Highlights from 2015

Another year enters the history books. Looking back, there were many interesting things that happened in Rensselaer during 2015.

Perhaps the most enjoyable posts from my point of view were two that started the year and recounted my tour of Donaldsons.

New construction was the subject of numerous posts. Big projects are the fire station and Comfort Suites. Others included a new road in the Gasper Park area, Stash It Storage, and the water main to the Interstate. Below is fire station as 2015 ends.

Businesses opened or moved. Ribbon cuttings or open houses were held at MacAllister, Dance Magic, Gutwein-Risner Insurance, RPJ Trucking, Healthy Glow, and the Chamber of Commerce. E-Zea Detailing opened in one spot, had a ribbon cutting, and a month or two later moved to a spot in the Roberts Auto Center building. Paul's Auto Repair opened in the space vacated by E-Zea, returning to the place it had been several years ago. Other new businesses were Anytime Fitness, Renew Salon, BBs Crafts and More, R&S Used Furniture, Preferred Medical Academy, and a tattoo shop. (I undoubtedly have missed some.)

There were changes in the restaurant business. Devon's and Slice of Pie Pizza closed. Royal Oak opened as did Doggers. Ayda's moved to a much bigger space and became a much bigger restaurant. Blockbuster added Noble Romans Pizza.

There were other closings. Jack's Uptown Service closed as its owner retired. Peerless Cleaners shut early in the year. Foxy's Hair Salon left in May. Dale's Steak and Chop Shop closed in the fall. The old Johnny Rusk building was purchased by the county and demolished. A small building on Front Street was removed to make way for a parking lot for CTS. The final Fall Festival took place in August.

One of the really big stories of the the year was the purchase of Jasper County Hospital by Franciscan Alliance. The public became aware of the deal from proceedings of a Commissioners meeting, a reason this blogger goes to these meetings. Other meetings that were interesting included a School Board meeting at which the Jasper Foundation purchased the Staddon Field area, clearing the way for park planning to go forward. This bloggers favorite meeting of the year was a County Council meeting that discussesd local taxes.

The other really big story of the year was the extensive flooding of June. A number of river flow records were set as heavy rains in the area inflicted considerable damage on the corn crop. 2015 will not be a year that area farmers will look back on fondly.

A lot of maneuvering in Indianapolis kept daily train service as Iowa Pacific took over the Hoosier State Amtrak route. SJC hired a new president. City elections mostly returned incumbents.

With that I will stop because I have already mentioned too many things for them to be highlights. The big four are, in my opinion, the June floods, Franciscan taking over the hospital, construction of the new fire station, and construction of the Comfort Suites.