Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman updated the school board on this bill during their recent meeting.
Active Shooter Training Scheduled in Pulaski County
Law enforcement agencies across the nation continue to create strategies to help diffuse an active shooter incident in a school or other public place. The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, EMS and all county fire departments will be coming together on Saturday, Feb. 23 to train for such an event at the Monterey Elementary School at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer is looking forward to working with all emergency personnel in creating a plan to keep residents safe.
EPSC Students Shoot for the Stars in Spaceflight Experiments
Students at Eastern Pulaski Schools are going above and beyond their studies – way beyond. As part of Avicenna Academy in Lake County’s Indiana State Science Education Consortium, Eastern Pulaski students in grades 5-8 will be participating in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Programs designed to utilize student’s information gained in the classroom and expand upon it through further research and investigation.
Education Bills Discussed during Eastern Pulaski School Board Meeting
During the recent meeting of the Eastern Pulaski School Board, Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman brought several pieces of legislation to the attention of the board members that are education-related. The bill that he is most concerned deals with school vouchers.
Braun Corporation employees pay respects to founder
Employees of the Winamac-based Braun Corporation have a day off to pay their respects to the company’s founder and CEO. Ralph Braun, 72, died last Friday.
Braun built his first three-wheeled scooter in 1962 to overcome his mobility challenges brought on by a childhood illness. In 1972 he founded The Braun Corporation, which manufactures a full line of mobility products and employs more than 800 people. BraunAbility employees are wearing blue ribbons in memory of Ralph Braun. His funeral visitation is today from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Eastern at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Winamac. Braun’s funeral mass is tomorrow at noon at the church, followed by entombment at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Winamac. His family encourages anyone who would like to pay tribute to his legacy and help make mobility affordable for people who need a little extra support to donate to the Ralph Braun Foundation. Visit www.ralphbraunfoundation.org for more information.
Pulaski County Sheriff warns of possible scams
If you get a phone call stating you’ve won $1 million, you may not want to quit your job just yet. Pulaski County Sheriff Mike Gayer says an area resident recently got such a call and was told he needed to send $1,500 to collect his winnings. Gayer says these scams are common and callers or written correspondence will actually use the name of a legitimate lottery or sweepstakes to further convince a potential victim.
Warning signs include a letter, email or text message announcing you won a prize in a lottery or sweepstakes you didn’t enter. Scammers also ask “winners” to send a fee or bank account details to collect a prize. Legitimate lotteries do not require you to pay a fee to collect winnings.
Pulaski Council Approves Salary Ordinance; Unfreezes Salaries
The Pulaski County Council unfroze salaries for three Pulaski County positions after the council held a lengthy discussion on the revised salary ordinance. The council dropped the freezes for the economic development director, health department registrar, and head cook at the sheriff’s department. However, the discussion over the salary of the jail matron remains, as the council decided to table the discussion over that salary.
Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department to Host Jail Commander and Sheriff’s Meeting
Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer said this is an opportunity for everyone to come to get together for an informational session.
Two Student Groups Approved for Overnight Trips
Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman commented that the Junior Science and Humanities Class, or AP Biology, will be going to a symposium at Saint Mary’s of the Woods in Terre Haute.
Five Chosen to Continue in Lilly Endowment Scholarship Process
Finalists in the Pulaski County Community Foundation Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship process have been named.
David Putt from West Central High School, Jordann Frasure from North Judson-San Pierre High School and Emerald Blankenship, Kathleen Budd and Heather DeLorenzo from Winamac High School will now advance to the final phase of the process.
Two Pulaski County Men Arrested for Stealing Scrap
Two Pulaski County men were arrested Saturday after stealing scrap from a property on 1400 West in Pulaski County.
The property owner called Pulaski County police to report that some unknown people were on his property and no one has permission to be there. Police found two men, cutting up a trailer frame. The suspects, Sean Allman of Francesville and J.B. Rowe of Medaryville, reportedly told police that they had permission to be there and that a man they met asked them to remove the steel from that property. They arrived at the property earlier in the day to assess what equipment they would need and then returned to cut up the scrap.
Winamac Police make four methamphetamine arrests
Formal charges are pending against four people arrested for possession of methamphetamine and syringes at a home in downtown Winamac Tuesday night. Jayson David Shaffer, 27, of Leiters Ford; Douglas Lane Whiteman, Jr., 27, of Winamac; Kelcie Miller, 21, of Winamac; and Sara Cox, 21, of Culver were all arrested by Winamac Police Officer Brian Gaillard. He received an anonymous tip of drug use at a residence on South Market Street residence and checked it out. The occupants gave him permission to search the house, and Gaillard said he found baggies of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Pulaski Council Approves Appropriation for Rail Study
The Pulaski County Council Monday night approved a motion to advertise for a $52,000 appropriation to allow a design engineer firm to conduct studies to find suitable locations to improve rail access in the industrial park in Pulaski County. Nathan Origer, executive director of the Pulaski County Community Development Commission, told the council that the county’s strategic plan – which had been composed in 2010 – calls for development of the agricultural-technology alternative-energy industrial park on the west side of the county, which would be served by rail.
Introduction of iPads to Eastern Pulaski Students Moving Along
“We need to do this to understand that our teachers are the most important ingredient in student learning and the iPad and everything else supplements that teacher,” stated Dr. Klitzman. “We’re gradually infusing more of the technology into our programming. Mr. Dickinson reported on how we’re doing with that at the middle school.”
The iPads will be put into more students’ hands as the year goes forward.
Winamac woman pays it forward with a haircut
Mary Perren
A Winamac hairstylist is sporting a new hairdo for a good cause. Emily Larkin agreed to shave her head once she raised $3,000 for Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. That’s where her sister, Christina, also a hairstylist, was treated as a teenager when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Larkin said her bold new haircut was inspired by the Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders who shaved their head in support of Coach Chuck Pagano’s leukemia diagnosis inspired Larkin to “take it off.” She nearly doubled her fundraising goal, thanks to generous support from the community. Her sister Christina did the honors during the halftime show of last night’s Winamac Community High School basketball game. Larkin said she “kind of likes” her new short locks, which she will be sporting for Christina’s wedding next month.
Pulaski Council Denies Commissioners’ iPad Request
The Pulaski County Council last night denied a request from the county commissioners to purchase four 64GB iPads, activation, and insurance at a cost of approximately $5000 for the devices and one year of coverage.
The council discussed whether the commissioners had a sound plan or if they were “putting the cart before the horse,” after a council member presented a quote from AT&T that was right around the same price but provided two years of coverage. On top of that, the information from AT&T indicated that the company would provide training – something that the commissioners’ proposal from Venture Wireless did not provide.
West Central School Board Reinstates Elementary Arts and Music Programs
Winamac Elementary Students Raise Money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Last Monday, Collins challenged the students to help raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Collins said the issue hits home.
West Central School Board welcomes new member
The West Central School Board is back to full strength after a new member was sworn in last week. Jeff Lowry was appointed to the seat his father, Dean, held since 1986.The seat has been vacant since Lowry’s death on Dec. 21. Jeff Lowry will serve the remainder of his father’s term and will be eligible to run for reelection in 2014 if he chooses. He attended Thursday’s meeting with his wife, Kasey, and their children, Kaitlynn and Sarabeth.
Braun Corporation Founder Dies
A prominent Winamac resident is dead. Sources close to the family confirm that Braun Corporation founder and self-made millionaire Ralph Braun died Friday afternoon. He was 72.
As a child Braun was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy and by age 15 was unable to walk. Braun was confined to a manual wheelchair, which left him exhausted at the end of the day. He was in his early 20s when he started to tinker in his cousin’s farm shop and invented the world’s first electric scooter. Braun dubbed it the Tri-Wheeler, and it quickly gained popularity in the disability community. Braun took orders and built Tri-Wheelers in his parents’ garage under the name Save-A-Step Manufacturing.
