Farmers wait patiently for drenched soil to dry out

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

"Patience is the word," says Jeff Lehman of Lehman Feed Mill concerning the relentless rain that continues to keep area farmers from planting their spring crops.

"Most farmers are still pretty upbeat," said Lehman, concerning the latest round of heavy rains that have flooded many area fields. "There is nothing we can do to control the weather. It is all in the hands of the good Lord. When we get the break we are looking forward to we will start going into the fields."

Lehman said that while the persistent rains have continued to inhibit planting, all hope is not lost. Most farmers in the area would plant corn up until the middle of June, Lehman said.

River rise not as dramatic and more rain falls

Decatur Daily Democrat:

As the rains continued in Decatur on Thursday, the St. Marys River continued to rise, although not as much as some people had feared.

The river stood at 19.4 feet in Decatur at 7 a.m. today, after measuring 17.4 and 18.6 feet on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Not too dramatic a rise, given that another .17 of an inch of rain fell in the city yesterday to boost the total rainfall for the previous four days to 3.31 inches.
Local weather station officials said this morning that May traditionally the wettest month here, and the script is being followed this year as the current month has seen 6.94 inches of rain recorded with five days remaining.

April rain here totaled 5.87 inches — 12.81 inches since the start of April!

It appears some dry days finally are upon us. The National Weather Service says no rain is expected in the Decatur area today, while Saturday's chances are pegged are 20 to 40 percent and Sunday's at 40 percent. No rain is mentioned in Memorial Day's forecast.

Storms hit city, county

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Adams County was almost floating today after a series of thunderstorms drove through the region as one of the wettest springs in local history continues.

The worst-off appear to be the area's farmers, who have been unable to plant crops due to the continual muddy conditions in fields.

Decatur and Adams County emerged mostly unscathed but drenched from the seemingly endless storms which rolled through the area during a period of 10 top 12 hours on Wednesday afternoon and early this morning.

There was some damage in the county, but no injuries.

Decatur weather station officials recorded 1.58 inches of rain, giving the city a total of 3.14 inches in the past three days.

Board studies options for reassigning Horace Mann students

Huntington County Tab:

The Huntington County Community School Corporation redistricting committee is looking at three different options for reassigning former Horace Mann students to Andrews, Lancaster and Lincoln schools, Superintendent Tracey Shafer informed the school board on Monday, May 23.

The committee consists of Shafer, board members Rex Baxter (District 7) and Ben Landrum (District 3), Horace Mann Building Principal Amy Rudolf, Transportation Director Doug Waldfogel and six parents from Horace Mann, Andrews, Lancaster, Lincoln and Salamonie schools.

The first option, Shafer said, is to redraw the district boundary lines and absorb the Horace Mann district into the Andrews, Lancaster and Lincoln districts. Boundaries would be redrawn according to how many student vacancies are projected at each school.

Smith heads into the future with lessons learned from heartbreaking injury

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Adams Central senior Zan Smith admits the fact that there were "tears" the day her doctor informed her that a painful shoulder injury would more than likely end her highly successful swimming career. After all, her family had spent an entire lifetime developing her skills and talents for the water sport.

"It (swimming) was something I did my entire life," said Smith. "I gave up a lot of social things in order to train and develop my skills. When you put that much into it, it's hard. My parents and I invested so much time and energy in swimming.

Adams County avoids storm damage

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Adams County escaped damage from thunderstorms and tornadoes on Monday evening, but Van Wert County, just across the border in Ohio, was again hammered by a twister that reportedly left a 3.5-mile-long trail of destruction in the Ohio City area (see below).

One funnel cloud was reported by a stormspotter near Decatur shortly before 6 p.m., causing the several warning sirens in the city to be switched on, but there was no touchdown here, officials said.

In fact, no storm damage was reported today in the county by the emergency management and sheriff's departments.

All roads were open, but some rural roads had water running across them as storm water drained away. A few streets in Decatur had backed up water due to the amount of rain, but that drained away relatively quickly, officials said.

Rick Hill is sent to prison

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A rural Decatur man convicted last year of multiple counts of cruelty to horses he owned and of failing to properly dispose of a dead horse was given 543 days in prison and 363 days in jail on Tuesday for violating probation.

Richard A. "Rick" Hill, 60, was sentenced by Adams Superior Court Judge Patrick R. Miller for disobeying judicial orders to have no contact with or possession of any "vertebrate animals."

Miller told Hill that, in regard to the judge's explicit orders in February of 2010, "you don't get it or you don't want to get it. You definitely were trying to find loopholes" in those orders.

Firefighters are honored for a life-saving rescue

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Rescuers and the rescued do not often meet a second time, but they did on Thursday evening at an awards dinner hosted by the Decatur Fire Department that drew more than 120 people, including state officials from Indiana and Ohio.

The major honors of the night were medals of valor, and a standing ovation, for veteran firefighters Jeff Sheets and Tim Ulman for their lifesaving actions last March 2 two miles inside Ohio when they rescued an elderly woman whose car was in deep and frigid floodwater.

The woman, 81-year-old Margaret L. Spindler of Hoagland, was pulled from her car while the water was up to the window level and as she was entering hypothermia. She was taken in a fire department boat to land, driven by a Van Wert County, Ohio, ambulance to Van Wert County Hospital, then flown to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Muhlenkamp's heart beats spiritual energy into her daily efforts

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

When South Adams senior Hanna Muhlenkamp looks for a source of the energy that has motivated her many involvements this past school year, she begins by talking about the seeds of spirituality that were sown in her heart when she attended a spiritual retreat at Holy Cross College in South Bend last summer.

"The theme of the conference was, 'be Christ to others; see Christ in others,'" said Muhlenkamp.
She admitted that there was fear in her heart as she approached a large group of mainly unknown people to embark on a week of soul-searching and service to others.

AC's new tech gets high praise

Decatur Daily Democrat:

"I get tingles."

Those three words were used by a veteran Adams Central teacher, Harry Anderson, to express how happy he feels about using the New Tech (NT) style of team instruction.

At the May meeting of the AC school board, a lengthy presentation about the first year of NT at AC was made by four teachers, five students, and high school Principal Sean McConnell.

Anderson, now in his 14th year of teaching, said this year is without question "the most exciting" in his career.

He said it's the first time that when a student suddenly blurts out an idea to do something, he can reply, "Go for it!"

He thanked the school board for its foresight in moving to NT and said the teachers "poured their hearts into it."

Weather slows hospital project

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Wet weather in the area has not affected only sporting events.

Adams Health Network (AHN) Executive Director Marvin L. Baird reported to AHN trustees at their meeting this week that construction work at two of the organization's work sites have crawled to a snail's pace due to wet grounds.

The new physician's office building adjacent to the hospital has seen "very little" work in recent days although the foundation has been poured. The anticipated finish date of late August will not be met, in all probability, due to weather woes, according to Baird.

"Day of Infamy" changes life of young Berne man

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Berne resident Paul Augsburger will never forget the moment he heard that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. He was on his way to work when President Franklin D. Roosevelt's famous "Day of Infamy" speech announced the beginning of the Pacific Theater. He and Edith (Habegger) had their wedding announcements ready to mail out.

Lots of things went through Augsburger's mind on that infamous day of Dec. 7, 1941. He sensed that there could be changes in his life in the months ahead. However, one thing wasn't about to change, he and Edith were going to keep their commitment to be married on Jan. 18, 1942, at the Evangelical Mennonite Church.

City pay hikes pondered

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The City of Decatur hasn't provided salary increases for its employees last year and this year, but Mayor John Schultz is strongly in favor of doing so this year.

The last pay hikes, three percent across the board, were granted for 2009.

At this week's city council meeting, Clerk-Treasurer Phyllis Whitright presented some figures she has compiled.

A one percent increase, she said, would cost the city $72,000 to $73,000. The lowest employee increase would be $240 a year, the highest approximately $400; for employees with longevity clauses, it would be about $1,000.

Up and ready in just one day

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The effort to place new playground equipment in Legion Park — spurred by a group of women calling themselves Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) — was "quite successful" this week, Parks and Recreation Director Steve Krull said at Tuesday night's meeting of Decatur City Council.

The women raised some $50,000 to purchase the equipment, then they were joined by 40 to 50 volunteers on Monday to erect the equipment. GameTime, the company from which the equipment was purchased, sent several advisors to the park on Monday to lend technical expertise.

"Actually, it went a lot better than I had anticipated," Krull saiid. "It went wonderful, actually; very smooth." The equipment is now ready for use.

Health network staying in black

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The financial portrait for the Adams Health Network presented to AHN trustees Wednesday night continues to show a positive bottom line despite the fact that admissions were down nearly six percent from the previous month.

AHN Executive Director Marvin L. Baird and Chief Financial Officer Dane Wheeler reported that statistics for the first four months of 2011 show AHN with $285,352 in the black, compared to $386,003 at this point last year. Total operating revenue and total operating expenses for that time frame were nearly identical to those of 2010, but interest income and rental income were down.

Revenue received this year is $16,618,392 as compared to $16,463,064 last year while expenses are $16,719,797 compared to $16,725,350. Baird and Wheeler continue to note as they have in previous months that a new budgeting process has helped the hospital lower expenses.

GIS is updated; advisory committee offering training sessions to public

Huntington County Tab:

The Huntington County GIS (Geographic Information System) is sporting a variety of updates as of May 11, and the Huntington County GIS Advisory Committee is offering training sessions to show any interested member of the community how to take advantage of the system's new capabilities.

Identical training sessions will be offered twice on Wednesday, May 18, in the GAR Room of the Huntington County Courthouse. The free 45-minute sessions will begin at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Seniors collect scholarships and honors at South Adams

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Monday evening was a time for recognizing and celebrating the many accomplishments of the South Adams Class of 2011 at the Senior Awards Night. Eighty-seven South Adams High School seniors collected over $525,000 in scholarship money from various organizations, including the South Adams Scholarship Committee, Adams County Community Foundation, South Adams Sports Boosters, individual colleges and universities.

To resting place ...

Decatur Daily Democrat:

An estimated 1,000 mourners, led by Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese Bishop Kevin Rhoadez — who presided over the Mass of Resurrection — paid their last respects to Sister Margaret Rose Donnelly on Tuesday at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Decatur. Burial followed in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery here. Sister Margaret Rose, who moved to Decatur in the mid-1990s, died last Thursday at 76. Among the pallbearers was Decatur Mayor John Schultz, at the front of the group.

Solid Waste Board officials see potential demise

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The Adams County Solid Waste Management District Board is preparing to take action to help thwart a possible move in the Indiana legislature to prevent property taxes from being used to finance all the county solid waste districts in the state and to keep the local waste-handling operation going in a different way if such a bill becomes law.

At Monday's meeting of the solid waste board, the members heard from Matt Lehman of Berne, the Republican state representative whose district includes Adams County, about a possible bill that was first filed a few years ago by a state senator from Hancock County.

Lehman said the 2011 measure, in the form of a resolution, never got out of a committee in the Senate and said, "There is little or no support in the Senate" for the idea. He said the chairman of the House committee that would consider such a bill "has no interest in this at all."

Three remained hospitalized

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Three people remained hospitalized today as a result of a two-vehicle traffic accident which occurred last Friday and took the life of Drake T. Hill, 21, of Wren, Ohio, who was pronounced dead at the scene by the county coroner.

The Adams County Sheriff's Department released a report about the accident late Monday morning. The mishap occurred on Piqua Rd. near State Rd. 101.

Hill's passenger, his fiance, Kristen Everett of Wren, was flown from the scene by the Lutheran Air helicopter to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. She was listed in critical condition this morning by hospital officials.

Local support generously keeps Dots in Blue Water project afloat

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

There was only one word South Adams senior Hanna Muhlenkamp could think of to describe the community support for the school's, "Dots in Blue Water," program – "insane."

Muhlenkamp had just heard on Friday that the fund-raising effort to send South Adams students and faculty members to install water purifying systems in Haiti in June was approaching the goal of $32,000; that news was nearly more than her emotional excitement could contain.

Vandals hit ball fields

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Adams County Crime Stoppers is asking for the public's help in solving acts of vandalism at the Monmouth baseball fields during the weekend of May 6-8.

Backstop nets were cut down, other nets were stretched and moved, a backstop was broken into pieces, and a pitcher's block was dented. Officials also said a batting cage frame was bent and the men's bathroom door was damaged when someone threw a large concrete block at it.

The fields are owned by the Root Township trustee and authorities noted that this is the third case of vandalism to the field and property in the past eight months.

Area farmers just waiting for break in weather

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

"We've got a lot of hard-working, good farmers out there just waiting to go to the fields," said Jeff Lehman of Lehman Feed Mill earlier this week. Lehman said that now is the optimum time for planting corn, but if it can still get in the ground this month, things could work out for a decent crop.

"As of today's crop progress report, only four percent of the crops in Indiana are planted so far," said Lehman. "That is compared to 40 percent across the country. It wouldn't take long if we can get a few warm, drying days together. We need to get several warm days in the 80s, like we've gotten the past couple of days. We need a lot of those."

No bids for SA property

Decatur Daily Democrat:

South Adams Schools Superintendent Scott Litwiller said during this week's school board meeting that there have not been any bids submitted on the former Berne elementary school property.

Bidding was opened May 2 for the entire tract of real estate which totals 4.815 acres. Bidding will close at 3 p.m. on June 1. After the open bidding period ends, board members will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. that day to review the bids and to possibly accept a bid.

Litwiller reviewed the terms and conditions for selling the property. He said that the schools' board may sell the property to the "highest and best bidder" before expiration of the time set out in the notice. He added that all bids should be submitted in writing and delivered to the administration office in person or by first class mail.

BHS grid coach hired on 3-2 vote

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Nate Andrews traveled nearly 90 minutes to Decatur on Tuesday evening, along with his wife and young daughter, to meet his prospective new employers and to witness his official hiring as Bellmont High School's new head football coach.

He left Decatur some two hours later, visibly upset after the North Adams school board — in a deeply divided 3-2 vote — barely approved his employment.

Board president Michelle Stimpson and member Deb Bergman cast the votes against hiring Andrews. Prior to the vote, Stimpson said she was dismayed that a recent story in the Decatur Daily Democrat basically had announced Andrews as the school's new grid coach. "I won't be a rubber stamp" for decisions made by school officials, she said.

Columbine comment gets AC student suspended

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A non-violent incident at Adams Central High School on Monday brought about the suspension of a student.

A sophomore made a remark to another student in regards to "Columbine at Adams Central Schools," Superintendent Mike Pettibone said Tuesday. School officials reacted immediately upon hearing of the comment, "but found no evidence that this was not more than a very inappropriate statement," according to Pettibone.

"However, the school is treating this as very serious," Pettibone said in a letter to parents of students at AC.

South Adams looking for new head basketball coach

Berne Tri-Weekly:

Several Berne citizens were present at the South Adams school board meeting on Tuesday evening as the school voted on the contract renewal of head boys’ basketball coach Ryan Biegel. Acting up on the recommendation of Athletic Director Mike Pries, high school principal Trent Lehman, and South Adams Schools superintendent Scott Litwiller, the board unanimously decided not to renew the contract.

“I am sorry to see you make that decision,” said Bud Bearss who was present as a friend of Biegel.

Berne Senior Center has money woes

Decatur Daily Democrat:

For the first time in the 15-year history of the South Adams Senior Center, the organization's board of directors will be forced to withdraw money from its endowment fund to meet budget obligations this year.

And the center's financial outlook for 2012 is even more bleak.

With that scenario serving as a backdrop, senior center board members and staffers appeared before Berne City Council on Monday evening to seek financial assistance in the city's next budget cycle.

Hiring freeze lifted

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The Adams County Commissioners unanimously agreed on Monday to lift the county hiring freeze and allow the Adams County Extension Board to fill a vacant Purdue Extension Service educator position.

However, Commissioner Doug Bauman told a large group from the extension system in the county that the extension board must "be really, really creative" and "do a sales job to the county council," which provides part of the pay for that educator and also establishes the county's budget every year.

The extension board let the health and human sciences (HHS) educator go early this year and the post is still vacant, with only two Purdue-associated educators on duty: Brad Kohlhagen in agriculture services and Amy Johnson in 4-H and youth services.

Leonard sees fixes coming in future due to shortened session

Huntington County Tab:

In light of a five-week walkout from the Indiana Statehouse by House Democrats, District 50 Rep. Dan Leonard (R-Huntington) calls it an "accomplishment" that the state legislature was able to finish its session by the Friday, April 29 deadline.

"We got our work done without five weeks in the middle," Leonard said in Indianapolis on the final day of the 2011 legislative session. "But we missed that five weeks of discussion. I'm not trying to throw stones, but the legislation we're passing today ... we're going to have to come back and fix some things next year."

Leonard said that one of the keys to good legislation is debate from both sides - Republican and Democrat - which he feels was largely missing this year.

Adams Central student wins sixth annual academic quiz bowl

Berne Tri-Weekly:

A six grade Adams Central student captured the sixth grade championship for the sixth annual Substance Abuse Awareness Council Quiz Bowl held at Bellmont Middle School last Thursday evening.

Jeff Litchfield won his second consecutive quiz bowl, an event that he won last year as a fifth grader.

The sixth grade runner-up was Jesse Mendez from Zion Lutheran School.

Home County students win $55,000 apiece in scholarship money

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Winning $111,000 in 73 minutes?

Two high school students from Adams County did that on April 29 in a state auto skills repair contest sponsored by the Ford corporation and American Automobile Association.

Billy Gilson, a senior at South Adams, and Jacob Bergdall, a junior at Adams Central, were the winning two-man team that defeated nine other tandems in the event at Indianapolis.

They performed repairs on a 2012 Mustang in just 73 minutes and each won $55,000 in scholarship money to attend a technological school, plus $800 each in tools.

That comes to $111,600.

Community welcomes Amishville purchase with open arms

Berne Tri-Weekly:

Celina businessman Jason Hines said that it was his intent to leave Amishville and drive back to his Ohio business last Saturday immediately following the purchase of the property in an auction conducted by Rob Green Auctioneering.

However, it didn't quite work out that way. Local residents who had attended the auction swarmed Hines and business partner Dennis Strawn with well wishes and words of appreciation for their purchase of the local business.

Prayers given on prayer day

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Prayers spanning the gamut of human endeavor, good and bad, were offered at a 35-minute program at the Peace Monument in downtown Decatur during Thursday's annual National Day of Prayer. Nearly 200 people attended.

The noon event on the Adams County Courthouse square featured 11 speakers: from short welcoming remarks by Mayor John Schultz and Dr. Robert Brink, pastor of Decatur Church of God, to longer comments from nine others in the local faith community.

Schultz said it is "wonderful" that people in the United States can gather and pray publicly.

Home Health Move Slated:

Decatur Daily Democrat:

What originally started as a single-person department by former Washington Township trustee Bob Gay in Adams County over 35 years ago — with registered nurse Vickie Gagle in charge — will soon be assumed by a new agency.

The Adams Health Network Board (AHN) of Trustees recently revealed that Adams County Home Health, which currently has a staff of 17 employee and has been operated by the hospital for the past several decades, soon will be assumed by Family Hospice of Northeastern Indiana with plans to expand into Jay and Wells counties

AHN Executive Director Marvin L. Baird strongly stressed the point that "we're (Home Health) still open for business at full steam. We'll still be taking patients and providing the quality in-home care our patients have grown accustomed to."

Christina Christman has to use both hands when counting blessings on Mother’s Day

Huntington County Tab:

When Christina Christman stops on Mother's Day to count her blessings, she'll have to use both hands.

There's Alexandria, and Luke, and Marianne, and Benjamin, and Nicholas, and Joseph, and Gabriel.

That's seven kids, ranging in age from seven weeks to 11 years, every one of them welcome.

"We both wanted kids," Matt says. "We had no set plan of when or how many."

"We didn't have a plan," Christina says in agreement. "We just thank God for whatever he sends us."

They're fully aware that their large family goes against today's norm, with most young couples choosing to limit their families to one or two - sometimes three - children. They're OK with that.

Op Cleanup set to begin

Decatur Daily Democrat:

May has arrived and that means the city's Operation Cleanup soon will be under way, Bill Karbach, a member of the city's Board of Works and Safety, said at Tuesday night's city council meeting.

Plans for the effort to bring abouut a major cleanup of the city for this year's 175th anniversary celebration had been unveiled at the previous council meeting. A committee comprised of Karbach, city Planning and Zoning Superintendent Roger Gage, and City Attorney Tim Baker put together various aspects of the program, including targeting and implementation.

Fetters dominates Republican mayoral field

Huntington County Tab:

Huntington County Republicans tossed out a sitting mayor in favor of a city council member who held his first city job while still in college.

Brooks Fetters, a four-year member of the Huntington Common Council, won 32.25 percent of the vote to win the Republican nomination for mayor. Steve Updike, a former city police officer who is completing his first term as mayor, finished fourth in the seven-man field with just 17 percent of the vote.

"We were all concerned with the good of Huntington," Fetters said of the other candidates. "I felt real positive with what I was hearing door-to-door. I want to help Huntington become the best version of itself it can."

Referendum bid crushed

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Voters in the North Adams school district on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a general fund referendum which would have generated $1.25 million in additional property tax revenues annually for seven years.

Ballot results showed 86 percent of district residents who went to the polls on Tuesday were not in favor of a tax increase. The final tally was 2,144-345 against the referendum.

The school vote was the lone issue to be decided by voters in Adams County during this year's primary election balloting, and voter turnout was predictably light. Only one-fourth of eligible voters throughout the school district — 26 percent — cast votes on Tuesday.

Mawhorr leads way to Relay for Life finish line

Berne Tri-Weekly:

Jodi Mawhorr is doing everything from inspecting a shipment of flamingo statues to preparing for a garage and bake sale these days in her effort to lead her Relay for Life team, Meri's Angels, towards its goal of raising $2,500 towards this year's Relay for Life event which will be held at the Adams Central track, June 24 and 25.

Mawhorr is currently preparing for a garage sale and bake sale that will be held at her residence (1017 Dearborn St.), May 11-13. One hundred percent of the income from the bake sale will be donated to Meri's Angels while 10 percent of the garage sale will be passed on to Relay for Life.

Home Key extension office opening bumps up against hiring freeze

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Will someone from Purdue University attend next Monday's meeting of the Adams County Commissioners to help the three executives decide whether to fill a vacancy on the staff of Purdue's Cooperative Extension Service office in Decatur?

That was the unanswered question after a lengthy debate held Monday.

The county extension service board let the health and human sciences educator go early this year because of dissatisfaction with her job performance, but to fill the position, the board must convince the commissioners to break a county hiring freeze and also convince the county council to provide funds for a new person.

County’s tough times noted in discussion

Decatur Daily Democrat:

During Monday's discussion about whether or not to break the county hiring freeze and fill an educator's position in the county extension office, Commissioner Ed Coil pointed out that due to budget cutbacks, the highway department has lost seven employees in the past four years (largely by retirements) and only recently replaced one of them.

He also noted that each fulltime county employee is assisted in medical coverage by a $9,000 payment per year by the county, and that the county pays almost $100,000 to Purdue, about half the cost of operating the extension office.

Commissioner Doug Bauman added that proceeds from the County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) are down, no miles of county roads will be prepared this year for chip-and-seal improvement in 2012, and the number of miles of road improved in 2010 was 20 fewer than in 2009 — all because of falling revenue.

"It's tough on all corners," said Bauman.

Run Over Violence attracts large crowd Saturday

Berne Tri-Weekly:

Amber Heimann, youth worker at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Decatur, came to Saturday's Run Over Violence in Decatur as a role model and with compassion in her heart for those who suffer from incidents of domestic violence.

"I'm here because I want to bring awareness to the struggles in our community," observed Heimann. "We need to raise funds to help support those who are hurting and need help. We need to do all that we can to help address these problems and help solve these problems."

School referendum up Tuesday

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Voters in the North Adams Schools district will be the only Adams County residents going to the polls Tuesday as they decide whether to approve or reject a North Adams request for $1.25 million over a seven-year period.

Only registered voters who reside in the North Adams district are eligible to vote on Tuesday.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.