Ribbon cutting is set for Thursday

A new Redkey auto repair shop will have its ribbon cutting ceremony. 

Rich’s Auto Repair, which Rich Gierhart recently opened, will host the ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at 9931 W. 400 South, Redkey. Services at the shop include engine work, HVAC, drivetrain, suspension, cooling system, window or windshield wiper motors, electrical work and complete tire repair. 

Backpack donations

A local Verizon retailer is donating backpacks full of school supplies to area students. 

TCC is hosting the giveaway from 1 to 4 p.m. July 22 at 922 N. Meridian St., Portland, and will hand out 220 backpacks. The backpacks will include pencils, paper, a pencil box, folders and glue. According to a press release, the company is hoping to alleviate the rising cost of school supplies for families. 

Graduated 

A First Bank of Berne employee recently graduated from an Indiana Bankers Association program. 

Brandy Rogers completed the IBA Commercial Lending School, which was held in June. She has worked for First Bank of Berne since 2014 and is a business banker. Rogers graduated from South Adams High School and Purdue Fort Wayne and is a board member for United Way of Adams County. 

Jar plant closing 

A Muncie plant that made components of Ball mason jars will close.

Jarden has said its plant in Muncie will close next summer, The (Muncie) Star Press reported. The plant produced canning jar lids and closures for the iconic mason jars originally produced by the Ball Brothers. 

The Ball Brothers began producing glass canning jars in Muncie in 1888 and soon became leaders in the industry. Ball Corporation closed its Muncie glass plant in 1962. In 1993 its canning business became a new company, Alltrista, which later changed its name to Jarden. Jarden was purchased by Newell Rubbermaid in 2016.

Hired 

The News-Banner newspaper in Bluffton has a new sports editor. 

Josh Burris, a 2017 graduate of Cedarville University, has been named to succeed Paul Beitler, who retired as sports editor last month after 32 years with the Wells County paper. Burris is a native of Bellevue, Ohio, and has previously done freelance writing for Ohio newspapers and work for The Game Haus, a sports news website.

Companies ranked 

Several companies with area locations were recognized as best places to work for disability inclusion. 

Each year, the Disability Equality Index ranks companies on their organizational culture, leadership, accessibility, employment, community engagement, support services and supplier diversity. The index is a joint effort of the American Association of People with Disabilities and the U.S. Business Leadership Network. 

Companies that scored a 100 percent rating include CVS Health, American Electric Power (parent company of Indiana Michigan Power), Meijer, Walgreens and Walmart. 

Repaying 

Ardagh Group is paying off some of its debts early. 

The company, parent company of glass container factories in Dunkirk and Winchester, reported this week it plans to repay $440 million ahead of schedule. It’s set to redeem the bonds — which were due in 2021 — at the end of July, The Irish Times reported. Ardagh will now have no debt maturing before September 2022. It has spent $1.2 billion over the past 18 months repaying debt. 

Scan & go 

Dollar General is testing out a smartphone app that allows customers to scan their items as they shop and then pay at a self-checkout. 

The app, called DG Go!, is being piloted at 10 stores in the Nashville, Tennessee, area, Forbes reported. It’s expected to be introduced at 100 more stores later this year. 

The app will automatically apply digital coupons, will alert customers of potential savings and will keep a running total of the purchases. 

Dollar General also opened its 15,000th store today in Wilmington, North Carolina.