City spotlight: Logansport.

Logansport Mayor Bill Vernon rewards those who complain, hoping to get everyone in the spirit of creating a better community. Callers to his weekly radio show who offer suggestions soon find themselves sporting a T-shirt picturing a dog with binoculars. The slogan: "Willy's Watch Dogs."

After teaching school for 31 years, such antics play on Vernon's "school spirit" theme. And spirit can only help Logansport, he believes.

"You have to think positive. You have to look at ways to change things so they become a positive."

He admits the city has faced its share of challenges. One of the biggest came when Wilson Foods Corp. closed in December 1993, leaving 1,200 people without work.

He focuses, though, on what can be done now, aided by the soon-to-open new pork processor, IBP Inc. This fall, the plant expects to open with 500 workers, then expand over the next year or so by another 1,000.

"We're confident that good things can happen for Logansport," he says. "We want to have higher-paying jobs and an improved quality of life."

Still ahead: a focus on downtown, with help from a Ball State University program that will interview residents and make revitalization suggestions.

The IBP success and other triumphs can be attributed in part to Bill Bradley, who headed economic development activities in the county for nearly four years. Bradley, who is about to enter the seminary, says of his tenure, "I think we have a model for economic development now. It sets the stage for growth." He's turning the reins over to Larry Muffett, a native Hoosier who holds degrees from both Purdue and Ball State universities.

There's a definite mood in the city for growth, Bradley says, and several industries have expanded. Elco Industries Inc., Federal Mogul and Small Parts Inc. all recently expanded or built new facilities, increasing employment.

Other local success stories include LDI Manufacturing Co. Inc., which is now exporting its exhaust ventilation systems around the world, and T.M. Morris Manufacturing Co. Inc., which opened 30 years ago in a small garage and now employs more than 500.

A second company will join Federal Mogul in the city's industrial park this fall. California By-Products currently is constructing a plant that will use IBP's by-products to make dog-food ingredients.

The boost in jobs and renewed activity has created a demand for housing, which Bradley says is now actually a real shortage. "We would like a subdivision with $75,000 to $100,000 houses."

Retail growth has clustered near the mall, with a Wal-Mart now across the road and a Bob Evans that opened in the last year.

"I remember when downtown was hustle and bustle," says Vernon, a native. "It never will be again. Malls are it now. But you can still do things to make downtown more appealing. We hope Ball State will give us a road map for downtown improvements."

Quality of life is on the upswing, too.

Now in its 15th year, the city's Iron Horse Festival rallies the community each July. Also, restoration and enclosure of the Riverside Park Carousel is under way.

This burst of activity seems to be just the shot of energy needed to spur more.

"We're now looking at expanding our airport," Vernon reports. "Several industries have airplanes, and we need more space than we have. Lots of things are happening in Logansport, and we're delighted with the progress."

"The community now faces more growth than it's seen in many years," Bradley notes. "And we're proud to make it happen."