Wednesday, October 7, 2020 The Commercial Review Portland, Indiana 47371 www.thecr.com $1 Water park’s numbers Massive mural were cut in half Late start, coronavirus restrictions limited attendance and revenue By RILEY EUBANKS The Commercial Review Final numbers from the 2020 Portland Water Park season are in. Water park manager Missy Bader told Portland Park Board at its meeting Tuesday that attendance and revenue in 2020 were less than half of what it was than the past two years, appropriately so since pool season and capacity were cut in half by coronavirus restrictions. Total attendance round - The Commercial Review/Ray Cooney ed to 10,275 and income was figured at $58,866, Bader A mural, seen here in early September, on the north side of the Weaver Building in downtown Dunkirk is in its final said, compared to an aver - stages. The mural highlights the city’s history, heavily featuring its prominence in the glass industry. age attendance of 24,000 and revenue of $134,000 in the 2019 and 2018 pool sea - sons. It marks the second Bliss project on north side of Weaver Building straight year the pool has failed to make a profit. City clerk-treasurer Lori gives an extensive look at the history of Dunkirk Phillips said the pool had a By RAY COONEY $38,533 net loss in 2020 and a The Commercial Review $5,808 net loss in 2019. The DUNKIRK — Drivers headed expenses this year will south on Main Street through increase because the street Dunkirk for years saw a crum - ‘The excitement just kept growing as we went. and parks department has bling wall that remained from not finished winterization a downtown building that had Now that it’s a couple days from of the pool, Phillips said. been demolished. Rather than its usual Now, when they glance to the being done we’re even more excited opening on Memorial Day east, they’re greeted by a giant weekend, the water park train, the smiling face of because it just looks fabulous.’ opened on July 4 weekend, Frank Merry, Charlie DeCamp —Dru Hall, Mural committee chairman around the time Indiana hard at work and a flame rising Gov. Eric Holcomb began into the city’s logo. easing coronavirus-related Those are just some of the restrictions on such facili - elements artist Pamela Bliss is ties. at its center. The right side of Tharp, a downtown designs she sent the mural putting the final touches on It was, however, open for the mural features DeCamp, a streetscape, the Cinderella committee, “and I wasn’t feel - some weekdays in August this week as she completes a Dunkirk man who worked as a Queen of Glass crown and an ing it.” after Jay Schools delayed giant mural on the north wall glass blower. To the left is a array of glassware. At the far It took months for the plans the start of school until of the Weaver Building. train, adorned with the west side of the mural is an to evolve. It was the idea to after Labor Day. Normally “The excitement just kept Dunkirk Speedcat logo, as rail - enormous flame, reminiscent have the train and DeCamp the water park is only open growing as we went,” said Dru roads were integral to the glass of the days when it was painted as if they’re emerging on weekends after school Hall, chairman of the Glass industry. There is also a mod - thought the gas boom would from the wall — almost a 3-D starts in early August. Capital Mural Committee. ern view of Ardagh (the city’s never end and gas wells burn effect — that brought the Capacity was also limited “Now that it’s a couple days remaining glass factory), vari - constantly. mural to life. to 50% and the facility was from being done we’re even ous glass bottles and an A&W For Bliss, it was finding a “I thought, ‘I need to make it shut down for an hour more excited because it just root beer mug — Indiana Glass way to bring all of the various look like it’s popping out of the every day for cleaning. looks fabulous.” made the company’s first such elements together that was wall,’” said Bliss. “In order to Bader said it was impor - The mural is an amalgam of mugs — pouring out its con - most challenging. Her early make it interesting, I’ve got to tant to have the pool open the city’s history, and much of tents. efforts weren’t hitting the do something. … So I just had this year to provide some that history is glass-related. The mural also features a mark. to get away from it for a little “normalcy” to the commu - The image of Merry, the first nod to the city being the home “They really weren’t feeling while and then recharge.” nity in a year that has been president of Indiana Glass, is of choreographer Twyla it,” said Bliss of the initial See Mural page 2 anything but normal. See Park page 2 JCDC approves budget By RAY COONEY The Commercial Review Meeting for the first time in eight months, Jay County Development Corporation did some catching up. Board also elects directors, The organization, which had reviews its recent activity not met in person since Febru - ary because of the ongoing in first meeting since February coronavirus pandemic, approved its 2021 budget, elect - ed officers and directors and reviewed the last 20 months of activity during its annual meet - nesses and industries — are Richards reviewed 2020 spending ing Tuesday. expected to be down. thus far, saying the organization The Commercial Review/Ray Cooney The JCDC board approved its The biggest change in JCDC is under budget in part because 2021 budget at $309,650, which is spending plans for 2021 is the of limited travel and other relat - up about $17,000 over the cur - elimination of a $5,000 expendi - ed expenses during the pandemic. rent year. That increase came in ture for the Hoosier Opportunity “We look like we’re in pretty Saturday slide the form of public pledges — local jobs website, a partnership good shape,” he said. Bailey Glessner, 4, grins as she slides funding from local government between Jay, Randolph and The board elected Barbara down one of the inflatable attractions Saturday — as the organization requested Wayne counties. Those funds will Street as secretary and Trent Pax - during the Community Fall Festival hosted by The and received additional funding come directly from economic son as treasurer. President Doug ROCK Church and Community & Family Services at from the county and City of development dollars rather than Loy and vice president Doug Hudson Family Park in Portland. Portland. (It comes after several being funneled through the JCDC Stanley are in the midst of their years of budget cuts.) Private budget. two-year terms at the helm. pledges — those from local busi - JCDC executive director Travis See JCDC page 5 Weather In review Coming up Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association will host Thursday — Results form its fall Swap and Sell Meet from tonight’s JCHS boys soccer The high temperature Tues - skies Thursday with a high of 72. Thursday through Saturday at sectional semifinal game day in Jay County was 75 The long-term forecast calls for its grounds on Morton Street in against the Burris Owls. degrees. The low was 46. highs in the upper 60s or 70s Portland. Tonight’s low is expected to be through Oct. 15. For details about Admission is $5 for those 12 Saturday — Thirty years in the low 40s. Expect sunny the extended outlook, see page 2. and older. Those 11 and younger ago this week, a Pennville res - will be admitted for free. For ident returned home after a more information, visit tristate - heart transplant. gasenginetractor.com. The Commercial Review Page 2 Local Wednesday, October 7, 2020 Park ... Continued from page 1 Haynes Park and to fill cracks and coat Bader and board members also basketball courts at the park and near the expressed confusion as to why lifeguards city’s park department office. Guard rails did not receive a pay increase after the will eventually be installed at each end of board voted to increase the starting wage Haynes Park because the existing fence from $8 to $9 per hour in March. has proven to be insufficient, Portland Pet “I know we lost money and it’s hard to Street and Parks Department’s Matt Shau - sit here and ask for a raise, but if we want ver said. of the to keep this pool that’s only 5 years old •Heard from Shauver that six out of 10 running, we have to have employees, too,” grills in the parks have been salvaged. The Bader said, adding the water park is los - grills the department could save are being week ing employees to McDonald’s and Wal - coated and reinstalled deeper into the Punky, a 2.5-year- mart. ground at the parks, he said. old femlae, is Board secretary Chris Compton said •Received an update from Portland’s available for adoption that raise was supposed to have been for - Brett Resler that temporary disc golf bas - from Midwest Pet warded to Portland Mayor John Boggs’ kets had been installed in Hudson Family office for enactment. and Weiler-Wilson parks with permanent Refuge. The fee is Board president Shauna Runkle said ones to go there by the end of the year, he $50. Applications for she was upset Boggs never contacted her said.