Archive - News Article
May 13th, 2013
The weather has finally improved, outdoor fun is everywhere, ball games have started, and lots of dogs are being walked.
Here's another sure sign of the coming summer: the city's Operation Cleanup is once again in operation.
There will be a new twist added this year. "This year we are going to start doing businesses that won't clean up," Mayor John Schultz said at this week's city council meeting. "We will be glad to work with them, but we want to get something done."
May 10th
With months of controversy now mostly behind them, members of the Adams County Regional Sewer District board on Thursday got down to the nuts and bolts of turning a rural sewer system from a conceptual idea into reality.
Last month the seven-member regional sewer board voted to proceed with plans to construct a rural sewer system to serve approximately 233 households in the outlying areas of Monmouth, Bobo, Pleasant Mills and Arcadia Village.
Members of Bellmont's Future Engineers Club recently visited Hoosier Pattern in Decatur.
The club also visited Reliable Production Machining and Welding in Kendallville.
The club takes one or two field trips a year and is made up of Project Lead the Way Engineering students at Bellmont, according to teacher Josh Salway.
Further details in today's print and e-editions.
Geneva's new noise ordinance was approved for the third and final time by the town council at its meeting this week. It says:
"For the purpose of determining db(A) as referred to in this ordinance, the noise shall be measured on the A-weighting scale on a sound level meter of standard design and quality having characteristics established by the American National Standards Institute."
In regards to motor vehicle noise:
Further details in today's print and e-editions.
May 9th
Nicholas Stump, 30, Berne, recently pleaded guilty in Adams Circuit Court to a charge of involuntary manslaughter, involving the death of Dennis Sroufe, and will be serving five years in prison.
Stump was sentenced to 2,372 days in prison, with all but 1,825 days — the equivalent of five years — suspended, then 547 days of probation after being released. He was ordered to complete alcohol counseling and pay $571 in court costs and fees.
The City of Decatur's storm department is no longer with us, having been officially abolished by city council at its meeting on Tuesday night.
It has been merged with the waste water department and its functions are now under the management of the city's Board of Works and Safety. Council had approved the transfer on two readings at its previous meeting, then gave final — and unanimous — approval on Tuesday.
In addition to his regular monthly report, Geneva Fire Chief John Patch presented a couple of requests to the town council at its monthly meeting.
Patch said that he had been asked to hold a tractor pull on Decatur Street during Geneva's summer end festival. The council gave its permission, provided the pull doesn't interfere with the other activities, and advised Patch to coordinate with Chamber of Commerce President Pam Krause.
May 8th
The final two defendants involved in the robbery of several Amish in buggies last September have been sentenced in Adams Circuit Court.
Brady Rodriguez, 17, of Berne, and David Veliz, 19, of Fort Wayne, pleaded guilty to multiple charges of armed robbery, attempted armed robbery, and criminal confinement.
Rodriguez was sentenced to 28 years in prison, all but 15 suspended, and five years of probation after serving his time. Veliz was sentenced to 15 years in prison and five years of probation.
Anyone who says there's nothing to do in Decatur should have been sitting in on Decatur City Council's meeting on Tuesday night.
A previous event returning and three new ones all came to light. Those are in addition to upcoming fun fests like the ABATE Mayor's Ride, the Sculpture Walk Tour, the Kekionga Festival, various parks and rec events, etc.
The new ones include a film festival, an ABATE fundraising cycle ride, and a ceremony honoring the Peace Monument on the courthouse square.
At the Geneva Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Marshall Rob Johnson presented the results of the meeting he'd held during the last week of April with the Safety Board, the mayor, South Adams Superintendent Scott Litwiller, and the town council in regards to the funding for School Resource Officers (SROs) being cut.
