Top 10

This year was notable for both what it was and what it was not.

For the first time in three years, the coronavirus pandemic will not appear in our annual top 10. (It accounted for five of our top 10 stories of 2020, was No. 1 again in 2021 and appeared at No. 7 on last year’s list.)

While worries about COVID-19 had drifted, there was still no shortage of important local stories. There were major infrastructure projects, progress toward opening an early learning center and several murder cases.

Unlike in pandemic times, there was no clear choice for No. 1, no consensus top pick from our staff. Strong arguments could be made for almost any of the stories we have listed below, as well as a few that we had on our sports top 10 list Friday.

In the long run, we selected the multiple wind storms — two confirmed tornadoes in April and a damaging derecho in July — as the top story in The Commercial Review’s circulation area in 2023.

The rest of the top 10 stories for 2023 are as follows: 

2. Two murder cases conclude and FCC employee found dead

3. Pair of infrastructure projects shuts down highways in Portland

4. The Portland Foundation moves forward with Jay County Early Learning Center

5. Dilapidated Bailey Building demolished, second structure may follow 

6. Massive fire causes extreme damage at JR Industries

7. Jay County Humane Society opens new facility

8. Conflict continues between commissioners, JCDC

9. The Dunkirk Foundation merges into The Portland Foundation

10. Graphic Printing Company buys newspapers, sells building

1. Winds ravage

Portland residents woke up to a swath of damage July 29, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage.

Downed trees and branches landed on homes and cars, and pieces of outdoor furniture and roofing material were strewn across neighborhoods, with the bulk of the damage in the area of Race and Walnut streets. Within just over 24 hours, Jay County Emergency Management Agency reported it had assessed damage to 60 residences and businesses in Portland as well as nine rural properties.

The July storm followed two confirmed tornadoes on April 1, damaging barns and grain bins.

2. Convicted, charged

Court proceedings for two Portland residents charged with murder concluded, and a Muncie resident was charged with the murder of an FCC employee.

Chelsea Crossland, 28, was sentenced in August to life in prison for killing her 5-year-old son. Testimony indicated she starved and beat her son over 74 days.

Jeremy Kelly, 51, received a 30-year sentence in July for beating his father, Gary Kelly, to death. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, a Level 2 felony.

Ceaser Curtis, 50, was charged in September with the murder of Marcia Curtis, whose remains were found in Delaware County. 

3. Projects close roads

Two major infrastructure projects shut down main thoroughfares in Portland this year.

First, the Water Street (Indiana 26) bridge of the Salamonie River on the eastern edge of the city was shut down beginning in late June. The previous steel truss bridge has been replaced with a new concrete structure, which opened Wednesday afternoon.

A little over a month later, the first section of U.S. 27 (Meridian Street) was shut down for a project to add a storm sewer line from the area just north of Arch Street to the Salamonie River.

Major construction projects impacted Portland through the second half of 2023, with Water Street (Indiana 26) shut down on the east side of the city for bridge replacement and sections of Meridian Street (U.S. 27) closed for months for storm sewer work. (The Commercial Review/Ray Cooney)

 

4. Making progress

After putting out a request for proposals early in the year, The Portland Foundation in May announced that it had entered into an agreement with Westminster Preschool of Marion to operate Jay County Early Learning Center. 

To be housed in the former Judge Haynes Elementary School on Portland’s west side, the facility is expected to serve about 150 children from infant to age 5. The facility is targeted to open in August.

Pioneer Warehousing is also in the process of constructing a new child care facility on the city’s north side to serve 48 children.

5. One down

In September, Portland Board of Works took a big step in a lengthy process when it opened the lone bid for the demolition of the city-owned Bailey Building, 201 through 205 W. Main St. JAShroyer Group began the work of taking down the dilapidated building in November with some of the rubble still remaining to be removed.

The board of works also affirmed an unsafe building order for 208 and 210 N. Meridian St. and pursued bids to demolish it. In November, it agreed to delay demolition in order to allow Portland Redevelopment Commission to study the structure.

6. Fire damaged

A massive fire burned at JR Manufacturing, 900 Industrial Drive, Fort Recovery, beginning early on the evening of Saturday, April 22.

The fire continued through the rest of the night, with at least a dozen fire departments including Southwest Mercer, Portland and Salamonia called to assist. By 9:30 p.m., there was enough manpower, but calls continued to go out for more tanker trucks to help bring water to the site.

Despite the extensive damage, the company moved quickly to recover, with two cells at the site back up and running about two weeks later.

7. New facility complete

Jay County Humane Society opened the doors to its new facility at 1376 W. Votaw St., Portland, the former home of Fastenal. The organization raised at least $1 million in the last few years — Jay County also contributed $275,000 — for the nearly $1.2 million purchase and conversion into an animal shelter.

The new facility boasts two free-roaming cat rooms as well as a large room for cat cages, nearly 40 kennels and outdoor runs for dogs and other amenities. There’s also about 3 acres of land north of the facility used by volunteers to walk dogs.

8. Dispute continues

A conflict between county government officials and Jay County Development Corporation that began in earnest in fall 2022 continued throughout this year.

Local officials have verbally sparred at county government and JCDC meetings. Areas of confrontation have included a contract between the county and JCDC, representation on the JCDC’s executive committee, funding, finances and other issues.

County commissioners this summer hired a community coordinator to replace the previous Jay County Community Development position that fell under JCDC.

The conflict continues, with JCDC’s board inviting the public to a presentation about its finances at its meeting next week.

9. Foundations merge

The Dunkirk Foundation in early June shared plans to merge into The Portland Foundation after having discussed the possibility on and off for about 30 years.

Discussions were revived in earnest in fall 2022. The merger would provide The Dunkirk Foundation’s funds with a full-time staff to handle management and administrative work.

The boards of both foundations approved the merger in late June, and on June 1 The Dunkirk Foundation’s 14 funds totaling just over $2 million were shifted to The Portland Foundation. Dunkirk Community Advisors now make recommendations on grants and scholarships from The Dunkirk Foundation’s funds.

10. Purchased, sold

It’s been a year of change for The Graphic Printing Company, beginning with the purchase of several publications from Community Media Group on May 1. The company, which already published The Commercial Review and The News and Sun, bought The News-Gazette of Winchester, The News Times of Hartford City and the regular advertising publication Red Ball.

Then, in December, Portland Redevelopment Commission approved the purchase of the Hood Building from The Graphic Printing Company. Plans call for the company to lease the basement and first floor of the building while the upper three floors are offered for housing development.

No. 1s from the last 10

The top 10 stories have been the year-end fixture in The Commercial Review for decades. Below is a look at the No. 1 stories from each of the last 10 years.

2022 — Jay County Fair celebrates 150 years

2021 — Coronavirus pandemic continues impact, vaccines introduced

2020 — Coronavirus pandemic results in 20 deaths, 1,500 cases

2019 — The murders of twin brothers Zayne and Wayne Burroughs

2018 — Jay School Board approves reconfiguration of schools 

2017 — Jay County Hospital integration with IU Health approved 

2016 — Portland Water Park opens, draws more than 33,000 visitors 

2015 — Residents arrested for four murders in three separate incidents 

2014 — The debate about funding and design for Portland Water Park 

2013 — Arrests made in murders of two rural Fort Recovery residents