Winterfest kicks off next weekend

Jay County Chamber of Commerce is preparing for its Winterfest celebration.

Winterfest will kick off with Christmas at the Courthouse at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21. The event will include tree lighting and a performance by the Jay County Junior-Senior High School choir.

Following on Saturday, Nov. 22, will be the Little Miss Winterfest pageant at 1 p.m. at Fellowship Baptist Church and the Parade of Lights at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Portland.

The chamber also recently welcomed Enlightened Lens Collective as a new member.

Training offered

John Jay Center for Learning in Portland will host a free QuickBooks workshop from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and 4.

The in-person training will feature interactive and hands-on learning about the financial software. It is being offered in partnership with the Indiana Small Business Development Center.

Advance registration is required by visiting isbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/17247.

Hospital honor

Becker’s Hospital Review recently named The Orthopedic Hospital among the top 100 orthopedic programs in the nation.

The Orthopedic Hospital is part of the Lutheran Health Network.

“Being named to this list is a profound honor that truly belongs to the entire, dedicated team,” said chief administrative officer Amy Hochstetler in a news release. “This achievement reflects the commitment of our orthopedic surgeons, nurses, rehabilitation specialists and support staff to clinical excellence and compassionate care. Our ranking validates our constant effort to ensure every patient receives the highest standard of treatment and the best possible outcome.”

Hosting drive

Menards is hosting a toy drive through Dec. 15.

Toys collected will be donated to those in need. Menards is requesting donations of new, unwrapped toys.

Menards locations in Muncie, Anderson, Richmond and Celina, Ohio, will have drop boxes available for donations.

Acquisition complete

First Financial Bank has completed its purchase of Westfield Bancorp from Ohio Farmers Insurance Company.

The acquisition brings First Financial’s assets to $20.6 billion. All Westfield Bank locations will become part of First Financial’s existing presence in northeast Ohio.

“This is an exciting step in the growth of First Financial, as the addition of Westfield Bank opens new possibilities for growth and profitability for us in an attractive market,” said Archie Brown, president and CEO of First Financial, in a news release. “We can now bring our wide range of solutions in consumer, commercial, specialty lending and wealth management to new clients, while expanding our geographic footprint for our current clients. The First Financial team is thrilled to welcome the Westfield Bank team members to the First Financial family.”  

First Financial has locations in Portland, Fort Recovery, Union City and Hartford City.

IEC honors

Indiana Electric Cooperatives honored Amanda Steeb with its 2025 Tom Taylor Award for excellence in leadership, attitude and commitment to electric cooperative principles.

Steeb is director of marketing and communications for Kankakee Valley REMC.

"Amanda has shown leadership across Kankakee Valley REMC, including guiding junior board initiatives and building comprehensive communication plans for complex projects," said Scott Sears, CEO of Kankakee Valley REMC, in a news release. "Her impact extends beyond cooperative walls, where she is involved with multiple community efforts and is seen as a model of kindness, optimism, and steady leadership."

Courses scheduled

Indiana Chamber of Commerce has several programs coming up.

“Train the trainer” courses for lockout/tagout are set for 8 a.m. to noon and for permit required confined space from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., both Wednesday, Nov. 12. Another session for forklift safety will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13.

General Occupational Safety and Health Administration courses will be held beginning Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Also, the Indiana Safety and Health Conference & Expo will be held from Feb. 23 through 25. It will feature a variety of speakers as well as more than 60 educational sessions.

The courses and expo will be held at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Conference Center in Indianapolis.

For more information, visit indianachamber.com.

Deal reached

Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and President Donald Trump announced a deal Thursday to reduce the cost of Lilly’s GLP-1 weight-loss drugs through Medicare, Medicaid and cash-pay programs, Reuters reported.

The government said the agreement will reduce prices by $149 to $350 a month. Costs currently range from $500 to $1,000 per month.

New leader named

Dollar General has named Travis Nixon as its first senior vice president of artificial intelligence optimization.

Nixon has worked in AI and machine learning for more than 10 years, most recently as head of AI for Dropbox’s security division. He previously worked for Meta and Microsoft.

“At a time when our customers rely on us more than ever, we’re excited to welcome Travis and his transformative AI leadership to streamline operations and enhance the experience for Dollar General employees and customers,” shared Steve Deckard, Dollar General’s executive vice president of strategy and development, in a news release. “This new role represents our commitment to driving innovation to unlock value in our operations, making us stronger now and in the future. With greater strategic integration of AI, we look forward to accelerating and expanding existing efforts to drive operational excellence, cost efficiency, and customer-centric innovation.”