Winamac Town Park Closed While Flooding Remains an Issue

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Flooding remains an issue in Pulaski County.

Minor flooding is occurring in the Ora area and some residences have been affected.

The Winamac Town Park is closed while river waters have spilled into the park. Park Superintendent Rick Dilts says water remains on the roads in the lowest part of the park, which is located by the baseball diamonds. The ticket booth for the power show is about halfway underwater and the 4-H buildings in the back of the park are reportedly suffering flooding issues. Dilts indicated that there won’t be many tree branches or other debris to pick up and not a lot of damage is predicted.

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Flooding Forces Fair Breakfast Cancellation

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Flooding in the Winamac Town Park has forced the cancellation of Saturday’s Pulaski County Fair Association breakfast. A new date has not been set. The river is expected to remain above the 10 foot flood stage in Winamac until at least this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Additional rain is possible later this week. The river is also out of its banks near Ora, where flooding is affecting nearby homes. It’s not expected to crest until early tomorrow morning.

 

 

 

 

State Budget Boosts Local Highway Funds

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
State lawmakers backed off their push to tie county road money to the implementation of a wheel tax. The budget passed Friday by state lawmakers commits one percent of annual sales tax collections to the Motor Highway Vehicle Fund, for an additional $215 million annually to INDOT, counties, cities and towns. Starke County is on track to get more than $500,000 in extra road funds from the state over the next two years. The county does not collect a an excise tax on vehicle registration, also known as a wheel tax. State lawmakers briefly considered requiring counties to implement such a tax in order to draw down their share of road funds. St. Joseph is the only neighboring county that collects such a tax.

Pulaski County will get an additional $582,393 from the state over the next two years. Marshall County’s share is $1.1 million, LaPorte County will get an increase of slightly over $1 million, and Jasper County will draw down an extra $718,122 per year.

The Association of Indiana Counties applauds the move as a great step forward in improving our state and local road networks.

Candidates May Now Apply for Miss Pulaski County Pageant

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The time has come to sign up for the Miss Pulaski County pageant.

Applications are available at the Eastern Pulaski and West Central School Corporations. Interested candidates must be at least 18 years of age as of June 1 and under the age of 21 by Aug. 16. Candidates should be involved in an organization such as 4-H, Girl Scouts or school clubs and the majority of the activities should take place in Pulaski County.

Applicants should not be married have no children.

If you need more information, call (574) 595-0875 or (574) 242-0844. Applications are due by May 10.

Area Proms Prompt Law Enforcement to Step up DUI Patrols

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
With area schools holding their proms and post-prom events within the next month, local law enforcement departments are stepping up DUI patrols throughout their communities. Police will saturate areas around each prom and post-prom site in an effort to cut down on potential alcohol and drug use, with a zero-tolerance policy toward the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages. In addition, those who provide alcohol to minors will be targeted and jailed.

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Eastern Pulaski School Board Discusses Criteria for New Superintendent

Posted on Author WKVI

Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman
The Eastern Pulaski School Board met Tuesday night in a work session.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman said that the board met in sort of a brainstorming situation to gather criteria and qualifications in what they’re looking for in a new superintendent. The board will be looking at state guidelines and the corporation’s needs when discussing a new leader in the corporation.

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Winamac Man Arrested on Possession Charges

Posted on Author WKVI

A Winamac man was arrested after he was found to be in possession of drugs near the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation.

 
 

A Pulaski County deputy was patrolling just south of Winamac when he noticed that the vehicle in front of him did not have a properly working license plate light. The driver also failed to activate his turn signal when turning onto a Winamac street.

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Tippecanoe River Crests in Monterey and Winamac

Posted on Author WKVI

Tippecanoe River State Park
Tippecanoe River State Park
The Tippecanoe River is receding in Monterey and Winamac. Pulaski County Emergency Management Agency Director Larry Hoover says some low-lying areas were affected by flooding, but he’s not received any reports of water in homes or flood-related damages. Hoover encourages anyone who did sustain property damage to call his office at (574) 946-6391 to report it or to visit the Indiana Department of Homeland Security’s website at in.gov/dhs. Reporting damage helps state officials determine whether they should apply for federal assistance.

Hoover says the river in both Monterey and Winamac crested well short of the high-water mark set in 2009, when it hit 15.72 and 15.69 feet respectively. It topped out at 12.21 feet in Winamac over the weekend and reached 14.37 feet in Monterey. Additional rain is possible tomorrow, but Hoover hopes that the water level will have dropped enough by then that it won’t cause any significant problems.

Distinguished Hoosier Award Given to Winamac Legend

Posted on Author WKVI
Rep. Gutwein (far left) along with Governor Mike Pence and Melody Braun holding the Distinguished Hoosier Award.
Rep. Gutwein (far left) along with Governor Mike Pence and Melody Braun holding the Distinguished Hoosier Award.

Melody Braun was at the Indiana Statehouse recently to accept an award in her late husband’s honor.

Governor Mike Pence recently honored Ralph Braun with the Distinguished Hoosier Award. Representative Doug Gutwein attended the award ceremony and stated that there was no way to fully show appreciation for all that Ralph Braun accomplished, but hoped this could show how appreciative Indiana is for the major contributions he made to the state.

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Criteria for New Superintendent to be Discussed by E. Pulaski School Board

Posted on Author WKVI

Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman
The Eastern Pulaski School Board will be meeting in a work session tonight at 5:30 p.m. ET in the distance learning lab. The work session will involve the discussion of criteria to be used in the superintendent selection process.

After 26 years at the helm of the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation, Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman announced that he would be retiring when his contract ends on June 30. The Eastern Pulaski School Board met in special session on Monday, March 18 and approved Klitzman’s request for retirement.

The board’s split vote on renewing Klitzman’s contract for the 2013-2014 school year prompted his decision.

The board is now tasked in finding his replacement. That process will begin tonight during the board’s work session.

DNR Encourages Participation in National Volunteer Week

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Hoosiers are invited to participate in National Volunteer Week by helping Indiana’s State Parks & Reservoirs. Jody Heaston, volunteer coordinator for the DNR Division of State Parks & Reservoirs, says there are many opportunities from maintaining trails to entering computer data. Heaston hopes many volunteers from National Volunteer Week will “catch the giving-back spirit” and continue to volunteer throughout the year. The Tippecanoe River State Park north of Winamac is always in need of volunteers. Park management and the nonprofit Friends of Tippecanoe River State Park are teaming up on Saturday, May 4 to host a volunteer day and spring clean the nature center, work on the new scenic overlooks and get the horse campground ready for the park’s busy season. Give the park office a call at 574-946-3213 if you would like to help out or like the Friends of Tippecanoe River State Park page on Facebook for more information

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Winamac Church Offers A Hand Up for Families in Need

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Members of a Winamac church have cleaned their closets out and want to give back to the community. Fellowship Baptist Church is hosting a Spring Cleaning Clothing Giveaway on Saturday, April 27 from 8 a.m. until noon EDT. Organizers want items to go to people who are having a hard time making ends meet and need a helping hand. They’ve got a variety of men’s women’s and children’s clothing and accessories for all seasons. Any items not given away will be donated to charity. Fellowship Baptist Church is located at the corner of State Road 119 and 100 South just south of Winamac.

Report Flood Damage to IDHS

Posted on Author WKVI

If you sustain flood damage at any time between April 17-22, report that damage to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. A report form can be found online at in.gov/dhs.

If you do not have internet access, contact a friend, family member or neighbor for assistance. Web access is also available at your local library. If none of those options are available, you may also contact your county emergency management agency to report damage.

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Morel Mushroom Hunting in Full Swing

Posted on Author WKVI

morel mushroom

One of the popular springtime activities is morel mushroom hunting.

Indiana Conservation Officer Keith Wildeman said with all of the rain we’ve received, there should be a good crop of mushrooms.

“We’ve had a lot of rain here so that’s definitely going to help the mushroom production in the area,” said Wildeman. “I have reports from southern Indiana that folks are out finding a few mushrooms here and there.”

You need to follow the rules when out mushroom hunting.

“They do need to have permission to look for mushrooms on private property. A lot of folks think that it’s okay and that they’re only looking for mushrooms, but you do need to have permission before you enter private property. It’s just like hunting, fishing and trapping – you do need to have permission.”

The same courtesy should be extended to state properties.

“Please check with the property manager whether or not it’s allowed. Our local fish and wildlife areas do restrict the amount of time that you can go out mushroom hunting.”

Be mindful of possible flooded areas if you do decide to go out mushroom hunting this weekend.

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Investigates Accidental Shooting

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an accidental shooting.

Dispatchers received a 911 call shortly after 10:00 p.m. ET Wednesday night from a man who stated his brother-in-law, 60-year-old John W. Heck, shot himself in the head.

When emergency personnel arrived at 335 E. 100 S. in Winamac, they found Heck on the floor with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. He was breathing and unresponsive when he was transported to Pulaski Memorial Hospital . He was subsequently taken to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. He later died of his injuries at the hospital.

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Flood Warning Issued For Tippecanoe and Yellow Rivers

Posted on Author WKVI

Flood warningFlooding is likely in the WKVI listening area due to the recent heavy rainfall. The National Weather Services has issued a flood warning for the Tippecanoe River in Ora and above Winamac and for the Yellow River at Knox and Plymouth. The most immediate concern is the Tippy in the Monterey area, which is approaching the flood stage of 12 feet. It’s expected to rise above that stage tonight and crest at 13 feet around 8 a.m. EDT Sunday. At 13 feet the river begins to affect streets and homes in downtown Monterey. This crest compares to the May 18, 2009 flood when the Tippecanoe crested at 13.3 feet. Continue reading →

Winamac Honored as Tree City USA

Posted on Author WKVI
Winamac Town Hall
Winamac Town Hall

The Town of Winamac has once again been honored as a Tree City USA by the Department of Natural Resources.

It’s one of 65 Indiana communities honored this year for environmental stewardship. Winamac has made the list each year since 1999. In order to achieve Tree City USA honors, a community must have a tree committee, a tree ordinance, a community forestry program and an Arbor Day recognition.

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