Adams-Wells Regional News

Friday, April 29, 2011

Stutzman: stop wild spending

Local businesses jump in to support Hope Clinic

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Meese earns HNHS valedictorian spot; Herber is salutatorian

Huntington County Tab:

The top two students for the Huntington North High School Class of 2011 were announced during a breakfast at the school Wednesday morning, April 27.

Madison Meese secured top honors as valedictorian and Alex Herber was named salutatorian for the class of 457 students.

Meese, the daughter of Bill and Sheila Meese, earned a grade point average of 11.55 on an 11-point scale.

$2-m plus in pacts given for Extended Care move

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

FCC planning new Berne expansion

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The FCC (Adams) automotive supply company in Berne, fresh off a recent expansion project which created four times the number of jobs originally anticipated, is growing again.

Berne City Council on Monday evening approved 10-year tax abatements for real estate and new equipment for the Japanese-owned firm's second expansion in as many years at the Parr Road site.

The latest growth at the clutch assembly production plant will include $5.5 million in site improvements and the addition of $20.1 million in new manufacturing equipment, according to FCC administrations manager Elizabeth Daniels. Included in the project will be the construction of a 57,000 square-foot manufacturing facility, to be added to the west end of the existing factory, and the addition of a 22,000 square-foot parking lot capable of accommodating 100 vehicles.

Republicans unveil changes

Monday, April 25, 2011

Napkins provide backdrop for artistic expression

So how much would the NA tax hike cost?

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Editor’s Note: In this article and others to follow, North Adams Community Schools officials explain why they are seeking approval of a $1.25 million funding increase from taxpayers. The newspaper welcomes all comments on this issue. Please address them to: Referendum Peoples Voice.)

Times are tough. Expenses keep going up — even for schools — and state and local revenues are expected to continue in decline. A General Referendum may be a necessary revenue-generating measure, but exactly how much is it going to cost me?

The basis upon which property tax is calculated depends upon several factors. There are individual tax assessments levied by the county, the township, the school district, the city, the library and for special district purposes, respectively. To answer the question posed above, we will look only at the impact of changes in school district levy rate. Interestingly, in the past three years, those rates have steadily fallen.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Food fight: Kids (and others) take on hunger

New depot work Oked

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The city-owned railroad depot off Seventh St. is getting another shot in the arm ... er, building.

Mayor John Schultz revealed at this week's city council meeting that the city's Board of Works and Safety had authorized the expenditure of approximately $23,000 to provide some much-needed work on the aging structure, now in its 99th year.

Once a busy part of the community as a Pennsylvania Railroad depot, the building has been owned by the city for 25 or so years. It was occupied by a floral business until two and a half to three years ago, and has been empty since that time.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Elvis Presley music, Shakespeare storyline for HNHS spring musical ‘All Shook Up’

Huntington County Tab:

The music of Elvis Presley and a storyline by William Shakespeare form the backbone of Huntington North High School's spring musical, "All Shook Up," which opens its three-day run on Thursday, April 28.

Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 28, 29 and 30, all at 7:30 p.m. in the HNHS auditorium.

Travis Duckett plays Chad, a hip-swiveling roustabout just out of prison. Mechanic Natalie Haller, played by Bronwen Fetters, is smitten. Chad, however, has eyes only for glamorous museum owner Sandra, played by Mariah Harold. In her quest to win Chad's attention, Natalie disguises herself as a man and becomes Chad's new sidekick and the object of Sandra's attentions.

Citywide cleanup is planned

River rising and more rain likely

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Storm does heavy damage

Home BHS’ Early College program hailed as key economic development tool

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Jobless rate lowest in 3 years

Monday, April 18, 2011

Briggs a key figure in Geneva history

Decatur Daily Democrat:

‘Fireworks’ can spark a quick response

Decatur Daily Democrat:

"Fireworks" is what one thinks of during celebrations, such as at the Fourth of July.

However, in this area, Fireworks means an ultra-modern way of fighting fires or handling other emergencies inside buildings.

The idea was laid out briefly during the recent annual State of the Schools program at a luncheon meeting of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce at Woodcrest Retirement Community.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Northwest closing gets added to list of HCCSC cost-cutting options

Huntington County Tab:

The Huntington County Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees spent a fourth evening on Wednesday, April 13, reviewing cost-cutting options, but this time with an addition - Northwest Elementary School was added to the list of possible school closings.

Schools Superintendent Tracey Shafer again presented numerous slides detailing ways the corporation could narrow down its expected $2 million budget shortfall for the rest of 2011 and all of 2012. He said the corporation has implemented an estimated $1.25 million in cost savings for 2011 and is considering four routes the corporation could take to make more cuts.

To make up the rest of the shortfall, Shafer said, the corporation could reduce staff and programming; pass a general fund referendum; close schools and repurpose those buildings; or allow the state to take over, giving the government power over the corporation's finances and possibly academics.

Mandate hikes NA lunch price

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Tighter state requirements governing school nutrition guidelines have forced North Adams Community Schools to boost lunch prices for the 2011-2012 school year.

Erin Ripley, food service director for the school district, addressed the changes — some of which are already in place, and others which are expected to be imposed — during Tuesday evening's meeting of the North Adams school board.

Ripley said new guidelines affect the type of milk that must be offered (skim milk only) to mandates to reduce the number of calories and the amount of sodium served to students. She said the changes will greatly affect the way North Adams prepares and serves the nearly 2,400 school lunches daily.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Council approves rate changes for use of Lehman Park Pavilion

South Adams drug testing policy is outlined

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Deaf Spring Social on April 16 an attempt to bring hearing, deaf worlds closer locally

Huntington County Tab:

Margo Noel says she felt lost when she moved to Huntington in 2007.

Deaf since age 3, Noel wasn't sure how to navigate her new community. It wasn't that people were intentionally shutting her out; they just didn't know how to deal with her.

"I think some people are willing to try and work with you," Noel says. "Others feel awkward and step away."
It didn't take her long to start reaching out. After joining Union Church, Noel decided to teach a signing class. Eventually, several of the church members who had taken her class volunteered to interpret for her during services. As a result of Noel's classes, the church now has a signing ministry, Worship In Motion, and several deaf people attend services there.

State of the Schools outline given by Sirk

Monday, April 11, 2011

Mayoral candidates answer on economic development, infrastructure to support business

Huntington County Tab:

Today and on the next two Mondays, The TAB will publish the candidates' responses to a series of questions about the actions they would take as mayor.

Today's question is:
What can the city do to encourage economic development? Is the current infrastructure adequate to support new businesses and industries?

US 27 south going ‘Super Two’?

Northwest students will visit Speedway

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Northwest Elementary School in Decatur will take part this year in the eighth annual Indianapolis 500 Education Program Study (EPS) trips.

Local fourth graders will be part of 10 trips to the 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway next Tuesday. Fourth graders are chosen because it is in that grade that students are taught Indiana history.

This year, 321 schools across Indiana are taking part in the trips, with almost 24,000 students involved.

Westenfeld latest effort of Swiss Village to expand rehab servic

Friday, April 8, 2011

Council to have at least four new faces come this January

All seven seats on the Huntington Common Council are up for election this year, and the council is assured of having at least four new members in January.

Four current council members chose not to seek re-election. Two have instead set their sights on the mayor's office, and two have decided to retire from the council. A fifth council member faces opposition in his primary race.

The May 3 primary election has action only on the Republican ticket for the council seats, with contests for the party's nomination for the first, second, fourth and at-large seats.

Students feel pain of alcohol's consequences

Monroe home is lost to fire

The Decatur Daily Democrat:

A fire that started in an attached garage spread to the one-story William and Carolyn Schindler home in Monroe on Wednesday evening, destroying both structures.

Neither of the occupants was injured, but all their belongings were lost, including two vehicles parked in the garage.

Monroe Fire Chief Russell Cook said this morning that the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Commissioners declare leaky roof at jail ‘emergency situation,’ repairs to come from ‘rainy day’

Huntington County Tab:

A leaky roof at the Huntington County Jail will soon be repaired, after the Huntington County Commissioners voted on Monday, April 4, to declare the problem an "emergency situation."

Shad Paul, Huntington County building inspector, said that by declaring the repair an emergency, the county will be able to use money out of its rainy day fund to fix the roof.

Earlier this year, the jail's gutters froze, causing water to pool and leak through the roof. However, further investigation revealed a host of issues with the integrity of the roof drains, mostly resulting from temporary repairs that had never been properly corrected.

Now, as the weather warms and snow changes to rain, the need for roof repair is essential, the commissioners say.

Switzer is Lilly Scholarship recipient

The Decatur Daily Democrat:

Robert Switzer, a senior at South Adams High School in Berne, has won a Lilly Endowment college scholarship.

The Lilly scholarship was announced by the Adams County Community Foundation (ACCF), which notes that such winners get full tuition to the Indiana college or university of his or her choice plus an $800 annual stipend to buy books and equipment.

Adams County farmers donate crops for needy around the world

City will seek grant to raze old light plant

The Decatur Daily Democrat:

A 116-year-old city-owned building has a wrecking ball in its future, and the sooner the better for Decatur Mayor John Schultz.

The mayor asked for and received permission from city council Tuesday night to seek a grant to demolish the huge, decaying building behind the Fifth St. police station and near the city swimming pool.

Built in 1895, the building once housed the city's electric utility. In later years, it was home to the street department. Three or so years ago, as the structure became unsafe, the street department moved into the former Baker & Schulz building complex on Elm St. after that complex was purchased by the city.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Food study shows Blackford has high food insecurity rate

The Hartford City News Times:

A new study of hunger puts a Blackford County “food insecurity rate” at 18.4 percent, meaning there are 2,440 people in the county who are “food insecure.” The rate is above the state average of 16.2 percent.

Cowan excited about opportunity to pass on life lessons

The Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Adams Central graduate Drew Cowan is the first to admit that it wasn't easy facing some difficult family circumstances when he was a child. However, these days he is bent on sharing life coping lessons that he learned during that time with area youth, some of which are faced with similar circumstances.

"Through some of the family circumstances that I went through when I was younger, I can feel what these kids are going through," said Cowan, the new director of Mentoring Adams County Kids (MACK) through the Boys and Girls Club program.

Old Photos sought for 175 Celebration

The Decatur Daily Democrat:

The Decatur 175 Committee, which is organizing a celebration in August of the city's anniversary, are seeking old photographs of Decatur that will be considered for inclusion in a souvenir book for the event.

The photos will be scanned this Saturday during the Spring Has Sprung promotion of the Decatur Small Business Association. The scanning will be done at The Next Page Bookstore and More at Second and Monroe Sts. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.