Man in court on Highway’s railroad BHS volleyball felony charges crossing now closed loses at AC Area State Page 3 Page 2 Sports Page 6 The News-Bannerwww.News-Banner.com WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 BLUFFTON, INDIANA • Wells County’s Hometown Connection $1.00 City ends banners Flagged Employees of the Bluffton Electric Department raise across Main Street the Street Fair banners Tuesday morning. Today By DAVE SCHULTZ would have been the first The city will no longer hang banners across Ind. 1/Main day for the fair, which was Street just south of Wabash Street. canceled due to concerns about spreading the coro- Mayor John Whicker was not a fan of the practice, cit- navirus. At right, Josh ing danger to the city employees at one of Bluffton’s busi- Jellison gets ready to tie est intersections. He has expressed his desire to end it, and off a banner string at the Tuesday he had both Scott Mentzer and Roger Thornton building on the northeast there to bring it to a vote. corner of Main and Mar- “John, if you feel that strongly about it, I’m behind you,” ket streets. Below, Justin Mentzer said. King ties off one of the Thornton was also concerned about employee safety, but banners on Market Street. he also wanted area organizations to publicize their events. At bottom, the banners are strung across Market “I am supportive, but I want to be open to alternatives (to Street. The banners will the banners), “Thornton said. He worded the formal motion stay up for a week before to cease hanging banners across Main Street “with the hope being taken down. that alternative options will be brought to us,” he said. (Photos by Glen Werling) The measure passed 3-0. In other business: • Clerk-Treasurer Tami Runyon brought a proposal to the board concerning starting pay for new city employees, particularly those who bring experience and expertise with them. The city’s salary ordinance has had no exceptions for hir- ing experienced employees. All new workers started at the standard starting pay, which has been $11.50 in the 2020 salary ordinance. In her proposal to the board Tuesday, Runyon said the starting pay will be $11.85 next year when the 3 percent across-the-board increase is taken into account. She suggest- ed bumping that up to $12 an hour. She also recommended that the board signal its willingness to take experience and (Continued on Page 2) Miller to lead 911 By DAVE SCHULTZ a replacement for the 911 Mike Miller, the first shift position. sergeant for the Bluffton “I think this is as close Police Department, is retir- to a no-brainer (decision) as ing Saturday after 24 years I’ve ever had,” Randall said. of service. Miller, however, Miller was not present for will not be going far. Tuesday’s announcement, On Sunday, Miller will but Mayor John Whicker be the new head of 911 dis- joined in the praise for the patch, replacing the recently change. resigned Adam McCartney. “The folks in dispatch Although the change know Mike well,” Whicker in positions results in a said. vacancy in the BPD’s ranks, The other two board Bluffton Police Chief Kyle members, Scott Mentzer and Randall told the members of Roger Thornton, were in the Blufffton Board of Pub- agreement with the change. lic Works and Safety that he In his letter to the board, could not be happier to find (Continued on Page 2) NWCS talks budget, virus By GLEN WERLING $273,629. school corporations are Members of the Northern • Debt Service Fund, required by the state to Wells Community Schools $2,484,151 — $2,267,107 compose the budget, the Board Tuesday evening maximum to be raised amounts to be advertised are approved advertising the through tax levy. all much higher than what 2021 school corporation • Referendum Debt Fund Associate Superintendent budget. — exempt capital post 2009, Dr. Scott Mills says that the The budget, as adver- $990,000, $977,816 to be school corporation should tised, is $27,942,918. raised through tax levy. actually expect to receive. Of that, the Education • Operations Fund, However, the budget has to Fund is by far the largest $8,993,313, $5,77.768 to be be advertised high because fund at $15,201,825. This raised through tax levy. once it is advertised, it may all comes from the state. The total amount to be be lowered, but not raised. The budget also includes: raised is $9,022,691. The budget is being • Rainy Day Fund, Because of the way (Continued on Page 9) From the engineer’s report The pedestrian bridge across the Wabash River was used as a backdrop Monday night as Boy Rumschlag gives updates on bridge projects, funding opportunities Scouts posed on it during a bike ride. The group started their trip at Calvary Lutheran Church By JESSICA BRICKER 300W over the Wabash River south of and rode on the Interurban Trial and the Rivergreenway to the White Bridge before returning. (Photo provided by Michele Marcum) Infrastructure projects around Wells Ind. 116 was delayed to this week and County continue to progress this year, as is expected to be done in the next two well as get planned for the future. weeks. Rumschlag said he will notify County Engineer Nate Rumschlag the public when it’s determined the City owns pedestrian bridge had multiple updates Monday for the bridge can reopen. Wells County Commissioners. Those He has authorized the temporary By DAVE SCHULTZ not have to make a decision on the request updates include current projects as well installation of the security camera — If there was any doubt about it, the city because the Indiana Department of Trans- as those that Rumschlag plans to seek delivery of the permanent poles has been is the official owner of the pedestrian bridge portation owned the bridge. The city merely funding for during upcoming grant delayed — and he is working with Secu- across the Wabash River west of Main maintained it, he said. cycles. rity Pros to get the monitoring system up Street. However, Whicker noted that INDOT 300W bridge over the Wabash River and running. He said the foundation has A request has been made to allow the had given him a preliminary indication that Painting of the structure that carries (Continued on Page 2) bridge to be used for a wedding rehearsal the bridge was not in the state’s inventory. dinner next May. Mayor John Whicker A letter from Keith Lytton, the bridge asset originally told the board that the city did (Continued on Page 2) Inside Outside Online How to contact us: CALL TIM Call us: 824-0224 Local/Area Personalized Plan May Be Your Solution. or 1-800-579-7476 Your daily local headlines, Obituaries . 3 HEALTH CARE • LONG TERM CARE Fax us: 824-0700 Police Notebook . .3 straight to your newsfeed. [email protected] Check us out on Facebook LIFE • MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT — www.facebook.com/ On the Web: Opinion Sunshine expected to stay newsbanner — and at www.news-banner.com Jessica Bricker . 4 TIM STEFFEN through Saturday twitter.com/newsbanner Insurance Follow us at: Today Thursday Friday 260.824.8175 twitter.com/newsbanner Also... High 78 High 79 High 80 Vol. 91 No. 275 110 W. Cherry Street, Sports . 6-7 Low 54 Low 53 Low 58 Bluffton, IN Classifieds . 10-11 WEDNESDAY September 23, 2020 Diversions . 8 More Weather on Page 2 INSURANCE Page 2 • The News-Banner • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 LOCAL/NATION City ends banners Weather (Continued from Page 1) tal Management demanded age across a creek as well. ommended pay increases education into account. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020 the change for some pipes The changes will for two employees — Jack (24-hour observations at 8:52 p.m. Tuesday) “The minimum rate is a that will run along a creek. increase the project’s cost Pezo, from $18.48 to $19.48 starting point for determin- High: 76; Low: 45; Precipitation: None IDEM wanted a higher- by $443,400, but it will per hour on the occasion Wabash River Level (at the Main Street bridge): 1 . 26 ing a new employee’s pay grade pipe, which will cost also decrease the total cost of his sixth-year anniver- feet at 8:45 p .m . Tuesday . rate,” Runyon wrote. “Expe- an additional $14,930. The because some of the work sary of his employment, and rience and education will sewer line in question will will now be done by the city. Wyatt Mayer, from $20.51 be considered in setting the run from Toll Circle east to A formal change order to $21.38 per hour on the Wells County forecast employee’s final starting Ind. 1. will be brought to the board occasion of his seventh-year rate.” The budget for the sewer by Midwest Engineers, anniversary of his employ- Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. West The board voted to line extension has a $75,000 which is overseeing the ment. Mayer’s increase wind around 5 mph. approve Runyon’s request allowance for potential over- water project for the city. brings him to the top of his Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around and have it written in to the runs, and Oman anticipated • A revision of the city’s pay scale. Both increases 54. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. 2021 salary ordinance. no other additional expens- junk ordinance is now in were approved. Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.