There may be some good news for the city of Columbus as officials continue to work on how to deal with a massive increase in train traffic. Improvements to the railroad lines through the city are currently underway with an increase in traffic expected to begin in 2018. Once fully implemented, the number of trains running through Columbus on a daily basis are expected to increase more than six-fold. In addition to the increase in traffic, the weight and length of trains will increase as well, with train-lengths expected to go up by nearly 50 percent. All of these factors are expected to drastically increase waiting times for vehicles at railroad crossings, ultimately damaging Columbus’ economy.

During Monday’s meeting of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission, John Dorenbush, a member of the Railroad Community Committee, offered a glimpse of good news. Dorenbush says that, for the first time, the committee is “optimistic” that a proposed project to construct an overpass that would take vehicle traffic over the tracks at State Road 11 and State Road 46 will be approved by the Indiana Department of Transportation.

Dorenbush says that on June 8, representatives from the city, county, INDOT, Cummins, CSX and the Louisville & Indiana Railroad met to discuss the issue. He says that everyone involved is optimistic that the project will be included in INDOT’s five-year plan. The issue, says Dorenbush, is funding. In addition, he says that if the project were approved, it would likely be on the tail-end of the five-year plan, meaning that work wouldn’t begin until approximately 2022. However, Dorenbush opined that the city could help move the project up on the timeline by contributing more that 20-percent of the cost. He noted that most projects like this have a requirement that local municipalities pay 20-percent. Dorenbush suggested that the work could begin earlier if the city were to contribute more than the usual minimum. However, he stressed that he was merely speculating.

Dorenbush says that the same group will be meeting again in a few weeks. If all goes well, he says that he is hopeful that a positive announcement will be made before Independence Day.

Ivy Tech Community College is holding a special enrollment event this weekend.

Express Enrollment Day will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Ivy Tech Columbus. Event organizers say that Ivy Tech employees will be on hand to help those interested in enrolling at the college. They add that the entire enrollment process can be completed there on this day. School officials say that those attending will be able to:

• Complete the first steps to enroll as a student;
• Get financial aid questions answered;
• Learn about and meet assessment requirements;
• Meet with an advisor;
• Register for the semester;
• And find out about orientation.

You are encouraged to RSVP for Express Enrollment Day online at https://www.ivytech.edu/EEStatewide/index.html or by calling Ivy Tech Columbus at (812) 372-9925.

You should bring an unofficial high school or college transcript and SAT/ACT/PSAT scores to assist with assessment and course placement. If you have already completed some college courses, you are encouraged to bring an official college transcript to have your credits evaluated.

Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. has announced several organizational changes for key positions.

Jeff Rufener, company president, says the changes were made in an ongoing effort to improve customer satisfaction. “It is important that we are structured in a way to support our goal,” says Rufener. These changes include:

• Bill Finerty,Vice President of Sales, Distribution and Dealer Development
• Steve Tadd, Director of Marketing and Information Technologies
• Stephen Rosenberg, National Manager of Marketing
• Mike Parker, National Manager of Part Sales and Procurement
• Anne Ewing, National Manager of Dealer Operations
• Brian Liggett, National Manager of Parts Operations
• Mike Heyden, National Manager of Aftermarket Sales and Service
• Jewell Brown, Strategic Account Executive
• Troy Kaiser, Strategic Account Executive
• Niels Ostergaard, Value Selling Manager

Toyota Industrial Equipment is in the midst of another expansion at its Columbus campus on Inwood Drive.

Two local men were arrested after they were seen acting suspiciously inside of a Columbus store. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that at approximately 12:30 p.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to the Best Buy in the 1300 block of National Road in regards to a man who entered the store wearing a mask and had a collapsible baton tucked in his waistband. Harris says that store security told police that the man threw the mask on the floor when he was asked to remove it. He then reportedly walked to the back of the store with another man. Officers found the two men a short time later and immediately recognized one of them as 29-year-old Ricky A. Schoonover, of Columbus, who a had a warrant for his arrest. When Schoonover was taken into custody officers allegedly found a small amount of marijuana and methamphetamine in his pants pockets.

Officers also spoke to the other man, whom they described as “acting nervous.” Harris says the man initially gave police a fake name. While he was being patted down by an officer, Harris says the man reached for one of his back pants pockets. He was ultimately identified as 26-year-old Devin C. Kinman, of Columbus. After Kinman was placed in handcuffs, officers reported finding a loaded handgun in one his back pants pockets, as well as the baton.

Both Schoonover and Kinman were arrested and booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on 48 hour hold. They are facing preliminary charges of:

Devin C. Kinman:
Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon
False Informing
Bartholomew County Arrest Warrant

Ricky A. Schoonover:
Bartholomew County Warrant
Out of County Warrant
Possession of Methamphetamine
Possession of Marijuana

A man wanted in the arson of an abandoned Goodwill store in Tennessee being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms was arrested in Columbus.

Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that CPD was notified Friday afternoon that 23-year-old William S. Warner, of Nashville, Tennessee was possibly in the area after his vehicle had been found with a flat tire. Harris says that officers learned that Warner had a warrant for his arrest and was possibly armed with a handgun. At approximately 5:35 p.m. on Friday, Officers Travis Harbaugh and Michael Beerwart located Warner walking on State Road 46. They arrested Warner at gun point and transported him to the Bartholomew County Jail.

The first 2017 cases of West Nile virus in humans have occurred in Indiana, and state health officials are urging you to take steps to protect yourself from mosquito bites. The Indiana State Department of Health says that as of June 14th, two human cases of West Nile virus have been documented in Hamilton and Lake counties, and mosquitoes in Morgan and Tippecanoe counties have tested positive for West Nile virus. Health officials expect to see increased West Nile activity throughout the state this summer.

Some steps you can take to protect yourself include:

– Avoid being outside when mosquitoes are active (especially late afternoon, dusk to dawn and early morning);
– Apply an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol to clothes and exposed skin;
– Cover exposed skin;
– Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of your home;
– Discard old tires, tin cans, ceramic pots or other containers that can hold water;
– Repair failed septic systems;
– Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers left outdoors;
– Keep grass cut short and shrubbery trimmed;
– Clean clogged roof gutters;
– Frequently replace the water in pet bowls;
– Flush ornamental fountains and birdbaths periodically;
– Aerate ornamental pools, or stock them with predatory fish

To see the latest results of ISDH’s mosquito surveillance, go to https://gis.in.gov/apps/ISDH/Arbo/.

Columbus City Utilities has issued a Boil Order for all customers. This after the utility’s water system detected fecal indicators (E. coli) in one of the wells. Keith Reeves, director of the utility, says that a sample from the well at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds on Thursday tested positive for E. coli.

Reeves adds that they will have staff investigating this issue throughout the weekend. This includes multiple tests and retests in the hope of having answers within 36 hours. Reeves says the hope is that the boil order will be rescinded at that time.

In the meantime, Columbus City Utilities says that you should not consume any city water without first bringing it to a rolling boil. You are also encouraged to use bottled water for cooking, drinking and washing dishes until further notice.

Columbus boil water advisory official notice

An area man drowned Thursday in a private lake in southwestern Bartholomew County. The Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office says that 80-year-old Lloyd Grimm was reported missing at around 8 p.m. Thursday. Deputies found the man’s body later that night in the water, near the lake’s dam. Authorities say that Grimm was likely cleaning debris from an overflow pipe in the area when the drowning occurred.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers held another town hall forum Thursday evening at Grace Lutheran Church in Columbus. Myers says this was one of the best attended of his forums. Much of the discussion was focused on the drug issue. With that as a backdrop, the Sheriff talked about public-safety needs.

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Myers says that increase is directly attributable to the meth, heroin and opiate scourge in the county. He also took aim at state legislators, who implemented a plan this year sending low-level felons back to county jails to serve their sentences. Myers says that he needs seven new staff members to improve conditions at the jail and help addicts have a better chance at rehabilitation. He’s asking county residents to talk to their elected officials to help him better serve them.

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The Sheriff says that he’ll be going before the county council next week to ask for that overtime money, noting that his overtime budget for this year has already been spent. He adds that it is critical that the jail get additional staffing, not only to reduce overtime costs, but for the physical and mental well-being of current jail staff.

Cummins has announced plans to adjust its business to focus less on diesel-powered engines, and more on electrification and other technologies in the years to come. During a Wednesday evening conference call with the media, Tom Linebarger, Cummins Chairman and CEO, emphatically stated that the Columbus-based corporation is more than diesel engines.

Linebarger says that in addition to designing and manufacturing diesel engines, Cummins is on the forefront of designing and manufacturing electrified drive-trains. He noted that environmental regulations and growing demand for cleaner power sources is fueling the move…

Julie Furber, executive director of Cummins’ Electrification Business Development, says that the company has been working on the development of electrified drive-trains and alternative power generation equipment for some time. She adds that the fruit of that labor will be available in the near future.

When asked how this shift will affect existing Cummins facilities and employees, Linebarger, said that diesel power will continue to be an important part of Cummins’ business in the years to come.

Cummins officials added that the company will have additional announcements about these efforts in August and September.