A Democratic presidential candidate says he looks forward to a chance to talk with residents in one of his favorite cities. California Congressman Eric Swalwell will be holding a town hall at the Factory 12 Event loft at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
Swalwell’s wife, Brittany Watts Swalwell, is a Columbus native.
He said he has come to love the city and it is one place he feels most relaxed.
The 38-year-old Swalwell is a four term member of Congress and is founder and chairman emeritus of Future Forum, a Democratic group aimed at millennial Americans.
Swalwell said it is exciting to be part of the biggest field of Democratic presidential contenders in more than 40 years.
Swalwell talks about what he brings to the campaign that sets him apart from the other Democrats seeking the presidency.
Swalwell made the decision to run the night that Donald Trump was elected as president. In part, his decision was reached after working with a distinguished Hoosier, former Rep. Lee Hamilton.
Doors will open at 1:15 p.m. at the Factory 12 Event loft, 1235 Jackson Street, and you can RSVP here.
Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.
Bartholomew Consolidated Schools are reporting that a school bus caught fire this morning near Ogilville.
Officials say that it was early in the driver’s route and the driver helped both of the students evacuate.
When Bartholomew County deputies arrived on the scene at the intersection of County Roads 550W and 550S after being dispatched at 6:23 a.m. this morning, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames.
Southwest Volunteer firefighters quickly put the fire out. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Deputies took the two children on to school. No one was injured.
The Smoke on the Square BBQ contest in Hope will get a little extra heat on Saturday. The Indiana Fever will be bringing the team mascot, Freddy Fever, to the event along with interactive games and a prize wheel.
That will be at noon Saturday on the Hope Town Square.
Representatives with the team say that the first 20 guests to the Indiana Fever booth will receive a T-shirt and a pair of free tickets to the team’s home opener against the New York Liberty on June 1st.
They say that the stop in Hope is part of the team’s 20 Towns for 20 Seasons community tour, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the franchise.
The event is a fundraiser for the Community Center of Hope to benefit the food bank and child care center. You can take part in that judging on Saturday afternoon by buying a pass to sample the entries for the people’s choice award. They will also be offering BBQ meals including pulled pork, chicken, brisket and a kids hot dog meal for sale.
Smoke on the Square starts at 4 p.m. this evening and runs to 9 p.m., then picks up again at 11 a.m. Saturday until the food runs out.
Timothy Duckworth. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.
Authorities say that a missing Columbus man was found dead in a lake at Ceraland earlier this week.
Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting says that the body found floating in the lake has been identified as 22-year-old Timothy C. Duckworth. Duckworth had been missing since May 4th after disappearing at the park. His body was discovered 10 days later floating in the Ceraland lake.
Nolting said that a forensic autopsy was performed Thursday in Columbus, and the Bartholomew County Death Investigation Team continues to investigate the death.
A Silver Alert was in effect for Duckworth until Thursday afternoon, when identification of his body was announced.
Mayor Jim Lienhoop, State Rep. Ryan Lauer and members of City Council are attending the Cummins announcement at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. WRB photo
Cummins is announcing a $33 million dollar investment in Columbus with up to 75 new jobs.
At an event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this afternoon, Cummins announced that it would be upgrading the Columbus Engine Plant on Central Avenue, making it the corporate hub and primary North American manufacturing center for the company’s newest business segment, Electrified Power.
According to company officials, Cummins plans to add up to 75 new positions by the end of 2021 that will pay an average hourly rate higher than the county and state average.
Mayor Jim Lienhoop says this is great news for Columbus.
About 300 people work in the Electrified Business at eight locations worldwide, including more than 200 engineers. Hiring for a variety of positions will begin in the near future. Interested applicants may learn more and apply online.
Founded in 2018, the Electrified Power business designs and manufactures fully electric and hybrid powertrain systems along with innovative components and subsystems to serve commercial markets as they adopt electrification. The first products will include fully electric powertrains for transit and school buses.
The company reports that it chose to center the new business at CEP because of its close proximity to its original equipment manufacturer customer base, suppliers and partners. CEP also has a “dedicated workforce well equipped to transform the plant into an innovative hub capable of delivering the next century of Cummins’ electrified solutions.”
Upgrades to CEP began last year and are ongoing, as employees have already begun locating in the facility. Cummins employs more than 10,000 in Indiana.
According to state officials, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered Cummins up to $950,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants to help with the expansion. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives.
Also at the Speedway event, Cummins announced new plans to locate a new office building in Greenwood for digital and information technology employees. And in Indianapolis, the company has renovated space at the Salesforce tower and is in the process of building out additional space at its Distribution Business headquarters in downtown Indy.
Gov. Eric Holcomb speaks at the Cummins event today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. WRB photo.
Sections of northbound I-65 will be closed in Bartholomew and Jackson counties overnight. The Indiana Department of Transportation says that crews will be milling and doing guardrail repair work in the construction zone between Seymour and Columbus.
Lane closures are scheduled as follows:
Wednesday, May 15: I-65 NB, right lane at MM 50-51, north of Seymour exit
Thursday, May 16: I-65 NB, left lane at MM 56-56.5, north of Jonesville exit
Friday, May 17: I-65 NB, right lane at MM 61.5, south of Walesboro exit
All work is weather dependent and may be rescheduled.
Motorists are urged to pay attention. Make sure you follow the 55 mph speed restriction posted in the work zone. All trucks are to use the left lane.
May is National Bike Month. In celebration of the month, Columbus is holding a “Bike to Work Day” this week. Cheryl Wright is an organizer for the event…
Those four locations are:
• West Hill on State Road 46 West – Cummins employee route
• Blackwell Park/Parkside Area (parking lot west of soccer fields)
• Haw Creek Trail at the intersection of 30th Street and Griffa Avenue
Loca law enforcement, fire and other public safety agencies are taking part in an annual event aimed at helping Indiana Special Olympics. Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Department, explains…
Wilson explains the program is about finding out which department has the strongest staff…
Each participant is asked to raise at least $200 for the Indiana Special Olympics.
“Showdown of the Shields” is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 18th at FairOaks Mall. You’re encouraged to stop by and cheer on the teams.
The North Vernon City Council is considering an ordinance relating to UTVs and off-road vehicles on city streets. Council members say they recognize the increased popularity of these vehicles and want to make sure they can be safely enjoyed by everyone who is legally allowed to do so.
During Monday night’s first reading of the ordinance, council went over specific policies for drivers. Operators must have a valid drivers license and proof of financial responsibility in order to legally operate within city limits.
Council has also restricted the use of these vehicles on certain streets. These vehicles are to stay off of U.S. 50, State Road 3 and State Road 7, except to cross them at a 90-degree angle. Council members are considering adding additional restrictions ahead of the second reading of the ordinance, set for May 29th.
Two new members of the Columbus Human Rights Commission took their appointments this week. Mayor Jim Lienhoop administered the oath to Claudia Sanchez-Davila and Sondra Bolte on Monday after city council made the appointments during its May 8th meeting.
Sanchez-Davila was appointed to fulfill the unexpired term of Commissioner Tony McClendon, who passed away in March. The term ends in March, 2021.
Sanchez-Davila is the Latina Services Case Manager at Turning Point. Originally from Mexico, Sanchez-Davila earned a Bachelor’s degree in Judicial Law from the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Sanchez-Davila and her family relocated to Columbus in 2012.
Bolte was appointed to a three year term. This seat was previously held by Ian Kohen, who served on the Commission for 15 years.
Bolte is a Cummins retiree, where she worked for 32 years. She led the Global Ethics Investigations at Cummins during her last 14 years with the company. Bolte was a founding member of both Pride Alliance of Columbus and the Inclusive Community Coalition. She served on the Planning Commission and led the Columbus chapter of Showing Up of Racial Justice. Bolte is a lifetime member of the NAACP.
