A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in connection with last week’s bus crash that claimed the life of Winamac Middle School student Owen Abbott. According to documents filed in Marshall Circuit Court Tuesday, Abbott’s mother, Britni Fritz, is suing the driver of the truck that allegedly crashed into the bus, along with the truck’s owner.
All posts by Michael Gallenberger
Plymouth School Officials Recognized for Providing Assistance During Last Week’s School Bus Crash
In the midst of last week’s fatal school bus crash, several Plymouth school officials were among those joining in the response efforts.
Pulaski County Courthouse Elevator Should Be Ready Tomorrow
The Pulaski County Courthouse elevator should finally be ready for use tomorrow. “The state inspector will be here on Thursday, inspect the elevator,” Maintenance Director Jeff Johnston told the county council and commissioners Monday. “The elevator will be operational Thursday afternoon, I’m hoping.”
Pulaski County Commissioners Set 2019 Meeting, Holiday Schedules
The Pulaski County Commissioners are tweaking their meeting schedule slightly in 2019. They’ll continue to meet the first and third Mondays of each month at the courthouse, but the meeting on the third Monday will now start at 8:30 a.m., instead of 8:00.
Culver Police Officers, EMS Employees to be Paid for Unused Holidays, Vacation Days
The Culver Town Council has agreed to pay police officers and EMS employees for unused holidays and vacation days. During last week’s meeting, Police Chief Wayne Bean explained that staffing issues have made it hard to provide coverage while still allowing officers to take time off. He didn’t think that carrying those days over into the new year would solve the problem. EMS Director Kathy Hart reported similar challenges.
New Pulaski County Facilities Plan Proposes Demolishing Courthouse, Expanding Justice Center
Pulaski County’s 123-year-old courthouse would be torn down and replaced by a parking lot and memorial park, under the county’s latest facilities proposal. During Monday’s joint county council and commissioners meeting, Maintenance Director Jeff Johnston publicly unveiled a four-phase plan designed to address security, ADA compliance, and a number of other concerns with the county’s government buildings.
Pulaski County Council Mourns Deaths of Christi Hoffa, Owen Abbott
The Pulaski County Council took a few moments Monday to mark the recent loss two members of the local community. Council Vice-President Mike Tiede began the meeting with a moment of silence for County Clerk Christi Hoffa. She passed away last month, after a battle with leukemia.
Marshall County Health Department to Offer Narcan Training This Week in Plymouth, Culver
A few chances to learn to use the potentially life-saving drug Narcan are being offered by the Marshall County Health Department this week. Training sessions will be held today at 11:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Community Resource Center in Plymouth. Health board member Tracy Fox told the Culver Town Council last week that a third training has been scheduled for this Thursday at 5:00 p.m. at the Culver Beach Lodge.
Pulaski County Officials Working on Body Camera Policy, As Requests Come in for Footage
Work continues on a body camera policy for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Jeff Richwine told the county commissioners last week that he’s begun getting requests for body camera footage, but there are laws that limit what the department may release. “It’s a kind of a nightmare,” he said. “We’re working on getting the software that we can redact all the stuff. [County Attorney] Kevin [Tankersley] read the law, I read the law, and you’re head still kind of spins.”
Hamlet Council Revising Ordinances, Amid Comprehensive Plan Preparations
The Town of Hamlet is moving closer to creating a new comprehensive plan. Up to 90 percent of the cost is expected to be covered by grant funding distributed by the state. In order to qualify, the town council has begun the process of updating two of its ordinances.
Stellar Community Designees to be Announced Tomorrow
Marshall County will find out tomorrow whether it’s been designated a Regional Stellar Community. The announcement was originally expected today, but Culver Town Council President Ginny Bess Munroe announced last week that it’s been pushed back.
Culver School Board Considering eLearning, Holiday Policy Revisions
The Culver School Board is reviewing the way staff members get paid for eLearning days. A revised eLearning policy was presented during last week’s board meeting, according to Superintendent Karen Shuman. “We’re making sure that we are fair to all types of district employees, when it comes to being paid on eLearning days or not being paid on eLearning days,” she explains.
Building Renovation Plans to be Presented during Tonight’s Pulaski Council, Commissioners Meeting
More details about proposed renovations to Pulaski County’s government offices are expected to be revealed during tonight’s joint county council and commissioners meeting. Back in October, Maintenance Director Jeff Johnston unveiled a plan to improve the accessibility, security, efficiency, and usability of the county’s buildings, all within a three-year period. He said the plan would include a security checkpoint at the courthouse, full ADA compliance, and a 50-to-75-percent reduction in utility costs.
Hamlet Police Department Invites Local Children to Help Decorate Christmas Tree
Hamlet children have the chance to win a gift card, by helping to decorate the police department’s Christmas tree. Town Marshal Clint Norem says this marks the third year for the drawing.
Culver Council to Make Board, Commission Appointments in January
Pulaski County Commissioners Still Working to Fill Upcoming Plan Commission Vacancy
The Pulaski County Commissioners are still looking for a Democrat to replace Jim Thompson on the county’s advisory plan commission. No recommendations had been received by Monday’s commissioners meeting.
Culver School Board Gets Update on New AP Spanish Course
Culver Community High School students are advancing their language skills, while having the chance to earn college credit. The school board got an update Monday on one of the school’s new course offerings, according to Superintendent Karen Shuman. “We did have our AP Spanish students come and talk to our board because that’s a new program that we’re offering this year,” she says, “and so they went over the rigor and the content of that course.”
Pulaski County Emergency Medical Services to Get iSimulate Training Software
Pulaski County Emergency Medical Services is upgrading some of its training technology and also adding Medical Facilities Management Software. The county commissioners Monday approved the purchase of the iSimulate system at a discounted price of $8,000, at the request of EMS Director Bryan Corn.
Winamac Residents Share Downtown Revitalization Ideas, During Input Session
“Boring,” “empty,” and “old” were three of the words that frequently came to mind when people were asked to think about Downtown Winamac. National Main Street Center Senior Program Officer and Director of Coordinating Program Services Kathy La Plante shared the results of an online survey the center recently conducted, during a public input session Thursday night.
Culver Community Schools to Seek Input on 2019-2020 School Calendar
The Culver Community Schools Corporation is asking for input on next year’s school calendar. “There’s going to be a survey that’s going to go out next week,” Superintendent Karen Shuman says, “to make sure that we get community and parent input on our school calendar for the ’19-’20 school year.” She says school officials don’t have any specific changes in mind yet, but instead would like to make a decision based on the data received from the survey.
