Voice your opinions about health care in Adams County

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Residents of Adams County and the surrounding areas may soon be receiving a survey form in their mailbox.

A survey will be sent to a random sample of homes in late April and it is designed to help Adams Memorial Hospital identify the health services needed in the community, the hospital said in a news release. The information will be used for strategic planning, grant applications, new programs, and by community groups interested in addressing health issues.

Many children among displaced

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Four families with perhaps as many as 12 children lost nearly all their belongings and were displaced by Tuesday's devastating fire at the Oakwood Terrace Apartments on Interlaken Drive at the east edge of Berne, off SR 218.

Immediate needs of the famliies seem to have been taken care of, Pastor Donald Sauls of Compassionate Ministries said Wednesday afternoon. But, of course, long-term needs are a much larger picture.

County council helps Isolatek become ‘leader’

Huntington County Tab:

Huntington's Isolatek International will become a world leader with its multi-million dollar project to switch to a cleaner-burning fuel for its blast furnaces.

The project was laid out April 23 for the Huntington County Council and won a 10-year tax abatement for the $4.2 million investment.

Under the abatement, the amount of taxes collected by the county on the new investment will be gradually phased in until the full assessment is collected at the end of 10 years.

Four families displaced by major Berne fire

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Berne firefighters were dispatched to a fully-involved fire at Oakwood Terrace Apartments at 1:50 p.m. yesterday and remained on the scene nearly four hours, with one firefighter suffering minor injuries.

Berne Fire Chief John Crider reported this morning that a firefighter was taken to a local hospital for examination and x-rays due to a hand injury. The injury was not said to be serious, and the firefighter was treated and released.

Faurote gets 4-year term

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Ben Faurote was handed a four-year term on the North Adams school board by Decatur City Council during a special council session held Tuesday afternoon.

A razor-thin vote — in what was the council's last-ever school board appointment — saw Faurote retain his board seat by a 3-2 margin over newcomer Stacey Bussel. Future school board seats will be filled by voters as the board later this year begins the transformation from an appointed body to an elected one.

Muensterberg Plaza continues to take shape

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Thanks to generosity from private and business donors, phase two of the Muensterberg Plaza is becoming visible for community enjoyment this summer. Two major portions of phase two completion are on the horizon over the next few weeks, says Attorney James Beitler, representing the local Community Development Corporation (CDC ).

A state of the art surround sound system is being installed over the next several weeks.

"This (surround sound) has many, many good features," said Beitler. "It can project music for events and concerts in such a professional manner that you can sit in any spot of the plaza and be able to hear. It is a great sound system.

"Materials have already been ordered for the splash pad," continued Beitler.

$6 million EP Graphics expansion gets abatement

Decatur Daily Democrat:

With two of its five members absent, Berne City Council conducted only a portion of its planned business Monday evening, while postponing other actions until the full body is present.

Two planned public hearings went ahead as scheduled, including a session to accept comment on a proposal to establish an Economic Revitalization Area at EP Graphics as part of a 10-year tax abatement request.

Tyler Kitt, chief executive officer at EP Graphics, was present at the April 9 council meeting to announce the company's planned $6 million expansion and renovation project that he said would add 10 jobs to the current 70-member workforce.

NA is awarded $172,790 grant for its teachers

Decatur Daily Democrat:

North Adams Community Schools is among 28 Indiana school corporations that will share $6 million in grant funding awarded to recognize and award the state's best teachers.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett on Thursday announced the first-ever recipients of Indiana’s “Excellence in Performance for Teachers” grant at a Statehouse ceremony featuring more than 100 school leaders and teachers from participating school corporations. Among those in attendance was North Adams Superintendent Dr. Wylie Sirk and a team of North Adams educators, who brought home $172,790 in grant funding on behalf of the school district.

Sewer rate increase, torn up streets coming, council hears

Huntington County Tab:

Huntington residents should begin bracing themselves for a nearly $10-a-month sewage rate increase - as well as some torn-up streets.

Both will be effects of the next phase of the city's long-term project to bring its sewage system into compliance with state and federal mandates to stop human waste from flowing into area rivers and streams.

Representatives of the city's engineering office visited the Huntington Common Council meeting on Tuesday, April 10, giving council members a heads-up that they'll need to decide by June or July how to handle the project.

5-year master plan for parks is turned over

Decatur Daily Democrat:

It's been something of a long and arduous effort, but the City of Decatur now has a five-year master plan for its parks system to go along with its new comprehensive plan and redevelopment commission.

Park board President Larry Isch and Parks and Recreation Department Director Steve Krull turned over the plan to city council on Tuesday night, a thick document which has been over a year in the making.

Dropping dispatchers may save city some $100,000

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The plan to close down the dispatch center at the Decatur police station and have all calls handled through the communications center in the county jail could produce a savings of up to $100,000 for the city, Mayor John Schultz said at Tuesday night's city council meeting.

Schultz had initially unveiled the plans at Monday's meeting of the county commissioners, where he found support.

Talking about the idea at the council meeting, Schultz said "the timing is right" since bids are being taken for a renovation of the comm center.

Skillman makes stopover in Berne Tuesday

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Indiana Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman stood and listened to the musical chimes of the Swiss Clock Tower on Tuesday afternoon during a stopover in Berne.

"It's a spiritual moment, isn't it," said Skillman with a tinge of emotion in her voice.

"We think so," responded Berne Attorney James Beitler, with equal warmth.

Indiana State Representative Matt Lehman recalled a day seven years ago before the development of the clock tower area when Skillman visited the same spot and listened to the vision of local leaders.

"She remembers," said Lehman. "She recalls the gas station and the asphalt parking lot. It is obvious that she is very moved and excited about this. This is great; it's always great to have the lieutenant governor in town.

NA board vote a 2-2 deadlock

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The process to select a North Adams Board of Education member essentially is starting all over again after Decatur City Council on Tuesday deadlocked over its appointment, the final one the city will make before the board becomes one that is elected.

Ben Faurote, who currently holds the seat in question, and newcomer Stacey Bussel received two votes apiece last night and there was no tie-breaker since Councilman Bill Crone was vacationing and not at the meeting.

Mayor John Schultz said he didn't feel he should break the tie since he had missed the interview of Bussel. And Crone also missed the interviews held earlier in the day.

Spring brings new personality to planting season

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Showers this past weekend were welcomed by most area farmers, said Jeff Lehman of Lehman Feed Mill. Lehman chuckled when he made the comment that things were a far cry from last year at this time when most of April and May were extremely wet and chilly.

"Every planting season takes on a different personality but this one has been a little extreme, especially with all of that heat early on," said Lehman. "I came to work several days in a row with my T-shirt on at 6 a.m. I don't ever recall doing that before in March."

Stimpson a unanimous pick to stay on NA board

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Michelle Stimpson has been chosen by the trustees of the three northern townships to serve a second term on the North Adams Board of Education.

The announcement was made by Root Township Trustee Dan Bieberich.

The other candidate was former board member Juan Gutierrez.

In his notice, Bieberich said a third candidate was disqualified since the person did not live in the district, as required. He did not name the candidate.