The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority is announcing a campaign to raise money for girls locker rooms at Hamilton Community Center and Ice Arena in Columbus.

According to the state agency, the project will receive a matching grant from the agency’s CreatINg Place’s program if the community raises $50,000 for the project by Sept. 13th. The goal is to provide a dedicated locker room with restrooms, showers, benches and other amenities. Organizers say that if the space is not being used as a locker room, it will also be available for event and tutoring space.

Carleen Fry, manager of the Columbus Parks facility said that currently, girls must get changed in bathrooms or equipment rooms. At times, there are so many trying to get changed that they have to take turns. Fry said “This project will directly address this challenge and provide our girls the space they need.”

The campaign is being organized locally through the Columbus Park Foundation. You can get more information at https://www.columbusparkfoundation.org

The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce is announcing the four women who will be recognized at next month’s Women in Leadership luncheon.

This year’s four honorees will be Cheryl Buffo, Laura Mount, Diane Robbins, and Nicole Wheeldon.

Buffo leads Community Programs for Columbus Regional Health Foundation and serves as Program Manager for Mental Health Matters. Mount co-owns Voelz, Reed, & Mount, LLC, one of South Central Indiana’s largest elder law firms. Robbins is the executive director of the Bartholomew County Historical Society. Wheeldon, is a Plant Manager for Cummins and is president of the Bartholomew Consolidated School Board.

The annual event has a theme this year of “Wiser Than Me” and will feature the four community leaders, their accomplishments and those who inspired and mentored them. Cindy Frey, president of the Chamber said that in addition to honoring the women’s contributions, this year “will also recognize the women of previous generations who served as trailblazers and mentors.”

This year’s luncheon will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23nd at The Commons. Tickets are $65 each or $500 for a table of eight. You can get more information or make a reservation at www.columbusareachamber.com

Forecasters are warning that heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding in our area today.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued an areal flood watch for parts of Central Indiana, including Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson and Jennings counties.

The weather service says that excessive runoff could lead to flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other flood-prone locations.

The flood watch is in effect from 8 this morning through 2 Wednesday morning.

The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department is announcing the winners of this year’s Jack Cramer Ideals of Athletic Competition awards.

According to the city, this year’s winners are Sarah Frasier and Steve Souder.

The awards are in memory of Cramer, a former local athlete who died in 1978 at the age of 33. They are presented annually to a man and women for their role as athletes, coaches or sports organizers in the community.

They will be recognized at a ceremony on Wednesday, July 31 at 5 p.m. in the afternoon at the meeting room in Nexus Park. You are invited to attend and you should use Entrance 2 to reach the event.

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:

• 4,000 graduates from its Cummins Technical Education for Communities since the program launched in 2012
• More than 625 thousand women and girls going through its Cummins Powers Women program in the last year
• And 864 financial or technical services provided to Black-owned enterprises through Cummins Advocating for Racial Equity program since that effort launched in 2020.

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