Local News

The Anderson Municipal Airport will be the site of a live, static rocket engine test on Saturday, October 11, as the University of Dayton Advanced Rocket Team (UDART) completes static testing of its kerosene-liquid oxygen systems.  Anderson based AirBuoyant is the corporate sponsor of the creation of the UDART Rocket. 

The UDART Rocket will reach an altitude of 30,000 feet and will carry high altitude measuring equipment when launched. Rick Wills, UDART Team Leader, said the tests completed on October 11 would allow the team to be able to safely ascertain the stability of the thrust of the engines, as well as the pressures of the fuel system during thrust testing.  Testing will be fueled by a new fuel mix, a partial bio-fuel, which will also be tested for consistency.  The engine for the UDART rocket is a donated Vernier engine from an Atlas rocket.   

Pete Bitar of AirBuoyant said, “although the rocket will not actually fly during this test, we are making a big step forward with UDART’s systems tests. The Anderson Municipal Airport is now dipping its toes into the pool that is aerospace and this may lead to building inter-state project development experience which will help attract cutting-edge, new technology companies to Anderson and also open up the community’s horizons to its possible economic future”.

Bitar became involved with the UDART rocket project through another scientific connection with UDART team leader Rick Willis.  The two are team members of Team LunaTrex, now competing for the Google Lunar X Prize- a reward of $30 million to the first team to complete a mission to land a rover on the moon, travel on the lunar surface, and transmit HD video to Earth.

Mayor Kris Ockomon said of the UDART testing, “This project is tailor made for Anderson, as it exemplifies the commonalities between advanced manufacturing, engineering, and business incubation offered here, and showcases Anderson’s welcoming environment for these projects at Aero Park and the Anderson Municipal Airport”.  

(Anderson, Indiana)--   Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), and communities throughout Madison County will conduct a flood risk open house on Wednesday, October 1^st, 5 – 8 p.m., in the Delaware Room of the Anderson Public Library to show the public the preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).  Local government staff will be available to answer questions about the mapping and provide one-on-one assistance.

A multi-year project to re-examine Madison County’s flood zones and develop detailed, digital flood hazard maps has been completed.  Just released for public review, the new maps, also known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), reflect current flood risks, replacing maps that are up to 30 years old.

Flooding is the most frequent and costly disaster in Indiana.  The risk for flooding changes over time due to erosion, land use, weather events, and other factors.  The risk for flooding can vary within the same neighborhood and even property to property.  But it exists throughout the area.  Flooding occurs not only in high-risk areas, but in low to moderate-risk areas as well.  In fact, more than 25% of properties flooded nationwide were in areas designated as having low or moderate flood risk.  Knowing your flood risk is the first step to flood protection.  For additional information, contact John Kinley, Deputy Director of Emergency Management, at 648-6302.

The fall burning season for the City of Anderson, Indiana will begin on Wednesday, October 1^st, 2008 and will end on Sunday, November 30^th, 2008.  Residents of the City of Anderson will be allowed to burn wood products and leaves on their personal property if the following guidelines are followed:

-Only clean dry wood or leaves may be burned.

-All burning is to be conducted in a non-combustible container with solid enclosed sides and ventilation near the bottom edges of the container, such as a metal 55-gallon drum with holes drilled near the bottom edge of the container.

-The fire must be attended at ALL times.

-A means to extinguish the fire must be readily available.

-All burning must be extinguished by 6 PM.

-If the burning creates a nuisance or hazard, it must be extinguished.

-Open burning on the ground is not permitted in the State of Indiana.

Violations of the city’s open burning regulations can carry a civil penalty of up to $2,500.00 per violation.  If there are any questions regarding the open burning regulations, please contact the City of Anderson Air Management Division at (765) 648-6158.

ANDERSON, Ind. - Governor Mitch Daniels joined executives from Nestlé USA today to announce the company's plans to expand its 880,000 square-foot beverage production facility here, creating nearly 135 new jobs by 2011.

(Anderson, Indiana)--   Richard Mort and the Mort Family have been selected by Mayor Kris Ockomon as recipients of the Chief Anderson award, the highest honor bestowed by the City of Anderson.  The Chief Anderson award recognizes extraordinary leadership that serves to positively impact Anderson’s future. 

“Mr. Mort and his family were instrumental in shepherding development to the Southern edge of Anderson, beginning with the location of Interstate 69, and continuing even today with the announcement of Nestlé’s expansion,” Mayor Ockomon explained.

Mort lives and does business along the corporate boundary between Anderson and Pendleton; an area which has undergone extreme change in recent years due to development along the I-69 corridor.  Changing corporate boundaries and development patterns could make this area ripe for controversy, but Mr. Mort has served as a leader, peacemaker, and respected advisor to others in the area who are grappling with the changes brought about by economic development projects at The Flagship and continuing to the west. 

Ockomon added, “Mr. Mort combines business acumen with the quiet, honest leadership that holds projects together.  Many of Indiana’s economic development projects are won or lost with the grassroots farm families of our rural areas, frequently led by people like Mr. Mort who have a long range view of community betterment and the respect of their peers which give them the direction and the ability to lead.”

Mr. Mort and his wife Ellen, now deceased, were the largest landowners in the area where Nestle today announced a 180 million dollar expansion project to its $369 million dollar facility.  Mary Starkey, friend of the Mort Family and director of the Corporation for Economic Development during the Nestle project, said, “The local project team was comprised of over 100 individuals from all walks of life, and Mr. Mort was chief among them.  Unquestionably, that project could not have happened in Anderson without the patience and commitment shown by Mr. Mort and his wife, Ellen, who trusted in the vision of a successfully transitioning economy and who shared that trust and vision with others.”   

The Chief Anderson award is a cast bronze work of art created by local artist Ken Ryden.  Some past recipients of the Chief Anderson award are: Chuck Staley, Thomas McMahan, Bill McCarty, Ray McCaslin, Norma Schlossberg, Bill Hardacre, and Bill and Gloria Gaither.

Mayor Kris Ockomon, along with David Baker and Tim Rohrer of Gnawbone Restaurants, officially broke ground on Anderson’s new Montana Mike’s, which will be located in the 6300 block of South Scatterfield Road, adjacent to 1-69 Exit 26.  Mayor Ockomon commented, “high traffic counts and great visibility will ensure the long term success of this location.”  Baker praised Anderson for its streamlined development process and business friendly atmosphere, saying, “With the development friendly attitude our business has experienced in Anderson, along with its location along the I-69 corridor, we see nothing but blue skies ahead for this community.”

Montana Mike’s Anderson location will create 100 full and part time positions when it opens in early November.

View Trolley Route Maps

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The Trolley’s six stops were planned by the City of Anderson Transit System (CATS) to provide close proximity to several downtown restaurants as well as large concentrations of downtown office workers.  Lori Sylvester, program manager for Anderson, Indiana Main Street, said, “There are approximately 4000 people who live downtown, and another 4000 who work downtown Monday through Friday.  Rather than those downtown workers driving elsewhere for lunch, the Trolley route will encourage them to have lunch downtown, visit the library, post office, the Anderson Center for the Arts, the YMCA, or just enjoy some fresh air and sunshine in Anderson Town Center.”

Anderson has owned the electric Trolley since 2000, but the Trolley has been out of commission since 2005 because of the need for new rechargeable batteries.  CATS General Manager Merle Jones said, “It was a priority of the Ockomon Administration to get the Trolley back in working order.  It has now been repaired and is operating better than ever.”  The Trolley is fully electric, and runs five hours on each eight hour charge.  Jones continued, “With the cost of diesel fuel at over $4 per gallon, electric Trolley service provides a valuable amenity to the City and riders at minimal cost."

Madison County residents who sustained damage caused by the severe weather and flooding in Central Indiana since May 30th are urged to call 648-6670 and leave a detailed message with your name, address, phone number, type of damage to property, and the date damage occured.

Representatives from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and FEMA are working with City and County emergency management officials to quantify losses from the damaged areas and determine if federal assistance should be requested.  Losses can include structural damage to homes and loss of personal property.

Click here to download form to print, then fax form to Emergency Management at 648-6300.
The form may also be filled out online.

Contact:

John Kinley, Deputy Director of Anderson Emergency Management at 648-6302