Pulaski County Commissioners Sign Grant Application for Narrow-Band EMA Radios

Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

Pulaski County EMA Director Larry Hoover was given confirmation by the county commissioners to go ahead with the application process for their narrow-band radio grant.

According to Hoover, the EMA has been on this grant for over a month and they’re still in the application stage. Signatures are required by the commissioners in order to ensure the grant, which involves a 50/50 match by the county, will be paid for.

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Donations Needed for Pulaski County Shop with a Cop Program

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department will be hosting a “Shop with a Cop” program this year during the holiday season.

An account has been established for families needing assistance at the Alliance Bank branches in Winamac and Francesville. Donations to the “Shop with a Cop” fund will be used by officers to help others less fortunate with clothing and toys for children this Christmas. Individuals, businesses and clubs are encouraged to donate.

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Economic Summit to be Held in Winamac Today

The second in a series of economic summits for Pulaski County is scheduled for today. With a focus on “Branding Your Business,” the economic summit will be held today at 11:30 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Winamac.

Marketing Consultant Jim Walton of Brand Acceleration from Indianapolis will be present to make a presentation and explain how businesses can improve their image, and keep their current clientele while expanding to new clients as well.

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Pulaski County Commissioners Approve Land-Use Ordinance

Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

In a unanimous decision by the Pulaski County Commissioners, Pulaski County now has at least some form of zoning regulation now with the Commissioners’ approval of the land-use ordinances and maps as presented by the planning commission.

According to Planning Commission President Don Good, the documents are based primarily on how the land is being used in terms of businesses, cemeteries, residential areas, and agricultural areas. Good also indicated that the land-use ordinances and maps will not require people to go through a lot of “red tape,” but are instead focused on protecting landowners.

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Winamac Man Arrested on Domestic Battery Charge

Ben Seman

A Winamac man was arrested Saturday on a Domestic Battery charge.

An officer from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call of a domestic battery incident at 132 E. Rays Road in Winamac. While the caller was on the phone, the dispatcher heard the suspect, Ben K. Seman, tell the victim to stop or he’ll kick her in the ribs again. The victim told police that she thought her ribs were broken. She told police that Seman had thrown her to the floor and she was transported to Pulaski Memorial Hospital for her injuries.

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Pulaski County Health Department to Help Food Pantry for the Holidays

Food Pantry

The Pulaski County Health Department is teaming up with Pulaski County Human Services to fight hunger this holiday season.

If you bring a non-perishable food item to the Pulaski County Health Department, you will receive $3.00 off for each child administration fee for vaccines now through November 30th. A non-perishable food item is needed for each vaccine the child is receiving to be discounted at the time of your appointment.

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Pulaski County United Fund Campaign Continues

Donations for the Pulaski County United Fund may be dropped off at the Winamac office again this year at 602 S. Monticello St. and at the Alliance Bank branches in Francesville, Winamac, Monon, Monticello, and Rensselaer.

The Pulaski County United Fund helps raise funds during an annual fall campaign and then distributes those funds to 10 local agencies which serve the human service needs of Pulaski County residents. The 2012 campaign funds will be distributed to agencies that provide programs, services and events focusing on the finance, health and education of the community.

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Investigates Shooting Incident

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a shooting incident that occurred on October 5th near Nice’s Bridge in Pulaski County.

Josh Isom, 27, of Monticello, was reportedly shot in the leg by Jason Creque and sought medical treatment at the White County Memorial Hospital. Further investigation by the White County Sheriff’s Department and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department found that he suffered a minor gunshot wound. Isom told police that Creque was involved with his former girlfriend and mother of his child. He allegedly told police that he went to Creque’s home to kill him. Isom stated that he took a swing at Creque and was shot in the leg. Creque confirmed to police that he shot Isom and he also attacked him with brass knuckles. Creque told police that he was in fear for his life when he shot Isom.

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Congressman Donnelly Discusses Proposed Legislation Concerning Exports

Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

Congress is attempting to reign in the Chinese for manipulating its currency to make its exports to the U.S. cheaper and U.S. exports more expensive. Many legislators are hesitant to take on the Chinese this way, saying quiet diplomacy is a better way to influence policy.

Second District Congressman Joe Donnelly spoke on the house floor yesterday about the proposed legislation.

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Star City Man Arrested on a Charge of Carrying a Handgun without a Permit

Matthew Wheeler

A Star City man has been charged with Carrying a Handgun Without a License, a Class C Felony.

A Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled over a vehicle driven by Matthew Wheeler as the Deputy found that the license plate was expired and the license plate light was out. The officer asked Wheeler if he had any weapons in the vehicle and he said he had a BB gun in the car. After consent was given to search the vehicle, the officer found a 9mm Taurus handgun underneath the driver’s seat. Wheeler was asked if he had a permit to carry a firearm and he told the officer that he did not have a permit. He reportedly said that he knew that it is illegal to transport a firearm without a permit. He said he was carrying the weapon because someone was harassing him. Wheeler also reportedly had two pocket knives in his left front jeans pocket which he didn’t reveal to police.

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Fire Prevention Tips

Knox-Center Township Fire Chief, Kenny Pfost, has another fire prevention tip in honor of National Fire Prevention Week.

“Never leave your home with candles burning,” said Pfost. “We’ve had a lot of fires where people leave home and they forget to put a candle out. Keep them away from curtains.”

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Jim Carr Found Guilty of Murder in New Trial

James “Jim” Carr, former Pulaski County Journal reporter, has been found guilty of Murder after a four day trial in Fulton Superior Court. A jury found him guilty in the death of Roy A. Shaffer in November 2006.

Shaffer was renting a home from Carr in Monterey when Carr shot Shaffer in the face with a shotgun. He then told a woman about the incident when she drove him home from a tavern.

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Pulaski County Planning Commission to Present Zoning Maps to Commissioners

As one of a handful of counties north of Indianapolis still without zoning regulation, Pulaski County is under some pressure to get their zoning under control. As a solution, the Planning Commission has put together a presentation of all the planning documents, including maps of Pulaski County that detail how the land is being used in terms of businesses, cemeteries, residential areas, and agricultural areas.

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Pulaski County Discusses Agriculture’s Importance in Renewable Energy

According to a specialist in renewable energies, Pulaski County is in a prime location to take advantage of corn-based renewable fuel. Chad Martin from Purdue Extension was present at the economic summit at the Francesville Fire Station on Sept. 22, and he told community leaders that corn stover, which is the pieces of corn plants that are left over from the harvest process such as stalks and cobs, can be converted to fuel instead of thrown away or left on the field.

Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer says that this could be a great opportunity for Pulaski County to shine, because its skill in agriculture paired with a focus on renewable energy could be extremely beneficial to farmers, as well as the county as a whole.

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Tippecanoe Township Deannexation Petition Gathers 600 Signatures

Monterey Elementary School

Several residents of Tippecanoe Township, outraged at the closure of Monterey Elementary, have started a petition for de-annexation from the Culver Community School Corporation to the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation. This petition, which has now collected over 600 signatures, will soon be presented to the Culver School Board in the hopes that they will agree to the request.

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Pulaski County Commissioners Deny Request for Occupancy at Pleasant View Rest Home

Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

The “No Vacancy” sign at the Pleasant View Rest Home in Pulaski County is officially lit. With their capacity of 15 residents completely full, the county commissioners this week denied a request from an individual who wanted to stay at the home.

The state ombudsman asked if the county would be willing to take someone in with an income of only $700– a little under the $1148 the home normally charges. Previously, the ARCH program offered by the state would make up that difference, but that program has been frozen for two years, offering elderly people with low income fewer places to turn.

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Columbus Day Prompts Office Closures

Monday is Columbus Day and some bank branches will not be open and Post Offices will be closed in observance of the holiday. Knox City Hall will be closed on Monday.

License branches normally open on Monday will be closed on Monday, October 10th, and those branches will resume normal hours of operation on Wednesday, October 12th. Local customers needing to conduct business with the Knox, Demotte, or Monticello license branches can visit this website. Some transactions can also be completed by phone through the BMV Customer Service Center at 888-692-6841.

Pulaski County Auditor Questions Computer Repair Budget

Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

Pulaski County Auditor Sheila Garling posed a question to the county commissioners at their meeting yesterday. When computers need maintenance, who pays for it?

Garling had recently had two computers fixed on-site by DeGroot Technology, with the costs of $149.99 and $184.99. Because of the fact that she never knows when this kind of work is necessary and she understands that not all departments can afford those kind of bills, Garling was not sure whether the bill could be paid out of the budget set aside for DeGroot or if a different budget is used.

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