Saturday, July 31, 2021 The Commercial Review Portland, Indiana 47371 www.thecr.com $1 Indiana officials Entering Valhalla push for use of vaccines COVID-19 cases are up as the delta variant spreads By CASEY SMITH Associated Press and Report for America INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s top health offi - cials made pleas Friday for people to get vaccinat - ed and continue wearing masks as an especially contagious coronavirus variant spreads through - The Commercial Review/Ray Cooney out the state, but they said they had no plans to reinstate statewide The Fort Recovery High School health mandates. marching band debuted its show — Valhalla — In recent weeks, the during its ice cream social Friday night at number of new COVID-19 Barrenbrugge Athletic Park. Pictured above, cases in Indiana color guard member Olivia Hawk performs with “bounced back up” to the band behind her during Friday’s show. At left, rates comparable to a trumpet player Jacob Hartke marches alongside year ago, the state’s several saxophones. The band’s show features health commissioner, Dr. Kristina Box, said during a Norse mythology theme with music including a news conference. the Viking boat song “My Mother Told Me,” Although the state had “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes and well below 2,000 new con - several Richard Wagner operas. firmed cases per week in June, it is now seeing 4,000 to 6,000 cases per week. The biggest threat is from the delta variant, which spreads more easi - Infrastructure package clears another hurdle ly than previous versions By KEVIN FREKING senators helping it clear York, said the chamber not finished by the time al amendments, but with of the coronavirus. Tests and LISA MASCARO one more hurdle and brac - should be able to process lawmakers adjourned. the cooperation of our conducted this month on Associated Press ing to see if support can the legislation quickly Senators will return for Republican colleagues I a sample of Indiana’s WASHINGTON — The hold during the next few given the bipartisan sup - a rare Saturday session as believe we can finish the cases showed that as of Senate further advanced a days of debate and efforts port. But as the day they push through a bipartisan infrastructure Friday, more than 94% of roughly $1 trillion infra - to amend it. dragged into evening, the lengthy process. bill in a matter of days,” them were the “highly structure plan Friday Senate Majority Leader full text of what promises “We may need the week - Schumer said. viral” strain. with a bipartisan group of Chuck Schumer, D-New to be a massive bill was end, we may vote on sever - See Infrastructure page 9 See Vaccines page 2 Curly hair, Hipple cares well as for its proximity and affordability. It was also one of Where the only beauty schools she was able to visit in person because FRHS grad of coronavirus restrictions, they’re with most other opting for vir - is looking tual tours. going “Being able to be there and forward to see how everything worked helped a lot,” she said. learning at Hipple would like to learn more about nail and skin care. beauty school She also hopes to specialize in curly hair in order to under - stand how to better handle it, both for her own hair manage - Editor’s note: This story is the ment and for future clients. fifth in our summer series about “I personally have curly hair, local 2021 graduates’ plans after year-long program. She’ll go and I don’t know what I’m doing high school. It will run on Satur - through about 1,500 hours of with it,” she admitted. “It would be nice to know more about that days through August. If you training before receiving her and help people who also have have a suggestion of someone to license. curly hair and just don’t really include, email details to Throughout her high school [email protected]. know how to treat it and get it to career, she was actively its full potential.” By BAILEY CLINE involved in multiple clubs, The Commercial Review In middle school, she enjoyed Laura Hipple has always including choir, several high braiding her own hair as well as enjoyed doing hair. school drama club productions friends’ and classmates’ hair, That’s why she’s pursuing a and as a dive team member her and she braided hair for others degree in cosmetology, junior and senior years. She while working at the pool. She Photo provided “I feel like I always liked to do also started a part-time job her has also cut and styled some of other peoples’ hair,” she said. sophomore year at Ambassador her family members’ hair, tak - Fort Recovery High School graduate Laura Hipple “(I like to) help people feel bet - Pool, and balances her time this ing tips from YouTube videos has always enjoyed braiding and styling others’ hair, but year between working for the ter about themselves.” and other online tutorials. admits she doesn’t really know what she’s doing with her own Hipple, a recent graduate pool and at Gels IGA grocery And while she doesn’t have a from Fort Recovery High store of St. Henry, Ohio. lot of other experience in the curly locks. She’ll be attending Amber’s Beauty School to School, plans to attend Amber’s She chose Amber’s because field yet, Hipple said she’s ready learn not only about how to handle curly hair, but other Beauty School in Muncie for a she heard positive reviews, as to learn. aspects of the industry including nail and skin care. Deaths Weather In review Coming up Jay County had a high temperature of 77 degrees Jay County Solid Waste Friday. Tuesday — Coverage of Management District will Today’s forecast calls for a Monday’s Portland City Coun - have recycling trailers avail - Ernie Harris , 54, rural high of 76. Skies will be most - cil meeting. able today. Trailers will be Pennville ly sunny Sunday with a high open from 9 a.m. to noon in the Details on page 2. of 77 and a slight chance of Thursday — Results of the shopping center at 220 Lincoln showers. Monday’s high will GOP caucus to select a new St., Portland, and Dunkirk be 75 under sunny skies. member to Jay County Council. City Park. See page 2 for an extended outlook. The Commercial Review Page 2 Local/Indiana Saturday, July 31, 2021 Retrospect Fire hit downtown Portland Fifty years ago this week, a Cleaners, 311 N. Merdian St., stairs to her apartment, but fire took one life and were damaged by smoke and heat and smoke kept them destroyed four downtown water. from reaching the door. Portland businesses. The cause of the fire was Delbert Beals, owner of The Aug. 2, 1971, edition of unknown at that time. Beals’ Lunch, was sleeping at The Commercial Review fea - John Schisler, who was the restaurant at the time of tured coverage of the fire hospitalized for injuries from the fire and said he “barely that broke out at Beals’ the fire but released the next got out.” Lunch, 301 N. Meridian St., day, said he tried to help Portland Fire Chief Ray Portland. Etta Grimes, 87, Grimes, who lived in an “Bud” Williams said the fire Portland, died in the fire, apartment above Ja-Mar. He spread quickly because there which destroyed the restau - reportedly pounded on the were no fire walls in the sec - rant, Miller Barber Shop, 303 door saying “Wake up Etta; ond story of the building. It N. Meridian St., Rupe & Son there’s a fire” and attempted apparently started in the rear The Commercial Review Garage, 305 N. Meridian St., to open the door without suc - of the restaurant and worked and Ja-Mar Appliance, 307 N. cess. A second attempt to get its way up the south wall to Meridian St. into her apartment was also the second story. Thick black and gray smoke hovered over Two other businesses — unsuccessful. Damage was estimated to Portland’s downtown business district when a fire broke out in Ligget TV, 309 N. Meridian Upon arriving, firefighters be at least $100,000 (at least Beal’s Lunch on Aug. 1, 1971. Etta Grimes, 87, Portland, died St., and Keep-U-Neat Dry twice tried to make it up the $671,000 in today’s dollars). in the fire, which also destroyed four businesses. CR almanac Obituaries Ernie Harris Sydney Rae Harris, Services to celebrate Ernie’s life Muncie, Indiana will be held on Sunday, Aug. 8, Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday June 6, 1967-July 29, 2021 8/1 8/2 8/3 8/4 8/5 Sister — Robbie 2021, from 2 to 4 p.m. at The Briar Ernie Harris, age 54, a resident Ray (husband: Rob), Patch in Pennville of rural Pennville, passed away on rural Pennville, Indi - Condolences may be expressed Thursday, July 29, 2021, at his sis - ana at williamosnspencer.com. ter’s home in rural Pennville. Brother — Jack •••••••••• Ernie was born on June 6, 1967, Harris, Hartford The Commercial Review publish - 77/54 75/55 77/56 80/59 81/61 in Portland, Indiana, the son of City, Indiana Harris es death notices for those with a Basil Harris Jr. and Bobbie Sister — Carol connection to our coverage area Mostly Sunny Sunny with More sun Skies will sunny skies skies all day highs in the is in the fore - be mostly (Roark) Harris. Ernie graduated Harris, Hartford City, Indiana free of charge. They include the with a small and mostly upper 70s.