Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office and Columbus Police Department are joining about 230 law-enforcement agencies across Indiana and thousands nationwide in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization. From mid-August through Labor Day, police will be working overtime to arrest impaired drivers. Expect to see increased sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols and saturation patrols.

Overtime patrols are supported with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds distributed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

Battalion Chief Mark Ziegler has been promoted to Deputy Chief of Fire Department Operations for the Columbus Fire Department. Ziegler, a 22-year veteran of the department, has been promoted through the ranks serving as Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Battalion Chief. Ziegler is a Columbus East High School graduate and holds a Master’s Degree in Communications from Easter Michigan University. Ziegler was promoted to the Deputy Chief position previously held by Andy Lay, who was appointed as Chief of Fire by Mayor Jim Lienhoop.

Ziegler is a state certified Hazardous Materials Technician, Rope Rescue Technician, Emergency Medical Technician and Aircraft Rescue Firefighter certified. Chief Lay says, “Deputy Chief Ziegler is an excellent addition to our department’s administration. Mark’s experience as a company officer and incident commander has given him a deep understanding of department operations and leadership. We are pleased to have Mark join our Executive Board of Chiefs.”

A Franklin man is behind bars on numerous charges after a two month investigation led by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Indiana State Police say that 26-year-old Tyler Bartnovsky was arrested Thursday after investigators served a search warrant at his home. The investigation began after law enforcement received a tip about Bartnovsky’s alleged activities. Based on information discovered during the investigation and subsequent search warrant, Bartnovsky was arrested on the following preliminary charges:

– 25 Counts of Possession of Child Pornograpny (Level 6 Felony)
– 1 Count of Child Solicitation (Level 4 Felony)
– 1 Count of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor (Level 4 Felony)

The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force consists of several central Indiana Police Agencies. This particular case was led by a detective from the Martinsville Police Department with the assistance of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Franklin Police Department, the Noblesville Police Department, the Brownsburg Police Department and the Indiana State Police.

Tips about crimes against children, including child pornography, child solicitation, human trafficking, or mistreatment of children can be submitted anonymously at missingkids.org.

The fight against addiction continues locally.

A search is underway for an addiction coordinator for the Bartholomew County Jail. Chief Deputy Major Chris Lane with the sheriff’s department says a lot of work has gone into creating this position.

Lane explains that whoever is hired for this position will need to be able to hit the ground running and help develop plans to help those inmates who want treatment.

The position will be funded equally by the city and the county.

Plans are to open additional space in the jail so that those receiving treatment can be segregated from other inmates. Officials say that once the hire is made, inmate treatment should begin next year.

Free entertainment downtown this evening. Caitlyn Smith with the Columbus Area Arts Council explains…

JCB Neighborfest is held the first Thursday of every month, May through September. These free events are appropriate for all ages and are sponsored by JCB.

You can get more information at artsincolumbus.org.

The Silver Alert issued Wednesday afternoon for 88-year-old Nancy Ann Wagner has been cancelled. Columbus Police say she was found and is safe.

Milestone Contractors will begin a $4.1 million asphalt resurface project on a 14-mile section of State Road 7 in Jennings and Bartholomew counties next week.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says that work will take place from the north junction of State Road 3/U.S. 50 Bypass in Jennings County to U.S. 31 in Bartholomew County. Work is expected to start Monday, Aug. 5th.

INDOT says that crews will begin with nighttime patching operations, followed by milling and paving. All work is scheduled to take place between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. The majority of work will take place on week nights and early mornings, with the possibility of occasional weekend work.

Drivers should expect nighttime lane closures along the route and exercise caution in and around the work zone. Flaggers will be present to maintain traffic. Watch for stopped and slowed traffic in the area.

The project is expected to be complete by November 15.

Traffic delays through Southern Crossing (State Road 11 to U.S. 31) are expected next week.

The Bartholomew County Highway Department says that traffic will be down to one lane beginning on Monday, August 5th, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. for milling and asphalt overlay. You are urged to avoid the area if possible. If you must travel through the area, watch for flaggers and expect delays.

Work is expected to take three days.

Revenues are up at Cummins. The Columbus-based company reported second quarter revenues of $6.2 billion increased one percent from the same quarter in 2018.

Cummins says increased truck production in North America and stronger demand in North American power generation markets was partially offset by lower demand in oil and gas and international truck markets. Currency negatively impacted revenues by two-percent primarily due to a stronger U.S. dollar.

The company says that second quarter sales in North America set a new record and improved by seven percent while international revenues decreased by six percent. Sales in North America increased in all segments except Power Systems. International revenues declined primarily due to lower truck demand in China, Europe, Brazil, and India.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in the second quarter were a record $1.1 billion, or 17.0 percent of sales, compared to $897 million or 14.6 percent of sales a year ago. Net income attributable to Cummins in the second quarter was $675 million ($4.27 per diluted share), compared to net income of $545 million ($3.32 per diluted share).

“We achieved record revenues, EBITDA, and operating cash flow in the first half of 2019, extending our track record of raising performance cycle over cycle,” said Chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger. “While we do expect to see a moderation in demand in the second half of the year, our financial strength combined with our diversified geographic and end market exposure will enable us to generate strong profits, continue to invest in future growth, and return cash to shareholders.”

Cummins now expects 2019 revenue to be flat. This lower outlook is driven by reduced truck demand in international markets, moderating parts demand in North America and the impact of a stronger US dollar. The company announced that it continues to expect EBITDA to be in the range of 16.25 to 16.75 percent of sales and plans to return 75 percent of Operating Cash Flow to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases.