Cummins is announcing plans to buy back $500 million dollars worth of shares from Goldman & Sachs.

The Columbus based diesel engine manufacturer made the announcement this morning, saying that an accelerated share repurchase agreement with the financial company was part of a previously announced plan to repurchase stock and is authorized by the Board of Directors. The company plans to return 75 percent of its operating cash flow to shareholders this year.

The company says that it will initially repurchase 3 million shares based on current market prices and the rest will be determined by the average stock price, minus a discount.

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A rezoning request for a development on nearly 10 acres in the Tipton Lakes has been denied. Developers for the Proposed Spring Hill Lake development, just west of the greater Tipton Lakes area and north of Goeller Road, wanted to rezone the property to allow for the construction of duplexes. That development would have provided homes for approximately 40 families.

More than 100 people turned out at Tuesday night’s Columbus City Council meeting, a vast majority who spoke were against the proposal, citing concerns with traffic and the impact on neighboring property values. Neighbors also decried what many referred to as a lack of communication from the developer.

City Council members agreed with the neighbors, specifically mentioning a lack of communication with neighboring property owners. Councilman Frank Miller says the proposal is a good one. While he supported the rezoning request, Miller says that a number of concerns could have been alleviated with more transparency from the developer and a willingness to actively engage neighbors.

Council voted 5-2 to deny the rezoning request. Councilmen Tim Shuffett and Miller voted to approve it. The developer may make adjustments to the proposal or return in one year to resubmit the failed request.

The city of Columbus unveiled four new buses during a Tuesday morning ceremony. Dave Hayward, city engineer, explains…

He talks about some of that equipment…

Hayward, city engineer, explains that is was simply time to replace the buses…

Hayward says that these buses cost about a half-million dollars each, but thanks to a federal grant, the city only had to 20 percent of that. He adds that two older buses remain in the city fleet, but they will also be replaced with newer models next year utilizing an identical grant.

A boil order issued by Brown County Water is affecting some Nashville Municipal Utility customers in the Bean Blossom area. Included are:

4931-5075 State Road 135 North;
32-205 Gatesville Road;
60 McDonald Drive;
5345 Spearsville Road;
11 State Road 45 West;
4145-4756 Covered Bridge Road;

While Brown County Water personnel would not publicize all of the area under the boil order, they say that all of their customers have been notified.

The order is in effect through 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Authorities are continuing their search for a man who went missing in Bartholomew County more than two months ago.

Bartholomew County deputies along with Jennings County and Indiana State Police have been searching for 25-year-old Joseph Ross of Brownstown, since he went missing on May 31st. He was last seen heading into woods near Amberly Addition in Columbus and has not been seen since.

Ross is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs between 135 and 145 pounds. He has blond hair and hazel eyes and he was last seen wearing blue jeans and a green T-Shirt.

If you have any information, no matter how insignificant, you are asked to contact Detective Terry Holderness at 812-565-5927. Or you can call the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s department tip line at 812-379-1712. Tips can be left anonymously.

Bartholomew County deputies arrested two people last night on drug related charges after a traffic stop.

According to police reports, deputies pulled over a vehicle in the 400 block of Gladstone Avenue at about 11:50 p.m. Monday night and found that the license plate did not match the vehicle. Further, the driver, 47-year-old Jeffrey N. Beckwith of Columbus was a habitual traffic violator without a license. And the deputy allegedly could smell marijuana inside the vehicle.

A search allegedly revealed marijuana, pills, paraphernalia and 20 grams of methamphetamine.

Beckwith was arrested on various preliminary possession related charges and for driving as a habitual traffic violator. A passenger, 47-year-old Dena McFarlin of Seymour is also facing drug possession charges.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department will be out in force tomorrow morning in school zones to ensure school safety, as well as looking for those who are speeding or not paying attention to school bus stop arms.

Sheriff Matt Myers says that his office is increasing daily patrols at schools as a proactive measure to ensure the safety of Bartholomew County students.

Myers urges parents to talk with your children and let them know if they see or hear anything suspicious, they should report it immediately to school officials or law enforcement. He says any suspicious activity will be thoroughly investigated.

Bartholomew Consolidated and Flat Rock-Hawcreek schools are both back in session tomorrow.

With school starting tomorrow, Bartholomew Consolidated Schools are updating parents on new security measures and procedures that are being added to schools.

The changes are based on a survey of security procedures done by a consultant hired by the district and by parent suggestions.

Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts says that all entry to schools will be restricted to a single entry point and schools will be issuing badges to adults in the school building, including staff, substitute teachers and visitors.

Roberts explains that a vetting process will be in place by Aug. 24th.

During recent school board meetings, several parents have suggested metal detectors as a screening device . In a BCSC video, Roberts said the district is not ready to take that step.

A Sunday night traffic stop led to the arrests of two people on drug charges. Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that at approximately 11:35 p.m., Sgt. Kris Weisner was southbound on I-65 traveling behind a vehicle that was driving erratically. Following a traffic stop at the southbound rest park, K9 Bolt was deployed and alerted to narcotics inside the vehicle. A search allegedly resulted in the discovery of approximately four grams of crystal methamphetamine, along with marijuana and drug-related paraphernalia.

The driver, 45-year-old Aaron D. Osborne, of Monrovia, was wanted on an out of county warrant. He is facing additional preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Paraphernalia.

His passenger, 60-year-old David M. Riley, of Louisville, was arrested on

preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Paraphernalia. He is being held on $63,500 bond.

Two Columbus residents were arrested on drug charges after an early Monday morning traffic stop. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that at approximately 2:40 a.m., officers stopped a vehicle in the 2200 block of Ohio Avenue. He notes that a police K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from inside the vehicle.

A search allegedly resulted in the discovery of heroin inside the vehicle’s center console. Officers also located several pills and drug paraphernalia, including syringes, inside a bag that belonged to a passenger, 43-year-old Michelle S. Clark. Officers also reported finding a small amount of methamphetamine in Clark’s possession. She was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device, Possession of a Legend Drug and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Police searched the driver, 42-year-old Charles Sims, and allegedly found cocaine and methadone inside one of his pants pockets. Sims is facing

preliminary charges of Possession of Heroin, Possession of Cocaine and Possession of a Controlled Substance.