Cummins will be launching a battery electric powertrain for Isuzu trucks in North America through its Accelera business segment.

The Columbus based engine manufacturer announced today that the F-series medium duty vehicles would be powered by Accelera’s lithium iron phosphate battery technology. The trucks are expected in 2026.

Shaun Skinner, President of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America and Isuzu Commercial Truck of Canada said that the collaboration will help the company “deliver a variety of solutions for our customers that help reduce greenhouse emissions.”

Amy Davis, President of Accelera praised the partnership saying that collaboration is critical to supporting customers through the energy transition. She said Accelera will provide customers with safe, reliable zero-emission solutions.

Isuzu and Cummins signed the Isuzu Cummins Powertrain Partnership in May 2019 to develop next-generation powertrains. Yesterday the companies announced a new 6.7 liter engine collaboration for Japanese highway use.

In 2023, Cummins combined its various zero emissions programs under the Accelera brand, which is under the New Power business unit.

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.

Bartholomew County Commissioner Tony London reflects on Sam’s long career. He says that Sam has been the voice of local sports since before he was alive.

London says that he even briefly competed with Sam as a sports broadcaster, when London was in high school.

London reflected on his time listening to Sam during important games.

London reflected on Sam’s legacy

Sam’s last daily sports updates will be Friday, May 24th. 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.

A driver is facing a slew of charges after a police chase in Jennings County.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, the incident started at 11:51 a.m. Monday morning when a deputy tried to pull over a speeding vehicle on North Base Road.

Instead of stopping, the driver took off passing other drivers and sideswiping another vehicle. The chase continued north into Decatur County at speeds of up to 120 mph. During the chase, deputies discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Jennings County. A tire deflation device was used to end the chase, and the driver jumped out of the vehicle and tried to run away. Police dog Axel grabbed onto the man as he ran through a pasture and into the woods.

43-year-old Kenneth C. Redkey of North Vernon was taken into custody on charges including possessing a stolen vehicle, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, resisting law enforcement with a vehicle and on foot, reckless driving and for possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.

One person is dead and nine others injured after a crash yesterday afternoon on Interstate 74 in Shelby County.

According to the Indiana State Police,. troopers were called in to assist Shelby County deputies at the scene of the crash at about 2 p.m. yesterday afternoon. Troopers say that a van crashed into the rear of a charter bus and the driver of the van was killed. Police determined that 52-year-old Jason Huber of Boggstown was driving the van eastbound when he came upon stopped traffic and crashed into the rear of the bus. Police say that the reason the traffic was stopped on the interstate is unknown.

Huber was pronounced dead at the scene by the Shelby County coroner’s office. Nine passengers in the bus were taken to the hospital to be checked out, but no one was seriously injured, troopers say.

The eastbound lanes of the interstate were closed for about two hours while the crash was investigated and cleaned up.

Also assisting at the scene were Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Inspectors, the Indiana Department of Transportation and the Shelbyville Fire Department.

The investigation is ongoing.

Cummins is announcing a new 6.7-liter engine to be built in partnership with Isuzu Motors that will be used on Japanese highways.

The Columbus-based engine manufacturer is announcing that the new engines will be built for Isuzu’s line of medium-duty trucks in the Japanese market initially and other Asia Pacific markets and global markets later this year. The engine will be assembled at the Isuzu plant in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.

Jennifer Rumsey, Chair and CEO, of Cummins said that this is the first time Cummins has entered the on-highway market in Japan in the company’s 105 year history.

Isuzu and Cummins signed the Isuzu Cummins Powertrain Partnership in May 2019 to develop next-generation powertrains. The newly developed DB6A engine is the first result. In 2022, Isuzu North America Corporation Commercial integrated the Cummins B6.7 into trucks for customers in the United States and Canada.

Court documents are revealing more information about a fatal stabbing last week in Edinburgh.

34-year-old Steven C. Garvin is accused of killing Michael G. Adair Jr., during an incident at a home in Edinburgh on Monday May 6th. He is facing charges of voluntary manslaughter and possession of methamphetamine.

According to a probable cause affidavit released yesterday, Garvin and several others were at Adair’s apartment, and Adair wanted everyone to leave, first calling to order them out and then arriving at the scene. A witness and Garvin were in a bedroom when Adair arrived and an argument began between the two. They began swinging punches at each other and when they got close to each other the witness heard Adair cry out and noticed that a knife was sticking out of his chest under his armpit. Adair was initially standing and conscious but soon collapsed. The witness and others tried to perform first aid, but when police arrived Adair had died.

Evidence collected at the scene included the knife, baggies of methamphetamine and marijuana and three cell phones.

Police say that Garvin’s story changed several times, including claiming that he and Adair were never arguing and instead were playing around and the knife just suddenly appeared, stuck in Adair’s side. Police also say that he re-enacted the incident and said he had a knife in his hand.

Garvin also told police that he went to the apartment to trade drugs and that he was cutting the drugs in the bedroom when Adair arrived.

A company planning a solar farm in northeastern Bartholomew County has announced $30,000 in donations to local organizations.

Arevon Energy Inc. is developing the Swallowtail Solar Project in Bartholomew County. The company announced recently that it was donating $10,000 each to Bartholomew Consolidated Schools, Clay Township Volunteer Fire Department and Turning Point Domestic Violence Services.

Jeffrey Lee, director of community relations at Arevon, said that supporting communities is central to its business and the company has been identifying areas of need in Bartholomew County.

The BCSC donation will go to support robotics teams, the Clay Township donation will go to support efforts to provide mutual aid to all fire departments in Bartholomew County and the Turning Point donation will support emergency shelter, crisis intervention, legal advocacy, and youth prevention programs related to domestic violence.

The Swallowtail Solar Project is a proposed 200-megawatt project that would annually power up to 30,000 Indiana homes. The project is still under development.

Some customers of Nashville Utilities are under a boil water advisory after a water main break on Honeysuckle Lane.

According to the town, the boil water advisory affects some customers on South Van Buren and West Washington Streets and is in effect until 4 p.m. in the afternoon on Wednesday.

Under a boil water advisory, you should bring water to a full boil for three to five minutes before drinking it or using it in food preparation.

If you have any questions you can call Nashville Utilities at 812-988-5526.

The Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services are offering a new opportunity to memorialize a beloved pet or animal-loving human with sponsorships during the upcoming Moonlight Loop bicycle ride.

For a $250 donation, you can have a name printed on the back of this year’s glow-in-the-dark T-shirt. The sponsorship opportunity is open to anyone and you do not have to be a rider to participate.

The 19-mile scenic bike ride is a fundraiser for Columbus Animal Care Services, the city’s animal shelter to support low-cost spay/neuter initiatives for the Columbus community. This year’s event will start at 9 p.m. on Saturday June 22nd.

To get more information on the ride you can go to the city website at https://www.columbus.in.gov/animal-care-services/ . You can also register for the ride at getmeregistered.com and search for the Moonlight Loop event.

A Columbus man is being accused of child exploitation after allegedly uploading pornographic images of children.

According to the Columbus Police Department, in February officers stopped 30-year-old Caleb Kirts driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen out of Indianapolis. Kirts told police that there was evidence on his cell phone about the vehicle and police seized the phone.

After obtaining a search warrants, officers with the city’s intelligence Led Policing Unit searched the phone for evidence about the stolen vehicle, but also discovered the child pornography. The National Institute for Missing and Exploited Children received several tips in 2022 and 2023 that Kirts had uploaded pornographic images.

A search warrant was served on Kirts’ home in the 3900 block of North County Road 500W by officers with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and multiple electronic devices were seized. Police arrested Kirts at a truck repair business on East State Road 46 and he is facing a preliminary charge of child exploitation.

The investigation remains ongoing and more charges are possible.

The Columbus Police Department, the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office joined the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in July of last year.