Democratic presidential candidate Eric Swalwell drew a crowd of enthusiastic local supporters to a town hall and rally Sunday afternoon at the Factory 12 Event Loft.

Swalwell, a four-term incumbent Congressman from California is married to Columbus native Brittany Watts Swalwell. He drew big applause from the supportive crowd with his take on issues including  women’s reproductive rights:

The crowd also backed his positions on supporting teachers and gun control.

After the event, Swalwell said that Columbus residents are also concerned about the health of their democracy:

Swalwell said that Columbus had more political diversity, than just being Vice President Mike Pence’s hometown..

Local Democrat Bob Pitman said he was impressed.

Local Democrat Michael Schoumacher said he appreciated the message.

Bartholomew County Democratic chairman Bob Hyatt said that he was impressed with the turnout, especially on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

There is another race for Columbus City Council on the November ballot. A Democrat and an independent have filed to run against Republican incumbent Dascal Bunch for the District 1 seat on the council, representing the East Columbus neighborhoods.

30-year-old Democrat Jerone Wood filed the paperwork last week to run against Bunch for the seat.

Wood is a leasing agent, married and has four children. He graduated from Columbus East High School, and has a bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University. He is also a track coach and has a background working with youth.

Wood said he is dedicated to helping the youth in our community. He sees that as one of his three priorities, if elected.

Wood said he also is prioritizing the opioid crisis and homelessness.

Wood’s addition means Bartholomew County Democrats are running candidates in all the City Council races in November. They have yet to recruit candidates to run for mayor and clerk-treasurer.

The District 1 seat was held for years by Democrats, August “Augie” Tindell and Priscilla Scalf,  before the Republican Bunch won election to two terms. Although a political newcomer, Wood said he plans to work hard to win it back.

Our news-gathering partners at The Republic report that independent Michael Kinder has also filed to run for the District 1 seat on the council, making for a three-way race.

A Freetown man was killed in a one-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon in southwestern Bartholomew County. The Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office was called to the scene shortly before 4 p.m. Authorities say the crash happened on County Road 675 West, south of Seymour Road near Waymansville. Terry Von Anderson III was pronounced dead at the scene by deputy coroner Charlie Deweese. The cause of death was listed as massive head trauma.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the crash.

A Columbus woman was arrested after a near head-on collision with a Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputy.

Authorities say that at approximately 5:25 p.m. Thursday, Deputy Andrew Whipker was eastbound on 25th Street near Fox Pointe Drive when a car crossed the center line into his lane. The deputy was able to avoid a crash and turned his vehicle around to initiate a traffic stop. Police say the car continued westbound in the eastbound lanes before driving into the grass on the south side of 25th Street.

While speaking with the driver, Shelby M. Harsh, 27, authorities observed signs of impairment and could smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside her vehicle. Harsh reportedly told Deputy Whipker that she had smoked heroin and marijuana earlier in the day.

A cut straw with burnt residue and tin foil with burnt residue were discovered in Harsh’s vehicle.

Harsh was remanded to the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of:

– Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated
– Possession of Paraphernalia

She was also issued a citation for:

– Driving Left of Center
– Driving while Suspended

Harsh has since been released.

A Democratic presidential candidate says he looks forward to a chance to talk with residents in one of his favorite cities. California Congressman Eric Swalwell will be holding a town hall at the Factory 12 Event loft at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

Swalwell’s wife, Brittany Watts Swalwell, is a Columbus native.

He said he has come to love the city and it is one place he feels most relaxed.

The 38-year-old Swalwell is a four term member of Congress and is founder and chairman emeritus of Future Forum, a Democratic group aimed at millennial Americans.

Swalwell said it is exciting to be part of the biggest field of Democratic presidential contenders in more than 40 years.

Swalwell talks about what he brings to the campaign that sets him apart from the other Democrats seeking the presidency.

Swalwell made the decision to run the night that Donald Trump was elected as president. In part, his decision was reached after working with a distinguished Hoosier, former Rep. Lee Hamilton.

Doors will open at 1:15 p.m. at the Factory 12 Event loft, 1235 Jackson Street, and you can RSVP here.

Swalwell campaign website here.

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools are reporting that a school bus caught fire this morning near Ogilville.

Officials say that it was early in the driver’s route and the driver helped both of the students evacuate.

When Bartholomew County deputies arrived on the scene at the intersection of County Roads 550W and 550S after being dispatched at 6:23 a.m. this morning, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames.

Southwest Volunteer firefighters quickly put the fire out. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Deputies took the two children on to school. No one was injured.

The Smoke on the Square BBQ contest in Hope will get a little extra heat on Saturday. The Indiana Fever will be bringing the team mascot, Freddy Fever, to the event along with interactive games and a prize wheel.

That will be at noon Saturday on the Hope Town Square.

Representatives with  the team say that the first 20 guests to the Indiana Fever booth will receive a T-shirt and a pair of free tickets to the team’s home opener against the New York Liberty on June 1st.

They say that the stop in Hope is part of the team’s 20 Towns for 20 Seasons community tour, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the franchise.

The event is a fundraiser for the Community Center of Hope to benefit the food bank and child care center. You can take part in that judging on Saturday afternoon by buying a pass to sample the entries for the people’s choice award. They will also be offering BBQ meals including pulled pork, chicken, brisket and a kids hot dog meal for sale.

Smoke on the Square starts at 4 p.m. this evening and runs to 9 p.m., then picks up again at 11 a.m. Saturday until the food runs out.

Authorities say that a missing Columbus man was found dead in a lake at Ceraland earlier this week.

Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting says that the body found floating in the lake has been identified as 22-year-old Timothy C. Duckworth. Duckworth had been missing since May 4th after disappearing at the park. His body was discovered 10 days later floating in the Ceraland lake.

Nolting said that a forensic autopsy was performed Thursday in Columbus, and the Bartholomew County Death Investigation Team continues to investigate the death.

A Silver Alert was in effect for Duckworth until Thursday afternoon, when identification of his body was announced.

Cummins is announcing a $33 million dollar investment in Columbus with up to 75 new jobs.

At an event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this afternoon, Cummins announced that it would be upgrading the Columbus Engine Plant on Central Avenue, making it the corporate hub and  primary North American manufacturing center for the company’s newest business segment, Electrified Power.

According to company officials, Cummins plans to add up to 75 new positions by the end of 2021 that will pay an average hourly rate higher than the county and state average.

Mayor Jim Lienhoop says this is great news for Columbus.

About 300 people work in the Electrified Business at eight locations worldwide, including more than 200 engineers. Hiring for a variety of positions will begin in the near future. Interested applicants may learn more and apply online.

Founded in 2018, the Electrified Power business designs and manufactures fully electric and hybrid powertrain systems along with innovative components and subsystems to serve commercial markets as they adopt electrification. The first products will include  fully electric powertrains for transit and school buses.

The company reports that it chose to center the new business at CEP because of its close proximity to its original equipment manufacturer customer base, suppliers and partners. CEP also has a “dedicated workforce well equipped to transform the plant  into an innovative hub capable of delivering the next century of Cummins’ electrified solutions.”

Upgrades to CEP began last year and are ongoing, as employees have already begun locating in the facility. Cummins employs more than 10,000 in Indiana.

According to state officials, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered Cummins up to $950,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants to help with the expansion. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives.

Also at the Speedway event, Cummins announced new plans to locate a new office building in Greenwood for digital and information technology employees. And in Indianapolis, the company has renovated space at the Salesforce tower and is in the process of building out additional space at its Distribution Business headquarters in downtown Indy.

Gov. Eric Holcomb speaks at the Cummins event today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. WRB photo.

Sections of northbound I-65 will be closed in Bartholomew and Jackson counties overnight. The Indiana Department of Transportation says that crews will be milling and doing guardrail repair work in the construction zone between Seymour and Columbus.

Lane closures are scheduled as follows:

Wednesday, May 15: I-65 NB, right lane at MM 50-51, north of Seymour exit
Thursday, May 16: I-65 NB, left lane at MM 56-56.5, north of Jonesville exit
Friday, May 17: I-65 NB, right lane at MM 61.5, south of Walesboro exit

All work is weather dependent and may be rescheduled.

Motorists are urged to pay attention. Make sure you follow the 55 mph speed restriction posted in the work zone. All trucks are to use the left lane.