It’s almost that time of year again to start worrying about the flu.
Before you start getting a sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue or a horrible hacking cough, get vaccinated!
The Pulaski County United Fund Fall 2012 Campaign will kick off this month. Donations received in this year’s campaign will be used to award grant funding to 10 local non-profit agencies. The goal is $40,000.
You may donate with a direct money donation, or you may have the option of deducting money from your payroll check as your pledge. Many businesses offer employees the opportunity to give through payroll deduction and many will match employee contributions dollar for dollar. For more information, contact your Human Resources Department or call United Fund at (574) 946-7320.
The Indiana Department of Transportation urges drivers to be extremely cautious around wet paint on the road as LaPorte District crews apply pavement markings. About 5,600 lane miles will be re-striped in the LaPorte District now through October.
When encountering a road striping crew, use a generous following distance, avoid driving over the newly painted markings and never recklessly pull in front of or pass a striping operation. If drivers do get paint on their vehicles, they should attempt to wash the paint off as quickly as possible. Fresh paint will often come off easily with soap and water. However, after it dries only a specialist can remove it.
Ronald Lee Magers of Medaryville was arrested Thursday after an attempted residential entry. The victim identified the suspect as Magers and he was located a short time after the incident and taken into custody.
During a search of Magers’ clothing, a number of illegal items were located, including drug paraphernalia, digital scales, pills and several small bags that were suspected to contain marijuana. Magers was arrested and transported to the Pulaski County Jail. Formal charges are pending.
The Pulaski County General Election ballot is ready for November. Uncontested races will not appear on the ballot this Fall.
These contested races will appear on the ballot in Pulaski County:
In Winamac, Republican Melanie A. (Parish) Berger and Democrat David Weber will be vying for the Town-Clerk Treasurer’s seat.
The Pulaski County United Fund has partnered with Net Literacy to distribute six refurbished computers to area non-profit agencies.
United Fund agencies, PEAK Community Services, Inc. and Pulaski County Human Services, Inc., will receive three computers each. PEAK will use the computers in group homes located in Winamac. The computers will allow the residents access to job postings and applications. Additionally, residents will be able to gain the skills needed to establish and maintain relationships through the use of email, social networking and internet research. Pulaski County Human Services will place two computers in the Headstart “Resource Room” in Winamac to provide parents with exposure to educational resources. One computer will be placed in the Senior Center, Von Tobel Center. PCHS also plans to offer computer classes.
The Pulaski County Commissioners approved Cathy Fritz’s request for a four-way stop at the corner of Main Street and Warrick Street in Star City.
Fritz explained to the Commissioners that this is located by the First United Methodist Church in Star City. The church provides tutoring services for children after school once a week and the area is always busy with children playing and it’s also by the park. She presented the Commissioners with a petition signed by more than 100 residents, church members, police officers and other concerned citizens to create a four-way stop at that intersection. The Commissioners agreed and voted to erect a four-way stop.
Pulaski County Recorder Lynn Wilder and Auditor Sheila Garling requested that they open their offices for residents in the county during the evening for the purpose to research properties.
Wilder told the Pulaski County Commissioners that there are often times residents come in to research properties and they don’t have enough time to complete their research or it’s just inconvenient to come in during the work day. They would like to open their offices two times a week, at night, to offer that time to residents to look at their properties or historic properties and they will be able to answer any questions or concerns the public may have. The pair assured the Commissioners that there would not be any additional cost to the taxpayers to have this service available to them.
The Commissioners approved the request and WKVI will be notified when the offices will be open for this activity.
Pulaski County’s 4-H Fair Queen, Stacy Gudas, was the 3rd runner up in the State Fair Queen Pageant held over the weekend. Erika Elaine Burghardt of Tippecanoe County topped 87 other contestants to earn the title of Miss Indiana State Fair. The event was held in the Pepsi Coliseum. Burghardt, a Mulberry native, is the third Tippecanoe County Queen to win the State Fair title and the first since 1996.
Engineers are in the midst of asking for land to build a new bridge on 625 East and Railroad Avenue in Pulaski County. The existing bridge is dilapidated, unsafe and is too narrow to support modern day traffic and needs to be rebuilt. The problem is, the bridge has been designated as an historic bridge by the State and can not be altered.
Land is being acquired adjacent to the existing bridge for the purpose of realigning the road and creating a safer route through that area. The approval for the land acquisition could be complete the week of August 22nd and the project will continue to move forward. Preliminary plans will be submitted soon and bids should be let by next summer. This project has been in the works since 2004.
The Pulaski County YMCA is hosting its first ever large Tippecanoe River float event. The float will launch from Haschel Bridge at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10.
“This is a free event to anyone who would like to participate. Our goal is just to have a fun day where families can come out and do something together as a group,” said Cara Dulin of the YMCA.
Pulaski County Commissioner Kenneth Boswell told Commissioners Tracey Shorter and Michael Tiede that he has received requests to legalize the use of ATVs on county roads. There is a state law that restricts the use of ATVs on public roadways and according to state law, all ATVs must be registered through the DNR. Commissioner Michael Tiede was asked about the Board’s decision regarding this request:
“The county attorney said that that probably won’t happen because of the state law says that they’re not licensed vehicles. And also, I don’t know if we need four-wheelers and golf carts driving down the road at a slow pace, especially a golf cart on a road that’s 55 miles per hour,” said Tiede.
Pulaski County Prosecutor, Stacey Mrak, asked the Commissioners to reconsider their decision to deny the reimbursement of sales tax on some purchases previously made. She told the Commissioners that it should be paid and that county tax dollars are not being spent in this reimbursement. The payment would be less than $20.
Commission President Michael Tiede was asked about their decision regarding Mrak’s request.
“The board was for the office holder to fill out the reimbursement for sales tax and then submit it to the auditor and the auditor will take care of it from there,” said Tiede.
The Pulaski County Commissioners heard from Courthouse and Justice Center Maintenance Director, Morry Demarco, about the water problem in the basement of the Courthouse.
Demarco said that the water wasn’t coming into the basement because of the foundation. The water was not being directed away from the building and the drains were full of pine needles and other debris which caused the water to overflow and seep into the Courthouse. Demarco had gotten quotes from two companies who could fix the problem for $4,100 to $5,500. He went in and installed some piping around the Courthouse that is now directing the water from the Courthouse structure to the street. The cost to fix that problem was only $80.
The Pulaski County Commissioners discussed agricultural irrigation during their recent meeting.
Commissioner Kenneth Boswell commented that he has gotten several complaints from drivers and motorcyclists about irrigation spraying ditch water into the roadway. They are complaining that it’s stagnant ditch water and that it’s being sprayed into their vehicles if the windows are down and the slick road conditions could cause an accident. Commission President Michael Tiede was asked to comment on the discussion after the meeting:
“I personally got calls about it from people riding motorcycles to new cars, you know, getting the stinky water on their cars or people having their T-tops open. Kevin Tankerslee, the county attorney, is thinking there might be a state law. He’s going to look into it and try to find out what can be done because this seems like a big concern,” said Tiede.
Today, the Pulaski County Health Department will be offering a walk-in clinic for school children who need their immunizations for school.
The walk-in clinic is open today from 3 – 7 p.m. ET at the Health Department for children in Kindergarten through 12th grade. The Health Department is charging $8.00 per shot. If you are on Medicaid, you will need your Medicaid card and the Health Department will bill Medicaid directly. Parents should also present immunization cards when at the clinic.
The Pulaski County Jail underwent an inspection last week by an inspector from the Indiana Department of Corrections.
In his report, Lee Hoard said that Sheriff Michael Gayer, Commander Phillip Cherry and the staff are to be commended on the maintenance of the jail. The jail is clean and the staff are professional and receptive to suggestions and recommendations. The offenders were interviewed and stated that the felt safe in the facility, the food was good and the staff treated them well. The only recommendation made was to provide two dates on leftover food: date in and date out.
Andrew W. Sturgeon, 25, of Winamac was arrested Tuesday by Pulaski County Police on a warrant. The warrant included charges of Fraud on a Financial Institution, a Class C Felony; and Theft, a Class D Felony. Sturgeon allegedly stole $947.77 through false deposits and withdrawals.
According to the police report, officers were dispatched to First Federal Savings Bank in Winamac. When the officer arrived and spoke with Assistant Branch Manager Rhonda Lower, he was told that a customer, Sturgeon, had been making deposits at ATMs that were not correct. On June 24th, Sturgeon reportedly made a deposit of $300 at an ATM near the bank. When checked, there was only $30 in the envelope. After making the deposit, Sturgeon withdrew $260 from the account, which actually had a balance of only $30.92.
Two economic summits have been planned for Pulaski County. One of these summits will take place in Francesville while the other is planned for Winamac.
“Economic summits give businesses the opportunity that maybe they don’t get on a daily basis to have government with a local interest let them know what they can do to help them,” said Nathan Origer of the CDC.
Several area 4-Hers have done well on their projects at the Indiana State Fair.
The following Starke County 4-Hers received a Merit Ribbon for their projects: Mason Awald for his Electric project, Samuel Back for his Weather project, Alex Haney on a Foods project, Haley Hartmann for Cat Posters, Alivia Hesters for Foods, Rachel Lenig for foods, Gage Minix for Crafts and Shooting Sports Education, Hanna Shidler for Home Environment and Mia Shively for Photography.
