High School Graduations Approaching; Celebrate Safely

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Area high schools are preparing for graduation ceremonies across the Kankakee Valley as soon-to-be-graduates prepare for life after high school. West Central High School students will be the first to graduate while South Central High School students will undergo their graduation ceremonies last, but police will be on high-alert, searching for intoxicated and unrestrained drivers, so adults are strongly encouraged not to provide alcohol for graduation parties and to keep tabs on graduates attending parties to ensure they are being responsible.

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“Dig In” to the Summer Reading Program at Pulaski County Public Library

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Summer is quickly approaching and with it comes Summer Reading at the Pulaski County Public Library. The 2013 Summer Reading program begins on Tuesday, May 28, when readers of all ages can take part in the games, crafts, presentations and prizes that are offered at this annual event.

This summer’s theme is “Dig Into Reading,” for kids up to 12 years old, while the theme for teens ages 13-18 is “Beneath the Surface.” Participants receive points for checking out and reading books rom the library, and prizes will be awarded as points are earned while the top readers in the age groups will receive a copy of their favorite book in library binding.

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Winamac Officer to Appear in Court on Theft Charge

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A Winamac police officer who allegedly admitted to taking money from an evidence storage locker at the Winamac Police Department will have an initial hearing in Pulaski Circuit Court Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET.

Daymond Hartley, a Winamac officer on the night shift, allegedly admitted to Winamac Police Chief Michael Buchanan that he took $6,352 from the storage locker while working a shift during the last week of March. The money had been collected as evidence regarding a fatal accident involving Jamie Sheets of Winamac.

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Pulaski Council Tables Road Paving Request

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Pulaski County Council at their meeting Monday night tabled a request from Mark Fox to pave a gravel road, County Road 950 South, because residents had been complaining of gravel dust because of frequent truck traffic. Fox said he would like to use some CEDIT money to fund the project, since the first quarter-mile of the road had been paved 3–4 years ago using the funds and now the residents on the road would like to see the rest of it paved as well, approximately three-quarters of a mile.

Auditor Shelia Garling said the funds are available in CEDIT, which currently has a balance of nearly $1.7 million, but she would have to make an additional appropriation.

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Eastern Pulaski School Board Commends Elementary School

Posted on Author WKVI

Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman
It was announced Monday that the Winamac Elementary School achieved status as a 4-Star School in Indiana.

To qualify, the students had to score in the upper percentile in the ISTEP+ exam. Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman told the school board Monday night that this is the second year in a row that the school has earned this distinction.

“Being a 4-Star School is the highest distinction that the Department of Education bestows on a school,” explained Klitzman. “It’s an earned one based on our data performance. We’re very pleased. We feel excellent about our approach in our reading programs and how we emphasize Instruction Day and focus things. We’re very proud of our teachers every day.”

Pulaski Council, Commissioners Discuss Personnel Policy

Posted on Author WKVI

Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
The Pulaski County Council and commissioners met in a joint session last night to discuss the personnel policy, particularly holiday pay and paid time off for sheriff’s department and EMS employees. Paula Reimers of Wagner, Irwin & Sheely appeared before the two boards in an effort to get the mess sorted out, and a lengthy discussion followed.

Because the county has 119 employees to worry about, the county council and commissioners would be hard-pressed to find a policy that would suit everyone’s needs, and the council sought changes to the policy to ensure fairness between departments. Reimers expressed to the boards that some important questions that needed answered regarding the policy included whether or not 12-hour shift employees would receive 12 or eight hours’ pay for holidays, whether those working on holidays would receive time and a half, and whether or not to allow employees to “bank” their holiday time.

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iPad Purchases Leave Commissioners Budget Short

Posted on Author WKVI

Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
The purchase of eight defibrillators for office buildings in Pulaski County hinges on the council’s willingness to appropriate funds for the potentially life-saving devices. Commissioners approved the expenditure last week. However, they don’t have funds readily available to make the purchase, having spent nearly their entire discretionary budget on iPads. Council members repeatedly refused to purchase the tablet computers for the commissioners and finally told them they can spend money in the commissioners budget without obtaining the council’s permission. If the council approves that expenditure when they meet tonight, it will still need to be advertised and approved at their June meeting.

Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, Refined Team Up for Spring Expo

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and Refined are teaming up to host a Spring Expo in an effort to promote local business. The expo is planned for May 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Refined in Winamac at 102 N. Monticello St. There is no fee to set up a booth.

Angie Anspach said this is the first time the Chamber has held such an event, but they’re hoping to make it an annual expo to promote local businesses every year.

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Seventh Annual Indiana Fallen Officers Blood Drive Begins This Month

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A blood drive aimed at keeping alive the memory of a Morgan County sheriff who lost his life in the line of duty is coming to the Kankakee Valley. In July 2001, Sgt. Dan Starnes of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department was shot and killed in a gunfight while on duty, and his surviving spouse Janice organized the Sgt. Dan R. Starnes Memorial Blood Drive in her county later that year – an annual event that has since gone statewide.

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Cosmetic Improvements Planned for Pulaski County Courthouse

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

New Pulaski County Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston is sprucing up the historic courthouse. He told commissioners he’s outsourcing repairs to the tile floor on the main level. They approved an expenditure of $1,240 for the work. In addition to fixing parts of the floor, the vendor will also polish the tile. Johnston and his staff plan to refinish the wood floors and banisters on the second story of the courthouse and replace the torn and tattered window shades in many of the offices. He assures commissioners all of the work will adhere to the necessary standards for historic buildings.

Johnston also told the commissioners he’s in the process of assessing all of the county’s buildings and prioritizing necessary repairs. Immediate needs include replacing exterior concrete at the annex building and repairing the roof at the county highway garage. Johnston says his staff will also focus their efforts on beautification of the building exteriors.

Pence Vetoes Pulaski County Tax Collection Bill

Posted on Author WKVI

Indiana Governor Mike Pence
Indiana Governor Mike Pence
Pulaski County will not be able to retroactively collect local option income taxes. Governor Mike Pence has vetoed a bill that would have allowed the county to collect local option taxes after the legal authority to do had expired. Pence said in a statement, “If Hoosiers owe taxes, they should pay them. But when Hoosiers pay taxes that are not owed, they deserve relief, and this legislation does not meet that standard.”

He adds that retroactive approval of the taxes collected is not the proper remedy for Hoosiers. Pence says he looks forward to working with the General Assembly during the next session to resolve the matter. Meanwhile, he has directed the Office of Management and Budget to develop options for refunding or crediting the revenues in question.

Pulaski County Commissioners Brace for Insurance Premium Spike

Posted on Author WKVI

Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
Health insurance premiums for Pulaski County employees are expected go go up about 20 percent when it’s time to renew. Insurance agent Dave Bennett stresses that’s a best guess and a lot of factors could play into the increase. He tells the commissioners he should have hard numbers for them in mid-June so they can make a decision in July. A lot of the uncertainty, and possible increase in cost, has to do with implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act. The county has offered health insurance through Cigna for several years. Commissioners asked Bennett to get rates from some other companies as well. One option the commissioners could consider if costs get too far out of hand is to no longer offer health insurance as a benefit to employees and pay $188,000 in penalties instead. Bennett stresses this isn’t really an option, as the 124 full-time employees who qualify for health insurance would expect pay raises to make up for the lost benefit.

Pulaski County Sheriff Says Register Your Valuables Through ReportIt

Posted on Author WKVI

Pulaski County Sheriff's Department
Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office has announced that they’ve teamed up with ReportIt, an online proactive tool that allows you to easily catalog information about your valuables including serial numbers, owner-applied numbers, photos of property and scans of receipts. Registration is free, allowing users to keep track of valuable personal property.

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This Week is National Correctional Officers Week

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

In recognition of correctional officers for their professionalism, hard work, dedication and efforts in protecting those in their custody and the public’s safety, May 5–11 has been proclaimed National Correctional Officers’ Week. Because the corrections profession is one of those most challenging and noble professions one can choose to pursue, the week is set aside to recognize the valiant efforts of correctional officers in making their communities a better place.

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Pulaski County Drug Free Council Awards Annual Grants

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Pulaski County Drug Free Council announced that it has awarded more than $4000 in its annual grants, aimed at the reduction of drug and alcohol abuse in Pulaski County. The collection of statutory countermeasure fees assessed of convicts of certain drug and alcohol offenses fund the grants, which can be awarded for programs aimed to providing prevention, treatment or the criminal enforcement of drug and alcohol abuse.

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Betty Louise Koscher

Posted on Author WKVI

A celebration of life service for Betty Louise Koscher, 78, of Chicago, formerly of Winamac, are Saturday, May 11 at 1 p.m. EDT at Frain Mortuary. Visitation is Saturday after 11 a.m. EDT at the funeral home.