After 16 months, storm repairs wrapping up

DJIA 13,094.9 +15.8 / S&P 500 1,445.1 -0.9 / NASDAQ 2,508.5 +3.5 Tonight: Rain and storms, flood potential. Low: 70. Tomorrow: Scattered storms, very warm. High: 89.
	Monday, August 20, 2007
	After 16 months, storm repairs wrapping up It's taken contractors 16 months, but repairs to thousands of central Indiana houses and cars following storms in March and April of last year finally are winding down. Marc Fairchild, vice president of claims at Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance Co. in Carmel, said only 10 of the 4,330 claims his firm logged remain open. High winds and hail pelted houses and cars across the region, leaving $1.5 billion in claims in their wake.   IU's McRobbie calls for 'unrelenting action' Michael McRobbie outlined big plans to help Indiana University improve in his first report to the board of trustees as university president. The university has "essentially remained static" in the past few years, and should focus on 12 areas, McRobbie said. "This is not a time for edifying rhetoric or nostalgia for the past."
	Book printer to add 100-plus jobs near Fort Wayne Courier Corp. plans to announce this afternoon that it will create more than 100 jobs in addition to the 500 now working at its book publishing operation in Kendallville north of Fort Wayne, a source familiar with the expansion said. A public company headquartered in North Chelmsford, Mass., Courier has 10 locations that publish educational, religious and specialty books, including one in Terre Haute and another at 5603 W. Raymond St. on Indianapolis' west side. Buy corn, other ag products, investment firms preach Corn-Indiana's top agricultural crop-is a better investment than oil, copper and other commodities, Goldman Sachs and other Wall Street firms are telling clients. Agricultural products are more likely to withstand a global economic downturn because people still have to eat and because of the insatiable appetite of new ethanol plants coming online, according to a Bloomberg report.   Casino patron complains of urine-soaked chair A man who was playing slot machines at the Caesars Indiana casino near Louisville claims he sat in a chair soaked with urine left by a gambler who had just exited the seat. Floyd Kibiloski said that after his pants got soaked by the chair July 21 he was given no help in finding a place to clean up and had to walk to his car to change into an old pair of sweat pants. Gamblers who become addicted can enter a trancelike state in which even basic hygiene habits are ignored, said Carol O'Hare, executive director of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling.   Correction An item in IBJ Daily on Aug. 17 should have said St. Vincent executive Patricia Maryland has become market leader for Michigan for Ascension Health. From IBJ staff and Associated Press-Compiled by Norm Heikens Strong storms blow through Brownsburg Strong storms pounded central Indiana overnight, especially in Brownsburg. Winds uprooted trees, blew over a semi and snapped power lines. Duke Energy reports that at one point nearly 6,000 people lost electricity. Brownsburg schools canceled classes for the day because of safety concerns about the snapped power lines. Fox 59 will have more at 10 p.m.
	Autopsies may reveal details of mysterious deaths The Marion County coroner is expected to complete autopsies today that could reveal how a young mother and her infant died. Memory Fuqua, 26, and her 5-month-old daughter were found dead yesterday afternoon in their home at Arlington Green Apartments. The woman's mother came to the apartment after not hearing from her daughter in more than a week. Her 3-year-old granddaughter let her in. That's when Fuqua's mother discovered the bodies. Police believe the two died of natural causes. Despite heat, State Fair draws crowds Almost 100,000 people turned out for the last day of the Indiana State Fair yesterday. Intense head suppressed total attendance for the 12 days of the fair to 760,000, but the figure still was the sixth-best in the event's history.
	A 'rebuilding year' for Steak n Shake Observers say that under departed CEO Peter Dunn, Steak n Shake became so bogged down in studies and tests that the company failed to act decisively.   Full Circle When Mark Miles returned to Indianapolis two years ago, he'd already built the connections necessary to gather unprecedented influence over the state's hottest business sectors.   Colts build repute for mastering cap The coming season will be the ultimate test of the team's system of keeping costs down while achieving lofty results.   What do you think of the Colts off-season roster moves? Colts President Bill Polian is a master of managing the NFL salary cap, but his strategy sometimes means parting with fan favorites to keep player payrolls in line. Do you think the loss of veteran players this year will hurt the team's chances of defending the championship? | Largest Indianapolis-Area Retirement Communities Largest Indianapolis-Area Assisted-Living Facilities Does your office/department ever do any team-building social activities?       Indianapolis Business Journal is in-depth coverage of local business news, brought to by IBJ's award winning editorial team.     n 52 weekly issues plus annual Book of Lists (valued at $35.00) n News, people, analysis and trends of the business community n More than 30 special interest publications n And much, much more     Click HERE for Bonus Subscription Offer
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