Huntington native lets her traveling feet take her around the United States and more

Huntington County Tab:

Margaret Hartman doesn't stay in one place for long.

The Huntington native has lived or worked in 12 different places across the globe in the past four years.

"I just couldn't take the idea of the same place forever," she says.

Her journeys began when a friend mentioned knowing someone who had recently returned from a seasonal job in Alaska.

Hartman was immediately intrigued by the idea.

She says she had just graduated from Ivy Tech with an Associate in Applied Science in medical assisting.

City to aid flowers and lights funds

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The City of Decatur is making a commitment to shore up both the downtown flower and Christmas lighting funds headed by the Chamber of Commerce.

At Wednesday night's city council meeting — the first of the new year and a day later than usual due to New Year's Day falling on a Tuesday — it was decided that the city will provide up to $2,500 in matching funds for each program.

The idea had been briefly touched upon at previous meetings, but last night the commitment was finalized.

Local schools among beneficiaries of drug fund

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

South Adams Elementary and High School and the Adams Central Community Schools Student Assistance Program are among the 2013 Drug Free Communities Fund beneficiaries for the upcoming year.

Melissa Brite, representing the county’s Substance Abuse Awareness Council, recently released those county agencies and schools that will benefit this year from the local Drug Free Communities Fund.

“This fund is made up of fines imposed by the court for alcohol and drug offenses,” said Brite. “In 2006 and 2011, we were awarded a Drug Free Communities Support Program Grant. The Boys and Girls Club of Adams County, Inc., serves as the fiscal agent.

“The Substance Abuse Awareness Council provides yearly grant opportunities from the Local Drug Free Communities Fund to agencies in Adams County to help address alcohol, tobacco and other drug issues in our community,” continued Brite.

Six arrested in drug bust; seek four more

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The second drug interdiction operation in eight months in Decatur was aimed today at eight adults and two juveniles, charged with dealing in marijuana, cocaine, prescription pain medicine, and mushrooms. The operation is entitled "Operation Fall Harvest."

The previous drug bust this year was  held in March and netted 17 people.
 

Today's efforts by the DETECT Drug Task Force (the Adams and Wells county sheriff's departments and the Decatur and Bluffton police departments) as well as Berne and Geneva police and the Indiana State Police had six Decatur residents in custody by 8 a.m.

Solid waste costs to rise

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Adams County will pay an additional $5.26 for each truck load of solid waste hauled from the county transfer station during 2013, and an additional 44 cents per ton to dispose of that refuse at the Jay County landfill.

The increases were triggered by a 1.8 percent jump in the federal Consumer Price Index, as spelled out in contracts between the Adams County Solid Waste Management District and Luginbill Trucking and Waste Management Inc. for the hauling and disposal of that waste.
 

Solid waste board members were alerted to the additional costs during the year-end meeting on Monday.

Olympic Gold Medalist shares life lessons with students

 Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Twelve years ago, Brandon Slay rose to worldwide acclaim by winning the Gold Medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Two years before that, Slay had graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in finance and management from the prestigious Wharton School of Business.

This past Friday, Slay spoke at high schools in New Haven and South Adams, conducted a wrestling clinic on Saturday and then spoke at Grace Bible Church on Sunday.

But it wasn’t only Olympic success that had the popular wrestler sharing the Gospel in area colleges and schools. Thanks to seeds sown by a grandmother and the faithful example of Christians at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Slay launched on a campaign to bring people to Jesus Christ through nationwide appearances.

Taxes, jobs, health care top issues -- Lehman says gay marriage ban may take a back seat

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Taxes, jobs and health care are expected to be among the predominate topics during the upcoming session of the Indiana General Assembly.
 

A constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, however, may take a back seat this time around.
 

Those were the views expressed by State Rep. Matt Lehman, R-Berne, during a town hall-type meeting held Saturday morning at Adams Central High School. Only a handful of area residents attended the event.
 

Lehman said he hopes the legislature puts much of its time and energy into economic development-related issues, including a renewed emphasis on vocational training and increased flexibility that would grant local units of government a broader range of choices in their use of Local Option Income Tax (LOIT) and County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) funds.

Hard freeze could benefit area fields

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Most field activity now includes working ground and applying fertilizer and lime, says Jeff Lehman of Lehman Feed Mill. Lehman said that a few fields of corn are being harvested but a huge part of this year’s harvest is completed.

“This year’s harvest, especially beans, was much better than anyone would have dreamed when it was so hot and dry in July,” said Lehman. “Even some of the corn was fairly decent. Of course, there were also fields of corn that were poor.”

Lehman said that one disappointment of this fall was the lack of wheat that was planted because of wet fields.

“We didn’t get as much wheat in this fall as I had hoped for,” Lehman said. “Much of that was because bean harvest was broken up because of frequent rain during harvest.”

One down, one to go — But what to do with the exposed wall?

Decatur Daily Democrat:

One is down and one is yet to fall.
 

The former Dwayne's Sweeper Shop has been demolished and next up will be the onetime street department garage between the city pool and police station. Mayor John Schultz gave updates on both projects at Tuesday night's city council meeting.
 

The now-empty lot at Second and Monroe streets has been seeded, "a temporary thing until we decide what to do there," the mayor said.
 

As was expected, the demolition laid bare the north wall of the adjacent building, owned by CPA Becky Cochran. The next step will focus on what to do to with the wall, likely covering it in some manner and sealing it.

Huntington native Wright not quite Mary Poppins, but finds au pair work to her liking

Huntington County Tab:

She may not be Mary Poppins, but she is on her way.

Madison Wright, a Huntington native, has just finished her first stint abroad working as an au pair in Madrid, Spain.

Au pair, a French term, means "on a par" or "equal to" and is used throughout European countries to describe a domestic assistant from a foreign country.

The concept originated after World War II and has been offering young American women the opportunity to live overseas for more than 70 years.

Lehman Park equipment upgrade coming

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

It was a lot of hard work getting there, but in the end Berne City Council members had nothing but praise for the hard work put in by Lehman Park board member Amanda Patterson and the other board members that worked feverishly to put together a financial package to purchase over $65,000 of playground equipment.

The new equipment will be installed in the west part of the park near the concession stand and ball diamond. It is anticipated that it will be ready for use by spring.

The equipment will be replacing several pieces of equipment that had been condemned and that will be removed from the park.

Chinese wind up their tour of city today

Decatur Daily Democrat:

In a whirlwind tour of Decatur, six Chinese officials — three of whom are involved in education — visited the city Monday and part of today, getting a closeup look at schools and industry.

Decatur Mayor John Schultz and Economic Development Director Larry Macklin led the guests, who arrived here late Sunday night by vehicles after flying into Indianapolis.
 

The delegation was scheduled to have breakfast at Richards restaurant this morning, then tour the Adams Memorial Medical campus, have lunch at the hospital, then return to Indianapolis.

AC to become a pilot school

Decatur Daily Democrat:

 

Adams Central is set to become a pilot school in Computer Software Engineering (CSE) for Project Lead the Way (PLTW), beginning next year.

 

Jonathon Patterson, PLTW teacher, told the AC Board of Education recently that studies show by 2018, CSE will be the number one "hot job."
 

"We need to have a class that we offer computer software engineering," said Patterson.

Veterans honored during program at South Adams

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Adams County Commissioner Doug Bauman, a veteran of Vietnam, told those attending the South Adams Veterans Day program on Thursday that he knows what it’s like to watch those close to you literally drop by your side, victims of the war in Vietnam.

Bauman, who received two Purple Hearts and the Seal of Honor, among other awards, came home from Vietnam with scars on his body and heart from laying his life on the line in the tough war.

“Veterans, isn’t it wonderful to have a ceremony like this in our honor?” said Bauman with passion. “On behalf of all vets, we appreciate the opportunity to attend and honor our veterans.”

Major traffic changes set downtown — Building demolition will start on Monday

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Some major changes in traffic patterns will be seen in downtown Decatur starting Monday, as Fleming Excavating begins the task of demolishing the former Dwayne's Sweeper Shop/Holthouse Drug Co. building.

Traffic will not be allowed in the half block of Second St. from Monroe St. south to the first alley, and the half block of Second St. from Monroe St. north to the first alley.

That, of course, means that traffic traveling on Monroe St. will not be able to turn onto Second St.

Macedonian family loving life in Berne area

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Brothers Safet and Fatmir Veseli realize that their names may not be the most recognized in the local area at this time. But as long as people recognize their restaurant (Berne Dining) food and where it is prepared, that is all that matters to them.

Safet Veseli came to the United States, looking for a place of freedom and safety to bring his children. It was early this year when Veseli checked out the sale of an eatery on the south side of Berne. Veseli came and investigated and liked what he saw. He purchased the restaurant and soon his family was flying to the Berne area to start a new life in North America.

At the beginning of the school year, Veseli and his wife, Azbie, and children, daughters, Vjosa and Ardita and son, Suletman, re-established their residence in the Berne area.

Solid county turnout likely — Some 2,500 voted early

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Voting was reported heavy in a number of Decatur and Adams County precincts this morning as local voters looked to cast their ballots on not only national and state
races, but local contests as well.

A number of races dotted the local ballots including, for the first time, North Adams school board elections. Four candidates are seeking two District 1 seats while there are six candidates for two District 2 seats.
 

South Adams has two school board seats up, with three candidates vying for an at-large post and two looking for a District 2 position.

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.”