Special guests at the meeting were Class of 2014 Valedictorian Eric Newman and his mother, Marilyn Newman, and Salutatorian Courtney Boos and her parents, Matt and Lynndy Boos. Superintendent Dan Foster and high school principal Rick DeFries highlighted the students’ academic records. DeFries added that the two students were truly positive role models for the entire student body. The students shared their plans for the future.

In other business, Foster gave a financial report for the period ending April 30. The two usual financial statements were included in board packets. The Condition of Funds Statement indicated that all Corporation Funds had positive balances. The General Fund Comparison Statement showed that 26.5% of the yearly appropriation remained, close to last year’s balance. 

Under personnel items, the following items were acted upon:

  • Emily Fawcett was approved for the elementary school music teaching position, beginning in August.  Ms. Fawcett came highly recommended and is from Logansport. She succeeds MaryAnn Fritz who is retiring at the end of the school year. 
  • Logansport Area Joint Special Services Cooperative (LAJSSC): With the Special Education decentralization, Foster recommended, and it was approved, to offer LAJSSC teachers contracts with Eastern Pulaski Schools.  Teachers Casey Hines, Melissa Newman, and Gretchen Gearhart accepted the offer. 
  • Mary Plummer, high school LAJSSC teacher, submitted her retirement request beginning the end of this school year. Julie Perkins was recommended and approved to fill her position. Mrs. Perkins has been a special education teacher for the past 16 years at Culver. 
  • Two summer school classes and contracts were approved as presented: high school physical education with instructor Kyle Johnson, and high school economics with instructor Kevin Zupin. Foster said the classes do have sufficient enrollment and recommended the classes be offered with the proposed instructors. 
  • Patricia (Peach) Roth, technology coordinator, submitted her resignation for retirement beginning the end of this school year. Mrs. Roth has been with Eastern Pulaski Schools for 37 years, beginning as an elementary school teacher in1977, and becoming the technology coordinator in 1994. Shannon Burgess will assume most of Mrs. Roth’s duties beginning next school year. Mrs. Roth’s retirement request was approved as presented.

Under action items, the board considered the following:

  • The PACE Grant Funds of $16,000 and the Pulaski County Community Foundation Grant Funds of $500 were accepted as presented. 
  • It was approved to continue with the Title I and High Ability Grant Programs as in the past. 
  • The elementary school, middle school, and high school student handbooks were approved as presented. 
  • The change to School Board Policy Section 600 - Purchase of Equipment and Supplies was approved as presented. The change allows the superintendent to approve purchases of up to $10,000.   
  • Foster reported that the technology network infrastructure is in need of an upgrade.  The switches were expected to last approximately 6 to 8 years, and the schools' are approximately 13 years old. The upgrade to the technology network infrastructure was approved as presented. 
  • Three quotes were received for fence repairs/replacement. The quote from Eaton was approved as presented 
  • Foster reported that he met with Mr. Good and Judge Shurn concerning the Crossing Education Center and offering their services to expelled students or a student who may not be able to attend school full-time. The potential site is still being discussed and parents/guardians would have to provide transportation. The school would receive the ADM funds for the students and would receive regular reports on each student. The secondary contract would allow the school to pay as it goes and was approved as presented. 

Under report items, Foster outlined the 2014-15 school opening procedures as follows:

  • 2014-15 Registration Information:  Friday, Aug. 1, and Monday, Aug. 4, is registration for new students. Registration for returning students is Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Wednesday, Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Ninth grade orientation is 6 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 5, in the Socialtorium. 
  • Orientation for all middle school students is 5:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 11; sixth-grade in the socialtorium; seventh-grade in the media center; and eighth-grade in the high school study hall. 
  • Meet-the-Teacher Night will be from 5 to 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 11, at the elementary school and from 5:30-6:30 p.m., for the middle/high school. School begins for all students on Tuesday, Aug. 12 - a full day for all students.

Foster also shared information on upcoming ISBA workshops. 

Elementary school principal Jill Collins, middle school principal Ryan Dickinson and high school principal Rick DeFries shared end-of-year activities from their respective buildings. 

Elementary school students will attend educational field trips to the state park, the wetlands, and will be taking walking field trips to see and explore the educational opportunities in Winamac.  The fourth- and fifth-grade Spring Concert will be May 23, and the end-of-year awards will be June 2.

Middle School students have been busy. The eighth-grade dance was May 10, along with the Warrior Up Club Community Service activity that same day. The National Junior Honor Society inducted new members on April 22 and the Math Contest participants came in second-place overall on April 23. On May 5, all middle school students attended a convocation on making good choices. Eighth-grade students will take their annual physics trip to Indiana Beach on June 2, with the annual Washington, D.C. trip the following week. 

High School senior awards will be May 15, in the Socialtorium, the Fine Arts Banquet will be May 19, FFA/AG Day will be May 20, and Graduation will be at 7 p.m., Friday, May 30, in the high school gym. The spring concert is May 12. 

During board comment:  Mrs. Roth was commended for her years of service. The new employees were welcomed. PACE and the Community Foundation were commended for their generous donations, along with athe businesses and organizations who give so generously to the school. 

  
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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.