IU Columbus will be offering free winter hats to prospective students as part of a “Hats off to IU Columbus” promotion next week.

The week is meant for the prospective students to meet one on one with admissions counselors for the school. According to school officials, students and their families can learn about undergraduate and graduate programs, get hands-on assistance with the application process, take a campus tour, as well as get answers to any questions. There will be staff on hand to assist with applications and enrollment for the Spring semester.

There is no fee to apply to IU Columbus.

To take part you should meet at the Admissions office at the Campus Center Building on Central Avenue between 9 and 4, Monday through Friday Nov. 15th. You can also schedule an appointment with an admissions counselor. Those can be in person or online. For more information or to set up an appointment, go to columbus.iu.edu/admissions.

Photo courtesy of IU Columbus.

Bartholomew County Road 550S is closing today and tomorrow.

According to the county highway department, Bartholomew County REMC is replacing poles between County Road 100W and Jonesville Road. The road will be closed until 5 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. until noon on Friday.

You should avoid the area if you can.

Cummins says that its revenues were flat for the third quarter, but estimates for year-end earnings are coming in at the high end of what was expected.

The Columbus based engine manufacturer announced its third quarter results yesterday, saying that it had sales of $8.5 billion in the third quarter. That came after sales in North America slipped by 1 percent while international revenue increased by two percent. The company said that its net income actually went up over last year with $809 million compared to $656 million in 2023.

Company officials have been predicting sales would be down this year and they are tracking for a 3 percent decrease. However, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization are expected to be up 15.5 percent this year. That is at the very upper end of previous estimates.

Cummins Chair and CEO Jennifer Rumsey said that the Power Systems and Distribution businesses had strong improvement this quarter.

Among the third quarter highlights was the start of production of the X15N natural gas engine at its Jamestown Engine Plant. The engine is part of a series which uses a common base that allows for multiple fuel types in different models.

You can read the entire quarterly report here: https://investor.cummins.com/news/detail/662/cummins-reports-strong-third-quarter-2024-results

The Columbus Bluegrass Jamboree is returning on Saturday, but this time to Nexus Park.

The bluegrass and gospel music show begins with an open jam at 4 and you are encouraged to bring your instrument. Group performances will begin at 5 and will include bands such as Lost River Rising, Straightline and Cumberland Gap.

The Jamboree is free but donations are accepted and concessions will be available for sale.

The show is sponsored by the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department and the Lincoln Central Neighborhood Family Center. To get more information you can call 812-376-0714.

Republicans won all three of the at-large races for County Council yesterday, with Republican Michael Bell receiving the highest vote total with just over 22.5 percent. He along with Republicans Kim Bennett and Marcus Speer defeated Democrats Michelle Carr, Nancy Merbitz and Zack Patchett.

Bell talks about the win.

Bell thanked his supporters

Speer is looking forward to returning to the seat he has been filling since Evelyn Pence retired earlier this year.

Speer thanked his supporters

Bennet said she appreciated the chance to serve on the Council

Bennett reflected on her supporters.

In unofficial vote totals:

State Representative District 59
Republican Ryan Lauer – 63.84 percent
Democrat Ross Thomas – 36.16 percent

State Representative District 69 (Bartholomew County only)
Republican Jim Lucas – 74.41 percent
Democrat Trish Whitcomb – 24.59 percent

State Representative District 73 (Bartholomew County only)
Republican Jennifer Meltzer – 75.41 percent
Democrat Hollie Payton – 24.59 percent

County Commissioner District 1
Republican Larry Kleinhenz – 63.03 percent
Democrat Josh Burbrink – 36.97 percent

County Council At-Large (Three seats)
Republican Michael Bell – 22.62 percent
Republican Kim Bennett – 21.65 percent
Republican Marcus Speer – 20.10 percent
Democrat Michelle Carr – 13.19 percent
Democrat Nancy Merbitz – 11.58 percent
Democrat Zack Patchett – 10.86 percent

BCSC School Board District 3
Whitney Loyd – 59.36 percent
David Thiele – 40.64 percent

BCSC School Board District 5
Leigh Britt – 48.29 percent
Tom Glick – 51.71 percent

BCSC School Board District 7
Samantha Ison – 49.85 percent
Nichole Wheeldon – 50.15 percent

While Republicans won by large margins in last night’s election returns, the closest totals of the night came in the non partisan Bartholomew Consolidated School Board races.

Whitney Loyd won election to the District 3 seat with 59 percent of the vote over David Thiele. Tom Glick and incumbent Nichole Wheeldon won last night for the district 5 and district 7 seats.

Wheeldon’s race was the closest of the night with just a hair over 50 percent to win over Samantha Ison. That was a margin of 83 votes of the 27,903 cast.

Glick had 51.7 percent over Leigh Britt.

Early voting made up about two thirds of all the votes this election, according to election officials. There were 12,329 Election Day voters, 21,381 early voters by machine and 2,231 absentee votes cast with paper ballots. Just over 66 percent of the county’s 54,087 registered voters cast ballots.

Bartholomew County contested races were all won by Republicans in yesterday’s election.

In the statehouse races covering Bartholomew County, Republican incumbent Ryan Lauer won re-election with 64 percent of the vote over Democrat Ross Thomas. In District 69 representing the far southern portion of the Bartholomew along with parts of Jackson, Scott and Washington counties, incumbent Republican Jim Lucas won re-election with 69 percent of the vote over Democrat Trish Whitcomb. And in District 73, which includes eastern Bartholomew County, Republican Jennifer Meltzer won re-lection with almost 77 percent of the vote over Hollie Payton.

Republicans also swept all of the contested races in the county. County Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz was re-election with 63 percent of the vote over Democrat Josh Burbrink.

Kleinhenz reflects on his successful 9th run for the District 1 seat.

Kleinhenz talks about the work ahead.

Republican Tony London was unopposed for the District 3 race for county commissioner.

In other countywide races, Republicans were unopposed for election including Judge Jim Worton, Tom Barrett for County Coroner and Jake Fitzsimmons for County Surveyor.

It was a good night for Republicans in Indiana. U.S. Senator Mike Braun will be the state’s next governor.

The Republican defeated Democratic nominee Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian nominee Donald Rainwater by a wide margin in yesterday’s election.

Attorney General Todd Rokita was re-elected over Democrat Destiny Wells.

Former President Donald Trump won the state of Indiana for the third consecutive election. Trump defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris yesterday in Indiana, earning Indiana’s 11 electoral votes.

Republican Congressman Jim Banks defeated Democrat Valerie McCray yesterday to be Indiana’s next U.S. Senator. Jefferson Shreve will take the U.S. House District 6 seat previously held by Columbus resident Greg Pence. And Congresswoman Erin Houchin won re-election to the District 9 seat in the House.

In the statehouse races covering Bartholomew County, Republican incumbent Ryan Lauer won re-election with 64 percent of the vote over Democrat Ross Thomas. In District 69 representing the far southern portion of the Bartholomew along with parts of Jackson, Scott and Washington counties, incumbent Republican Jim Lucas won re-election with 69 percent of the vote over Democrat Trish Whitcomb. And in District 73, which includes eastern Bartholomew County, Republican Jennifer Meltzer won re-lection with almost 77 percent of the vote over Hollie Payton.

Republicans also swept all of the contested races in the county.

In Bartholomew County, all of the county’s vote centers have reported in along with with early and absentee vote totals, giving Republicans wins in all the contested races.

Bartholomew County local election results, unofficial totals:

State Representative District 59
Republican Ryan Lauer – 63.84 percent
Democrat Ross Thomas – 36.16 percent

State Representative District 69 (Bartholomew County only)
Republican Jim Lucas – 74.41 percent
Democrat Trish Whitcomb – 24.59 percent

State Representative District 73 (Bartholomew County only)
Republican Jennifer Meltzer – 75.41 percent
Democrat Hollie Payton – 24.59 percent

County Commissioner District 1
Republican Larry Kleinhenz – 63.03 percent
Democrat Josh Burbrink – 36.97 percent

County Council At-Large (Three seats)
Republican Michael Bell – 22.62 percent
Republican Kim Bennett – 21.65 percent
Republican Marcus Speer – 20.10 percent
Democrat Michelle Carr – 13.19 percent
Democrat Nancy Merbitz – 11.58 percent
Democrat Zack Patchett – 10.86 percent

BCSC School Board District 3
Whitney Loyd – 59.36 percent
David Thiele – 40.64 percent

BCSC School Board District 5
Leigh Britt – 48.29 percent
Tom Glick – 51.71 percent

BCSC School Board District 7
Samantha Ison – 49.85 percent
Nichole Wheeldon – 50.15 percent

Early voting made up about two thirds of all the votes this election, according to election officials. There were 12,329 Election Day voters, 21,381 early voters by machine and 2,231 absentee votes cast with paper ballots. Just over 66 percent of the county’s 54,087 registered voters cast ballots.

Updated: 8:30 p.m.

In Bartholomew County, with early and absentee vote totals available along with 12 of the county’s 14 vote centers, Republicans are winning all of the contested races.

Early voting made up about two thirds of all the votes this election, according to election officials.

Election officials are still waiting to tally the vote centers at Donner Center and Terrace Lake Church.

Bartholomew County local election results:

State Representative District 59
Republican Ryan Lauer – 64 percent
Democrat Ross Thomas – 36 percent

State Representative District 69
Republican Jim Lucas – 75 percent
Democrat Trish Whitcomb – 25 percent

State Representative District 73
Republican Jennifer Meltzer – 75 percent
Democrat Hollie Payton – 25 percent

County Commissioner District 1
Republican Larry Kleinhenz – 63 percent
Democrat Josh Burbrink – 37 percent

County Council At-Large (Three seats)
Republican Michael Bell – 23
Republican Kim Bennett – 22
Republican Marcus Speer – 20
Democrat Michelle Carr – 13
Democrat Nancy Merbitz – 12
Democrat Zack Patchett – 11

BCSC School Board District 3
Whitney Loyd – 60
David Thiele – 40

BCSC School Board District 5
Leigh Britt – 48.5
Tom Glick – 51.5

BCSC School Board District 7
Samantha Ison – 49
Nichole Wheeldon – 51