Saturday, October 31, 2020 The Commercial Review Portland, Indiana 47371 www.thecr.com $1 Early Treats for voting tots Families walked along Meridian and Main streets Friday evening passes for the annual Jay County Chamber of Commerce Merchant Trick-or-Treat. Jay County record businesses set up tables and distributed treats to passing More than families, with crowds coming in waves as trick-or-treaters rushed 4,300 ballots through to fill their candy have already buckets. Clockwise, Ellie Stone, 2, glances into her candy bucket been cast while her father, Jason, holds her; Knox Verneman, 3, sits with his By RAY COONEY The Commercial Review father, Justin, as they help hand Decision day is Tues - out candy near the intersection day. of Walnut and Meridian streets; Many local voters have six-month-old Addison and 2-year- already made theirs. Jay County Clerk’s old Jaxon Toland finish crossing Office reported that as of the intersection of Meridian and early Friday afternoon Main streets with their mother, 4,311 absentee ballots had Lindsay Hardymon. been cast in the form of The Commercial Review/Bailey Cline early or mail-in voting. The bulk of those — 3,586 — were in-person. Early voting continues from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday at Jay County Courthouse. Ballots cast already in Jay County represent more than a third of its registered voters. The total is also a record. Jay County’s high- water mark for early vot - ing came during the 2016 general election when 3,086 absentee ballots (38 percent) were cast. Early ballots in the 2012 general election came in at 2,348 (29 percent). The county also saw large amounts of absen - tee ballots cast in this year’s primary, which was delayed until June with the mail-in option extend - ed to all registered voters ISDH reports record-high COVID cases because of the coron - avirus pandemic. Forty- INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — 4,286, including con - positive coronavirus beginning of the week. the agency reported on nine percent of those who Indiana reported more firmed and presumed cases in one day. Indiana’s seven-day Sept. 22. voted did so in advance. than 3,000 new coron - coronavirus infections. Eighteen new cases of rolling average for newly The coronavirus dash - On Tuesday, Election avirus cases for the sec - The 3,205 new infec - COVID-19 were reported confirmed cases also rose board also showed that Day, polls will be open ond straight day Friday as tions reported Friday in Jay County Friday, to 2,608, according to the 1,662 Hoosiers are cur - from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the state’s new COVID-19 came one day after the bringing its cumulative health department’s daily rently hospitalized with voters to make their cases and hospitaliza - state agency reported total up to 399 confirmed update Friday of its coro - the coronavirus. That’s choices on races ranging tions continued to surge. 3,649 new infections. positive cases. That is the navirus dashboard. That down slightly from the from county-level offices The Indiana State Those cases reported second highest single-day is the highest level the 1,733 Hoosiers that Thurs - to president. Mail-in bal - Department of Health Thursday set a daily high total since the start of the state has seen during the day’s update showed were lots must be turned in to also reported 26 newly of newly reported cases pandemic. pandemic and more than hospitalized — a number the clerk’s office by noon recorded COVID-19 of COVID-19 and were the The county’s death total triple the seven-day that was highest since Tuesday. deaths, raising the state’s first time Indiana had from the virus stands at rolling average of 858 early April. See Voting page 2 pandemic death toll to recorded more than 3,000 six, the as it was at the newly confirmed cases See COVID page 2 Retrospect Original Walmart opened in Portland Twenty-five years ago this the opening, grabbing a cart week, Walmart opened in Port - and heading down the aisles. land. “There were people coming The Oct. 30, 1995, edition of every day asking when the store The Commercial Review fea - was open,” said Walmart Local residents swamped tured a story about the opening employee Seth Butcher. “They’d the new Walmart store in of the new store on Meridian pick stuff up off a shelf and Portland on Oct. 28, 1995, Street at the north end of Port - were walking around and we’d during its public opening. land. say, ‘Sorry, we’re not open yet.’” Shoppers from Jay County The store was bustling as it Jay County residents had and beyond visited the city’s opened its doors to the public on been hungry for a retail option, first “large discount store” Oct. 28, 1995, a few days prior to the story said, noting that Fish - its official grand-opening event. er’s Big Wheel in Portland had since Fisher’s Big Wheel “It’s like a seven-hour sprint,” closed its doors about two years closed about two year’s said stocker James Phillips as earlier after the chain filed for earlier. he wheeled an empty cart into bankruptcy. the store. “Portland was starv - “Yeah, I think it’s swell,” said ing for something like this, and Portland resident Bennie they’re eating it up. It’s been Brown. “I wish they would have busy, non-stop.” had it a long time ago.” The store drew customers The store was in operation at from all over Jay County and the site for almost 11 years beyond on its first day. Hopeful before the current Walmart shoppers had been wandering Supercenter opened in July into the store for weeks prior to 2006. The Commercial Review/Ed Balint Weather In review Coming up Jay County had a high tem - end with a south wind of about 5 Fall property taxes are due perature of 45 degrees Friday to 15 mph today with gusts up to Nov. 10. There will be no Satur - Tuesday — Coverage of with temperatures below freez - 25 mph. day hours prior to the deadline, Tuesday’s Portland City Coun - ing in the morning. Sunday will be very windy, but the office will be open until cil meeting. Today will be warmer with possible gusts up to 40 mph. 5:30 p.m. Nov. 9 and 10. A drop temperatures expected to peak All the while it’ll be mostly box is available for payment at Wednesday — Results from at 52 degrees. sunny and cool with fall-like the south side of Jay County Tuesday’s election, including There’s a 30% chance of rain temperatures to welcome the Courthouse. Masks are how Jay County voted in the in the late evening going into new month. required at the courthouse, and presidential race. Sunday. See page 2 for an extended the public must use the south Expect some wind this week - outlook. (Main Street) entrance. The Commercial Review Page 2 Local/Indiana Saturday, October 31, 2020 Voting ... Continued from page 1 Jay County Clerk’s Office will sioners, at least two new county Republican Jeanne Houchins, send to the statehouse and Con - Polling sites for Tuesday are as take similar precautions Tues - council members and a new fellow Republicans Matt Min - gress. follows: day as it did at polling sites in school board member selected. nich and Ray Newton and Incumbent Republican J.D. Bryant Community Center — June, using shields, masks and In the contested commissioner Democrats Josh Gibson and Prescott is running for his second Wabash and Bearcreek precincts gloves to protect poll workers race, for the south district seat, Judy Aker. Incumbent Democrat term representing District 33 in First Church of the Nazarene from the spread of COVID-19. It Republican Brian McGalliard is Gary Theurer chose not to seek the Indiana House against Demo - — Wayne 7 is suggested, but not required, taking on independent Bruce another term, and incumbent crat Julie Snyder. And incumbent Jay Community Center — that voters wear a mask when Counterman. They’re seeking to Republican Cindy Newton lost Republican Jim Banks is seeking Wayne 1, Wayne 3, Wayne 4, they go to the polls. fill the seat currently held by her seat in the four-way primary a third term as the U.S. Represen - Noble and Madison The race for president, with Republican Chuck Huffman, race. tative for northeast Indiana, Jay County Courthouse — incumbent Republican Donald who chose not to seek re-elec - The lone contested race for Jay including Jay County, against Wayne 2 Trump seeking a second term as tion. School Board is for the District 6 Democrat Chip Coldiron. Jay County Scout Complex — he faces challenge and former Rex Journay, a Republican, is seat currently held by Krista At the local level, Republican Greene, Jefferson and Pike vice president Democrat Joe headed to becoming the commis - Muhlenkamp, who chose not to incumbents Michael Brewster Pennville Community Center Biden, highlights the ballot. Indi - sioner from the north district. seek a second term. That contest (coroner), Brad Daniels (survey - — Penn ana Gov. Eric Holcomb, a Repub - He’s unopposed after knocking pits Ryan Wellman against Vick - or), Paula Miller (treasurer) and Redkey Faith Ministries — lican, is also seeking his second off incumbent Mike Leonhard in ie Reitz. Jon Eads (clerk) are all uncon - Redkey term in a three-way race against the primary. Incumbent school board mem - tested. Gail Dues, who in June Union Chapel Church — Jack - Democrat Woody Myers and Lib - Five candidates are in the race bers Phil Ford and Jason Phillips defeated incumbent Max Ludy in son ertarian Donald Rainwater.