Chamber luncheon Tuesday (02/24/07)

The Portland Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a networking luncheon Tuesday at noon in conference rooms A and B at Jay County Hospital.

Carl Link, Fort Recovery, representing the National Pork Board, will speak on "The Pork Industry: More Than Just the Other White Meat," highlighting the pork industry's innovation, quality and environmental stewardship.

Reservations are $8 and can be made with the chamber at (260) 726-4481.

Reports boost

Wal-Mart Store Inc. reported this week a better-than-expected 9.8 percent increase in fourth-quarter profits, helped by new strategy and cost-control measures at its flagship U.S. stores division, according to the Wall Street Journal.

However, the world's largest retailer still faces the challenge of reinvigorating sales at its U.S. stores amid fierce competition, analysts said.

While profits and total sales were up about 10 percent each, it was noted that sales at stores open at least one year only grew 1.3 percent in the fourth quarter after annual rates well over 5 percent early this decade.

Wal-Mart forecast same-store sales growth between one percent and three percent in the current quarter.

Celebration rescheduled

State of the Heart Home Health and Hospice's 25th anniversary open house has been rescheduled after being postponed because of the recent snow storm.

In Coldwater, Ohio, the event will be held Tuesday, March 6, at 230 W. Main St., and in Portland the event will be held Wednesday, March 7 at 410 W. Votaw St.

At both sites, the open house hours will be 3 to 5 p.m.

Events will include building tours and program displays.

Attends seminar

Dr. Steven DeGroff, who has offices in Berne and Winchester, attended a seminar recently in Indianapolis.

Presentations on the latest medical treatments for macular degernation, diabetic eye disease and other disorders of the retina of the eye were presented by Dr. Mark Dunbar of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Fla.

Additionally DeGroff attended a presentation of a recently developed corneal transplant procedure provided by corneal surgery specialist Dr. Michael Hodkin of Muncie.

DeGroff has practiced in Berne for 20 years and took over the late Dr. Steven Peden's practice in Winchester two years ago.

He resides in Adams County with his wife, Carrie, and two teenage children.

Accredited

Following an on-site audit in December, Jay-Randolph Developmental Services has been accredited for a period of three years by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.

This is the fifth consecutive three-year accreditation that the international accrediting commission has awarded to JRDS.

A local not-for-profit organization serving people with special needs in Jay and Randolph counties, JRDS was surveyed by the accreditation organization for its business practices and services to its clientele. Also receiving accreditation were its community integration services and its employment services, including job development, job supports, job-site training and organizational employment services.

Founded in 1958, JRDS has administrative offices on East Water Street in Portland. It has day program centers at the administration location as well as on Base Road East in Winchester.

The organization also serves clientele at various work sites and in a variety of residential and community settings.

Ruth Ann Widman is executive director of JRDS.

New director

Dax Norton has been named the executive director for the Blackford County Economic Development Corporation. He will replace Mindy Kenworthy who recently left the position to take a job at the state level.

Norton is currently the director of membership for the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce.

Norton, whose mother resides in Hartford City, is married and the couple has two daughters. They will be moving to Hartford City in the near future.

Receives awardTHIS HAS A PIX

Hubbard Feeds Inc. has announced that Tom Weigel, dairy specialist, based in Bryant, has earned membership into Hubbard's Fiscal 2006 Pinnacle Club. The club's sales recognition program is for Hubbard Feeds employees who have achieved excellent results in areas including sales, customer retention and growth, new business development and demonstration of individual initiative.

Weigel works with feed mills, livestock and dairy producers in west central Indiana and east central Ohio. As part of the sales award recognition, Weigel and his wife Pat were awarded a trip to Seattle, Wash. in the fall of 2006.

Hubbard Feeds manufactures a full line of livestock feed.

Supporting drive

Curves of Portland will be participating in the Curves Food Drive to benefit local food pantries.

The drive worldwide collected 11 million pounds of food in 2006 for communities throughout the world.

To celebrate the drive, Curves in waiving its normal service fee for any new member who brings in a bag of non-perishable groceries and joins between March 1 and March 10. In 2006 more than 247,940 new members joined Curves throughout the world during this drive.

With more than 10,000 locations worldwide, Curves is the largest fitness franchise in the world, with more than 4 million members.

New position

THIS HAS A PHOTO IF NEEDED I GUESS

Cindy Liette, MS, RN, CCRN, has been named clinical nurse specialist for Mercer Health at the Mercer County Community Hospital.

The new position was created to assist with patient care, help families of patients, and work with staff members to improve quality care and keep abreast of changes in medical practices.

A nurse for more than 28 years, Liette has been a staff nurse in the intensive care unit and the emergency department at Mercer Health and other facilities.

She received her diploma degree in nursing from Miami Valley Hospital School of Nursing. Her bachelor of science degree in nursing and master of science degree as an adult health clinical nurse specialist are from Wright State University. She is also certified as a critical care registered nurse.[[In-content Ad]]