JOHNSON COUNTY
High gas prices lift bus use by more than 20 percent
Access Johnson County, the county’s bus system, has experienced record ridership levels this year.
In April alone, the mass transit system sold 7,163 rides-that’s nearly 1,000 more than during the same period a year ago. Overall, rider numbers are up more than 20 percent this year, according to Access Johnson County officials. A day pass to ride the bus costs $3.50.
“With gas prices the way they’ve been, many people are using public transportation for the first time,” said Access Johnson County Director Becky Allen.
To widen its coverage area, Johnson County officials are contemplating an express route from the Edinburgh Premium Outlet Mall to a drop-off site near IndyGo’s express service in Greenwood.
American Sentry Guard, a maker of high-tech surveillance systems that reported revenue of $10 million last year, closed this month.
The company’s owner, Jeff Brummett, could not be reached for comment.
Founded in Greenwood in 1999, American Sentry counted area banks, conven
ience stores, factories and military installations as its clients. American Sentry also provided a surveillance system for Casino Aztar in Evansville.
From 2003 to 2006, the company reported revenue growth of 900 percent and landed on Inc. magazine’s annual list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies.
Several clients backed away from major deals in recent months, putting the company into financial difficulty, said one of American Sentry’s investors, Jonathan Byrd II. The company had 40 employees in Greenwood.
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