The Town of Hamlet is getting into the Christmas spirit. During Wednesday’s town council meeting, it was announced that the town will one again have a home decorating contest this year.
All posts by Michael Gallenberger
Pulaski County Recycling and Transfer Station to Raise Fees March 1
Disposing of items at the Pulaski County Recycling and Transfer Station will soon cost a bit more. The county commissioners approved an updated fee schedule last week, at the request of the facility’s manager Brad Bonnell.
Oregon-Davis Qualifies for Corporation-Wide ALICE Training Designation
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation is making progress at implementing its new safety strategy. This year, the school corporation has adopted the ALICE procedure for dealing with armed intruders. It stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate.
Knox Middle School Principal Claims Success with Saturday School Remediation Program
The threat of Saturday school was apparently successful in helping Knox Middle School students improve failing grades. The number of students with at least one failing grade dropped by nearly three-quarters in a one-week period thanks to the program, according to Principal Jake Skelly.
Railroad Township Volunteer Fire Department Back in Service
Railroad Township Volunteer Firefighters are apparently back on the job. At about 7:30 Thursday evening, Fire Chief Trask Darabaris told WKVI News that the department was back in service, after questions about insurance coverage were resolved. He said the reason his department had temporarily stopped responding to calls was that firefighters did not know which members were covered by the township’s insurance and which were not, if someone were to be injured while on a call.
Local Fire Departments Organize Temporary Coverage for Railroad Township
Three local fire departments are teaming up to provide temporary coverage to Railroad Township. The North Judson-Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department announced on Facebook Thursday that Chief Joe Leszek, along with the chiefs of the LaCrosse and Medaryville-White Post Township volunteer fire departments, have agreed to cover Railroad Township on a non-contracted basis.
Pulaski County Republicans Schedule Caucus to Fill County Clerk Vacancy
A caucus has been scheduled to choose the next Pulaski County Clerk. Republican precinct committee members will meet Tuesday, December 18 at 5:15 p.m. EST at the Pulaski County Public Library in Winamac, according to a notice from Party Chair Dan Murphy.
Hamlet Police Adjust Ticketing Procedures for Traffic Violations
The Town of Hamlet has recently changed the way it issues tickets for speeding, seat belt violations, and other similar offenses, more info here on these changes issued . Town officials say that for the past few years, Hamlet Police had been treating traffic offenses as town ordinance violations, after other municipalities adopted similar procedures.
Pulaski County Commissioners Renew Court Technology Agreements for 2019
Pulaski County has renewed some court technology agreements for 2019. Last week, the commissioners approved and signed the annual equipment and database maintenance agreements with CSI, at the request of Lynn Wilder with the Clerk’s Office. “It is $10,886 for the maintenance agreement on the equipment, which includes the servers, the scanners, and such, and the database agreement is $1,520,” she explained. “This is the same as what we’ve had previously. It’s just a renewal.”
Oregon-Davis Greenhouse May Soon Supply Fresh Vegetables for School Lunches
School lunches at Oregon-Davis may soon include fresh vegetables grown in the high school’s greenhouse. Agriculture Teacher and FFA Adviser Andrew Carlin told the school board last week that the greenhouse was started last spring, thanks to a grant the school received.
Finalized 2019 Knox Schools Budget to Include Slight Tax Increase
The Knox Community School Corporation’s 2019 budget has been approved by the state with no big surprises, according to Treasurer Dawn Bailey. She told the school board last week that the Department of Local Government Finance cut the budget a little bit, and that the district’s property tax rate is set to go up by a little more than two cents.
Railroad Township Firefighters Stop Responding to Calls, Amid Ongoing Dispute
A group of Railroad Township Volunteer Firefighters has apparently walked off the job. In a letter to Township Trustee Mandy Thomason, the firefighters say they’re “unable to respond to any calls for service,” due to what they say is her unwillingness to provide insurance for each member of the department.
Pulaski County Commissioners to Appoint New Plan Commission Member
Pulaski County is seeking a new plan commission member. Jim Thompson, who currently serves as plan commission president, is not seeking reappointment when his term expires in January. It will be up to the county commissioners to choose a replacement, preferably a Democrat.
Knox School Board Appoints Transportation Director, Maintenance Director, Deputy Treasurer
A longtime bus driver for Knox Community Schools has been chosen to take over as transportation director. Tara Pitts was officially appointed to the position by the school board last week, at the recommendation of Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart. “For those of you who haven’t met Tara, she’s been a bus driver with us for . . . 20 years,” he said. “And so she has lots of experience with us and now moving into the transportation director’s seat, and she’s up and running.”
Oregon-Davis School Board Approves Snow Removal Agreement
Now that winter weather’s here, the Oregon-Davis School Board has approved an agreement for snow removal in the schools’ parking lots. “Through taking bids and interest and talking to some of our school board members, Green Grass, which is based out of Mishawaka and also Walkerton, we do have an agreement with them to plow our snow,” Superintendent Dr. Don Harman told board members last week. Continue reading
Pulaski County to Sell Unused Utility Vehicles, Donate Obsolete Radios
Pulaski County is getting rid of some unused equipment. Last week, the county commissioners agreed to let Highway Superintendent Terry Ruff sell two Unimog utility vehicles at auction on December 8.
O-D School Board Approves School Improvement Plans, As Administrators Review Letter Grades
Oregon-Davis school administrators are planning their response to the latest round of school letter grades. O-D Elementary School got an A for the 2017-2018 school year. The junior/senior high school and the corporation as a whole received C’s.
2019-2020 School Calendar Approved by Knox School Board
The Knox School Board approved the corporation’s 2019-2020 school calendar last week. Students’ first day of class will be August 6, 2019, with the last day on May 22, 2020, unless make-up days need to be used. Students will once again get two weeks off for both Christmas break and spring break, as well as one week for fall break.
New Pulaski County History Museum to Open Saturday
The new Pulaski County History Museum officially opens its doors Saturday.
Oregon-Davis Students Help Raise $600 for Tippecanoe Valley Bus Stop Accident Victims
Oregon-Davis students recently helped collect funds for the families affected by last month’s bus stop accident in Fulton County. “We had a fundraiser, a hat day, November 9,” Superintendent Dr. Don Harman told the school board last week. “Really neat that our students participated, and we raised $600.”
