March 11, 2016 at 8:55 p.m.
Milestone wins Indiana 26 job
Business Roundup
Milestone Contractors LP has been awarded the contract for a major re-paving of Indiana 26 from Indiana 1 to Indiana 67.
Milestone, part of the Indianapolis-based Heritage Group which also includes U.S. Aggregates, was one of four bidders for the project.
Its bid of $8,215,614.34 was approved this week by the Indiana Department of Transportation.
Also bidding on the project were Brooks Construction Co. of Fort Wayne, E&B Paving Inc. of Anderson, and Gradex Inc. of Carmel.
U.S. Aggregates acquired the former Meshberger Brothers Stone Corp. quarry southwest of Portland, and Milestone acquired the former LICA Construction business at the same time.
Milestone maintains an office in Portland.
Indiana 26 currently has two sharp intersections with Division Road and county road 50 North, traveling along county road 300 West between them.
Straightening the alignment of the highway will also change the existing intersections in the area:
•County road 50 North and Division Road will intersect with Indiana 26 on new alignments.
•County road 300 West will no longer intersect with Indiana 26 and existing pavement between county road 50 and Division Road will be removed.
• The existing curve at the intersection of county road 200 West and Indiana 26 will be removed.
The project also includes paving, widening the lanes to 11 feet from their current 8 to 9 feet, rebuilding the bridge over Brooks Creek south of Pennville in Knox Township and installing new drainage structures.
Old metal culverts will be replaced with concrete. Ditches will be added, along with drains to remove water from under the highway.
Indiana 26 will be closed during construction, which is expected to begin this spring. Work on the project is expected to be completed by November.
INDOT officials said to maintain local access as much as possible, county road 200 West will remain open throughout most of the project for north-south traffic crossing Indiana 26. But this access will be closed for up to 60 days sometime after June 1.
Heritage Group is a privately-held group of companies with interests in petroleum refining, aggregate production, asphalt marketing, environmental services, industrial services, and safety in addition to construction.
Milestone’s principal offices are located in Indianapolis, Lafayette, Columbus, Richmond, Bloomington, as well as Portland.
The company operates 15 hot-mix asphalt plants and two concrete batch plants in three market areas. Depending on the season, Milestone employs more than 1,000.
Will bid
Ardagh’s chairman Paul Coulson confirmed this week that the can and bottle manufacturer will bid on European can factories being sold by Ball and Rexam.
Coulson, who is the largest shareholder of Ardagh, also told The Irish Times that there is “nothing going on” with the company’s plans to float an initial public offering of its metals division, Oressa, on the New York Stock Exchange.
Current conditions on Wall Street have put the Oressa IPO on hold for the time being, but the company has said that it will continue to update its paperwork so it would be ready to go when market conditions improve.
Ardagh is the parent company of glass container plants in Dunkirk and Winchester.
Grider honored
Debra Grider, an American Family Insurance agent in Portland, has been recognized for outstanding customer service under the company’s American Star Excellence in Customer Experience Certification Program.
An agent for American Family since February 1997, Grider has offices at 1409 W. Votaw St.
The service excellence distinction is determined through an evaluation process, including a customer satisfaction survey.
American Family Insurance, based in Madison, Wisconsin, is the nation’s third-largest mutual property and casualty insurance company.
3M investment
3M has announced a $3.5 million investment in equipment upgrades at its Hartford City plant.
The plant, which has been in operation since 1955, manufactures specialty and industrial tapes and adhesives. It employs nearly 200.
A 10-year tax abatement on the company’s investment was approved by the Hartford City Council.
Chicken donated
Tyson Foods Inc., parent company of Portland’s Tyson Mexican Original, this week donated a truckload of chicken to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in efforts to address hunger in 22 Michigan counties.
“Of the more than 331,500 people fed each year by the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, 71,942 are children,” Annetta Tirey, director of corporate social responsibility for Tyson Foods, said in a prepared statement. “Food insecurity affects all age groups and all communities. It’s our goal to help alleviate this need by providing protein to those in need and raising awareness about how important protein is in a diet.”
The area served includes Flint, which has been plagued in recent months by lead contamination in the water supply.
New chairman
The board of directors of Yum Brands Inc., parent company of Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell, this week named Rob ert D. Walter as the company’s new executive chairman. He replaces David C. Novak, who is retiring. Novak gave up his position as chief executive officer a year ago to Greg Reed.
Walter was the founder and chairman of Cardinal Health Inc. until his retirement in 2008. He has been a member of Yum’s board since 2006.
The company also announced an increase in its unsecured loan facility by $500 million. The increase give the company total authorized borrowing of up to $2 billion.
Big commitment
CVS, the nation’s largest pharmacy company, this week announced Be The First, a five-year, $50 million initiative to help establish the nation’s first tobacco-free generation.
Be The First comprises comprehensive education, advocacy, tobacco control and healthy behavior programming in partnership with organizations in the health field.
“We are at a critical moment in our nation’s efforts to end the epidemic of tobacco use that continues to kill more people than any other preventable cause of death, and threatens the health and well-being of our next generation,” Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., M.P.H., and Chief Medical Officer for CVS Health, said in a prepared statement. “Ensuring our youth stay tobacco-free requires increased education and awareness of healthy behaviors. We’re partnering with experts across the public health community who have established best practices to help prevent tobacco use. And, by establishing more public-private partnerships to implement these strategies more aggressively, we can help increase the number of people leading tobacco-free lives and move us one step closer to delivering the first tobacco-free generation.”
Seeking sponsors
The Jay County Chamber of Commerce golf outing has been set for May 6 at the Portland Golf Club. The chamber is currently seeking sponsors and teams for the event.
For more information, contact the chamber at (260) 726-4481. A portion of the proceeds from the outing will go toward the new senior center at Jay Community Center in Portland.
Stock high
Dollar General’s stock hit an all-time high Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange, boosted by its fourth quarter results. The stock closed at $83.23 a share, up 11 percent.
Since the middle of November, Dollar General’s stock has jumped 25 percent.
With 12,500 stores in 43 states, the company had $20 billion in sales last year.
Form partnership
The Indiana Small Business Development Center and Ball State University this week announced a partnership as the university officially became the east central regional office host for the state agency.
The East Central ISBDC serves Jay, Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Grant, Henry, Madison, Randolph, Rush, Union and Wayne counties. Its office is in Muncie’s Innovation Connector, 1208 W. White River Blvd., Suite 129.
The agency offers guidance and resources to entrepreneurs at little or no cost, including one-on0one consulting, strategic planning, market research and loan assistance.
Promoted
First Bank of Berne has promoted Peter Schmidt to vice pesident from his position as information security officer.
Schmidt joined the bank in 2010 after 20 years with Lincoln National Life Insurance Company.
Ethical company
Old National Bank, which formerly had a branch in Portland, was honored this week by Ethisphere Institute as one of the world’s most ethical companies.
Milestone, part of the Indianapolis-based Heritage Group which also includes U.S. Aggregates, was one of four bidders for the project.
Its bid of $8,215,614.34 was approved this week by the Indiana Department of Transportation.
Also bidding on the project were Brooks Construction Co. of Fort Wayne, E&B Paving Inc. of Anderson, and Gradex Inc. of Carmel.
U.S. Aggregates acquired the former Meshberger Brothers Stone Corp. quarry southwest of Portland, and Milestone acquired the former LICA Construction business at the same time.
Milestone maintains an office in Portland.
Indiana 26 currently has two sharp intersections with Division Road and county road 50 North, traveling along county road 300 West between them.
Straightening the alignment of the highway will also change the existing intersections in the area:
•County road 50 North and Division Road will intersect with Indiana 26 on new alignments.
•County road 300 West will no longer intersect with Indiana 26 and existing pavement between county road 50 and Division Road will be removed.
• The existing curve at the intersection of county road 200 West and Indiana 26 will be removed.
The project also includes paving, widening the lanes to 11 feet from their current 8 to 9 feet, rebuilding the bridge over Brooks Creek south of Pennville in Knox Township and installing new drainage structures.
Old metal culverts will be replaced with concrete. Ditches will be added, along with drains to remove water from under the highway.
Indiana 26 will be closed during construction, which is expected to begin this spring. Work on the project is expected to be completed by November.
INDOT officials said to maintain local access as much as possible, county road 200 West will remain open throughout most of the project for north-south traffic crossing Indiana 26. But this access will be closed for up to 60 days sometime after June 1.
Heritage Group is a privately-held group of companies with interests in petroleum refining, aggregate production, asphalt marketing, environmental services, industrial services, and safety in addition to construction.
Milestone’s principal offices are located in Indianapolis, Lafayette, Columbus, Richmond, Bloomington, as well as Portland.
The company operates 15 hot-mix asphalt plants and two concrete batch plants in three market areas. Depending on the season, Milestone employs more than 1,000.
Will bid
Ardagh’s chairman Paul Coulson confirmed this week that the can and bottle manufacturer will bid on European can factories being sold by Ball and Rexam.
Coulson, who is the largest shareholder of Ardagh, also told The Irish Times that there is “nothing going on” with the company’s plans to float an initial public offering of its metals division, Oressa, on the New York Stock Exchange.
Current conditions on Wall Street have put the Oressa IPO on hold for the time being, but the company has said that it will continue to update its paperwork so it would be ready to go when market conditions improve.
Ardagh is the parent company of glass container plants in Dunkirk and Winchester.
Grider honored
Debra Grider, an American Family Insurance agent in Portland, has been recognized for outstanding customer service under the company’s American Star Excellence in Customer Experience Certification Program.
An agent for American Family since February 1997, Grider has offices at 1409 W. Votaw St.
The service excellence distinction is determined through an evaluation process, including a customer satisfaction survey.
American Family Insurance, based in Madison, Wisconsin, is the nation’s third-largest mutual property and casualty insurance company.
3M investment
3M has announced a $3.5 million investment in equipment upgrades at its Hartford City plant.
The plant, which has been in operation since 1955, manufactures specialty and industrial tapes and adhesives. It employs nearly 200.
A 10-year tax abatement on the company’s investment was approved by the Hartford City Council.
Chicken donated
Tyson Foods Inc., parent company of Portland’s Tyson Mexican Original, this week donated a truckload of chicken to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in efforts to address hunger in 22 Michigan counties.
“Of the more than 331,500 people fed each year by the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, 71,942 are children,” Annetta Tirey, director of corporate social responsibility for Tyson Foods, said in a prepared statement. “Food insecurity affects all age groups and all communities. It’s our goal to help alleviate this need by providing protein to those in need and raising awareness about how important protein is in a diet.”
The area served includes Flint, which has been plagued in recent months by lead contamination in the water supply.
New chairman
The board of directors of Yum Brands Inc., parent company of Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell, this week named Rob ert D. Walter as the company’s new executive chairman. He replaces David C. Novak, who is retiring. Novak gave up his position as chief executive officer a year ago to Greg Reed.
Walter was the founder and chairman of Cardinal Health Inc. until his retirement in 2008. He has been a member of Yum’s board since 2006.
The company also announced an increase in its unsecured loan facility by $500 million. The increase give the company total authorized borrowing of up to $2 billion.
Big commitment
CVS, the nation’s largest pharmacy company, this week announced Be The First, a five-year, $50 million initiative to help establish the nation’s first tobacco-free generation.
Be The First comprises comprehensive education, advocacy, tobacco control and healthy behavior programming in partnership with organizations in the health field.
“We are at a critical moment in our nation’s efforts to end the epidemic of tobacco use that continues to kill more people than any other preventable cause of death, and threatens the health and well-being of our next generation,” Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., M.P.H., and Chief Medical Officer for CVS Health, said in a prepared statement. “Ensuring our youth stay tobacco-free requires increased education and awareness of healthy behaviors. We’re partnering with experts across the public health community who have established best practices to help prevent tobacco use. And, by establishing more public-private partnerships to implement these strategies more aggressively, we can help increase the number of people leading tobacco-free lives and move us one step closer to delivering the first tobacco-free generation.”
Seeking sponsors
The Jay County Chamber of Commerce golf outing has been set for May 6 at the Portland Golf Club. The chamber is currently seeking sponsors and teams for the event.
For more information, contact the chamber at (260) 726-4481. A portion of the proceeds from the outing will go toward the new senior center at Jay Community Center in Portland.
Stock high
Dollar General’s stock hit an all-time high Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange, boosted by its fourth quarter results. The stock closed at $83.23 a share, up 11 percent.
Since the middle of November, Dollar General’s stock has jumped 25 percent.
With 12,500 stores in 43 states, the company had $20 billion in sales last year.
Form partnership
The Indiana Small Business Development Center and Ball State University this week announced a partnership as the university officially became the east central regional office host for the state agency.
The East Central ISBDC serves Jay, Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Grant, Henry, Madison, Randolph, Rush, Union and Wayne counties. Its office is in Muncie’s Innovation Connector, 1208 W. White River Blvd., Suite 129.
The agency offers guidance and resources to entrepreneurs at little or no cost, including one-on0one consulting, strategic planning, market research and loan assistance.
Promoted
First Bank of Berne has promoted Peter Schmidt to vice pesident from his position as information security officer.
Schmidt joined the bank in 2010 after 20 years with Lincoln National Life Insurance Company.
Ethical company
Old National Bank, which formerly had a branch in Portland, was honored this week by Ethisphere Institute as one of the world’s most ethical companies.
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