Capsule Reports - Saturday, March 16, 2024

Officers elected

Jay County Plan Commission elected officers at its meeting Thursday.

Commission members re-elected Scott Hilfiker as president and Steve Ford as vice president, and they elected Jeanne Houchins as secretary. The group also reappointed Pati McLaughlin as its recording secretary and selected Chad Aker as its non-voting representative on Portland Plan Commission.

McLaughlin noted at the meeting plan commission can have another voting member who is a Jay County resident and either a Purdue Extension Office or agricultural community representative. (The spot hasn’t been filled for three years.)

She also pointed out the group will likely host a public hearing about Hodson Energy’s proposed solar farm in April or May.

Trailer fire

A mobile home in Portland caught on fire Friday.

Emergency personnel responded to a call at 4:26 p.m. Friday from Ray and Lacey Bowdell of Oakwood Manufactured Home Community. Their children had set a mattress on fire with a lighter, according to Portland Fire Department. Ray Bowdell attempted to toss the mattress outside, burning his hand in the process.

Fire damage was mostly contained to the bedroom, hallway and front entrance of the trailer, but the whole home sustained heavy smoke damage. Approximately 12 firefighters responded to the scene and put out the flames in about 20 minutes.