Memorial Service To Be Held Commemorating Fallen Pulaski County Officers

Posted on Author WKVI
Sheriff Michael Gayer

A memorial service to commemorate the lives of the three fallen officers in the line of duty while on staff at the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department will be held Tuesday, May 29th, at Noon ET in front of the Sheriff’s Department. Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer says the memorial service is an annual event.

“Each year we get the whole department together, all 42 of us, and we stand in front of the Sheriff’s Office and I conduct a service and we have the traditional Taps and a 21-gun salute,” said Gayer. “We then have lunch for the members here at the Sheriff’s Department and the families of the slain officers.”

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Pulaski County Bell Tower Worsens With Each Toll Of The Bell

Posted on Author WKVI
Mortar has crumbled in the Pulaski County Courthouse bell and clock tower

Pulaski County Maintenance Director Morry Demarco told the commissioners this week that with each toll of the Pulaski County Courthouse bell, mortar crumbles from between the bricks, and he is anxious to get the bell tower fixed.

Demarco says that he’d like to get the bid awarded and have the tower fixed as soon as possible to prevent any further damage, but because of a large variance in the prices of the bids presented, the commissioners requested that he speak with the bidders to ensure they understand the scope of work.

The bid prices ranged from as low as $7000 to as high as $16,000, and Demarco said that he will speak to the bidders and have them break down their prices. He says it’s very important that the work be done right. Because of the age of the structure, the mortar must be replaced with a similar mix to prevent any damage to the delicate bricks.

West Central School Board Approves Reduction In Force

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board members did approve a reduction in force proposal at their recent meeting. Superintendent Charles Mellon said there was only one this year.

“That person is going on our recall list,” stated Mellon. “He is currently teaching science in the middle school, but he does have an elementary license so if we had a class size increase – which I hope we do – or someone else from the elementary leaves the school system for whatever reason, he has the opportunity to come back. He will be on the recall list for two years. There is still a possibility for him.”

Concerned Pulaski County Residents Voice Opposition to Irrigation Ordinance

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

More than 50 farmers and community members attended Monday’s meeting of the Pulaski County Commissioners to voice their opposition to a drafted ordinance preventing irrigation systems from spraying on the road.

The commissioners had the ordinance drafted after receiving a number of complaints from drivers who claimed to have been sprayed heavily by irrigation systems while traveling on motorcycles or in convertibles, and Commissioner Kenneth Boswell said they were being proactive with this ordinance to prevent high-pressure sprays from causing any traffic accidents.

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Eastern Pulaski Schools To Dismiss Early For The Summer

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

Students in the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation will be wrapping up classes this week. Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman said that the students were able to get out early this week due to the lack of school closures in the winter.

“One of the most unusual winters we’ve had,” said Dr. Klitzman. “I think most would agree with me that in terms of snow it’s been a great winter. Kenny Becker [Highway Superintendent] is excited about it. He probably has a lot of salt left. Nonetheless, we have no make-up days so our last day for students is Wednesday, May 23. It’ll be a full day of school; seniors are in school, everybody’s in school for a full day on the 23rd. Graduation for the Class of 2012 will be Friday, as that’s our tradition, at 7 p.m. ET in the high school gym. Because we’re getting out early, our summer school schedule will start the end of May.”

West Central Schools Prepare For Summer School

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

Now that the regular school year at the West Central School Corporation is winding down, the staff is now gearing up for summer school. Summer school starts June 4, according to Superintendent Charles Mellon.

“We’ll have summer school June 4 through the 15,” stated Mellon. “It’s mainly for our IREAD people that have an opportunity to take the test again which will be taken on June 20.”

The School Board approved textbook fees for the 2012-2013 school year.

“The prices increased slightly because of the publisher’s cost. It really wasn’t a large year for textbook adoption because it’s mainly for vocational courses and fine arts,” said Mellon. “K-1 stayed exactly the same and there was just a minor increase for the other grade levels.”

West Central Schools Lunch Prices To Increase

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board approved cafeteria prices during their meeting last week, and Superintendent Charles Mellon said the lunch prices will be increasing.

“There’s some new guidelines coming down from the state that requires more fresh fruits and vegetables and we’re putting in a fresh fruit and vegetable bar next year,” said Mellon. “I guess the portions greater for high school students as they do for middle school students and the middle school larger than high school so that’s a little bit of a change. We had to increase the lunches ten cents for the elementary and the high school and five cents for the middle school.”

Eastern Pulaski Schools Approve Several Retirements

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

The Eastern Pulaski School Board members approved several retirements during their meeting this week. Elementary teacher, Brenda Roberts, will be retiring at the end of the school year after 37 years in the education field and Middle School Secretary, Dorothy Malchow, is retiring after 27 years at the corporation. Superintendent Dr. Klitzman also announced the retirement of the Middle School Principal.

“Mr. Stan Good, after 25 years in education – all at Eastern Pulaski Schools – and as our Middle School Principal for 18 years, is retiring,” said Klitzman. “He is going to stay in the education arena, but in a private sector helping different areas through a corporation that seems to find its niche on those students that are not functioning as well as they should in the traditional setting of a school. It’s more of an alternative selection.”

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Winamac’s Superior Street May Soon Become One-Way

Posted on Author WKVI

The Winamac Town Board heard a presentation by the Safe Routes to School organization about the second Walk to School Day planned for Tuesday, May 22. The organization is also working on a Bike Safety Day on July 24. More details will be released about that effort in the near future.

The organization’s members also asked the Town Board to approve Superior Street as a one-way street going east. This would help traffic with kids coming off of the Panhandle Pathway walking or biking to and from school on the Safe Route to School. The Board voted in favor of the change and the change will be effective after an ordinance is approved officially making the move.

Winamac Walk To School Event Planned For May 22

Posted on Author WKVI

The Safe Routes to School Task Force in Winamac has planned another “Walk to School” event for Winamac Elementary and Middle School students.

Students, parents, Safe Routes Task Force members and officers from the Winamac Police Department and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department will walk to school on Tuesday, May 22. All are to meet at 7:15 a.m. ET at the Downtown Depot in Winamac and the walk will begin at 7:30 a.m. ET. Participants will walk down Main Street to the north side of the Pulaski County Courthouse, then across Monticello Drive to Riverside Drive, before ending at the school.

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Indiana Fallen Officer Blood Drive To Take Place May 30

Posted on Author WKVI

The staff at the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department encourages you to participate in the Indiana Fallen Officer Blood Drive on Wednesday, May 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Winamac.

The Indiana Fallen Officer Blood Drive campaign was founded by Janice Starnes whose husband, Sgt. Daniel Starnes, was killed in the line of duty in 2001. She says this blood drive ensures that our fallen officers are not forgotten and it raises awareness of the dangers officers face every day and the need for blood.

To schedule a blood donation appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or log onto redcrossblood.org.

Pulaski County Commissioners Authorize Drafting of Drug Testing Policy

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

Pulaski County employees who are responsible for driving county-owned vehicles will soon have an added incentive to stay away from drugs and alcohol, as the commissioners this week authorized Cathy Fritz of Cathy Fritz Consulting to draft a drug testing policy to ensure the county meets federal guidelines for employees operating their vehicles.

Fritz told the commissioners she would charge $150 for a 30-page policy which conforms to the strict guidelines in place by the Department of Transportation regarding drug testing. She warned the commissioners that the county would be subject to audit to ensure they are in accordance with their guidelines, but did say that it is unlikely unless an accident were to occur.

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Pulaski County Commissioners Receive Update on Bridge 291

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

Jeff Larrison of United Consulting gave the Pulaski County Commissioners an update on the Bridge 291 project.

According to Larrison, INDOT will issue credit for up to 50 percent of the county’s 20 percent match for the project, bringing back $345,000 to the county. Larrison also told the commissioners that they will have to pay some of that money to businesses that have to move because of the bridge construction, including $8400 for reestablishment of the business and up to $13,000 for moving expenses, as some businesses have heavy equipment that must be moved. The business owners will have to submit invoices to ensure the money is spent correctly.

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Pulaski County Human Services Needs A “Shot In The Arm”

Posted on Author WKVI
Jackie Frain
Jackie Frain

Pulaski County Human Services Director Jackie Frain recently approached the county commissioners humbly requesting funds to keep the organization afloat. Frain says that another budget cut is on its way in July, and they’re already struggling to stay above water. She said that her oganization has not requested money from the commissioners in eight years because they were previously able to raise funds and receive grants to cover what shortfalls they had, but with the additional budget cut on its way down, she fears the worst.

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Vote Today in the Primary Election

Posted on Author WKVI

It’s Primary Election Day!

Polls are open in all counties and you are encouraged to exercise your right to vote.  Polls will close at 6:00 p.m. prevailing time.

We will be following several races tonight in our Election Night wrap up. In Starke County, Democrats Daniel Bridegroom and Joseph Woods are vying for the County Commissioner District Three seat and Democrats Linda Belork and Kasey Clark are up for the County Treasurer position. We will also see if the voters vote for or against the Oregon-Davis school referendum.

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Winamac Man Arrested on Domestic Battery Charges

Posted on Author WKVI

A Winamac man was arrested Sunday after a report of domestic abuse.

37-year-old Gregory Billingsley allegedly battered his wife. Police reportedly found that she had bruising around her left eye and her upper lip was swollen with a laceration.  Pulaski County officers also noted in the police report that her nose appeared to be broken. She complained of pain to the back of her head and neck.

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