Nominations are open for this year’s Jack Cramer Ideals of Athletic Competition Award, according to the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department.

The awards are presented annually to a local male and a female athlete, coach or sports organizer. All nominees must live or work in Bartholomew County and be a senior in high school or older.

The 2023 award winners were Karen McCaa and Nathan Frazier.

The award is in honor of Cramer, a former local athlete who died in 1978 at the age of 33.

You can find information and nomination forms at Nexus Park or at https://columbusparksandrec.com The deadline to enter is June 18th.

A group of motorcycle riders will be in Columbus this morning, as they tour all 19 of the cities named Columbus in the lower 48 states.

Jody Coffman spokeswoman for the city says that the group started their expedition in Columbus, Georgia on May 6th.

Calling themselves the Miracle Riders, they plan to visit the Bartholomew County Memorial For Veterans on the courthouse lawn. Coffman said that a Columbus, Georgia native visited our city and was so impressed by the Bartholomew County memorial that he took the idea home with him, raised money and had a memorial with a similar theme built there along their riverwalk.

The Columbus trips are a fundraiser for a simulation lab of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for nursing students at Columbus State University in Georgia. Their goal is to raise $1 million dollars.

Coffman said that the Miracle Riders plan to be in Columbus at 11 a.m. this morning.

Photograph from the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

A North Vernon man has been arrested, accused of stealing a car and crashing it early Friday morning and then running from police.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, the incident started at about 2:40 a.m. after deputies received a report about a driver crashing into a ditch in the 2900 block of East U.S. 50 during an argument. The woman that she had been arguing with 21-year-old Andrew E. Saenz-Munoz in the vehicle when he ordered her to get out. He then got behind the wheel and crashed into the ditch. She told deputies that he then ran into a field.

After deputies chased Saenz-Munoz on foot, he was taken into custody and is facing preliminary charges including auto theft, operating a vehicle while under the influence with endangerment, criminal recklessness, leaving the scene of an accident, operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license and resisting law enforcement.

White River Broadcasting’s Sam Simmermaker, the dean of Indiana sports broadcasters, has announced his plans to retire at the age of 92 after 64 years on the air in Columbus.

Community members are talking about Sam’s legacy.

Former Columbus Mayor Fred Armstrong looks back on Sam’s impact.

Armstrong talks about the qualities Sam brings to his role:

Armstrong talks about Sam’s importance to local sports:

Sam’s last daily sports updates will be Friday. There will be a special AM Columbus broadcast that day from 11 to 1 to celebrate Sam’s career. You can check it out on News Talk 1010 WCSI and 98.1 FM.

Photo: Sam Simmermaker interviews astronaut Gus Grissom during a Columbus visit.

The Bartholomew County Public Library will be celebrating its 125th anniversary today with an event this afternoon.

The library celebration will include cutting a cake at the large arch, sewing arts activities with Sarah Marsom, music by local band Cottonpatch, food trucks, and a beer garden. There will also be tours showing off recent library renovations and a celebration of the bookmobile’s 65th anniversary..

Events start at 5 p.m. with the tours running through 5:45 p.m. Music will start at 5:30 p.m. The library is on Fifth Street in downtown Columbus.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Area Visitors Center

Hundreds of volunteers will be out in the community today as the United Way of Bartholomew County holds a Day of Caring to aid local groups.

The annual Day of Caring is a full-day volunteer event that connects local businesses and community members with non-profit agencies and organizations. Nearly 500 volunteers are helping 21 organizations that make a positive difference in Bartholomew County.

Volunteer projects include tasks such as planting flowers, mulching, painting, organizing, and sorting donations. According to organizers, volunteers of all ages and skill levels are taking part.

You can find more information at UW Barth Co dot org.

The City of Seymour will be closing parts of Second Street, starting next week as part of a street rehabilitation project.

The work is expected to start Monday and last through Saturday, May 25th just east of Community Drive while crews relocate utilities. After that, the work will continue to move east down Second Street with the schedule depending on the weather and speed of progress.

The work is happening near Seymour High School and school officials are warning that parents and students should plan for extra time and to take an alternative route.

The city says that the work is part of a $15 million dollars reconstruction project.

Cummins says it is in a strong position and is raising its long-term financial targets, anticipating revenues in 2030 of $43 to $48 billion dollars.

The Columbus based engine manufacturer made a presentation today ahead of Analyst Day on its financial outlook.

Company officials told investors and shareholders today that they believe the company well positioned to meet customer needs as well as drive greenhouse gas reductions. And that it would generate growth regardless of the transition to zero emissions.

The company expects the base business to generate $39 to $42 billion a year by 2030, which would be a 25 percent incremental growth in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Its zero emissions brand Accelera is expected to generate $3 to $9 billion in revenue by 2030 and to begin breaking even by 2027.

The company outlined continuous expansion as a result of emissions regulations, as well as aftermarket growth and growth in the adoption of zero emissions technology.

Jennifer Rumsey, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, said that since the last Analyst Day, the company has “continued to strengthen our position and execute on both our strategy and financial commitments.”

Bartholomew County Works is taking applications for a week-long workshop aimed at providing job market skills for recent high school graduates.

The program is for new graduates interested in immediately entering the workforce. Topics of the weeklong workshop will include professionalism, interview preparation, attitude, resumes, cover letters and more.

Organizers say that many of the participants in previous teen workshops have left with jobs paying up to $16 dollars an hour.

The week-long workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily starting June 3rd, at YES Cinema. There will be an orientation session on May 30th.

For more information or to register, call Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center at 812-378-2638.

There will be a fundraiser Saturday to help support the group behind the historic Huey helicopter based at the Columbus Municipal Airport.

Columbus Indiana Huey is non-profit group that supports the efforts to maintain and fly the Vietnam War era helicopter. Organizer Jenna Carlton explains:

Carlton says that the open house is the major fundraiser for the group and this is the third year for the event.

Carlton says Saturday’s activities will include a silent auction, food trucks, music and rides in the helicopter itself, weather permitting.

You can stop by the hangar at the airport starting at 10 Saturday morning. The hanger is on the private side of the airport near the Cummins hangar. You can enter at Gate 6 off of Warren Drive and the address is 2045 Taxiway Drive.

Although the open house is free, there is a cost to ride in the Huey, participate in the silent auction or buy meals at the food truck.

For more information you can go to the Columbus Indiana Huey Facebook page here:  https://www.facebook.com/p/Columbus-Indiana-Huey-100079538234845/

Photo courtesy of Columbus Indiana Huey