Other business to come before the commissioners was as follows:

PULASKI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PURCHASE OF COUNTY PROPERTY: Pulaski Memorial Hospital administrator Richard Mynark and CEO Gregg Malott met with the commissioners to request to purchase County owned property. The hospital is building a medical building on the ground and the county owns 5.07 acres. In order to obtain the financing, the bank wants the land owned by the county to be transferred to PMH. The commissioners approved a resolutionl to transfer the tract of land.

PURCHASE OF NEW POLICE CARS: Sheriff Mike Gayer appeared before the commissioners to request new patrol cars. He reported the department has several in the rotations to trade. He checked with a couple of local car dealers  to see if they could match the state bid for new cars, but they could not compete with those bids. Gayer presented the state bids for two patrol cars, and they were approved by the commissions. The sheriff also added that he wants to shorten the squad car fleet, and plans to sell the excess at auction. He also reported the new carport is up..

THE ROAD ON 600 AND BRIDGE 291 PROPERTY: County highway department superintendent Kenny Becker presented costs for fixing the road on CR 600. The cost of bringing in a burmer, dozer and stone will be $7,500. The cost of the hot mix will be submitted at a later date. Jeff Larrison reported on the two remaining pieces of Bridge 291 (Monterey) property. The commissioners approved a counter offer of  $54,000 to purchase the property needed to construct the bridge. The homeowners will be allow to remain until two weeks before construction begins.

TASK FORCE II UPDATE: Chief  Ron Patrick, Larry Hoover and Sherry Fagner were present to give an update on the Task Force II. Last year the district took 80 people to MUTC (Muscatatuk Urbin Training Center) National Level Exercise 2011. The county has $250,000 in equipment. Hoover is the DPC chair, Patrick is the commander and Fagner is DPC. The local team was on standby 5 times in 3 days with the hurricane on east coast. MUTC has begun recruiting videos. A video was shown to the commissioners. They reported there are only two task forces certified in the state.

ENERGY RATE: Philip Piero of Nordic Energy met with the commissioners to offer a better rate, since since the county is now with Nordic Energy. The commissioners accepted the proposal.

BOND FOR KATHY WYATT: The commissioners approved and signed the bond for Kathy Wyatt from Soil & Water Conservation District. 

EXTENSION MEETING APPROVALS: The commissioners approved  a request for Natalie Federer to attend meetings and workshops for 2012. The Extension Office made a request to have the Veterans Service Officer pay an extra $10 internet charge that has been billed to the Extension office and is not covered in their budget. The Veterans Service Office does not pay  for internet service. The commissioners decided if the Veterans Service Office does not have the funds, the internet bill will be paid from the commissioners budget.

HIRING FREEZE: County auditor Shelia Garling aske the commissioners for a definition for the "need for New Hire" regarding part time hours. She gave the following example: "If a part time employee cuts back their regular schedule hours, and if you hire someone to work the rest of the hours. Can be looked at two ways: 1. If it is a certain amount of hours, find someone to work that amount of hours. 2. If it does not increase the budget or creates a new position, I don’t see a problem with hiring a new employee."

2012 BUDGET FOR ENHANCED 911 COMMISSIONERS PAYOUT: No money was appropriated to pay for the Network Service (911 System) and the Service & Maintenance Contract. The commissioners gave approval to request an Additional Appropriation with County Council approval.

OPEN DOOR REQUEST FROM A JOURNALIST: Received an email regarding open door policy for minutes. County Attorney will take care of.

QUOTES FOR DOORS IN BASEMENT: Quotes were presented for the doors in the basement on the north side of the courthouse, by the assessor’s office. Morry DeMarco will attend the next meeting for the commissioners response.

NEW AMBULANCE: Arrow was awarded the bid for a remount and recondition customer’s T3 ambulance box on a new Chevy G3500 diesel chassis. Quote was $78,807.

APPOINTMENTS FOR 2012: The Commissioners made the following appointments for 2012:

A motion to appoint Sarah Thompson for animal control officer died for lack of a second.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE BOARD – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Commissioners’ Appointee Carroll Lange

ARROWHEAD R.C. & D. – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Commissioners’ Appointee Tracey Shorter
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Commissioners’ Alternate Appointee Kenneth R. Boswell

BOARD OF HEALTH – 4 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2015 Board Member Brian Johnson, MD

COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER – 4 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2015 County health Officer (Appointed by Rex Allman, M.D. Board, Certified by Commissioners)

COMPUTER SYSTEMS MANAGER – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Manager Christi Hoffa

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ADVISORY BOARD – 4 Year Term
01/01/2011 to 12/31/2013 Animal Disease Control Emer. Coord. Debra Tiede

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Emergency Management Agency Lawrence Hoover

FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT COMMISSION – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Commissioners’ Representative Dave Dare
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Board Member Jay Sullivan
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Board Member Michael Tiede

INDUSTRIAL PARK ADVISORY BOARD – 4 Year Term
01/01/2011 to 12/31/2014 Representative of Local Finance Joe Hunting
01/01/2011 to 12/31/2014 Representative of Local Industry Tom Bonnell
01/01/2012 to 12/31/15 Representative of Local Utility James Conner
01/01/2012 to 12/31/15 Representative of Local Gov’t Nathan Origer

IOSHA REPRESENTATIVE – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 County Courthouse Lawrence Hoover
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 County Highway Scott Hinkle
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 County Home Sandy Hurd
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 County Sheriff’s Department Mike Gayer
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 County Recycling/Transfer Station Edward Clark
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 County Annex Dave Dare

KANKAKEE-IROQUOIS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Board Member (Appoint Commiss) Michael T. Tiede
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Commissioners’ Representative Nathan Origer

KANKAKEE-IROQUOIS REGIONAL PLAN. COMM. TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Commissioners’ Appointee Kenneth Becker
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Commissioners’ Appointee Michael T. Tiede

WORKFORCE INNOVATION LOCAL ELECTED OFFICALS BOARD – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Commissioners’ Representative Michael T. Tiede
WORKFORCE INNOVATION INVESTMENT BOARD – 3 Year Term – Chamber Nominates – Board Appoints
06/30/2010 to 06/30/2013 Rep. of Local Business (nominated by Sector) Nathan Origer 06/01/2011

L.E.P.C. – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Commissioners’ Appointee Tracey Shorter
NORTHWEST INDIANA SOLID WASTE DISTRICT – BOARD OF DIRECTORS – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Council Alternate Rep(Comm Appt) Thomas J. Roth

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Commissioners; Representative Kenneth R. Boswell
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Courthouse Representative Sheryl DeGroot
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 County Annex Building Representative Teresa Hansen
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Highway Garage Lin Morrison
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Sheriff’s Department Joan Schultz
Ex-officio-By Office County Auditor Shelia K. Garling
Ex-officio-By Office Accts Rec/Pay - Co Deputy Auditor Christi Hoffa

POSITIONS – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Part Time Microfilm Dept. Officer Janet Onken
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 County Attorney Kevin Tankersley
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 County Highway Supervisor Kenneth Becker
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 County Highway Assistant Supervisor Scott Hinkle
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 County Home Medical Officer Rex Allman, M.D.
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 County Home Superintendent Sandy Hurd
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 County Jail Medical Officer Clint Kaffman M.D.
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 County Veterans Service Officer Ed Fleury
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Maintenance Director Morry DeMarco
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Recycling/Transfer Station Manager Edward Clark
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Building Inspector Dave Dare
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Animal Control Officer Debra Tiede
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Animal Disease Control Emerg Coord Debra Tiede

PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT BOARD OF APPEALS – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Board Member Jerry Sullivan
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Certified Level 2 Ass’r-App or Brd Mbr. Stanley Boehning

PLEASANT VIEW ADVISORY & REVIEW BOARD – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Commissioner Appointee Kenneth R. Boswell
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Commissioner Appointee Tracey Shorter
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Commissioner Appointee Margaret Reeves
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Commissioner Appointee Terrie McFarland
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Commissioner Appointee Kerry Baker
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Health Department Appointee Sherry Fagner

PULASKI COUNTY COMMUNITY PLANNING COMMISSION – 4 Year Term
EX-officio-by office Surveyor Representative Mick Tiede

PULASKI COUNTY EMS (AMBULANCE) BOARD – 1 Year Term
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Pulaski County EMS Manager Nikki Lowry
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Pulaski County First Responders Emma Lee Bailey
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Pulaski County EMS Stacy Beckner
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Pulaski Mem Hosp. & West Side Co. Rhonda Kletz
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012 Pulaski County Commissioners Kenneth R. Boswell

PULASKI COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER BOARD 3 YEAR TERM
01/01/2012 to 12/31/2015 Either Political Party Michael T. Tiede

PUBLIC COMMENT:  Tiede asked if there was any public comment. No comments were made.

  
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Local News Briefs

Stop signs to be added to two county intersections

The Pulaski County Highway Department will add stop signs Monday (April 28) to two county road intersections – one in southeast Rich Grove Township, and the second in northwest Monroe Township.

The new stop signs were approved April 14 in an ordinance adopted by the county commissioners.

Pulaski County America 250 committee to meet April 28

The Pulaski County America 250 Committee will meet at 6 p.m., Monday (April 28) at the new Pulaski County Historical Society Museum, 110 N. Monticello St., Winamac.

All who are interested in helping to develop county plans to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary beginning this summer through 2026 is welcome to attend. Please RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to attend the meeting.

Pulaski County Economic Development Summit April 29

The annual Pulaski County Economic Development Summit is set for 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 29, at the Knights of Columbus hall, Winamac. The event is hosted by the Pulaski County Community Development Commission.

The keynote speaker will be Stephanie Wells, president of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute. The program will also feature the annual “State of the County Economy” address by CDC executive director Nathan Origer.

PMH seeks community input identifying health needs of local communities

Survey deadline May 17

WINAMAC - Pulaski Memorial Hospital has announced the launch of its 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, a comprehensive initiative aimed at identifying and addressing the most pressing health needs of our local communities.

“Community feedback is essential” said Hospital CEO Steve Jarosinski. ”PMH will be gathering input from residents, local organizations, community leaders, and even other area healthcare professionals to better understand the health challenges and opportunities across the region.”

PCPL lists programs, activities for April

The Pulaski County Public Library has listed its programs and activities for April. They include a celebration of National Library Week, a kids’ caring for the environment program, a Ladybug Welcome Sign craft, and an Earth Day craft.

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

Southbound I-65 reopens in Jasper County following hazmat fire

ROSELAWN (April 22) - I-65 southbound reopened near mile marker 230 at approximately 6:30 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, almost 17 hours following a spectacular semi-truck fire and hazmat cleanup which included an overnight repaving of a section of the interstate. No injuries were reported.

After assessing the damage to the roadway, the Indiana Department of Transportation determined that the accident scene needed to be resurfaced. INDOT already has a contract in place for this area for pavement patching with Rieth-Riley Construction, and they were able to mobilize to take over the scene once cleanup was complete. A total of 7,700 square feet of asphalt to a depth of four inches (and six inches on the outside shoulder) had to be replaced overnight.

Braun signs package of executive orders to ‘Make Indiana Healthy Again’

INDIANAPOLIS (April 15) – Gov. Mike Braun Tuesday signed a landmark package of executive orders with initiatives to improve Indiana’s health and well-being.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz were in attendance to support Indiana’s initiative. Indiana now joins a number of states that have embraced, through legislation or executive orders, Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement.

DEA/ISP Drug Take Back Day Saturday, April 26

PERU – The Indiana State Police will partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Saturday, April 26 for their 27th “Prescription Drug Take Back” initiative.

The “Take Back” initiative seeks to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft through proper disposal of unwanted prescription drugs.

 

Pulaski County unemployment rate up slightly at 4.3 percent in February

Pulaski County's unemployment rate ticked up to 4.3 percent in February, up from 4.2 percent in January, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported Monday, (March 31). The rate was 3.8 percent a year ago.

The county had 6,535 employed persons in a labor force of 6,831 in February. In January those numbers were 6,507 of 6,793. A year ago the numbers were 6,381 of 6.645.

 

Indiana Health News

Measles cases climb to 800 nationwide; 8 in Indiana

Also: respiratory illness updates

INDIANAPOLIS (April 21) — The Indiana Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of measles and working with local health officials to help stop the spread of infection. The current reported cases are connected to each other but at this time there are no known links to outbreaks in other states.

Eight cases have been reported in the Indiana, all in Allen County.

  

Post News

Pulaski Superior Court appears saved

INDIANAPOLIS (April 24) – Pulaski Superior Court and seven other rural courts have been spared from closure, following revisions made to HB1144 approved by both the state house and senate Thursday evening in the Indiana General Assembly.

The legislation is now pending the approval of Gov. Mike Braun.

Chamber presents Don, Lynn Darda with 2025 Halleck Award

The Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce presented the 2025 Halleck Community Service Award to Don and Lynn Darda of Winamac at its annual award banquet Thursday evening (April 24), at the Winamac VFW.

The Dardas are both retired teachers in the Winamac schools and have been enthusiastic volunteers in a variety of projects throughout the years. 

Community Foundation awards $15,000 in grants

The Community Foundation of Pulaski County (CFoPC) has announced $15,000 has been awarded in grants to local nonprofits and community organizations.

The following projects and organizations have received funding:

  • $5,000 to Pulaski County Historical Society – “We’re Moving!”
  • $10,000 to Pulaski Memorial Hospital – for a Community Health Worker

Alliance Junior Board visits BraunAbility

The Alliance Bank Junior Board of Directors had the opportunity to visit BraunAbility in Winamac in April.

During their visit, the student directors were given a presentation about the company and had the chance to ask questions. They also had a tour of the facility, which allowed them to see the manufacturing process of vehicles equipped to assist individuals with disabilities.

Jury finds Monterey man guilty of attempted murder 

WINAMAC – A Pulaski County Circuit Court jury has found a Monterey man guilty of attempted murder in connection with a July 3, 2023 shooting in downtown Monterey.

Kenneth D. Ketcahm, 41, was also convicted on additional charges of criminal recklessness and pointing a firearm. The verdict was returned Monday (April 14).

Fatal crash on U.S. 421 under Investigation

MEDARYVILLE (April 15) – The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a crash which claimed the life of a Porter County man Tuesday on U.S 421 near the intersection of CR 800N in Cass Township.

The crash involved a dump truck and minivan. Release of the identity of the deceased minivan driver is pending the notification of family.