Berne takes initial steps to Safe Routes to Schools

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Berne City Council on Monday evening authorized the execution of a pair of contracts with state highway officials as the first step in implementing the city's Safe Routes To School program.

Berne last fall was named as a recipient of more than $300,000 in transportation department grant funding to implement the national program, which provides planning grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation for programs designed to encourage students to take part in a healthier lifestyle by walking and biking to school.

Berne was awarded up to $71,500 in non-infrastructure grant funding and up to $250,000 in additional funding from the Indiana Department of Transportation for infrastructure projects. Mayor Bill McKean and two city employees charged with implementing the grant — workforce manager Kurt Dailey and city planning director Shannon Smitley — met with INDOT officials recently in Fort Wayne to review contracts for the project.

Wind turbines generate enthusiasm in some areas

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Berne resident Brent Lehman's face lights up with enthusiasm these days when he talks about the wind turbine that could save Union City Community Schools, of which he is school superintendent, over $2 million over the next 20 years.

That school system, in cooperation with the town of Union City, have developed a cooperative relationship in the construction of two wind turbines as part of Indiana's first Community Wind Project.

"This project was started several years ago before I got to Union City," said Lehman, a graduate of South Adams High School and son of former South Adams school administrator Doyle Lehman. "This project is not a big one as far as general wind power. It is totally different than the concept of wind farms. There are two turbines, one for the city (Union City) and one for the school.

Monroe St. project to likely to last ’til May 1

Decatur Daily Democrat:

It looks like those torn-up ramps/sidewalks on all sides of four intersections on Monroe St. are going to be with us for awhile. Probably until early May. With some traffic congestion thrown in.

The ultimate result, though, will be improved traffic flow once new traffic signals are operational.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has announced that ongoing, intermittent lane restrictions will begin at any time to accommodate installation of traffic detection loops for traffic signal modernization. The detection loops are placed underground.

Slowed Medicare payments help push hospital into red

Decatur Daily Democrat:

After showing a slight financial advantage for the 2011 year, the Adams Health Network (AHN) started off 2012 in the opposite direction.

At the February meeting of the AHN Board of Trustees held Wednesday night, it was revealed that during the month of January, the hospital finished with a deficit of $254,275 after having originally been projected to have had a surplus of nearly an equal amount.

Chief Financial Officer Dane Wheeler told trustees that one item that affected the hospital's bottom line was problems experienced with a new Medicare funding program that has resulted in some Medicare payments for January not being received. He also noted there were several one-time annual payments made that enlarged the amounts paid out.

Shelter for animals is inhumane, group says

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A group of area residents met with the Adams County Commissioners Tuesday regarding concerns they have with the Adams County Animal Shelter.

Joanna Stanley, along with her husband Joe, and two women who live in the count, brought concerns regarding the number of animals, particularly cats, being euthanized in Adams County, as well as alleged inhumane conditions in which the animals are kept.

The Stanleys stated that they have adopted several cats from the local shelter in an effort to decrease the number being euthanized.

Mrs. Stanley told commissioners that she had recently contacted the shelter regarding two Angora cats that were up for adoption, asking the shelter to hold the cats until she was able to pick them up.

McKean gives inaugural state of city address

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Berne Mayor Bill McKean told a large group at Tuesday's Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Swiss Village that he looks to take an aggressive and thorough approach to dealing with challenges facing local residents. McKean praised city workers for their efforts and vowed to rely on their expertise in putting together a unified team effort to run efficient city government.

"We are in the process of applying for a new five-year sewer permit which will set the tone and direction we need to take at the sewage plant," said McKean. "I hope we can continue an aggressive approach of jetting and vacuuming sewer mains and catch basins.

"Berne has been very fortunate to have invested in the Teays River Well Field," continued McKean. "The two wells supplied the city with almost 174 million gallons of water this past year."

City has plan to cut engineering fees

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Faced with an unfunded mandate to spend anywhere from between $1 million and $2 million to remove additional storm water from its sanitary sewers, Decatur officials have come up with a plan to comply while reducing its total outlay: Do a great deal of the work "in house."

The plan, unveiled at Tuesday night's city council meeting, gained the unanimous approval of council. What it will do is significantly reduce the cost the city would have to put forth to hire an engineering firm. Eventually, such a hiring will be necessary, but local officials figure they will save a good-sized chunk of money before that becomes a fact.

At council's meeting two weeks earlier, Ben Adams, an engineer with Commonwealth Engineers of Fort Wayne, made public the mandate bad news. After two major — and expensive — sewer projects to separate storm water and sanitary water in recent years, the city was left with three combined sewer overflows (CSOs). During unusually heavy rains, some of the rain water overflows through them into the St. Marys River.

Schools hire treasurer, HR specialist

Huntington County Tab:

The Huntington County Community School Corporation voted to fill two administrative positions at a special session on Monday, Feb. 20.

Edette Eckert will be the new treasurer for the corporation, and Patty Brodbeck will be the human resources specialist. Both are residents of Huntington County.

Jon Bennett, assistant superintendent for business, supervised the hiring process for the two positions. There were roughly 20 applications for each job, he said.

"We feel that they are people who will stay and grow with the school corporation," Bennett told board members.

Expansion signals continued success for Smith Brothers

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Smith Brothers of Berne president Steve Lehman gives a smile of satisfaction when he notes that a plant expansion that was laid out two or three years ago has already worked its way through two phases.

The plant expansion program, which includes four phases, saw two of the phases completed this past year with the investment of $3 million in two additions that added over 60,000 square feet that brought the firm to 300,000 square feet of operating capacity. The total program will ultimately add over 200,000, which will be incorporated in the recent acquisition of the former Berne Furniture facility.

"This was a 15-year plan that was laid out two or three years ago. It will continue a few years down the road when phases three or four will utilize the former Berne Furniture facility," said Lehman.

Wind tower test has its supporters

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Supporters of the meteorological tower that has now been given the green light by the Adams County Board of Building/Planning and Zoning spoke publicly for the first time Thursday evening.

Prior to Thursday's meeting, only those opposing the tower have voiced their opinions to officials, giving some people the impression that there were no supporters whatsoever.

Thursday's meeting with the zoning board turned out a mixture of opponents and supporters in what became, at times, tense interactions between the two groups.

SA technology committee researches laptop program

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Myra Moore, director of technology at South Adams Schools, updated the board on the 1:1 laptop computer program during Tuesday evening’s school board meeting. She started by recognizing the teachers and support staff that served on the district technology council this past year.

“They were committed to our goals and played a huge role in our accomplishments,” said Moore.

The committee developed a 1:1 laptop proposal for the high school students and is ready to present it to the school board for review. Moore suggested setting up a school board work session to discuss the proposal in detail.

Other topics they discussed were how to inform the teachers about tools and resources available to them. One way they came up with was an after school tech fair for teachers and staff. It is scheduled to take place from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. on March 1.

NA athletic foundation is approved

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Future improvements to athletic facilities at North Adams Community Schools could be funded in part by tax-deductible donations from local residents.

A proposal to create a not-for-profit athletic foundation that would allow the school district to raise private funds for athletic capital improvement projects was unveiled Tuesday at the school district's monthly board meeting. The discussion was held in conjunction with the news that a bare-bones upgrade at Worthman Stadium would cost in the neighborhood of a half million dollars.

Superintendent Dr. Wylie Sirk told board members that, in light of annual decreases in public funding for schools, local educators are "looking at how to generate revenue, through the establishment of alternative funding mechanisms, to keep North Adams competitive for future generations."

Dangerous Berne eyesore likely to soon bite the dust

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A property on Jefferson Street in Berne which has been deemed both dangerous and an eyesore to the community could disappear within the next 30 days, members of Berne City Council learned at their monthly meeting on Monday.

The council's emergency adoption last month of an unsafe building ordinance set the stage for official city action at the property site, which reportedly has been the source of numerous citizen complaints.

Attorney David Baumgartner, sitting in on Monday for his law partner and city attorney Jim Beitler, said city building inspector Shannon Smitley, along with representatives from the city fire and police departments, recently inspected the building.

Turbine foes make a point

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A group of area residents led by Hilary Shifferly of rural Decatur gave a power point presentation to the Adams County Commissioners Monday regarding the proposal of a wind test tower in Adams County.

Shifferly presented commissioners with data she has gathered from various agencies regarding what the group feels are adverse affects caused by the operation of wind turbines.

As previously noted by Adams County Attorney Mark Burry, to date there are no applications on file with the county for a wind farm in Adams County.

Shifferly noted that the group wanted to address their concerns to commissioners before such a proposal is made, stating that once a proposal is made, as long as that proposal falls within current ordinance guidelines, the county has little recourse.

Augsburgers celebrating 70th Valentine's Day

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

It was 73 years ago when Paul Augsburger was invited on a "blind date" with Ivan Sprunger and Erline Steury. Ironically, the mystery girl of that night was to become his wife, Edith, three years later on Jan. 18, 1942. They were married in the Berne Evangelical Church (then Defenseless Mennonite Church, says Paul) by Rev. Noah Schmuker.

At the time, he was 21 and she was 20; Paul's brother, Justus (Bud) Augsburger served as the best man and Doris Moser was the maid of honor. Their intentions were to spend their honeymoon in Chicago but they were turned back by a snowstorm and ended up spending their first night together at a motel on U.S. 30 east of New Haven.

Paul noted that they had already made plans for the marriage and sent the announcements out when the announcement came on Dec. 7, 1941, that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor.

"I knew that at some point I would have to serve," said Augsburger. "We already had everything planned so we decided to follow through with the wedding."

Infant hepatitis prevention earns 'Gold Award' for Adams Memorial

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A recent Indiana State Department of Health survey has shown that Adams Memorial Hospital is one of the best in the state in making sure children born at its location are immunized against the Hepatitis B virus.

ISDH public health investigator Rupert E. Arceo recently presented hospital officials with a “Gold Award” in recognition of the facilities' practices in the prevention of perinatal Hepatitis B infections.

Arceo said there are 98 hospitals in Indiana that deliver babies. Through a four-year project with the Centers for Disease Control, ISDH officials have surveyed roughly 25 hospitals a year, with facilities earning a “Gold,” “Silver,” or “Bronze” award. On average, said Arceo, about two to three hospitals a year receive “Gold” status.

Snyder seeks Lehman rep seat

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Mike Snyder of Decatur, a Democrat, has filed as a candidate for the 79th Indiana House of Representatives district. The seat is currently held by Matt Lehman, a Republican from Berne. He has filed for re-election.

Snyder is president of United Steelworkers Local 15173, representing workers at the Bunge North American plant in Decatur.

Snyder spoke twice during recent town hall meetings held in Decatur by Lehman and was a vocal advocate against Indiana's right-to-work law, which was approved by the General Assembly earlier this month. Lehman supported the right-to-work legislation.

Farm Service Agency declares Huntington County disaster area

Huntington County Tab:

Huntington County is one of 10 counties in Indiana that have been declared primary natural disaster areas by the Farm Service Agency.

The declaration is based on physical damage and losses caused by excessive rain, flooding and flash flooding that occurred between April 1, 2011 and July 7, 2011.

The affected counties are eligible for emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency.

The primary disaster counties of Huntington, Wabash and Wells, as well as contiguous counties of Adams, Allen, Fulton, Kosciusko, Miami and Whitley, are serviced through the Kosciusko Regional Office in Warsaw.

Baumann eyes commissioner seat

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Former Adams County commissioner Steve Baumann has announced his candidacy for the District 1 seat on the board of commissioners. His candidacy sets up a Republican primary in May against incumbent commissioner Kim Fruechte, who had previously filed for re-election.

Baumann served as county commissioner from 1997 through 2008. He lost a primary race to Fruechte in 2008.

"In my time in office, working with the other two commissioners, we were able to see Adams Memorial Hospital become a reality," Baumann said in his campaign statement. "The work-release center was constructed behind the current jail, and the large building was built at the highway garage to store our equipment indoors. Work was done on the Service Complex, courthouse and superior court buildings. The solid waste transfer station became a reality, and recycling buildings were set up and are still used today in Decatur and Berne."

Geneva to look into upgrading fire department building

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

The Geneva Town Council gave permission to Bill Warren, town clerk-treasurer, to come up with a plan for upgrading the Geneva Volunteer Fire Department building. What started out as needing to replace the roof is looking to turn into insulating the roof over the truck bays with Styrofoam insulation to help reduce heating costs, adding onto the existing office, and getting the roof lines to all match, making it look like one building.

While the more extensive upgrades will cost more initially, it will save the town money in the long run.

“Long term, it would benefit the town and the fire station,” said council vice-president Jim Timmons.

IDEM making new demands on Decatur

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Here we go again!

IDEM (the Indiana Department of Environmental Management) is knocking on Decatur's door once again and ultimately it's going to be the residents of this community who are going to paying the bill to open that door.

All those millions of dollars the city spent to separate and upgrade its sewer systems in two major projects in the past 10 to 12 years was good, but apparently not quite good enough. So comes now the latest unfunded mandate and its cost may top $1 million ... maybe even $1.5 million ... maybe more.

Ben Adams, an engineer with Commonwealth Engineers of Fort Wayne, was the bearer of the bad tidings at Tuesday night's meeting of Decatur City Council. Adams has worked with city officials for several years, including on past sewer projects.

Wintereggs discover Switzerland's beauty in every direction

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

It was over a year ago when Joan Winteregg, wife of the late LaMar Winteregg, made a suggestion to her family that she would like to visit Switzerland sometime, preferably over Christmas.

It didn't take her sons, Jon and Greg long to pick up on the idea. Last fall, family members were talking about where they would like to spend Christmas, 2011.

With a smile on his face, Jon announced, "mom and I are going to celebrate Christmas in Switzerland, does anyone want to come along?"

"The response was more than I dreamed," said Jon, whose father and uncle, Doyle Winteregg, co-owned Poplar Restaurant in Berne for many years from 1955 to 1976.

Cook to seek coroner post

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Former Adams County Coroner Leslie L. (Barker) Cook has announced that she will seek a new four-year term, subject to the Republican primary.

She is the only announced candidate for the office.

Cook, a rural Decatur resident, has served in the coroner's office since 1998 and currently is the deputy corner under her husband, Mark Ccok, who was elected coroner four years ago. Leslie Cook was appointed coroner in 1998, then won election to the office from 2000-2004 and 2004-2008.

A 1992 graduate of IPFW and a Registered Nurse, Cook has been employed since 1995 at Forensic Nursing Specialties in Fort Wayne, She is a board-certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner providing patient care to men, women and children who report sexual assault/molestation, and serves as Chief Clinical Nurse responsible for conducting local, state, and regional trainings.

On the road to a new trail

Decatur Daily Democrat:

South Adams Trail, Inc. President Gary Habegger said this week that work to begin Phase 1A of the SATI project is progressing.

Habegger said Phase 1A of the project will consist of a 10-foot-wide walking/biking path from Rainbow Lake in Geneva to the Wabash River; and also from the Lehman Park Pavillion to 700 South, in Berne.

Trailheads will be located in both the Geneva and Berne locations with restrooms and parking available, Habegger reported.

SATI has already received $565,000 in grant money from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) for Phase 1A, and has fulfilled the local match contributions with $212,956 donated by local parties.