POET using new railcar technology

New railcar loading equipment designed by POET has made loading grain safer and more profitable for the ethanol producer.
The new Load Toad equipment allows the car to be packed more densely by forcing grain to the sides of the rail car. The loader packs the car more evenly and efficiently.
The device has also increased safety since workers no longer have to get on top of a car to shovel grain into the corners. POET plants throughout the country have also been able to pack about 3 to 5 percent more grain into each car.
The prototype was developed by POET in Leipsic, Ohio, and is in use at POET locations, however the company may look to market the technology to other ethanol producers in the future.


Chamber awards
David Baumgartner and Moser Motors will be honored by the Berne Chamber of Commerce.
Baumgartner, a lifelong resident of Berne, partner in Baumgartner and Beitler Attorneys and president of the Berne Community Development Corporation was selected as Citizen of the Year for 2010.
Moster Motor Sales, Inc. was selected as the Business of the Year. Owned by Phil and Jim Eicher, Moster Motors has been in business in the town for 106 years and supports community activities and organizations.
The annual dinner and awards presentation will take place Jan. 18 at Swiss Village Auditorium. Contact the chamber for ticket information.

100 years
Yager Furniture, Berne, was recently awarded a Centennial Business Award by the Indiana Historical Society.
The presentation took place at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center in Indianapolis.
Owner John Kirchhofer accepted the award and noted that Yager is the oldest family-owner furniture store in the area. It started as Bierie and Yager Furniture and Undertaking but began operating independently in 1937.

Partner lost
H&R Block Inc. will no longer be able to offer tax refund advances after its partnership with a banking partner has been cut off by federal regulators.
The company could face to lose substantial income since about 45 percent of its customers used the refund anticipation loan or refund anticipation check. The company made about $146 million from the option in 2010.
Federal regulators demanded that HSBC Bank, which provided the high-interest loans, stop providing them to high-risk clients.[[In-content Ad]]