Edinburgh police dog Xta is receiving a grant to help pay for medical insurance.

According to the Edinburgh Police Department, the Healthcare for K9 Heroes grant comes from the not-for-profit Vested Interest in K-9’s group, which also recently provided the dog with a bullet and stab protective vest. The Healthcare for K9 Heroes medical insurance program covers annual policy premiums.

Law enforcement dogs two to seven years old, who have previously received one of the group’s vests are eligible for the insurance grants. The insurance is through Trupanion and covers illnesses and injuries, including those sustained in the line of duty, as well as diagnostic testing and therapies.

The not-for-profit group accepts donations to provide vests and insurance. You can find more information at www.vik9s.org.

Early voting is wrapping up soon for Tuesday’s primary election.

In Bartholomew County, you can vote today at Donner Center from 8 to 5 and tomorrow at both Donner Center and the Governmental Office Building on Third Street from 8 to 3. Early voting wraps up at Donner Center at noon on Monday.

On primary election day Tuesday, you can vote at any of the county’s 14 vote centers.

If you have any questions, you can call the county voter registration office at 812-379-1604.

Cummins is seeing flat sales and revenues fell in the first quarter of this year, but income nearly tripled from the same period last year.

The Columbus based engine manufacturer, released its first quarter report today, saying that revenues of $8.4 billion were down 1 percent from the same quarter last year. The report says that sales in North America were flat but international revenue decreased 1 percent due to lower demand in China and Europe.

However, the company also saw net income of $2 billion, up from $790 million in the same quarter of last year. That increase is due to the gain from spinning off the former filtration business and restructuring expenses in last year’s first quarter.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the first quarter were $2.6 billion compared to $1.4 billion a year ago.

Cummins Chair and CEO Jennifer Rumsey said that spinning the filtration business off into its own company, Atmus, allows that business to pursue its own plans for profitability, while “allowing Cummins to continue its focus on advancing innovative power solutions…”

Cummins complete report is available here: https://investor.cummins.com/news/detail/646/cummins-reports-first-quarter-2024-results

Bartholomew County Road 250W will be closing today for ditching work.

According to the Bartholomew County Highway Department , the road between Lowell Road and County Road 100 North will be closed from about 8 a.m. this morning to 3 p.m this afternoon. You should avoid the area if you can.

You can expect to see soldiers, military ambulances and even Blackhawk helicopters around Columbus Regional Hospital this morning as part of a military exercise out of Muscatatuck Urban Training Center.

According to the military, the CRH portion of the Guardian Response exercise will be going on at the hospitals from 9 to 11 in the morning tomorrow. The exercise will be evaluating the soldiers ability to treat, triage, and transport patients from a simulated disaster area to a civilian medical center. Civilians will also be learning how to move patients from a military aircraft and ambulances into the hospitals.

The military warns that you can expect to hear loud noises during the training, as well as the scenes of military gear at the local hospitals.

The exercise is being coordinated by U.S. Army Reserve 78th Training Division.

A Columbus woman is under arrest after a road-rage incident turned into a stabbing yesterday morning in Columbus.

According to the Columbus Police Department, the incident was reported at about 8:56 Wednesday morning, when officers were called to the Target store on National Road. A man and woman had been in an argument after an incident on the road. Police say that the dispute turned physical when the woman cut the man’s hand. She then went into the store, police say.

Officers found and arrested 31-year-old Lisa Kinjo-Rothrock on a preliminary felony charge of battery with a deadly weapon.

State Road 135 in Brown County will be reduced to one lane starting next week.

According to INDOT, contractors will be replacing a drainage structure in the area of Pleasant Valley Creek near Stonehead. That is about five miles south of S.R. 46 at Bellsville Pike. The road will reduced to one lane during the work which is scheduled to start on Monday. An 11-foot width restriction will be put in place during the closure. Semis as well as truck and trailer traffic should avoid traveling along State Road 135 and should detour aroudn the area using State Road 58 to Interstate 65 to State Road 46. You will also see temporary traffic signals at the intersection of State Road 135 and Bellsville Pike.

The work is expected to last until October, weather permitting.

A current closure on State Road 135 near Stonehead will reopen prior to the planned lane restrictions for the new work.

E&B Paving is the contractor for this $3.7 million contract, which includes five projects.

INDOT urges you to slow down, to drive without distractions, to use extra caution and to be alert to worker safety in all work zones.

Duke Energy Foundation is providing a $10,000 grant to assist at-risk students in southern Indiana move into the workforce.

According to the foundation, the grant is going to the Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Board, which represents 10 counties including Bartholomew, Decatur, Jackson and Jennings in our area. The grant will go to support the expansion of the Jobs for America’s Graduates, or JAG program, a dropout prevention program started locally by the board in 2011, with two programs.

There are now programs in area schools including:

• Brownstown Central High School
• Crothersville Jr-Sr High School
• Franklin County High School
• Jennings County High School,
• Lawrenceburg High School
• Madison Consolidated High School
• Milan High School
• Seymour High School
• South Dearborn High School
• South Ripley High School shared with JacCenDel High School
• Switzerland County High School.

In 2022 Gov. Eric Holcomb made expansion of the program a priority and future sites include:

• Greensburg High School
• North Decatur High School
• South Decatur High School
• Southwestern High School
• Medora High School
• JacCenDel High School

Organizers say that the Duke funding will help students learn foundational employment skills, prepare for their career, and engage with local industry leaders.

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools have a new leader.

The school board voted unanimously earlier this week to approve Dr. Chad Phillips for the role. Phillips has been serving as the school district’s assistant superintendent of financial services for the past 7 years and has been with the school district for 20 years.

The contract with Phillips will give him a base salary of $204 thousand 671 dollars with an initital contract lasting until the end of June of 2027.

Current Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts is stepping down at the end of June to take on a new role with the Community Education Coalition.

No one from the public commented on Phillips’ appointment.

An upcoming celebration will recognize the black and bi-racial students of Bartholomew County for their efforts, activities and achievements.

Felicia Garr, the manager of black and bi-racial youth initiatives for the Community Education Coalition explains what she calls a non-traditional celebration :

You have until Tuesday to submit a youth who you feel is deserving of recognition for their efforts. Garr hopes that 100 households will be represented at the event. Parents and caregivers can submit names to Garr by calling 812-371-5255, by email or by mail.

• 4555 Central Ave, Suite 1310. Columbus, IN 47203
• 812-371-5255
• [email protected]

The celebration will be Thursday, May 23rd at the Columbus Learning Center. The pre-celebration will start at 6 p.m. with the program starting at 7 p.m. in the evening.

It is being hosted by the Bartholomew County NAACP, Paths to Success, Columbus Enrichment Program and the Community Education Coalition.

The event is free and open to the public.