Thursday, July 11, 2019 The Commercial Review Portland, Indiana 47371 www.thecr.com $1 Dayton 2019 Jay County Fair Progress facility to close By RAY COONEY The Commercial Review Portland will be losing an employer. Dayton Progress, a branch of Dayton Lamina, informed local officials Showing this week that it will be closing its Portland facili - the way ty in the fall. Seth Degler points 3- Randy Wissinger, chief financial officer of Dayton year-old Ava Brockman Lamina, told Portland and her 4-year-old Mayor Randy Geesaman brother Reece and Jay County Develop - Brockman in the right ment Corporation execu - direction Wednesday tive director Travis afternoon during the Richards during a phone mini showmanship call Monday that the facili - portion of the 4-H dairy ty will be closing by the end of September. There beef steers and dairy are about 30 employees feeders show in the locally who will be gradu - Show Arena at the Jay ally let go until the site County Fair. Mini ceases operation. showmanship is a non- “We’ve been able to competitive class that maintain a diverse indus - allows children who are try base, and when we lose not old enough to join one like that that’s com - pletely different than the 4-H to get a little bit of other industries, that’s experience showing always disappointing,” livestock. For more said Geesaman. from Wednesday’s fair The Commercial Review activities, which also was unable to reach Day - included harness ton Progress officials for racing at the comment prior to press grandstand, see pages time. Employees who will no 5, 9 and 10. longer have jobs at the 1314 N. Meridian St. location will be offered positions at the company’s main plant in Dayton, Ohio. For those who aren’t interested in those posi - tions, Richards is hopeful that new jobs can be found locally. The most recent statistics show Jay County had an unemployment The Commercial Review/Ray Cooney rate of 2.7 percent in May. “Many local employers are currently hiring,” said Richards, “and with unem - ployment rates I’m hopeful that most people who find Half-century of destruction themselves without jobs can find a replacement rel - atively quick.” See Close page 2 Demolition derby is Myers celebrating to make 50 years at the fair run for governor By TOM DAVIES By CHRIS SCHANZ Associated Press The Commercial Review INDIANAPOLIS — A Hours and hours of prepara - The Commercial Review/Ray Cooney longtime health care busi - tion go into each iteration of the ness executive hopes to Jay County Fair. turn his corporate experi - From booking entertainment, Drivers battle on the course during the 2018 demolition derby in front of the ence into an asset as he registering vendors and general grandstand at Jay County Fairgrounds. This year marks the 50th anniversary of demolition seeks to unseat Republican upkeep of the fairground, the derbies at the fair, and former winners will be honored during a ceremony between the Eric Holcomb from the county’s premier summer attrac - second and third heats Saturday night. Indiana governor’s office tion requires extensive set-up. next year. It ends with mangled steel, bil - Woody Myers announced lowing smoke, the occasional fire most of the past winners will be resident who is the most decorat - A half century of carnage. his campaign Wednesday, and crushed dreams. honored during a ceremony Sat - ed driver in the history of the More than 100 winners. One com - becoming the first Demo - This weekend’s demolition urday. Jay County derby with 10 titles to mon theme. cratic candidate to formally derby marks the 50th anniver - “It’s kind of neat,” said Shawn his name. “It’s kind of a tradi - Fun. enter the 2020 gubernatori - sary at the Jay County Fair, and Brotherton, a 48-year-old Bryant tion. I run every year.” See Destruction page 9 al race. Myers, a doctor who was Indiana’s state health com - missioner in the 1980s, said he plans to focus his cam - Cincinnatus League honors seniors paign on boosting educa - By ROSE SKELLY Houser, Randy Davis, ter, more enjoyable place butions.” two years until his tion funding, improving the The Commercial Review Roger Inman, John to live and raise our fam - Houser, a lifelong Jay neighbor cut him a deal. state’s health care system All six recipients of Moore and Alice and ilies,” said Rose Snow, County resident, was “He knew how to get and job creation. the Cincinnatus Larry Paxson at its the chairperson for the recognized for his around my dad. He said, “For too long as a state League’s Lifetime of induction ceremony senior recognition com - decades of involvement ‘I’ve got this real nice we’ve been satisfied with Service award have Wednesday at the Jay mittee. “It is our hope in 4-H. When he was a bull calf, I’ll sell it to you good enough,” Myers said. given back to their com - County Fair. that the younger genera - young boy, he wanted to for $5 if you’ll let Dick “Well, in Indiana today, munity in their own way. “We’re here today to tion see and feel your show cattle in 4-H but his show it in 4-H,’” Houser good enough is no longer Cincinnatus League, a say thank you for every - passion to help others family couldn’t afford to recounted. “That was good enough. As a state, we philanthropic organiza - thing you’ve done to and that they might be buy a calf. He settled for the start of it.” need to stop falling behind tion, honored Dick make Jay County a bet - inspired by your contri - showing chickens for See Honors page 5 so our children can get ahead.” See Governor page 2 Deaths Weather At the fair Storms dropped about 0.3 inches of rain Wednesday in Today Friday Jay County. The high tempera - 3 p.m. — 4-H large animal 10 a.m. — 4-H livestock auction ture was 91 degrees, and the James Pearson , 61, rural supreme showmanship in the in the 4-H Exhibit Hall low was 71. Pennville Show Arena 1 p.m. — Senior bingo in the The low will be in the lower Jerry Bye , 79, Albany 5 p.m. — Colts in Motion Farmer’s Building 60s tonight, followed by mostly Details on page 2. 5 p.m. — Gabe Bailey concert in 5 p.m. — Greg Rhoades concert sunny skies Friday with a the Farmer’s Building in the Farmer’s Building high in the low 80s. 7 p.m. — Cook and Belle and 45 8 p.m. — Demolition derby at See page 2 for an extended RPM concert at the grandstand the grandstand forecast. The Commercial Review Page 2 Local/Indiana Thursday, July 11, 2019 Obituaries James Pearson One brother — John R. Pear - Jerry Bye bandits, traveling and socializ - Friday, July 12, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. son, Portland, Indiana ing. at MJS Mortuaries – Redkey July 15, 1957-July 9, 2019 Aug. 26, 1939-July 7, 2019 Three sisters — Janice Vore, He was a hard-working man Chapel with Brother Larry Eads James L. Pearson, age 61, a Jerry E. Bye, 79, of Albany, Portland, Indiana, Roberta who wasn't afraid to get his officiating. Burial will follow in resident of rural Pennville, Indiana, passed away peacefully passed away Tuesday, July 9, Duncan (husband: James), Oss - Sunday, July 7, 2019, while in the hands dirty, dedicating count - Hillcrest Cemetery Redkey, Indi - 2019, at Indiana ian, Indiana, and R. Joan company of his less years to his daughter Anna ana, with military honors being University Health Teeters (husband: Clinton), faithful family and any interest she had. Over held by Ridgeville American Ball Memorial Fort Wayne, Indiana members after a the years, he farmed, raised ani - Legion Post #507. Hospital in An aunt — Marie Flory, Port - lengthy terminal mals, worked in seed corn sales, In lieu of flowers, donations Muncie. land, Indiana illness. rented homes and was owner may be made to the Ridgeville He was a mem - Several nieces and nephews. Jerry was born and operator of Jebco Electron - American Legion Post #507 or ber of Hopewell He was preceded in death by in New Mt. Pleas - ics Co. CB Radio & Supply, which The Little Red Door. of Life Ministries two brothers, Bill and Jackie ant, on Aug. 26, became the largest distributor Arrangements have been in Greene Town - Pearson. 1939, a son of the east of the Mississippi River. entrusted to MJS Mortuaries – ship. He worked Pearson Visitation will be held from 6 late A. Pauline Bye Jerry is survived by his wife Redkey Chapel. at NAPA Auto to 8 p.m. Friday in the (Reynolds) and Barbara Bye; a daughter, Anna •••••••••• Parts in Portland and Fuqua Williamson-Spencer and Pen - Donald F. Bye. He attended Watt (husband: Jim); and special The Commercial Review pub - Chrysler in Dunkirk. He loved rod Funeral Home in Portland. Green Township School and thanks to cousins Charley Bye, lishes death notices for those with his firearms and fishing, and Funeral services will be held received his diploma from the Peg Selvey and Linda Walls; and a connection to our coverage area enjoyed visiting area State at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funer - U.S. Army Class of 1957. faithful companion Missi. free of charge. They include the Parks. al home. Pastor Herb Hummel He was the husband of Bar - He was preceded in death by name, city of residence, James Pearson was born July will officiate the services and bara S.