Remains laid to rest second time

Decatur Daily Democrat:

It was a three-mile journey that took nearly three years to complete, but the remains of turn-of-the-century Berne residents were laid to rest for a second time Wednesday at M.R.E. Cemetery west of Berne.

Cemetery officials and a handful of interested onlookers joined with representatives from the Indianapolis-based AMEC Earth & Environmental archaeology firm to re-inter human remains and burial artifacts excavated in 2009 and 2010 from the long-abandoned Mennonite Church Cemetery in Berne.

The former cemetery was located primarily on the northeast corner of what today is the intersection of U.S. 27 and State Route 218. The decision to excavate the site was made in conjunction with an Indiana Department of Transportation project to widen the intersection there. AMEC was contracted by state transportation officials to delicately identify and remove the any human remains and burial artifacts from the former cemetery site.

Remains laid to rest second time

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

A rush to file for school board seats prior to the Friday noon deadline set up some contests for the South Adams School Board election in November.

While Gresham Bearss had filed for the District 6 at-large seat earlier in the process, two other challengers entered the race when Amy Orr, currently representing the third district on the board, and Debra Gerber threw their names into the at-large contest.

The at-large seat opened up when Steve Dobler, who currently held the spot, decided not to seek another term.

One other South Adams race was set up when District 2 incumbent Arlene Amstutz was challenged by Cheryl Caffee. Other incumbents filing for South Adams board include incumbents Julie Mansfield in District 5 and John Buckingham in District 4.

Uncertain status of county’s emergency management agency irks council members

Huntington County Tab:

The uncertain status of the Huntington County Emergency Management Agency continues to color spending decisions by the Huntington County Council, and the lack of progress in resolving differences between the EMA advisory board and the Huntington County commissioners continues to irk council members.

"Until that mess we have - that people won't take the responsibility to resolve - we need to leave that department alone," Councilman Don Davenriner said as the council pulled back from a proposal to spend unused money in the EMA budget on an upgrade to police communication equipment.

Lehman learns many lessons during trip to Haiti

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

South Adams High School principal Trent Lehman had visited 13 countries through various mission trips prior to his trip to Haiti this past summer with the Dots in Blue Water project. While he had seen many things in different cultures, Lehman admitted that he had never seen poverty like he saw in Haiti.

"In terms of infrastructure, it's the worst I've been to," said Lehman. "India rivals it, especially in poverty, but in India we saw fast food places. There was nothing like that in Haiti, nothing like American civilization type things, no McDonalds, no Pizza Huts, no American type of influence with fast food restaurants.

Maybe Friday

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Just in time for the big weekend of the Festival of the Kekionga, which honors our heritage, a seeming part of our "heritage" may be gone.

Those orange "Road Construction Ahead", "End Construction" and other such signs which have begun to seem to be a part of the city's heritage will be removed on Friday. At least that's what an Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) representative told Decatur Street/Sanitation Superintendent Jeremy Gilbert on Tuesday.

Farmers looking ahead to 2013 season

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Regardless of crop results from this year, over 200 area farmers gathered at New Era Ag, located south of Monroe, on Thursday evening to hear assessments of lessons learned from this summer's drought and professional advice on how to start planning for next summer's crop.

"We have people here from Adams, Wells, and Allen counties in Indiana and from Mercer and Van Wert counties in Ohio," commented Todd Mathewson, one of the owners of New Era Ag. "Guys are here to get educated about new products and new techniques. In addition, this counts for certification points for applicator licenses. It can be applied to continuing education credits.

Refinancing to save hospital millions August 20, 2012

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Action taken last week by the Adams County Hospital Association by refinancing the lease revenue rental bond used to construct the new hospital back in 2005 will save the hospital several million dollars over the life of the bond issue.

Adams Health Network (AHN) President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Nordwick met with the five-member board and explained the process and history of the bond issue which was originally approved in 2003 for $40 million. He noted that hospital-generated funds and money approved by local and county governmental agencies from the Community Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) have been used to date to make semi-annual bond payments.

Nordwick noted that with the dramatic drop in interest rates, hospital officials decided to seek a refinancing procedure to lower payments. He stressed that an Indiana State Board of Accounts report indicated the bond issue "is not a direct liability to the county itself, but is secured by the tax pledge of CEDIT funds and the moral obligation of the state of Indiana."

Water rate hikes and budget highlight council meeting

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

After considerable discussion, Berne City Council voted in favor of the first water rate hike in 30 years at Monday's bi-monthly meeting. Council members voted to raise rates from a current $9.54 to $17.96, with an increase of 40 percent at $8.42. The rate grew out of a presentation in July in which Steve Carter, a consultant with H.J. Umbaugh and Associates, pointed out that water reserve funds have fallen from $1.3 million three years ago to the current amount of $500,000.

Maller noted that a portion of that reflected the construction of the new water tower last year.

"We're not in a bad situation but something has to be done before we get there," said council member Philip Provost. "The amount of money is dwindling so it is going to make it a pretty extensive increase."

Sewer board, Decatur to keep talking

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Negotiations are continuing between the Adams County Regional Sewer District board and the city of Decatur pertaining to sewage treatment costs for a proposed $4.5 million sewer project to serve the outlying areas of Monmouth, Bobo, Pleasant Mills and Arcadia Village.

While those talks are ongoing, however, regional sewer board members on Tuesday were urged to look at other options — including the possibility of sending sewage to Berne — to make the proposed sewer project as cost effective as possible.

The regional sewer district board met Tuesday afternoon at the Riverside Center and received an update on negotiations with the city of Decatur that were suggested at last month's meeting.

Huntington County Tab:

As the school year begins and students hustle through the halls, many will see new administrative faces.

Three new principals have been hired in Huntington County - Chad Daugherty at Huntington North High School, Chuck Werth at Crestview Middle School and Russ Degitz at Lancaster Elementary School.

Each principal weighs in on his hopes on the start of a new year:

Damage costs rising

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The cost to repair damages to the electrical system at the Adams County Courthouse, which was zapped during severe storms that whipped through the area at the beginning of August, is much higher than initially thought.

Dave Meyer of building maintenance told the Adams County Commissioners on Monday that the estimated cost to repair the electrical damage caused by an apparent lightning strike is now around the $60,000 mark, a substantial jump from the initial $20,000 estimate in the days immediately following the storm.

Pries resigns South Adams post

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Embattled South Adams Athletic Director Mike Pries confirmed this morning that he has resigned his position.

Pries, who survived a 3-2 vote of the school board two years ago after then-superintendent Cathy Egolf attempted to have him fired, recently was highlighted when it was learned Paul David Baker, 48, a friend of Pries, was a SA volunteer girls basketball coach who was required to register as a sexually violent predator.

Contacted by the Democrat this morning, Pries simply said he had submitted his resignation Friday to school officials.

Preble and Hoagland fire departments get grant funds

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Volunteer fire departments in Preble and Hoagland are among rural fire departments in 39 counties across Indiana to share in $242,000 in Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grants.

The grants are administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Division of Forestry Fire Control Headquarters and are made available through the United States Department of Agriculture's Forest Service.

New school board election filing deadline approaching

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

The deadline to file as a candidate for a local school district in Indiana is approaching, according to South Adams School Superintendent Scott Litwiller. Under new policy, all school board elections across Indiana would be moved to the November ballot under a bill that has gained final approval from the state legislation.

Locally, that choice was always made in the May primary.

The proposal would complete the practice of allowing local boards to decide whether to hold the nonpartisan election during the May or the November elections, starting with the 2012 elections.

Huntington water dept., wellhead group hosting meeting on plan

Huntington County Tab:

The City of Huntington Water Department and the Wellhead Protection Local Planning Team will be hosting a public informational meeting on the City's Wellhead Protection Phase II Plan.

The meeting will be held on Aug. 15, at 6:30 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, on the third floor of the City Building.

The purpose of Wellhead Protection is to prevent drinking water from becoming polluted by managing possible sources of contamination in the area that supplies water to the city wells.

Construction begins on Limberlost Visitor Center

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Arnold Co., Inc., of Decatur has started pouring the foundation for construction of the Limberlost Visitor Center.

Cole Fryback, representing the company, which has been contracted to construct the facility, said earlier this week that a pad has been built and cement is being poured to set the foundation for the center.

In the meantime, Randy Lehman, executive director of the Limberlost State Historic Site said that the Decatur-based construction company told him that it has been given the verbal green light to go ahead and has begun the project.

Currently, said Lehman, he has been given no timeline on completion of the project.

Knous tax deal is given the OK

Decatur Daily Democrat:

As expected, Decatur City Council, at its meeting this week, approved via a confirming resolution a 10-year tax abatement on a warehouse which Knous Enterprises LLC of Decatur will improve for its affiliate, P&B Trucking.

The request had been presented at the previous meeting by Portland attorney John Coldren, representing owners Robert and Pam Knous of Decatur.

The Knouses have an empty warehouse in Industrial Park I and will build a 12,000 square foot improvement to it at a cost off $352,000 to $372,000. That would translate into the hiring of three of four employees, Coldren said previously.

Young entrepreneurs starting new crop in county

Huntington County Tab:

Growing along U.S.-24, on a hillside between Roanoke and Huntington, are hundreds of grape vines.

Eric Harris and Emily Hart planted them there this spring, and now they are training them to grow according to vertical shoot positioning - a method used by vineyards in California to maximize visual appeal and efficiency of the plant, says Harris.

But why are these plants now a part of the Huntington County landscape?

They are a component of Harris' and Hart's dream of owning a winery.

Police pay hike stirs city debate

Decatur Daily Democrat:

An hour and 20-minute budget discussion at Tuesday night's Decatur City Council meeting was mostly devoted to a stirring, passionate debate over a requested pay increase for members of the city police department.

In the end, three council members voted to provide a $2,500 increase to each of the 17 members of the department. That will be in addition to the two percent pay boost set up earlier for all city employees.

The issue of extra police raises came up as, for the first time, the proposed city budget for 2013 came into public view. It carried a figure of $7,131,597, up $275,710 from last year's $6,855,869 proposal. But the new proposal will now have to be recalculated due to the hikes granted the police department.

Busy day for police - Apprehensions in two incidents

Decatur Daily Democrat:

City and county law-enforcement authorities had a busy Monday afternoon, conducting an extensive search for an individual northwest of Decatur and during that time apprehending at gunpoint two people in a vehicle reported as stolen.

It all began around 2:15 p.m. when the sheriff's department got a tip that a wanted man, Michael A. Robinson, was staying at a residence on northwest Winchester Road. As Decatur police Det. Leonard Corral Jr., on duty with the sheriff's department, was attempting to serve a warrant the man, he fled into a corn field.

Sheriff's deputies and city officers set up a perimeter around the field and the Indiana State Police K-9 was called. After approximately an hour, the search was called off without an apprehension.

Courthouse damage could top $10,000 - Likely lightning zaps electrical equipment

Decatur Daily Democrat:

While Saturday's storm didn't cause any structural damage to county buildings, plenty of electrical equipment was zapped by an apparent lightning strike.

Dave Meyer, of building maintenance, told the Adams County Commissioners Monday that he checked on the courthouse after he failed to receive a routine status email Sunday morning.

Meyer said when he got to the building he discovered the second floor air conditioning unit, elevator, emergency alarms and panic alarms were not working. Meyer called Bleeke Electric to fix the problems and as of Monday all systems, except the air conditioning unit, were operating again.

Bean crop to benefit most from weekend rain

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

It was like "grant money from the heavens" on Saturday evening and Sunday morning when between two and four inches of rain fell on area fields. Millions of dollars dropped on the parched Indiana crop with a special blessing for the state's bean crop.

Locally, rainfall amounts varied, ranging from two inches in the southern parts of the county to nearly four inches in the Monroe area, and three inches reported in the extreme eastern part of the county. Regardless of the amount, all farmers were speaking in terms of "great blessing" as they gathered in the foyers of their churches before worship on Sunday morning.

The rainfall was actually a product of three storm complexes. A quick forming line of thundershowers passed over the area late in the afternoon, dropping anywhere from a couple of tenths of an inch to nearly a half inch in some areas. Then, later in the evening, a much stronger punch hit the county, this time with one to two inches of rain accompanied by strong gusty winds that included a tornado warning for the central part of the county for a few minutes.

Ebony’s new life is under way August 6, 2012

Decatur Daily Democrat:

To see seven-year-old Ebony Fawcett, with her thousand-watt smile and fairylike giggle, playing in her hot-pink room, it's difficult to imagine the hardships this Decatur girl has endured during her short life.

In 2006, when Ebony was little more than a year old, she was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma, a children's cancer that develops in the nervous system, most commonly in the abdominal and chest area, and is associated with the adrenal glands.

Even before her diagnosis, Ebony's life was far from ideal. She was living with her biological family when her illness was discovered after the Department of Children and Families came to investigate the conditions of her home.

Club calendar

Wednesday, Aug. 8

• Poplar Grove Club — Corner Depot; 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 11

• Korean War Veterans Assoc., Indiana Chapter One — VFW at 2202 W. Main Street, Fort Wayne; 10 a.m. Lunch following meeting. Friends and spouses welcome to attend the event. 260-485-7627.
• River Terrace Estates — Tab Beechler playing piano and singing; 3 p.m. in Healthcare.

Sunday, Aug. 12

• LifeTree Café — Brew Ha! in Ossian; 6-7 p.m. Topic: “Lonely: Secrets learned in solitary confinement.” 260-622-4632.
• River Terrace Estates — Art Beer, Esther Mowery and Denver Morrow; 2:30 p.m. in ALD.

Are you ready for some fireworks? Hgtn. fireworks display set for Aug. 4

Huntington County Tab:

The annual Fourth of July Huntington fireworks display, postponed this year due to the burn ban, is set to commence at last this Saturday, Aug. 4, off the grounds of Huntington North High School at 10 p.m.

Dan Fisher, chair of the fireworks display for American Legion Post 7, has been involved with fireworks displays since 1982 and can't remember a display ever facing "more than a day or two delay."

Fisher, however, is quick to praise Leon Hurlburt, deputy chief and fire marshal with the Huntington Fire Department, for his decision to delay the show.

PD dispatch center closed

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The dispatch center at the Decatur police station on Third St. was officially closed down on Wednesday.

Now, calls to the police department's telephone number, 724-3123, will be answered by an electronic operator, and the caller will be asked to hang up and call 911 if it is an emergency or to call 724-5345 for all other calls. The call to 724-5345 will be answered by someone in the communications center in the Adams County Jail

All dispatches to city police now come from the communications center at the county jail.

Community and nation turn out to celebrate life of Taylor

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

By 10 a.m. on Tuesday morning, multitudes of area residents were lined up in the hallway leading to the South Adams Gymnasium, waiting for doors to open to the funeral site of Nicholas (Nick) Taylor, veteran and hero of the local community whose life was taken in Afghanistan on July 16.

And while the community came out in mass, it wasn't only Berne or Adams County people that paid tribute to the community's fallen hero. Hundreds of motorcycle riders from the Indiana Patriot Guard stood by with flags saluting the young soldier and his grieving family. Dignitaries such as State Senator Travis Holdman, Governor Mitchell Daniels, Adjutant General of Indiana National Guard General Umbarger, U.S Representative Dan Coates, U.S. Representative Mike Pence and State Representative Matt Lehman all paid tributes to Taylor's military service.