INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Mitch Daniels and Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman will present two Madison County businesses with the Governor’s Half Century Award at 2 p.m. today in the Statehouse in Indianapolis. Bestway Cleaners (Thanas Enterprises) and Cooper’s Sport Bowl Inc. are among 97 Indiana businesses who will receive the accolade for longevity and community service.

ANDERSON­ — “You don’t see something like that every day,” seventh-grader Tristan Dixon said Tuesday, after he and his classmates got a firsthand look at the future. In this case, it was the Vertiscooter. The gasoline-powered personal hovercraft was one of a handful of cutting-edge inventions that Anderson entrepreneur Pete Bitar brought to demonstrate to students of Anderson Preparatory Academy on their aerospace day.

ANDERSON — The Chamber of Commerce for Anderson & Madison County will hold its annual Business Outlook Luncheon Tuesday featuring a team of economists giving their forecast for 2010.

ANDERSON — An expected sports complex project near Exit 22 is on hold indefinitely as soil and drainage issues on the property might have caused concern for bidders.

ANDERSON, Ind. — The selection process is complete for the 2009 Madison County Community Shining Star and ATHENA awards. Fourteen area women will be honored with an award at the annual dinner gala on Nov. 17.

ANDERSON, Ind. — For the first time in a year, Indiana’s unemployment rate has dropped below the national average and Madison County’s rate continues to fall.

For the last few years I have had the distinct opportunity to serve on a number of boards. The experience has been engaging and insightful.

ANDERSON — Barbara Smith has been moving and expanding her consignment store since it started 14 years ago in a small two-room building in Anderson.

Auto Expressions offers car and truck accessories and provides repair services for insurance cases.

Life experience has taught us that history is often quoted but rarely remembered for its context.

The following are local restaurant inspections performed in August 2009.

The following are brief business items of statewide interest from business writer Gerry Dick:

The following are brief business items of local interest:

ANDERSON­ — Trains blocking intersections delaying your commute? In Anderson, that seems to be the crossing we all have to bear.