Cummins is announcing changes to its leadership team.

The Columbus based engine manufacturer announced yesterday that Bonnie Fetch is being named as executive vice president and president of operations. Shon Wright be will be moving to vice President and President of the distribution business.

Fetch is currently vice president and president of the distribution business. She has been with Cummins since 2018, previously working for 20 years at Caterpillar. In the new role, she will oversee Cummins’ new and recon parts business and global operating functions, including supply chain, IT, Cummins services, advanced analytics and quality. Fetch is a graduate of the University of St. Francis.

Wright is currently vice president of Cummins components and software. He has 22 years of experience at Cummins. In the new role, Wright will focus on delivering sales and service support for Cummins’ global markets, investing in employee development and advancing operational performance.

Wright is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Harvard Business School.

Both promotions will take effect on March 15th.

The AirPark Columbus campus will be holding a Spanish-language event on Sunday to help families and students learn about educational opportunities here.

The event will offer information about the admissions process, degrees and programs, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities. There will also be campus tours and time for individual questions.

All presentations and materials for this event will be in Spanish.

The event is being organized by with TuFuturo, Indiana University Columbus, Ivy Tech Community College, and Purdue Polytechnic Institute.

The event will start at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Columbus Learning Center on Central Avenue.

Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon will hold her second State of the City address tomorrow at Nexus Park.

The State of the City is an effort to update the community on the past year’s achievements and to outline upcoming priorities. At last year’s event, her first as mayor, Ferdon announced initiatives to improve public safety, reduce homelessness, address modern transit needs and improve Columbus Animal Care Services.

The theme of this year’s speech will be Gratitude.

The presentation will be held Wednesday in the Circle K Fieldhouse at Nexus Park. Doors will open at 5:30 and remarks will start at 6 p.m. You are invited to attend.

Bartholomew Superior Court Judge Jim Worton is warning of a scam using his name threatening you for missing jury duty.

According to the judge and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, scammers are claiming that the judge has issued warrants for people who missed jury duty, and demanding you pay a hefty fine to avoid going to jail. The sheriff’s department says the scam even involves an official looking fake warrant that is being sent to people in the community, complete with the victim’s name.

Worton said last night that this is purely a scam and he has issued no such warrants.

Scammers frequently impersonate law enforcement officials over the phone. They try to get you to give up your personal information or make payments to them to supposedly satisfy fake warrants or claims that you missed jury duty. Scammers are able to spoof your Caller ID so that the number appears to be legitimate.

Authorities warn you not to give out your personal or financial information to a caller. Law enforcement officers will never ask for you to make a payment over the phone to avoid arrest.

If you have any questions you should hang up and call the Sheriff’s Department directly at 812-379-1650 or you can call the Bartholomew County dispatch center at 812-379-1689.

A Guatemalan man is being deported from Jackson County under the new Laken Riley Law.

According to WISH-TV, the illegal immigrant Domingo Juan Juan was driving without a license, crossed the centerline on U.S. 50 and crashed into a vehicle being driven by 27-year-old Brad Castner im March of last year. Castner was killed.

Congresswoman Erin Houchin and Jackson County Prosecutor Jeff Chalfant held a press conference yesterday, announcing the deportation. Houchin praised Prosecutor Chalfant and ICE for their work in securing Juan and ensuring his deportation proceedings moved forward swiftly.

She also laid the blame on the Biden Administration, saying Castner’s death was preventable and was due to Biden’s open border policies.

Houchin said “Thanks to the Laken Riley Act, dangerous illegal aliens are finally being detained and deported before they can commit more crimes.”

Forecasters say that this arctic weather is going to be around for the rest of the week.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis says that we are looking at highs in the teens and nightly lows near zero through Friday. You can expect the wind to make that feel as low as 10 below zero across parts of central Indiana.

Due to the expected cold, the city of Columbus and Bartholomew County are offering some facilities as warming center.

The city is opening a warming station at Donner Center off of 22nd Street.

You will be able to stop by the shelter from 8 to 5 today through Thursday to get warm. Animals are welcome at Donner Center, but they must be kept in crates and will be kept in a designated part of the facility.

After 5 today, Brighter Days will continue to offer shelter services to those in need. Brighter Days is on South Mapleton Street on the east side of Columbus.

Bartholomew County public library branches are open as warming centers also. The main branch on Fifth Street in Columbus is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. The Hope Branch is open from 10 to 7 p.m.

Update: The child has been found.

The Columbus Police Department is asking for your help to locate a missing child.

13-year-old Eric Kiel was last seen leaving the area of the 2300 block of Sumpter Court at around 5 p.m. this afternoon. He was wearing a black winter coat, grey sweatpants and black and white shoes. Police say he has curly hair and caramel skin.

Anyone with any information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911.

According to Bartholomew County Emergency Management sub zero wind chill is expected through the end of the week…

An arctic air mass will settle over the region through the rest of the week. Daily highs will struggle to get out of the teens with nightly lows in the single digits to near zero. Expect wind chill values to drop into the zero to -10 degree range each night, with the coldest locations across North Central Indiana.
Be sure to wear warm clothing and to take warming breaks if you work outside.

Financial aid professionals will be at IU Columbus helping collegebound students and their families with the most important form for financial aid during College Goal Sunday. The event is set for 2-4 p.m. on Feb. 23rd at 39 sites across Indiana. In Columbus the event will be held at 4601 Central Ave, (Door 2).

This free program assists Indiana students with filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, many scholarships, and even federal student loans at most colleges, universities, and vocational/technical schools nationwide. Filing must occur by the State of Indiana priority deadline of April 15 to guarantee state aid for those that qualify. Most families and students find filing out this particular paperwork a difficult task, making this event crucially important for incoming college students.

Students who are interested in attending should come with their parents or guardians, bring completed 2023 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 forms, and other 2023 income and benefits information.

Students who have worked should also bring their income information. Students 24 years of age or older may attend alone and bring their information. Students and parents are encouraged to apply for their U.S. Department of Education FSA IDs at studentaid.gov before coming to the event.

Volunteers will be available to assist with the online form and answer all families’ individual questions during College Goal Sunday. All sites offer FAFSA online capabilities and many have Spanish interpreters available. A complete list of sites is available at CollegeGoalSunday.org.

Attendees could possibly win a scholarship from College Goal Sunday
Students may also win one of five $1,000 scholarships. Students who attend College Goal Sunday and submit a completed evaluation form will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $1,000 scholarship. The winners will be notified and scholarships will be sent directly to the higher education institution selected by the winning students.

For more information about College Goal Sunday visit CollegeGoalSunday.org.

According to Bartholomew County Emergency Management, Widespread heavy rainfall is expected throughout Saturday into early Sunday night with total rain amounts as high as 3 inches. This could cause isolated flooding this weeekend into early next week, especially across Southern Indiana. Wet roads, along with pooling water on roadways, especially in low lying areas, combined with falling temperatures can cause slick roadways and the possibility for ice and black ice on the roads. Please remember to be weather aware and slow down when driving.