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© 2021The Journal Gazette

SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2021 FORT WAYNE, INDIANA LOCALLY OWNED SINCE 1863 www.journalgazette.net

INSIDE INDEX

Business 1H

Classifieds 3F

Comics 3-6D

Crossword 3F

Obituaries 2-5C

Perspective 9A

Read & recycle: BVolume 158-213;

7 sections, 44 pagesTo subscribe,

call 1-800-324-0505WEATHER

Mostly sunnyHigh in the upper 70s.FORECAST, PAGE 2A

BUSINESS

Pandemic retirementOlder workers opting not to return to jobsPAGE 1H

LIVING

New directionFormer city resident’s podcast showcases compelling life storiesPAGE 1D

Locals excel in MMA event at Coliseum

SPORTS, PAGE 1B

Gold recordDressel ties all-time high with 5th of Olympics

Even before new tightened rec-ommendations were released, many Indiana schools were choosing to go against federal guidance on masks.

The Centers for Disease Con-trol and Prevention initially rec-ommended masks in schools for anyone not vaccinated. That would be every student younger than 12 – they aren’t eligible – and many of those 12 and older.

But school district after school district announced policies that al-

low parents and students to decide whether they would be worn in the classroom.

As of Wednesday, East Allen County Schools and Northwest Al-len County Schools used “mask op-tional” language while Fort Wayne Community Schools’ and South-west Allen County Schools’ word-ing recommended and encouraged mask-wearing.

“We are not using the word op-tional for unvaccinated because we want to be clear that we do think those who are not vaccinated should wear a mask,” FWCS spokeswoman Krista Stockman said.

The exception is on school buses, where masks are required by federal mandate.

Richelle Rush, a FWCS bus driv-er, asked the school board Monday about the inconsistent rules. She said it’s a safety issue.

“Why are we not doing it in the school?” Rush said. “The virus doesn’t know to stop at the door.”

Gov. Eric Holcomb set a state-wide mandate for masks in schools last year. It expired June 30, and a new executive order says “all public and private K-12 educational insti-

Mask rules in schools not uniformState lets local districts decide; ‘one size doesn’t fit all’NIKI KELLY AND ASHLEY SLOBODAThe Journal Gazette

Masks, Page 6A

Some officials hope the Fort Wayne City Council’s vote against Amazon’s re-cent tax abatement request doesn’t send the wrong message to other businesses.

City Council members were split by two schools of thought when they voted on the request that would have saved Am-azon $7.3 million in personal property tax on more than $100 million in equipment once the Flaugh Road warehouse is built: Should requests that meet the city’s tax abatement criteria be approved every time or should the council use its discretion to decide whether the business is worthy?

The City Council has adjusted the tax break ordinance three times in the last 12 years, and council members still have dif-fering opinions on deciding what makes or breaks a company’s chances of getting tax abatements. The members’ differences of opinion were clear by the council’s vote of 5-3 to deny the request with an abstention from Councilman Glynn Hines, D-at large.

If Amazon’s request had been approved, its equipment’s assessed value would have been reduced by 100% the first year and gradually returned to full value over the following decade. The abatement request almost wasn’t introduced after four mem-bers – Sharon Tucker, D-6th; Russ Jehl, R-2nd; Paul Ensley, R-1st; and Jason Arp, R-4th – cast votes against it July 13.

The project, which initially was only known as “Project Mastodon” publicly, received a tax abatement in March for the construction of the building, but it benefit-ed the property’s developer Ambrose Prop-erty Group. It passed with all members ex-cept Ensley and Arp voting in favor of the tax break.

Several people spoke against the abate-ment during Tuesday’s council meeting be-cause of concerns about Amazon as a com-pany and how it treats its employees. One person who was part of bringing Amazon to Fort Wayne spoke strongly in favor of

Council still at odds, evenafter redoing rules 3 timesDEVAN FILCHAKThe Journal Gazette

Tax breaks, Page 6A

Amazon reignites tax break debate

Gator gets kids’ attention at county fair

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – Ohio has planted a memorial grove of native trees to remember peo-ple who died of COVID-19, and governors and state lawmakers nationwide are considering their own ways to mark the toll of the virus.

Temporary memorials have sprung up across the U.S. – 250,000 white flags at RFK Sta-dium in the nation’s capital, a garden of hand-sculpted flowers in Florida, strings of origami cranes in Los Angeles.

The process of creating more

lasting remembrances that honor the over 600,000 Americans who have died from the coronavirus, though, is fraught compared to past memorial drives because of the politics.

Last year, a bill kick-starting a national COVID-19 memorial process died in Congress as the Trump administration sought to de-emphasize the ravages of the pandemic.

States are a good place to start with monuments given the complexities involved in remem-bering the federal government’s

Memorials to virus victims pop upASSOCIATED PRESS

Memorials, Page 6A

States take lead; national tribute uncertain

Katie Fyfe | The Journal Gazette

A sign at Grile Admin-istrative Cen-ter outlines Fort Wayne Communi-ty Schools’ mask policy. The signs were created before the CDC updat-ed its mask guidelines Tuesday.

AssociatedPress

Flags inscribed with names of people who have died from COVID-19 are displayed outside First Congregation-al Church in Holliston, Mass.

Michelle Davies | The Journal Gazette

Missy North with Indiana Wild holds Dooney, an American alligator, so that kids can get a chance to pet his tail at the Allen County Fair on Saturday. Today is the final day for the fair. See story on Page 1C.