March 21-Pulaski Historical Society Event

WINAMAC – The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites’ curator of paleobiology, Dr. Catalina Tomé, will present the program at the Pulaski County Historical Society’s annual meeting, Thursday, March 21.

The feature program will held at One-Eyed Jack’s Celebration Station in downtown Winamac. The public is welcome to join the PCHS membership to enjoy an informal meet-and-greet, including desserts and coffee, at 6 p.m. A short business meeting for the election of officers and directors will begin at 6:30. The program will follow and is free for all who wish to attend.

Dr. Tomé explains that she “works to preserve and research the vertebrate fossils of Indiana to help inform future generations about the amazing natural history of the Midwest.” She will speak on the diverse fauna from Indiana’s Ice Age and how they lived and adapted throughout the state’s glacial and interglacial history.

Tomé earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of California Santa Cruz. She received a Master of Science and a PhD, both in biology, from the University of New Mexico. She conducted post-doctoral research at the university of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her research focuses on small mammals and their survival during the Cenozoic Quaternary (2.58 million years ago).

The curator will include information about mastodons in her presentation. Pulaski County was home to the first complete mastodon skeleton to be unearthed and displayed at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. The skeleton was excavated by a dredge contractor in the summer of 1914. Frank M. Williams of Winamac was constructing the William D. Pattison branch ditch leading from the larger Monon ditch. This was known as the Blue Sea marsh of Rich Grove Township. (Read about Pulaski County’s mastodon at: https://bit.ly/3Uzqyeo.)

Mastodons roamed Indiana starting about two and a half million years ago, and they became extinct about 10,500 years ago. Mastodon bones have been found in most of Indiana’s 92 counties, typically in ancient bogs that previously existed in central and northern Indiana. The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites has the largest collection of mastodons in the state and also has an extensive collection of bones found from various excavations.

 

Historical Society officers, membership

Annually, the Pulaski County Historical Society meets to organize for the upcoming year and to provide a program of historic interest to the community.

New and returning officers to be elected at the annual meeting are Ryan Harrison as president, Kathi Thompson as vice president, Rhonda Wilson as secretary and Lin Morrison as treasurer.

Directors on the election slate for terms ending in 2027 are Christi Beavers, Karen Fritz and Janet Onken. Returning directors are Lenora Hoover, Jolie Simmermaker, Chris Zahrt, Steve Morrison, Anne Scott and Dave Scott. Ex-officio member is Mary Conner, Pulaski County Historian/Genealogist. (Only PCHS members are eligible to vote during the meeting portion.)

The Historical Society is also seeking to fill the opening for volunteer curator (or co-curators) for its museum collection.

All interested persons are welcome to become members of the Pulaski County Historical Society. Membership dues support the work of the Historical Society in “preserving history for a better future.” That work includes the operation of the Pulaski County History Museum – open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is located at 500 S. Monticello St., Winamac (the Carriage House).

Annual memberships run through the calendar year (Jan. 1 through Dec. 31). Membership fees are $30 for individuals, $40 for families, and $80 for corporate sustaining.

The Historical Society also offers sponsorships at various levels. Sponsors have their names displayed on the Society’s website, in its monthly e-newsletter, and on a display in the museum. Levels are: Antiquity – $1,000   Heirloom – $500   Heritage – $250   Legacy – $150

Prospective members or renewing members may go online to pay for membership or to make a contribution through PayPal: www.pulaskihistory.net. Donations may also be mailed to the Historical Society at P.O. Box 135, Winamac, IN 46996

About the Pulaski County Historical Society

The Pulaski County Historical Society celebrates its 59th anniversary in 2024. The organization was founded Oct. 26, 1965. Richard Dodd served as its first president. There were 137 charter members. Among those who have served as president over the past five decades are Dodd, Richard Zellers, Charles Fisher, Claude Conley, Roy Master, Neal Hiatt, Ralph Fritz, Michael Shurn, Chris Smith, Steve Morrison, Kathi Thompson and Ryan Harrison.

The Pulaski County Historical Society board of directors meets at 6 p.m., the third Thursday of each month, at the Pulaski County History Museum, Winamac. Members and all interested persons are welcome to attend the board meetings. To learn more about the Historical Society, visit its website: www.pulaskihistory.net or find it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PulaskiHistory.

March 23-Easter Trains Return to Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum

 

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum is pleased to announce the annual return of the Easter Trains. Since first operating in 2006, the Easter Trains have become a popular holiday favorite for children of all ages. The events will feature an Easter Egg Hunt after each train ride with a rush to find every candy-filled egg. More than 6,000 eggs will be distributed this year and gathered by children in three age categories during the high-energy hunts. The child who finds the golden egg in each age category will receive a special prize.

 

Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras and take photos oftheir children with the Easter Bunny during these events. Children will receive a gift bag with a coloring book, crayons, and stickers while aboard the train. The Easter Train events this year will help support the Purdue Railroad Club. A portion of each ticket sold will be donated to their organization. The club is among the oldest student organizations at Purdue University. Easter Trains depart from the station in North Judson on Saturday, March 23rd and 30th at 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm CDT (Chicago time). Each trip takes passengers on a 45-minute countryside excursion, crossing the Kankakee River at English Lake before returning. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $14 for children ages 3 to 15 for coach seating. Infants and toddlers under 3 are free when riding on a parent’s or guardian’s lap.

 

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at hoosiervalley.org. About the Museum The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization dedicated to the preservation of railroad history in northwest Indiana. The museum educates the public through interpretive displays and its tourist railroad operations. Additional information about the museum can be found online at hoosiervalley.org or on the museum’s Facebook page at @hoosiervalley.

Warrior Youth Baseball Sign-ups

Warrior Youth Baseball will be back in action soon and it’s time to sign up.  This tremendous program will be beginning soon
and sign up time is now.  For more information on signing your young person up follow this link to their website.

http://www.warrioryouthbaseball.com

Sponsorship opportunities are still available too, as well as a need for volunteers to be coaches, umpires, concession stand works and general help.  To find out more information phone Jon Frain at 574.242-0292

March 29 Weekend-Easter Bunny At Hanne’s Candyland

The Easter Bunny will be on hand to visit all the children on Easter weekend, Friday and Saturday at Hanne’s Candy Land in North Judson.  It’s that magical mystical place where kids can enjoy indoor bounce houses for lots of good family fun.

You can even plan your private parties at Hanne’s and can even have it catered.  Hanne’s Candy Land in North Judson.  So happy to have this wonderful place in North Judson.

May 5-Lifewise Academy Character Trait Trot 5k

May 5th will be here before you know it! Don’t forget to sign up for the LifeWise Academy “Character Trait Trot”! The 5K will again run from the LifeWise building (just south of West Central High School) to the town park in Francesville. There will be food and a chance to win a prize by completing our Character Trait Scavenger Hunt.  Register now, follow the link for more information.    https://www.facebook.com/LifeWiseWestCentral