News

When Britt Aero/Britt Tool’s Darin Britton went before the Clay County Redevelopment Commission to ask for a positive tax abatement this week, the members had no problem granting it. The company began in 1986 and since 2013 has increased the number of employees by 14 and increased its payroll 5 times, said the commission’s attorney Lou Britton, advocating a positive recommendation for the company...

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces State Road 46 westbound ramp to State Road 641 will close Saturday at 8 p.m. and reopen at 4 a.m. Sunday. The contractor will be placing the top layer of asphalt on the ramp. Westbound S.R. 46 traffic will detour onto S.R. 641 south to McDaniel Road, then re-enter S.R. 641 northbound and back to S.R. 46...

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention is reporting an alarming trend upward in pool and water park contamination outbreaks across the nation. According to statistics recently released by the CDC, the number of outbreaks in the U.S. related to pool contamination has doubled over the last two years...

The Crisis Pregnancy Center of Brazil is sponsoring its annual Baby Photo Contest during the Clay County 4-H Fair again this year. Prizes will donated by local merchants for each of the top three winners. Entries can be turned in beginning Monday and must be postmarked no later than midnight July 13. ...

Clay City’s main street was lined with people of all ages who came out to see the annual parade for the 2017 Clay City Fair Wednesday evening. There were plenty of tractors and vintage cars among the numerous entries, and everybody was passing out treats. There were all types of candy, popsicles, bottles of water and full size bags of potato chips along with flyers, coupons and cooler sleeves for pop cans...

All pet owners have a decision to make. Generally, this happens early in their pet’s life and that decision is, “Should I have my pet altered?” Whether you own a male or female, this is a decision that needs to be made. Some people have all their pets spayed or neutered. ...

If you or someone you know is interested in serving on a local Farm Service Agency County Committee, now is the time to submit that person’s name as a nominee for the 2017 County Committee Elections. Through Aug. 1, residents can nominate themselves or a candidate of their choice for their local FSA county committee. Almost anyone participating or cooperating in FSA’s programs — and of legal voting age — can be nominated...

Employees with KIHM Metal Technologies, 301 N. Murphy Ave., Brazil, once again volunteered their time and labor at Forest Park to place bark around trees and beautify the park for the community. There was a great turn out Saturday, June 10, and the Clay Community Park Association thanks them for doing a great job...

Harold Plunkett was treated like a superstar Tuesday night. In fact, all the residents of Towne Park Assisted Living were treated like superstars during the celebration of the home’s first anniversary.

At the May 31 Brazil Rotary Club meeting, President Frank Phillips presented a $1,000 scholarship check to Northview High School graduate Nick Ganly (at top) before leading the induction of New Rotary Club member Brook Reinoehl. Next, Rotarian Mary Jo Alumbaugh gave a program on Rotary Foundation giving and Paul Harris Fellowships, which was hosted by Rotarian Susan Hane Thomas...

July will be a busy month for program offerings by the Wabash Valley Genealogy Society (WVGS) in Terre Haute. On Monday, July 10, WVGS will offer a program titled “A Guided Tour of Cyndi’s List 2.0.” The presenter will be Cyndi Ingle, the renowned genealogist who maintains a vast internet resource site for genealogy research...

Next month, Brazil Community Choir will present The Spirit of America — A Patriotic Musical created and arranged by Sue C. Smith and Russell Mauldin: Performances will take place as follows: • 6 p.m. Sunday, July 2, at Bee Ridge Church, 10100 North Kennedy’s Crossing Road, Brazil...

Lewis McNutt, Sr. was a prominent manufacturer and businessman in Clay County for 32 years. He was born in Gosport, Indiana, in 1865 to James A. and Catherine Schemerhorn McNutt. When Lewis was about 9 years old, his family moved to Brazil. On Nov. 23 1983, McNutt married Nancy Clark of Hoopeston, Ill. ...

I am so excited about an event that I have been invited to recently. This is the year that the Class of 1957 of Brazil High School celebrates our 60th reunion. The date is Saturday, July 1, 2017. Classmates will celebrate, this time, at the home of Sam and Joyce Emmert. I received my notice of this event in mid-May...

Authorities are investigating a single-vehicle accident Monday night that caused utility outages for many residents in an area northwest of Brazil. Clay County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Josh Clarke confirmed the accident was reported shortly after 8:30 p.m. ...

Summer camp is in, even though school is out, for the summer. The YMCA Summer Camp is under way at Forest Park Elementary School. It’s from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday for 11 weeks through Aug. 2. The last 2 1/2 weeks of camp will be at the YMCA so maintenance crews can be sure the school is ready for the fall term.

The Church of Our Lord Jesus will have a food giveaway from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 24. The church is located at 708 E. Hendrix St. in Brazil. For more information, contact the church at 812-446-3110.

A boil order has been issued for customers of Center Point’s water utility, said Shawnette Szekely, the town’s water superintendent, on Tuesday. The order was caused by a 2-inch water line break on County Road 600 North. The boil order will be in effect until further notice, Szekely said...

In celebration of its 25th year, the Wabash Valley Community Foundation will award $25,000 in anniversary grants to eligible non-profit agencies in Clay, Sullivan and Vigo counties beginning July 7 and ending Dec. 20.

People see different things from a car window. Some just see buildings while others see a need. Mary Treash’s travels took her past the Head Start offices on West Jackson Street in Brazil. Each time she looked at the building, a thought formed in her mind.

Alumni of a now closed Clay County high school are laying the foundation for a memorial to honor those who have been a part of the school’s decades-long existence...

Forest Park is quickly turning into the place to be for weekend fun, with this past Saturday being no exception. The fun began a noon with the Stop 22 Family Fun Day. Free was the word of the day with soup beans and hotdogs available for lunch, carnival games with prizes, bounce houses, a fun walk, a disc golf challenge, corn hole and ladder ball tournaments along with music provided by “Dixie Flyers” made for a busy afternoon at the Pavilion/Cow Palace...

The graduating class of Staunton High School, 1967, recently held its 50th reunion at MCL Cafeteria in Terre Haute. Twenty-three of the graduating seniors and their spouses attended the event. Forty-one seniors graduated in 1967 and 33 are still living. ...

The Brazil Concert Band proudly presents “The Old Circus Band” under the direction of Matthew S. Huber June 25th at 8 p.m. in Forest Park rain or shine. The BCB promises to keep the traditional sounds of the circus alive with the recent closing of Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey...

The annual Clay City Fair is this week and entertainment has been announced. All shows begin at 7 p.m. at the gazebo. On Wednesday, the Jack Whittle Band will perform. From Bloomington, Whittle has played his traditional blues and rock music on stages aross the Midwest...

The American Softball for Kids (ASK) teams were recently challenged to provide bottles of water to be distributed with meals prepared and distributed by the Clay County Youth Food Delivery Program. On Friday, Team Modisett’s Terry Modisett delivered 60 cases of bottled water.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The state says Indiana’s unemployment rate declined to 3.2 percent in May and is below the national rate of 4.3 percent last month. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development said Friday the state’s May jobless rate compared with one of 3.6 percent in April...

The Brazil First United Methodist Church invites you to join us this Sunday, FATHER’S DAY. Our worship services are traditional at 9 a.m. and contemporary at 11 a.m. Sunday School is at 10:10 a.m. Nursery care is available. Message by Pastor Rick. This is Food Pantry Sunday...

The Brazil First United Methodist Church invites you to join us this Sunday, FATHER’S DAY. Our worship services are traditional at 9 a.m. and contemporary at 11 a.m. Sunday School is at 10:10 a.m. Nursery care is available. Message by Pastor Rick. This is Food Pantry Sunday...

I could not believe how small and tiny she was. My niece had a baby just over two weeks ago. I was holding this little miracle and I was just so deeply touched and in awe of what God has done in creating new life. Her little heart beating, her chest moving in and out with each breath, and her eyes (when opened) taking in her new world. She was just a little doll...

This month’s Staunton Community Center Lady Volunteers’ Dinner will be next Friday, June 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. The menu will include chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, slaw, homemade rolls, desserts, and coffee, tea, or lemonade. The price is $9 for adults and $5 for children...

Out of the mouths of babes… “Is this a library where I can check out books?” 9-year old Bryland Westenhaver recently stopped his bike at the corner of Gilbert and Main streets in Center Point and quizzed the ladies at the Clay County Genealogical Society...

Lunch was served Friday on the lawn at Brazil City Hall, but with a small technical difficulty — the gas grill wouldn’t work at first. Soon another grill was delivered and the first one was quickly fixed. The patiently waiting crowd was served hotdog and pork riblet lunches (a surprise addition to the menu) for a freewill donation...

Rural Clay County residents will have two county road dust control plans to choose from this year. In either case the resident requesting the dust control will pay half the cost and the county will pay the other half up to 400 feet, according to a news release from the Clay County Commissioners.

The Ivy Tech Community College Terre Haute’s soil judging team, comprised of five agriculture students from the college, placed third in the nation at a competition in the NACTA (North American College and Teachers of Agriculture) Contest recently. The contest draws over 850 students from two-year and four-year colleges across the country and consists of 13 different events. This year the NACTA Contest was hosted by Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas...

The following bookings were made during June 13-15, 2017: Devylder, Jeremy D.: Driving while suspended (MA) and Failure to appear (MA) Emory, Benjamin J., Failure to appear (F6) Greene, Joseph Addison: Probation order violation (MC) Haddon, Kimberly J.,: Possession of paraphernalia (MC), Possession of methamphetamine (F6) and Dealing methamphetamine (F4)...

The following filings were reported in Clay Superior Court during June 13-15, 2017: State vs Joshua L. Carter, 31: Resisting law enforcement State vs Austin D. Huey, 19: Operating vehicle with schedule 1 or 2 controlled substance or metabolite in body...

Puppy breath, you love it or you hate it. What else do you know about your likes and dislikes in dogs? A new puppy can be a wonderful addition to a household, bringing joy and companionship for many years or it can be a nightmare. Most of that has to do with what you do before bringing home that new life...

A flag that was flying over Washington, D.C., on 9/11 now flies over The Villas of Hollybrook on U.S. 40 in Brazil. The flag was given by then-Sen. Evan Bayh to a family in Terre Haute who asked to remain anonymous. It was put into storage until it was donated to The Villas of Hollybrook and dedicated to all the veterans who have bravely served the United States.

First Farmers Financial Corp., the parent company of First Farmers Bank & Trust Co., announced that on June 13, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend for the second quarter of 2017 of $0.34 per share, payable on July 14, to shareholders of record as of June 30. This quarterly dividend represents a 6.25 percent increase over the quarterly dividend paid in July 2016...

Mustapha Abouali is Clay County’s Natural Resource Conservation Service District Conservationist. Abouali has worked for NRCS for three years, beginning the summer of 2013. He has relocated to Clay County from Texas, where he was a Soil Conservationist responsible for making conservation plans and providing technical service. Abouali graduated from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies...

Some participants in what is dubbed “the largest road trip in the world” stopped in Brazil for some much needed pit stops Thursday. The goal of the Hot Rod Power Tour 2017 is to travel through seven cities in seven days while cruising the roads in hot-rod style...

The Clay County Senior Center, 120 S. Franklin St., Brazil, will host Steve Manning, Bob Mason and Mike Perkins at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Center will sell sandwiches and pie as a fundraiser. The entertainment is free but a donation will be accepted for the band...

The Brazil Public Library’s summer reading program begins June 21 and continue every Wednesday through July 12. Programs, which are free and open to the public, are as follows: June 21, Silly Safaris; June 28, children’s movie and popcorn; July 5, Brazil police and fire department demonstrations; and July 12, C.R. Ryan and son will perform father and son magic show...

Work is slated to begin soon on turning the old Brazil Jr. High School building on Washington Street into senior housing, said attorney Jim Deal. Deal, who represents New Hope Services, the company working on the project in Brazil, asked the Brazil City Council on Wednesday to vacate two alleys on property now owned by New Hope.

Nearly two dozen more city streets are ready to be paved after the Brazil Board of Public Works and Safety approved on Wednesday the low bid, not to exceed $1,140,482, submitted by Wabash Valley Asphalt. A higher bid was submitted by Dave O’Mara Contractor of $1,297,081.

The Silver Sneaker spaghetti dinner and Easter basket auction proceeds were given to the Clay County YMCA youth programs. A total of $1,000 was divided as follows: $250 to 5K races, $100 to soccer, $100 to basketball, $150 to Family Night, and $400 to summer camp...

On Saturday night, 70 bow fishermen from various Midwestern states entered the first bow fishing tournament sponsored by Jack’s Bait Shop, located west of Craig Park on County Road 950 North. The owner, Jack Elder, announced the winners on Tuesday: 1st-Jeff Agnew, Terre Haute, $812; 2nd-Tim Escott, Brazil, $500; 3rd-Joey High, Hoopeston, Illinois, $338; Big Fish-Kyle West, Jasonville, $225. The biggest fish caught weighed 21 pounds, 6 ounces, Elder said. -Frank Phillips report