A Bicentennial map project allowing local students to see Indiana’s rich, shared history is the recipient of a statewide award.

The Indiana Historical Society announced Monday that Central Middle School teacher Alan Birkemeier and his students received its 2017 Outstanding Bicentennial Collaborative Project Award.

Rachel Hill Ponko, the IHS director of public relations, says that the award recognizes a Bicentennial-related event or history project implemented in 2016. As it is the final year for the award, the judging committee chose to recognize four projects, with Birkemeier’s “Incredible Indiana History Map” among them.

Hill Ponko says that the 8th grade U.S. History teacher started the project by randomly assigning students to research the history, people and tourism of one of Indiana’s 92 counties. Students then used their findings to create a brochure, a graph, a presentation and a to-scale map of the county.

“Through research, collaboration, community partners and various site visits, students were enabled to dig into characteristics associated with their designated county,” writes Randy Gratz, principal of Central Middle School, in a letter of support for the project’s nomination. “In addition, integration of social studies and math provided students with cross-curricular connections.”

“The massive map was impressive, but the students’ ownership, passion and enthusiasm for what they had learned was truly inspiring,” writes Greg Lewis, chair of the Social Studies Department. “Alan’s big goal of having his students better understand and appreciate the Hoosier state, county by county, had certainly been achieved in a big way.”

Central Middle School’s Incredible Indiana History Map will be recognized at IHS’s annual Founders Day dinner on Monday, Nov. 6, at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center in downtown Indianapolis.

The Founders Day event, sponsored by Hirtle, Callaghan & Co., celebrates the accomplishments of historians, teachers, writers and businesses from around the state, as well as the work of IHS.

For more information on this event and other IHS programs, visit www.indianahistory.org.

Cummins announced Monday that it is acquiring the assets of Brammo, Inc., which designs and develops battery packs for mobile and stationary applications. Cummins officials say that adding Brammo’s battery pack expertise and resources is an important milestone in Cummins’ efforts to become a global electrified power leader.

“To be a leading provider of electrified power systems just as we are with diesel and natural gas driven powertrains, we must own key elements and subsystems of the electrification network,” said Tom Linebarger, Chairman and CEO, Cummins Inc. “By adding the expertise of Brammo and its employees to Cummins, we are taking a step forward in our electrification business and differentiating ourselves from our competition. As always, when markets are ready, Cummins will bring our customers the right power solution at the right time to power their success.”

Operations from this acquisition will report under Cummins’ recently formed Electrification Business led by Julie Furber, Executive Director of Electrification at Cummins, and will continue to be based in Talent, Oregon. Cummins says that Brammo was founded in 2002 and has “made great strides in developing electric energy storage technology for mobile and stationary applications.”

“Brammo’s expertise across a broad range of applications uniquely positions us to enhance Cummins’ efforts to be a leader in the electrified power space,” said Craig Bramscher, Chairman and CEO of Brammo. “We see this as a very exciting opportunity to continue changing the way the world moves and stores power.”

Cummins says that this acquisition is expected to close by the end of this calendar year. The move comes as the Columbus-based business, known for its diesel-engine manufacturing, continues to branch out in developing renewable energy sources.

A semi fire closed Interstate 65 in Bartholomew County on Monday morning. Deputy Chief Matt Lynch, with the German Township Volunteer Fire Department, says that just before 9 a.m., dispatchers received several calls about a crashed semi at the 78 mile marker on I-65.

Lynch says that firefighters from his department responded and observed a semi that had run into the ditch and came to rest in the trees. He says that the semi cab and trailer, which was empty, was about 80-percent consumed by fire. With no fire hydrants along the interstate, firefighters received help from the Edinburgh Fire Department and requested further assistance with water tankers from Clifford, Flat Rock, and Harrison Township fire departments. Lynch says that the fire was under control within 20 minutes, consuming 9,000 gallons of water to extinguish it.

Authorities say that fire crews were on scene for about three hours as the remaining diesel fuel was off loaded and the semi was towed from the scene.

The investigation into what caused the crash is ongoing.

The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation is preparing to strengthen its effort to address mental wellness. BCSC Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts explains that the school corporation has received notice that it will receive $1.1 million from the Lilly Endowment as part of the it’s comprehensive counseling initiative for students in kindergarten through grade 12…

Dr. Roberts says that BCSC is not looking at adding additional counselors, but rather in developing a holistic approach to mental health that will benefit all students and help them achieve academic and career success. He notes that the role of the school counselor has changed drastically over the years…

Roberts says that BCSC is not looking at adding additional counselors, but will instead concentrate on developing a holistic approach to mental health that will benefit all students.

Roberts says this gift would not have been possible without the help of community partners…

Roberts adds that this grant will fund the BCSC initiative for four years.

The City of Columbus will begin marketing the Inoperable Vehicle Abatement Program next week. Robin Hilber, with the city’s Office of Community Development, says that the city has already successfully piloted this program. She explains that Columbus paid the towing fee for two vehicles while the vehicle owner received the full scrap metal value of the vehicle, each about $200.

Columbus residents who are interested should call the Office of Community Development at (812) 376-2520. Those wishing to take part must have a clear title on the vehicle they wish to have scrapped. While there is no obligation to participate, city officials are reminding residents that the city council recently passed an Inoperable Vehicle Ordinance, which can result in fines for having unsightly, inoperable vehicles on private property.

The Thrive Alliance and city officials want to set the record straight about a proposed project aimed at addressing Columbus’ homeless problem. Mark Lindenlaub with Thrive Alliance took part in Thursday night’s forum at the Roby and America Anderson Community Center on the city’s east side. He says that there have been false reports in the media that mis-characterize the proposed project, which would likely be housed at the Victory Church at 17th Street and Home Avenue.

Lindenlaub explains that the “Housing First” model allows people to have a place to live, which would then enable residents to address other issues. He says that currently, most renters require to you have any personal issues resolved before they will consider renting to you.

Lindenlaub talks about the focus of the proposed project.

Area residents turned out to express concerns about the proposal. Many argued that, while there needs to be a solution, the location under consideration isn’t a good fit. Lindenlaub says that an in-depth presentation will be presented to the community on the evening of Nov. 6th. A location for that meeting has not yet been established.

For more on the mission of Thrive Alliance, visit thrive-alliance.org.

Two Columbus residents were arrested on drug charges Wednesday after a traffic stop. Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that a deputy stopped a vehicle after he observed it speeding on southbound US 31 near County Road 550 North at 2:46 a.m.

While speaking with the driver, 22-year-old Ashley Shuffitt, and her passenger, 25-year-old Levi Underwood, the deputy says he detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Jackson says that a search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of drugs and drug-related items. In addition, she says that additional drugs and drug-related items were found on Shuffitt after she was taken to the Bartholomew County Jail.

Shuffitt is facing preliminary charges of:

Possession of Methamphetamine,
Possession of Marijuana,
Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated,
Driving while Suspended with a Prior Conviction;

Shuffitt is being held of $68,500 bond.

Authorities say that a small bag containing a white, crystal substance, consistent with the look of methamphetamine, was found in Underwood’s wallet. He was arrested on a preliminary charge of Possession of Methamphetamine and is being held on $57,500 bond.

Drivers traveling Interstate 65 in Bartholomew County during the overnight hours of Monday, Oct. 16 through the 17th should be aware that the Indiana Department of Transportation has scheduled rolling roadblocks during that time. INDOT says that the first roadblocks are set for Tuesday morning at 1 a.m. approaching mile marker 69 as the Bartholomew County REMC plans to remove a retired overhead communications line located approximately 60 feet south of County Road 100 North.

Officials say that a southbound traffic slowdown will begin at Exit 76. The northbound I-65 slowdown will begin at Exit 64. Indiana State Police will be on the scene to provide pilot cars as well as chase vehicles.

INDOT says that these rolling roadblocks are intended to void all I-65 lanes of traffic at the mile marker 69.0 work site for approximately 20 minutes, giving REMC crews time to lower the overhead line and pull it off the roadway.
Northbound I-65’s Exit 68 will be closed, as well as the southbound rest area exit at mile marker 73.5, during the slowdown.

Officials note that this work is dependent on the weather and could be rescheduled.

Uncommon Cause is Saturday, October 21st. Kathryn Armstrong is the executive director of the Columbus Area Arts Council, the organization that puts on the annual event. She explains that this year’s event, being held at the Columbus Learning Center, is going to be different from past offerings.

Armstrong talks about what you can expect at this year’s event.

Armstrong explains that Uncommon Cause is critical to the mission of the Arts Council.

The Arts Council says that tickets are $100 and members of the Columbus Young Professionals group receive a 40-percent discount. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit artsincolumbus.org and click on the “Uncommon Cause” tab.

Three people were arrested Monday night in North Vernon after police served a search warrant at a home in the 300 block of Laurel Street. Sgt. Andrew Richmond, spokesman for the North Vernon Police Department, says that the warrant was executed at about 8:15 p.m. after he, Officer Anthony Bagby and Officer Shane Trepanier received detailed information of a recent drug transaction at the home.

Richmond says that a search of the home resulted in officers seizing about five grams of heroin, about one-half gram of meth, multiple syringes, several glass smoking pipes, three sets of digital scales, multiple small plastic bags, multiple medication bottles containing controlled medications not matching the labels and $448 cash.

Arrested were:

Shey M. Richardson, 25, of North Vernon
1. Dealing in a controlled substance Level 4 felony
2. Possession of a controlled substance Level 6 felony
3. Possession of methamphetamine Level 6 felony
4. Maintaining a common nuisance Level 6 felony
5. Possession of a syringe Level 6 felony
6. Legend drug violation Level 6 felony
7. Possession of paraphernalia A misdemeanor
8. Possession of marijuana B misdemeanor

Zachary Perry, 26, of North Vernon
1. Visiting a common nuisance B misdemeanor

Alicia A. Jones, 23, of North Vernon
1. Visiting a common nuisance B misdemeanor

North Vernon Police are thanking deputies from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department for their help in this case.