A Columbus native is finishing up his 300 mile run to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder, especially among veterans.

Kyle Killinger is due to hit the Columbus Texas Roadhouse tomorrow morning, where he will be greeted by a car show, 5K run and other festivities.

His father, Harold Killinger, says that Kyle is raising money for two PTSD organizations, Save 22 and 22 to None. The senior Killinger explains the “22” in the name.

Kyle works at Toyota in Columbus and is a Marines Corps Veteran.

Harold Killinger said the family has a long  tradition of military service.

He set off last week from Canton, Ohio at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

You can find more information on Kyle’s Facebook page, 300 Miles Because He’s My Brother. He posted last night that he had passed the 200 mile mark and had re-entered Indiana.

Entry in the 5k run will cost $15, and the car show will be $22. Harold said that any types of vehicles are welcome, ranging from motorcycles to trucks.

The Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association recently honored State Rep. Milo Smith, a Columbus Republican, as their Legislator of the Year. That was for his work advancing firefighter readiness and safety during the latest legislative session, according to Smith’s office.

Smith authored a bill which requires volunteer firefighters to meet the same number of training hours as full-time firefighters before they are able to respond to an emergency call.

The Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association held it annual state convention at the Clarion Hotel in Columbus last month, where Smith received the award.

Tonight’s JCB Neighborfest concert in downtown Columbus has been moved inside The Commons due to the rain. The concert featuring Parrots of the Caribbean will start at 5:30 p.m.

Columbus police were making an extra patrol Wednesday morning near Georgia Street and Hege Avenue when they came upon a wanted fugitive.

The extra patrol at a local apartment complex was underway at around 10 Wednesday morning, when an officer noticed a man in the back seat of a parked vehicle and recognized him as 26-year-old Michael A. Goodin. Goodin was wanted on two outstanding Bartholomew County warrants.

As Goodin was being searched on his way to the jail, officers allegedly found a syringe in his pants pocket, says Officer Alyson M. Rech, spokeswoman for the city police.

In addition to the two warrants, he is now facing a new preliminary charge of possession of a legend drug injection device.

This season’s second Farmer’s Market of Hope is taking place Friday afternoon on the Hope Town Square. The farmer’s markets are held from 5 to 8 p.m., on the first Friday of every month, through October

Friday’s event will feature a Touch-a-Truck display by local firefighters, and a performance by Sons of I Am, a local Christian rock group.

Organizers are still hoping to get more vendors. You can apply to be a vendor at Hope Town Hall or by calling 812-546-0423. Volunteers from the Hauser FFA will be on hand at the farmer’s market to help vendors set up.

A state trooper allegedly smelled pot when he pulled a car over on Interstate 65 near Seymour on the Fourth of July. Now the driver is under arrest on forgery charges.

The trooper stopped the car at about 5:30 p.m. hat afternoon and after arresting the driver, 26-year-old Shamone D. Williams of Jeffersonville, a search allegedly revealed marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and fraudulent blank checks along with devices used to make the fraudulent checks, says Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the state police.

Williams is facing preliminary charges of forgery, maintaining a common nuisance and for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Indiana State Police say that a violent felon was found with a gun, after a traffic stop Monday on Interstate 65 near Seymour.

The incident started at about 3:20 that afternoon when a trooper pulled over the vehicle after a traffic violation. But state police dog Jinx alerted to the smell of drugs coming from inside the vehicle. A search allegedly revealed the handgun, along with syringes, a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, says Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police.

44-year-old Jay Martt of Madison was arrested on preliminary charges for being a serious violent felon in possession of a handgun, along with possession charges for the syringes, controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. He is also facing a charge of maintaining a common nuisance.

He was taken to the Jackson County Jail.

The city of Columbus is going to try to increase development in six areas of the community.

Those six are on track to be named economic revitalization areas. Robin Hilber, with the city’s office of community development, said that the areas to be targeted are:

• Woodside Northwest
• Progress Park
• Columbus Municipal Airport
• State Street Industrial Corridor,
• Indianapolis Road Industrial Corridor
• Downtown Columbus

Declaring Economic Revitalization Areas make it possible for businesses to apply for tax credits and abatements. City Council approved a resolution last night naming those locations as ERAs.

Cummins is planning a $50 million dollar investment into its downtown Columbus headquarters building. And is reaffirming its commitment to the community. The company made the announcement yesterday at the same event with Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Cummins President and COO Rich Freeland talks about the company’s commitment to its hometown:

Freeland says that this investment should help to quell any concerns that Cummins is leaving Columbus.

Cummins’ HQ was designed by Kevin Roche and built as the company’s corporate headquarters in 1983 under the direction of J. Irwin Miller. Company officials say the building has not undergone extensive renovation since it was built. In order to bring it up to company standards, the entire facility will be renovated. The project will accommodate 1,200 employees when it is completed in 2019, as Cummins celebrates its 100th anniversary.

The new COB will incorporate art and improved lighting throughout, support both collaboration and efficiency, and allow for adjustment into the future. It will also provide added meeting spaces necessary for the Company.

The City of Columbus will hold a Public Meeting on Saturday at 9 a.m. at Columbus Municipal Airport in the basement of Hangar 5 Restaurant. Robin Hilber, with the city’s office of community development, says this meeting will take place during the meeting of the Landlords’ Association to discuss the Brownfield Assessment Grant.

The grant was awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fund the assessment of properties in Columbus that are potentially contaminated by hazardous substances and petroleum products. These sites are defined as underutilized or abandoned property in which future development is complicated by the perception or presence of environmental contaminants. The city explains that brownfield sites can include land or buildings containing asbestos, mold or other pollutants; former industrial and commercial sites such as gas stations, dry cleaning facilities, grain elevators, and landfills. Hilber says that the general advantage of an assessment is:

– Increased property value
– To make property more marketable
– Clarify environmental conditions (a value to potential developers or buyers)
– Potentially eliminate stigma attached to property
– No cost to the landowner for the assessment
– Most lending institutions, loan servicing companies, purchasers require it prior to lending

If you are a property owner, a land developer, or a commercial realtor, the city is encouraging you to attend Saturday morning’s meeting to learn more about how this grant can benefit you.