Fish factory tops permits (04/07/07)

Building permits totaled $3,237,306 in March in Jay County, according to the Jay/Portland Building and Planning Department - with more than half of that value for the construction of a fish processing plant near Redkey.

Bell Aquaculture LLC owner, Michael H. Miller, applied for a permit for the construction of an $2.5 million industrial building for the production facility at 9885 West Ind. 67 in the Redkey Industrial Park.

Additionally, Doug and Carla Horn, 375 West, Bryant, were issued a permit for a confined feeding operation building valued at $425,000, and David L. Lowe, 1277 North 650 West, Portland, notified the department of his intent to build two CFO buildings.

Other permits issued in March included a permit to Jim and Judy Auker, 4408 North 350 West, Portland, for a home and garage valued at $149,980; Lloyd Zigler, 10314 West Division Road, Dunkirk, for $1,000 for a pole building; Angela Landers, 211 Oak St., Portland, $500 for a fence; Jeremiah and Heather Abbott, 310 E. Main St., Portland, $1,400 for a fence; Theodore and Lori Ferguson, 1221 S. Meridian St., Portland, $1,000 for a fence.

Also, Jerry Hummel, 311 E. Seventh St., Portland, $1,500 for a privacy fence; David Whiting, 501 N. Morton St., Portland, $900 for a fence; Rory Campbell, 539 South 600 East, Portland, occupancy permit; Pennville Custom cabinetry, 600 E. Votaw St., Portland, variance; H. Duane Harter, 123 E. Lincoln St., Portland, $58,000 for a commercial building; David M. Stoner, 918 W. Seventh St., Portland, $40,847 for a pole building.

Also, Kevin Cart, 516 W. Water St., Portland, $4,179 for a utility building; Keith Pensinger, 1355 Meadow Lane, Portland, $8,000 for a carport/roof change; Bill and Jeanna Ford, 304 E. Union St., Portland, $35,000 for a garage/home addition; Stephanie and Jayne Morgan, 3803 South Ind. 1, Redkey, $18,000 for a garage; and Bryan and Teresa Watters, 815 W. North St., Portland, $12,000 for a detached garage and room addition.

Annual meeting

Jay County REMC's annual meeting is set for Saturday, April 14, at the Jay County High School auditorium.

Registration begins at 6 p.m. with a business meeting at 7 p.m. A member business expo will be held throughout the evening and there will be entertainment by the Jay County High School choirs, and a kids' program with games and food.

Work progressing

More than five months after breaking ground on a $3 million expansion to an existing motel, construction is on schedule and the first rooms inside the new Randolph Hotel Inn and Suites should be ready by July.

By the end of the month, the exterior of the new building should be complete.

The new structure will include 48 rooms, an indoor swimming pool and a meeting room.

A group of 22 investors purchased the Overpass Motel in October. The existing 260-room motel has remained open and undergone extensive remodeling as well.

Expanding potential

Indiana Michigan Power has announced it will be participating in a request for proposal (RFP) for up to 100 megawatts of wind energy to serve its customers in both Indiana and Michigan.

The request will be issued by American Electric Power and is the first step toward AEP's goal of adding 1,000 megawatts of new wind energy by 2011 as part of its comprehensive strategy to address greenhouse gas emissions.

The deadline for bids is April 30, with delivery of the power to begin by the end of 2008, which coincides with the current expiration date of the Federal Production Tax Credit for wind energy.

Information offered

Indiana Works is offering information on the impact of wages on Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income.

There are many work incentive rules that can help maximize benefits and work income and Indiana Works has specialists who are trained to understand the rules and can help explain them.

Indiana Works Community Work Incentive Coordinators are employed by The Center for Mental Health in Anderson.

For free information call (866) 646-8161.

Joins Premier

Todd Thornburg, Portland, has joined Premier Ethanol as a grain buyer, according to Greg Noble, general manager at Poet Plant Management, the parent company of Premier.

In Thornburg's new position, he will be responsible for grain purchasing for the Portland facility.

Thornburg has a background in grain marketing and production agriculture and will work with area producers with grain marketing programs.

To help fight cancer

The Pampered Chef has joined the American Cancer Society for the eighth year to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and early detection programs.

The Pampered Chef annually dedicates May to and independent consultants educate millions of people across the U.S. on breast cancer awareness through the company's "Help Whip Cancer" campaign. Consultants provide one-on-one education through special fundraiser cooking shows. The campaign is shared with people who may have family members or friends who have been touched by breast cancer.

A contribution of $1 will go to the American Cancer Society for every pink-themed kitchen tool purchased from The Pampered Chef in May.

Since 2000, The Pampered Chef has contributed more than $5 million to the American Cancer Society.

Invited to tour

Area high school students will be touring the surgery department at Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater and will meet those who work in the department on a daily basis. The tour will be held Wednesday from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

This event gives area high school students the opportunity to explore careers in the surgery field and to expose them to what a real surgery department looks like, according to Diane Wellman, R.N., nurse manager for Mercer Health.

The event is free and open to any area high school student. Advance registration is required and should be made by calling (419) 678-5132.

To sponsor compacts

Champion Racing Association officials have announced that Vore's Welding and Steel has agreed to be the title sponsor of the CRA F.W.D. Compacts for the inaugural 2007 season.

The season will consist of eight events beginning on Sunday, April 22, with the opening event at Winchester Speedway.

Compacts will be part of the CRA Super Sunday event on May 20, at Baer Field Speedway in Fort Wayne, then six more events at Winchester Speedway on June 10, Aug. 12, Sept. 2, Sept. 3, Sept. 16 and Oct. 12.

Vore's Welding and Steel is located in Fort Recovery.

Clevenger Vending sold

After 51 years in business one of East Central Indiana's best-known vending machine companies has been sold.

The owners of Clevenger Vending have sold their business to Canteen, a competitor, according to the Muncie Star Press.

Owners Susan Clevenger and Jean Ann Miller decided to sell when faced with increased costs for candy, gasoline and insurance, among other expenses, and declining spots for their machines, due to manufacturing jobs that have ended in the area.

Clevenger said the sale to Canteen, which has an office in the area, was finalized on March 26. Canteen retained about half of the 14 Clevenger employees and absorbed its equipment.[[In-content Ad]]