GRAVELTON, Ind. (WISH) — A 25-year-old woman died and a 5-year-old child was hurt in a car rollover Friday afternoon in northwestern Kosciusko County, the sheriff’s office says.
Marie Grace Anglemyer, of Nappanee, was driving a 2013 Cadillac XTS east on County Road 1350 North just east of County Road 300 West. About 2:36 p.m. Friday, crews responded after the car rolled over. The crash happened about halfway between Nappanee and Milford.
The child, who was not identified by the sheriff’s office, received head and arm injures. The child was in stable condition when airlifted to a hospital, the sheriff’s office says.
Investigators say evidence show the passenger-side tires of the Cadillac initially left the south side of the road. The Cadillac subsequently crossed over the westbound lane and exited the north side of County Road 1350 North before striking a utility pole and a fencerow, and overturning several times.
The crash investigation remained incomplete Friday night.
NAPPANEE and PERU, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — A manufacturer of single and double decker buses headquartered in the United Kingdom has notified the state of layoffs related to the previously-announced closure of two northern Indiana facilities. In separate WARN Notices, Alexander Dennis Inc. says it will permanently close its locations in Nappanee and Peru, affecting nearly 200 jobs.
In July, ADI parent NFI Group Inc. said it would begin integrating ADI’s manufacturing locations in North America into its existing facilities. In addition to Nappanee and Peru, the ADI plant in Vaughan, Ontario in Canada was also set to close.
The Indiana locations are responsible for the manufacturing of sub-assemblies and final assembly of the Enviro500 double deck bus and Enviro200 midi bus for the North American market.
“After a thorough review of our North American manufacturing locations, we have determined that rationalizing our ADI North American manufacturing locations is the required approach moving forward,” NFI Chief Executive Officer Paul Soubry said in July. “As it is never easy to close locations and impact individuals’ careers, this important decision was not taken lightly. This integration, however, continues us on the necessary path for NFI as we execute our plan of transforming our organization into a more cost efficient, integrated operating business.”
The company says it will begin laying off employees in Nappanee and Peru on February 4 and continuing through May 6. The affected employees are not represented by a labor union and there are no bumping rights.
A spokesperson for ADI tells Inside INdiana Business all affected employees have been offered retention payments to remain on staff until the closures are complete and will be provided re-employment assistance.
Additionally, some employees are expected to be redeployed to ADI’s sister company, ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, in Middlebury.
NAPPANEE (Inside INdiana Business) – Texas-based Lufkin Industries has acquired US Rod in Nappanee and Patriot Pump in North Dakota. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
US Rod makes artificial lift products, including sucker rods, rod guides, and sinker bars. Patriot Pump provides rod lift downhole products and services to oil and gas operators in North Dakota, Montana, Colorado, and Kansas.
“These acquisitions strengthen Lufkin’s portfolio of superior products and services and expand our outstanding, highly-experienced teams,” said Saeid Rahimian, chief executive officer of Lufkin. “In partnership with KPS and its substantial capital and resources, we look forward to continuing to grow the Lufkin platform in service of our customers.”
Lufkin says the acquisitions will add to its capabilities to provide fully-integrated rod pumping systems and a comprehensive suite of services.
“The entire US Rod and Patriot Pump teams are thrilled to become a part of Lufkin, a legendary company and brand in our industry,” said Mike Shores, co-founder of US Rod and Patriot Pump. “We believe this is a terrific step for our customers, vendors, and employees, who will benefit from leveraging the experience of our combined team and Lufkin’s brand name and extensive US and international distribution network.”
Lufkin provides rod lift products and services to the oil and gas industry. The company did not specify whether any jobs would be affected by the acquisitions.
NAPPANEE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — The Northern Indiana Solar and EV Charger cooperative has selected Nappanee-based Solar Energy Systems (SES) for a solar panel installation project. The co-op says SES will help its membership install panels in an effort to get up and running before the end of net metering in 2022.
Net metering allows homeowners who use solar energy to receive a credit on their electric bill for the electricity they send back to the grid at the same rate that they purchase electricity from their utility. The process will no longer be available to new solar owners beginning July 1 of next year.
SES was selected by the co-op’s 61 members through a bidding process led by Washington D.C.-based nonprofit Solar United Neighbors and Solarize Indiana.
“The business generated by the co-op will help to boost the local economy as it recovers from the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dan Robinson, the northern Indiana organizer for SUN. “Co-op members will help contribute to Indiana’s economic recovery, take control of their energy production and ensure that they receive full retail rate net metering benefits before the mechanism expires next year.”
The co-op serves members in St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall and Kosciusko counties. A timeline for the beginning of installation was not provided.
The partners of the co-op include the city of South Bend and its Office of Sustainability, the city of Goshen and the Rieth Center, the Elkhart Environmental Center, the Michiana Electric Vehicle Network, The Center at Donaldson and the Michiana Area Council of Governments.