Elyse Breeding from Sonlight Church sings "Why" and "At the Cross" during the annual community Good Friday service. Pastors from Wells County churches came together to celebrate the death — and resurrection — of Jesus Christ. Read more about the service in the Saturday, April 7, News-Banner. (Video by Dave Schultz)
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
Planning to plan for Wells County's next 20 years
Area Plan Commission board members began discussing a new 20-year comprehensive plan for the county during its Thursday, April 6, meeting, but before they can plan, they must discuss how to plan the plan.
Specifically, APC members want to create a steering committee and several subcommittees to address a plethora of topics, from farming to utilities.
The APC released the following layout for committee membership and responsibility during the meeting. To learn more, read "Comprehensive plan revision gets under way" in the Friday, April 6, News-Banner.
Steering Committee
Reviews, Amends and Compiles recommendations from the subcommittees to the Plan Commission. Creates Subcommittee Topic List
a. APC, BZA, or PC Member
b. APC, BZA, or PC Member
c. APC, BZA, or PC Member
d. Elected official Representing Bluffton
e. Elected official Representing Ossian
f. Elected official Representing (Zanesville, Uniondale, Poneto, or Vera Cruz)
g. Elected official Representing the County Commissioners
h. Elected official Representing the County Council
i. Representative from the school boards
j. Citizen Member
k. Citizen Member
Subcommittees
The subcommittees success will be based on their member’s diversity and interest in the topics.
a. Jackson Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
b. Chester Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
c. Nottingham Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
d. Liberty Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
e. Harrison Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
f. Rock Creek Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
g. Lancaster Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
h. Union Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
i. Jefferson Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
j. Bluffton (9)
k. Ossian (9)
l. Poneto (9)
m. Vera Cruz (9)
n. Uniondale (9)
o. Ossian (9)
p. Zanesville (9)
Subcommittee Topics
a. Farming
b. Commercial/Retail Business
c. Industrial
d. Residential
e. Future Land Use Map
f. Government
g. Drainage
h. Utilities
i. Amenities
j. Energy
k. Transportation
l. Natural Disasters & Floodplain Regulations
m. Technology
n. Fire Protection / Police Protection
o. Additional subcommittee topics can be created at any time by the steering committee.
Specifically, APC members want to create a steering committee and several subcommittees to address a plethora of topics, from farming to utilities.
The APC released the following layout for committee membership and responsibility during the meeting. To learn more, read "Comprehensive plan revision gets under way" in the Friday, April 6, News-Banner.
Steering Committee
Reviews, Amends and Compiles recommendations from the subcommittees to the Plan Commission. Creates Subcommittee Topic List
a. APC, BZA, or PC Member
b. APC, BZA, or PC Member
c. APC, BZA, or PC Member
d. Elected official Representing Bluffton
e. Elected official Representing Ossian
f. Elected official Representing (Zanesville, Uniondale, Poneto, or Vera Cruz)
g. Elected official Representing the County Commissioners
h. Elected official Representing the County Council
i. Representative from the school boards
j. Citizen Member
k. Citizen Member
Subcommittees
The subcommittees success will be based on their member’s diversity and interest in the topics.
a. Jackson Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
b. Chester Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
c. Nottingham Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
d. Liberty Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
e. Harrison Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
f. Rock Creek Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
g. Lancaster Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
h. Union Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
i. Jefferson Township (3 Trustee, 3 Commissioners, and 3 Council) (9)
j. Bluffton (9)
k. Ossian (9)
l. Poneto (9)
m. Vera Cruz (9)
n. Uniondale (9)
o. Ossian (9)
p. Zanesville (9)
Subcommittee Topics
a. Farming
b. Commercial/Retail Business
c. Industrial
d. Residential
e. Future Land Use Map
f. Government
g. Drainage
h. Utilities
i. Amenities
j. Energy
k. Transportation
l. Natural Disasters & Floodplain Regulations
m. Technology
n. Fire Protection / Police Protection
o. Additional subcommittee topics can be created at any time by the steering committee.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Indiana State Police Partners again with the DEA in Fourth Drug Take Back Day
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin released their annual rankings of county health, and Wells County ranked eighth among Indiana's 92 counties. To learn how Wells County obtained the ranking, read the Thursday, April 5, News-Banner.
At the same time of the rankings release, the Indiana State Police announced the following in regards to prescription drugs:
On Saturday, April 28, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sponsoring the fourth nationwide “Prescription Drug Take Back” initiative. The “Take Back” initiative seeks to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft. Collection sites will be set up nationwide for expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs to be disposed of for destruction. This service is free and anonymous with no questions asked. The only restriction is we will not accept new or used needles. This program is intended for liquid and pill medications.
The Drug Take Back events have proven to be a popular and safe method for the public to legally and safely dispose of prescription drugs that are no longer needed or have expired. The Indiana State Police are pleased to partner with the DEA again, and as in the past, the drugs may be dropped off at any Indiana State Police Post, except the Toll Road Post, on Saturday, April 28, 2012, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
To locate the state police post closest to your home or business, click here.
To find other locations participating in the Drug Take Back initiative, click here or here.
At the same time of the rankings release, the Indiana State Police announced the following in regards to prescription drugs:
On Saturday, April 28, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sponsoring the fourth nationwide “Prescription Drug Take Back” initiative. The “Take Back” initiative seeks to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft. Collection sites will be set up nationwide for expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs to be disposed of for destruction. This service is free and anonymous with no questions asked. The only restriction is we will not accept new or used needles. This program is intended for liquid and pill medications.
The Drug Take Back events have proven to be a popular and safe method for the public to legally and safely dispose of prescription drugs that are no longer needed or have expired. The Indiana State Police are pleased to partner with the DEA again, and as in the past, the drugs may be dropped off at any Indiana State Police Post, except the Toll Road Post, on Saturday, April 28, 2012, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
To locate the state police post closest to your home or business, click here.
To find other locations participating in the Drug Take Back initiative, click here or here.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The bridges of Wells County
Ben and Phil Beer of Indianapolis-based USI Consultants Inc., an engineering and land surveying firm, recently finished an inspection on the 139 bridges in the county. The law requires the county to inspect the bridges every two years.
Along with this recent inspection, the federal government has a database of all bridges in the nation. To see the condition of bridges in Wells County, according to the federal government, click here.
Before you click:
Along with this recent inspection, the federal government has a database of all bridges in the nation. To see the condition of bridges in Wells County, according to the federal government, click here.
Before you click:
- You will be asked for Wells' FIPS code. Though the site provides a link to find the code, it is 179.
- Also make sure to read through the definitions to get a better understanding of bridges' conditions. To see the definitions, click here.
N-B Video: Finding fashion at Norwell Middle School
Norwell Middle School students Skyler Millington, Bradley Stove and Clara Harness, as well as teachers and student council advisers Christina Allen and Jennifer Berning, give the Northern Wells school board a tour of the swap shop, a room fro students to exchange clothing and for "students in need" to replace dirty or tattered items. The board toured the shop during its Tuesday, April 3, meeting. To learn more about the meeting, read the Wednesday, April 4, News-Banner. (Video by Chet Baumgartner)
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
How does Wells County compare?
Wells County Commissioners approved Monday allocating $200,000 of the county's annual CEDIT (County Econonic Development Income Tax) revenue to a project fund for economic development.
The decision comes after multiple conversations about the best way to spend the money.
During the conversations, proponents and opponents of the plan cited other counties CEDIT distributions. Of those counties — Blackford, Jay, Noble, Whitley and Huntington — only one county has a different rate: Whitley at 1 percent.
The rates, though, vary much more across the state. The state's Department of Local Government Finance keeps track of each county's CEDIT rate and how much money it gets.
To see how much other counties tax — and how much they receive — click here to go to the DLGF's web page for county-specific information.
After clicking on the link, you'll see near the top of the page a list of counties. Once you choose one of the counties, you'll go to that county's page. Scroll down until you see the "Reports" section (see the image below) and click on the "2012 CEDIT" link.
Note that the differing rates don't necessarily reflect the overall local income tax rate, as CEDIT rates are partially determined by the amount of other income taxes the county levies.
To learn more about the local discussion, see the Tuesday, April 3, News-Banner.
Finally, the law allows county officials to spend CEDIT money for specific reasons:
(A) promote significant opportunities for the gainful employment of its citizens;
(B) attract a major new business enterprise to the unit; or
(C) retain or expand a significant business enterprise within the unit; and
(2) involves an expenditure for:
(A) the acquisition of land;
(B) interests in land;
(C) site improvements;
(D) infrastructure improvements;
(E) buildings;
(F) structures;
(G) rehabilitation, renovation, and enlargement of buildings and structures;
(H) machinery;
(I) equipment;
(J) furnishings;
(K) facilities;
(L) administrative expenses associated with such a project, including contract payments authorized under subsection (b)(2)(D);
(M) operating expenses authorized under subsection (b)(2)(E); or
(N) to the extent not otherwise allowed under this chapter, substance removal or remedial action in a designated unit;
or any combination of these.
The decision comes after multiple conversations about the best way to spend the money.
During the conversations, proponents and opponents of the plan cited other counties CEDIT distributions. Of those counties — Blackford, Jay, Noble, Whitley and Huntington — only one county has a different rate: Whitley at 1 percent.
The rates, though, vary much more across the state. The state's Department of Local Government Finance keeps track of each county's CEDIT rate and how much money it gets.
To see how much other counties tax — and how much they receive — click here to go to the DLGF's web page for county-specific information.
After clicking on the link, you'll see near the top of the page a list of counties. Once you choose one of the counties, you'll go to that county's page. Scroll down until you see the "Reports" section (see the image below) and click on the "2012 CEDIT" link.
Note that the differing rates don't necessarily reflect the overall local income tax rate, as CEDIT rates are partially determined by the amount of other income taxes the county levies.
To learn more about the local discussion, see the Tuesday, April 3, News-Banner.
Finally, the law allows county officials to spend CEDIT money for specific reasons:
(A) promote significant opportunities for the gainful employment of its citizens;
(B) attract a major new business enterprise to the unit; or
(C) retain or expand a significant business enterprise within the unit; and
(2) involves an expenditure for:
(A) the acquisition of land;
(B) interests in land;
(C) site improvements;
(D) infrastructure improvements;
(E) buildings;
(F) structures;
(G) rehabilitation, renovation, and enlargement of buildings and structures;
(H) machinery;
(I) equipment;
(J) furnishings;
(K) facilities;
(L) administrative expenses associated with such a project, including contract payments authorized under subsection (b)(2)(D);
(M) operating expenses authorized under subsection (b)(2)(E); or
(N) to the extent not otherwise allowed under this chapter, substance removal or remedial action in a designated unit;
or any combination of these.
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