At 4 a.m. on Nov. 3, an Upland home caught fire.
The family escaped except some pets, Police Marshal James Cassidy said at the Upland Town Council, Nov. 4. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire. The trailer next to the home was damaged.
Cassidy warned that with the cold weather coming in, people need to be cautious with their space heaters.
“Is there any place to help the people whose house burned?” Council member Heath Slain asked. “So the kids have clothes — did they lose everything they had?”
Cassidy said he would follow up with the family to find out.
Cassidy saw this as a reminder to be careful with fire hazards in the colder seasons, he said.
The Upland Fire Department also received a $65,000 grant to purchase a new firetruck. This four-wheel drive Chevy Silverado will be in service by December, Fire Chief Gary Preston said.
“Thank you for chasing down that grant and helping the town purchase that vehicle,” Clerk-Treasurer Mary Fletcher said. “It was quite the savings for the town and fulfilled a need that we couldn't make at the time.”
The 1846 Enterprises provided a resolution to the council, outlining their funding responsibilities.
1846 Enterprises plans to buy the public library from Upland temporarily to complete the construction. Once the renovations are finished, 1846 will restore the building to the town, Andrea Masvero, executive director of 1846 Enterprises, said.
“Since we don't own it, this authorization is necessary,” she said. “It's also a way of clarifying that 1846 is providing all of the funding for this project, because if public dollars were to be used, there would be public bidding and other things.”
No taxpayer dollars will be used to renovate the library; 1846 Enterprises will entirely fund the project. The council will review her letter of intent at a later meeting.
Andrew Preston, president of the Upland Historical Society, announced the opening of a World War I exhibit.
This exhibit is an opportunity to look back and appreciate the men and women who fought in World War I, Preston said.
The exhibit received a grant through the Indiana Historical Society which will last for a month. The grant requires the Upland Historical Society to develop their own exhibit. They created “Letters from the Courier,” news articles written during World War I.
The opening ceremony is at the Upland Depot Park on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 6:30 p.m.
The schedule includes Taylor University ROTC performing the colors, Eastbrook band will play the national anthem and a local chaplain will give a benediction. The guest speaker will be Indiana State Representative Lori Goss-Reaves.
After the ceremony, cookies and refreshments will be offered inside the depot.
“Letters from the Courier” is an opportunity to celebrate local history, Preston said.
Upland also received $50,000 in beautification grants. This will go toward landscape improvements and fresh lighting around town.
Masvero asked for the council’s support in 1846 Enterprises’ health and wellness grant within Grant County. This movement includes a community walk, using trails such as the Main Street Pathway.
The 1846 Enterprises plans to send a health and wellness survey into the community.
“We would like to ask for the town’s support for that,” Masvero said. “We’d like it to be more than just a social media posting thing, but a real movement between our Town of Upland and 1846 to try to get good engagement.”
The Council also announced plans to donate gift cards as prizes for Taylor University’s Turkey Trot 5K, which happened Nov. 9 at 2 p.m
“The proceeds all go to Helping Hands food pantry,” Fletcher said. “Right now, with the government shutdown and issues with SNAP benefits, it's going to be, I think, highly visited by those in our community.”
The next council meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Upland Community Building on Nov. 18.
