Pulaski County Man Arrested Following Traffic Accident

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Sheriff's Department

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department investigated two personal injury accidents Sunday night, one of which resulted in an arrest.

A Wheatfield woman was injured in a single vehicle accident at 6:52 p.m. ET on State Road 39 near County Road 400 North. Shannon Conley’s vehicle reportedly left the right side of the roadway and she lost control of the vehicle when it came back onto the paved surface. The vehicle slid sideways, back off the roadway, before traveling through a barbed wire fence, down into a ditch, and into the water. She climbed out of the vehicle and waved down passing motorists for assistance. Conley sustained a head injury in the accident.

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Pulaski County Burn Ban To Be Reevaluated

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County Commissioners will be reevaluating the county’s burn ban today, which has been in effect since noon on Monday, June 18 and remains in effect until noon today.

The commissioners determined that Pulaski County is at risk of a widespread fire hazard because of the ongoing drought conditions. Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood or other combustible material, with the exception of grills, is prohibited. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation and recreational campfires – unless enclosed – is prohibited.

The commissioners also strongly ask that you not discharge any fireworks.

Starke County also remains under a burn ban. The Starke County Commissioners will reevaluate conditions on Saturday, July 2 when the emergency ban is expected to expire. Marshall County residents are also under burn restrictions.

Funeral Services Planned For Winamac Drowning Victim

Posted on Author WKVI
Cynthia Jackson

Funeral services have been finalized for a Winamac woman who reportedly drowned in a pond on a property in Winamac. The body of fifty-four-year-old Cynthia L. Jackson was found by her son, Andrew Jackson, after she had gone swimming in a pond at 4242 W. 400 N. in Winamac.

Funeral services will be held at the Frain Mortuary in Winamac at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 27. Andrew Jackson will officiate the ceremony, and visitation will take place after 2 p.m. ET on the day of services at the funeral home. Contributions may be given to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Jackson was a resident of Winamac for 14 years and a former resident of Chesterton.

Pulaski County Coroner Steve VanDerAa says the incident remains under investigation, but no foul play is suspected.

Pulaski County Highway Department To Sell Old Items

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

Pulaski County Highway Superintendent Kenny Becker told the county commissioners this week that since the department has received a new trailer, they would like to sell some other items they have gathering dust.

Becker said they would like to sell an old dump truck, the old trailer that they had replaced, a Dodge pickup truck with transmission problems, and a 1975 T500 that they have been unable to find parts for. He said he feels selling the items would be best, since there is no sense in the items just taking up space.

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Smoke-Free Law Information Session To Be Held Today

Posted on Author WKVI

Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the new statewide smoking ban will be presented in an informational session today from 2 – 3 p.m. ET at the Winamac VFW, and a town hall meeting will take place at the Bass Lake Community Center at 6 p.m.

Attendees will be educated about the new law, how it affects all businesses in Starke and Pulaski Counties and any questions will be answered. On July 1, most Indiana businesses will be required to be smoke-free and to post signs indicating that it is a smoke-free facility. Smoking will not be allowed in places of employment, public places, state-owned vehicles and school buses.

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Pulaski County Police Investigate Drowning Incident

Posted on Author WKVI

A drowning incident is being investigated by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.

Officers were called to 4242 W. 400 N. in Winamac about a possible drowning. Andrew Jackson informed officers that his mother, Cynthia Jackson, had gone swimming in a pond located on the property and had drowned. She reportedly had permission to be on the property.

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Pulaski County Health Dept. Urges Caution When It Comes to Bats

Posted on Author WKVI

Terri Hansen of the Pulaski County Health Department and Animal Control Officer Debra Tiede approached the county commissioners this week with an urgent message to county residents. Hansen says the number of calls concerning bats that have managed to get inside peoples’ homes has increased this year, with three bats submitted for rabies testing within the last five weeks.

She says it’s not yet time to panic, but it is time for people to become educated about the risk of being bitten by an infected bat. Hansen encourages people to close up their chimneys and fireplaces when they are not in use to prevent bats from entering the home.

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Winamac Men Arrested For Tool Theft

Posted on Author WKVI

Two Winamac men were arrested after an alleged theft incident early Sunday morning.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department was notified of a possible theft case, and the caller stated that three people were getting into his vehicle. When the officer arrived on scene, 25-year-old Robert Howard, of Winamac, was detained and asked what he was doing on the property. He stated that he was picking up scrap with two other people. He said he had permission from the previous owner to take scrap from the property, but police soon learned that they were not allowed to take any items from the residence.

The victim identified several tools and other parts in Howard’s vehicle that were his. Howard was arrested on preliminary charges of Theft and Trespassing. Another person with Howard, Alton Allen, 28, was arrested on a preliminary charge of Trespassing. A juvenile was also taken into custody, and all three were taken to the Starke County Jail.

Burn Ban Issued in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County is the latest county to enact a burn ban. The action was taken last night by the County Commissioners and will be in effect through July 2nd.

The ban does not include fireworks, although the commissioners ask that you set off fireworks with extreme caution.

The Pulaski County Commissioners have declared a county-wide burn ban effective until June 25th.

Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood or other combustible material, with the exception of grills, is prohibited. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation and recreational campfires, unless enclosed, is also prohibited.

The Pulaski County Commissioners ask that you NOT discharge any fireworks.

This ban is in effect until Noon ET on Monday, June 25th when conditions will be reevaluated.

Marshall County also remains under a burn ban.

Starke County Unemployment Rate Improves

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County dropped out of the top five Indiana unemployment counties in May. The county’s 9.6 percent rate for unemployment placed it in eighth place, tying La Porte County for the position.

Other rates for nearby counties include Pulaski at 6.2 percent, Marshall at 8.1 percent, Fulton at 7.8 percent, St. Joseph with a rate of 8.9 percent, and Porter at 7.3 percent.

Every county in the state had a lower rate than that of March, and the US rate was 8.2 percent while Indiana’s rate was 7.9 percent.

DuBois County at 5.4 percent and Hamilton at 5.5 percent were the lowest in the state.

Pulaski County Commissioners Enact Burn Ban

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County Commissioners have declared a county-wide burn ban effective now until June 25th.

Pulaski County is at risk of widespread fire hazard because of the ongoing drought conditions. Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood or other combustible material, with the exception of grills, is prohibited. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation and recreational campfires, unless enclosed, is prohibited.

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Eastern Pulaski School Corporation Plans Summer Maintenance Projects

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

The Eastern Pulaski School Corporation’s maintenance staff is working hard on quite a few projects this summer, and Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman explained that the majority of these changes include digital upgrades.

“We’re continuing our project at the middle school and high school of changing the HVAC controls from pneumatic to digital,” explained Klitzman. “We are in the process of hanging all of the projectors in every classroom at the elementary level. They will be able to hook them up to their computers and basically bring the world into their classroom via the internet and help with student learning in that case.”

The regular deep-cleaning is also underway to get the classrooms and all of the school facilities ready for the start of another school year in August.

Eastern Pulaski School’s Scoreboard To Go Wireless

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

The Eastern Pulaski School Board has approved a partnership with the Winamac Athletic Booster Club in order to upgrade the sports scoreboard to a wireless model.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman explained that the pair will split the cost.

“The school corporation will use Capital Projects funds and the Booster Club will come up with the rest of the money,” stated Klitzman. “They’re looking at making the soccer field, the baseball field, the football field, the indoor basketball court, and volleyball scoreboards all wireless. The total cost of the project is $8,600. The board has committed $4,300 if the Booster Club can come up with the rest of the money.”

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Dix Awarded Alumni Scholarship

Posted on Author WKVI
Courtney Dix

The WHS/WCHS Alumni Association recently awarded their first Alumni Scholarship to Courtney Dix of Winamac. She was presented her scholarship during the organization’s alumni banquet this past Saturday at the Church of the Heartland.

Dix, a recent graduate of Winamac Community High School, will attend Indiana University Purdue University of Indianapolis to study physical therapy. She was actively involved in many extracurricular and community activities while attending Winamac Community High School. Dix was a member of the National Honor Society, Drama Club, Sunshine Society, and Future Problem Solvers and also participated in softball and basketball for four years. Dix is the daughter of Heather and Michael Anderson.

The WHS/WCHS Scholarship Fund was created to provide financial assistance to a graduate of Winamac Community High School who plans to attend a post-secondary school or college. To learn more about this scholarship or to donate to this fund, visit www.winamacalumni.com.

Winamac Town Board To Draft Golf Cart Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI
Winamac Town Hall

The Winamac Town Board will soon be putting together a golf cart ordinance.

The members discussed the issue this week and the board has said that their main concern is safety. Ordinances from other towns will be researched so the board can pinpoint what they want to address in an ordinance.

The board also appointed board member Richard Denney to the Star City Sewer Project Board until September, when appointments will be reviewed. He is taking the place of a member who recently resigned from the position.

Eastern Pulaski Schools Proud of ISTEP Test Results

Posted on Author WKVI

Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman
The Eastern Pulaski School Board dissected the preliminary ISTEP test results this week and Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman said the students did exceptionally well.

“In terms of reading, our third, fourth and fifth grade students all performed better,” stated Klitzman. “We went from the lower-90s to the mid-upper-90s across the board. We’re in 90s at our sixth grade level and both our seventh and eighth grade showed some good scores.”

The students also did well on the math portion of the ISTEP test.

“At the elementary level, every single grade level went up into the mid-90s. In science we went up, fourth grade had a 94 percent. In social studies in the fifth grade, they are at 95 percent. Excellent scores!” exclaimed Klitzman.

Klitzman said that there was also some improvement in the high school.

“At the high school level, there was good improvement in our Language Arts area. That was a target of focus for us so we’re very pleased with that, and we’re still taking steps to bring up our other areas as well.”

Eastern Pulaski Schools Take A Different Approach To Technology

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

While schools throughout the state swiftly move forward with providing students with more and more technology, Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman says the school board has decided to take technology there at a more manageable pace.

“There’s been many schools that have decided they’re going to give every student a computer, a hand-held device – it’s called the one-on-one approach, and there’s nothing wrong with that. We found at Eastern Pulaski, our approach would be moving forward a little bit slower. We’re going to put hand-held devices, iPads, in the hands of students in certain subjects and then keep expanding and growing from that,” stated Klitzman.

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Sewer Separation Project Completed in Winamac

Posted on Author WKVI
Winamac Town Hall

Members of the Winamac Town Board heard from Commonwealth Engineering representatives Monday night as they reported the final figures from the storm sewer separation project.

The project was finally finished with the separation of several sewer lines in the downtown area and the repaving of some areas in town that were not properly paved in the fall. Stripes have been painted on all the streets and parking lines have also been marked.

The water tower is being painted in the town of Winamac, and that project is expected to be complete by the end of the month. Water pressure has been an issue during this project, but pressure should return to normal when painting is done. This action is done for safety issues and to make any necessary repairs.

Eastern Pulaski School Board Approves New Middle School Principal

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

Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent Dr. Robert Kltizman announced that the school board members have approved the employment of a new middle school principal.

“We hired Mr. Ryan Dickenson as the middle school principal,” announced Klitzman. “Mr. Dickenson has 13 years of teaching experience, all at the middle school level, at a couple of school corporations. For the past four years, he has been the assistant principal/athletic director at Bremen schools. He is credited by administrators at Bremen of being key in the turnaround Bremen has experienced academically. He’s got a great faculty to work with and a great staff. We look forward to Mr. Dickenson’s start in the fall.”

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Two Arrested After Police Find Stolen Rifle

Posted on Author WKVI

Two Winamac residents were arrested June 6 after Pulaski County officers found them to be in possession of a stolen firearm. Officers were called to a domestic dispute and, while information was being gathered concerning the alleged incident, they found a weapon after the suspect said there weren’t any weapons in the home.

Hollis Howard was asked about his status as a convicted felon after he confirmed he was a convicted felon, officers searched the home and found a .22 caliber rifle in the kitchen area. Howard stated that he had forgotten about the rifle and the weapon was in the home for his wife’s protection. He reportedly stated that he had gotten it from an uncle some time ago. Police ran the serial numbers of the rifle and discovered it had been reported stolen to the Hobart Police Department.

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