Credit union marks 60th anniversary

CrossRoads Financial Federal Credit Union marked its 60th anniversary Saturday at its annual meeting.
Virgil Brackman was honored as the only charter member of the credit union, which was officially chartered as Portland Forge Employees Federal Credit Union on Nov. 29, 1950.
The credit union, the first organized locally, was originally formed to meet the loan needs of Portland Forge employees. Its first board of directors was led by Portland Forge president Lee G. Hall.
Joe Guilfoy of the Indiana Credit Union League was the featured speaker at the meeting. Employee Sharon Cavanaugh was recognized for 10 years of service.

Construction slows
New construction slowed severely in January as the Jay/Portland Building and Planning Department issued only six permits with construction costs totaling $218,000.
Permits were issued to: Christina Bishop, Cute As A Button Salon and Spa, 212 N. Meridian St., Portland, business occupancy; Carson George, Cottage Grill and Creamery, 1043 W. Votaw St., Portland, business occupancy; Phyllis Manor, 7229 East 400 South, Portland, new home/garage, $140,000; Portland Economic Development Corporation, 1383 Tyson Road, building addition, $20,000; David S. Wickey, 6275 East 800 North, Bryant, residential addition, $8,000; Scott Binegar, 4366 West 400 North, Portland, residential addition, $50,000.

Brosher wins
A Jay County High School graduate who is now living in Mountain Time is still earning awards for his work in Indiana.
For the second straight year, the Indiana News Photographers Association has named James Brosher the College Photographer of the Year for his work at the Indiana Daily Student.
Brosher, a 2006 JCHS and 2010 Indiana University graduate, is now working as a staff photographer at the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle in Cheyenne, Wyo. He previously worked as an intern at the Peoria (Ill.) Journal Star.
The former Dunkirk resident has also served internships at The Commercial Review, the South Bend Tribune and the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman.
A full list of INPA awards and a gallery of Brosher’s winning photos are online at www.indiananewsphotographers.org.
His work is also online at www.brosher.com, and the Tribune-Eagle’s website is  www.wyomingnews.com.

REMC expo
Jay County REMC is taking applications for the Member Business Expo on April 9.
There’s no charge for REMC members to participate in the business expo. The expo will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. REMC will provide a sign, a table, table cover and two chairs.
Applications should be returned to Cindy Denney, P.O. Box 904, Portland, IN 47371, or by calling Denney at (800) 835-7362 ext. 225 or by e-mailing [email protected] by March 10.

Networking breakfast
Jay County Commissioner Milo Miller Jr. will present the State of the County and Dunkirk Mayor Ron Hunt will give the State of the City of Dunkirk address at the next Jay County Chamber of Commerce networking breakfast.
The breakfast will be held Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. at the Dunkirk Elks Lodge. Cost is $5. Reservations can be made with the chamber at (260) 726-4481 or by e-mailing [email protected].

Not closing
Although nationally Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc. is considering selling the Arby’s franchise, Portland Arby’s store manager said the local restaurant is in no danger of closing.
While Wendy’s/Arby’s Group is thinking of shopping the Arby’s company on a nationwide level, the move would change ownership of the fast food chain but would not necessarily affect operations of Arby’s locations through the nation.
Rumors had circulated in the area that Portland Arby’s would be closing or would be changed into a Wendy’s.
 Quarter results
Allegheny Technologies Incorporated reported a fourth quarter net income of $15.1 million, although those earnings were down from the year prior.
ATI posted sales of $1.04 billion to post the $15.1 million earnings. That number is down from a net income of $37.8 million in the same quarter of 2009.
Analysts expect sales to grow 15 to 20 percent in 2011.

Academy attended
Shelia Cannon, resource development manager for Energize-ECI Regional Planning District recently completed the 27th annual Indiana Economic Development Academy held in Muncie.
The academy is accredited by the International Economic Development Council and offered planning professionals, economic developers, regional district managers, community leaders, government officials and business owners’ economic development education.[[In-content Ad]]