City Prepped for Race
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Saturday, June 19, 2021 The Commercial Review Portland, Indiana 47371 www.thecr.com $1 TORNADO HITS Storm destroys several homes in northeast Jay, continues path of damage into Fort Recovery area By RAY COONEY and BAILEY CLINE The Commercial Review A tornado ripped across northeast Jay County and into Mercer County near Fort Recovery late Friday afternoon, leaving a swath of destruction in its wake. The tornado destroyed at least half a dozen homes, including several in the area of county roads 450 East and 500 North. A complete accounting of the damage was not available at press time. The one piece of good news as of Friday evening was that the residents of Jay and Mercer counties escaped the tornado unscathed. No injuries were reported in Jay or Mercer counties as of 8 p.m. Friday. “No injuries, thankfully, have been reported,” said Amy Blakely, director of Jay County Emergency Management Agency, adding that her agency, Jay Emergency Medical Service, Jay County High - way Department, local law enforcement and others Special to The Commercial Review/Josh Stephenson were all in the area work - ing to get a handle on the situation. “We’ve got peo - A tornado ripped through northeast Jay County and into Mercer County late Friday afternoon. The aerial photo above ple out trying to assess taken via drone by Portland Police Chief Josh Stephenson shows the destruction at the property of Edward and Paula how bad things are and get Davidson, 5006 E. 500 North. Below, clean-up begins at the Matt and Betsy Minnich home, 5212 N. 450 East, where the roof things clear.” and the front of the garage were torn off. Damage continued southeast through Jay County and into Mercer County, with the The hardest hit location tornado passing along the north side of Fort Recovery. based on initial observa - tions was in the area of county roads 450 East and “We saw the debris flying, Several buildings were 500 North. (I) didn’t think it was wiped out at the Edward “That’s apparently the mine. Apparently it was.” and Paula Davidson prop - worst of it,” Blakely said. In the aftermath, the erty at 5006 E. 500 North. Homes with severe dam - Minnichs walked over A series of utility poles age in that area included broken glass, loose bricks was also torn down along those owned by Keith and and other pieces of their the east side of county Melissa Brunswick at 5396 house scattered across the road 450 East north of N. 450 East — it no longer yard in order to assess the county road 500 North. had a roof — and Matt and damage. Their outbuild - Trent Muhlenkamp said Betsy Minnich just to the ing was flattened, half of his wife Kelsi first saw the south at 5212 N. 450 East. their home’s roof was weather taking a bad turn At the time the twister missing and their garage from their home at 6263 E. hit, Betsy Minnich and was reduced to nothing Indiana 67. her children were 2 miles but a shell of strand “I didn’t think much of south helping her parents boards and concrete. it at the time,” he said. with a garage sale. Matt The tornado also hit an “Then I kind of got up and was at Minnich Poultry unoccupied building at looked. It’s like, ‘OK, it’s instructing other workers 5183 N. 450 East owned by time to go to the base - to buckle down for the H&G Agriculture Hold - ment.’ And then, it was storm. ings. Grain bins and out - just like that, it was “We could see the torna - buildings lay in the field done.” do,” Matt Minnich said. or around the property. See Tornado page 2 The Commercial Review/Bailey Cline Retrospect City prepped for race Twenty-five years ago “This is a town that’s Street was to be decked this week, Portland was different from any place out with a red, white and preparing for visitors. on earth,” said Rosie blue balloon arch, with The June 22, 1996, edi - Grapner, chair of the pit tape designating the pit tion of The Commercial stop committee, noting areas. Food stands were Review featured cover - the hours of volunteer - also to be set up on age of the city making ing that had gone into Court Street, with an preparations for the getting ready for the announcer’s stand at the arrival of the Corel event. intersection of Court Great American Race. The Great Race, a and Main streets. They included: time-speed-endurance (George Reitenour, a •Hanging 40 banners rally for pre-World War Portland man who par - to decorate Jay County II vehicles, had started ticipated in the Great Courthouse in patriotic June 16 in Tacoma, Race four times, was set colors Washington. Drivers to be the announcer and •Decorating dozens of were slated to begin his car — Spirit of Jay downtown buildings their drive June 26 in County — was going to •Converting Main Peoria, Illinois, with a be on display.) The Commercial Review/Jack Ronald Street on the west side pit stop late in the day in “I think Portland is of downtown into a pit Portland before an going to do as good a job Portland’s Les Eads, an old car collector and active volunteer for area for the 82 drivers overnight stop in Lima, as has ever been done the Portland Great Race pit stop, had the yard in front of his Main Street who were headed toward Ohio. on a pit stop,” Reitenour home decked out in preparation for the event. Jay County. The pit area on Main said. Deaths Weather In review Coming up Jay County’s high tempera - ture peaked at 77 degrees Fri - Tuesday — Coverage of Jay day. County High School’s gradua - Jessica Roop, 31, Con - After severe weather, Dunkirk Public Library tion ceremony and Monday’s nersville including a tornado, blew Board has scheduled an execu - Jay School Board meeting. Charles Klingel , 86, through the county Friday, tive session for 6 p.m. June 28 Muncie more showers and thunder - at the library. A special meet - Wednesday — Results from Details on page 2. storms are expected today. The ing will follow at 6:30 p.m. the Jay County Summer Swim high will be 86. Team’s meet against Wells See page 2 for an extended Community. outlook. The Commercial Review Page 2 Local Saturday, June 19, 2021 Obituaries Jessica Roop expressed at williamson - place because of people like ing and planning, talking and they bought in the ’70s on Anna spencer.com. him. sharing many things. He decid - Maria Island, where memories June 23, 1989-June 17, 2021 As a young man, Charlie ed to ask Glenna Applegate to with family and friends were Jessica Roop, age 31, a resi - could be found at the Fort Recov - marry him and they wed in 1968. cherished. dent of Connersville, Indiana, Charles Klingel ery Roller Rink skate dancing, Together, they raised two daugh - Surviving are daughters passed away on Thursday, June Jan. 1, 1935-June 15, 2021 17, 2021, at her Charles Klingel, 86, went to backwards, without missing a ters and celebrated 51 years of Angela Faith and Julia Apple - home in Con - be with his Lord and Savior, beat or falling. For several years marriage in 2019. Charlie loved gate; a grandson, Tait; a great- nersville. She was Jesus Christ, on June 15, 2021. he sang baritone in the Union being with his family and grandson soon to be born; his a former resident He was born on Jan.1, 1935, City Barbershop Quartet. attending any and all school and sister Susan Klingel-Dowd of Portland. in Madison Township, Jay In 1953, Charlie joined the Bat - sporting events of his grandson. (Michael) of Muncie, Indiana; Jessica was County, to Herman and Mil - tle Group, Guard Unit at Port - Charlie became Muncie dis - nieces, nephews, cousins and born on June 23, dred Klingel. He land. In 1957, he acquired the trict manager for The Independ - friends. 1989, the daughter was a graduate rank of S.F.C., then in ’58 he ent Order of Foresters life He was preceded in death by received his Expert Infantry insurance company. He was his parents, Herman and Mil - of Terrie (Gar - Roop of Madison High ringer) Roop. School in 1953 Badge at summer camp. He inspired by the people in his dred Klingel of Salamonia; his Survivors include: and a member of graduated from Indiana Mili - office and their success, togeth - wife, Glenna Klingel; and a Her mother — Terrie Roop St. James Luther - tary Academy, The Sabor Class, er. It afforded him the opportu - brother, Donald Klingel of (companion: Sam Crump), Port - an Church. Six Sixty-One Indiana Army nity to travel with his wife in Rushville, Indiana. land, Indiana Charlie loved National Guard. the U.S. and Canada and he Visitation will be from 11 a.m. Her grandfather — Joe Gar - questions, asking Charlie worked with his stayed with Foresters until to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22, at ringer, Portland, Indiana them, finding Klingel father and brother on the same retirement. Eden Church, 11205 Indiana 3, Uncle and aunt — Scott and answers to them land his paternal grandfather Ever constant in Charlie’s life Muncie, Indiana, with the funer - Beth Garringer, Bradenton, … pondering everything. How settled after immigrating from was the love of the automobile. al following at 1 p.m. Pastor Florida can I fix that? What’s the best Germany in 1881. Known as Jay- Because he needed more to do, Kevin Holt will officiate.