Bartholomew Consolidated Schools have released slight revisions to the school reopening plan that will be presented to the school board tonight for approval.

The draft plan recommends that the use of face coverings be optional for all staff members and students. However, they are recommended for those at risk or who are not vaccinated.

Masks will be required on school buses, due to the federal mandate for masks on public transportation.

Among other measures being proposed by BCSC, the draft plan now recommends physical distancing of 3 feet in classrooms. However contact tracing will be conducted for those who are within six feet of each other. And the use of hallway lockers will be allowed, but managed to limit opportunities for large group gatherings.

The draft plan will be presented to the school board at its meeting tonight. That meeting will start at 6:30 in the Administration Building on Central Avenue and can be watched on YouTube.

You can find a summary of the revisions here.

12:30 p.m. update

Bartholomew County Emergency Management reports the following roads are closed due to high water:

Cummins will be partnering with Chevron to develop hydrogen fuel and other alternative energy sources for vehicles.

The two companies announced the framework for the partnership yesterday, saying they will collaborate to advance public policy supporting hydrogen as a decarbonizing solution, to build demand for hydrogen powered vehicles and industrial applications, to develop the infrastructure for hydrogen fuel and to leverage Cummins electrolyzer and fuel cell technologies at Chevron refineries.

A Chevron spokesman says hydrogen is one of the solutions the company is looking at to lower carbon emissions. Others include renewable natural gas, blending renewables into fuels, processing bio feed stocks and abatement projects to lower the carbon footprint at refineries.

Amy Davis, president of New Power at Cummins, says that an energy transition is happening and the Columbus-based engine manufacturer recognizes the critical role hydrogen will play in the energy mix. Cummins has deployed more than 2,000 hydrogen fuel cells and 600 electrolyzers around the world.

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A wanted man was arrested this week after he was found by Columbus police riding a bicycle near Fair Oaks Mall.

According to police reports, officers noticed 44-year-old Micah E. Fisher of Columbus riding his bicycle at about 10:45 Monday night and realized he was wanted on an outstanding Bartholomew County warrant for dealing methamphetamine. He was taken into custody without incident, but while searching his backpack police discovered several containers of narcotics, plastic baggies and a digital scale.

He was arrested on the warrant and new charges of dealing methamphetamine, plus possession of meth, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Columbus and other metropolitan statistical areas in Indiana will keep their federal designation which will help keep federal funds flowing.

Columbus Congressman Greg Pence announced the decision by the Office of Management and Budget this week, saying that the agency would keep the population threshold in place, after early discussions to lift the number. Many communities in Indiana would have fallen out of the metropolitan area category, reducing the opportunity for federal funding. Those included Columbus, Muncie, Kokomo, Terre Haute and Michigan City.

Pence’s office says he led bipartisan opposition against the change. He said that “Hoosier cities and countless others across the nation would have unnecessarily lost out on federal resources because of bureaucratic shortsightedness.”

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop said Columbus relies on federal funding. The money goes to areas such as community development, transportation and planning, as well as local street, transportation and neighborhood projects. Lienhoop said he appreciated “the assistance from Congressman Pence and our other representatives in Washington.”

In January, the OMB announced a proposal to raise the population threshold from the current 50,000 residents to a 100,000 resident bottom line.

The driver of a dump truck died in a rollover crash on a rural Decatur County road Wednesday.

Indiana State Police are reporting that 69-year-old Gregory S. King of Greensburg was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on County Road 850E by the Decatur County Coroner’s office.

According to the state police investigation, King was driving northbound, just south of County Road 400N at about 6:30 Wednesday evening, when his vehicle ran off the edge of the road for unknown reasons. It returned to the roadway and then rolled over and caught fire. King sustained fatal injuries in the crash.

The Indiana State Police-Versailles Post Crash Reconstruction Team reconstructed the crash. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Organizers of Hope Heritage Days have chosen the grand marshals for this year’s parade, Randy and Tonja Sims.

According to the announcement yesterday from Heritage of Hope, the two have served for decades on the Heritage of Hope Board and its festival and bandstand division, with the Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp., on numerous Town Council committees and have supported other community causes.

The proclamation called the Sims a wonderful example to others and said they have made it possible for many generations in that corner of Bartholomew County to enjoy a richer, more fulfilling life.

The parade is on Sept. 26th, the last day of the annual festival in Hope.

Photo: Randy and Tonja Sims. Courtesy of Heritage of Hope

The Columbus Fire Department is announcing the promotion of three firefighters.

Lieutenant Josh Allman has been promoted to the rank of Captain. Allman is a 20 year veteran of the department and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2016.

Firefighters Andrew Jordan and Ben Whiteside have both been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Both have served 14 years with the Columbus Fire Department.

All three officers will be given their shift and station assignments beginning next week.

Jennings County Sheriff Kenny Freeman is recognizing citizens who helped police catch a fleeing suspect last month.

The sheriff’s department reports on social media that deputies and North Vernon police officers were trying to catch a suspect in June. Resident Mike Wick chased the suspect through several back yards in his neighborhood, while Wick’s son Dylan ran down the street to alert police on the direction his dad and the suspect were heading.

On Thursday night, Freeman met with the Wicks, thanking them for their help and presenting them with a Jennings County Sheriff’s Office coin.

Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department. Mike Wick an Sheriff Kenny Freeman

The Georg Utz company is planning a more than $19 million dollar investment in its facilities in the Edinburgh area.

Bartholomew County Council agreed to provide tax breaks for the project this week.

Company officials told the council that they are planning a more than 135,000 square foot expansion to the facility at a cost of $11.8 million dollars along with $7.5 million in new manufacturing equipment. Company spokeswoman Penny Grubbs said the project would add 46 new jobs with wages of $25.13 per hour by December of next year. It would also retain 180 jobs that already exist.

About 10,000 square feet of the new space would be turned into the company’s North American headquarters.

The council approved a tax abatement for the project, phasing in taxes on the purchases over 10 years for the property and five years for the equipment.

Earlier in the evening, the council gave its final approval to make a large area of northwestern Bartholomew County into an economic revitalization area, which opens up the area to tax abatements.

The council also approved a tax abatement for Force Construction this week in the same area. Force plans to construct an empty shell building in the area, for use by companies looking to relocate or expand in Bartholomew County.