Ad duo retiring

Two long-time local advertising professionals will be retiring next month.

Advertising manager Jeanne Lutz and advertising representative Maralene Giddings have announced their plans to retire from The Commercial Review, publisher Ray Cooney announced Friday. Their last day on the job has been tentatively set for Sept. 4.

The newspaper has hired Katie Lyons and Haley Lawhead to its advertising team.

Lutz, a rural Bryant resident, joined The Commercial Review as an advertising representative in 1989. She took over as manager of the newspaper’s advertising department following the retirement of Don Gillespie in 2006.

Giddings, Dunkirk, started with the company on a part-time basis in 1989 and shifted to full-time about a year-and-a-half later. She also handled advertising for The News and Sun.

Both have won a variety of awards in the Hoosier State Press Association’s advertising contest over the course of their careers.

Lyons, 21, rural Portland, is a 2017 graduate of Jay County High School who went on to graduate this spring with a bachelor’s degree in communication from Ball State University. She also works part-time for Loy Auction and Real Estate and is a Jay County Fair Board member.

Lawhead, 21, Berne, is a 2018 JCHS graduate. She previously worked as the general manager of Arby’s in Decatur.

Lyons and Lawhead will both serve as advertising representatives, with CR business manager Tonia Hardy overseeing the department.



Wasson promoted

Priority Plastics has named Jeremy Wasson as its new plant manager. He takes over for Terry Hall, who retired this week after 43 years with the company.

Wasson has been with Priority Plastics since May 2018, beginning his career with the firm as its quality systems manager. He is a Jay County High School graduate who went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business from Ball State University in 2015.



PMC coming

Pinson Manufacturing Company has purchased the former Littler Diecast building in Albany, Delaware County Commissioners announced recently.

The company will use the 82,000-square-foot facility for its CNC milling and turning, CNC plasma cutting, welding, painting and abrasive blasting services. It plans to install CNC horizontal and vertical mills.

“Our goals are very long-term because we’re such a young company,” Pinson president Leon Pinson said in a press release.

The company was founded in 2016 in Arthur, Illinois.



Director named

Berne Chamber of Commerce has selected Erin Donovan as its new executive director.

Donovan was promoted from within, having previously serve as the chamber’s office assistant. She takes over for Olivia Raugh, who resigned in July.

A Decatur native, Donovan has worked for the chamber since late 2019.



Firm awarded

Garmann/Miller Architects-Engineers finished second overall in the Zweig Group 2020 Marketing Excellence Awards.

The Minster, Ohio, architecture and engineering firm’s entry for the contest centered on its 2019 Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference marketing efforts. Winners will be honored at the 2020 Elevate AEC Conference in Denver this fall.

Garmann/Miller’s past projects include the Fort Recovery High School renovation that featured the construction of the student activity center.



I&M inspections set

Indiana Michigan Power will be conducting aerial inspections of its high-voltage lines via helicopter in Muncie and east-central Indiana beginning today.

Inspections are slated for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and will continue in the area through Sept. 5. Helicopters will fly 50 to 100 feet above the lines and 40 to 45 miles per hour.

Customers who have questions can call (800) 311-4634.



Lutheran honored

Lutheran Hospital, Dupont Hospital and The Orthopedic Hospital, all part of the Lutheran Health Network, have been honored for their knee and hip replacement services.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield honored Lutheran as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement and Dupont and Orthopedic as Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement. The designations are based on expertise in surgery resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions.



Walmart revenue up

Walmart recently released its earnings report for the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, noting total revenue of $137.7 billion.

That mark represents a $7.4 billion increase over the same quarter in 2019. U.S. sales increased by 9.3%, the company said, while net international sales dipped by 6.8%.