Chamber seminar set

Kirk Nevins, retired vice president of sales for Franklin Electric, Bluftton, will host a seminar on "The Art of Listening" as the first of the Jay County Chamber of Commerce's professional development series at John Jay Center for Learning.

Nevins will focus on how to communicate effectively by improving listening skills. The seminar is $15 for chamber members and $20 for non-members. It's set for Tuesday, June 23, from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Other chamber seminars scheduled for the months ahead include a session on stress and time management on Sept. 23, a half-day seminar on web design on Nov. 5, a session on selling on the Internet next January, and a seminar on increasing your bottom line next March.

For more information on the seminar series, contact the chamber at 260-726-4481.

One moves ahead

A second wind turbine planned for school property in Randolph County has been shelved, but groundbreaking for one on property owned by Union City is set for June 19.

Plans originally called for a wind turbine to be constructed on property owned by Randolph Eastern Schools in Union City, but that project has been moved to city-owned land after the turbine company expressed safety concerns.

Similar concerns led turbine developer Nordic to back away last week from plans to erect a turbine on land owned by Randolph Southern Schools.

Three left

The Mercer County Commissioners narrowed their search for a new economic development director to three candidates earlier this week.

Kristina Clouse, Delphos, Ohio; Jared Ebbing, Coldwater, Ohio; and Randal VanTilburg, Delaware, Ohio; were called back as the final three remaining in the search to replace Larry Stelzer, who announced his retirement effective June 15.

The number has been pared down from 16 earlier in the search. Depending on 16 different criteria, pay for the job ranges between about $52,000 up to about $70,000 per year.

In new building

Farm Credit Services of Mid-America has re-opened in new offices less than a year after its facility was destroyed by fire.

An open house at the new offices, 1319 Baker Place, the same land where the earlier offices were located, is scheduled for Friday, May 29, from noon to 6 p.m.

New branch planned

First Bank of Berne has received approval from the Berne Plan Commission to move ahead with building a new branch just north of its present Berne branch on U.S. 27.

Plans call for ground breaking this summer and completion near the end of the year. The 4,835-square-foot building will have 35 parking spaces.

Five Star member

Pacesetter Bank was recently recognized by the Indiana Bankers Association as a Five Star member.

Pacesetter, which has offices in Portland, Dunkirk, Montpelier, Upland, and Union City, was one of 29 Indiana institutions to receive the distinction.

Five Star banks are recognized for their political awareness, issue advocacy, life-long learning, volunteerism, and community involvement.

To merge

The Adams-Jay-Wells Board of Realtors and the Fort Wayne Area Association of Realtors have agreed to merge, pending approval by the Indiana Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

The new group will be called the Realtors Alliance of Northern Indiana.

Heart award

Ball Memorial Hospital recently received the an American Heart Association award for its care for stroke patients, becoming the first hospital in Indiana to achieve the level.

The "Get With the Guidelines Gold Performance Achievement Award" was awarded to BMH for complying with 85 percent of key measures in stroke care. The compliance level must be maintained for 24 consecutive months, while BMH maintained more than 90 percent for that period.[[In-content Ad]]