Aisin Chemical Indiana LLC, a manufacturer of automotive components, announced Monday evening that it will expand its operations in Crothersville creating up to 37 new jobs by 2013. The announcement came at a special meeting of the Crothersville Town Council.
The company which manufactures friction material components used in automatic transmissions along with liquid sound dampening material used in vehicles to reduce noise and vibration, will invest more than $9 million by the end of 2011 to construct a new 72,000 square-foot manufacturing plant just north of Aisin Drivetrain in the Crothersville industrial park south of town.
Aisin Chemical Indiana has been in production for the past three years in the facilities of Aisin Drivetrain.
ACIN, which currently employs more than 35 in their Crothersville plant, plans to begin hiring additional manufacturing and supervisory workers later this year before the anticipated opening of the new facility in the first quarter of 2011.
“We chose the Indiana site over two others because of the hard working, dedicated workforce and the supporting community in Crothersville,” said Takahito Ishikawa, President of Aisin Chemical Indiana.
“Indiana continues to see impressive investment from overseas companies,” said Mitch Roob, Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. “Aisin’s growth in Crothersville is another sign that Indiana’s business friendly climate is creating a competitive environment for businesses around the globe.”
“This is wonderful news for not only our community but the surrounding area as well,” said Crothersville Town Council President Ardell Mitchell. “We are elated to have been selected by Aisin Chemical as the home of their new manufacturing facility. Economists have told us that the state’s business climate and confidence is slowly improving. We are taking tonight’s announcement as locally exciting proof of that trend.”
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered ACIN up to $165,000 in tax credits and up to $36,000 in training grants basked on the company’s job creation plans. The City of Lawrenceburg, through its casino revenue, will provide Crothersville with $200,000 to expand Industrial Way to the site. The Town of Crothersville agreed to provide tax abatements for building and equipment at the new facility.
“We are pleased that Aisin Chemical Indiana has selected Crothersville for its expansion,” said Jim Plump executive director of Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation. “JCIDC and Curt Kovener, Crothersville’s long-time representative on our board, have been working a considerable amount of time to produce this announcement this evening.”
Aisin Holdings of America, ACIN’s parent company in North America, manufactures a variety of automotive components and housing amenities through its manufacturing plants which employ 73,000 throughout Asia, Australia, North & South America and Europe.

Seymour Police arrested two Crothersville residents last Wednesday in connection with methamphetamine distribution from a Seymour motel. Charles W. Barger, 44, of was charged with two counts of dealing methamphetamine and possession of meth with intent to deliver. Felecia A. Mack, 33, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and four counts of possession of a controlled substance.
Seymour Detective Capt. Carl Lamb reported that police received information Wednesday about meth distribution at a motel in the 300 block of Commerce Drive on the east side of Seymour and initiated an investigation.
Police then obtained a Jackson Superior Court warrant for the motel room from Judge Bruce Markel III and were about to execute it when another suspect left, Lamb said. “That vehicle was stopped and searched and we arrested Barger for driving while suspended,” Lamb said. “We located five grams of meth packaged for distribution.”
Members of the SPD Swat Team then executed the search warrant for the motel room at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday and located Mack.
Also found in the room were 3 additional grams of meth, scales and ledgers.
“They had enough clothes to be there for a few weeks and were selling meth out of that room,” Lamb said.
Lamb said evidence showed that Barger was dealing the drug while Mack was using meth and helping Barger with his operations.
“She also was in possession of six controlled substance pills including OxyContin that she did not have a prescription for,” Lamb said. Mack and Barger were incarcerated at Jackson County Jail.

The Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) certified Jackson County’s 2010 budget order and tax rates last week, giving the county an opportunity for on-time property tax bills for the first time in at least three years. The budget certification came 192 days sooner than last year, putting the county in a position to have taxes due on May 10, 2010.
The statutory deadline for issuance of a budget order is February 15. However, Owen and Kosciusko–the only two counties to achieve on-time billing in 2009–received certified budget orders much later (March 24, 2009 and April 7, 2009, respectively.)
“We know from past experience that on-time bills are still possible with later budget orders,” Commissioner Timothy J. Rushenberg said. “Teamwork and communication among all involved in the assessment-to-tax billing process has brought us to this point, and continued local efforts can still make on-time billing a reality.”
The first step in the assessment to tax billing process is the completion of the property assessments, which culminates with the submission of a ratio study by the county assessor. A ratio study is a comparison between property sales prices and assessed values in the county to ensure that market values are being used to determine assessed values.
Jackson County Assessor Bev Gaiter submitted the 2010 ratio study November 13, 2009–78 days sooner than last year.
Once the DLGF approves the ratio study, the county assessor sends the gross assessed values to the county auditor, who applies exemptions, deductions or abatements to determine the net assessed values–the values upon which tax rates are based. Jackson County Auditor Debra Eggeman submitted certified net assessed values January 28, 2010 – 189 days sooner than the previous year.
Now that the 2010 budget has been certified by the DLGF, the next steps are handled at the county level. The county auditor calculates the bills, which should be mailed by the county treasurer no later than April 23, 2010.
Taxpayers interested in estimating their property tax bill may do so using the DLGF’s online property tax calculator at http://www.in.gov/dlgf/4932.htm. Taxpayers will need their property’s assessed value, deductions, and taxing district to use the tool. The estimates provided are projections only and should not be taken as a statement of true tax liability, which is determined by the county.
A copy of the Jackson County budget is available at http://www.in.gov/dlgf/2587.htm.

CARD (Crothersville Area Revitalization and Development) will hold its Spring Kick-Off is this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Crothersville/Vernon Township Fire Station. This event features an indoor flea market with a variety of vendors, plenty of food, a visit from Peter Cottontail (1-3 p.m. only), and two free drawings at 2:45, with winners required to be present.
Parents wishing to photograph their children with Peter Cottontail should bring their cameras, or photographs may be purchased.
Vendors will be selling purses, jewelry, switchflops, children’s books and games, photography, an assortment of handcrafted items, handmade and commercial jewelry, Tupperware, handmade hairbows and caps, stamped items made on-site, traditional flea market finds, and more.
CARD has taken as this season’s project the purchase of a flag pole and flags for the Crothersville-Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department. CARD’s funds are administered by the Community Foundation of Jackson County, and are used for projects designed to benefit Crothersville area residents.

Two Crothersville girls and a Seymour girls’ basketball players were named to list of the Top 100 seniors in the state. Those being named by Garry H. Donna, publisher of Hoosier Basketball Magazine, were Courtney Killey and Brooke Prather of Crothersville and Erin Murphy of Seymour.
This compilation is the result of observation of many games during the past season as well as contact and discussion with numerous coaches, sportswriters, sportscasters and college recruiters throughout Indiana.
Further research and evaluation are occurring during the remainder of the 2010 Indiana High School Athletic Association state tournament to determine a final list of 60 seniors. Those 60 girls will be invited to Hoosier Basketball Magazine’s 29th annual Top 60 Senior Girls Workout on March 14 on the campus of Marian College in Indianapolis.
The purposes of the Top 60 Senior Girls Workout are to enable 60 of the best seniors from the Class of 2010 to meet and compete, afford them significant postseason exposure in front of numerous college coaches who will be in attendance and enable the 2010 Indiana-Kentucky All-Star game director and coaches to view the 60 participants for their purposes.
The Top 60 Senior Girls Workout, in conjunction with the IHSAA and Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, will be divided into two sessions, 1-3 p.m. and 3:30-5:30 p.m. Both sessions are open to the public.

by Curt Kovener

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray not nearly enough.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life, not life to our years.
We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner peace. We’ve done larger things, but not better things. We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less.
We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We have higher incomes, but lower values. We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less real communication. We’ve become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; large people and short character; steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of fancier houses but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom.
It is a time when you can choose either to make a difference, or do nothing but continue to hope someone else does.

WANTED: used motor or transmission oil. Call 525-3472
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DRIVER TRAINEES Needed now at Werner Enterprises! Earn up to $700 per week after training. Great benefits! No Experience needed! Local 15-day CDL training available with TDI. 1-800-206-7364. 3/24pd
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DRIVERS NEEDED! We have freight to move!! 1 yr T/T Flatbed Exp. Req. Great Pay! Paid Vacation! 888-880-5909
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ARMY SURPLUS, Brownstown. $5.00 discount on $35.00 purchase. Also Houses for sale or rent. Good references ONLY. 812-358-3837. 3/10pd
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TIRED OF POWER OUTAGES? We can install back-up electric generators to insure sump pumps, freezers, furnaces (even TV) operate during extended power outages. Natural Gas or LP, sizes starting at 7KW. Call Crothersville Heating & Cooling, 793-3059 for more information.
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IF YOU CAN READ, help someone who can’t. Call 523-8688 to start helping.
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MOBILITY ISSUES?? We have walkers, wheelchairs & canes to lend. Contact Crothersville Senior Citizens at 793-2523.tfn
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BANKRUPTCY Payment plans available. 812-522-0628, Mark Risser, Attorney at Law. We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the bankruptcy code. tfn
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911 SIGNS Make sure police, ambulance & fire department can find you. $15 includes bracket. Proceeds go to Crothersville-Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department. For more information or to order call 793-3473 & leave message.
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STORAGE RENTAL, 3 Sizes, No Deposit All Point Enterprise, 206 E Main, Crothersville. Call Marion Brumett, 523-1889 12/31pd
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36 YEARS EXPERIENCED CARE. Professional grooming & boarding. WALKER’S KENNELS. Original location at 12086 East Base Road, Seymour, 523-3666. tfn
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NO ONE DESERVES to be hurt! Domestic violence and sexual assault hurt women, children and families. We can offer support, advocacy and safe shelter. All services confidential and at no cost to you. Call 24-hours toll-free: 1-888-883-1959.
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ARE YOU EXPIRED? Check your mailing label to see when your subscription to the Crothersville Times should be re-newed. Send your check for $20 for one year; $35 for two in Jackson & Scott counties; $35 per year elsewhere to P.O. Box 141, Crothersville.
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ADVERTISERS: You can place a 25-word classified ad in more than 140 newspapers across the state for as little as $320.00 with one order and paying with one check through ICAN, Indiana Classified Advertising Network. For information contact the Crothersville Times at 812-793-2188 or e-mail ctimes@crothersville.net.
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ADOPTION A Baby at Last? Hoping to Adopt – Young, down to earth (teacher & attorney) will give your child a full-time mom, playful and dedicated dad, fun outings to baseball games and an adorable St. Bernard called Addie! We would be honored to speak with you. Call Jen or Chad: 1-800-571-8268 or email us at jenandchadadopt@yahoo.com. Read our profile: http://www.centerforfamily.com/Resources/jenniferandchad.pdf
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ADOPTION: Loving parents and their 9 year old adopted daughter would love a baby brother or sister. Stay at home mom, professional dad. Expenses paid. Please call Becky/ Mike 800-472-1835
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ALL CASH VENDING! Do you earn $800 in a day? Your own local candy route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy All for $9,995. 1-888-744-4637
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NEW NORWOOD SAWMILLS – LumberMate-Pro handles logs 34″ diameter, mills boards 28″ wide. Automated quick-cycle-sawing increases efficiency up to 40%! www.NorwoodSawmills.com/300N 1-800-661-7746 Ext. 300N
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HEALTH If You Used Type 2 Diabetes Drug Avandia And Suffered A Stroke Or Heart Attack? You may be entitled to compensation. Call Attorney Charles Johnson 1-800-535-5727
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HELP WANTED “Home-Based Internet Business” $500-$1,000/month part-time. $2,000-$5,000/month full-time possible. Flexible hours, Training provided. FREE details. Www.K348.com
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HELP WANTED – DRIVERS Stone Belt Freight Lines Needs Owner Operators Now! Run 48 & Canada. Percentage Plus 100% Fuel Surcharge. Plate Program & Insurance Available. Call Bob, 1-800-489-2332.
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KNIGHT REFRIGERATED — Hiring Dedicated & OTR. OTR Drivers, Great Equipment & Benefits. Get Started Next Week with a Financially Strong Company. Apply online at: www.knightrefrigerated.com 888-668-0829. 6 months OTR experience required. Class-A CDL, No felonies, No DUI’s. Your Hometown National Carrier.
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DRIVERS – $1,000 SIGN-ON BONUS! Up to .41 CPM. Good Home Time. Health, Dental, Vision. OTR Experience Required. CDL/A FLATBED. No felonies. 800-441-4271 x IN-100
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OPIES TRANSPORT HIRING OTR Drivers with 2 years OTR Experience No NYC or HazMat 800-341-9963 www.opiestransport.com
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$$$YOUR FUTURE TOMORROW Starts Today$$$ 100% APU Equipped. OTR Drivers Wanted. Pre-Pass EZ-pass. Every 60K mile raises. 100% NO Touch. Butler Transport 1-800-528-7825
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FOOD TANKER DRIVERS NEEDED. OTR positions available NOW! CDL-A w/ Tanker REQ’D. Outstanding pay & Benefits! Call a recruiter TODAY! 866-913-9403 www.oakleytransport.com
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OTR DRIVERS NEEDED. Reefer, Tanker and Flatbed Positions. Prime Inc., is a financially stable, expanding and growing carrier 9 months + OTR exp. 1-800-277-0212 www.primeinc.com
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DRIVERS – OTR Are you looking for a great trucking opportunity? Call 214-819-5680 or email: recruit@ffex.net. Ask about our truck leasing program.
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INSURANCE GUARANTEED ACCEPTANCE- Medical Insurance. Covers office calls, surgery, Anesthesia, Xrays, hospital room, intensive care, accidents, Emergency Room, $10,000 Term Life and more. $199.90 monthly all ages. Add $30 for $10,000 Critical Illness Advance Payment Covering Cancer, Stroke, Heart Attack. 800-471-7915
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GUN SHOW!! Crown Point, IN – March 13th, 14th Lake County Fairgrounds, 889 South Court Street, Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-3 For information call 765-993-8942 Buy! Sell! Trade!
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INDY 1500 GUN & KNIFE SHOW – Indiana’s Largest! State Fairgrounds, S. Pavilion Hall. Fri., Mar. 19, 2-8, Sat., Mar. 20, 8-6, Sun., Mar. 21, 9-4 Bring this ad for $1 off 1 admission.
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Crothersville Area Revitalization and Development (CARD) is gearing up for the Crothersville Spring Kick-Off to be held on Saturday, March 13, from 9 to 3 at the Crothersville-Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department.
This event will feature an indoor flea market, including M and C Treasures (Machell Mullins, with purses, jewelry, switchflops, and other items); Usborne Books and More (Dawn Cohee, with children’s books and games); Kreative Keepsakes Photography (Michelle Davis, photography, booking appointments, with a drawing for 25% discount through the end of April); handcrafted items (Bertie Hall, with tissue box covers, sweatshirts, casserole covers, and all sorts of bags); It’s Just Jewelry (Sarah Whipker, with handmade and commercial jewelry); Tupperware (Brenda Sessions); Peanut Dog for Morgan (fund-raiser with flea market items); Handmade Jewelry (Ginger Johnson); Sugar and Spice Boutique (Courtney and Dee Kruse, with handmade hairbows and caps); Dorsey Plumbing (Andy Dorsey, with free drawings); and Stamping Granny (Cindy Galbraith, making to take).
Those attending may register for two free drawings–one for a ham, and one for a $25 gift certificate for Tanner’s Market. The drawings will be at 2:45, and individuals must be present to win.
Also included is food available for purchase throughout the day. This includes sloppy Joe’s, hot dogs, Coney dogs, chips, tea and lemonade, by CARD, and desserts by the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Fire Department.
Parents may bring children to visit with Peter Cottontail from 1 to 3 p.m. They should bring their own cameras if they wish to photograph their children, or they may have Michelle Davis do on-the-spot take-home photographs for $3 each.
The Spring Kick-Off is sponsored by CARD (Crothersville Area Revitalization and Development). Proceeds are being used to buy a flag pole and flags for the Fire Department. CARD funds are administered by the Community Foundation of Jackson County, and are used for projects designed to improve the Crothersville community.

Award winners during the past weekend’s FFA District Contests were: Joey Needler, Erica Doyle, Denise Maxie and Leah Schill.
Standing: Jimmy Needler, Kelsey Hoskins, Kaitlyn Hoevener, Savannah Wooten, Brooke Prather and Dillon Maxie.

Crothersville FFA members did well at the District XI FFA Leadership contests held Saturday at Scottsburg High School.
“These district contests are similar to sectionals in high school sports and we received first place awards in seven of the 22 contests along with several seconds and third place finishes,” said local FFA Advisor Linda Maxie.
Students receiving awards include:
Dillon Maxie, District Star Farmer, 1st place Ag Mechanics proficeincy, 1st place Exhibit, 3rd place Male Ambassador.
Erica Doyle, 1st place Prepared Public Speaking, 1st place Ag Sales Demonstration, 2nd place Female Ambassador, 2nd place Job Interview.
Brooke Prather, 3rd place Essay.
Leah Schill, 1st place Multi Media Scrapbook, 3rd place Extemporaneous Public Speaking, participatied in the Horticulture Demonstration.
Joey Needler, 1st place Traditional Scrapbook, participated in the Horticulture Demonstration.
Denise Maxie, 1st place Plan & Soil Science Demonstration, 1st place in Exhibit, 1st place in Diversified Livestock Proficiency, and was a member of the Quiz Bowl Team.
Kelsey Hosokins, 3rd place Animal Science Demonstration, participated in talent and was a member of the Quiz Bowl Team.
Jimmy Needler, 1st place in Freshman Extemporneous Pyblic Speaking, a member of the Quiz Bowl Team.
Kaithlyn Hoevener, participated in the creed contest and a member of the Quiz Bowl Team.
Savannah Wooten, participaed in the Freshman Public Speaking contest.
Crothersville’s first place winners advance to the state contested held this June at Purdue University.

Uniontown Baptist Church will be hosting Community Dinners on Thursday March 4 and Thursday March 18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
On the menu for this Thursday are Beef Manhattans, Green Beans, Desserts and Drinks. For Thursday March 18 the menu will include Pot Roast with Potatoes and Carrots, Corn, Rolls, Sundae Bar and Drinks. As always these meals are free for the Community but a freewill donation box is available for anyone wanting to give and carryout is available.
The Church’s men’s gospel group “From the Ashes” will be hosting Casual Sunday on the last Sunday of each month. The group also plays at some of the Community dinners on Thursday nights.
Service times for Uniontown Baptist are Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and Sunday Worship at 10:30 with Childrens Church in the basement also at 10:30.
A food pantry is also available for those in the community with nutrition needs.
For more information you may call Pastor Irvin and Jill at 793-2577 or email bammofindiana@yahoo.com.