Landers joins local law firm

A local attorney is returning to private practice.

Hinkle, Racster and Schemenaur announced last week that Zec Landers will be joining the firm.

Landers has served as Jay County deputy prosecutor since 2020. He had previously practiced law in Portland following his graduation from the Robert H. McKinney School of Law at Indiana University in Indianapolis.

The 2012 Jay County High School graduate practices in the areas of civil litigation, personal injury and wrongful death, estate planning, divorce, custody, property, evictions, small claims matters and appeals. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in 2016.

Landers joins attorneys Bill Hinkle, Lon Racster and Wes Schemenaur at the firm.

Ribbon cutting

Westside Beauty and Barber Shop will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new location at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9.

The shop, owned by Logan Nelson, is moving to its new location at 234 W. Pearl St. in the former Westlawn Elementary School.

Site is back

POET Bioprocessing – Cloverdale reopened Thursday with a celebration that included area farmers and state officials, including remarks from Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb.

The POET plant in Cloverdale was shut down in 2019 following in implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard. The facility came back last week after $30 million in investments that will increase its production rate to 95 million gallons per year.

“At POET, we believe the future of biotechnology lies at the intersection of innovative science, practical engineering, and responsible agriculture,” said POET president and chief operating officer Jeff Lautt in a press release. “This facility will continue POET’s legacy of creating value for rural America, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with the state of Indiana for many years to come.”

POET also operates a bioprocessing plant in Jay County.

CEO honored

Indiana Rural Health Association recently announced Adams Health Network CEO and medical director Dr. Scott Smith as the winner of its Outstanding Critical Access Leadership Award.

The honor goes to those who promote quality healthcare, impact others within their organization, empower change and demonstrate integrity. Smith was selected amongst leadership from the state’s 36 critical access hospitals.

“Dr. Smith restructured Adams Health Network with the goal of delivering excellent, compassionate care, while remaining a resource to our community,” said the Adams Health Network employees and board in their nomination letter. “He led by example, always present, and always taking action to help at every level of our organization. He showed us how powerful a generous heart and unfailing trust can be.”

Representatives from the Indiana Rural Health Association will visit Adams Memorial Hospital to present Smith with the award at 2 p.m. Sept. 11.

Newspapers sold

Delphos Herald Inc. and the Cohen Family last week announced the sale of eight newspapers to CherryRoad Media.

The newspapers include six in northwestern Ohio, including the Delphos Herald, Van Wert Times Bulletin and Ada Herald.

“I feel confident that I can entrust our long-held newspapers to a company that shares the same vision and values that my sister, Jennifer Shneiderman, and I have and that my father had,” said Delphos Herald president Roberta Cohen in the newspaper’s story announcing the sale. “Family-held CherryRoad is well-suited to take over the reins immediately and continue my family’s legacy. I’m excited to work with them on the transiting ownership while maintaining the journalism excellence that readers and advertisers have come to expect.”

CherryRoad owns more than 75 newspapers in 17 states.

Year’s best

The National Association of State Chambers last week named Indiana Chamber of Commerce as the 2023 State Chamber of the Year.

The Indiana chamber was the unanimous winner, the first time such a feat has been accomplished in the eight-year history of the award. Presenters referred to the organization as “the gold standard for state chambers across the country.”

The award was presented Aug.. 28 at the National Association of State Chambers annual conference in Anchorage, Alaska.

“It’s such an honor to earn this recognition by our peers and it’s a fitting commentary on the hard work of our staff, board and volunteers,” said Indiana Chamber president and CEO Kevin Brinegar in a press release. “Representing Indiana’s business community is a privilege, and we take a great deal of pride in promoting economic prosperity in the Hoosier state.”

Ivy Tech makes list

Ivy Tech Community College has been named to the Forbes’ America’s Best State Employers list for the second consecutive year.

The rankings utilize market research from Statista and surveys from employees regarding work environment, fairness of compensation, opportunities for investment, openness to telecommunity and likelihood to recommend their employer to others. The final list ranked 1,392 employers, including 73 in Indiana.

“We understand our colleagues are our ambassadors to the communities we serve with their incredible commitment to student success and the mission of the college,” said Ivy Tech president Sue Ellspermann in a press release. “We continue to focus on making Ivy Tech a great place to work to attract the best and brightest.”

Other Indiana employers on the list included Ball State University, Indiana University, the University of Notre Dame, Eli Lilly, IU Health and Reid Health.

Chairman honored

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb this week honored Indiana Bankers Association chairman Jamie R. Shinabarger as a Sagamore of the Wabash.

The award is given to “exemplary Hoosiers in recognition of distinguished statewide service.” State Sen. Travis Holdman, who represents Jay County (Blackford County), presented the award to Shinbarger during the IBA’s annual convention Aug. 27 in French Lick.

Shinabarger, a Taylor University graduate who earned his master’s of business administration at Indiana Wesleyan University, is CEO and director of Jasper’s Springs Valley Bank & Trust.

“Jamie’s work in the banks he has served over the past four decades, his leadership of Springs Valley and his passion for giving back to his community made him an easy choice for the IBA Nominating Committee to be our chairman and an honorable choice for this distinguished award,” said Amber R. Van Til, president and CEO of the IBA, in a press release.