Tuesday, January 26, 2021 The Commercial Review Portland, Indiana 47371 www.thecr.com $1 Dunkirk looks at Talks continue animal control City is concerned about costs By RILEY EUBANKS The Commercial Review DUNKIRK — Is the city capable of taking care of stray dogs and cats? At the moment, Mayor Jack Robbins says it is, but an impending “unfunded mandate” set to go in effect in July would require shel - ters like Dunkirk’s to spay and neuter all animals prior to adoption. The requirement comes via a bill passed by the state legislature and signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence in 2016. Beginning July 1, all animal shelters in the state must spay and neuter all animals prior to adoption. “There’s no way we can afford to do that,” Robbins said during the city council meeting Monday, adding that it could be “the end” of shelter. That realization adds to the already heightened need of a new solution to Jay County’s animal con - trol problem. Nevertheless, The Commercial Review/Bailey Cline council agreed it would table consideration of help - Bill Carr of Grinsfelder Associates Architects presented information about animal shelter standards Monday ing to fund a new proposed million-dollar animal con - at the commissioner meeting. Grinsfelder has worked on several Indiana animal shelter projects and explained the trol shelter until Jay Coun - reasons for high shelter construction costs. ty Commissioners decide how much the county is willing to pay toward the project. Task force, commissioners discuss plans, “I hate to say it, but it’s (commissioners’) prob - recommendation for proposed facility lem,” Robbins said. Hours prior, commission - By BAILEY CLINE — rescinded a motion million to $1.35 million tects, who has worked on renovation costs range ers voted to fund a more The Commercial Review Jan. 12 to provide up to price tag and the alter - several Indiana animal between $192 and $258, definitive study of how The animal control $275,000 toward a new nate proposal that a pole shelter projects, shared according to Carr’s much it would cost to build task force shared its rea - animal control facility barn structure be used information about ani - report. a new animal shelter (see soning for proposing a in Jay County. (Commis - instead. mal shelter standards. Commissioners had related story). new facility at a price sioners Mike Leonhard, “We feel like you’ve The Association of questions about those City officials in Dunkirk, tag north of $1 million. Chuck Huffman and asked us to do it right. Shelter Veterinarians figures, which they said just like the City of Port - Commissioners hard - Chad Aker pushed the That’s what we’re here published guidelines for seemed high, with Carr land weeks prior, were hes - ly budged. motion through in to do,” Forcum said. standard animal shelter responding that much of itant to appropriate any Other than approving December, the final She explained that the care in 2010, he the cost is because of money toward the cause $5,000 in economic devel - meeting for both Leon - group is not opposed to explained, detailing recommended heating, without a definitive grasp opment funds from the hard and Huffman.) working with contrac - what is and isn’t typical - ventilation and cooling on where the rest of the Bitter Ridge Wind Farm On Monday, members tors that have built con - ly considered OK in the systems. money would be coming project to go toward a of the animal control centrated animal feed - industry. Adhering to Commissioner Brian from. rendering for a new ani - task force came forward ing operations (CAFOs) those guidelines, the McGalliard also asked if In a figure calculated mal control facility, com - in an attempt to regain and barns, although Humane Society of the the guidelines were from the percent of popula - missioners didn’t com - commissioners’ sup - many she’s talked with United States developed enforced, with Carr tion, the county’s animal mit to any other funding port. do not have experience a range for animal shel - explaining they are not control task force requested for a new facility. Task force chair Julie in building animal con - ter construction costs. government regulations $55,125 from Dunkirk The trio — two of Forcum started by trol facilities. New construction costs but rather industry stan - toward the cost of the pro - whom are new to the addressing comments Bill Carr of Grins - range between $210 and dards. posed $1.14 million building group as of this month made about the $1.14 felder Associates Archi - $254 per square foot, and See Continue page 5 and $12,150 annually for operational costs. See Dunkirk page 5 Impeachment to Senate By LISA MASCARO and MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press WASHINGTON — House Democrats delivered the Republican senators ease impeachment case against Don - ald Trump to the Senate for the criticism of former president start of his historic trial, but Republican senators were eas - ing off their criticism of the former president and shunning the House resolution charging Trump encouraged a rally mob calls to convict him over the “high crimes and misde - to “fight like hell” for his presi - deadly siege at the U.S. Capitol. meanors.” dency, is running into a Repub - The nine House prosecutors But Republican denuncia - lican Party that feels different - carried the sole impeachment tions of Trump have cooled ly. charge of “incitement of insur - since the Jan. 6 riot. Instead Arguments in the Senate trial Bloomberg/Anindito Mukherjee rection” across the Capitol on Republicans are presenting will begin the week of Feb. 8, Monday night in a solemn and arguments against the legiti - and the case against Trump, the ceremonial march to the Senate macy of the trial and question - first former president to face Farmers protest along the same halls the rioters ing whether Trump’s repeated impeachment trial, will test a ransacked just weeks ago. In a demands to overturn Joe political party still sorting Farmers travel along the Inner Ring Road in scene reminiscent of just a year Biden’s election really amount - itself out for the post-Trump New Delhi. Thousands of Indian farmers escalated ago — Trump is the first presi - ed to incitement. era. protests today to revoke controversial agricultural laws, dent twice impeached — the What seemed for some Sen. Patrick Leahy, D- Vt., clashing with police and storming key landmarks in New lead House prosecutor, Rep. Democrats like an open-and- who serves in the largely cere - Delhi to pressure Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, shut case that played out for the monial role of Senate president stood before the Senate to read world on live television, as pro tempore, is set to preside. Deaths Weather In review Coming up Sara Lake , 72, Portland The temperature in Jay Dunkirk Industrial Develop - Dick Glassford , 86, Port - County hovered in the low 30s ment Corporation will hold an land Monday. There was about a open house at 7 p.m. Wednesday Wednesday — Coverage of Steve Frye , 76, Bryant tenth of an inch of freezing at the former Pennsylvania Rail - tonight’s JCHS swim meet Ray Houck , 87, Sebring, rain. road Depot building, 132 W. Lin - against Blackford. Florida Tonight’s forecast calls for a coln, Ave., Dunkirk. DIDC has Lonnie Thompson , 58, low of 24. Skies will be over - spent more than a year on a ren - Saturday — A look back at Portland cast Wednesday with a high of ovation project for the interior a sectional semifinal win for David Petschke , 78, Port - 30 and a few flurries and snow of the building. It is being tar - the Patriots. Retrospect. land showers possible. See page 2 geted as a location to attract a Details on page 2. for an extended outlook. new business to the community. The Commercial Review Page 2 Local/Indiana Tuesday, January 26, 2021 Felony arrests Students Drug possession session of cocaine, methamphet - being held in Jay County Jail on charges, both Level 6 felonies, A Redkey woman was arrested amine and narcotic drugs, a $3,000 bond. for dealing in methampheta - signed Thursday on several drug-relat - Level 6 felony for unlawful pos - mine and possession of cocaine, ed charges. session of a syringe, a Level 6 Drunk driving methamphetamine or narcotic Redkey police conducted a felony for possession or use of A Kansas man was arrested drugs. He also has two Class A pledge three-week investigation prior legend drugs or a precursor, a Saturday for drunk driving. misdemeanor charges for pos - BLOOMINGTON, Ind. to the arrest, said town marshal Class A misdemeanor for pos - Johnathan D. Phelps-Johnson, session of marijuana and pos - (AP) — Hundreds of gradu - Todd Miller. session of paraphernalia and a 26, Wichita, was preliminarily session of paraphernalia. He is ate students on Indiana “In my six years tenure as Class A misdemeanor for pos - charged a Level 6 felony for being held in Jay County Jail on University’s Bloomington town marshal, it’s probably the session of marijuana. operating a vehicle while intoxi - $4,500 bond. campus have signed a largest drug investigation arrest She was booked into Jay cated. pledge to withhold payment that’s happened in Redkey,” County Jail on $50,000 bond. He was booked into Jay Coun - Domestic battery of their mandatory student Miller said. Also, a Portland resident was ty Jail on $3,000 bond. A Portland man was arrested fees amid a push to raise Officials said the woman, arrested Monday for alleged Monday for alleged battery. their standard of living. Diane I. Six, 43, 14 N. Meridian drug charges. Skylar C. Stewart, Probation violation Brandon K.