Sprunger Shoes honored (10/11/2008)

A Berne shoe store was honored along with 15 other Hoosier businesses in receiving the Indiana Department of Commerce Centennial Business Award.

Sprunger Shoes, founded in 1908, will receive the award Monday in Indianapolis. The store, founded by Ben Sprunger and now operated by Kenyon Sprunger, is adding the award to its 100th-year achievement.

The Indiana Department of Commerce has awarded more than 300 centennial awards to Indiana business since 1992.

Honda expansion

Japanese auto maker Honda Motor Company has completed an expansion of its plant in Anna, Ohio, about 30 miles southeast of Celina.

The $138 million plant expansion will allow the factory to produce most of the steel engine parts included in Honda vehicles. The expansion created another 100 jobs for the area and will allow the motor group to cut down on shipping costs from formerly importing those parts which can now be manufactured at the plant.

Honda of America is Jay County clutch technology manufacturer FCC (Indiana)'s largest customer.

Smart workouts

A new electronic ID is helping people get in shape at Curves fitness center.

The CurvesSmart personal coaching system is an ID card that gym-goers can scan at machines, which will uplink and tailor a personal workout to them based on their personal fitness. The new system can help people shed weight and keep in better shape by tailoring specific workouts at specific machines to the person using it.

For more information, call Portland's Curves at (260) 726-6777.

Fort IGA still open

Fort Recovery's Ole Fort IGA grocery store is still open despite having been foreclosed on.

The grocery store in town is still open for operation despite being under the ownership of First Merchants Bank of Indiana. Former owner John Sutter of Fort Recovery had owned the store for more than a decade before the financial trouble hit.

Several entities have entered into bidding for the store, including longtime store manager Ron VanSkyock of Fort Recovery.

Collecting greenery

The Portland decorators are collecting ever-greenery for the holiday season and are looking for donations.

The group will be collecting prunings from blue spruce or other evergreen trees and bushes to help fill holiday urns. Trimmings need to have at least a 12 to 14 inch stem. Deliver the greenery to the back of the Community Resource Center by Tuesday, Nov. 4.

OSHA classes

to be offered

John Jay Center for learning is currently registering students for two Ivy Tech OSHA safety classes.

The OSHA ten-hour safety class for general industry will meet at John Jay on Thursday, Oct 23, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Friday, Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to noon. The cost is $255 per person.

The OSHA 30-hour safety class will meet at John Jay Nov. 13, Nov. 14, Nov. 17, and Nov. 18, with all classes running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $475 per person.

For more information, contact Nancy Moser, John Jay's student services adviser, at (260) 729-5525.

Geneva meeting

Eric Rogers, executive director of Arts Place, will be the featured speaker at the October luncheon meeting of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

The meeting will be in the community room on the second floor of Geneva's town hall. The cost is $6 per person.

Cancer center

coming to Decatur

Adams Memorial Hospital in Decatur has awarded a construction contract for the new AMH-Strickler Cancer Center, planned as part of the hospital campus.

Witwer Construction, Fort Wayne, will be general contractor on the $1.4 million project.[[In-content Ad]]