Police looking for info about fight that led to head injury

Local News, Top Story

Columbus police are looking for any information about a Sunday afternoon fight that left a man with a serious head injury.

The incident happened at about 3:30 at the soccer fields at Whitney Court. Police found a crowd of people around a man who was unconscious. He did wake up before being taken to Columbus Regional Hospital. He was then flown to IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment of the head injury.

Police are looking for information about the fight and if you have any information, you can contact the Columbus Police Department at 812-376-2600. Tips and information can be left anonymously.

Cummins announces six promoted to vice president roles

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Cummins announced the promotion of six company leaders to positions as vice presidents today. Those being promoted are:

  • John Gaidoo to Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Employment and Labor Relations
  • Judy Brunson to Vice President, Quality
  • Bonnie Fetch to Vice President, Distribution Business Supply Chain Services
  • Cathy Van Way to Vice President, Government Relations
  • John Brockhaus to Vice President, Human Resources Technology and Strategy
  • Angel Franklin to Vice President, Compensation and Benefits

Cummins chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger said each of them are talented leaders who champion the company’s values. He said he was confident that they each would have a significant and positive impact on Cummins long-term success.

You can read more at investor.cummins.com

Exhibit Columbus symposium sign-ups still available ahead of Tuesday start

Local News
The Conversation Plinth at Bartholomew County Public Library during a previous Exhibit Columbus installation in August 2017. WRB photo.

There is still time to take part in the bi-annual Exhibit Columbus symposium. This year’s symposium is going virtual and will consist of two sessions a week, every other week through the end of October. The first session is tomorrow from 2 to 3 p.m. and will be with futurists discussing how strategic foresight and storytelling influence design.

The first Columbus-centered event will be Thursday from noon to 1 p.m.. It will be with Miller Prize recipients Jennifer Newsom and Tom Carruthers, along with Columbus Chamber of Commerce President Cindy Frey and a representative from Cummins.

You can get more information or sign up at ExhibitColumbus.org. Participation in the conversations is free.

Free Legal Aid clinic available Sept. 22nd in local counties

Local News

Legal Aid will be holding a free Legal Aid Clinic by phone for residents of the agency’s eight-county district on Tuesday, Sept. 22nd.

That district includes includes Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Rush, and Shelby Counties.

The Legal Aid Clinic uses local volunteer attorneys, to offer free legal consultations to low-income individuals. You can expect to receive a brief consultation over the phone to answer general questions, offer legal information, or to receive other assistance or advice.

Although the clinic will be from 3 to 5:30 p.m. you must first register between noon and 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 22nd.

You can register by calling Legal Aid at 812-378-0358.

Ivy Tech offering virtual express enrollments next week

Local News

Ivy Tech Community College is hosting a Virtual Express Enrollment Week, starting next Monday and going through Friday, September 25th from 9 to 6 each day. You will be able to complete your enrollment steps virtually to sign up for classes that start on October 26th.

You must RSVP for your virtual appointment. During that virtual appointment you will receive assistance with assessment, meeting with an advisor, and registering for classes.

Starting in October, Ivy Tech will offer hundreds of 8-week classes in online, virtual, face-to-face*, and hybrid formats in a wide range of programs.

For more information or to RSVP, you can visit ivytech.edu/eeday.

BCSC begins offering free meals to all students today

Local News, Top Story

Starting today, Bartholomew Consolidated Schools will be providing free breakfast and lunch meals to all students, regardless of their ability to pay.

School officials said that this will be thanks to a federal extension of the USDA summer meal program. The USDA recently announced that it would allow schools to serve free meals to all students through the end of 2020. The change applies to all BCSC students, regardless of whether they are enrolled in person or taking their classes online.

Students who have been paying for their meals will have funds credited to their lunch account going back to meals purchased since Sept. 1st.

According to the school district, students will go through the breakfast and lunch lines as normal, they just will not be charged. That is unless they wish to purchase additional items outside of the meal being served or if they go through the line a second time.

The change is going to be in effect until the end of the 2020 calendar year, or until federal funds are depleted, whichever comes first.

If you have any questions, you can talk to the staff at your school’s cafeteria.

First wave of mail-in ballots to go out today in Bartholomew County

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The first wave of mail-in ballots will be going out today to the 4,000 Bartholomew County voters who have requested them.

Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps explains:

Phelps explains that the absentee voting board has convened early so that the ballots are ready to go out today. He said the voter registration office has also been working closely with the local post office to make sure that everything should run smoothly.

Your mail-in ballot will arrive in a thick manila envelope with an orange signature box on the front. In addition to instructions, it will contain a scantron sheet that must be marked with your voting choices by filling in the appropriate bubbles on the sheet. There will also be a note explaining that if you vote straight-party ticket, your vote will not be tallied for the at-large or school board races. To vote in those races you must directly choose your candidates, Phelps said.

Perhaps most importantly is the signature spot on the front of the envelope. Phelps said without signing that, your vote will not be counted on election day.

Phelps said that the deadline to request an application to vote by mail is October 22nd and you can do that either through the Bartholomew County voter registration office or online through indianavoters.com. The ballot has to be back in the voter registration office by noon on Election Day, whether you mail it back in or drop it off in person at the office in the courthouse, Phelps said.

The deadline to register to vote in the November election, is coming up on Oct. 5th.

Road work planned in and around Bartholomew County today

Local News

Bartholomew County authorities are reporting that County Road 250 East will be closed today from State Road 7 and State Street to County Road 300S so a culvert can be replaced. The work is expected to last from 8 to 3. You should avoid the area if you can.

Milestone Contractors will be closing sections of County Road 550N to overlay asphalt starting today. That work will continue on Saturday, and again on Monday through Wednesday next week, weather permitting. The sections will close starting at 8 a.m. in the morning until about 7 p.m. each night.

Asphalt patching is scheduled to begin on Interstate 65 between Edinburgh and Franklin tonight.  The work is planned over six weekends, with single-lane closures starting at 8 p.m. each Friday night through 6 p.m. each Monday morning.

Crews are set to begin patching near State Road 252 tonight and move north toward Franklin. This will continue for the first three weekends. Crews will then move to the southbound lanes in early October.

Groups plan rival events for and against Trump on Saturday

Local News

A pair of dueling events to support and oppose President Donald Trump are being planned for tomorrow in Columbus.

Bartholomew County Republicans are planning a Trump Train Car Parade that will start at Mill Race Park at 11 a.m. Saturday morning before setting off through the community and ending at 450N Brewing Company. Republicans are encouraging supporters to deck out their vehicles with Trump/Pence signs, flags and signs of support for police and the military.

Opponents are planning a “Shade the Trump Parade” counter-protest. It is being organized by the local SURJ or Showing Up for Racial Justice group. They are planning to meet at Columbus City Hall at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning to register people to vote, before marching to Mill Race Park at 10 for their counter-protest. The group urges those attending to create signs in support of Black lives as well as Latinx, Asian, disabled, LGBTQ+, religious minorities, poor & working-class people in Columbus. Organizers also say you should wear a mask if you are attending the counter-protest.

You can find more information on the Trump Train Car Parade here, and the Shade the Trump Train counter-protest here.

Blood drive, video today to remember 9-11

Local News


A reminder, there will not be a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Columbus City Hall today.

Columbus firefighters canceled what would have been 19th anniversary event in order to protect public health and safety.

As an alternative, the Columbus Fire Department has produced a remembrance video tribute that will be shared on the fire department’s social media pages and the City of Columbus website today.

The fire department is also promoting a blood drive today at Columbus City Hall.

The Versiti Blood Center will be holding the event from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You can schedule an appointment online at donate.versiti.org