The Decatur Daily Democrat

Adams County business celebrating 50 years, looking forward to future

For a half-century, the team at Bluhm & Reber Drain, Sewer, Septic, Cleaning, Camera and Jet Rodding has provided Adams County families and businesses with quality work that has made them a number to call when help is needed. From day one, the...

August was huge for rural, Geneva, Monroe building, topped by $5 million tower

Through the first eight months of 2026, August was number one in building permits issued by Adams County’s department of building and planning and number one in the amount of money to be spent on construction. The figures in the rural parts of the...

Porter Family Foundation gifts boat for flooding assistance

The historic flooding experienced throughout Adams County over the past week has left officials in need of equipment to perform critical operations. Particularly essential are boats that can navigate flood waters and allow first responders to reach...

Carved truck auction price of $1,000 given to fight cancer by two local men

Just as there are as many kinds of cancer as there are parts of the human body, there are many ways of battling that dreaded disease. For two rural Decatur men – Weldon Schaefer, 86, and Ned Buchan, 40 – one way they chose to help was to donate $1,000...

Healing Within mental health services address given at rotary

At a recent Rotary meeting, Sarah Cearns of Healing Within spoke about the organization’s staff and the services they provide. Healing Within provides trauma resolution and mental health services. Many of their staff are primarily generalists, with...

2027 city budget of $15M introduced, tabled `til 10/6

A proposed 2027 budget of $15,127,030 for Decatur was introduced at the city council's September 15 meeting, then tabled for final action at the October 6 session. The budget introduction came after a public hearing on the budget that no one from the...

Rotary Clubs support mural project

The Decatur and Berne Rotary Clubs banded together to support murals at the Adams County Detention Center through a Rotary District 6540 grant. The mural program, started earlier this year, was introduced by the Adams County Sheriff Dan Mawhorr after...

$25.8 million budget proposed for ‘27 by North Adams Community Schools

A proposed budget of $25,856,274 for 2027 was announced at the September meeting of the North Adams Community Schools Board. The board will vote on the budget at its October 13 meeting. The budget has three broad categories: –Education Fund:...

A Century of Family Tradition: Rager Burger and Hot Head Burritos Coming to Decatur

May 22, 2026 A food business nearly a century in the making is coming to Decatur. Nathan Rager, owner of Rager Burger and Hot Head Burritos, is preparing to open a dual-concept restaurant at 644 N. 13th St., bringing with him a family legacy in the...

Fifth grade band students are off to a strong start as they begin learning the fundamentals of playing an instrument.

Students who participated in Kickstart Camp over the summer are taking on leadership roles by helping their peers learn proper instrument care and how to produce their first sounds. In the flute section, Maci Eicher works with fellow flute player...

ACCF Featured Fund #79. Roger and Betty Singleton Community Enrichment Fund

Roger L. Singleton, son of Franklin J. and Helen Leona (Rayer) Singleton was born in Adams County, Indiana August 7, 1927. He spent his youth on the family farm in Root Township and graduated from Monmouth High School. Betty Jane (Miller) Singleton,...

Bayh vows changes in Secretary of State office

A man with deep ties to the Indiana political culture visited Decatur Saturday during a whirlwind tour of northeast Indiana to discuss his campaign for Secretary of State, the top office up for election this fall. Beau Bayh, a Harvard-educated lawyer...

Antoine Rivarre Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution install new member

At the regular August meeting of the Antoine Rivarre Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution welcomed their newest member, Kathy Liechty Riley of Berne. Kathy’s grandmother was Virgil Leotis Andrews Dick, who was a Charter...

We need your help to make this happen!

Swiss Heritage Village & Museum has a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire and restore the railway caboose from the famous Back 40 Junction restaurant! While the closure of the Back 40 is a loss to the community, it doesn't have to be complete....

Decatur native participates in world's largest international maritime warfare exercise

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – 1st Lt. Jonathan Sweney, a native of Decatur, serves with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, a Marine air-ground task force out of Camp Pendleton, California, participating in...

ACCF Featured Funds:

The Eleanor J. Bressler Scholarship Fund was established by her parents, David and Penny, in memory of their daughter, Eleanor Bressler. Ellie was a pre-school student at St. Joseph Catholic School with her siblings, Anna and Chance, when she passed...

Over 200 kids receive new clothing to start the school year

United Way of Adams County's Clothe-a-Kid program provides new clothes and shoes to 208 local students. More than 200 local children started the new school year with new clothes and shoes thanks to United Way of Adams County's Clothe-a-Kid...

Famous Decatur store celebrates special anniversary

Nearly four decades ago, Sam and Yvonne Gilbert had a dream. While on a trip to Iowa, they spotted a sign that read “Antique Mall” and decided to give it a look. Upon arriving at the antique mall, Sam and Yvonne were astounded by the size of the shop...

Much-expanded Festival de Hispanos set for 9/19 on Madison Street Plaza

Year three for the Festival de Hispanos – a Hispanic-themed event in downtown Decatur – will not only be bigger in scope, but longer in time when it arrives – “arriba!” – on Saturday, September 19. At the August 4 meeting of the Decatur City Council,...

NEAR-MISS AT NACS–A storm that blew through the area almost caused major damage to the administration building of North Adams Community Schools on Tuesday – the day the August school board meeting was held there.

The large tree was only six or seven feet away from the building, but fell eastward and hit another tree, completely missing the school structure. Workers have since been cutting both trees with chain saws to get rid of the mess.

ACCF grants to Adams County Bicycle Club for Flat Fifty Plus Bicycle Tour

The Adams County Bicycle Club sponsored the Flat 50 bicycle event recently. A total of 274 registered riders from 11 states had the option of a 10-mile family ride and many options for 20-to-100mile riding routes in Adams County. The Swiss Village...

Sheriff’s Office welcomes new deputies

A pair of new deputies, Jaxson Love and Joshua Collier, have joined the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Both Love and Collier were joined by their mothers, Casey Love and Julie Collier, respectively, for a swearing-in ceremony that was presided over by...

Rotary recognizes scholarship winners

Decatur Rotary Club members recently met for a club assembly and honored Rotary Scholarship recipients. Recognized for their achievements were Bellmont valedictorian Quinn Buchann and Ethan Crockett from Adams Central, both receiving awards for their...

City gives Decatur Main Street $50,000 for activities in 2027

The same two amounts given by the Decatur City Council for 2026 will be provided in 2027 to the Decatur Main Street organization: $25,000 for DMS activities in the downtown area. $25,000 for business facade improvements anywhere in town. The 2026...

Decatur bridge reopens

The Wendel Macklin Memorial Bridge reopened this week after being closed for multiple months due to work on the bridge. The reopening promises to make the commute easier for travelers in the vicinity of downtown Decatur and the Riverside Center.

ACCF awards grant to Adams County Circuit Court for AED

The Adams County Community Foundation (ACCF) is pleased to announce that Adams County Circuit Court was recently awarded a grant for an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to be located downstairs of the Circuit Courthouse, located on Second Street,...

Parade caps off Swiss Days celebration

On what was a wonderful Saturday afternoon in Berne, with comfortable temperatures and plenty of sunshine, the 2026 Swiss Days Parade wound through the streets of downtown Berne, delighting crowds on both sides of the route. The parade started around...

Adams Health Foundation announces return of annual golf outing and recognizes event sponsors

Adams Health Foundation will host its 13th annual Golf Classic on Friday, September 11, at Cross Creek Golf Club in Decatur. The event brings together community members, businesses, and supporters for a day of golf while raising funds to support...

Summer Heat

After a stretch of comfortable weather, hotter temperatures are making their way back to Adams County. Forecasters are calling for temperatures to climb into the upper 80s and low 90s early next week, with the hottest day expected to be Wednesday....

AC teacher’s work highlighted by class

When you hear the name Mrs. Hutker, you think of positivity, kindness, and encouragement. And that is

A century of memories: as Decatur’s pool turns 100, one woman’s legacy runs just as deep

As the Decatur City Pool celebrates its 100th anniversary, it is impossible to tell the story of the pool without telling the story of Nan Everett. For five decades, Everett was far more than a lifeguard, instructor, manager, or recreation leader. She...

Road Closed

County road safety plan changes based on 2021-2025 crash data

Five statistical categories about traffic crashes in Adams County from 2021 through 2025 are being used to study potential changes on roads or roadsides by a Local Road Safety Plan Committee. County engineer Nate Rumschlag, a member of that committee,...

Former commissioner Fruechte lauded for “visionary” views

On May 19, the Adams County commissioners created a county human resources department. On May 26, county auditor Tony Mellencamp gave credit for that to the person who first mentioned it around a decade ago: the late commissioner Kim...

Adams Central jet display plans announced to area news media

The campaign for an Adams Central veterans’ memorial display of a U.S. Air Force jet is off and... flying. After multiple presentations to the Adams Central Community Schools Board and the Monroe Town Council, a news media briefing about the project...

City council ups July 4 fireworks gift to $3,500

When a nation reaches age 250, something extra is required for celebration. To help honor the two and one-half centuries of the United States of America, the Decatur City Council voted 4-0 on May 19 to increase its donation for fireworks from $2,500...

AC students perform in famous Indiana parade

The Adams Central Squadron of Sound participated in the 70th Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade this past weekend, marking the first time in school history that AC was invited to take part in the celebrated Indiana tradition. Following weeks of preparation,...

Decatur Sculpture Tour for the 2026 Celebrating 15 years with CRYSTALS

Saturday, June 13, Decatur will be celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Decatur Sculpture Tour. The 15th anniversary has traditionally been represented by crystal. To start the celebration fun in May, throughout Decatur, the DST Committee will offer...

Memorial Day

On this Memorial Day weekend, and every day, we honor those who have fought for our nation and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom. Located near Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, the U.S. Marine Corps War...

North Adams Community Schools’ food service report given to board

1,700 meals prepared and served every day during the school year for five schools. Decreased program/ operation expenses by $34,212. Increased revenue of $48,270. Reimbursement for lunches increased almost $40,000. Reimbursement for breakfasts...

Local students take part in wild bird exhibition

Fifth graders at Saint Joseph Catholic School had an unforgettable day of fishing and falconry when Soaring Hawk Raptor Rehabilitation Center visited with live birds of prey. The students got an up-close look at a red-tailed hawk, a barred owl, and the...

What’s more important: sewer or graduation party?

Something more important to rural Decatur homeowners than a sewer connection delayed a hookup at that address, as Nate Scherer, the superintendent of the Adams County Regional Sewer District, told the sewer board on May 14. That “something” was a...

Celebrating 75 years of success at Adams Central FFA Banquet

Family members, community supporters, school staff, alumni, and guests gathered in April to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Adams Central FFA and its members’ success at its annual awards banquet. Several past FFA members were asked to proudly...

Two retirees, two students, two food service staffers honored by NACS board

Four awards were handed out at the May meeting of the North Adams Community Schools Board: two to a pair of retiring teachers who amassed 68 years of student instruction and two to brace of third graders who finished in the top two percent of all...

State gasoline tax suspension will cut county road money

“There’s a price to be paid.” Those words from Adams County engineer Nate Rumschlag were about the results of the suspension of Indiana’s gasoline tax because of much higher costs of fuel due to the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran that caused Iran to close...

ACCF awards grant to Decatur Fire Department for military recognition

Adams County Community Foundation (ACCF) is pleased to announce that the Decatur Fire Department (DFD) was recently awarded a grant for Honor Flight Challenge Coins for local military veterans. As local veterans are returning from their Honor Flights,...

Scholarship awarded to South Adams student

Madi graduated from South Adams School in 2018, playing both volleyball and basketball. Madi loved volleyball and continued playing in college at Purdue Fort Wayne, and graduated in 2024, with two majors and two minors. Madi was very athletic, and Madi...

Young reader reaches milestone

The Adams Public Library has announced that Evren, son of Clayton and Casey Lothridge, finished 1,000 Books before kindergarten. Casey remarked that they love to read each night as part of the bedtime routine, and Ren has his favorites. The 1,000...

Run honors local fallen heroes

The 2026 Indiana Run for the Fallen made its way through Adams County and the surrounding area on Friday, paying tribute to a number of service personnel who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces. Despite the cool conditions, the runners...

First Bank of Berne supports Decatur Main Street

Decatur – First Bank of Berne supports Decatur Main Street with a charitable sponsorship to help further the organization’s mission of promoting downtown Decatur as a vibrant place to live, work, and visit. Decatur Main Street supports local...

Local D.A.R. chapter elects new officers, takes part in tea event

The Antoine Rivarre Chapter, Inc. of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution recently had their April business meeting. During the meeting, new officers were installed. Carol Riley was appointed as Regent, while Carol Luther was named...

AC seniors receive scholarships from ACCF

Monday, May 4, was the date many seniors and parents anticipated for weeks. The Adams Central event began with welcoming comments by AC guidance counselor, Megan Workinger. Ms. Workinger celebrated this gathering with recognition to the Adams Central...

Local National Day of Prayer event scheduled for Thursday

The Decatur Ministerial Association will be hosting a National Day of Prayer event on Thursday at 12:00 noon at the Peace Monument at the Adams County Courthouse in Decatur. Several local pastors will participate in leading prayers. Also participating...

Bellmont picked up a win at Wabash Valley Golf Club against Adams Central and South Adams Thursday.

Cam Summers, Chase Baker and Jacob Binegar put together sub-40stroke rounds Thursday to help the Bellmont Braves earn Adams County bragging rights with a win over the Adams Central Flying Jets and South Adams Starfires in a three-team meet that took...

Community Foundation presents scholarships to South Adams seniors

A program at the South Adams (SA) auditorium was an event that many anticipated for months. Many SA seniors, parents, grandparents and friends attended the 2026 South Adams Scholarship awards event. The eight-page Adams County Community Foundation...

ACCF grants Stillwater Hospice for Adams County Veterans Hospice Support

The ACCF recently awarded a grant to Stillwater Hospice for Adams County Veterans Hospice support program. Stillwater Hospice is a community-based, non-profit agency that provides home health, hospice and palliative and grief support to Northeast...

ACCF awards Junior Achievement a grant for classes at North Adams and South Adams Elementary Schools

The Adams County Community Foundation (ACCF) is pleased to announce that Junior Achievement (JA) was awarded grants to Junior Achievement for the class titled: ‘Our Region’ at North Adams and South Adams Elementary Schools. The JA Our Region classes...

Crash causes significant damage

Deputies from the Adams County Sheriff’s Department responded to an accident that caused substantial damage and left a motorist injured on C.R. 500 W. at 7:42 p.m. Saturday, according to information released Monday by the Adams County Sheriff’s...

ACCF awards grants to School Care Team for Adams County School Care Team programming

Adams County Community Foundation (ACCF) is pleased to announce that the School Care Team (SCT) was recently awarded a grant for Adams County SCT Programming. School Care Team is a nonprofit organization from Fort Wayne that strives to work alongside...