Holdup suspect Sain arraigned

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A Wells County man with a rural Geneva address, Caleb B. Sain, was arraigned in Adams Circuit Court on Wednesday in regard to a robbery committed on July 18 at the Walgreen Pharmacy in Decatur.

Sain, 23, has pleaded not guilty to charges of robbery and possession of a controlled substance and was set by Judge Frederick A. Schurger for an omnibus hearing on September 30 and for trial on November 4.

Hospital stays in the black

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The financial picture for the Adams Health Network (AHN) continued in the black for the first half of 2011 with a slight profit shown in June.

Chief Financial Officer Dane Wheeler told the AHN board of trustees at its recent meeting that the hospital showed a $37,235 profit in June, boosting the margin in the black to $341,848 for the first six months of the year. That figure was less than what hospital officials had expected when the 2011 budget was adopted, but still is significantly better than 2010 when AHN was $113,766 in the red for the first six months.

After contractual obligations and discounts were figured in, AHN had net patient revenues of $24,575,942 for the first six months of the year, almost identical to the figure the hospital had budgeted ($24,575,813). The 2011 revenue figure is nearly $700,000 higher that the 2010 amount for a similar period.

Council, drainage board resolve disagreement

Huntington County Tab:

A disagreement that left the Huntington County Drainage Board without a secretary has been resolved.

Huntington County Council will allow the drainage board to use $500 from its legal services fund to supplement the pay of an employee in the Huntington County Surveyor's office, who will then act as the board's secretary.

Zanesville council discusses spending items

Huntington County Tab:

The Zanesville Town Council approved two budgetary items and discussed the possible purchase of other items during its meeting on Thursday, July 21.

The council approved a request by Clerk-Treasurer Julie Christian to spend up to $1,000 from the sewer fund for a new laptop computer and software. Christian uses her personal computer for much of the town's business, since the town's current computer is older and doesn't have much memory remaining. The current computer will still be used for the town's sewer billing program.

Senior Center denied funds

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Despite a request earlier this year from board members of the South Adams Senior Center for financial assistance from the city for the day-to-day operations of the center, the 2012 budget unveiled before Berne City Council on Monday contained no such appropriation.

In May of this year, representatives of the senior center asked the city to commit $6,225 toward operation of the center in 2012. That figure represents $1.50 per capita for each of Berne's 4,150 citizens, former Berne mayor and current senior center board member Blaine Fulton said at the time.

Berne budget labeled ‘skinny’

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Berne City Council members got their first glimpse of the city's proposed $2.2 million budget for 2012 on Monday evening. The spending outline for next year includes a general fund budget of just over $1.5 million — an increase of just $38,000 over this year's spending blueprint.

"It's a skinny budget," said clerk-treasurer Gwen Maller during a review of the document. "You don't want to spend more than you take in — like some cities do."

Maller said tax receipts resulting from property tax caps imposed two years ago by the Indiana legislature cost the city approximately $47,500 in revenue for 2011, and she expects to see a similar reduction in tax receipts for 2012. While the exact amount of lost property tax revenue has not yet been determined, Maller said the budget was prepared "based on the assumption that we're not going to be getting some of that money."

Liechty receives outstanding 4-H member of year award

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Berne's Luke Liechty learned that he is the recipient of this year's "Outstanding 4-H Member of the Year" award. This year, Liechty is sharing the award with Paul Measing who is involved with the Preble Trailblazers.

One of Liechty's most outstanding personal successes this year has been receiving the starter calf premier showmanship award. Because of that, Liechty had the option to show in a supreme showmanship opportunity in which he will exhibit seven animals in one show. They include starter calves, sheep, goats, swine, dairy, beef and horses.

City near deal on eyesore

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The City of Decatur is moving rapidly to get rid of one eyesore building and is hopeful of being able to remove a second, and more dangerous one.

City council on Tuesday night approved on two readings the terms of a contract to purchase for $30,000 the former sweeper shop (and onetime Holthouse Drug Co.) builging at Second and Monroe streets.

At the same meeting, a public hearing was held to advance an attempt to land a grant to remove the onetime city utilities/street department building between the city swimming pool and police station.

9 seeking title of ambassador

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Nine longtime members of Adams County 4-H are seeking the title of Royal Ambassador at the county 4-H Fair, which opens Sunday at the Monroe fairgrounds. The winner will be announced after the parade on Tuesday night.

The nine are: Marissa Scheumann, Megan Hreha, Audra Franz, Devan Barger, Hannah Conrad, Paul Mesing, Zan Smith, Macy Mudd, and Casey Krueckeberg.

NA liability costs to rise 17%

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Liability insurance premiums paid by North Adams Community Schools will increase by some 17 percent this year, school district business manager Larry Carty told members of the school board on Tuesday.

The district will pay $115,201 for liability coverage for the coming school year, a hefty increase caused in part by an above-normal number of workman's compensation claims in recent years. Carty said the claims have stemmed from a number of "isolated, random and minor" injuries suffered by school district employees as the result of falls and other mishaps. Carty said there have been no workplace safety issues identified.

Elder joins NA board

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Don Elder, a retired educator selected by sitting members of the North Adams school board in May to fill a pending vacancy in their ranks, was issued the oath of office on Tuesday as he officially joined the board.

Elder was selected from among four applicants for the board seat that became open July 1 with the expiration of the term of former board member Juan Gutierrez. The seat is often called the "swing" seat because its representation alternates every four years between residents of the city of Decatur and rural residents. Gutierrez was not eligible to retain the seat.

Auditor accused of some ‘shirking’

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A request by the county auditor for the county council to consider increasing the pay of his five staff members by a total of $6,000 led to an unusual and unexpected response from a veteran councilman on Tuesday.

Auditor Bill Borne, who was not present, had submitted a two-page, 11-paragraph, single-spaced request for the $6,000, seeking $2,000 for his chief deputy and $1,000 each for the other four staffers. The council chose to withhold action until the 2012 budget is prepared in September.

However, longtime council member Phil Wulliman said Borne, a two-time winner of the Indiana Auditor of the Year award, "is shirking some of his responsibilites." He added that, while the council does not want to micromanage county offices, "this is a prime example of where we might need to do that."

Lightning hits Geneva library

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A lightning strike during a storm damaged a control unit on a computer in the Geneva branch of the Adams Public Library System on Monday, blew a fuse and knocked out the site's elevator, air conditioner, and Internet and Wii services.

The incident happened around 1 p.m., branch director Rose Bryan said.

Geneva firefighters responded to the alarm, but there was no fire.
Strong thunderstorms with gusts of up to 81 mph blew through northern Indiana, knocking down trees and power lines, The Associated Press reported.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department reported a semitrailer was blown over on Interstate 69. No one was injured. There also were reports of trees on houses throughout the region.

Berne, LICA sign for more sewer work

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Berne City Council on Monday officially signed a contract with LICA LLC for continued improvements to the city's sanitary sewer collection system. The local firm's bid of $789,627 was accepted in April as the lowest of nine submitted for the work. The engineering estimate for the project was $925,000.

The construction is being partially funded through a $960,000 grant received by the city last fall. Federal Community Development Block Grant funds for disaster recovery were made available to aid communities in economic recovery after natural disasters caused damage in many areas across the state during 2008.

Swiss Village team supports area Alzheimer's cause

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Once again, Swiss Village Retirement Center employees, family members and friends are uniting to support one of the largest Alzheimer efforts in Indiana, the "Walk to End Alzheimer's Now," which will be held in Fort Wayne on Sept. 24.

This year's event will be held at Headwaters Park with registration beginning at 10 a.m., opening ceremonies and awards occurring at 11:30 a.m. and the walk beginning at noon.

Local funds given to aid honor flights

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The concept of "honor flights" to reward United States war veterans by giving them free airliner trips to visit memorial sites in Washington, D.C. began in 2004 with World War II vets and will be continued on behalf of Korean War and Vietnam War vets.

Bob Myer of Allen County, vice president of Honor Flights of Northeastern Indiana, made that known at a recent meeting in Decatur of seven local WW II vets who were on the fifth honor flight from the Fort Wayne region to the national capital.

Myer also received $5,000 in donations from local supporters and said that money means the sixth one-day honor flight, scheduled for October 4, is now fully paid for. Each flight costs $50,000 to $57,000, he said, including more than $47,000 just for the cost of the airliner.

LaHaye to bring resurrection theme Swiss Days weekend

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

A follow-up movie to the Mel Gibson blockbuster about the story of Christ is currently being planned by famed author Tim LaHaye and his grandson, Randy LaHaye. LaHaye will be here on Sunday, July 31, at the First Mennonite Church at 6:30 p.m. to challenge the hearts of those in attendance concerning the resurrection of Jesus.

"My goal on Sunday night is to tell the story of the Resurrection Project and cast the vision for the movie projection," LaHaye wrote to Rev. Robert Liechty of the South Adams Ministerial Association earlier this spring. "I will be preaching about the significance, message and hope of the resurrection of Christ.

Richie suffers serious injuries

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Adrian Richie, former principal at Bellmont High School and now the principal at Lowell High School in Lake County, was severely burned in an accident at home on Wednesday.

Reports received here say Richie was removing brush from his yard to prepare for an open house that was to be held for one of his sons, Austin, one of the state's top basketball players as a senior last season at Lowell High School.

Somehow, the brush pile fire spread to him and he suffered serious burns over 45 percent of his body.

More dogs than ever at Swiss Heritage competition

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Community leaders will come together as judges to look over the skills of a large group of non-aggressive dogs during Swiss Days on July 30 this year. The traditional Wiener Dog Race will be held at 10 a.m. at Swiss Heritage Village, and then, at noon, the new competitive event will begin.

"I like this because we can have many more participants, both dogs and owners," said Fred Lehman, who heads up the event. "The dog races are always real crowd pleasers. Now we have even a bigger event than the traditional wiener race.

$1,000 city pay hikes OKed

Decatur Daily Democrat:

If the State of Indiana doesn't wreak havoc with Decatur's 2012 budget, city employees will be getting raises of $1,000 each after going without increases this year and last.

Insurance changes are coming, though, with only some employees to be affected by higher costs.
City council unanimously approved the $1,000 hikes at its meeting Tuesday night, with the stipulation of "if the money is available." Mayor John Schultz, who supported the hike, said the only concern would be if the state radically reduced the city's budget for next year once that budget is submitted.

"You never know what the state, in all its infinite wisdom, will do," he said.

The $1,000 figure was suggested by Councilman Matt Dyer, who praised city department heads and employees for the way they held down costs last year. "They put us in position to do this (provide raises)," he said.