A number of new businesses opened in 2021: Main Street Bakery, A&B Auto, Sage Bridal, Royal Scoop, K&G’s Overstock Outlet, Rule Auto Care, and Erica's Boutique. West of Rensselaer a small event center, the Heritage Barn at Pumpkin Vine Trail opened. Rensselaer Pet Care moved into new office. GRG Auto Repairs closed, and the building that housed Balloons Galore and More is empty, though the business may have closed before 2021. Moonshiners closed in early 2021 or perhaps sometime in 2020. Several businesses remodeled: Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Alliance Bank, and Walmart. Genova, Indiana Face Masks, and Pipestone Veterinary Services expanded their buildings. The House of Grace, a substance rehabilitation center for women opened on the SJC campus.
At the end of December the former Arby's on the south side of Rensselaer was demolished. Walgreens will build a drive-through facility there.
The City of Rensselaer gas utility completed a new pipeline that provides a second tap into the trunk line going through the County. The electric utility replaced their old storage building with a new one. The Fire Department celebrated its 125th anniversary, sold their old aerial truck, and took delivery of a new one in November. It was a busy year for the Rensselaer Parks. The new Blacker Fields saw about a dozen baseball and softball tournaments during the spring and summer. A new disc golf course saw considerable use. The basketball court in Brookside Park was totally reconstructed. There were some short walking paths added in Foundation and Iroquois Parks.
2021 was a good year for murals. In July Rensselaer added several new murals. DeMotte, Francesville, Medaryville, and Kentland also added murals.
The Court House celebrated its 125 anniversary. Jasper County moved to voting centers during the year. The Jail began to receive electricity from its new solar farm and had other changes designed to improve comfort and cut utility bills. Construction of the huge Dunns Bridge Solar Farm began in the northeastern corner of the County. REMC began installing the equipment needed to bring broadband to most of Jasper County. The airport hired a new manager. Jasper County Tourism launched the first Jasper Jaunt, a bicycle ride.
Although Covid cases continued in 2021 and several citizens died from it, the panic about the virus resided and several events that had been canceled or scaled back in 2020 returned, including the Little Cousin Jasper Festival, the Christmas parade, Oktober Fest, and the County Fair. The Children's theater had a performance, though it was outside rather than inside.
Finally, a large crow now welcomes visitors who come from the north to our City.
1 comment:
I asked the pharmacist at Walgreens about their new drive through store. He said they will have their current pharmacy there and a smaller story selling health related products. Walgreens decided NOT to renew the least on their current building, thus the building and future move to a smaller store across from Strack's.
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