POET to receive loan for new plant

POET received clearance on a $105 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy Sept. 23.
The loan will go toward constructing a cellulosic ethanol plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa, called Project Liberty.
POET operates an ethanol plant near Portland.

Ring-R coming to Berne
Ring-R Engineering Inc. will create about 15 jobs when it locates a branch of its company in Berne.
The manufacturer of river barges and tillage machines will ask for a 10-year tax abatement at a Oct. 11 council meeting.
The business will be located at 750 E. Parr Road.

Producing corn oil
POET LLC was among several companies featured in a Sept. 29 Wall Street Journal article about the growing trend of corn oil production.
The oil, which is created during ethanol production, can be used for animal feed and to create biodiesel. Jeff Lautt, POET’s President, said the company is working on producing food-grade corn oil.
The trend toward corn oil production is a result of a slowing growth in ethanol demand, according to the article.

Adams Hospital honored
Adams Memorial Hospital was on the list of Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the country when it came out Wednesday.
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) created the list based on hospital ratings on the Hospital Strength Index, which identifies top performing hospitals based on their preparedness for success under the new healthcare.

Jay-Randolph Awards
Jay-Randolph Developmental Services, Inc. held its annual awards ceremony Sept. 13.
Awards are given each year to those in the community who have helped Jay-Randolph achieve their goals, which aim to provide service to special-needs individuals.

Ground beef recalled
Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. voluntarily recalled approximately 130,000 pounds of ground beef Tuesday.
An Ohio Department of Health sample of the product tested positive for E. coli.
The recalled packages only include ground beef “tubes,” excluding any clear film, tray pack ground beef. The potentially contaminated packages are of 73-percent lean meat and show the establishment code of EST 245D and “Best Before or Freeze By SEP 12, 2011.”

I&M proposes increase
Residential customers of Indiana Michigan Power could soon see an increase of 22.7-percent to their current rates.
The company has filed a request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission for a 14-percent increase, which would mean a 9.5-percent increase to commercial and industrial customers.
The request is in response to slowed sales in a slumping economy, Paul Chodak III, the company’s president, said.

New CEO
State of the Heart Hospice announced a new Executive Director and CEO recently.
Ted Bauer, a former director of member value at Leading Age Ohio, a non-profit advocating quality long-term care for senior citizens, took over Sept. 13.
He took over for Tammy Fox, who resigned in May.[[In-content Ad]]