Supreme Court Disciplines Winamac Attorney

Lisa Traylor-Wolff
Lisa Traylor-Wolff

A Winamac attorney who became romantically involved with a client while serving as his public defender has been disciplined by the Indiana Supreme Court. Lisa Traylor-Wolff has been permanently banned from judicial service, which means she will no longer be able to serve as a senior judge in Pulaski and Fulton Counties. Senior judges are attorneys who work part-time filling in for trial court judges and are also allowed to represent clients. Continue reading

Spring Turkey Hunting Season Opens April 24

 
 

The Turkey Tracks event begins next week, which Indiana Conservation Officer Keith Wildeman says is two days after the start of the spring turkey hunting season.

“The regular season will start Wednesday, April 24 and run two-and-a-half weeks to May 12,” said Wildeman. “The bag limit for the spring season is one bearded or male turkey. Hens can sometimes have beards too which makes them legal.”

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Pillowcase Ladies Plan Weekend Sewing Event

Riley Children's Hospital logo

Join the Pillowcase Ladies on Saturday as they put their sewing skills to use for a good cause.

They will be making colorful pillowcases for young patients at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis at Just Plain Annie’s Quilt Shop in Winamac, starting at 9 a.m. EDT. The shop is located across from Pulaski Memorial Hospital on State Road 14 E. Bring your sewing machine and enjoy a day of fun and fellowship. Even if you can’t sew, you can still help out by pinning, trimming and ironing.

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Iota Xi Annoucnes Celebrating the Arts Winners

Celebrating the ArtsIota Xi, Winamac’s chapter of Psi Iota Xi Sorority, hosted “Celebrating the Arts” on April 6, 2013. The art exhibition and contest had nearly 100 entries – thanks to all young artists who submitted pieces from Eastern Pulaski Elementary School, Eastern Pulaski High School, Caston Middle School, West Central Elementary School and West Central High School. Our community is truly enriched by your talent! Continue reading

National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week Showcases Dispatchers

Pulaski County Sheriff's Department
Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department

When you have an emergency and call 911, the first person you talk to is an emergency dispatcher. This week we are saluting all of those who assist the public in the case of an emergency and who can communicate to all personnel in the case of an emergency. It’s National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer said the dispatchers are the most important people in an emergency situation.

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Winamac Runners Unharmed in Boston Marathon Blast

  
 

There’s a little good news in the wake of yesterday’s bombing at the Boston Marathon. Three Winamac men who ran yesterday’s race are safe after a pair of blasts rocked the finish line, killing three people and injuring more than 145. Glenn Bailey and Mike Haschel had already finished the race. George Nietert, who teaches in Winamac, is also safe. If you have a loved one in the Boston area who is unaccounted for, you can call 617-635-4500 to check on them.

Pulaski County Deputies Arrest Two for Theft of Anydrous Ammonia

Brandon-Hitt
Brandon Hitt
Michael-Kasnick
Michael Kasnick, Jr.

Two Rensselaer men have been arrested for stealing anhydrous ammonia at a property in Pulaski County.

The owner of a farming operation reportedly spotted 36-year-old Brandon Scott Hitt and 41-year-old Michael Kasnick, Jr. stealing anhydrous ammonia from a tank on the property. Two Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the scene and were told that the suspect’s vehicle was traveling with its headlights off on a county road near the scene.

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Look Out For Meth Lab Trash Along Indiana Roadways

Photos of Meth Labs In Indiana

The milder weather has a lot of people outdoors getting exercise by walking, jogging or riding bicycles. The Indiana State Police warn that its possible people will come across toxic trash left behind by people who manufacture methamphetamine.

Items like empty plastic bottles, discarded gas cans and other containers may be toxic, flammable, corrosive and acidic and could cause an explosion, fire or burns if they come into direct contact with the skin. Troopers from the ISP Meth Suppression Section say one-and-a-half-gallon gasoline cans are popular containers for meth cooks. Other items to be aware of include battery casings, zipper-top plastic bags, empty pill blister packs and any types of cylinders found in odd places like ditches, fields or wooded areas. Cylinders are used to store or transport anhydrous ammonia, which is an extremely dangerous gas when direct contact or inhalation occurs.

If you find any items you think might be meth trash, call your local law enforcement agency or the ISP Meth Suppression Section at 877-855-METH. More information can be found online at www.meth.in.gov.

 

Inmate Work Crew Lends a Hand at Tippecanoe River State Park

Tippecanoe River State Park
Tippecanoe River State Park

Inmates from the state prison in Westville have proven to be an invaluable asset to the management at Tippecanoe River State Park north of Winamac. Property manager Vernon Gillum says the work crew comes out a few days a week and assists with big jobs like cutting trees down and hauling them off so they can be split for firewood and raking acres of leaves at the family campground.

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Eastern Pulaski School Board Sadly Accepts Two Retirements

Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman
The Eastern Pulaksi School Board accepted a resignation and a retirement request from two educators who happen to be married. Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman said Jan Moore had previously retired, but she was hired back on a part-time basis to teach math this school year.

“She has decided that this year is absolutely the last of it,” explained Klitzman. “She tried to retire last year and we twisted her arm and she came back. Another reason that she’s so firm that this is her last year is her husband, Brad Moore, is retiring.”

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Tippecanoe River State Park Schedules Volunteer Day

Tippecanoe River State Park
Tippecanoe River State Park
Volunteers are needed to give Tippecanoe River State Park on U.S. 35, four miles north of Winamac, a good spring cleaning for the season. The annual volunteer day is scheduled for Saturday, May 4, which is also the “Welcome Back Weekend” at the park. Volunteers will meet at the nature center and work in several areas of the park, including the horseman’s campground and the nature center. Construction of the two new Tippecanoe River overlooks will also take place that day. Materials to replace them were donated by two local families and Plymouth Tube provided the steel for the supports. Friends of Tippecanoe River State Park volunteers tore out the old overlooks and have done the prep work for the replacement structures. If you would like to help out with these or any of the other projects at the park, call the office at (574) 946-3213.

Germanfest Plans Still Being Discussed

  
 
Plans for the Pulaski County Chamber’s Germanfest are coming right along.

The Aug. 10 festival will be in downtown Winamac with an authentic German band providing entertainment. Also authentic German food will be catered by Ortman Meat Processing of Winamac.

More plans are being discussed. If you would like to be involved for the Germanfest celebration, contact (574) 946-6123.

Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed at Tippecanoe River State Park

Tippecanoe River State Park
Tippecanoe River State Park
An invasive insect that is potentially deadly to ash trees has been confirmed at Tippecanoe River State Park. The emerald ash borer is one of the most destructive wood-boring pests in the United States. Insects can fly a short distance but are more commonly spread to new areas when people move infected trees, logs and firewood. Tippecanoe River State Park Manager Vernon Gillum says the park continues to maintain strong restrictions with regard to firewood that is brought onto the property.

“We’ve already had where we have to be cognizant of what firewood we let into the property. For the most part it has to be de-barked or have a sticker that it comes from an approved vendor,” said Gillum.

Gillum says Tippecanoe River State Park has very few ash trees. Still, he says strict firewood restrictions are necessary to prevent the spread of other pests that may attack the oak, hickory and other trees at the park.

Two Donations Recognized by Eastern Pulaski School Board

Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman
Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman brought it to the school board’s attention this week that several donations have been made to the corporation. One donation was for the Helping Hands fund.

“We had a very nice $500 donation from Re/Max Real Estate,” said Klitzman. “For those of you who don’t know or may not remember, the Helping Hands is a program that we use to help students that are in need of assistance either in their cafeteria balance or in their textbook usage.”

Tom Bonnell, owner of TNS Recycling, had constructed canvas tarps that were donated to the school which are being used with the baseball and track programs as well as the fine arts department.

Winamac Police Department to Add Part-Time Officers

 
 
The Winamac Police Department plans to hire a couple of part-time officers. Chief Mike Buchanan says longtime Sgt. Dwight Peterson is planning to retire later this year, and he wants to get some people on the force before then. Buchanan told the town council there’s money in his budget for the extra help. He plans to hire officers who have already been through the police academy in order to curb costs.

Eastern Pulaski School Board Approves Summer Classes

Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman
The Eastern Pulaski School Board approved summer school offerings for this year. Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman said depending on enrollment, the corporation will offer physical education.

“It’s a great time to have PE,” explained Klitzman. “With a three-hour block, you do so many more things. You don’t have to worry about the class bell ringing after 50 minutes and you don’t have to worry about getting sweaty and going into an algebra class, which kids don’t like necessarily. It’s in the summer, it’s in the morning and you get it over with.”

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West Central School Corporation Receives $70,000 Grant

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon explained to the school board last week that the corporation, through the Special Education Co-op, received a $70,000 grant for technology supplies, any other instructional supplies and staff development.

“This was the result of other corporations throughout the state not using all of their funding and having to turn it back in,” said Mellon. “Basically, the state does not want to return it back to the federal government, so they gave us an opportunity to write a proposal and receive some items with this funding.”

First Installment of Property Taxes Due in Just Under a Month

 
 

With just under a month to go before the first installment of property taxes is due, Pulaski and Marshall counties are working feverishly to get property tax statements mailed out in time for taxpayers to get their payments in the mail. Pulaski County Treasurer Lynn Wilder said her office is about halfway through mailing out their statements and will finish the mailings by the end of today, while Marshall County Treasurer Deb VanDeMark said her office will have the mailings completed by Friday.

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