Bluffton-Harrison school board starts planning budget

Members of the Bluffton-Harrison school board Monday started discussing how to pay for next year, and as part of their budget-related discussions, Superintendent Wayne Barker shared the following data.

Note that these salary-related figures do not reflect average salaries,
but the total costs of paying staff.

Learn more in the Tuesday, Aug. 7, News-Banner.

N-B Video: Cancer fundraiser unleashes more than 30 motorcycles

The Steve Kelley Cancer Relief Foundation held its annual "Cancer Relief Family Fun Day" Saturday, Aug. 4, combining motorcycles, classic cars, a bouncy tent and more. Organizers use the proceeds to help local families with costs relating to cancer. Learn more in the Monday, Aug. 6, News-Banner. (Video by Chet Baumgartner)



To learn more about the Steve Kelley Cancer Relief Foundation, click here.

Artists in Action

For years a group of artists – mostly ladies but with the occasional male – has met to paint. The group, dubbed Artists in Action, currently meets at the Arts, Commerce and Visitors Centre gallery at 9 a.m. Fridays. The public is welcome to join them, they say. (Photos by Jessica Williams)

Dotty Fryback works on her painting.

Karen West works on a flower.

APC to set preliminary rules over manure ponds

We ran the following blog about a month ago when residents in southern Wells expressed concern about manure ponds. On Thursday, the Area Plan Commission approved preliminary rules to regulate those ponds and more, so we are reprinting here the earlier blog entry.

The concerned residents of Jackson and Chester townships approached the Area Plan Commission Thursday, July 5, requesting a review of the county zoning ordinance, specifically with regard to Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and manure lagoons.

The catalyst for their appearance was the pond currently being built by Ronald A. Mang, on his property at 1100S-600W.

To learn more about their concerns, see the Friday, July 6, News-Banner.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management offers the following information about CAFOs.

The terms CFO and CAFO relate to the size of the CFO. A Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) is a CFO that meets the threshold animal numbers for a large CAFO in the chart below. Many of the program’s requirements apply to CFOs of all sizes. Some requirements apply only to CAFOs.

CAFO Threshold Numbers:
700 mature dairy cows
1,000 veal calves
1,000 cattle other than mature dairy cows
2,500 swine above 55 pounds
10,000 swine less than 55 pounds
500 horses
10,000 sheep or lambs
55,000 turkeys
30,000 laying hens or broilers with a liquid manure handling system
125,000 broilers with a solid manure handling system
82,000 laying hens with a solid manure handling system
30,000 ducks with a solid manure handling system
5,000 ducks with a liquid manure handling system

How many CAFOs are there in Indiana?
There are approximately 625 CAFOs in the state. This represents 20 percent of the IDEM regulated farms.

What percentage of the animals do the CAFOs produce?
IDEM estimates they produce 80 percent of the animals at regulated farms.

What are a few of the additional requirements CAFO operators must follow?
• Weekly inspections of their waste storage facilities
• Develop a Soil Conservation Practice Plan for all manure application sites controlled by the CAFO
• Develop a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan for the area immediately around the production barns
• Submit an annual report to IDEM
• Adjust land application rates based on nitrogen and phosphorus

How do local land use requirements affect IDEMs jurisdiction over approving a new CFO/CAFO farm?
IDEM must perform the process that state law and regulations have provided. IDEMs approval does not relieve the farm from complying with any local zoning requirements.

The Purdue University Extension Office also has created several publications discussing CAFOs' impact on the economy, environment and more. Find these publications and more by clicking here.

For additional information:
• IDEM Toll Free Number: (800) 451-6027, then give the operator the listed extension number
• Confined Feeding Operation Approval Questions: (317) 232-4473
• Compliance Questions: (317) 308-3016

Adopt-A-Pet

Denver is a 4-month-old gray tabby, male.

Pebbles is a 7-month-old Australian cattle dog (blue heeler) spayed female. Current on vaccines. Very energetic. Not an in-town dog. Needs room to run.

Sweetie is a 4-month-old DLH tiger/white female.

Low-cost spay/neuter clinics for cats are scheduled for Aug 7 and Aug 23. Call the Animal Shelter at 824-6063 for information on how to make an appointment.

N-B Video: Two cardboard boats race at pool

The cardboard boat race at Wells Community Pool attracted two decorated boats Wednesday evening. One outlasted the other as the competitors paddled – and splashed – down the length of the pool. For more information, see the Thursday, Aug. 2, News-Banner. (Video by Jessica Williams)

Photos from the funeral of Specialist Nick Taylor