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Around Town – January 16

By
Staff Reports
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Orchids to …

• Jodi at the Bartholomew County Public Library for her wonderful story time each week, from a very happy mom and toddler.

• the person who turned in the cane at Walmart.

• Larry Calhoun for going out of his way to help his sister Alice.

• Charley Boesken for making the Rockcreek Gold Honor Roll.

• gas stations in Columbus with the cheapest prices in the area, even Taylorsville.

• Dr. Kiser for being a wonderful doctor and being so kind to my family, from the Garcia family.

• the kind bus driver who pulled over to let me by on County Road 550 Thursday morning.

• Mayor Kristen Brown for running for office and making Columbus a better place to live while shaking up the good ol’ boys.

• the 5′ 1″ Columbus woman who hit her first hole-in-one last weekend, from Warren Ward.

• Kelsey Lovelace, third-grader at Rockcreek elementary, for her second gold honor roll, from Janis Lovelace.

• Mayoral candidate Jim Lienhoop, who will work to restore respect and collaboration in our city.

Onions to …

• people complaining about gas prices.

• all of the grocery stores who expect people to check themselves out.

• people who run a server for multiple drink and food refills and then leave a meager tip or none at all.

• spending so much money on the Crump when it would be better spent on the railroad overpass.

• people who ride the city buses who have not taken a shower and smell up the bus.

• doctor’s offices who insist on calls being answered by their answering service and then not returning the calls from their sick patients.

• the woman who parked her car in the post office parking lot and walked across the street to the bars.

• the coach who cannot control his out-of-control point guard.

• architecture of the past that is leaving us with unsustainable obligations.

• people who need to stop being bitter and blaming others and need to seek therapy to get over the loss of their loved one.

• the elementary coaches who get out-coached every week.

• those who believe the government’s propaganda concerning recycling and green energy that only benefits big business and politicians.

• the factory creating parking problems with expansion, reserving parking spots for management, human resources and contractors, then going after employees who are parked illegally because there are no spots due to the mess created by management.

• people who perceive they didn’t get good service at a restaurant who respond by refusing to accept a server’s apology, and pouting, sulking and getting passive-aggressive.

• people who post things anonymously on social network sites risking other folks’ careers, from a concerned citizen.

Happy Birthday to …

• Tammy Huff, from Dad, Vav, your five brothers and sisters and all your nieces and nephews.

• Jenny Wallace, from friends at the Moravian Church.

• Terri McFarland, from friends at the Moravian Church.

• Joshua Bean.

• Chad Stone.

• our granddaughter Lilly Jones, from Rhonda Hewitt.

• Bertha, from Vera and Kenneth Meredith.

• Daddy Mike, from Seth and Micah.

• Pastor Lewis Burton, from the congregation at The Who So Ever Will Community Church.

• Emogene Proffitt on No. 89, from Olene and Mary.

• Bob Gilliand, from friends at the Moravian Church.

• Cindy Grider, from Abby, Nicholas, Madison, Natalie and Justin.

• Emily Harker, from friends at the Moravian Church.

• Sharon Snyder, from the Comptons, Fleetwoods, Snyders and St. Clairs.

• Pete Trotter, from friends at the Moravian Church.

• Alexia Batt.

• Julie Glick Bingham.

• Bob Lamaster.

• Ryder Allman.

Belated Wishes to …

• Ronald Speer, from John Tinkey.

Happy Anniversary to …

• Dave and Janice on No. 54.

• Katrina Fleetwood on No. 49, from Wayne.

Six Sigma benefits more than just businesses

By
Staff Reports
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Cummins Inc. has a long-held belief that a company can never be healthier than the communities in which it operates. That’s apparent with the way it has willingly shared Six Sigma, a quality improvement tool.

Six Sigma is driven by data collection and analysis, and uses a five-step methodology — a road map, if you will — to analyze problems and determine solutions.

If that sounds technical and complicated, here’s an easier way to understand what Six Sigma can do:

•It has saved Cummins $5.5 billion since 1999.

•Six Sigma helped participation in the 21st Century Scholars program in Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. jump from 50 to 60 percent of eligible students to 90 to 100 percent.

•The iGrad program was created

after the Six Sigma process was used to determine ways to increase local graduation rates.

•It’s helped Columbus Regional Health save or create new revenue of more than $33 million.

Cummins learned and began using the process in the late 1990s, and it quickly became vital to the company. In fact, Cummins leaders have credited Six Sigma with helping save the company in the early 2000s, when it was struggling with sales and profits.

The process returned money to the company’s bottom line, helping Cummins stabilize financially. Now Six Sigma is a way of life at the Fortune 500 company; about 6,000 projects are completed annually worldwide.

Cummins could have kept Six Sigma to itself after learning it, but instead gladly shared the knowledge with community partners such as Bartholomew Consolidated and Columbus Regional. Most importantly, the company has participated in joint Six Sigma projects with local organizations.

As a result, the community

has benefited.

It is another example of how Cummins practices the idea that successful businesses and communities must work hand in hand.

William A. Graber Jr.

By
Staff Reports
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Columbus

William A. “Bill” Graber Jr., 90, of Columbus, died at 12:57 a.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2014, at Columbus Regional Hospital.

Bill was born Sept. 30,1924, in Catonsville, Maryland, to the late William A. and Reva Graber. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, serving from 1943 to 1946 in the European Theater of Operations.

Bill earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting at the University of Baltimore in 1965. He married Katherine L. Welch November 22, 1952, and moved to Bartholomew County in 1993.

He was a member of Prairie Promenaders Square Dance Club in Columbus and did volunteer work with Meals on Wheels. He liked to travel, fish, hunt, bird watch, and work around his property.

In keeping with Bill’s wishes, cremation is planned and there will be no services.

Survivors include daughters, Katherine “Kit” Ehrman and Vicky Kirts, both of Columbus; and grandchildren, Zachariah Welsh, Philip Ehrman IV and Raymond Ehrman.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents.

Online condolences may be sent to the Graber family at www.barkesweaverglick.com.

Arrangements were entrusted to Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home.

www.barkesweaverglick.com

Bill offers step forward in regulating e-cigarettes

By
Staff Reports
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A recent survey of teenagers showed many of them are experimenting with electronic cigarettes. Whether it’s simply a fad or a mistaken belief that they are safer than traditional cigarettes, the dangers — particularly nicotine addiction — remain real.

That’s the motivation behind a bill that state legislators could consider this session.

Under a bill State Rep. Ed Clere, R-New Albany, said he would introduce, Indiana would require stores to have a license to sell electronic cigarettes and would tax the battery-

powered devices like traditional tobacco products. His bill also would add e-cigarettes to Indiana’s statewide smoking ban and require containers holding the nicotine-infused liquid that is vaporized in the smoking process have child-resistant packaging to prevent accidental poisonings.

Clere said much remains unknown about the health risks posed by e-cigarettes — which don’t have the same chemicals and tar found in regular cigarettes — and he noted the surge nationwide of young people using e-cigarettes, which are sold in “vape shops.”

“These shops are springing up all over the state and flying under the radar,” he said during a Statehouse news conference late last month.

The provision to require stores to be licensed would allow staffers from the Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission to check whom the stores are selling e-cigarettes to — just as they currently can at stores that sell traditional cigarettes.

The federal government’s annual drug use survey, released late last year, showed that e-cigarettes have surpassed traditional smoking in popularity among teens and that use rose with age — with 17 percent of high school seniors reporting using e-cigarettes.

E-cigarettes are often described as a less dangerous alternative than regular cigarettes for regular smokers who can’t or don’t want to kick the habit. Indiana law currently prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes to people under 18, but Attorney General Greg Zoeller said the federal government hasn’t done enough to regulate them.

“Let’s all be clear — e-cigarettes are a new drug-delivery device,” Zoeller said, noting that they can also reportedly be used to smoke a liquid form of THC — the active ingredient in marijuana — and other illegal drugs.

Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, plans to co-sponsor the bill, and state Sen. Pat Miller, R-Indianapolis, will sponsor companion legislation in that chamber.

Clere’s bill is a solid step in the right direction. Greater state regulation is needed, especially because the products are new and the research into the health impact of e-cigarettes is just beginning.

Local Police, Fire – January 4

By
Staff Reports
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The following information was summarized

from the records of city, county

and state police, fire and

hospital agencies.

Arrests

Wednesday

Michael A. Coleman, 32, Indianapolis, Bartholomew County warrant, 5:03 p.m., by the Columbus Police Department, held in lieu of $1,000 bond.

Timothy M. Fairbrother, 38, 3013 Desoto Way, Bartholomew County warrant, 5:13 p.m., by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, held in lieu of

$843 bond.

Dustin M. Wise, 26, Elizabethtown, theft, 8:19 p.m., by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, held in lieu of

$7,500 bond.

Katelynn R. Williams, 23, 1827 Newton St., domestic battery, 9:38 p.m., by the Columbus Police Department, held in lieu of

$7,500 bond.

Thursday

James A. Sandefur, 51, 511 Hege Ave., Bartholomew County warrant, 3:45 a.m., by the Columbus Police Department, held in lieu of $15,000 bond.

Stephen A. Swartzentruber, 27, 1563 Bridal Way Blvd., operating while intoxicated with previous convictions, 4:11 p.m., by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, held in lieu of

$7,500 bond.

Francis E. Lynn, 35, 352 N. Gladstone Ave., Bartholomew County warrant, 5:06 a.m., by the Columbus Police Department, held in lieu of $7,500 bond.

Harry J. Wilde, 20, 397 Wint Lane, illegal consumption, possession or transportation by a minor, 5:13 a.m., by the Indiana State Police, released on $2,500 bond.

Jimmy K. Callahan, 19, 12650 E. Sunland Road, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and illegal consumption, possession or transportation by a minor, 5:36 a.m., by the Indiana State Police, released on $7,500 bond.

Eric D. Caldwell, 37, 51 S. Gladstone Ave., burglary, 2:54 p.m., by the Columbus Police Department, held in lieu of

$40,000 bond.

Greg A. Hill, 49, 7650 Fawn Court, burglary, 2:54 p.m., by the Columbus Police Department, held in lieu of $40,000 bond.

Fire, medic runs

Thursday

12:35 a.m. — Possible heart attack in the 3300 block of

Virginia Street.

3:29 a.m. — Injury in the 5000 block of East State Street.

5:56 a.m. — Injury in the 5400 block of Yellowwood Drive.

8:29 a.m. — Illness in the 1500 block of 28th Street.

8:56 a.m. — Difficulty

breathing in the 1300 block of Chestnut Street.

9:22 a.m. — Possible heart

attack in the 600 block of Terrace Lake Drive.

9:26 a.m. — Illness in the 2900 block of Ninth Street.

9:57 a.m. — Unconscious

person in the 3500 block of

Central Avenue.

1:22 p.m. — Possible heart attack in the 3200 block of Beech Drive.

1:35 p.m. — Injury in the 2900 block of Catalina Drive.

1:36 p.m. — Injury in the 18000 block of East County Road 355S.

3:32 p.m. — Unconscious

person in the 5400 block of Yellowwood Drive.

4:00 p.m. — Illness in the 1600 block of Rocky Ford Road

5:15 p.m. — Injury in the 2900 block of 10th Street.

5:32 p.m. — Injury in the 100 block of Stonegate Drive.

5:38 p.m. — Rubbish fire in the 6900 block of East Base Road.

5:56 p.m. — Grass fire at Bonnell Road and County Road 250N.

6:41 p.m. — Unconscious person in the 700 block of Creekview Drive.

9:38 p.m. — Difficulty breathing in the 500 block of Pence Street.

11:37 p.m. — Seizure in the 2200 block of Sims Court.

Incidents

Thursday

12:13 a.m. — Suspicious person and vehicle in the 10000 block of East Legal Tender Road.

1:11 a.m. — Theft in the 2300 block of 25th Street.

1:18 a.m. — Public intoxication

in the 3500 block of Two Mile House Road.

1:36 a.m. — Reckless driving in the 6800 block of East County Road 550N.

2:07 a.m. — Suspicious person and vehicle at Friendship Drive and U.S. 31.

6:50 a.m. — Suspicious person and vehicle in the 100 block of Carrie Lane.

7:28 a.m. — Property-damage accident in the 6000 block of West State Road 46.

8:30 a.m. — Possible drunken driver in the 6600 block of Interstate 65 North.

9:14 a.m. — Leaving the scene of an accident in the 2700 block of North Rogers Street.

11:01 a.m. — Possible

drunken driver at U.S. 31 and County Road 800S.

11:01 a.m. — Suspicious

person and vehicle in the 100 block of Reo Street.

12:16 p.m. — Suspicious person and vehicle in the 2800 block of 19th Street.

12:17 p.m. — Forgery in the 2000 block of Merchants Mile.

12:25 p.m. — Leaving the scene of an accident in the 13000 block of South County Road 750W.

12:26 p.m. — Theft in the 3800 block of Mimosa Drive.

12:33 p.m. — Theft in the 1100 block of Sycamore Street.

1:20 p.m. — Property-damage accident in the 1900 block of

14th Street.

1:23 p.m. — Theft in the 1100 block of South Walnut Street.

1:24 p.m. — Theft in the 4500 block of Roosevelt Drive.

1:42 p.m. — Property-damage accident in the 3000 block of

25th Street.

1:56 p.m. — Theft in the 900 block of Westcreek Drive.

2:03 p.m. — Leaving the scene of an accident in the 1800 block of State Street.

2:07 p.m. — Theft in the 200 block of Kyte Street.

2:38 p.m. — Possible drunken driver at Hartman Drive and

U.S. 31.

2:39 p.m. — Property-damage accident in the 4000 block of Fairlawn Drive.

3:37 p.m. — Reckless driving at 25th Street and Lockerbie Drive.

3:48 p.m. — Theft in the 200 block of Cleveland Street.

4:26 p.m. — Disturbance in the 2100 block of California Street.

6:52 p.m. — Suspicious person and vehicle in the 2200 block of Sixth Street.

8:33 p.m. — Disturbance in the 600 block of Della Road.

8:42 p.m. — Suspicious person and vehicle in the 1600 block of McCullough Lane.

9:29 p.m. — Suspicious person and vehicle on South Lincoln Village Drive.

9:39 p.m. — Reckless driving

at State Road 46 and Country

Club Road.

9:43 p.m. — Harassment in

the 1500 block of North

Gladstone Avenue.

9:44 p.m. — Mischief vandalism in the 8600 block of West

Dam Road.

9:46 p.m. — Burglary in the 100 block of South Ross Street.

10:06 p.m. — Leaving the scene of an accident in the 2300 block of Applegate Drive.

10:43 p.m. — Suspicious person and vehicle in the 500 block of Fifth Street.

10:47 p.m. — Suspicious person and vehicle in the 1700 block of Pearl Street.

11:03 p.m. — Suspicious person and vehicle in the 600 block of Lafayette Avenue.

11:15 p.m. — Property-damage accident in the 900 block of

Ninth Street.

11:26 p.m. — Harassment in

the 1500 block of North

Gladstone Avenue.

Cummins connects in more ways than one with building

By
Staff Reports
-

When the new Cummins distribution headquarters is completed in downtown Indianapolis in 2016, it will change the skyline. But this building is going to — and should — do a lot more for the city’s downtown, including bringing increased connectivity to east-side neighborhoods and setting new standards for how we approach design and development of our urban core.

The design of the glass, 10-story office building on the site of the former Market Square Arena received a lot of positive attention when it was announced last month. As an architect, I was most impressed with how the building will sit on the site. Even though Cummins’ architect had an entire city block to work with, the building concentrates density at the north and hugs Market Street. This helps create a link to the near-east-side neighborhoods, something that’s been missing within our urban core.

You have to give credit to Cummins, which is known for the innovative design of its corporate campuses and manufacturing plants. This is a company that understands the pivotal role design plays in shaping communities and attracting and retaining key employees. The design of the Indy headquarters is no exception.

What’s even more impressive is that Cummins, which has built dozens of offices around the globe, cared enough to get to know our neighborhood and understand how the site affects the urban core. Soon after Cummins decided to invest $30 million for this headquarters, its leaders invited the Indianapolis chapter of the American Institute of Architects to a meeting to get our opinions about what we’d like to see in the design and to discuss broader issues for developing within the inner core.

The meeting was a rare opportunity from a private corporation to seek advice from the local design community. Even more impressive, Cummins listened.

While the building will sit closest to Market Street, Washington Street will become mostly green space. Open park area is fine for now, but our hope would be that Cummins is “land banking” this green space for future development. Perhaps one day, the urban edge will be restored along Washington Street as well through additional development with storefront retail.

The planned renovation of the plaza in front of the City-County Building just across the street will offer ample public space. To encourage further urban investment, the key is using development to bring neighborhoods closer. This can be achieved through enhancing urban edges and incorporating pedestrian-friendly storefronts, which promotes walkability and community identity. The Cummins block is clearly well on its way in developing a strong urban identity.

As architects, community leaders and business owners, we can take cues from Cummins. They undertook an open process that invited a shared vision. They challenged their architect to make bold statements through sweeping forms.

Finally, the development encourages neighborhood connections and walkability, and perhaps even fosters future expansion opportunities.

Mark Beebe is president of the American Institute of Architects Indianapolis and owner of the architecture firm Lancer + Beebe in downtown Indianapolis. Send comments on this column to ibjedit@ibj.com.

High school scoreboard – January 2

By
Staff Reports
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BOYS BASKETBALL

Bob Wettig Invitational

First round

Columbus North 49, Connersville 47

Connersville;10;8;14;15;–-;47

Columbus North;15;11;11;12;-–;49

Connersville (4-5): Micah Kelley 3 3-4 9, Garrett Silcott 0 2-2 2, Chandler Graves 0 0-0 0, Andrew Stine 3 4-6 10, Ty Miller 4 0-0 11, Tyler Billups 1 7-8 10, Bryce Howard 0 0-0 0, Grant Smith 1 2-2 5. Totals: 12 18-22 47.

Columbus North (7-0): Kooper Glick 5 3-3 13, Vince Grana 2 0-0 5, Trent Larson 2 2-4 6, Mitchell Kelley 0 0-0 0, Josh Speidel 7 9-10 23, Alex King 1 0-0 2, Stephon Peters-Smith 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 14-17 49.

3-point goals: Connersville 5 (Miller 3, Billups, Smith); Columbus North 1 (Grana)

Airport names new fixed-base operator

By
mbanta
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A father-and-son team from Greenwood has taken over fixed-base operation services

at the Columbus Municipal Airport.

Effective today, Jeff Air Pilot Services LLC will provide aviation fuel sales, hangar services for local and transient aircraft, cargo handling, aircraft rental and flight instruction for corporate and general aviation aircraft.

Rhoades Air Center, originally formed as Rhoades Aviation, has provided the services at the airport for the past 46 years.

Rhoades turned the services over to Jeff Air last week after the city’s Board of Aviation Commissioners gave lease approval.

Tom Jeffries, co-owner and operator of Jeff Air, said the new operators are looking forward to getting started. The company has been providing aircraft rental and instruction at the Greenwood Municipal Airport the past four years

This new venture offers an opportunity to expand and take that business model to the next level, he said.

“Service has been more than just a word in the company name. It has been the core of what we have done at Greenwood,” Jeffries said.

Jeff Air is already considering expanding services at the airport, Jeffries said.

The company hopes to expand its general maintenance capabilities to larger aircraft and to expand existing maintenance facilities, he said.

The company also is partnering with Ivy Tech Community College —

Columbus for the college’s new aviation program.

Rhoades Air Center was very helpful in tying up loose ends and transferring vendors to complete the transition, Jeffries said.

Tom and his son, David Jeffries, both have a wide background in aviation. Tom retired from Continental Airlines in 2005, and David is a current airline captain.

Brian Payne, airport director, said through preparing to offer flight instruction with Ivy Tech, the airport formed a relationship with Jeff Air.

The airport has been able to see the company’s capability, and it has been obvious that the two men are knowledgeable in the industry, Payne said.

Jeffries said the company’s goal to be “a contributing factor to the community and provide quality flight training and instruction and do everything we can to continue on the reputation of the Columbus airport.”

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About Jeff Air” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Jeff Air Pilot Services LLC is an Indianapolis premier Fixed Base Operator and a Federal Aviation Administration approved flight school. It also has a rental fleet available for licensed pilots. It has been located at the Greenwood Municipal Airport and will be expanding its services to the Columbus Municipal Airport, effective today. 

[sc:pullout-text-end]

Brian’s picks

By
Brian Blair
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1) True-confessions time: I didn’t know celebrated glass artist Dale Chihuly from Dale Evans before I moved to Columbus. Granted, some might say his ego can be as large as his whimsical, swirling pieces known worldwide.  Maybe so. But now that the holiday rush is done, it could be a good time to slow down and revisit his screaming Yellow Chandelier at the Columbus Area Visitors Center and his Sun Garden in Suspended Circle at the Columbus Learning Center and be inspired once more.

2) Determine to conquer the cold with your family. Bundle up, hit the People Trail at Mill Race Park and hoof it along the paths next to Jonathon Moore Pike and a collection of local eateries. Pick a spot for a quick warm-up and hot chocolate — and a nice sugar buzz to speed your way back to your car at the park. You head home gaining togetherness time and losing a few calories.

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