Have yourself a fuzzy little Christmas

The Bluffton Parks and Recreation Department held its annual Paws and Claus holiday celebration Wednesday, allowing people to bring their fuzzy friends to meet the mythological elf.

 

 

NWCS awards high school bids

Northern Wells school board members unanimously awarded $11,098,564 in bids Tuesday to renovate the Norwell High School during the next two years — and taxpayers will pay about 2.6 cents less than originally anticipated.

Twenty contractors submitted bids in five categories, and board members selected the lowest bidders in each category. Learn more in the Wednesday, Dec. 19, News-Banner.

Click on this image to view a larger copy.

Click on this image to view a larger copy.

State police offers holiday shopping tips

From the Indiana State Police:

The holiday shopping season is upon us and the Indiana State Police would like to share some helpful safety tips.  Many shoppers will begin their day in the darkness of the early morning hours and end in the late evening hours, leaving shoppers vulnerable at times to potential criminal activity.  To counter anyone wishing to perform criminal acts on unsuspecting shoppers, the Indiana State Police offer the following precautions:

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Park in a well-lighted area and be sure to lock your car.
• Use extra caution when walking to and from your car, preferably with a friend.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; pay with a check or credit card whenever possible.
• Deter pickpockets and purse-snatchers. Don't overburden yourself with packages. Be extra careful with purses and wallets. Carry a purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Put a rubber band around your wallet and place in the inside coat or front pants pocket.
• Do not leave purses unattended in shopping carts.
• Place gifts and other valuables in the trunk of your car.
• Keep your car doors and windows locked at all times.
• Make sure your car is good mechanical condition.
• Carry a fully charged cell phone with you.
• Shopping with kids? Teach them to go to a store clerk or security guard if they get separated from you.
• If you notice suspicious activity, contact store security or the nearest police agency. Especially if you notice person or persons loitering around your vehicle.
• Remember, the most important tip is to know who and what is around you.  Stay alert and be aware of what's going on around you at all times.

The ISP also offers safe-travel trips this season. Click here to watch the video.

And don't forget to shop locally and conveniently online.

N-B Video: Walking in a sugar wonderland

A Friend's House, a Christian residential center which offers therapy and more for young woman, held its annual cookie walk fundraiser Saturday, Dec. 15. Volunteers baked more than 70 types of cookies and candies, raising $3,058. (Video by Chet Baumgartner)

N-B Video: Once-in-a-lifetime birthday

Hailey Alfeld turned 12 on 12-12-12 (Dec. 12, 2012), and her family decided to surprise her at Bluffton-Harrison Middle School — except they didn't tell her. Learn more in the Thursday, Dec. 13, News-Banner. (Video by Chet Baumgartner)

Bluffton increases sewer, water rates

The Bluffton Common Council approved the following sewer and water rates during the Tuesday, Dec. 11, meeting. Learn more in the Wednesday, Dec. 12, News-Banner.

Sewer rates

For the use of and the service rendered by said sewage works, sewer charges shall be collected from the owners of each and every lot, parcel of real estate or building that is or could be connected to the City’s sewerage system or otherwise discharges sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water or other liquids, either directly or indirectly, into the sewerage system of the City, which sewer charges shall be payable as hereinafter provided and shall be in an amount determinable as follows:

 

Monthly Consumption per month (First 300 cubic feet/Over 300 cubic feet):

• User Charge per 100 cubic feet: $2.84/$2.51

• Debit Service per 100 cubic feet:  $1.25/$1.25

• Total Sewer Charge per 100 cubic feet.: $4.09/$3.76

The minimum monthly charge shall be:

• User charges: $8.52

• Debt service and other charges: $3.75

• Monthly minimum allowed sewer charges: $12.27

The minimum monthly charge for any residential user who is not a metered water customer shall be (estimated cubic feet 807):

• User charges: $21.25

• Debt service and other charges: $10.09

• Monthly minimum allowed sewer charges: $31.34

The minimum monthly sewer charge for any commercial or industrial user who is not a water customer shall be one of the following:

— Numbers are estimated cubic foot per month/user charge/debt service and other charges/monthly sewer charges 

• 910/$23.85/$11.37/$ 35.22
• 955/$24.98/$11.94/$36.92
• 1084/$28.22/$13.55/$41.77
• 1472/$37.96/$18.40/$56.36
• 1602/$41.23/$20.02/$61.25
• 1740/$44.70/$21.75/$66.45
• 1860/$47.72/$23.25/$70.97
• 2295/$58.65/$28.69/$87.34
• 3600/$91.44/$45.00/$136.44
• 7336/$185.40/$91.70/$277.10
• 8257/$208.47/$103.21/$311.68
• 24429/$614.85/$305.36/$920.21 

For the use of and the service rendered by said sewage works, sewer charges shall be collected from the owners of each and every lot, parcel of real estate or building that is or could be connected to the Vera Cruz Sanitary Sewer system or otherwise discharges sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, water of other liquids, either directly or indirectly, into the Vera Cruz Sanitary Sewer System, which sewer charges shall be payable as hereinafter provided and shall be in an amount determinable as follows:

Monthly Consumption per month (First 300 cubic feet/Over 300 cubic feet):

• User Charge per 100 cubic feet: $4.11/$3.78

• Debit Service per 100 cubic feet:  $1.25/$1.25

• Total Sewer Charge per 100 cubic feet.: $5.36/$5.03

The minimum monthly charge shall be:

• User charges: $12.33

• Debt service and other charges: $3.75

• Monthly minimum allowed sewer charges: $16.08

The minimum monthly charge for any residential user who is not a metered water customer shall be (estimated cubic feet 807):

• User charges: $39.08

• Debt service and other charges: $10.09

• Monthly minimum allowed sewer charges: $49.17

The minimum monthly sewer charge for any commercial or industrial user who is not a water customer shall be one of the following:

— Numbers are estimated cubic foot per month/user charge/debt service and other charges/monthly sewer charges 

• 910/$23.85/$11.37/$35.22
• 955/$24.98/$11.94/$36.92
• 1084/$28.22/$13.55/$41.77
• 1472/$37.96/$18.40/$56.36
• 1602/$41.23/$20.02/$61.25
• 1740/$44.70/$21.75/$66.45
• 1860/$47.72/$23.25/$70.97
• 2295/$58.65/$28.69/$87.34
• 3600/$91.44/$45.00/$136.44
• 7336/$185.40/$91.70/$277.10
• 8257/$208.47/$103.21/$311.68
• 24429/$614.85/$305.36/$920.21

Water rates 

There shall be and there are hereby established for the use of and the service rendered by Bluffton Utilities Water Department the following rates and charges, based on the use of water supplied by said waterworks system:

Metered Rates Per Month/Rate Per 100 cubic feet
• First 200 cubic feet/$3.65
• Next 800 cubic feet/$2.80
• Next 5,000 cubic feet/$2.14
• Next 14,000 cubic feet/$1.47
• Over 20,000 cubic feet/$1.17

Minimum monthly charge

Each user shall pay a minimum monthly charge in accordance with the following applicable size of meter installed, for which the user will be entitled to the quantity of water set out of the above schedule of rates. — Numbers are meter size/cubic feet allowed/amount per month

• 5/8 and 3/4 inch meters/200 cu. ft./$7.30
• 1 inch meters/342 cubic feet/$11.28
• 1 1/4 and 1 1/2 inch meters/553 cubic feet/$17.17
• 2 inch meters/749 cubic feet/$22.62
• 3 inch meters/1206 cubic feet/$34.00
• 4 inch meters/1730 cubic feet/$45.23
• 6 inch meters/ 2792 cubic feet/$68.00

Public Fire Protection — $305.25 for each hydrant per annum

Private Fire Protection (sprinkling system/per month cost)

• 1 1/2 inch line/$22.70
• 2 inch line/$30.16
• 3 inch line/$41.63
• 4 inch line/$49.20
• 6 inch line/$79.49
• 8 inch line/$100.17
• 10 inch line/$122.93
• 12 inch line/$176.99

$305.25 for each hydrant per annum

Schools receive almost double for full-day kindergarten

Wells County’s three public schools will receive $811,200 in state revenue to help fund their full-day kindergarten programs this year, the Indiana Department of Education announced Monday.

Learn more in the Tuesday, Dec. 11, News-Banner. To see what schools received statewide, click here.