A woman about to go through the body scanner at the Bartholomew County Jail is now facing new charges, after she admitted to staff that she had drugs hidden in a body cavity.

At about 7:52 p.m. Monday night, deputies stopped a vehicle at 11th and Franklin streets. A passenger, 50-year-old Rebecca Roberts of Columbus, was found to have an outstanding warrant and was arrested. Sheriff’s Department police dog Diesel alerted to the odor of narcotics but none were found. Roberts allegedly would not respond when asked by deputies if she was carrying drugs.

But when confronted with the body scanner, she admitted to hiding methamphetamine and marijuana. She was checked out at Columbus Regional Hospital and then arrested on the warrant and on drug possession charges.

Cummins plans to cut its workforce by 2,000.

Jon Mills, company spokesman, says that demand has deteriorated even faster than expected, resulting in needed adjustments to reduce costs. He explains that the company has already taken several actions in response to declining revenues.

Because the downturn is happening at a sharper pace than was experienced in the previous two cycles, Cummins will reduce global workforce by approximately 2,000 by the first quarter of 2020. Where these cuts will be made is yet to be announced.

Mills says these actions are necessary, but added that this is “incredibly tough and disappointing.” Company officials stress that, by taking actions now, Cummins can navigate this downturn and emerge stronger when markets return.

Lowell Road Bridge, just east of CR 325 West, will be down to a single lane Tuesday. Bartholomew County Emergency Management says that restrictions are in place from 9 a.m. until noon.

You are asked to avoid the area, as long delays are anticipated.

If you are looking for more traffic information, download the WAZE app for your smartphone and join the WCSI Traffic team powered by Crew Car Wash. You can find updated traffic information on our website, on-air and on the app.

The city’s Christmas tree has been installed in front of Columbus City Hall. Jamie Brinegar is the city’s director of finance.

Brinegar, in a recent appearance on “A.M. Columbus” with John Foster enourages you and your family to drive by city hall and see the tree lit up in all of its glory Friday evening.

Brinegar adds that tree-wrap lights have also been extended down Fourth Street.

City officials say the lights on the tree will be turned on by 5 p.m. Friday. There will not be a tree-lighting ceremony this year, but you’re encouraged to visit downtown and take in the sites.

You can get a link to a video of the city’s Christmas tree being here: columbus.in.gov/see-the-2019-city-christmas-tree-installation/#.

Columbus Regional Health has been named as one of the 50 best hospitals for your heart.

IBM Watson Health picked CRH as one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals. They looked at nearly a thousand hospitals and CRH is one of only two Indiana health systems to make their list.

IBM Watson Health studied the hospitals’ clinical, operational, and patient satisfaction metrics and data. The listing means that CRH had better clinical care and has delivered that care more efficiently than most other cardiovascular programs.

The hospital announced the honor last week.

Columbus police arrested a woman who was wanted on two warrants after she ran from officers on Friday.

Officers were originally called to 11th and Pearl streets at about 10:40 p.m. Friday evening to check on the welfare of a person walking in the street. Police found 22-year-old Shelby B. Yates and soon realized she was wanted on outstanding warrants. But when police tried to arrest her, she ran away and was caught a short distance later.

In addition to the outstanding Bartholomew County warrants, she is now facing a new charge of resisting law enforcement.

Today is the deadline to register for home deliveries of the annual Thanksgiving dinners for both Columbus Baptist Church and First Christian Church.

First Christian’s Thanksgiving dinner will be on Thanksgiving Day from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at the church on Fifth Street in Columbus. Meals will be delivered between 10:30 and noon on Thursday. You can sign up for meal delivery from First Christian Church by calling 812-379-4491 today before 4:30.

Columbus Baptist Church will be serving from 11 a.m. to 1 on Thursday. You can order a meal delivered from Columbus Baptist Church at 812-371-1400., 812-314-9767 or 812-418-8213.

Jackson County Sheriff Rick Meyer says that deputies responded last night to a vehicle that crashed into an area pond.

That happened when a driver missed the 90-degree turn in the 4000 block of North County Road 950E and went into the water. The sheriff says the driver got himself out of the vehicle and was not injured. Dive team members were called in to assist in getting the vehicle out of the water.

That comes on the heels of a Friday incident where Indiana State Police Trooper Sgt. Steven Wheeles rescued a woman from her vehicle after she drove into a Jackson County pond.

At about 3 p.m. Friday, Wheeles responded to a reported crash on State Road 11 north of Seymour, where a woman was trapped inside a vehicle that was in the water. Wheeles arrived at the sinking vehicle near County Road 800E and found the driver, 23-year-old Megan Fleetwood of Jeffersonville trapped inside. He used a hammer to break out the back window and pulled Fleetwood to safety.

Wheeles injured his hand and arm in the rescue. He and Fleetwood were taken to Schneck Medical Center for treatment.

The City of Columbus has launched a new section of the City website aimed at bicyclists and pedestrians called “Bike Walk Columbus.”

Emilie Pinkston, senior planner with the Columbus Planning Department, says the website features an online interactive map of existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities which will continually be updated to reflect the most current inventory of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in Columbus and Bartholomew County. She says this tool can be used at home or on the trail to assist bicyclists and pedestrians with route planning.

Pinkston says the website also features an interactive map of ongoing bicycle and pedestrian-related construction projects. This map is intended to provide up-to-date information on the various public infrastructure projects underway in the City of Columbus and Bartholomew County that include sidewalks, bicycle lanes, trails, and similar infrastructure.

The Bike Walk Columbus website is available at columbus.in.gov/bikewalk/.

A grant of over $1 million will allow the creation of low-income housing in Seymour.

Thrive Alliance says it has received a $1.2 million allocation of low-income housing tax credits from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. These funds will enable Thrive Alliance and partner Jonesboro Investments to move forward with construction of Crossroads Village, a $12.5 million, 64-unit affordable apartment complex at 500 South Poplar Street in Seymour.

“We are extremely pleased to have IHCDA provide funding to make this project a reality,” said Mark Lindenlaub, Thrive Alliance Executive Director. Lindenlaub credited local officials in helping bring the project to fruition. “The involvement and support of Mayor Luedeman, the city council, and other community leaders has been invaluable in helping move this project forward,” he said.

In June, the Seymour City Council voted to provide tax abatement for the project and to invest $51,000 in local funding to install new sidewalks around the property.

Officials say the complex also benefits from a unique relationship with neighboring Schneck Medical Center, which plans to provide on-site access to health screenings, health education and counseling services, nutrition education, dementia care and other services.

“We are pleased to partner with Thrive Alliance to help address the growing demand for housing in Seymour and Jackson County,” said Jacob Sipe, Executive Director of IHCDA. “Crossroads Village will also support the City of Seymour’s continued revitalization and redevelopment efforts while at the same time providing a new housing option for seniors.”

The project is slated for completion in 2022.