Former Bella Tower & Grille to open as The Berne Inn

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

When Safgt Veseli moved to America from Macedonia, he did so looking for a new home for his wife and three children. He was drawn to the United States by other family members who moved to the Midwest and became involved in various restaurants around the region.

It was while he was visiting with relatives in the Montecello restaurant that he gained knowledge of the sale of the Bella Tower & Grille. When Veseli visited the Berne area for the first time, he immediately fell in love with the Swiss theme, the Clock Tower and the attractiveness of the community. He decided that if he could acquire the restaurant, it was where he would like to bring his family.

In the next few weeks, the former Bella Tower & Grille (originally Parkway) will reopen as, "The Berne Inn." The highest priority for Veseli is to have a comfortable family restaurant with a general menu oriented for eating enjoyment and warm fellowship.

Judge stays chairman of health network board

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The status quo will remain in effect at the Adams Health Network for the coming year with the annual reorganization of the network being done at its January board of trustees meeting on Wednesday night.

The five members of the trustees — Dr. Robert E. Judge, Russ Flueckiger, Dennis Bieberich, Larry D. Macklin, and Louise Ray — were unanimous in their decision to retain Dr. Judge as chairman of the trustees for another year as well as Flueckiger as vice chairman and Bieberich as secretary.

Award recipient has aided community in many ways

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The Decatur Chamber of Commerce Awards has announced that Edwin E. Coil has been selected as its recipient of the 2011 Stephen Decatur Award.

He will receive the award at the Chamber's annual dinner meeting on February 2 at the Knights of Columbus pavilion.

During and following his 52 years with the Zollner Corporation, Coil devoted himself to the service of the community in numerous and varied ways, Chamber officials said in making the announcement.

Coil was born on October 28, 1931, in Willshire, Ohio. At a young age he moved to a farm near Lima, Ohio, and graduated from Spencerville, Ohio, High School. He was drafted into the Army in 1951 and served with the 5th Regimental Combat Team in Korea for 10 months.

FEMA releases prelim flood hazard maps for county

Huntington County Tab:

Preliminary flood hazard maps for Huntington County have been released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

When final, the maps will show flood risk throughout the county and determine whether property owners, with a federal or federally insured loan, are required to carry flood insurance.

These are the first new flood hazard maps for the county in 28 years. They came as the result of FEMA, the Department of Natural Resources, and Huntington County completing an extensive multi-year study of the area's floodplains using state-of the-art technologies and risk-modeling techniques.

Serentity House being sought for city

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Jerry Setser, Barry Humble and Community Corrections officer Ian Gilbert stood as representatives of Serenity House Inc. last week to ask the board of Adams County commissioners for help in funding a proposed Serenity House.

In making their plea to commissioners, the trio touted the need for a recovery house in the county. "Alcohol and drug problems don't stop with a jail sentence," said Humble.

According to Gilbert, having a Serenity House in the county would provide judges the opportunity to sentence those facing alcohol- and drug-related charges to a recovery program rather than incarceration, potentially saving the county more than $120,000 a year. Gilbert estimated approximately 50-60 percent of cases are drug or alcohol related.

Council passes measure to launch unsafe building ordinance

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

City Attorney James Beitler introduced an ordinance at Monday's board meeting to enact an unsafe building code that would allow for proper measures to rectify unsafe building sites in the city.

Council then initiated emergency legislation steps to adopt the measure and authorize the attorney to fulfill the required publication of the legislation twice in the paper. Beitler stated that under the provisions of state legislation 36-7-9-1 through 36-7-9-28, all proceedings within the City of Berne for inspection, repair and removal of unsafe buildings would be governed.

"All buildings or portions thereof within the city which are determined after inspection by the Building Commission to be unsafe as defined in this subchapter are herby declared to be nuisances shall be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition or removal," states the ordinance.

Jobless rate at 10-month high

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Adams County ended 2011 with its largest unemployment rate in 10 months, according to figures released Tuesday by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

The county's December jobless rate stood at 8.5 percent, the highest in the county since February of 2011. The year's final figures capped a roller-coaster 12 months for local jobless levels.

After beginning 2011 with a 9.2 percent unemployment mark in January, the county saw declines for the next three months, bottoming out at 7.6 percent in April before starting a slow climb upward. The November jobless rate stood at 8.3 percent.

Bridge work delayed by weather

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The covered bridge near Ceylon is no longer covered.

Work to reconstruct the bridge built in the mid-1860s began in early November. Jutte Excavating of Fort Recovery, Ohio, won the county contract to remove, rebuild and then reposition the bridge.

Recent high water has slowed work on driving pilings for support in order that the bridge may be taken apart. The wooden structure eventually will be entirely removed, with its pieces strewn about a parking lot at the site.

The bridge has been deteriorating in recent years and so all wood which has rotted will be replaced and that which is still good will be kept.

Lifeline Youth and Family Services brings hope to fractured families

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

It has been more than 40 years since a small group of business leaders felt compelled to do something to help kids in trouble who desperately needed a safe and loving home. Their grassroots efforts originally led to the purchase of a property known as, "Black Lake Lodge," in the Columbia City area. The new family outreach was incorporated on January 25, 1968.

Known today as Lifeline Family Services, the purpose of the growing organization is to create help in fractured homes and behavior. In addition, Lifeline workers seek to bring about, with God's help, a change in heart, attitudes, thinking, values and beliefs. The Lifeline mission goal is, "changing hearts and bringing hope to a generation at risk" for a lifetime.

106 and counting

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A special party was held at Evergreen Court on January 6 in honor of Ralph Kenworthy, who celebrated his 106 birthday with family and friends.

Born in Camden, Ohio, on January 6, 1906, Ralph has been a fixture in Decatur for most of his life. Up until a few years ago, Ralph was still living in his own apartment and could be seen driving through town on his way to a variety of restaurants for a bite to eat, or perhaps to a local bar to play pool against the "younger boys," referring to his friends.

"They were only in their 80's," Kenworthy commented.

During his 106 years, there is very little Ralph hasn't seen or done. He enjoys traveling, although he admits this is a bit more difficult nowadays, and spent a great deal of time looking for "good fishing holes."

Wall first in line as registration begins for new election season

Huntington County Tab:

Huntington County Commissioner Tom Wall was the first to sign on the dotted line as the filing window opened for the May 8 primary election.

Republicans and Democrats will vote in May to select their parties' candidates for county, state and federal offices, with offices on the ballot ranging from precinct committeeman to president.

Candidates have until Feb. 10 at noon to file for the primary.

Voters have until April 9 at noon to register to take part in primary voting.

1.65 rain here

Decatur Daily Democrat:

"There's water everywhere!" city Street/Sanitation Superintendent Jeremy Gilbert said at 8 a.m. today.

All city streets were passable, but water was standing on a number of them, including High St., in the low area near the Knights of Columbus. During a time of the year when they might be moving snow, street department employees were putting out high-water signs.

The minor flooding was the result of a lot of rain in a short time combined with snow melt.

City weather station officials recorded 1.65 inches of rain up to 7 a.m., and nearly all of that came in a period of four to six hours.

5-year plan for parks is unveiled

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A recreational vehicle campground along Parkview Drive as part of an expanded Kekionga Park.

A new park area east of First Street in downtown Decatur, compete with a stage area, playground and a pedestrian bridge across the St. Marys River.

Limberlost Park near Geneva enhanced with new walking trails and access points to the Wabash River. Greater accessibility for handicapped residents and more and better restroom facilities at all parks countywide.

Council rectifies pay agreement for city employee firemen

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

The Berne City Council passed emergency legislation on Monday evening to rectify the means of paying full-time city employees who are also employed as firemen.

Berne Clerk/Treasurer Gwen Maller said that she had learned that those employed by the city on a full-time basis are to, in compliance with state regulations, clock out when they are called to the scene of a fire. At that point, they will be paid as firemen and with fire payment scales.

City employees who are already working 40 hours a week will be paid above and beyond through their firemen pay. If there is a fire during the day, they will be asked to clock out of the fire department and then clock back in at the city if they return to their regular jobs.

Lehman opposes RTW referendum

Decatur Daily Democrat:

State Rep. Matt Lehman on Saturday morning told a crowd comprised mostly of organized labor members that he will vote against a proposal to allow Hoosiers to determine at the ballot box the fate of a contentious right-to-work bill now being debated in the Indiana General Assembly.

The response from union supporters was perhaps summed up best by Decatur resident Daniel Jaurigue, a member of carpenters' union Local 232, who said: "We are watching how you vote, and we're going to fire you."

Lehman, R-Berne, and State Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, met with constituents Saturday for the second time in a month at the public library in Decatur. And just like a Dec. 10 meeting held there by the lawmakers, the main topic for discussion on Saturday was a right-to-work bill that state Republican leaders have made the focal point of the current General Assembly session.

Dots in Blue Water recognized at the State House

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

During session on Thursday, the House recognized a resolution introduced by Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) to honor students from his alma matter, South Adams High School, for their involvement with the charity organization Dots in Blue Water. Those recognized included Michael Baer, Myron Schwartz, Trent Lehman, Josh Roby, Jeff Lehman, Ashley Fosnaugh, JD Keller, Margie Dobler, and about 30 high school students.

“These students have made a huge improvement in the livelihood of numerous Haitians,” said Rep. Lehman. “Their willingness to make a difference and to make the world a better place should be emulated by all.”

City-county building unlikely

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Hopes for a new city-county building in Decatur and a move out of the current superior court building seemed to fade away on Thursday with the unseasonable weather being experienced here earlier this week.

At a meeting held in the superior court room involving city and county officials plus interested citizens, high costs and all manner of legal hoops to jump through to get a referendum on the November ballot apparently have doomed the plans — hopes would be a more appropriate word — for a new structure which would house superior court, the county probation department, plus a city police station and city hall, and possibility other entities.