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Fire hits Ohio home

2013-05-21T16:42:42-04:00

Firefighters from Decatur and Monroe were among several departments battling a house fire near Wren on Tuesday afternoon. See Wednesday's print and e-editions for further details. (Photo by Jannaya Andrews)

Trash disposal fees stay same

2013-05-21T09:10:31-04:00

    The Adams County Solid Waste Management District will not increase fees for the disposal of trash through 2014 and possibly beyond.
   Tim Baker, attorney for the solid waste district, reported during a Monday meeting of the district's board of trustees that the district "has a very healthy cash balance" which will allow it to keep rates at their current levels for individual customers as well as for municipalities.
   "We think rates will be stable through 2014 and possibly through 2015," Baker said. "I anticipate that we will begin next year with nearly the identical cash balance we started with at the beginning of this year. And that's a tribute to Hank (Mayer, district director) and Betty (Garwood, office manager) and the great job they do of keeping expenses down."
   Further details in today's print and e-editions.

Vets groups plan joint Memorial Day service

2013-05-21T09:09:02-04:00

    A joint Adams County Memorial Day observance will be hosted by the Decatur American Legion Post 43 and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 6236, along with the Berne American Legion Post 468 and Geneva VFW Post 6751 on May 27.
   The program will begin at the Decatur Catholic Cemetery at 8:30 a.m., where a short memorial service will be held, followed by a second service at the Decatur Cemetery.
   The main event, featuring speaker Guy Gruters, will take place at 11 a.m. at the Adams County Veterans Memorial, 524 Berne St., in Berne, next to the American Legion Post 468.
   Further details in today's print and e-editions.

Food handler’s class scheduled here

2013-05-21T09:07:13-04:00

    Parkview Regional Medical Center and the Adams County Health Department are teaming up to offer a two-day ServSafe food handler’s certification class on June 26-27 at Bellmont Middle School.
   The class will meet from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
   The cost of the course, established by the Indiana Restaurant Association, is $150. People wishing to recertify by taking just the course examination may do so on the second day for a $50 fee.
   Preregistration is required and may be done by contacting the Adams County Health Department, 313 W. Jefferson St., Decatur, 46733, or by calling 724-5326. Checks should be made payable to Parkview Regional Medical Center.
   Further details in today's print and e-editions/

Clock repairs given okay

2013-05-20T09:58:37-04:00

    Acting upon a recommendation from Dave Meyer, director of the county's maintenance department, the Adams County Commissioners last week approved the hiring of Phil Wright of Tower Clock Company in Cincinnati, Ohio, to repair the courthouse clock.
   The building's four clock faces have rarely showed the correct time in a number of years.
   Meyer said Wright comes highly recommended from other counties, including Huntington and Wells.
   Further details in today's print and e-editions.

ACentral says farewell

2013-05-20T10:00:01-04:00

    A large crowd of people turned out Sunday at Adams Central for a reception honoring retiring Superintendent Mike Pettibone and Athletic Director Rick Minnich.
     Surprising everyone was Indiana School Superintendent Glenda Ritz, who showed up to wish the two men well. “I have appreciated Mike’s support on the state school board, his great work at Adams Central, and while I hate to see him retiring, I wish him well,’ said Ritz.
   Pettibone is retiring after 11 years and Minnich after 39 years as football coach and athletic director.

Decatur’s gain...Wakarusa’s loss

2013-05-20T10:01:11-04:00

    Consumer confidence ultimately will determine the number of jobs added at Decatur's Fleetwood RV plant as the result of the purchase by the firm's parent company of a recreational vehicle manufacturer in Elkhart County.
   Allied Specialty Vehicles, parent company of Fleetwood RV, on Thursday announced the purchase of the Monaco, Holiday Rambler and R-Vision recreational vehicle businesses from Navistar, Inc.
   Production of the Monaco RV and Holiday Rambler lines will be moved from Wakarusa in Elkhart County to Decatur, company officials said.
   Fleetwood RV President and CEO John Draheim on Friday told the Daily Democrat that sales and marketing personnel already are in the process of moving from Wakarusa to Decatur, and he said Fleetwood "is investing heavily in product development" in anticipation of increased production at the local plant.
   Further details in Saturday's print and e-editions.

Fleetwood owner in major buy

2013-05-17T10:06:37-04:00

    Allied Specialty Vehicles, parent company of Fleetwood RV in Decatur, on Thursday announced the purchase of the Monaco, Holiday Rambler and R-Vision recreational vehicle businesses from Navistar, Inc.
   Production of the Monaco RV and Holiday Rambler lines will be moved from Wakarusa in Elkhart County to Decatur and could lead to 100 or more new jobs in Adams County starting in 2014, according to company officials.
   Jim Meyer, chief operating officer of Allied Specialty Vehicles, told the South Bend Tribune in a story published Thursday that American Industrial Partners, the private equity firm in New York that owns Allied Specialty Vehicles, has been interested in purchasing the RV brands for some time. He said the timing was right and their bid was selected.
   Further details in today's print and e-editions.

Wakarusa work coming here

2013-05-17T10:04:00-04:00

    "I feel for the folks in Wakarusa, but I am very happy for Decatur," Mayor John Schultz said this morning of Fleetwood's expected expansion. "This is nothing but good news. It shows the confidence Fleetwood has in Decatur, and we will do whatever we can to assist them in the transition and going forward."
   Larry Macklin, executive director of the Adams County Economic Development Corp. said this morning that his office will assist Fleetwood in attempting to secure training funds and other assistance from the state economic develop office.
   "But we are very pleased for Decatur and Adams County with yesterday's announcement," Macklin said. "This tells us much about the quality of Fleetwood and the fact that they recognize the quality of the workforce in Adams County."
   Further details in today's print and e-editions.

Several personnel moves OKed at Adams Central

2013-05-17T10:00:42-04:00

    With four teachers opting for the retirement incentive package offered by Adams Central last month – which gave qualifying teachers a onetime payout of $15,000 – several personnel moves were presented, and approved, by the AC Board of Education Tuesday.
   Jon Johnson was hired as the new geometry/algebra I teacher for the 2013-14 school year. This position includes teaching all high school geometry classes as well as algebra I End of the Course (ECA) remediation classes.
   Johnson served on a one-year contract for the 2012-13 school year teaching Algebra 8, Pre-algebra, and high school Algebra I.
   Further details in today's print and e-editions.