A Kentucky man died after a single-vehicle crash late Wednesday night in Jackson County.

Indiana State Police say the investigation indicated that 53-year-old Robert O. Bell, of Radcliff, was driving a semi pulling a trailer near the 45 mile marker near Seymour when it left the west side of the interstate before coming to stop just off the roadway. Troopers and other first responders arrived and began administering CPR to Bell, who was unresponsive. He was transported to Schneck Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators learned that Bell was on the phone with someone just prior to the crash and indicated he was suffering from a medical emergency. Evidence from the scene indicated that the crash itself did not appear to be the cause of Bell’s death.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Columbus Fire Department is holding a chili fundraiser Friday night at the Fair Oaks Mall. Ben Noblitt with the department explains.

Cost is $5 for a bowl of chili, drink and desert. For $7, you get all that, as well as a Jimmy John’s sandwich. Noblitt says that $10 gets you an endless bowl of chili. Firefighters will also be raffling off some items for those in attendance.

You can line up for chili at the former JC Penny store in the mall starting at 5:30 p.m.

Money raised goes toward the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund, which provides Christmas gifts for the needy children of the community.

Area residents interested in saving the historic Crump theater in downtown Columbus got a chance to take a look at the inside of the historic structure during an event Wednesday evening. Jessica Schnepp is the administrator for the “Save The Crump” Facebook group. She coordinated the event to celebrate 130 years for the building. Schnepp explains why the event was held.

The stage, seating area and balcony were closed off to visitors. Visitors milled around the lobby and in front of the building.

Schnepp says that, currently, there is no plan in place to rehabilitate the building.

More than 100 people visited the Crump during Wednesday night’s event.

If you would like to learn more about efforts to save the theter, visit “Save The Crump” on Facebook.

Cummins on Wednesday announced successful legal actions against Turbotechsnab LLC and Weifang Yuhang Turbocharger Co. Ltd. for infringement upon Cummins’ trademarks and patents.

Cummins officials say that in the decision reached by the Moscow City Arbitrazh Court, Turbotechsnab was held to have infringed Cummins’ HOLSET trademarks. The court awarded an injunction against Turbotechsnab prohibiting further illegal use of Cummins’ HOLSET trademarks in connection with selling, offering to sell, storing and advertising turbochargers. Additionally, the court ordered Turbotechsnab to pay damages and fees to Cummins.

As part of the settlement with Weifang Yuhang Turbocharger Co. Ltd., that company agreed to cease and desist purchasing, making and selling any nozzle ring product that infringes Cummins’ patents, and agreed to destroy all existing infringing stock.

“For more than 100 years Cummins has created dependable quality power technologies and we are committed to defending our intellectual property for the success of our customers,” said Shon Wright, Vice President of Cummins Turbo Technologies. “With support from our global partners, we will continue to survey the global marketplace to ensure the company’s intellectual property is protected.”

Authorities in Johnson County arrested a Greenwood man for molesting a child.

Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess says that on Tuesday, Oct. 29, deputies arrested 51-year-old Richard M. Huffman at his home in the 4100 block of West Countyline Road.

Sheriff Burgess says that on the evening of Sept. 4th, 2019, a deputy responded to the home in reference to a request to speak to an officer. The request was made by the alleged victim’s mother. During the interview it became known that Huffman had been suspected of touching the woman’s eight-year-old daughter inappropriately.

During the course of a forensic interview with the victim, the little girl said that Huffman touched her inappropriately approximately four months prior to the time of the report.

Police say that Huffman, who is hearing impaired, refused to speak with investigators. He is facing one count of Child Molesting.

Huffman remains behind bars on $40,000 bond.

Columbus police officers arrested a local man on several charges after a Monday night traffic stop. At approximately 9:30 p.m., officers stopped 51-year-old Anthony W. Brown, of Columbus, near McKinnley Avenue and Gladstone Avenue after he was seen driving a truck with a suspended driver’s license.

A short time later, a police dog arrived and alerted to the odor of narcotics inside Brown’s truck. While searching the vehicle, officers reported finding over 30 grams of methamphetamine, as well as a small amount of marijuana.

Brown is facing the following preliminary charges:

Dealing in Methamphetamine (Level 2 Felony)
Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 3 Felony)
Maintaining a Common Nuisance (Level 6 Felony)
Driving While Suspended (Class A Misdemeanor)
Possession of Marijuana (Class B Misdemeanor)

The Columbus Police Department is investigating a death at the Bartholomew County Youth Services Center. On Tuesday night, officers were dispatched to the facility at 2350 Illinois Avenue at approximately 10:25 p.m. after receiving a call about a juvenile male who tried to hang himself.

Officers along with paramedics and Columbus firefighters administered aid to the juvenile who was later pronounced dead.

An autopsy on the juvenile is scheduled for late Wednesday.

The identity of the youth has not yet been released.

Cummins Inc. on Tuesday reported results for the third quarter of 2019.

Third quarter revenues of $5.8 billion were down three percent from the same quarter in 2018. The company says lower demand for trucks and construction equipment drove the majority of the decline. Sales in North America were flat while international revenues decreased eight percent.

Net income attributable to Cummins in the third quarter was $622 million ($3.97 per diluted share), compared to net income of $692 million ($4.28 per diluted share) last year.

“Despite weakening conditions in a number of our largest markets, Cummins delivered strong profits, record operating cash flow, and returned a record $910 million of cash to shareholders in the third quarter,” said Chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger. “While we expected to see a moderation of demand in the second half of the year, sales have weakened even faster than we anticipated. Cummins is taking actions to align our cost structure with the lower revenues while maintaining investment in products that will deliver sustainable growth and profitability.”

Based on the current forecast, Cummins now expects 2019 revenue to decline two percent compared to prior guidance of flat. The company says reduction in revenue forecast is driven by lower truck production in North America, India, Brazil and Europe. In addition, there was lower demand in off-highway markets, including North America construction and global mining markets.

City officials in North Vernon are considering measures to better serve city employees and help out those who need it most.

City Council voted Monday night to adopt a 2020 salary ordinance that sets pay ranges for city employees. Council also discussed a proposal to to standardize the percentage of which the city pays for vision and dental benefits. City officials say that currently, some employees are paying more than others. The idea would see the city cover 90 percent of the insurance premium costs, while the employee picks up the remaining 10 percent.

The council is also considering developing a “sick time leave bank” for city employees. Clerk-Treasurer Shawn Gerkin explains that he spoke with Jennings County Schools officials, as they have a similar program, to identify a pathway to implementation. The idea is that employees could donate a portion of their earned time off to other employees who have suffered injury or illness and are not collecting a paycheck. The council discussed the proposal and indicated support, if certain measures were put in place to avoid abuse of the system.

Council took no action on either proposal, but members indicated they would be open to considering them.

An initial hearing for a driver accused of hitting and killing a bicyclist and leaving the scene has been delayed.

Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that Bartholomew Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin rescheduled an initial hearing for 27-year-old Eric M. Winship, of Columbus, for 9 a.m. Friday. That came about after technical difficulties resulted in the judge having to stop a string of initial hearings being broadcast from the jail on Tuesday morning.

Winship is accused of driving a pickup truck that struck and killed 21-year-old Kyla Ortlieb, of Columbus, on Oct. 20 near 11th and Chestnut streets.

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