Indiana continues working to shore-up the state’s teacher shortage. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education has awarded 200 scholarships to the second class of Next Generation Hoosier Educators. Officials say that the recipients, selected through a competitive process based on academic achievement and other factors, will receive $7,500 annually (up to $30,000 total) for committing to teach in Indiana for at least five years after graduating college.

“We’re encouraged to have so many driven, passionate students applying for this teacher scholarship, and we look forward to the positive impact they will have in classrooms and school communities across Indiana,” said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers.

A total of 510 students applied for the 2018-19 Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship, with applications coming from 231 high schools in 86 counties. About two-thirds of applicants were Indiana high school seniors with the remainder comprised of current college students.

To qualify for the scholarship, students had to either graduate in the highest 20 percent of their high school class or earn a score in the top 20th percentile on the SAT or ACT. To continue earning the scholarship in college, students must earn a 3.0 cumulative GPA and complete at least 30 credit hours per year.

Area students who received the scholarship for the 2018-19 academic year include:

BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY
Grace Bowling – Columbus East High School, Indiana University Purdue University Columbus;
Tiffany Collins – Columbus East High School, Vincennes University;
Whitley Eicher – Columbus East High School, Indiana Wesleyan University

DECATUR COUNTY
Olivia Ortman – Columbus East High School, University of Indianapolis

JACKSON COUNTY
Madison Jones – Brownstown Central High School, Indiana University Southeast;
Chloe Smith – Seymour Senior High School, Indiana University Purdue University Columbus

JOHNSON COUNTY
Bailey Evans – Greenwood Community High School, University of Indianapolis
McKenzie Harold – Whiteland Community High School, Franklin College
Marlena Leininger – Greenwood Community High School, Ball State University
Morgan Rayner – Center Grove High School, Purdue University West Lafayette
Madelynn Robbins – Center Grove High School, Indiana University Bloomington
Kaylee Swank – Greenwood Community High School, Ball State University

MONROE COUNTY
Rebecca Frye – Bloomington High School North, Indiana University Bloomington;
Noel Gillenwater – Edgewood High School, Indiana University Bloomington;
Emily Headdy – Edgewood High School, Ball State University;
Greta Stephenson – Bloomington High School North, Indiana University Bloomington

SHELBY COUNTY
Katie Brammer – Shelbyville Senior High School, Indiana University Bloomington;
Benjamin Hall – Shelbyville Senior High School, Ball State University;
Alivia Schornick – Southwestern High School, University of Indianapolis

Purdue Polytechnic Columbus is inviting children, ages 9 to 14, to explore science, technology, engineering and math concepts while having fun at the LEGO Robotics Summer Camp. The camp will be held July 16-20 from 9 a.m. to noon at the ACME Building, Room 140, located at 4444 Kelly Street in Columbus.

Organizers say that campers will work together in small teams and be provided with LEGO products to explore robotics. They say these unique components, which include modular sensors, motors, and electromechanical parts, are used to build robots that are controlled by a programmable LEGO “Brick” computer. The camp teaches children the basic concepts about how real-life mechanical systems operate while inspiring them to use their imaginations and build mechanical robots of their own creation.

The cost of the camp is $60 and will include all materials, t-shirt, snacks, and prizes. Spaces in the camp are limited and may be reserved by registering online at purdue.edu/columbus/visit/summer-camps.

Registration ends July 13th.

Two Jackson County residents were arrested Wednesday morning after a traffic stop near Seymour. Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police Post in Versailles, says that shortly after 8 a.m., Trooper Seth Davidson conducted the stop on on US 50 near County Avenue, just east of Seymour after he observed a traffic violation. A check of the vehicle’s registration showed that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Jennings County.

Authorities arrested the driver, 38-year-old Jeremy G. Cockerham, of Norman, and his passenger, 19-year-old Brook B. Neidige, of Seymour. During a search of the vehicle, officers reportedly found suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. They say that further investigation revealed that Neidige had approximately 88 grams of suspected methamphetamine concealed inside of her clothing.

Cockerham is facing preliminary charges of Auto Theft and Possession of Methamphetamine. Neidige was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Criminal Trespass.

Columbus police say a suspect is being held on almost a million dollars bail after being arrested on several warrants yesterday afternoon..

32 year old Jermaine D. Ford of Columbus was wanted on warrants including two counts of dealing methamphetamine, carrying a handgun without a license, criminal recklessness, intimidation and pointing a firearm.

Lt Matt Harris withe the Columbus police says that an officer saw Ford in vehicle near Carl Miske Drive and Indianapolis Road at about 2:10 yesterday. Indiana State Police assisted with the traffic stop, Ford was arrested without incident and is now being held on $950,000 bond.

No one was injured in a fire on Pearl Street in Columbus last night, despite initial reports that someone was trapped inside the apartment building.

Columbus firefighters were called to the blaze at just before 6:30 p.m. last night in the 700 block of Pearl Street, says Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Department. One caller thought a man was trapped in an upstairs apartment, but all of the residents were accounted for when firefighters arrived about three minutes later.

The fire was quickly extinguished but it damaged the building’s electrical system and Duke Energy cut power to the home, Wilson says. Six residents were displaced and the Salvation Army provided shelter services, Wilson said.

Indiana State Police arrested a man allegedly carrying guns, cash and drugs on the interstate near Seymour yesterday.

The incident happened at 9 a.m. yesterday morning when a trooper pulled over a pickup truck north of Seymour on Interstate 65 and state police dog Jinx alerted to the smell of drugs inside the vehicle.

A search revealed methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, two guns and over $1,000 in cash, says Sgt. Stephen Wheeles with the Indiana State Police. One of the guns had its serial number removed, Wheeles said.

The driver, 39-year-old Stephen Hoop of Clayton, Ind., is facing charges including dealing and possessing methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a gun, possession of a handgun with obliterated serial numbers, maintaining a common nuisance, possession of marijuana with a prior conviction and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cummins Inc. on Tuesday reported results for the first quarter of 2018.

A filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed first quarter revenues of $5.6 billion. That’s up 21 percent from the same quarter last year. Company officials say that strong demand for trucks, construction and mining equipment drove the majority of the revenue increase, as did a weaker US dollar.

Sales in North America improved by 22 percent while international revenues increased by 20 percent. That was attributed to strong growth in Europe, Latin America, China and India.

“Improving demand in a number of the Company’s core markets, combined with our strong global market share and the success of new products aimed at lowering emissions, resulted in sales growth of 21 percent in the first quarter,” said Chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the first quarter were $700 million, down from $705 million one year ago. Net income attributable to Cummins in the first quarter was $325 million.

“Cummins delivered solid operating performance in the first quarter led by strong incremental margins in the Power Systems segment,” continued Linebarger. “As a result of rising demand and continued benefits from cost reduction initiatives, we have raised our full year outlook for sales and EBITDA.”

Based on the current forecast, Cummins officials say they expect full year 2018 revenues to be up 10 to 14 percent, compared to a previous forecast of four to eight percent.

The Bartholomew County School Supply Assistance Program is underway. Organizers say that Bartholomew County families who are in financial need may register children entering Kindergarten through 12th grade who are enrolled in any school throughout Bartholomew County. This includes the Flatrock-Hawcreek School Corporation and private schools. The program offers free basic school supplies.

To register, call United Way’s 2-1-1, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Preference will be given to those who register by July 20th.

If you would like to help, organizers say that donations are also being accepted. Financial donations are preferred, as they enable the committee to make bulk purchases. Tax-deductible cash, check or money order donations can be made payable and sent to BCSSAP, 1531 13th Street, Columbus, IN 47201. You should list “School Supplies” in the memo area. Material donations are being accepted at the United Way Center and Sans Souci. During 2017, over 2,000 students in Bartholomew County received free school supplies.

The Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety approved an interlocal agreement on Tuesday between the city and the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority. City officials say the agreement allows the two agencies to cooperate in providing transportation to local employees.

In early 2017, a committee made up of Mayor Jim Lienhoop, several city department heads, employers, staffing agencies, social service providers, the Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Economic Development, and other stakeholders was formed to discuss employee transportation solutions. Those discussions identified the need for a bus route to the Woodside Industrial Park.

Columbus officials say that the committee determined a vanpool program to be the preferred solution, as it was found to be more flexible and less expensive than a bus route. A vanpool consists of a number of people commuting from similar points to similar destinations each workday. The program, expected to begin in the next few months, will be managed by CIRTA, which now operates vanpools in nine central Indiana counties.

“Carpooling is hardly a new idea, but when a city, its employers and their employees apply the concept in a new way, it is a model of civic innovation,” said Cindy Frey, President of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce. “I applaud the city and our local employers for creating a vanpool program that provides reliable, low-cost transportation for employees. This is smart government.”

Columbus officials say the cost of renting and operating the vans will be shared by the city, employers, sponsors and riders. They add that vanpools will be required to have an origin in Columbus and a destination in Columbus or Bartholomew County, or an origin in any county and a destination in Columbus.

Seven candidates, five Republicans and two Democrats, are actively campaigning to win the District 59 seat at the Statehouse being vacated by retiring Rep. Milo Smith of Columbus. The district covers most of Bartholomew County. Mary Kohen and Dale Nowlin are running in the Democratic primary. We asked them about what actions they would specifically like to see taken to improve the lives of those who live and work in the district.

Kohen says the opioid epidemic is what initially drew her into the race.

Nowlin says he’s interested in doing what his constituents want. A big concern, he says, is education.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face the winner of the Republican primary being contested between Lew Wilson, JoAnne Flohr, Ryan Lauer, John Counceller, and Allen Smith. Benjamin Chastain is also on the Republican ballot, but he is not actively campaigning.

Counceller says that improving infrastructure and education is important.

Flohr says it’s important to “listen and observe.”

05-02 Election JoAnne Flohr Q3 RAW

Wilson says that improved educational opportunities lead to improved economic conditions for everyone.

05-02 Election LEW WILSON Q3 raw

Lauer says we must look out for the most vulnerable among us…

Smith says that education and job-training is key.

05-02 Election Allan Smith Q3 RAW

The primary election is May 8th.