Pulaski County Jail Not Hindered By Additional Inmates

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer

The arrangement to house a number of Starke County inmates in the Pulaski County Jail to ease the overcrowding situation in the Starke County facility seems to be going well, according to Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer.

“So far it’s been going really well,” said Gayer. “The inmates haven’t caused any additional work. We’re set up to house 127 inmates, we were down to about 50 when this agreement came into play, so things are going well so far.”

Pulaski County is housing the inmates for the agreed upon cost of $20 a day per inmate. The jail staff is then responsible for housing the inmates, providing their meals and issuing their necessary medications. Sheriff Gayer said there were 13 inmates in the jail yesterday, and the number of inmates ranges from 13 to 15 a day.

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Winamac Mural Unveiling Held Last Weekend

Posted on Author WKVI
Indiana artist Zach Medler and Don and Lynn Darda collaborated with community members to develop this mural.

The unveiling of a unique mural in Winamac depicting several activities relevant to Pulaski County was held Saturday.

Zach Medler, an Indiana artist, and Don and Lynn Darda collaborated with students and Pulaski County residents to develop the images that were used in the mural.

This is the eighth mural in the Tippecanoe Arts Federation’s Mural Art Initiative program. This project was possible thanks to a grant from the Pulaski County Community Foundation.

The Mural Art Initiative is a collaborative educational outreach program that serves at-risk youth areas. There are three main objectives to this program: to visually enhance the community, promote the understanding of the benefits of the arts and provide a lasting impact of those who participate in the development of the murals.

Medaryville Man Arrested For Alleged Domestic Battery

Posted on Author WKVI

A Medaryville man was arrested Saturday after an alleged domestic dispute.

Larry Minarik, Jr. reportedly got into an argument with a 26-year-old woman over a cell phone. During the argument, Minarik allegedly pushed the woman down in their home and pressed his hand over and into her mouth and yelled at her to be quiet. The woman told police she couldn’t breathe and struck Minarik in the face to get him to stop. The woman’s eight-year-old son reportedly heard his mother scream.

The woman called her father who then called police. By that time, Minarik left the residence. The officers learned that the woman had filed a protective order against Minarik but it had not yet been served.  Minarik reportedly called the woman later and asked to get some things from the residence and officers were able to come back to the home to arrest him.

Minarik reportedly told police that he put his hands in front of her mouth but did not actually touch her. He said she was screaming for no apparent reason.

Minarik was arrested on a preliminary charge of Domestic Battery with a Minor Present. He was served with the protective order while being booked into the Pulaski County Jail.

Pulaski County Recycling Center Breaking Even

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

The Pulaski County Commissioners last week received a report from Recycling Center Director Ed Clark, who informed them that his center has brought in a total of $24,472.11 for the month of June. He says they’re currently breaking even for operating costs, and they’ve brought in over $140,000 this year so far.

Clark explained that the center is suffering from a drop in commodity prices. The center used to be able to sell one kind of plastic for $25 per pound, but the price had dropped twice in June down to $19.50 per pound. While this drop is bad for the center when selling plastic, Clark says this is the perfect time to purchase plastic to sell later at a profit.

Clark also told the commissioners that he will be seeking estimates on repair work at the transfer station. He says that the compactor is in need of repair because of a break in one component, and while the compactor can still be used, he says it’s best to get the break repaired before putting it through heavy use.

Winamac Power from the Past Continues Today

Posted on Author WKVI

The Winamac Power from the Past show continues today in the Winamac Town Park.

On display are Ford and Fordson Tractors, machinery, and tools. Starting at 10 a.m. today and tomorrow, visitors can enjoy viewing antiques and collectibles, a quilt show, flea market, antique motorcycles, shingle mill, tractor games, wheat weaving and crosscut saw contests.

“Over Due” will perform tonight at 8 p.m. and there will be a spark show after the horse pull in the steam engine area.

More great features are set for tomorrow. Admission is $3.

Pulaski County Commissioners Approve Several Expenses

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

The Pulaski County Commissioners approved a number of departmental expenses this week.

Ed Fleury of the Veteran Service Office requested the commissioners sign a lease for a Xerox ColorQube 8700 – a multifunction printer that he says his office requires. On average, Fleury says his office needs to make at least 500 copies per month, and because they currently have no copier, he has been going to the Health Department to use their equipment. However, Fleury says sometimes the office is closed and he is out of luck.

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Winamac Town Board Discusses Golf Cart Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI

The Winamac Town Board is in the discussion stages of enacting a golf cart ordinance.

The golf cart ordinance would need to have safety issues spelled out – specifically lighting requirements and the necessity of a licensed driver. Insurance must also be taken out on the cart and the operator is to obey all traffic laws. There is a state law concerning golf carts and the police department indicated that the town law will be upheld along with the state law, and citations will be given if an offense occurs.

The board members would like to include that children under 48 pounds would need to be restrained in a car seat.

The ordinance will be discussed again during the board’s next meeting on Aug. 13.

Pulaski County Courthouse Sidewalk To Be Replaced

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

The steps around the Pulaski County Courthouse will soon be a bit safer, thanks to a motion by the Pulaski County Commissioners to replace 420 square feet of sidewalk at a cost of $3345.

County Maintenance Director Morry Demarco presented the commissioners this week with three bids to replace the approaches around the courthouse. He had contacted five contractors requesting bids for the work, but only three returned bids. He says the work is necessary because the sidewalk and steps are not level, creating a tripping hazard for visitors. In fact, the steps are so hazardous in the winter, that Demarco says he had to block some entrances last winter to prevent people from tripping.

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Company To Prepare Pulaski County Forms For Property Reassessment Values

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

In an effort to save some money, the Pulaski County Commissioners this week approved a motion allowing County Assessor Holly VanDerAa to hire a company to prepare the county’s Form 11s. Form 11s were previously sent to Pulaski County taxpayers whenever the assessed value of their property went up, but VanDerAa says new guidelines from the state require her office to send the forms whenever any change to the assessed value occurs.

VanDerAa says one company offered to prepare and mail the forms to county taxpayers at a cost of $11,486.69 – a steep figure, but when you factor in the cost of postage alone at $8100 and the costs of paper, ink, and the expense to pay employees to stuff and mail the envelopes, she says it’s worth it to have the company do it instead, and Commissioner Ken Boswell agreed.

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SWAT Team Called Into Action For Pulaski County Arrest

Posted on Author WKVI

A Pulaski County man was arrested Sunday after being sought on charges in an arrest warrant.

An anonymous tip was called into the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department that Joshua Thomas Wolfe, 27, was at a residence in Ripley. Tips had also been called into the Sheriff’s Department reporting Wolfe was armed with a pistol.

Four members of the sheriff’s SWAT team surrounded the house and, after numerous attempts to get Wolfe out of the home by using the public address system, the officers began to move toward the home with the intent to enter and take Wolfe into custody. Wolfe then exited the home and surrendered without incident.

Wolfe was being sought on charges of Revocation of Probation for Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, Dealing in Methamphetamine and other charges in surrounding counties. He remains in the Pulaski County Jail.

Woman Arrested For Allegedly Neglecting Her Autistic Child

Posted on Author WKVI

A Pulaski County Deputy went above and beyond the call of duty concerning the well-being of an eight-year-old autistic boy who had wandered from home after midnight.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a driver early Thursday morning who said a boy was walking in between county roads 300 and 400 South on U.S. 421. The officer saw the boy and introduced himself, and the boy told the officer his name and that he was autistic. The boy then continued walking north on U.S. 421. The officer walked beside the boy and attempted to speak to the boy who didn’t reply. In the meantime, dispatch was attempting to get a hold of the child’s mother but wasn’t having any success. A relative was contacted and picked up the child, who was now with the officer north of the West Central schools.

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Two Retirees Return To Eastern Pulaski Schools

Posted on Author WKVI
Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman

The Eastern Pulaski School Board hired two teachers back to the corporation that retired last school year. Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman said it’s nice to have them back for another year.

“Bus driver, Mrs. Janet Haschel, had decided to retire back in May and come July she decided that bus route wasn’t so bad! She is going to be a bus driver with us again this next year. I’m very pleased to announce that one of our long-time math teachers, Mrs. Jan Moore, has come back with us. When she left, we made her position a part-time position. That half-time position seemed pretty attractive to her so she did apply and the board hired her,” explained Klitzman. (dr klitzman 07-14 #1)

Klitzman says this practice doesn’t happen very often.

Work Release Escapee Returned To Jail

Posted on Author WKVI

After two days fleeing from police, 24-year-old Travis Owens was arrested and returned to the custody of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. Owen had walked away from his work release assignment at S & S Precast in Winamac on Tuesday, July 10, just a short time after he had reportedly told a coworker that he “couldn’t handle the time anymore” and he was leaving.

Owens had been working at S & S Precast since June 20 as part of a work release program.

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Winamac Town Board Discusses Inmate Community Service Options

Posted on Author WKVI
Winamac Town Hall

The Winamac Town Board heard a request from Park Superintendent Rick Dilts, who inquired as to whether or not Pulaski County Jail inmates could be used to help clean up the park. Those inmates needing community service could be used for the project. The park officials and the Pulaski County Jail officials were to talk and discuss the feasibility of the partnership and the liability issues.

Winamac Police Chief Mike Buchanan told the town board that he is having an issue with the officers telling kids that they are not allowed in the town park. Several kids have been in the park causing problems, and Buchanan said the officers can not discipline the youngsters according to the prosecuting attorney. A report would need to be filed and then brought before the prosecutor and the probation departments before action can be taken. The board ultimately agreed that a policy needs to be in place so that if a crime is committed in the park, officers can reprimand the perpetrators.

Two Arrested In Pulaski County For Possession, False Informing

Posted on Author WKVI

Two Pulaski County residents were arrested on Friday after they stopped at a gas station and a Pulaski County officer recognized the passenger as having a warrant out for her arrest.

Two officers followed the vehicle in Medaryville and a traffic stop was initiated on Main Street, west of U.S. 421. Deputy Mat Anderson asked the passenger her name and she gave the name of “Marcie Klemp.” Anderson ran the information and asked her several other questions which she was unable to answer. Deputy Ryan Austin asked the driver, Billy Crowe, who the passenger was and he confirmed her name was Jackie Sizemore.

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Eastern Pulaski School Purchases RISE Software

Posted on Author WKVI
Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman

The Eastern Pulaski School Board approved the purchase of software for the RISE evaluation model for teachers and administrators. Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman says the company Own It! designed the software that parallels the evaluation requirements.

“The forms, the checklists, the graphs, the details – all of that is right in that software,” said Klitzman. “They can use their iPad, do the evaluation and then as soon as they’re ready with it, they can push the magic button and send that right to the teacher’s computer as well.”

Evaluation models and procedures for teachers and administrators need to be in place in the fall per state mandate. The RISE model uses multiple sources of information to paint a fair, accurate, and comprehensive picture of a teacher’s performance. It also provides information on the most important aspects of teaching: planning, instruction, leadership, and student learning.

Eastern Pulaski Registration to Take Place Aug. 7 and 8

Posted on Author WKVI
Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman

Registration for Eastern Pulaski students will be August 7 and 8, and more details will be released later concerning specific times and other information, but Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman told the School Board this week about a new feature during registration.

“This year, we’re going to open up the modes of payments for the fees – we take cash and checks, but we’re adding a credit card feature,” said Klitzman. “Parents, for their convenience, they can pay book rental on credit card and all through the year, they can put money into their child’s lunch account. It will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the credit card option.”

The registration process will be the same as last year.

“Last year, we established a common registration area, so everyone that is going to register and come in and pay their book fees and lunch fees, will go to the Middle School/High School Cafeteria. If they have students in all three buildings, it’s one stop.”

Man Arrested For Driving Under Influence of Alcohol, Controlled Substance

Posted on Author WKVI

After cutting off a police cruiser on State Road 14, Rodney E. Wolford of Winamac was arrested on preliminary charges of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering and Operating a Vehicle While under the Influence of a Controlled Substance.

Wolford was allegedly traveling on Keller Street in Winamac when he pulled into the roadway in front of Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Austin, forcing him to hit his brakes to avoid striking the vehicle. When the officer pulled up behind Wolford, he reportedly slowed to a stop in the middle of the road for several seconds before finally moving out of the roadway.

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Eastern Pulaski Schools Elated Over ISTEP Scores

Posted on Author WKVI

The ISTEP scores were released yesterday by Indiana State Schools Superintendent Dr. Tony Bennett and Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman says the students did very well on the state standardized test.

“They did absolutely outstanding,” said Klitzman. “In terms of English and Language Arts, these are the percentages of students that passed the state test, third grade 95.4, fourth grade 92.2 and fifth grade 97.8. In Math, third grade 93.8, fourth grade 96.7 and fifth grade 97.8. In our middle school, they did well and they showed good growth.”

And that’s not even the best part!

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