Francesville's Charles Mellon (center) received a Golden Hoosier Award Sept. 24, at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. With him (l-r) are Michael and Tiffany Holle, Rob Evans and Tyson Mellon.

The ideal recipient is considered an unsung hero who has not received previous recognition for the impact they have made in the lives of others and the community.

Mellon has a lifetime of service in education and community projects. He will also retire at the end of this year as a Pulaski County Commissioner. He was nominated for the award by retired West Central High School teacher Rob Evans.

Retired educator Chuck Mellon is a master at assessing the needs of Francesville’s citizens and strives to make the town a better place for all, Evans noted in his nomination letter. “Take a close look at all good things that happen in Francesville, he added, “and rest assured Chuck Mellon most likely had a part in it.”

Mellon closed his career in education in 2014 when he retired as superintendent of West Central Schools. In addition to serving as a county commissioner, his most recent community projects have included:

  • Serving as president of Francesville’s Humanitarian Distribution Center, a warehouse that receives food donations from individuals and businesses and coordinates deliveries to over 35 food pantries in north and central Indiana.
  • Volunteering as a founding member of the Francesville Market Cooperative which opened the Francesville Market grocery in 2021 (after the town’s grocery and pharmacy stores closed years earlier). In 2024, the Cooperative facilitated the much-anticipated Pulaski Memorial Community Pharmacy satellite as well.

Since 2008, Hoosiers have been recognized for service to their communities with the Golden Hoosier Award. It is not just one act of community service, but rather a lifetime of community service and commitment to serving others that the award recognizes.

Nominees meet the following criteria for eligibility:

  • An Indiana resident;
  • Age 65 or older; and
  • Has been a volunteer in the community for the past three years.

In presenting Tuesday’s awards, Lt. Gov. Crouch noted there were "many, many applicants."

Those who accompanied Mellon to Indianapolis for the awards ceremony included Evans, Mellon’s children, son Tyson Mellon, daughter and son-in-law Tiffany and Michael Holle, and past WCHS Principal/Superintendent (and current Kankakee Valley Superintendent) Don Street and his wife Meleita.

“Chuck is a visionary. He absolutely knows who to call, and when, to procure large and valuable donations,” Evans also wrote in his nomination. “When a job needs to be done, no matter how big or small, Chuck jumps in and gets it done. No one in the Francesville and Pulaski County community does more with less fanfare than Chuck.”

 

  
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Local News Briefs

Chamber's autumn RiverFest event Oct. 5 in Winamac

WINAMAC – The Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce will sponsor its third annual RiverFest from 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Winamac Town Park.

The event will feature  30-plus vendors, food, crafts and music (open mic style), plus a River Ball Race at 5 p.m.

U.S. 35 to have short-term closures

PULASKI/STARKE COUNTIES - Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews will conduct seal coating operations resulting in two road closures on U.S. 35 beginning on or after Monday, Sept. 23.

U.S. 35 will first be closed during daytime work hours between SR 14 and the west junction of SR 10 for approximately three days on or after Sept. 23. The official detour for this closure will follow SR 10, U.S. 421 and SR 14.

County health department to hold respiratory vaccine clinic Oct. 15

The Pulaski County Health Department will hold a respiratory vaccine clinic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Parkview Haven in Francesville.

Public health nurse Stephen Stephen Newcomer reports the flu vaccine will be available at the clinic. Also a limited supply of COVID, RSV and pneumonia vaccines will be offered.

Warrior Up after-school program continues at Winamac FUMC

WINAMAC – The Warrior Up Kids Club after-school program is continuing for the 2024-25 school year at the Winamac First United Methodist Church.

 The program offers bus transportation from the Winamac schools, snacks, homework help, some life-skills lessons, crafts and additional activities.

S-P Habitat plans open house for new project Sept. 28

Starke-Pulaski Habitat for Humanity will hold an open house for its latest project, the John and Melissa May family home, at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28.

The house is located at 614 S. Burson St., Winamac, along side the Panhandle Pathway. The public is welcome to attend to congratulate the May family.

HVRM to run diesel, steam ‘Pumpkin and Twilight Trains’ in October

NORTH JUDSON - The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum will run Pumpkin Trains every Saturday in October in historic North Judson at the junction of four former railroads.

A diorama of the Erie, Chesapeake & Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York Central railroads is on display in the admission-free museum, along with one of the largest collections of working railroad signals, a restored World War II Pullman Troop Car, and all types of rolling stock, engines and memorabilia of a by-gone era.

PCPL September activities, programs listed

The Pulaski County Public Library has listed its programs and activities for September. They include Grandparents Day story time, Yoga classes, avoiding financial fraud, a banned book discussion and celebrating Bluey’s birthday.

For more information on any program, call the library at 574-946-3432 or visit the library’s website at www.pulaskicounty.lib.in.us.

  

Indiana News

Abnormally hot, dry weather raises fire risk concerns for farmers

EAST LANSING, MI – Another dry week in Indiana provided favorable fieldwork conditions, but some farmers were concerned about the risk of fire, according to Nathanial Warenski, state statistician, USDA NASS, Indiana Field Office.

Topsoil moisture levels decreased from the previous week, with 21 percent rated adequate or surplus. The average temperature for the week was 73.1 degrees Fahrenheit, 9.1 degrees above normal for the state. The statewide average precipitation was 0.10 inches, 0.59 inches below normal.

Free soil sampling program available for Indiana farmers

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 23) — The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and partners throughout the state have worked with the Gulf Hypoxia Program (GHP) to develop a no-cost program with a focus on increasing the knowledge and use of soil sampling as a nutrient management practice to benefit farm operations.

The program, titled Indiana’s Mississippi River Basin Soil Sampling Program, is open now for applicants through Nov. 1.

OCRA announces new training, capacity-building program for rural communities

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 19) – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs have announced the opening of the new Rural Empowerment and Development (RED) program.

The program is a capacity-building and planning initiative created in partnership with Ball State University’s Indiana Communities Institute. 

Holcomb visits in Ukraine with President Zelenskyy

Photos added

KYIV, Ukraine (Sept. 5) – Gov. Eric Holcomb is in Kyiv Thursday to focus on subnational diplomacy that will positively impact future economic, academic and cultural two-way partnerships between Indiana and Ukraine.

This trip marks the first time a U.S. governor has traveled to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Culp, Jordan: Applications now open for 2025 Statehouse internships

STATEHOUSE (Aug. 29) – Applications to intern with Indiana House Republicans for the 2025 legislative session are now open, according to State Reps. Kendell Culp (R-Rensselaer) and Jack Jordan (R-Bremen). 

Culp said the Indiana House of Representatives offers a spring semester internship at the Statehouse in Indianapolis during the legislative session, which will start in January and conclude in April. House interns earn $900 biweekly and work full time, Monday through Friday.

Indiana COVID-19 News

CDC releases fall/winter outlook for respiratory illnesses

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 10) - The Indiana Department of Health reported Sept. 10 that COVID-like illness emergency department visits numbered 399 from Aug. 28 - Sept. 3, down 80 from its previous weekly report.

State COVID-19 hospital admissions (Sept. 1-7) totaled 34, up 5 from the week before. The state reported one death in the seven-day period (reflects confirmed COVID deaths reported to IDH).

  

Post News

Mellon honored with state’s Golden Hoosier Award

INDIANAPOLIS – Charles Mellon of Francesville was presented with a Golden Hoosier Award by Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch Tuesday (Sept. 24), at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. He was among 18 people from across the state to receive the award.

The Golden Hoosier Award was established to acknowledge and recognize outstanding seniors for their lifetime of service to their communities. Sponsored by Indiana Lieutenant Governor in collaboration and partnership with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, the award is the highest honor bestowed on a senior in Indiana.

Nov. 5, 2024 General Election: Who's on my ballot?

Who will be on your 2024 Pulaski County general election ballot?

A list of all candidates to be considered by Pulaski County voters is presented here, along with website links for the national and state candidates to give voters an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the office seekers and their platforms.

Voter registration ends Monday, Oct. 7; and Early Voting begins Tuesday, Oct. 8 in Indiana. Information for voters may be found at Secretary of State: Voter Information

Fall Festival announces contest winners

Francesville, the “Small Town with a Big Heart” put on a giant festival this past weekend (Sept. 20-22) jam-packed with family fun.

The 56th annual Francesville Fall Festival featured “Tag Art” dinosaurs, carnival rides, a Harvest Dance, contests, games, arts, crafts and a variety of ventdors. A sampling of photos from the event appears on the PulaskiPost Facebook page.

FSSA Employer Sponsored Childcare Fund grant supports Pulaski County

In March of 2024, Pulaski County received $750,000 from the Employer-Sponsored Child Care Fund grant through the Family and Social Services Administration’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (FSSA).

This child care fund grant is a $25 million program that provides seed funding for employers and local communities to expand employer subsidized child care benefits to address growing local child care needs. The program, established with federal funding, was designed to increase child care access and support for working Hoosier families.

West Central School Board, Superintendent discuss impact of state voucher program on public school funding

FRANCESVILLE – West Central School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Cathy Rowe referenced, at the September school board meeting, a recent article in the IndyStar that drew attention to a report on state’s school choice (vouchers) program drawing taxpayer monies away from Indiana public schools.

She told the board that what started out as a $15.5 million price tag school choice program in 2011, has ballooned to over $300 million most recently, and is forecast to cost $600 million this year. For West Central, the loss in state funding is estimated to be $277,730 annually, with impact felt each year as additional funding is allocated to vouchers.

EPCS receives state funding boost for safety upgrades

STATEHOUSE (Sept. 17) – Eastern Pulaski Community Schools recently received more than $39,000 for safety upgrades through the state's Secured School Safety Grant Program.

The SSSG program was created in 2013 and codified by Indiana Code 10-21. The legislation was established to increase the safety of Indiana schools. The SSSG program is a dedicated state fund that provides matching grants to school corporations, accredited non-public schools, charter schools and coalitions of school corporations.