Free food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible residents. You must meet 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines to be eligible to receive this service.
Pulaski Commissioners Hear Recycling Center Update
Winter Wonderland Coming to Pulaski County Dec. 7
The Winter Wonderland event, sponsored by the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, is set for Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET in downtown Winamac.
But first, join the chamber in ushering in the holiday season in the lighting of the Christmas Tree on the Pulaski County Courthouse lawn on Friday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. ET followed by tours of three beautiful homes in Pulaski County. Tickets for the home tour can be purchased at the Pulaski County Chamber office, at Refined or from Winter Wonderland committee members. Tours will be given at Melody Braun’s home as well as at Bailey Hoover’s home and Patrick Shuttrow’s home.
Pulaski CDC Website to Undergo Redesign
National Weather Service Confirms Pulaski County Tornado
The National Weather Service confirms a tornado struck Pulaski County on Sunday. An EF-1 tornado touched down just south of U.S. 421 and Delaware Street in Medaryville at 3:03 p.m. and lifted 10 minutes later about 2.5 miles northeast of Denham. The funnel cloud’s path width is estimated at 100 yards, with a length of 13 miles. The storm’s maximum wind speed is estimated at 110 miles per hour. The storm was one of at least 15 that hit the Hoosier State on Sunday.
Pulaski County Continues Storm Cleanup Efforts
“We started out with the storm front coming in and we had two small tornadoes spin up out of there. We had some minor property damage; no personal injuries, fortunately. Obviously no deaths. We did have quite a large outage on power; Winamac was out probably until about 8 p.m. Medaryville got their power back about 7:30-ish this morning. Denham now has their power and the crews are working on finish up Ripley. Hopefully they’ll be done by 2 o’ clock this afternoon getting the power back on,” said Hoover.
Prepare Your Emergency Disaster Kit Now
The most important tip, Hoover said, is to make sure your family knows where to go in a severe storm. Lay out an emergency plan with a place to meet in case you get separated and designate an emergency contact that is out of the immediate area to call in case of a disaster.
Storms Leave Area Residents in the Dark
The powerful storms that tore through the area Sunday afternoon left more than 5,000 Kankakee Valley REMC and more than 40,000 NIPSCO customers in the dark. High winds knocked down numerous trees and utility poles, and a tree that was struck by lightning in the Koontz Lake area caught fire. Straight line winds in Pulaski County caused considerable damage there as well. Power to the Pulaski County Justice Center was knocked out at the height of the storm and remained out for more than 5 hours. Sheriff Mike Gayer tells WKVI News that no injuries were reported.
Pulaski Council Approves Transfers for Two Departments
Eastern Pulaski School Board Approves Acquisition of Bus Bids
“The Service Center now has a way to do it that’s been approved by the State Board of Accounts,” explained Foster. “Basically, it’s an online way to receive your bus bids. You’re going to receive bids from the same two or three companies that would have normally would have submitted to you anyway. It’s just going to save our folks in the office a little bit of time.”
This takes the place of the old format of listing specifications and sending it to a newspaper and receiving bids within a certain amount of time.
Once bids have been received, the board will approve a recommended bid.
Pulaski Council Approves Transfer for Bridge 268
The county commissioners awarded a bid for the bridge’s inspection to JCI Bridge Group out of LaPorte, authorizing the company to inspect the bridge and shoreline to ensure there is no runoff or loose dirt that could develop problems. The original bid was in the amount of $176,527.32, and this additional expense was not foreseen.
Fox also informed the council that the decks are now on the bridge and the company is working on expansion joints and guardrails.
Eastern Pulaski School Board Approves Sound System Replacement
The Eastern Pulaski School Board approved a motion to replace the sound system in the middle school gym.
Superintendent Dan Foster stressed that the system has been very useful for the facility but it’s outdated.
“Dave DeLorenzo and the maintenance staff have had a lot of trouble with the sound system and it’s just an old system that needs some updating. We’re going to have that replaced,” explained Foster.
The system will be replaced in the next few months.
Three Arrested after Standoff with Police in Pulaski County
Three people were arrested after a stand off with several members of law enforcement in Pulaski County Thursday night.
James Anthony Miller, 48, failed to return to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department after working at a local business as part of work release. The sheriff’s department was notified of Miller’s whereabouts at a residence north of Medaryville on U.S. 421. Two officers approached the house on foot in the dark and they could clearly see Miller, and two other people wanted on warrants inside the home.
Pulaski County Council Approves Additional Funds for Recycling Center
Eastern Pulaski School Board Extends Administrator Contracts
Superintendent Dan Foster said the change in leadership at the corporation had delayed this process, but the board forged ahead with approving all contracts.
“We did go ahead and extend all of the principal’s contracts and the Athletic Director’s contract for an extra year,” explained Foster. “Their contracts are effective June 30, 2015 now instead of just this next summer.”
Heroin Causing Problems in Pulaski County
A dangerous drug is making a resurgence in the area, as Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer said the county has seen its third death as a direct result of a heroin overdose. Gayer said the third death was less than a week ago; the man was found by a roommate with heroin and paraphernalia nearby.
Gayer explained it’s difficult to combat this new danger in the community, as thus far, it’s staying under the radar.
Luncheon Scheduled for Potential Winamac Hotel Investors
Cobblestone Development specializes in building budget friendly accommodations for business travelers and others in small communities like Winamac. Developer John F. Seibert says the accommodations would be similar to those offered by a Holiday Inn Express or Hampton Inn. He adds hotels like the one his company is proposing take about five months to build.
Candidate Filing for 2014 Election in January
Candidate filing for the 2014 election is just two months away. Several members of the community have already announced intentions to seek their party’s vote for a chance to win a seat in local elections.
Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski said the first day to file for candidacy is Jan. 8, 2014. Her position is up for election in 2014 as well as prosecutor, auditor, sheriff, coroner, assessor, county commissioner district 2, county council districts 1-4, and Center Township assessor. The at-large and North Bend Township seats on the Culver Community School Board are up for election, as well as the California Township, Washington Township and Center Township Seat 1 on the Knox Community School Board and the District 1-3 seats on the Oregon-Davis School Board.
Winamac Seniors Present Policy Proposal to School Board
The Eastern Pulaski School Board heard a presentation from a group of seniors who developed a “bring your own device” policy as a class project for the board to consider for second semester.
Superintendent Dan Foster explained that this policy would allow students to bring in their own iPad, laptop, smart phone or technology device for use during the second semester. The seniors felt that they weren’t being treated fairly.
West Central Maintenance Officials Working on Boiler Issue
The West Central School Board recently learned that the boiler system needs repairs fairly quickly as the colder weather sets in.
Superintendent Charles Mellon explained that one boiler needs to be repaired and another needs replaced at the high school.
“It’s a three-phase unit so we are down to one boiler and we need one repaired rather quickly,” stated Mellon. “We don’t want to be caught having no heating system at all. We’re going to move rapidly on that.”
Mellon has discussed the issue with the maintenance director at the school corporation and repairs are ongoing at this time.
