Council says no to 4-H farm animals being kept in city limits

Huntington County Tab:

Rules that, for the most part, keep farm animals outside the city limits of Huntington will remain in place.

Members of the Huntington Common Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday, Oct. 30, to make no changes to its animal control ordinance. The ordinance requires that anyone keeping animals that are commonly considered farm animals to have a minimum of five acres of land, a lot size uncommon inside the city limits.

Councilman Jim Long, acting on behalf of a constituent who was raising chickens, wanted to change the ordinance to allow city residents to raise animals for 4-H on any size lot.

Weather lightens parade crowd

Decatur Daily Democrat:

It wasn't the largest crowd for a Callithumpian Parade, but given the weather, it was a good one.

Estimates of Monday night's turnout for the annual parade were in the 5,000 range, not bad at all considering the weather predictions that included big gusts of wind. The temperature stood at 44 degrees when the parade kicked off around 7 p.m., with wind-chill readings in the mid-30s.

"I'd say around 5,000," Police Chief Ken Ketzler said this morning. "The crowd was lighter than usual — we've had 8,000 or 9,000 in the past — but not bad. It was really windy out there."

As for crowd control and the handling of traffic afterward, Ketzler said "it went real well."

Bean harvest should beat weather system

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

 

With the unpredictable harbinger of one of the worst storms in weather history threatening the eastern third of the nation for the first half of this week, southern Adams County farmers worked feverishly over the weekend to complete the harvest of this year’s bean crop.

The encroaching storm, said weather specialist Rick McCoy, will remain totally unpredictable for at least the next 24 hours.

“While it appears that the brunt of this unprecedented storm will stay just to the east of us, it would not be unreasonable for us to see some wet snow flakes to mix in with blowing rain Monday night and Tuesday,” said McCoy. “The National Weather Service is thinking now that there could be sustained winds of 35 miles per hour and gusts of 50 miles per hour or better, even in this area, especially during the day on Tuesday.”

Six seek two NA board seats

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Six candidates are vying for two seats from District 2 on the North Adams Community Schools’ board of education in the first-ever public elections for board seats.

The top vote-getter in the District 2 voting will receive a four-year term that will start Jan. 1, 2013. If an incumbent board member is the top vote-getter, that person will automatically earn a new term on the board, effective Jan. 1, 2013. Their vacated seat would then be filled by a vote of the school board.
 

The second-place vote-getters in each district, if not appointed to fill a board vacancy, would take office on July 1, 2014, during the phase-in period between appointed and elected positions.

Bickel implores council to hire more officers

Huntington County TAB:

A man shoots a gun into the air and threatens to turn the weapon on his family. It's the middle of the night, and the shooting is taking place in a rural home in southern Huntington County.

A lone police officer responds.

A victim is tied up, bound and gagged in a strong-arm robbery in Roanoke.

Again, a solitary police officer responds.

Both incidents could have been deadly, and both happened over the past few weeks in Huntington County, Sheriff Terry Stoffel says. And the fact that one police officer was sent into each situation is not out of the ordinary.

Horseman rides into Geneva Tuesday

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Leslie Fender told those sitting around listening to him at the Highline Restaurant that he had left Dublin, Texas on April 2 and had ridden a total of 3,800 miles when he strode into southern Adams County with his pair of horses on Tuesday.

Fender had come from Detroit to Fort Wayne, where he was forced to stay overnight because there was a squabble as to whether or not his horses would be allowed in the city, down U.S. 27 through Decatur and Berne. He eventually wound up at the Highline for a hot lunch, due to the steady rain that had set into the area.

“These people around here are really nice,” said Fender. “They are treating me so good.”Dick Clutter, president of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, presented Fender with the key to the cabin at Affolder Park, and cooks at the Highline Restaurant promised to deliver supper to the surprise guest as part of his stay at the cabin.

Red to black: Last month’s taketh is this month’s giveth

Decatur Daily Democrat:

At last month's meeting of the Adams Health Network (AHN) Board of Trustees, members learned a state hospital tax tab of $1,346,270.49 had put their financial bottom line several hundred thousand dollars in the red.

This month, the federal government came a-callin' again, but this visit left the hospital leaders in good spirits as Medicare deposited a settle-up check for 2011 in AHN coffers for approximately $750,000 — meaning the hospital now shows a $268,298 balance in the black.

AHN President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Nordwick and AHN Chief Financial Officer Dane Wheeler reported to the board that the cost report that Adams Memorial Hospital (AMH) submits to the government at the end of May (the most recent was for the 2011 calendar year) settles up the payments the hospital received for Medicare patients (who account for about 60 percent of the AHN business).

Jobless rate in tumble

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Unemployment in Adams County hit a four-year low during September.    According to figures released Friday by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Adams County's jobless rate plummeted to 6.6 percent during September. That represents the lowest unemployment figure experienced in the county since June of 2008, when unemployment stood at 5.5 percent.

September's unemployment rate was down .7 percent from the county's 7.3 percent reading in August.

Adams County's jobless rate has now remained at or below 8 percent for seven consecutive months after starting the year at 8.5 percent. The previous low for the year came in April, when the county's jobless rate stood at 7.0 percent. Three years ago, in September of 2009, Adams County experienced an unemployment rate of 13.4 percent. One year ago that rate was at 7.8 percent.

Student’s report led to Strauss arrest

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Former South Adams Elementary School principal Brian Strauss told Indiana State Police investigator Bobby Jackson that he did not believe that behavior that led to his Thursday’s arrest for sexual misconduct charges with a minor was unlawful.In an affidavit released from the office of LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Szilagyi, detective Adam Hannon, who investigated the case that led to Strauss’s arrest, said that this past Aug. 21, a female who was a minor at the time, reported to Deputy Rashaun Sinclair that she had been involved in an inappropriate relationship, which evolved into a sexual relationship, with Strauss while he was employed as a teacher at South Central School Corporation.She then told Hannon that she began an online correspondence with Strauss in the summer of 2008. Initially the correspondence consisted of casual conversation, she said, but in the fall of 2008, her freshman year, the correspondence transitioned to content that was sexual in nature.

SA music department receives $3,510 through car promotion

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

As a result of a promotion sponsored by Moser Motor Sales, the music department has an extra $3,510 to use toward needs at South Adams High School.

Jim Eicher, representing Moser Motor Sales, said that as a result of cars driven through his company earlier this fall, the check could be presented to South Adams principal Trent Lehman and music department chairman Curt Amstutz.

“We really are grateful to Jim (Eicher) and the people at Moser Motors for partnering in this,” said Amstutz. “This only backs up the company’s outstanding reputation of being a good neighbor to the entire community.”

Sewage rate hike approved

Decatur Daily Democrat:

After an hour-long public hearing Tuesday night in which city officials were challenged to stand up to "bullying tactics" by the federal government, Decatur City Council unanimously passed a 50 percent sewer rate increase which will go into effect with the next billing cycle.
 

Rates initially will rise 37 percent, then another 4 percent a year later; then, probably, another 7 percent in the third year of a three-phase project, Meanwhile, the city will float a $3 million bond issue.

Geneva moves ahead with utility improvements

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Even as the town of Geneva is finishing completion of an $830,000 wastewater treatment plant Clerk/Treasurer Bill Warren is investigating the possibility of acquiring a $700,000 grant for line improvements.Currently, the town is in the process of installing a generator at the new $830,000 wastewater plant. That move was motivated by the massive June 29 storm this past summer that caused widespread power outages throughout the area."One thing I was calling for that we installed was a fine screen system," said Warren. "That helps remove wood, plastic and other items before they get into the plant."

Three prison terms are handed down

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Prison sentences were handed down recently in Adams Circuit Court, including two to Decatur residents. Wesley A. Lanning, 23, Portland, received prison time after recently pleading guilty in Adams Circuit Court to child molesting. He was sentenced to four years in prison, with two years suspended, by Judge Fredrick A. Schurger. Lanning will be on probation for two years after serving his time, tmust register as a sex offender, and was ordered to pay $2,062.14 in court costs and restitution to the victim's father.

Rich to serve as interim elementary principal

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Jeff Rich, South Adams Middle School principal, will serve as interim elementary principal until another interim or permanent principal is secured for the spot vacated by Brian Strauss, when he submitted his resignation on Oct. 3.

At its regular monthly October school board meeting, board members both officially accepted the resignation of Strauss and agreed with a recommendation from Superintendent Scott Litwiller that Rich fill the position until a more permanent solution can be acted upon.

Strauss surprised school officials when he tendered his resignation to Litwiller on Oct. 3, effective immediately. At the time, Strauss informed Litwiller that he is under investigation in relation to his previous employment in another county.

Courthouse woes are continuing

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The escalating cost to renovate the Adams County courthouse is showing no sign of coming to an end soon.

Dave Meyer of the county's building maintenance department met with the Adams County Council Tuesday to discuss yet another snag discovered by contractors as they continue with the final phase of the courthouse project.
 

Meyer said as the contractors are working on the bricks they need to remove to complete the tuck-pointing, brick faces above, below, and generally all around the work area have been popping out from the vibrations.
 

Meyer said part of the problem is that over the years the courthouse has been sandblasted to help keep the exterior looking clean.

Andrews council lets food pantry use building

Huntington County Tab:

The Andrews Town Council decided Monday, Oct. 8, to allow the Shepherd's Food Pantry, in Andrews, permission to use of part of the Andrews Community Building.

Shepherd's Food Pantry will use the building the third week of every month, which is when it receives food and distributes it to the community.

Pat McCloskey, secretary-treasurer of the food bank board, represented the pantry before the council. She petitioned the council for use of the community building, located at 67 North Snowden Street, because of issues that the pantry's current location, at the Methodist church in Andrews, poses on the days when the pantry receives and distributes food.

Park festival proves to be best ever

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

In spite of wet grounds and chilly temperatures, the fall sun came out just in time to invite visitors to the third annual Lehman Park Harvest Festival at the local facility on Saturday afternoon.

To make things better, it was the best year in financial income. According to Amy Orr, who spearheaded the festival once again, at least $6,500 was generated toward the festival income. Once again, money will go toward upkeep of the park equipment and grounds.

"The cool weather may have kept some from attending, but this, our third, was the best so far in terms of fund proceeds raised," said Orr.

"Thanks so much to all who participated in any way," added Orr.

More snags in ongonig work at the courthouse

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Even as the renovation project on the Adams County Courthouse is winding to a close, unexpected snags seemingly pop up at every turn.

At the beginning of September, Dave Meyer, who heads the county building and maintenance department, told the Adams County Commissioners that as he and Dave Sholl of Schenkel and Schultz Architecture were inspecting the building they found several ornamental leaves that were rusted and falling apart and needed to be replaced.
 

The commissioners asked Meyer to get an exact count of the damaged fixtures and to get estimates for the cost of replacing the decorative leaves.

Taylor’s comrades visit Berne

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Comrades of local young man, Nick Taylor, whose life was tragically taken during an insurgent attack in Afghanistan on July 16, paid a visit to Taylor’s parents on Monday afternoon.

Patrick Bogacz of Griffith and Kyle Leonard, of Valparaiso, visited the home of Tim and Stephania Taylor. In the evening, there was a public reception for the young men at Swiss Village.

Both men were on the same mission with Taylor when his platoon was fired on with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms while clearing bombs in Kandahar Province. Another Indiana man, Sergio Perez, of near Crown Point, was also killed in the incident. Both Taylor and Perez were members of the Valparaiso-based 713th Engineer Company.

Local students and teacher learn lessons through Ugandan school

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

It was in 1995 when Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Wayne and Dawn Smith of Berne, traveled to Uganda on a mission trip. While she was there, she developed a real heart for the Ugandan people. When she returned home, she suggested that Dawn develop a pen pal friendship with a teacher who was instructing children while they sat on rocks under banana trees.

When she returned, she unloaded the burden to her parents she had for those children who, though extremely poor and broken, dedicated themselves to gaining an education. Dawn, a recently retired fifth grade teacher at South Adams Elementary School, suggested that local students foster pen pal relationships with approximately 25 students in the institution.