Authorities in Johnson County arrested a Greenwood man for molesting a child.

Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess says that on Tuesday, Oct. 29, deputies arrested 51-year-old Richard M. Huffman at his home in the 4100 block of West Countyline Road.

Sheriff Burgess says that on the evening of Sept. 4th, 2019, a deputy responded to the home in reference to a request to speak to an officer. The request was made by the alleged victim’s mother. During the interview it became known that Huffman had been suspected of touching the woman’s eight-year-old daughter inappropriately.

During the course of a forensic interview with the victim, the little girl said that Huffman touched her inappropriately approximately four months prior to the time of the report.

Police say that Huffman, who is hearing impaired, refused to speak with investigators. He is facing one count of Child Molesting.

Huffman remains behind bars on $40,000 bond.

Columbus police officers arrested a local man on several charges after a Monday night traffic stop. At approximately 9:30 p.m., officers stopped 51-year-old Anthony W. Brown, of Columbus, near McKinnley Avenue and Gladstone Avenue after he was seen driving a truck with a suspended driver’s license.

A short time later, a police dog arrived and alerted to the odor of narcotics inside Brown’s truck. While searching the vehicle, officers reported finding over 30 grams of methamphetamine, as well as a small amount of marijuana.

Brown is facing the following preliminary charges:

Dealing in Methamphetamine (Level 2 Felony)
Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 3 Felony)
Maintaining a Common Nuisance (Level 6 Felony)
Driving While Suspended (Class A Misdemeanor)
Possession of Marijuana (Class B Misdemeanor)

The Columbus Police Department is investigating a death at the Bartholomew County Youth Services Center. On Tuesday night, officers were dispatched to the facility at 2350 Illinois Avenue at approximately 10:25 p.m. after receiving a call about a juvenile male who tried to hang himself.

Officers along with paramedics and Columbus firefighters administered aid to the juvenile who was later pronounced dead.

An autopsy on the juvenile is scheduled for late Wednesday.

The identity of the youth has not yet been released.

IUPUC’s Office for Women and the Center for Business and Economic Development are organizing a breakfast discussion tomorrow about the role diversity plays in economic development.

Lesley Bradley, coordinator for the Office for Women and an organizer of the event, explains that studies show increasing diversity is just good economic policy.

Bradley explains that studies show that greater diversity leads to business success. Even those who are not in a business leadership role can benefit from the panel discussion, she said.

The panel discussion will be moderated by Nichole Pence Becker. Panelists for the discussion will include:

• Whitney Amuchastegui – Executive Director, Su Casa Columbus
• Kevin Jones, Ed.D. – Associate Professor of Management, IUPUC
• Ian Kohen – Director Corporate Responsibility, Cummins Engine and Component Businesses
• Kathy Oren – Executive Director, Community Education Coalition

The Lead by Design: Inclusion Revealed panel will start at 7:30 at Mill Race Center.

For more information go to iupuc.edu

Emergency workers, city officials and residents celebrated the opening of the new Evolution Training Center for Columbus and area firefighters, police and other first responders at ceremonies yesterday morning at the Columbus Air Park.

Fire Chief Andy Lay explains the capabilities of the new center at 2670 Verhulst Street.

Lay said the city’s goal is to be able to rent it out to other first responders in neighboring communities, helping pay off the cost of the facility and pay for future upgrades.

The new building includes two large classrooms, a simulated firing range for police, office space for the fire department’s training officer and a large open training space. Lay talks about other training equipment on site.

The new center opened Tuesday morning with speeches from Lay, Mayor Jim Lienhoop, former Columbus Fire Chief Mike Compton and Sgt. Tom Foust, from the Columbus Police Department.

At the end of last year, the city of Columbus along with partners Columbus Regional Health and the Heritage Fund, bought the Fair Oaks Mall property on 25th Street. Since then the city has been going through a planning process to decide on the best uses for the property.

We asked the candidates for Columbus City Council in next week’s election about their thoughts on the future of the property and how the city can afford to renovate the space.

Elaine Wagner, the incumbent Democrat in City Council District 2 is running for re-election against Republican Jim Hartsook.

Hartsook said he’s not quite sure how everything is going to be paid for.

Wagner says she’s excited for the possibilities.

In City Council District 3, incumbent Republican Dave Bush is facing Democrat Katea Ravega.

Ravega said the purchase should have been thought out a little better.

Bush said the city was right to purchase the property.

Frank Miller, the incumbent Republican in City Council District 4 is running for re-election against Democrat Michael Schoumacher.

Schoumacher says the property can provide a lot of options for city residents.

Miller said purchasing the property will likely turn out to be a brilliant move.

In City Council District 5, incumbent Republican Tim Shuffett is facing Ross Thomas, a Democrat.

Thomas said more thought should have been put into the purchase.

Shuffett said that it may take several years for the property to reach its full potential.

In the four-way race for the two at-large seats on the council, incumbent Republican Laurie Booher and Democrat Tom Dell are running against Republican Josh Burnett and Democrat Grace Kestler.

Kestler said accessibility for all residents should play an important part in determining how the mall property is used.

Booher said she wants the property to be accessible to all.

Dell said that the city has the opportunity to create something special.

Burnett says that area of the city is important to residents.

Early voting continues this week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at the courthouse. A satellite voting center is open at Donner Center from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. You can also vote on Saturday at both locations from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Early voting wraps up on Monday from 8 a.m. to noon at the courthouse.

Election Day is Tuesday Nov. 5th, and polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cummins Inc. on Tuesday reported results for the third quarter of 2019.

Third quarter revenues of $5.8 billion were down three percent from the same quarter in 2018. The company says lower demand for trucks and construction equipment drove the majority of the decline. Sales in North America were flat while international revenues decreased eight percent.

Net income attributable to Cummins in the third quarter was $622 million ($3.97 per diluted share), compared to net income of $692 million ($4.28 per diluted share) last year.

“Despite weakening conditions in a number of our largest markets, Cummins delivered strong profits, record operating cash flow, and returned a record $910 million of cash to shareholders in the third quarter,” said Chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger. “While we expected to see a moderation of demand in the second half of the year, sales have weakened even faster than we anticipated. Cummins is taking actions to align our cost structure with the lower revenues while maintaining investment in products that will deliver sustainable growth and profitability.”

Based on the current forecast, Cummins now expects 2019 revenue to decline two percent compared to prior guidance of flat. The company says reduction in revenue forecast is driven by lower truck production in North America, India, Brazil and Europe. In addition, there was lower demand in off-highway markets, including North America construction and global mining markets.

City officials in North Vernon are considering measures to better serve city employees and help out those who need it most.

City Council voted Monday night to adopt a 2020 salary ordinance that sets pay ranges for city employees. Council also discussed a proposal to to standardize the percentage of which the city pays for vision and dental benefits. City officials say that currently, some employees are paying more than others. The idea would see the city cover 90 percent of the insurance premium costs, while the employee picks up the remaining 10 percent.

The council is also considering developing a “sick time leave bank” for city employees. Clerk-Treasurer Shawn Gerkin explains that he spoke with Jennings County Schools officials, as they have a similar program, to identify a pathway to implementation. The idea is that employees could donate a portion of their earned time off to other employees who have suffered injury or illness and are not collecting a paycheck. The council discussed the proposal and indicated support, if certain measures were put in place to avoid abuse of the system.

Council took no action on either proposal, but members indicated they would be open to considering them.

An initial hearing for a driver accused of hitting and killing a bicyclist and leaving the scene has been delayed.

Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that Bartholomew Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin rescheduled an initial hearing for 27-year-old Eric M. Winship, of Columbus, for 9 a.m. Friday. That came about after technical difficulties resulted in the judge having to stop a string of initial hearings being broadcast from the jail on Tuesday morning.

Winship is accused of driving a pickup truck that struck and killed 21-year-old Kyla Ortlieb, of Columbus, on Oct. 20 near 11th and Chestnut streets.

For more on this story, visit therepublic.com.

Ivy Tech Community College will build a new main campus building in Columbus.

The design of the new building will benefit from the Cummins Foundation Architecture Program, which will recommend architects for consideration and provide funds for the design portion of the College’s new campus building.

Ivy Tech officials say the $32 million, 80,000-square foot structure will be built at the Columbus Air Park behind the College’s current main campus building, Poling Hall. The new building will replace Poling Hall with a facility that caters to modern technology, collaboration, academics, student learning and Ivy Tech’s advanced programs.

“A new campus facility will significantly improve the learning and collaborative environments for our students and employees,” Ivy Tech Columbus Chancellor Dr. Steven Combs said. “We are sincerely grateful to the members of the Indiana legislature for funding and to the Cummins Foundation for its generosity and assistance as we prepare for this pivotal milestone. We have a lot of planning to do, and we look forward to sharing and engaging our communities in this process.”

The new Ivy Tech Columbus building will represent the first building project sponsored by the Cummins Foundation Architecture Program since the design of the neighboring Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence at the Columbus Air Park in 2009. The Ivy Tech Foundation will receive the grant from the Cummins Foundation.

“We truly appreciate this meaningful gift from the Cummins Foundation,” said Therese Copeland, Executive Director of Resource Management at Ivy Tech Columbus. “The Architecture Program will help us thoughtfully shape our campus as we serve our communities and our students.”

A team from the Cummins Foundation will generate a list of five architects for the College to consider. Once the College selects an architect, the Cummins Foundation will provide funds for the design portion of the architect fees. Ivy Tech anticipates breaking ground in 2020 with completion in 2022.