Pulaski County Human Services will be able to get a new van, thanks to some financial help from the county. The county council recently approved the transfer of $7,000 out of the Community Development Commission’s Land Acquisition line item, to help cover the local match.
Continue readingNo Changes Expected for Hamlet Residents, Following Sale of Garbage, Recycling Contractor
No major changes are expected in Hamlet’s trash and recycling pickup, following the sale of Local Affordable Disposal. Clerk-Treasurer Kristina Pitts recently told the town council that the company has been acquired by Michiana. She said garbage will continue to be collected each Tuesday, and recycling will be picked up every other Wednesday.
Continue readingLocal Unemployment Rates Down from Previous Month, Up from Same Period Last Year
Local unemployment rates appear to be heading back down after their recent spike, but they’re still higher than they were at this time last year.
Continue readingPulaski County Commissioners Conditionally Support Panhandle Pathway Extension Efforts
Efforts to extend the Panhandle Pathway have finally gotten the support of the Pulaski County Commissioners. A motion to that effect was approved during last week’s meeting, on the condition that the plans meet the approval of local landowners. The first phase would extend the Panhandle Pathway north to the Tippecanoe River State Park. It would run alongside U.S. 35 for much of that length.
Continue readingKnox School Superintendent Pressing for Meeting Over Former PTO Funds
Knox school officials continue trying to track down money raised by a former parent-teacher organization. Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart told the school board last week that he’s working with a group representative to make sure the money gets spent on local kids, as originally intended.
Continue readingStarke County Clerk Shares Concerns with Election Board
Starke County Clerk Bernadette Welter-Manuel is trying to establish some ground rules with the rest of the county election board. During a contentious meeting last week, Welter-Manuel read from a prepared statement outlining a list of concerns. “One, I will only be attending properly posted public election board meetings going forward,” she said. “With this being said, I won’t take any action on anything that comes out of any other said meetings. I will not be answering anymore to where my clerks are at any meetings or events. They are my employees, my sole decision to have them or not. The budget that I give to run my office does not need approval or a vote from this board.”
Continue readingOregon-Davis School Board Approves New AP English Literature and Composition Course
Oregon-Davis High School students will have a new Advanced Placement course option next school year. An AP English Literature and Composition class was added into the 2019-2020 Course Description Guide by the school board last week, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman.
Continue readingCulver School Board Approves Summer School Classes, Recognizes Retiring Math Teacher
The Culver Community Schools Corporation is putting plans together for summer school. A list of courses and teachers was approved by the school board last week, according to Superintendent Karen Shuman. “We’ll be offering a recovery program at the high school level, along with band and agricultural classes at the high school level, and then doing an IREAD program at the elementary,” she explains.
Continue readingPulaski County Council Rejects Change in Victim’s Assistance Coordinator Salary
The Pulaski County Council has reversed course on a salary change for a staff member in the Prosecutor’s Office. Last month, the council voted to tie the victim’s assistance coordinator’s pay rate to the level specified by the grant that funds the position, with Ken Boswell and Scott Hinkle opposing. But when it came time to update the salary matrix to reflect the change last week, council members Rudy DeSabatine and Jay Sullivan joined Boswell and Hinkle in opposition, denying the measure by a vote of four-to-three.
Continue readingStarke County Election Board Revises Early Voting Hours
The Starke County Election Board has issued a revision of its early voting hours ahead of next month’s municipal primary. In-person absentee voting will take place this afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00. Early voting continues next week, Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
Continue readingCulver School Board Approves Contracts
Several Culver school officials have had their contracts renewed. The administrators’ contracts, treasurer/business manager’s contract, and technology director’s contract were all approved by the school board Monday, according to Superintendent Karen Shuman.
Continue readingKnox School Board Receives Grants from Starke County Community Foundation
More than $18,000 in grant funding was presented to the Knox School Board Monday. The school corporation is once again getting $15,000 for Kindergarten Countdown from the Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund. Director of Curriculum and Instruction Peggy Shidaker told board members that the Countdown camp is designed for any incoming kindergarten student who hasn’t attended preschool.
Continue readingPulaski County Sheriff Hopes USDA Grant Could Bring Body Scanner to County Jail
A potentially life-saving piece of equipment may soon be within reach for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Jeff Richwine told the county commissioners Monday that he recently learned about grant opportunities from the USDA for equipment purchases. He hopes to possibly use some of that funding to get a body scanner for the jail.
Continue readingCulver School Superintendent Reminds Taxpayers Where Referendum Money is Going
As residents of the Culver school district get their higher property tax bills, school officials are anticipating questions about where that extra money is going. Superintendent Karen Shuman says she discussed the school corporation’s referendum funds, during Monday’s school board meeting.
Continue readingKnox School Board Recognizes Retirees
The Knox School Board approved five retirements Monday.
Continue readingOregon-Davis School Corporation Looking for Someone to Remove Modular Buildings
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation is offering two modular buildings to anyone who’d be willing to remove them from the school’s campus. The school board officially declared the structures surplus Monday, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman.
Continue readingKnox School Board Agrees to Issue Notice for Building Project Hearings
The Knox School Board took another step forward with a potential building project Monday. Board members authorized the publication of notice of the official public hearings set to take place next month. They’re a required step, in order for the school corporation to secure financing for the project.
Continue readingPulaski County Commissioner Renews Calls to Move Circuit Court to Justice Center
If Pulaski County keeps its current courthouse, there’s a chance that it might not actually house any court facilities in the future.
Continue readingPulaski County Bridges in Good Condition, According to Inspection Report
Pulaski County’s bridges appear to be in good shape, according to the latest inspection report. Representatives from United Consulting presented their findings to the county commissioners Monday.
Continue readingStarke County Park Board to Meet Tonight
Update: Tonight’s Starke County Park Board meeting has been canceled, according to the County Auditor’s Office. Board President Richard Ballard has rescheduled the meeting for Tuesday, April 23 at 6:00 p.m.
At the end of the park board’s last meeting, there were a couple of issues related to the Bass Lake Beach and Campground left to be resolved.
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