Columbus officials will be updating the community on plans for a Talley Road Improvement Project with an open house this afternoon.
The project will be on Talley Road between 25th Street and Rocky Ford Road. It will include the installation of curbs and gutters, a 5 foot sidewalk on the west side, and a 10 foot side path on the east side. The project will also totally replaces the existing bridge over Sloane Branch.
The open house will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at Columbus City Hall.
A former legislator from our area and Jackson County school superintendent has been officially chosen as the state Democrats’ candidate for lieutenant governor.
Terry Goodin was selected with 79-percent of the vote at the Indiana Democratic Party Convention on Saturday, beating community activist Clif Marsiglio and Bob Kern. Goodin joins the ticket led by nominee for governor Jennifer McCormick.
Goodin, was born in Seymour and lives in Austin. Goodin served as superintendent of the Crothersville schools for 24 years and raises beef cattle on his Scott County farm. He was elected to the state legislature in 2000 representing Indiana’s House District 66, a position he held for 20 years. In 2017, he was briefly chosen to be House Minority Leader after a resignation.
Goodin graduated from Eastern Kentucky University, receiving a bachelors in 1989 and masters in history and secondary education in 1990. He earned a doctorate from Indiana University in Bloomington.
In 2022, Goodin was selected by President Biden to serve as state director of USDA Department of Rural Development for Indiana.
McCormick and Goodin will face U.S. Senator Mike Braun and running mate Micah Beckwith in November.
Democrats also chose Destiny Wells as the attorney general candidate. Wells defeated Beth White, for the nod.
Photo courtesy of Goodin’s candidate Twitter feed.
A reminder that traffic will be tied up near Seymour High School starting today, as crews work to improve drainage for the ongoing Second Street improvement project.
According to the city, the intersection of Second Street and Community Drive will be closed for about two weeks, starting Monday. You will still be able to access businesses between Community Drive and U.S. 50 during the work.
Second Street remains closed further to the east as work continues on the $15 million reconstruction project.
Seymour officials also say that Jackson County Road 1040 East will be closing today for sewer work. That will be going on from County Road 340N to Farmington Road. You can expect that road to remain closed for about a week.
Residents are expected to be able to still access their properties during the road closure.
Cummins says it is making progress toward its environmental, social and governance goals and that is translating to its bottom line.
The Columbus based engine manufacturer released its annual Sustainability Progress Report last week, saying that the company’s record revenues and record operating cash flow reflect the success of its decarbonization strategy, called Destination Zero.
Among the successes outlined in the report,
Cummins says it continues to decrease greenhouse gas emissions from its facilities. It has completed 24 more onsite solar projects, and implemented 89 energy efficiency projects at its facilities.
The company also cites:
The company also outlined the success of its community engagement programs saying 79 percent of its eligible employees contributed 343,000 hours and served more than 3.2 million people through its Every Employee Every Community program.
Jennifer Rumsey, Cummins chair and CEO, said the company is committed to creating an inclusive work environment. She said “Embedding diversity, equity and inclusion into the fabric of our company continues to be central to this focus.”
Last year, four out of Cummins’ five business segments were led by women. Nearly 40 percent of its U.S. workforce were people of color.
You can find a link to the report here: https://investor.cummins.com/news/detail/658/cummins-demonstrates-how-its-business-and-sustainability
Photo: Cummins Chair and CEO Jennifer Rumsey speaks at the grant announcement Thursday at Columbus Engine Plant.
We will see dangerously high heat this afternoon. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in the mid-90s with a dew point in the 70s is going to make it feel like it is 105 or higher in central Indiana.
Forecasters say that you should take extra precautions if you are going to be outside today. You should try to limit strenuous activities to the early morning or evening. Drink plenty of fluids and wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
You should also check in on relatives and neighbors who might be struggling in the heat.
Bartholomew County emergency officials say that there will be several cooling stations around the community today so you can get out of the heat.
The city of Columbus has a cooling station open from 8 to 5 today at Donner Center on 22nd Street.
The city says animals will also be allowed to cool off at Donner Center with their owners and crates will be available.
The Bartholomew County Public Library branches can also be used to cool off. The main branch on Fifth Street is open from 9 until 8 tonight. The Hope branch is open from 10 until 7 tonight.
A cooling station is a place where those who don’t have air conditioning can go to cool off. Food, showers, and sleeping areas are not available.
10:30 p.m. update
NBC news reports authorities know the name of the shooter at Donald Trump’s rally.
The alleged shooter had his wallet and ID on his person when he was killed. Investigative Reporter Tom Winter says the FBI is now pouring through the man’s background. Winter adds they will not release the name until they know more about him and determine whether he was working alone. The FBI is leading the way on the investigation.
9:15 p.m. update
The U.S. Secret Service says the shooter at Donald Trump’s rally fired multiple shots at the stage from an elevated position. They say the shooter is dead, along with one spectator. Two spectators are in critical condition. The agency repeated that Trump is “safe” and is being evaluated.
9 p.m. update
Former President Trump says he was shot. In a new statement, Trump said the bullet pieced the upper part of his right ear. He said he knew something was wrong immediately, and he heard “a whizzing” sound, shots and felt the bullet ripping through his skin. He added “much bleeding took place.” Trump said he “wants to extend his condolences of the person at the rally that was killed, and he thanked the Secret Service.
8:45 p.m. update
The shooting at a rally for former President Donald Trump is now being called “an assassination attempt” by law enforcement.
Video from the scene in Butler, Pennsylvania shows a body on the roof of a building about 400 feet away from where the former President was speaking at a campaign rally. Although Donald Trump had blood on his face as he was taken from the stage, the Secret Service says he is safe. A statement released on Donald Trump’s social media confirms he was shot in the upper part of his right ear.
Law enforcement officials say the gunman, as well as an individual attending the rally are both dead.
7:45 p.m. update
Former Vice President Mike Pence says he and his wife are praying for Donald Trump. Trump was speaking at his rally in Pennsylvania Saturday afternoon when audible pops could be heard.
Trump was immediately tackled by Secret Service and rushed off stage. In a post on X, Pence said he urges “every American” to join him in sending prayers. The Secret Service and Trump’s campaign have confirmed Trump is safe.
There are now reports flooding in that the alleged shooter is dead, and one other person may have been killed in the incident.
7:30 p.m.
There are multiple reports that the suspect who fired shots at former President Trump is dead.
7:15 p.m. update
The Secret Service says Donald Trump is safe.
Trump had blood around his ear after shots may have been fired during his rally in Pennsylvania today. While he was speaking in Butler, audible pops could be heard, and he was immediately tackled by Secret Service. He was rushed off stage by agents while pumping his fist in the air, and was driven off in a heavily protected vehicle.
Pennsylvania Senate candidate David McCormick said he heard what sounded like gunfire and he saw someone go down in the crowd behind Trump.
One witness at the scene confirmed Trump appeared to have blood above his right ear.
Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks
The Mental Health Matters coalition is touting the community’s use of a new CredibleMind web site to address mental health needs in Bartholomew County.
CredibleMind is billed as a one-stop shop for personalized mental wellbeing. It offers an evidence based platform that allows users to take surveys to assess mental health concerns and then based on that information provide personalized services. The service is available via apps or on a computer.
The remote service is free and available to anyone in the county who needs it. Earlier this year, the Bartholomew County Commissioners and sheriff’s department funded the first three years of county access through jail commissary funds. A grant through Heritage Fund — The Bartholomew County Community Foundation allowed the site to offer Spanish and Haitian Creole languages, in addition to English. And another language will be added, once the community need is determined.
The coalition says that more than 900 users have accessed the local CredibleMind portal since its launch in May, and 112 users have registered and/or created a profile. Mental Health Matters will be providing information cards in all back-to-school folders, in school backpacks distributed through the United Way, through the Safe Dates program, and at other community locations.
You can access the Bartholomew County CredibleMind site at https://mhmbc.crediblemind.com
Registrations are now open for the Bartholomew County DARE program’s annual golf outing.
This year’s event is set for Aug. 2nd at Otter Creek Golf Course. Registration will be $125 per player or $500 per team.
The event will also feature a $100 super ticket which allows teams to participate in contests such as a $50,000 dollar shootout, a hole-in-one-contest with a new vehicle from Country Chevrolet, a $10,000 hole in one contest sponsored by Richard Hawes Insurance and a longest drive and closest to the pin contest for men and women.
The event also features complimentary soft drinks, water and smoothies during the event and a meal afterwards.
The DARE program locally celebrated its 30th anniversary here in 2022. DARE officers teach a one hour class focusing on educating sixth grade students about the dangers of drugs and the importance of making good decisions.
You can register by contacting Columbus police Sgt. Skylar Berry at 812-376-2605 or by email at [email protected]
Columbus will be updating the community on plans for a Talley Road improvement project with an open house Monday.
The project will be on Talley Road between 25th Street and Rocky Ford Road. It will include the installation of curbs and gutters, a 5 foot sidewalk on the west side, and a 10 foot side path on the east side. The project will also totally replaces the existing bridge over Sloane Branch.
At the open house, you will be able to review construction plans and talk to city officials and the consultants for the project, who will answer questions from community members.
The open house will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at Columbus City Hall.
If you have questions but you can’t attend Monday’s open house, you can email [email protected].
A Columbus man is facing drug charges after a traffic stop last week
According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, a deputy noticed a vehicle make a traffic violation in the area of North U.S. 31 and North Horizon drive at about 12:07 a.m. the morning of July 2nd. The vehicle also had an equipment violation.
After pulling the vehicle over, the deputy talked to the two occupants and noticed a glass smoking pipe in the center console. The passenger, 48 year old Marlon Cowan Jr admitted that the pipe was his and also told the officer that he had meth in his pants pocket.
A search recovered 19 grams of meth. Cowan was arrested for possessing the drugs and paraphernalia.
Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department