Portland turmoil tops list

The end of the year is a time to evaluate.

It’s something we do each year.

The newspaper’s staff looks back at the year that was.

What happened?

What was most impactful?

What has had people talking?

We consider all of those things and a variety of other factors and selected our top 10 local news stories of the year.

This year’s top story was the turmoil in Portland city government, from frequent clashes at council meetings to the long list of lawsuits and/or tort claims.

Our other top 10 stories — it's important to note that we compile the list not so much for the purpose of ranking importance, but of providing a look back at the year that was — for 2025 are as follows:

2. The impact of state legislation on local units of government

3. Avian flu hits Jay and Mercer counties hard

4. Weavers sell radio stations to Mark King

5. Junior-senior high rehabilitated after 2024 tornado

6. Funding approved for public safety radio upgrade

7. County pushes toward, then halts, 68-acre project

8. EMS director arrested on theft and drug charges

9. Jay County Country Living (retirement center) closed

10. Election board makes change to using vote centers

1. A city in conflict

The City of Portland is currently the subject of two lawsuits — one by clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips and another by former police officer Patrick Long.

Phillips is suing the city, Police Chief Dustin Mock and investigator Jeff Hopkins for "torment, harassment and defamation” while Long is alleging coercion, harassment and sabotaging a job application.

Four other tort claims against the city remain active.

Even before the tort claims came to light in the late summer, city council meetings were frequently contentious with the mayor and council members arguing over ordinances, procedure and a variety of other issues.

2. Impact of SEA 1

Local government officials spent the first four months of 2025 railing against Senate Enrolled Act 1, state legislation that modifies tax policies by phasing out the homestead deduction and increasing exemptions on business personal property tax. The result is projected to be less funding for local governments than would have been expected otherwise. 

Since then, they’ve been grappling with the unknowns of how much of an impact the legislation will have. As a result, in most cases government employees received smaller raises than in recent years.

Uncertainty continues, as state lawmakers plan to consider modifications during the coming legislative session.

3. Bird flu hits

Avian flu hit Jay County harder than any other in the state, with more than 5.5 million birds affected between mid-March and the end of May. The largest operations hit in the county had 1.4 million and 1.34 million birds, respectively.

Mercer County was hit even harder, with about 6.1 million birds affected.

The economic impact was significant, as Jay County ranks second in Indiana in the market value of poultry and eggs sold annually at $301.8 million.

Bird flu has returned to Indiana late in 2025, mostly confined to LaGrange County.

4. WPGW sold

News of the sale broke in February, with Rob and Mindy Weaver agreeing to sell WPGW Radio and its sister stations to Mark King. The sale includes WPGW, WZJR 91.7 FM and WZBD 92.7 FM in Adams County.

Weaver became the voice of the Jay County Patriots in 1975 and he and his wife Mindy became majority owners of the radio station in the mid-1980s. King is a 1986 Jay County High School graduate who has worked in sales for most of his career.

The Federal Communications Commission approved the transfer of ownership for WPGW on Monday.

    WPGW owner Rob Weaver (right) and owner-to-be Mark King shake hands while meeting at the radio station office in February. The Federal Communications Commission approved the transfer of the WPGW license Monday. Weaver plans to stay on to help with the transition process, saying he’d like to be retired within two years. (The Commercial Review/Ray Cooney)

5. School rehabbed

Damage to the junior high wing of Jay County Junior-Senior High School in the September 2024 tornado was the top story of 2024.

The construction project itself came in at $2.23 million and predominantly involved in mechanical aspects — fixes to the HVAC system, replacing plumbing and other systems. Wiring, lighting, drywall and the fire suppression system were replaced.

The school corporation used mobile units totaling 10 classrooms through the bulk of the repair process. The overall tornado recover has cost nearly $6 million.

Students returned to the junior high wing of the building after fall break.

6. Upgrading system

The county entered into a $4.64 million lease with Motorola in September for new radio equipment. (There’s also another $1.6 million not factored into the lease that will be spread over the next 15 years for maintenance and system upgrades.) It includes installation of a new radio tower at Jay County Sheriff’s Office, joining the Integrated Public Safety Commission’s system and various new devices for emergency responders across Jay County. A radio study conducted in 2025 showed coverage gaps in the northeast and south areas of the county. The new system offers 95% coverage across Jay County.

7. Project pushed, halted

County officials decided to cease development on the county’s 68-acre property along Votaw Street on the west side of Portland. The county purchased the land in spring 2023 and began planning a long-term housing and commercial development project. The goal was to start by installing infrastructure, with initial costs to be paid for using American Rescue Plan Act funds and potentially other grants. In December, Jay County Commissioners, Jay County Council and Jay County Redevelopment Commission decided to stop paying for design plans. Officials aim to redirect the grant dollars toward other needs.

8. JEMS director arrested

John R. McFarland, one of the directors of Jay Emergency Medical Service, was arrested in early March on felony charges related to theft and drugs. In late April, he was charged with two Level 5 felonies, three Level 6 felonies and two misdemeanors for charges relating to possession of narcotics, controlled substances, marijuana and paraphernalia, as well as unlawful possession of a syringe.

Police allegedly found allegedly found 44 glass vials labeled morphine sulfate, 31 glass vials labeled fentanyl citrate, seven glass vials labeled midazolam, two glass vials labeled lorazepam, marijuana, syringes, needles and smoking devices in McFarland’s home.

9. Facility closed

Jay County Country Living, formerly known as Jay County Retirement Center, closed in December. The facility’s advisory board suggested in June that county officials close the living center, which had been open since 1895. Jay County Commissioners voted to close the facility by the end of 2026, and Jay County Council chose to slice the facility’s budget in half for 2026. Director Stacey Johnson began working with staff and residents to clear the facility, with the last resident moving out in December. Next steps are for the county to determine what to do with the building.

    Jay County Country Living, formerly known as Jay County Retirement Center, has been the subject of discussion for years, with county officials contemplating whether to keep the facility open or shut it down. In the past, rainy day funds have been used to help keep it going. Jay County Commissioners voted this summer to shut down the facility by the end of 2026. That timeline was accelerated, with the final resident departing early this month. (The Commercial Review/Bailey Cline)

10. Centers established

Jay County Election Board finalized a decision in October to implement vote centers for future elections in Jay County. Vote centers are an alternative to traditional precinct-based voting, allowing registered voters to cast a ballot at any county polling location on Election Day. The majority of Indiana counties either already use vote centers or have been moving toward them. Starting in 2026, voters may cast their ballots on Election Day at Jay Community Center in Portland or West Jay Community Center in Dunkirk. Early voting will continue to be available at Jay County Courthouse.

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.

2024 — Tornado causes damage to Jay County Junior-Senior High School

2023 — July derecho damaged Portland after April tornadoes hit rural Jay County

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