Cummins Inc. on Friday announced its next environmental sustainability strategy. Company officials say this strategy includes science-based goals that meet or exceed the goals in the United Nations Paris agreement on climate change. Cummins is targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“Our communities and our business depend on our collective response to improve the health of the planet while creating prosperity for all,” said Tom Linebarger, Cummins Inc. Chairman and CEO. “It’s clear that government, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, and communities must unite behind swift, decisive action to address the environmental threats we face.”

The strategy, called PLANET 2050, is focused on three priority areas: addressing climate change and air emissions, using natural resources in the most sustainable way, and improving communities.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission will be discussing the proposed downtown hotel and conference center at its meeting Monday afternoon.

Heather Pope is the city’s director of redevelopment. She explains that the hotel/conference center team will be making recommendations to the Redevelopment Commission.

Pope says there has been talk of purchasing property downtown to bring this project to fruition.

Monday’s meeting begins at 4 p.m. at city hall.

You are invited.

The U.S. Post Office will be having special Sunday hours leading up to Christmas at select post offices throughout the state, including Columbus.

The goal is to help customers  get cards, letters and packages to their destination in time for the holidays.

The Columbus post office will be open on Dec. 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd from 10 a.m.  to 2 p.m.

Other area post offices with Sunday hours include Seymour, Greenwood and Bloomington — Woodbridge which are also open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bloomington from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Madison from 12 to 4 p.m.

A Columbus woman died after a car crash Wednesday near Holton.

Indiana State Police say that 61-year-old Sally Schneckenberger was taken by ambulance to King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison, where she died as a result of injuries from the crash.

She was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by 62-year-old Craig A. Schneckenberger. He was seriously injured in the crash and was flown by helicopter to IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

According to police reports, the family was driving westbound on U.S. 50 at about 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon when a northbound car on Michigan Road in Ripley County entered the highway into the path of their SUV. The Schneckenberger hit the passenger’s side of the car being driven by 21-year-old Marion W. T Harding of Holton. Harding and a passenger, 77-year-old Minor W. Adams were taken by helicopter to the University of Cincinnati Hospital with serious injuries.

A 16 year old backseat passenger in their vehicle was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation by Ripley County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police.

North Vernon Police arrested two area residents after a traffic stop Wednesday night.

Shortly after 11 p.m. officers stopped a vehicle in the area of Norris Avenue. Inside, they found 21-year-old Hannah R. Teipen, of North Vernon, who was wanted on a Jennings County warrant. During the investigation, police also arrested her on preliminary charges of Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Police also arrested 24-year-old Corby D. Deaton, also of North Vernon, on preliminary charges of Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device and Possession of Paraphernalia.

The Ivy Tech Community College Columbus campus is hosting a special enrollment event next week.

Express Enrollment Day will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Ivy Tech Columbus, located at 4475 Central Ave. Ivy Tech employees will be on hand to help anyone interested in enrolling.

At Express Enrollment Day residents can:

• Complete 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.

Ivy Tech Columbus has more than 30 programs in business, healthcare, information technology, education, aviation, and manufacturing.

Classes start January 13th.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says that crews will be conducting two traffic switches on I-65 in Jackson and Bartholomew Counties as part of the $143 million reconstruction and added travel lanes project. INDOT says these switches will be the first step toward moving traffic into the project’s winter shutdown configuration.

On Friday night (Nov. 15), southbound traffic will be shifted back to the southbound side of I-65 from just south of State Road 11 to Seymour. On Saturday night (Nov. 16), northbound traffic will be shifted back to the northbound side of I-65 from just north of State Road 11 to south of State Road 58.

INDOT says that motorists should continue to adhere to the 55 mph speed restriction and use extra caution in the construction zone. All trucks should continue to use the left lane for travel.

The project is expected to be complete in 2020.

Brown County State Park will be dedicating a mountain bike trail on Friday morning. The park will be celebrating the addition of Weed Patch Trail, a 2.4 mile mountain bike trail constructed in partnership with the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association.

Parks officials say Weed Patch Trail will provide an integral connection between the campground, the Limekiln Trail and the rest of Brown County’s existing 36-mile mountain bike trail system. Funding for the project includes a Next Level Trails grant to HMBA, who is providing the required match dollars. The grant includes Weed Patch and two other new mountain bike trails in the park, which will total 7.5 miles of new trail by 2021.

Mountain bike trails in Brown County State Park are multi-use and are open to hiking as well as cycling.

Local gamers will be helping to raise money and toys for the Columbus Fireman’s Cheer Fund, with a 24-hour board-game-a-thon in downtown Columbus this weekend.

Organizer Tyson O’Haver explains that the event runs from 6 p.m. Friday evening to 6 p.m. on Saturday evening at Hotel Indigo.

This is the second annual board-game-a-thon. Last year’s event raised $1,200 and provided a pickup’s truck worth of toys for the Cheer Fund.

Participants will be able to play board games, card games, role-playing games and other gaming activities from a large game library. All ages are welcome to play, he said.

There will also be drawings for door prizes of donated games and a silent auction. Food is being donated for Friday and Saturday evening meals.

The cost to participate is $20 and the donation of a new toy or game.

A Columbus woman is facing drug-related charges after being stopped for driving without a license Wednesday evening.

Officers noticed 21-year-old Haley J. Burton driving near 8th Street and Hutchens Avenue at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday evening, and recognized that she had never been issued a license. After she stopped her vehicle, a police dog alerted to the smell of narcotics inside. A search revealed methamphetamine in the center console of the vehicle.

Burton was arrested on preliminary drug possession charges as well as operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license.