Ribbon cuttings are scheduled

Jay County Chamber of Commerce has several ribbon cuttings scheduled for this month.

There will be a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. Saturday for the grand reopening of Key Diner and Key Palace Theatre. They are located at 123 S. Meridian St., Redkey. Its grand reopening event will run from 5 to 9 p.m. with discount show tickets, theater tours and drawings.

The chamber will also host a ribbon cutting for the new Laux Plumbing and Heating location at 11 a.m. Wednesday. The new site is at 112 W Rogers St., Portland.

A ribbon cutting is also scheduled for noon Aug. 27 celebrating one year in business for Glass Capital Grill, 126 E. Commerce St., Dunkirk. The restaurant opened last August but did not have a ribbon-cutting ceremony because of the coronavirus pandemic.



Bank named

Independent Community Bankers of America recently named First Bank of Berne one of the top banks for agricultural lending.

The bank was ranked second out of 20 financial institutions in the $500 million to $1 billion asset category. Banks are “based on the strength of competitive banking services and operational efficiencies using FDIC data for 2020.”

First Bank of Berne was one of two Indiana-based banks to make the Independent Community Bankers of America’s lists in any category.

“First Bank of Berne has strived to provide excellent financial products and services to meet the needs of agribusiness,” said senior vice president Rick Gentis in a press release. “Our institution is honored to be recognized as one of the nation’s top agricultural lenders.”



Offering training

John Jay Center for Learning will host ServSafe Training beginning at the end of the month.

ServSafe classes are scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 30, Sept. 27 and Oct. 25. For more information, call John Jay at (260) 729-5525.



IU Health expands

IU Health held a grand opening this week for its new ambulatory surgery center in Fort Wayne.

A virtual announcement Thursday celebrated the opening of the surgery center along with IU Health Primary Care Fort Wayne – Southeast, IU Health Primary Care Fort Wayne – Hope Drive/IU Health Radiology Fort Wayne and IU Health Urgent Care Fort Wayne – Hope Drive.

The surgery center, a 40,000-square-foot facility with five operating rooms and five procedure rooms, is scheduled to begin surgeries Aug. 23.

“It’s not necessarily the most glamorous entrance into a market, but what it allows is for us to provide great care and establish a 1-on-1 relationship between a patient and physician,” said IU Health Fort Wayne president Brian Bauer.



Accutech awarded

Accutech Systems Corporation has been named the recipient of the 2021 Ball State University Community Partner of the Year Award.

The award recognizes an east central Indiana business, organization or agency that “demonstrated excellence as part of a Ball State community-based learning experience during the previous year.” Accutech, a financial trust accounting and investment management software company headquartered in downtown Muncie, works with Ball State on software engineering.

“Working with Accutech has been a joy,” DBSU assistant professor of computer science Huseyin Ergin in a press release. “They have been extremely friendly, provided great expertise, and hired our students. I can’t imagine what more I could ask for from this perfect partnership. Here’s to many more years of collaboration.”



Walmart selects

Walmart announced Tuesday that it has chosen Publicis Groupe to lead its media planning and buying.

Publicis, a multinational advertising and public relations firm based in France, will focus on various media partnerships beginning immediately.

“We are thrilled to bring Publicis Groupe on board as our media agency,” said William White, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Walmart, in a press release. “We are impressed with their people, their marketing thought leadership and their expertise in full-funnel planning, execution and measurement capabilities. We know they are going to help drive our business forward by reaching and engaging our customers in compelling and innovative ways.”



DG announces

Dollar General on Thursday announced a $250,000 partnership with the American Red Cross for its Disaster Responder Program.

The funding will be used to help the Red Cross’s natural disaster relief efforts.

“When our communities and neighbors are confronted with disaster, the immediate care, comfort and hope provided by the American Red Cross is vital,” said Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos in a press release. “For more than 20 years, Dollar General has been proud to support the American Red Cross’ efforts to serve others in times of need, and we are proud to strengthen our partnership and provide additional resources for disaster readiness and recovery efforts.”