A Saturday night house fire resulted in moderate damage to an English Lake home, according to firefighters. The fire was reported around 7:40 in the 7000 block of West 250 South. A nearby resident says the house was completely engulfed in flames. Railroad Township Assistant Fire Chief Andy Tilleraas says there were no injuries, and the fire remains under investigation.
The former Winamac Masonic Lodge officially has a new name. The Pulaski County Commissioners voted Monday to name the building the “West Annex.” The county bought the building back in June. It will house the Coroner’s Office and Emergency Management Agency.
The Culver Community Schools Corporation’s purchase of a new bus hit another procedural snag that had to be corrected by the school board Thursday. School officials have decided to replace an extra bus this year. The bus in question was originally scheduled for replacement in 2020.
Edward Blackburn has been given the maximum allowable sentence of 65 years in prison for the murder of Cord Colgrove. During Friday’s sentencing hearing, Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall noted a number of aggravating factors, including a criminal history with multiple felonies and misdemeanors. Hall also pointed out that Blackburn was on probation for a felony count of wire fraud, and as part of that, was legally barred from owning a firearm, when he shot and killed Colgrove in March of 2017.
Hundreds of veterans, students, and community members are expected to converge on Downtown Winamac this morning to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Winamac High School is teaming up with the Town of Winamac, the Pulaski County Public Library, and several other groups for the Veterans Day Celebration.
Culver Schools Superintendent Karen Shuman says Tuesday’s referendum was a “great community effort.” Voters in the school district approved the 17-cent property tax increase by a margin of 1,370 to 1,012.
The vacancy on the Eastern Pulaski School Board may be filled as soon as Monday. Five people expressed interest in the Van Buren Township seat recently vacated by Terri Johnston, according to Superintendent Dan Foster.
A contract for new body cameras for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was approved by the county commissioners Monday. Sheriff Jeff Richwine previously explained that the agreement with Motorola also includes cloud data storage, video editing software, and some other equipment. The sheriff’s department will pay for the equipment in yearly installments out of the county’s 911 Fund.
The Eastern Pulaski Community School Corporation has a new assistant treasurer. The school board officially accepted Diana Hanselman’s retirement during a special session Tuesday, according to Superintendent Dan Foster.
Teacher contracts will be up for approval when the Culver School Board meets tonight. Members will vote on the ratification of the 2018-2019 collective bargaining agreement, according to the advance meeting agenda.
Pulaski County Chief Deputy Coroner Jon Frain is apparently back on the job, after resigning amid a wage dispute. Coroner John Behny told the county commissioners Monday he rehired Frain, when the Coroner’s Office found itself short-staffed a couple weeks ago. “I was away for an autopsy, had to leave the county,” Behny explained. “We got another call. Fulton County assisted Mr. Frain. So we were grateful that he was there and was able to respond in a very timely manner. That helped EMS and first responders and our sheriff’s deputies.”
Winamac’s new drinking fountains have been installed. Now, the park board plans to recognize one of the donors. Two decorative drinking fountains were placed in the Town Park: an ADA-compliant fountain along the trail near the basketball courts and one to replace the fountain between the swinging bridge and the restrooms. The park board shared the cost of a third drinking fountain for Rinehart Park with the town’s Lion’s Club.
Pulaski County’s General Election ended with some incumbents unseated in tight races. Democrat Linda Powers lost her District 3 County Council seat to Republican Brian Young by a margin of 56-to-44 percent. Winamac Town Council Member Dan Vanaman lost his at-large seat by just five votes, coming behind fellow Republican Alvin Parish and Democratic challenger Dave Schambers.
Pulaski Superior Court is seeking funding for security cameras, after a defendant apparently left a knife in the courtroom, within easy reach of jail inmates.
Voters head to the polls today, but several Starke and Pulaski County residents have already cast their ballots. The Starke County Clerk’s Office reports that 1,795 voted early in-person. Another 232 Starke County residents voted by mail, while 35 voted by travel board.
Tree removal continues in the Winamac Town Park, but some new ones are also being planted. Practical Tree Service has completed the removal of 15 trees according to the town’s specifications, according to Park Manager Dave DeLorenzo. He told the town’s park board last week that he also plans to remove some smaller ash trees himself, and he’s already cut one down by the volleyball courts.
The Pulaski County Commissioners will meet tonight in the County Highway Garage. They had planned to move back to the courthouse, but an unexpected delay in the elevator project has led to a change in location.
A Winamac Park Board member is voicing his frustration after someone apparently vandalized the new restrooms along the Winamac Parkway. “I went in there a few weeks ago to look and there was trash everywhere in there, and people went to the bathroom and plugged it up,” Chris Schramm told the rest of the park board last week. “I assume kids are doing that. I mean, it looked terrible.”
Those planning to donate to one of the Starke County Community Foundation’s community funds have the chance to make their money go even further. The Lilly Endowment has announced a “2-for-1 dollar matching opportunity” for gifts to community funds, according to a Community Foundation press release. On top of that, the Starke County Community Foundation will match community fund donations dollar-for-dollar during its annual open house on Giving Tuesday, November 27.
