Republican Richwine, a retired IDNR conservation officer, won 60 percent of the vote over Paul Grandstaff, a former sheriff and current Pulaski County deputy sheriff. Richwine will succeed two-term sheriff Mike Gayer.

Krohn, also a Republican, won 61 percent of the vote over Democrat challenger John Plowman who is a member of the Winamac Town Council. Krohn will assume the seat being vacated by Tracey Shorter who did not seek re-election.

Powers, a Democrat, received 52 percent of the vote totals over her challenger, Republican Pam Chumley. She will take over the county council seat being vacated by her father, the retiring Ron Powers.

Daniel P. Murphy will be Pulaski County's new prosecuting attorney, a position he once held for many years. He was unopposed in the General Election.

Other county offices up for election, circuit court clerk, assessor, surveyor, coroner and three county council seats, were all won by incumbents who ran un-opposed.

In a contested township trustee race, Republican Michelle Schmicker was re-elected to her Monroe Township trustee post over challenger Larry Winter.

For the White Post Township board, Richard Brick (R), Patricia Tiede (R) and Jerry Beiswanger (D) were the winners for the three positions sought by four candidates.

Voters also elected Winamac Town Council members, various township positions and school board members for Eastern Pulaski, West Central and Culver schools - all of whom were unopposed.

 

The Pulaski County voting totals for major offices, by precinct, were as follows:

 

*Incumbent

Pulaski County Ballot

 

Candidate B C F H IC J M1 M2 M3 M4 RG S T VB WP TOTAL
U.S. Rep. Dist. 2                                
Jackie Walorski* (R) 115 109 100 135 99 116 177 197 198 162 88 305 138 158 148

2245

Joe Bock (D) 27 72 71 52 55 47 75 84 91 88 59 65 105 68 79

1038

Jeff Petermann (L) 5 4 8 3 12 6 7 14 13 7 5 4 8 12 10 118
Indiana Secretary of State                                
Connie R. Lawson* (R) 104 106 92 144 100 123 168 217 185 170 88 310 147 152 150 2256
Elizabeth "Beth" White (D) 36 77 75 53 66 41 85 87 109 86 59 74 101 84 88 1119
Kari Tatgenhorst (L) 4 8 10 6 6 7 10 10 15 13 9 5 4 8 12 127
Indiana Auditor of State                                
Suzanne Crouch (R) 101 99 103 153 105 149 181 218 204 180 89 315 151 157 148 2323
Michael A. Claytor (D) 37 77 65 39 59 41 69 78 93 77 58 67 93 72 78 1003
John Schick (L) 5 15 9 10 10 1 12 17 14 14 9 4 7 12 19 168
Indiana State Treasurer                                
Kelly Mitchel (R) 101 101 97 147 98 113 175 210 182 168 86 309 148 149 149 2233
Mike Boland (D) 32 74 68 45 67 48 75 84 100 84 59 74 96 80 87 1073
Michael L. (Mike) Jasper (L) 7 17 10 12 8 10 9 15 23 14 11 8 9 11 11 175
State Representative (Dist. 16)                                
Douglas Gutwein* (R) 106 108 105 140 98 120 174 208 203 167 942 295 157 160 153 2288
Richard Ludington (D) 40 77 69 53 68 47 82 82 99 89 60 79 90 78 84 1097
Prosecuting Attorney (Pulaski 59th Circuit)                                
Daniel P. Murphy (R) 117 142 140 170 138 141 222 270 258 235 103 332 188 215 188 2859
Pulaski County Sheriff                                
Jeffery K. Richwine (R) 101 102 112 145 114 113 174 215 181 176 87 242 152 130 148 2192
Paul D. Grandstaff (D) 49 87 77 65 62 65 104 110 142 109 73 163 110 128 102 1446
Clerk of the Circuit Court                                
Tasha L. (Crist) Foerg* (R) 116 136 139 169 137 133 223 266 246 219 109 330 188 197 184 2784
Pulaski County Assessor                                
Lorena H. (Holly) VanDerAa* (R) 109 133 130 151 124 120 182 216 233 191 110 321 178 181 167 2546
Pulaski County Surveyor                                
Jenny Weaver-Keller* (D) 87 115 143 129 133 116 162 207 214 183 95 211 190 181 157 2323
Pulaski County Coronor                                
Steven J. VanDerAa* (R) 114 142 140 153 125 130 205 237 238 205 118 331 190 191 181 2700
Pulaski County Commissioner Dist. 3                                
Bud Krohn Jr. (R) 107 105 109 119 93 105 162 168 179 151 93 304 152 134 145 2126
John Plowman (D) 33 77 74 70 80 65 92 141 131 112 67 75 104 115 93 1338
Pulaski County Council Dist. 1                                
Alex Haschel* (R)       159     199 233           190   781
Pulaski County Council Dist. 2                                
Thomas (Tom) Roth* (D) 84       136       220 201           641
Pulaski County Council Dist. 3                                
Pam Chumley (R)     78     91         63   126     358
Linda Powers (D)     104     75         97   120     396
Pulaski County Council Dist. 4                                
Michael D. (Mick) Tiede* (R)   129                   307     166 602
                                 
Monroe Township Trustee                                
Michelle Schmicker* (R)             185 220 197 175           777
Larry J. Winter (D)             81 100 121 100           402

 

 

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.

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.

 

Update: Avian Influenza continues to affect wild birds across Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (March 3) - The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) continues to detect highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wild birds throughout Indiana and has currently detected the H5NI virus in 30 counties.

HPAI is also suspected in an additional 32 counties based on reports involving the deaths of raptors, cranes, and waterfowl. Thirteen affected birds have been reported in Pulaski County, with significantly high cases found in neighboring Starke and Jasper counties.

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.