City of Anderson News Feed

Downtown Anderson Cleanup

5/11/2012 12:00:00 AM

Weds., May 16, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Meet at Town Center
Refreshments provided
Please bring cleanup equipment needed, such as brooms, rakes, shovels and so forth
For more information, please call (765) 617-8473
Sponsored by the city of Anderson

Operation Foundation Anticipates April Cleanup Week

3/26/2012 12:00:00 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Megan Whitmire
Cell Phone: (937)467-4437
Email: mawhitmire@anderson.edu

CITY OF ANDERSON UNITES FOR WEEK-LONG COMMUNITY CLEANUP

Student-Led Operation Foundation Anticipates A Successful Fourth Year

From April 16-21, volunteers from the Anderson community will come alongside Operation Foundation for a week of service and restoration in a portion of downtown. Operation Foundation is led by a group of college students from Anderson University who simply want to make a difference in their temporary community. Hundreds of volunteers will come out on different days of the week to participate in trash pickup, home repairs, park cleanup, landscaping, and many other projects.

Operation Foundation was founded in 2008 by several college students with a desire to give back to the City of Anderson. Over 500 volunteers worked for more than 1,600 hours in the groups first work week in April 2009. This was a much larger turnout than anyone in the organization had anticipated. Co-Coordinator Sarah Russell says, “It was incredibly encouraging to see so many different types of people come together to selflessly serve their community last year.”

Operation Foundation also works in close contact with the Anderson Community Development Department, local churches, Anderson University groups, and various local businesses. All of these groups have been very supportive with funding, volunteers, and guidance throughout Operation Foundation's existence. Co-Coordinator David Hughes says, “Without the community groups and businesses that have come alongside us we never could have had the success that we have had so far.”

Operation Foundation will be stationed at the Urban League of Madison County for the work week in April. Work hours will be from 4-8pm Monday through Friday and from 8am-4pm on Saturday. Those interested in volunteering can come to the Urban League at 1210 W. 10th St. during the workdays or contact Operation Foundation beforehand by emailing operationfoundationpa@gmail.com for more information.

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For further information or interview requests please contact Megan Whitmire at (937)467-4437 or email Megan at mawhitmire@anderson.edu.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RATE CHANGE BY ANDERSON MUNICIPAL LIGHT & POWER

2/28/2012 10:27:51 AM

Notice is hereby given to ratepayers of the municipally owned electric utility and other interested persons that the Board of Public Works of the City of Anderson, Indiana has adopted Resolution No. 2-12 authorizing the following incremental changes in Rate Adjustment Factors

Rate RS
$0.004978 Per-KWH Increase

Rate GS
Single Phase
$0.001932 Per-KWH Increase

Three Phase
$0.001512 Per-KWH Increase

Rate SP
$1.620 Per-KW Decrease
$0.000737 Per-KWH Increase

Rate LP
$2.070 Per-KVA Decrease
$0.002087 Per-KWH Decrease

Rate LP Off Peak
$2.290 Per-KVA Decrease
$0.005881 Per-KWH Decrease

Rate CL
$0.000811 Per-KWH Increase

Rate SL
$0.009688 Per-KWH Decrease

Rate OL
$0.016096 Per-KWH Decrease

This rate change is based solely upon changes of purchased power and energy purchased by the utility from its supplier Indiana Municipal Power Agency and is computed in accordance with Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Order in Cause #36835-S3 dated December 13, 1989.

The Utility has made a filing with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission for approval of the Rate Change. If approved, the change of rate will take effect for bills to be rendered beginning with the April, 2012 billing cycle.

Any objections to this filing should be directed to the following:

Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
PNC Center
101 W. Washington St., Ste 1500 E
Indianapolis, IN 46204-3407

Office of Utility Consumer Counselor
PNC Center
115 W. Washington St., Ste 1500 S.
Indianapolis, IN 46204-3407

HB-133 Feb. 21, 28 #572632

Download the PDF version of this document.

Westside Redevelopment Planning to become a Reality: Edgewood Plaza property deed recorded by Mayor Ockomon

12/1/2011 12:00:00 AM

For some time, the City’s Economic Development Team and Redevelopment Commission have been in planning with developers on a project known as the “Westside Redevelopment Plan.” The initial design, which included the area from Raible Avenue along Nichol Avenue into the Westside area of commerce, shows a beautiful new corridor and new business plazas that would be available for new tenants. In essence, this would be a total facelift for this section of the community.

Until recently, the city was not able to obtain the Edgewood Plaza, which was an obvious component included in the redevelopment plans. As a result of nonpayment of property taxes, the City has now obtained the deed to this property and on Thursday, December 1^st, Mayor Kris Ockomon recorded the deed at the Madison County Courthouse, consummating the reality of this project.

Recognizing the condition of the building and with the intention of a rebuild, the City will be assisting the only remaining tenant of the Edgewood Plaza to relocate to the location of their choice within the city. Once that move is made, demolition funds that have been identified will be apportioned to this project, specs will be completed, and bids will be opened later this month.

Following the demolition of the former K-Mart/Payless complex on the west end of Nichol Avenue in February 2010, the city Economic Development team worked with developers to target grocers, retailers, and neighborhood businesses to bring to the area. While the city’s administration will soon be in transition, the incoming Mayor has made it known that the redevelopment of the West Side is also his desire and Mayor Ockomon is confident that these plans will carry through as a continued priority for the Anderson community.

Anderson selected as a Super Celebration Site for Super Bowl XLVI

12/1/2011 12:00:00 AM

The 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee has selected 17 communities to serve as Super Celebration Sites. The areas will provide activities and information about the Super Bowl for residents and visitors. The committee has also announced the Super Cars program, which will showcase 33 Indy Cars, with 32 cars representing each NFL franchise team and one car representing Super Bowl XLVI.

The communities serving as Super Celebration Sites include: Anderson, Bloomington, Broad Ripple, Carmel, Columbus, Fishers, Fountain Square, Greenfield, Greenwood/Franklin, Indiana Avenue, International Marketplace, Lafayette/West Lafayette, Mass Avenue, Noblesville, Plainfield, Shelbyville and Zionsville.

AT&T contributes to Madison County Chamber program

11/30/2011 12:00:00 AM

November 30, 2011

AT&T contributes to Madison County Chamber program

Student to Pro aims to connect students to business leaders

By Dani Palmer The Herald Bulletin The Herald Bulletin Wed Nov 30, 2011, 10:24 PM EST

ANDERSON, Ind. — A new Madison County Chamber program will provide students the opportunity to get a head start in their career by connecting them with business leaders while they’re still in college.

AT&T presented the Madison County Chamber with a $5,000 contribution Wednesday afternoon to kick off a new program called Student to Pro that will get students from Anderson University, Harrison College, the Purdue University College of Technology and Ivy Tech Community College involved with the chamber.

It’s a first-time initiative, said Kyle Morey, president and CEO of the Madison County Chamber, and a big chunk of the program is all about connections.

Student representatives from each of the schools were in attendance, and many said the program will provide students with opportunities.

“I think it’s a great program. I do,” Purdue student Jon Osborne, an organizational leadership and supervision major, said. “A sign of better things to come.”

Osborne said he’s excited about the program because it helps students look to the future. He said the program will assist in the transition from student to career, which can be scary.

Harrison business management major Michelle Fields said the program will give students the important opportunity to interact with businesses.

“Some students aren’t aware of how things work (outside the classroom),” she said.

David Lewis, director of external affairs at AT&T, said he knew from the beginning the program could become a good opportunity for those involved.

“It’s very important we invest in the future,” he said to the student representatives, “because you are the future.”

Lewis said the current work force is looking to the students to be successful.

Chamber Executive Vice President Angela Barbosa said she and Morey brainstormed and came up with the idea for Student to Pro.

Morey said they wanted to design a program that would help students “connect, learn and grow.”

According to Barbosa, the program basically offers a student membership into the chamber that will allow the students to receive newsletters, event invites, along with benefits like access to the membership database to assist in “making that connection” with business leaders.

Right now, the program is in the final stages of development and is expected to begin in January, she said.

In the future, she said, they’d like Student to Pro to be more hands-on with one-on-one interactions in what she called the tier-two level of the project, which they hope will be put into place at the beginning of the 2012 academic year.

Barbosa said they’ll help students build their résumés and make those connections, but it’s up to the students themselves to actively participate and get involved with the businesses.

Anderson, Elwood businesses join coalition for tax fairness

11/29/2011 12:00:00 AM

November 29, 2011

Anderson, Elwood businesses join coalition for tax fairness

Anonymous The Herald Bulletin The Herald Bulletin Tue Nov 29, 2011, 06:13 PM EST

ANDERSON, Ind. — Some businesses in Madison County have joined Indiana Merchants for Tax Fairness, a coalition asking that online-only retailers remit sales taxes on items sold to Indiana consumers. According to the www.indianamerchants.com website, they include:

Goods Candy Shop, Anderson
Miller Huggins Inc., Anderson
Wigs & More, Anderson
Moser Jewelers, Elwood

Steven Foster, president of Anderson’s Miller Huggins Inc., said it was important for his business to be a part of the coalition to help even the playing field with online retailers.

“It gives the competition an advantage — they have a 7 percent margin advantage right from the start over anything you are doing. We have to pay the tax, unless it is a nonprofit with a tax exemption. We have to bring the tax in and pay it.”

When online retailers make the sale it takes revenue away from the state.

“I think, if a brick-and-mortar business is required to pay it, I think anyone out there trying to run a business, even online, needs to pick up the tax and return it to the state,” Foster said.

Out with the old, in with the new at Chevy dealership

11/28/2011 12:00:00 AM

November 28, 2011

Out with the old, in with the new at Chevy dealership

Anonymous The Herald Bulletin The Herald Bulletin Mon Nov 28, 2011, 08:47 PM EST

ANDERSON, Ind. — Demolition started Monday on the old Chevrolet sales buildings at Ed Martin Automotive Group at 5400 Scatterfield Road in Anderson.

Workers for Oles Engineering Corp. were cutting down the metal beams for removal on the first building torn down. A new sales facility will be erected in its place.

For more about Chevrolet, read the Tuesday print edition of The Herald Bulletin, which includes an 8-page special section about the 100-year anniversary of the great American car company.

History: Downtown Anderson was the place to shop

11/27/2011 12:00:00 AM

November 27, 2011

History: Downtown Anderson was the place to shop

By Beth Oljace For The Herald Bulletin The Herald Bulletin Sun Nov 27, 2011, 11:52 AM EST

ANDERSON, Ind. — For more than 100 years, Anderson’s downtown was the place to shop.

Spreading out from Courthouse Square in all directions, Anderson’s downtown was once filled with stores and shops which offered all types of services. Of these, the largest and most ornate were Anderson’s department stores. Originally called dry goods stores, they offered clothes, furniture and a large variety of other goods all under one roof.

Weslow’s White House

Weslow’s White House stood at the northwest corner of Ninth and Meridian Streets, a historic location which had seen several businesses come and go by the time Abraham Weslow of Columbus, Ind. located his business there in 1893.

Weslow enlarged a previous dry goods business located on the ground floor to a four-floor, full-service department store. There were 27 departments.

In the basement were groceries, house furnishings in general and domestics. The main floor was devoted to silks (probably both the fabric and silk thread), dress goods, linens, fancy goods, notions and the like. On the second floor was millinery (hats) and everything in ready-to-wear for grandma down to baby. On the third floor were carpets, rugs, curtains and wallpaper.

Weslow’s survived a 1900 fire (in which the company lost $25,000 worth of stock) and the 1925 death of founder Abraham Weslow, but closed in the mid-1930s. A Hills Department Store occupied the building until the early 1960s, when it was torn down.

Competitors owned by the same firm

Among Weslow’s early competitors was the Banner Store, which also opened in the 1890s in a location that might have been considered jinxed. Located on the west side of Meridian Street between what would later be Frisch’s Downtown Restaurant and the Anderson Bank Building, the Banner Store location had been the site of the Doxey Opera House (destroyed by fire in 1884) and the Doxey Music Hall (destroyed by fire in 1893.)

The store initially had bad luck (a third fire, in 1896), but re-built and became one of the most profitable businesses in downtown Anderson. The Banner Store (“Where you can always buy for less”) grew from a one-floor operation to a large, three-floor, 28-department operation in the 1940s.

The Banner Store’s chief competitor was probably The Fair Store, which opened in downtown Anderson in the Union Building on the southeast corner of 11th and Meridian, replacing the Lion Department Store.

The Fair Store (“Where most people shop”) survived its own disastrous fire in 1934. What may not have been known by many Andersonians was that The Fair Store and the Banner Store were owned by the same company from the 1920s on.

The Weiler family of Portland, Ind., which operated department stores in Portland and Hartford City, were the owners of the Fair Store and acquired the Banner Store at some time in the ‘20s. Both managed to survive the Depression and the fate of the Hartford City Weiler’s, which was closed by KKK opposition to its Jewish owners.

For three decades, they competed at offering department store services to the residents of Anderson. In 1965, the two stores were merged and renamed Weiler’s Banner-Fair Store. For awhile, the two buildings were kept. The Banner Store building became the girl’s and women’s store, with a remodel that created shops, salons and boutique settings. The boy’s and men’s departments and the home store were kept in the Union Building. By 1970, the ladies’ store had moved to the Union Building and the Banner Store building was sold to Anderson Bank in 1979. Weiler’s opened a store at Mounds Mall in the late ‘70s (in the building that currently houses Carson’s) and closed the Union Building Store in 1980.

The keynote of the department store was service. A department store offered a wide variety of goods under one roof, but the thing that kept the customer coming back, along with competitive prices, was the something extra that was offered.

You could get a dress or a suit altered by salespeople who knew how to fit and seamstresses (usually female) who knew how to sew. You could get an item monogrammed if you wished. (In the 1980s, I bought a monogrammed purse at Hoyt Wright’s uptown. The person who had ordered it forgot to pick it up and they sold it at a discount.) For a lady who owned furs, there was a cold storage locker that kept them cool and safe from moths in the days before most people had home air conditioning.

Last downtown

department store

The last downtown department store in Anderson was Hoyt Wright, although they were more properly a clothing store. Started in 1922 by Frankton native Hoyt Wright and his partners P. H. Doyle, George McMahan, Sr. and Herbert McMahan, Hoyt Wright began as a mens’ and boys’ wear store.

In 1941, ladies’ clothes were added and in 1953, an extensive renovation added shoes and children’s wear. Hoyt Wright’s original location was in the Durbin-McCullough Block on West 9th Street. A building fronting on Meridian was added in the 1950s and for several years the store operated profitably out of the two store fronts, with Frisch’s Restaurant between them. The company also had stores in the Mounds and Muncie Malls.

After good business years in the late 70’s, Hoyt Wright experienced the difficulties common to all Anderson retailers in the early ‘80s which weren’t improved by building problems.

On May 26, 1983, when staff were coming to work, the roof of the old Durbin-McCullough building (owned, ironically, by competitor Ray Weiler) collapsed under the weight of standing water. Although no one was injured and Hoyt Wright merchandise was not badly hurt, the falling brick crushed some cars and put pressure on the east wall of the building. The building was not salvageable and was demolished. Hoyt Wright moved merchandise and staff to other stores and rebuilt an annex attached to the existing Meridian Street store.

Hoyt Wright’s main local competitor, Weiler’s, went out of business that year. Although business had been “fair to middling” that year, Ray Weiler wanted to retire and neither of his children wanted to run the business after him. The collapse of the downtown building destroyed some company items and convinced Weiler to end the Mounds Mall store on July 31, 1983.

Hoyt Wright’s downtown store remained in business until May 1988. (The stores at the Mounds and Muncie Mall were closed the next year.) The Meridian Street store front is now a law office and the built-on extension is now occupied by Talecris Plasma Services.

Beth Oljace works in the Indiana Room at the Anderson Public Library. She can be reached at boljace@yahoo.com.

Anderson's Winterfest is Dec. 2

11/27/2011 12:00:00 AM

November 27, 2011

Anderson's Winterfest is Dec. 2

Anonymous The Herald Bulletin The Herald Bulletin Sun Nov 27, 2011, 07:49 AM EST

ANDERSON, Ind. — Here is a schedule of events:

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Moneyhun’s Fine Gifts and Furnishings, 115 W. Eighth St., holiday sales and refreshments.

10 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Soroptimist Cookie Walk at the Union Building, Meridian and 11th streets, cookie sales and, from 4 to 6 p.m., decorating fun.

Noon to 8 p.m. — The Anderson Center for the Arts, 32 W. 10th St., invites visitors to shop with art vendors, visit with the Winter Princess (4 to 8 p.m.) and create winter art.

4 to 5:30 p.m. — Anderson Public Library, 111 E. 12th St., wintry make-and-take crafts from 4 to 5 p.m.

4 to 6 p.m. — Paramount Theatre, 1124 Meridian Plaza, offers the Davenport Christmas Village and Festival of Trees.

4 to 7 p.m. — Daybreak & Visiting Nurse Care, 1304 Main St., holiday activities and crafts for children.

4 to 8 p.m. — Trolley rides, free

4 to 8 p.m. — Salvation Army will hold a silent auction and have bell ringers at The Anderson Center for the Arts.

4:30 to 8 p.m. — Central Christian Church, 923 Jackson St., chili supper for $5.

5 to 8 p.m. — Luminaries will light the way to Trinity Episcopal Church, 1030 Delaware-Brown Street, where St. Nicholas will greet children. A photographer will be present. A complimentary photo will be given to parents. A collection of Nativity scenes will be on display. in the church parish hall, where parents and children may also enjoy complimentary homemade scones, cookies, hot chocolate, tea and coffee.

5 to 8 p.m. — Gruenewald House, 626 Main St., Father Christmas, refreshments and children’s stories.

5:30 p.m. — Citizens Park Plaza, Ninth and Main streets, Winterfest ceremony with tree lighting at 6:15 p.m.

6 to 8 p.m. — Vermilion Place, 449 Main St., photos with Santa, entertainment and refreshments.

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Harter House, 600 Main St., will have a Friends and Family Open House with hot dogs and chili for $4 per person, and baked goods for sale.