Veterans will stop in Portland

A group of veterans will be making a stop in Portland this spring as part of an event to honor fallen soldiers.
Portland City Council was informed Monday that those involved in Run for the Fallen will visit Freedom Park in Portland on May 15 as part of the three-day event that will begin in Fort Wayne and end in Indianapolis.
Don Finnegan, director of the Indiana chapter of Honor and Remember, spoke to the council members about the group’s first Run For the Fallen, from May 15 through 17. Finnegan said a group of veterans would make the three-day, 144-mile run in order to honor fallen soldiers.
“Our goal is to give respect to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice,” Finnegan said. “[The runners] will stop every mile to honor a hero.
“In our first day, we will stop in Portland. We will stop at Freedom Park.”
He said they planned on arriving at 5:30 p.m. May 15.
Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman asked Finnegan if the group had anything scheduled for its stop at Freedom Park. Finnegan said the group hoped to do something, but they hadn’t planned anything specific yet.
Finnegan said he did not need the council members to take any action, adding that he approached them because he wanted to generate public awareness of the event.
“We hope everyone will come out to greet them,” he said. “When the runners come by.”
“We’re always interested in anything where we can help our veterans,” Geesaman said.
Council members also got reminders from Geesaman about a couple of upcoming meetings.
There will be a public meeting with Indiana Department of Transportation at 6 p.m. March 31 at East Jay Middle School in regard to the Indiana 26 East project scheduled for this year. He also said the bid letting for the project will take place on March 4.
And a common construction wage hearing for the Portland Water Park project is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at the council chambers. He said Portland Park Board plans on opening bids for the project at its March 10 meeting.
Geesaman also said the city is hoping to plan some events for the state’s bicentennial in 2016. He said representatives of the Indiana Bicentennial Committee have been visiting counties in order to help plan such events. Anyone wishing to volunteer, he said, can contact city hall at (260) 726-9395.

In other business, council members Bill Gibson, Judy Aker, Michael Brewster, Kip Robinette, Mark Hedges, Kent McClung and Don Gillespie:
•Approved closing Commerce Street between Main and Ship streets for the Arch Street Kroozers’ car show from noon to 9:30 p.m. May 16.
•Approved payment of $81,500 in State Revolving Loan Funds to Bruns Building and Construction.