65 and Garden City.

Called the City View District plan, it outlines the future development of the almost 700 acres of property south of Jonathan Moore Pike. A prominent portion of the property, overlooking the Robert N. Stewart Bridge and East Fork White River, is penciled in for a new hospital, according to planners but hospital officials say the move will come years down the road.

Columbus City Council this week approved the resolution incorporating the proposal into the city’s official master plan.

Jeff Bergman, planning director for the city, said that any development on the site would still need to go through many steps before being approved.

Councilwoman Elaine Hilber clarified this is all land that the hospital already owns and that when the property is eventually annexed into the city its neighbors would not also be automatically added to the city.

Residents expressed concerns about the effect that development would have on flooding and floodplain issues already in the area.

If you want to learn more about what shrubs to choose for your home or business, area master gardeners will have a seminar next week to help you out.

The South Central Indiana Master Gardener Association will be holding a seminar called “Picking the Right Native Shrub” on Tuesday with speaker Bill DeBoer on Tuesday. DeBoer is with Woody Warehouse, a tree and shrub nursery in Lizton, and he has 20 years of experience in plant propagation.

You have a chance to win door prizes of native shrubs and you must be present to win.

The association is the local chapter of the Purdue Extension Master Gardeners.

The seminar will be at the Bartholomew County Public Library starting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. There is also a virtual option. You can find a link at https://mybcpl.org/events.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department is welcoming its newest police dog.

According to the department, Deputy Max Marcoux traveled to Michigan on Monday to pick up his new K9 partner, Creed. Marcoux and Creed will have a week here before heading back to FMK9 in Berrien Center, Michigan for training starting on Sept. 11th.

The sheriff says the six-week training program will include topics such as obedience, the searching of areas, articles and buildings, tracking, protecting an officer, aggression control, narcotics detection, first aid, understanding the health of a dog, proper bathing and care, and maintaining canine records.

Sheriff Kenny Freeman is encouraging you to welcome Creed and to congratulate his trainer.

Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.

The deadline is coming up next week if you want to sign up for a job-readiness skills workshop in Bartholomew County.

Bartholomew County Works is a program committed to helping members improve their lives, gain full-time employment, and achieve economic self-sufficiency. A support team provides resources to those accepted into the program in a wide range of areas including finances, transportation, attire, and more. The services continue for at least the first year on the job.

The workshop will be from Monday September 18th through Friday the 22nd. The workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Yes Cinema in downtown Columbus.

There will be an orientation session on Sept 14th from 10 to 11:30.

The deadline to register is 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13th.

If you want to sign up or would like more information, you can call 812-378-2638 or email at [email protected].

A Columbus man is under arrest, accused of smashing into two police vehicles this morning during an incident.

According to the Columbus Police Department, officers recognized 42-year-old Randall S. Brown driving a vehicle near Columbus City Hall on Second Street at about 9:10 a.m. this morning. Knowing he is a suspect in a protective order violation case, officers tried to pull his vehicle over. But instead he turned north into a nearby alley and then onto Third Street. But police say that Brown then tried to turn around in the middle of Third Street, striking a pickup truck.

Officers boxed him in with their patrol cars and he repeatedly put his vehicle into reverse, hitting and damaging the police vehicles. After a short stand-off, Brown was taken into custody.

He is facing preliminary charges of invasion of privacy for violation of a protective order, resisting law enforcement in a vehicle, and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

The Cummins unit focused on zero-emissions projects will partner with three other companies to produce batteries and accelerate the battery supply chain in the U.S.

The companies announced this morning that the joint venture between Accelera, Daimler Trucks, PACCAR and EVE Energy will manufacture battery cells for electric commercial vehicles and industrial uses. The joint venture will initially focus on lithium-iron-phosphate  batteries for commercial  trucks.  The companies plan to invest $2 to 3 billion for a 21-gigawatt hour factory.

Accelera, Daimler Trucks and PACCAR will each own 30 percent of the joint venture with EVE Energy owning 10 percent.

The complete announcement:

Accelera by Cummins, the zero-emissions business unit of Cummins Inc. [NYSE: CMI], Daimler Trucks & Buses US Holding LLC (a Daimler Truck Group Company; DAX: DTR0CK; “Daimler Truck”) and PACCAR [NASDAQ: PCAR] are partnering to accelerate and localize battery cell production and the battery supply chain in the United States. The planned joint venture will manufacture battery cells for electric commercial vehicles and industrial applications, creating highly desirable U.S. manufacturing jobs in the growing clean technology sector. Total investment is expected to be in the range of $2-3 billion for the 21-gigawatt hour (GWh) factory.

Accelera by Cummins, Daimler Truck and PACCAR will each own 30% of, and jointly control, the joint venture, which will initially focus on the lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery technology family for commercial battery-electric trucks. The LFP battery cells produced by the joint venture will be able to offer several advantages compared to other battery chemistries, including lower cost, longer life, and enhanced safety, without the need for nickel and cobalt raw materials. Accelera by Cummins, Daimler Truck and PACCAR expect to see growing demand for battery technology throughout this decade and U.S. customers will benefit from a state-of-the-art dedicated battery cell factory. EVE Energy [SZSE:310004] will serve as the technology partner in the joint venture with 10% ownership and will contribute its industry-leading battery cell design and manufacturing know-how. EVE Energy is a global leader in the manufacture of LFP battery cells for the vehicle industry and is publicly traded on the Shenzhen stock exchange.

This strategic joint venture enables its owners to create the necessary scale for access to cost effective and differentiated battery cell technology, ultimately creating value for commercial vehicle customers in North America. “We have the responsibility to decarbonize in a way that is best for all of our stakeholders and the planet. This requires working closely with key partners. Today’s announcement reflects that action. Not only are we advancing a key technology solution for our customers, but accelerating the energy transition in the United States,” said Jennifer Rumsey, Cummins Chair and Chief Executive Officer.

“Our vision is the highest quality, locally produced battery technology to enhance the operations of our customers and help them achieve their operational and environmental goals,” said Preston Feight, PACCAR Chief Executive Officer.

Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Truck said, “For Daimler Truck, partnerships and a strict focus on costs and smart capital allocation are the key levers to succeed on the path towards sustainable transportation. This planned joint venture enables economies of scale beyond Daimler Truck. It is a key puzzle piece of our battery industrialization strategy, ensuring access to the right battery cell technology at the right cost.”

Accelera by Cummins, Daimler Truck and PACCAR are leading the commercial vehicle sector’s transition to zero emissions technologies. The partners are committed to reducing carbon emissions consistent with the Paris Climate Agreement.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, and receipt of applicable merger control and regulatory approvals including the submission of a voluntary notice to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

A webinar tomorrow will help you learn about making sure your small business is prepared for a disaster.

The U.S. Small Business Administration in conjunction with the Central Indiana Small Business Development Center and the Indiana Chamber Executive Association is hosting the resiliency training webinar at 10 Thursday morning. Discussions will include business continuity planning, disaster preparation, and mitigation.

It will also talk about Economic Injury Disaster Loans, available to businesses in counties that were economically affected by the storms and tornadoes the night of March 31st into early April 1st this year. Eligible counties in our area include Bartholomew, Brown, Jackson, Johnson and Shelby counties.

The class is free but the size is limited. You can sign up here: https://isbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/16414