JRDS tops permits

An expansion/renovation at a local not-for-profit agency, two new homes and a confined feeding building topped $1.3 million in building permits issued by Jay/Portland Building and Planning in August.
The most expensive project was a $430,000 addition to workshop space at Jay-Randolph Developmental Services Inc., 901 E. Water St., Portland. The grant-funded project is expected to begin soon.
New home/garage permits were also issued to Jeff Shawver, 1688 West 500 South, Portland, $260,000; and to Joe M. Dues, 8380 East 200 South, Portland, $190,000.
Chris A. Neuenschwander, 4372 West 500 North, Portland, was issued a permit for a hog barn valued at $200,000.
Also issued permits in August were: Richard Louck, 7262 West 600 South, Redkey, barn, $8,000; John Hanlin, 9089 West Balbec Road, Pennville, pole barn, $18,000; Jordan Willis, 3353 West 400 North, Portland, addition, $1,200; Robert Wines, 604 E. North St., Portland, fence, $1,300; Patsy Hodge, 217 Pittsburg Ave., Portland, fence, $200; Kathy Hall, 817 E. Water St., Portland, fence, $250; John Wagner, MV Sales Garden Center, 446 S. Meridian St., Portland, business occupancy; Carly Sanderson, Legacy Portraits, 607 N. Meridian Street, Portland, occupancy and sign, $1,400; JR R E Properties LLC (Margarita Mexican Grill), 1604 N. Meridian St., Portland, sign, $5,000; Anthony and Connie Schoenlein, 1629 West 500 South, Portland, new home/garage, $40,000; Jay and Michelle Halstead, 920 S. Joan Drive, Portland, addition, $40,000; Douglas Gibson, 217 E. Third St., addition, $5,000; Kyle Sibray, 1378 South 100 East, addition, $40,000; Todd Laux, 5208 West 350 South, Portland, pole building, $5,000; Gerald R. Dickson, 1438 South 300 East, Portland, storage building, $6,000; Chris Krieg, 2736 West 50 North, Portland, storage building, $100; Ron Krieg, 610 N. Pleasant St., Portland, garage, $18,000; Rodney Cassel, 3380 West 200 North, Portland, garage/breezeway, $31,350 and Donald W. Roberts, 724 W. Water St., Portland, carport, $1,000.

Flower Nook purchased
A Portland flower shop has been purchased by a Portland couple.
Kyle and Julie Teeter purchased the store from John Janak, who has retired after 35 years of ownership of the store, located at 111 E. Main St., Portland.
Kyle Teeter will replace Janak, while the store’s staff will be unchanged. The store will retain services while adding  canvas printing, framing, custom designs and more. For more information go to www.flowernook.biz.

Company invests
Petoskey Plastics added $3 million in capital improvements to its Hartford City, Ind. plastics recycling facility.
The investment adds up to 50 percent more capacity and will help the company meet demand for its blown plastic film and bag products manufactured at its plants in Petoskey, Mich., and Morristown, Tenn.
Director of Manufacturing Steve Smith says the new equipment will improve processing capabilities and allow the plant to increase its output of recycled plastic resin pellets by more than one million pounds per month.

Downtown renovations planned
A Hartford City downtown façade study plan is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
The plan — which will rely on an estimated $50,000 in federal grant money — will analyze the degree of renovation needed to jumpstart Hartford City’s downtown area.

Façade improvement project
 A Winchester façade improvement project is on track to reach completion by the end of the year.
The $665,000 project, which began about 10 days ago, plans to improve business appearances and encourage economic development in downtown Winchester.
The project is funded by an Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) Community Development Block Grant, and by funds provided by downtown business owners.

Wind turbines
A couple of wind turbines are in use on the campus of Taylor University.
The turbines, which were installed for $700,000, are being used to power the construction of the ongoing Euler Science Complex project. The complex is scheduled to be open by the start of the fall 2012 semester.
ECI Wind and Solar, of Fairmont, installed the turbines, which weigh five tons each and are on 120-foot poles.

Agency opens
A rural Redkey real estate agent is inviting area residents to call him at his new Muncie office.
Paul Starr, of Starr Real Estate, is now open at the new location at 1711 W. Royale Drive. For more information, call (765) 288-1711.

PCutting antibiotics
POET recently created a way to do away with antibiotics in the fermentation process.
The ethanol-producing company had previously used an “antimicrobial agent” to control disruptions in the fermentation process. The new process eliminates the need for such an agent.

Proppant plant
Saint-Gobain will build a $100 million proppant plant in Saline County, Ark.
Proppants are beads about the size of grains of sand used in oil and gas wells to “prop” open fractures.
Saint-Gobain, which has similar plants in China and Fort Smith, Ark., will employ about 140 people at the plant, which is expected to begin production in late 2012.

1st and Green
An environmental program related to Super Bowl XLVI is challenging people to form groups to help track and reduce environmental impact.
The 1st and Green Group Challenge will allow groups of up to 30 to submit their individuals’ environment-conserving actions.
Groups who save the most water and conserve the most energy will be recognized on the 1st and Green Website and from the stage in the Village, during the week leading up to the Super Bowl.
For more information or to register a team, visit www.1standgreen.com.[[In-content Ad]]