Home Care In New Carlisle, IN

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - The rezoning of over 800 acres of land in New Carlisle was a hot topic for the St. Joseph County Planning Commission.

The next steps were taken today by the Planning Commission, with the ordinance passing 6-1, in a favorable recommendation to the county council.

The meeting took place early Tuesday afternoon at the County-City Building, over an ordinance that would turn the land at 31000 SR 2 and an additional 72 acres at the corner of Strawberry Road.

“The development interest have been trying to purchase land outside of that area,” said John Daly, a resident of New Carlisle. “They tried to rezone land outside of that area, tried to put a cement project outside that area, they sold us a bill of goods, so I stand opposed to this project.”

It’s a part of the Razor5 project, which is separate from the General Motors and Samsung battery plant, also off of State Road 2, but county officials say that it is complementary to that lot.

The area in question, has been classified as an agricultural district, and the passing of this ordinance moves it one step closer to becoming industrial. Which developers say can lead to more agricultural opportunities.

“The things that we have seen with this owner,” said Bill Schalliol, St. Joseph County, Executive Director of Economic Development. “And other property owners that have benefitted from the recent land sales. They have gone in and reinvested, not only land in SJC, but also opportunities to expand farming opportunities. and to keep older farms active.”

And the question of what is being built on this property has been the center of much speculation.

Our partners at the South Bend Tribune report the company in question is Amazon Web Services. After spotting A.W.S officials in the area, but the company and county officials have not confirmed that.

“We all know it’s been publicly revealed what’s going on there,” said Steve Francis, a resident of St. Joseph County. “It is not going to take 600 acres to build an Amazon data center out there.”

The ordinance will now go over too the county council for further discussion on the development.

Copyright 2024 WNDU. All rights reserved.

NEW CARLISLE, Ind. - As industry leaders say demand for electric vehicles has slowed, one northern Indiana official says construction of the $3 billion electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant in New Carlisle is on schedule.

St. Joseph County Economic Development Director Bill Schalliol told our partners at Fox Michiana that General Motors is committed to completing the project.

Last June, GM and South Korea-based Samsung SDI announced New Carlisle as the site for the project, which is expected to create 1,700 manufacturing jobs.

Schalliol said while construction is generally slower in the winter months, early site work is continuing on the facility.

“We will see contractors out on site over the next couple of weeks starting to do waterline installation, some fiber optic relocation,” Schalliol told Fox Michiana. “There is a lot of site work happening in and around the site, you know, in anticipation preparation for the project.”

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Schalliol noted that the New Carlisle plant will be producing cylindrical and prismatic batteries, rather than the pouch batteries that are currently being made at GM’s three other facilities as part of its Ultium Cells joint venture with LG Energy Solution.

“So, they’ll have products coming online out of those other three facilities this year,” he said. “So, as they start to ramp up and put those into vehicles, you know, timeline wise, it hits perfectly that 2026 and 27 or eight, they’ve got a new product to put in some of the other vehicles.”

In a letter to shareholders last month, GM CEO Mary Barra said the automaker expects to see profit in its U.S. EV portfolio in the second half of the year.

“It’s true the pace of EV growth has slowed, which has created some uncertainty,” Barra said. “But many third-party forecasts have U.S. EV deliveries rising from about 7% of the industry in 2023 to at least 10% in 2024, which would mean another year of record EV sales.”

Schalliol emphasized that work on the New Carlisle plant is on track for its expected completion in December 2027.

It all starts at 9 p.m. Sunday, December 31.

This event is easy to locate. Just go to Main Street in New Carlisle and look for a giant silver ball suspended over the street by a cable from the long arm of a crane. The orb is 24 feet in circumference, and you can easily see it from more than a mile out of town. No kidding. Look for it from the airport.

The brightly illuminated 7.5-foot diameter aluminum ball will be suspended over the corner of Main and Washington Streets. This has been a part of the event since 2012. The huge sphere itself is too big to be stored in a regular garage because it won’t fit through the garage door.

Main Street or Route 235 will be closed for a few blocks about a half hour before the event begins. For those not attending the event, the detour is well marked and easy to follow.

Most of the fun will be centered around the corner of Main and Jefferson streets, where festivities will take place on a stage under the giant ball.

The weather forecast for that evening is rather optimistic from a few days out, but of course we will have to see how it looks closer to New Year’s Eve.

Regardless of the forecast, it is always wise to wear winter coats, snow boots, hats, gloves, and a scarf.

Watch for the horse-drawn carriage rides, demonstrations of ice sculpting, and contests to win cold hard cash.

“Cold Hard Cash is exactly what it sounds like,” said Marshall Gorby, a photographer for the Dayton Daily News and Springfield News-Sun who is on the festival committee. “We have money in different denominations frozen into small blocks of ice…”

Some nearby stores will be open for shopping, and food vendors will be ready to please. Hot dogs and hot chocolate will be available for purchase as well.

“We will do some dances, like the chicken dance, and of course have the countdown to midnight,” said Gorby.

Just before midnight the countdown will begin and the brightly lit ball will drop to light up the numbers 2023.

The crowd will cheer, couples will kiss, friends will hug, and everyone will go home to get warm.

It will be almost like Times Square.

Almost.

This truly is one of the most entertaining holiday events in Clark County and a fantastic way to start off the New Year.

Happy 2024!

NEW CARLISLE, Ind. (WNDU) - On Tuesday night, a long-awaited decision on an expanse of agricultural land near New Carlisle was made.

640 acres of land at the southwest corner of Indiana 2 and Strawberry Road, east of the Navistar proving grounds, has been changed from agricultural to industrial after the St. Joseph County Council voted 8-1 in favor of the rezoning.

And that decision did not sit right with many of the residents in attendance.

“I, too, am incensed,” said Jennifer Betts, a New Carlisle resident. “Should this land, that happened to be owned by x family, be rezoned industrial? No it shouldn’t. We need ag-land, my husband is a farmer and we cant afford to buy ag-land in this county.”

Council members understand the emotions coming from residents.

“There’s obviously a lot of public remonstrant and disagreement of development in the New Carlisle area,” said Bryan Tanner, County Council District H representative. “The I.E.C development district, we certainly understand the point of view from residents in the area. Those who have environmental concerns, those who want to see it benefit to slowing the process down.”

Some of the bigger concerns for residents include the addition of this land to the Indiana Enterprise Center, which already has 2900 acres of industrial land to use.

While also creating an environmental concern for those living there, all this happening without residents being listened too.

" The people from New Carlisle who spoke tonight and I spoke to out there feel like they’ve been besieged,” said Steve Francis, a St. Joe county resident. “Having this dropped into the middle of their community. Not that they are against growth. But this will change the character of this town, its a historic town in Indiana that’s being completely disregarded by this council and their decisions.”

Residents also pointed out the issue of using a 23-year-old planning document for the council to make their decision. While council members point out a newer planning process that has been in THE works for the past few years.

“The 20-plus-year-old document is technically the non-binding document that is a guide,” Tanner said. “It’s something that local legislative bodies as our own should use as planning. However, it’s also in opposition, potentially, with the comprehensive planning process that’s been on the way for the past few years. Hopefully, to be published and released to the public within the next few months.”

The land is expected to be bought and used by the Razor 5 firm.

Which according to our reporting partners at the South Bend Tribune, could be the start of a massive Amazon Web Services data center.

Copyright 2024 WNDU. All rights reserved.

On Saturday morning, Santa arrives by airplane at 9:30 a.m. Little and big kids are all invited to welcome him at the Andy Barnhart Memorial Airport east of New Carlisle on Route 571.

New Carlisle will have its traditional Christmas parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday with lineup starting at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Madison and Main streets. The Tecumseh Marching Band will set the mood with favorite holiday tunes. The parade ends at the New Carlisle Fire House, 315 N. Church St., where there will be a mini concert, refreshments, visits with Santa, and a costume contest.

To take part in the costume contest, kids aged 12 or less must dress as a holiday or storybook character and walk in the parade. Prizes will be awarded.

Santa will cross over the Mad River to Enon early Saturday evening. The jolly old elf is scheduled to arrive at the Enon Community Historical Society’s Log Cabin, 45 Indian Drive, at 6:45 p.m. to light the Enon Community Christmas Tree. This is located next to the Adena Mound and behind the Enon Village offices. No one ever knows how Santa will arrive, but it is always interesting.

Greenon Royal Sound will provide entertainment. Children will be able to meet Santa in the log cabin and have a photo taken with their own cameras or phones. One family at a time will visit with Santa, which is particularly perfect if one of the children is shy. Santa visits are free. Hot cocoa and cookies will be served. The Enon Community Historical Society is sponsoring this event.

Go ahead and mark your calendar for these other Christmas Season events in Western Clark County:

Sunday, Dec. 3, at 10:30 a.m. a Living Nativity will be presented at West Enon Church of God, 4800 Snider Road. This is behind the UDF store on Dayton Road.

Sunday, Dec. 3, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Hertzler House at George Rogers Clark Park, Twelve Days of Christmas Tours with harp music by Leslie and Harmony Arendt of the Lafferty Pike Band.

Monday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. the Enon Branch Library will be hosting a “PJ Story time Around the Tree” for children aged 3 to 7 years. The library is located at 209 East Main Street.

December 9 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. “Breakfast With Santa” at Medway Church, 2550 South Dayton Lakeview Road. Free photos with Santa, free breakfast and activities.

December 9 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. New Carlisle’s “Passport to Christmas” will be held. Participants in this local shopping event may be able to register for prizes if they visit all the necessary spots.

Finally, AMVETS Post 148 is collecting new clothing and food items to assist veterans at the VA Hospital in Dayton. Extra large, 2X, and 3X jackets, sweatshirts, gloves, socks and winter hats are especially needed. Snack items for the pantry have also been requested. All items must be personally dropped off inside the post at 11495 Lower Valley Pike before Dec 17. These will be delivered to the VA on Dec 18.