Saturday, March 20, 2021 The Commercial Review Portland, Indiana 47371 www.thecr.com $1 U.S., China Lifetime in jewelry finish talks By MATTHEW LEE and MARK THIESSE Associated Press ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Top U.S. and Chinese offi - cials wrapped up two days of contentious talks in Alaska on Friday after trad - ing sharp and unusually public barbs over vastly dif - ferent views of each other and the world in their first face-to-face meeting since President Joe Biden took office. The two sides finished the meetings after an open - ing session in which they attacked each other in an unusually public way. The U.S. accused the Chinese delegation of “grandstand - ing” and Beijing fired back, saying there was a “strong smell of gunpowder and drama” that was entirely the fault of the Americans. The meetings in Anchor - age were a new test in increasingly troubled rela - tions between the two coun - tries, which are at odds over a range of issues from The Commercial Review/Bailey Cline trade to human rights in Tibet, Hong Kong and Jim Brewster opened his new business, James Brewster Jewelry, in January. The store at 1221 N. Meridian St. in China’s western Xinjiang Portland has a variety of accessories for sale and offers repair work. All repairs are done in-house, Brewster noted. region, as well as over Tai - wan, China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea and the coronavirus pandemic. “We got a defensive Brewster has opened Portland store response,” Secretary of By BAILEY CLINE he’s back to running a Portland ding rings and bridal sets. His “She retires, and I’m not old State Antony Blinken said The Commercial Review storefront on his own. inventory is still increasing each enough to retire,” he explained. after the meetings conclud - Jim Brewster has been in the Brewster, 61, has opened week, too. The Portland man “So I decide to open my own ed. jewelry industry nearly all his James Brewster Jewelry at 1221 noted he works on projects him - place.” “We wanted to share life. N. Meridian St. self. When he was 16 years old, with them the significant He worked in his father’s store “Repair-wise, I pretty much “All work is done here — noth - Brewster started helping concerns that we have as a teen and eventually took cover everything,” the long-time ing is shipped out,” Brewster around his father’s — Anthon about a number of the over the family business. A few jeweler explained. He offers jew - said. “Tony” Brewster — store, Brew - actions that China has years later, he sold the property elry and watch repairs as well as He spent more than 30 years at ster Jeweler’s. About seven taken, and behaviors to another jeweler and began as a sells a variety of accessories, Evans’ Fine Jewelry with Sandy years later, he bought the busi - exhibiting concerns, repairman at her store. with everything from religious Ireland before she retired at the ness. shared by our allies and After nearly three decades, and children’s necklaces to wed - beginning of this year. See Jewelry page 2 partners,” he said. See Talks page 2 Retrospect Former mayor is found guilty March storm Snyder owed back per - sonal and business taxes. But a judge granted Snyder a new trial on the hit Jay County Federal jury soliciting bribes charge Twenty-five years ago About half of Jay convicts in November 2019. After this week the calendar County REMC’s cus - numerous delays his was edging toward tomers were without on bribery retrial began March 8. spring but Mother power. Poles and lines charge Trial testimony con - Nature was having other were reported to be down cluded Thursday with a ideas. on county roads 100 former owner of Great The March 20, 1996, edi - South, 300 South, 300 Lakes Peterbilt telling tion of The Commercial North and 400 North. jurors he felt pressured Review featured coverage “We’ve got poles and HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) when, shortly before of an overnight snow - lines down from Win - — A federal jury convict - Christmas 2013, Snyder storm that dropped about chester to Decatur,” said ed a former northwest - showed up at the truck - 4 inches of heavy, wet John Samples of Jay ern Indiana mayor on a ing company’s office ask - snow and 0.6 inches of County REMC. “This is, bribery charge Friday in ing for money. freezing rain in Jay without a doubt, the his retrial on allegations “He is the mayor and County. worst we’ve seen in 30 he solicited and accepted he has influence,” Robert The result was a freez - years.” a $13,000 bribe from a Buha said. ing mess that closed American Electric trucking company. In Friday’s closing schools, brought down Power crews were also A jury in U.S. District arguments, Assistant power lines and put the Court in Hammond delib - U.S. Attorney Jill Koster county in a state of emer - working to repair poles and lines. erated less than two said Snyder violated the gency. Thousands of cus - hours before former find - public’s trust by steering tomers were left without Jay County Highway Department superintend - ing Portage mayor James the bids for the garbage electricity. Snyder, 42, guilty on a truck contracts worth The state of emergency ent Robert Rawlings said plows were out but were federal bribery charge. $1.25 million to Great was to stay in effect until He is set to be sentenced Lakes Peterbilt and then power had been restored, struggling to get down The Commercial Review/Ed Balint July 1. asking its owners, broth - which was expected to stone roads. take several days. “The worst part of it is, Another jury had con - ers Robert and Stephen Bob Kurney grimaces on the morning victed Snyder in Febru - Buha, for money. of March 20, 1996, while using a shovel to “It’s not due to the road with all the rain we got yesterday, the gravel ary 2019 of taking the Snyder’s attorney, scrape off the heavy, wet snow that caked on his conditions,” said Tami Mann of Jay County roads are really soft,” he $13,000 in exchange for Jackie Bennett, said car at 416 W. Main St., Portland. Snow and high Emergency Management said. “We’re off the grav - contracts to sell five prosecutors didn’t pres - winds overnight had also caused power outages Agency. “It’s due to the el roads. I’m not sure how garbage trucks to the city ent direct evidence that and put Jay County on a snow emergency. power lines.” we’re going to handle it.” of Portage using a shell the $13,000 check signed company to hide income by the brothers was a assets from the IRS while bribe. Deaths Weather In review Coming up Jay County’s high tempera - ture topped out at 43 degrees Need to fill out a birth Friday. announcement, engagement Tuesday — Coverage of Skies will be sunny this or wedding form to have your Monday’s Jay County Com - David Ellsworth , 51, Port - weekend with highs of 55 special event announced in missioners meeting. land today and 61 Sunday. Lows will the newspaper? They’re now Details on page 2. be in the 30s. Expect a high of available electronically. Just Thursday — Coverage of 64 Monday under mostly go to thecr.com, hover over Wednesday’s Portland flood sunny skies. “Forms” and select the form mitigation meeting. See page 2 for an extended you’d like to fill out. forecast. The Commercial Review Page 2 Local/World Saturday, March 20, 2021 Obituaries Jewelry ... David Dean Ellsworth , Continued from page 1 “I guess, with everybody’s help, because she helped him acquire him many times over the years. At Portland, Dec. 1, 1969- After about eight years as the this all fell together fast,” he said. equipment. least three generations of her fam - March 18, 2021. Services owner, though, he decided to sell He’s renting the building from Despite the different location, ily (herself, her daughter Theresa will be held at a later date. the property to Ireland. Looking long-time friends Dru and Selena Brewster’s connections in the com - and her mother Evelyn Bentz) have •••••••••• back at the decision, Brewster Hall. Formerly Citizen’s State munity appear strong as ever. Busi - used his services. The Commercial Review chalks his reason for closing up to Bank, the location had several ness was steady during an inter - “We’ve always been very publishes death notices inexperience. built-in additions — such as an view with the owner on Wednes - pleased, he made the ring I’m look - for those with a connec - “It’s not like that now,” he said. alarm and vault — that made it day. Each customer who walked in, ing at (and wearing) now,” tion to our coverage area “There’s a big difference between the ideal spot for Brewster’s busi - Brewster knew by name. Cavanaugh said. free of charge. They being 28 years old and being 61 ness venture. “You change your mind on the Brewster recently polished and include the name, city of years old.” The structure didn’t need much earrings, you let me know,” Brew - repaired a ring — one she wears in He did some trade work at work before opening, although ster said to a woman as she left place of her wedding ring — that residence, birth/death Evans’ for about a year before Brewster noted his plans after she debated getting some he designed for her about three or date and time/date/loca - starting full-time, and was there wouldn’t have come together work done on her other jewelry.