The following is a list of the award winners:

 

DISTINGUISHED AWARDS:

Academic Honors Diplomas - Ashton Barkho, Olivia Boisselier, Alyssa Bushman, Hannah Czarnecki, Sammy Daugherty, Parker Fritz, Alan Kaeb, Brandon Kemp, Josh Kottka, Jaylen Kruger, Eli Owens, Mary Pierce, Thomas Putt, Ebyn Schnelle, Cassidy Tanner, Mickayla Wenzel, Grace Whited, Angela Wireman, Max Wuethrich, Ian Yockey, Mikayla Young

Technical Honors Diplomas - Cody Carpenter, Hallie Feuquay, Shelby Oliver 

D.A.R. Good Citizen Award - Ashton Barkho

Girls’ State - Olivia Boisselier

US Army Scholar/Athlete Awards - Parker Fritz/Mickayla Wenzel

US Marine Corp Awards - Scholar: Thomas Putt, Mickayla Wenzel; Semper Fi: Josh Kottka ; Athlete: Parker Fritz, Ashton Barkho

President’s Education Awards - Alyssa Bushman, Alan Kaeb, Mickayla Wenzel

Senior Leadership Award - Thomas Putt

Principal’s Leadership Award - Parker Fritz

Salutatorian - Grace Whited

Valedictorian - Mickayla Wenzel

 

SCHOLARSHIPS:

  • Health Careers Scholarship - Abby Brick and Shelby Oliver
  • American Red Cross Scholarships - Ashton Barkho and Cassidy Tanner
  • Indiana Blood Center Scholarship - Angela Wireman
  • North Central Co-Op Scholarship - Cody Carpenter
  • West Central Athletic Scholarships - Ashton Barkho, Alyssa Bushman, Parker Fritz, Cassidy Tanner, Mickayla Wenzel
  • Army Scholar/Athlete Scholarships - Daniel Becker and Austin Simpson
  • Giving Back Scholarship - Mickayla Wenzel
  • Pulaski County Community Foundation Scholarships: Carneal Scholarship - Ashton Barkho and Abby Brick
  • Street Family Scholarship - Justin Perry
  • Pulaski County Soil & Water Scholarship - Zachary Davis
  • Alliance Bank Scholarship - Mickayla Wenzel
  • Koster Family Scholarships - Ashton Barkho, Alyssa Bushman, Alan Kaeb, Mary Pierce, Thomas Putt, 
  • Cassidy Tanner, Mickayla Wenzel, Grace Whited
  • Lightstream Scholarship - Alyssa Bushman
  • Farm Bureau Scholarship - Sam Harper
  • Retired Iron Workers Scholarship - Cody Carpenter
  • West Central National Honor Society Scholarships - Thomas Putt and Mickayla Wenzel
  • West Central Student Council Scholarship - Thomas Putt
  • West Central FFA Scholarships - Olivia Boisselier, Cody Carpenter, Jessica Dahn and Sam Harper
  • West Central Life Skills “Class Act” Scholarships - Samantha Daugherty, Emily White, Max Wuethrich
  • West Central Sunshine Society Scholarship - Grace Whited
  • Scholar - Thomas Putt/Mickayla Wenzel Semper Fi - Josh Kottka ; Athlete - Parker Fritz/Ashton Barkho
  • PCCF Scholarship - Cassidy Tanner
  • Francesville Legion Auxiliary Scholarship - Mary Pierce
  • Walter John & Wanda Joan Buczek Memorial Scholarship - Ashton Barkho, Cody Carpenter, Justin Perry, Mary Pierce, Mickayla Wenzel
  • IVY Tech Valedictorian’s Scholarship - Mickayla Wenzel
  • Deb Haring Memorial Scholarship - Ashton Barkho
  • Dr. Mike Gutwein Memorial Scholarship - Cassidy Tanner
  • Francesville Volunteer Fire Department Scholarship - Thomas Putt
  • Mike Rishel Memorial Scholarship -Zachary Davis
  • Sharron McGee Memorial Scholarship - Olivia Boisselier
  • Mellon Family Scholarship - Josh Kottka
  • West Central Educational Foundation Scholarship - Jaylen Kruger
  • The Patio Drive In Scholarships - Alan Kaeb
  • Ralph Harris Memorial Scholarship - Alyssa Bushman
  • Lerch Family Scholarship - Olivia Boisselier
  • Fulmer Seeds/Service Scholarship - Cody Carpenter
  • Martha Timm Memorial Scholarship - Mary Pierce
  • Dickinson Family Scholarship - Abby Brick
  • Getz Family Scholarship - Thomas Putt
  • Overmyer Family Scholarship –Shelby Oliver
  • Jeff Moncel/Phil Pixey Memorial Scholarship - Zachary Davis
  • Jeanette Moncel Memorial Scholarship - Jaylen Kruger
  • William J. Hubbard Memorial Scholarship - Abby Brick
  • Angie Huber Memorial Scholarship - Josh Kottka
  • Betty Rebeck Memorial Scholarship - Mary Pierce
  • Freshour Scholarships - Cody Carpenter, Parker Fritz, Grace Whited, Max Wuethrich
  • Rosenberg Scholarship - Alan Kaeb
  • Rose Acre Farms Good Egg Scholarship - Zachary Davis
  • Pulaski County Power From the Past Scholarship - Thomas Putt
  • Elks Club Scholarship - Mickayla Wenzel
  • West Central Scholarships - Ashton Barkho, Abby Brick, Olivia Boisselier, Alyssa Bushman, Parker Fritz, Alan Kaeb, Josh Kottka, Jaylen Kruger, Shelby Oliver, Mary Pierce, Cassidy Tanner, Mickayla Wenzel, Grace Whited, Max Wuethrich

 

HONOR ROLL AWARDS:

High Honor Roll: Ashton Barkho, Alan Kaeb, Thomas Putt, Cassidy Tanner, Mickayla Wenzel

Honor Roll: Alyssa Bushman, Sammy Daugherty, Hallie Feuquay, Lexi Foerg, Parker Fritz, Jacquie Frye, Brandon Kemp, Josh Kottka, Jaylen Kruger, Eli Owens, Grace Whited, Max Wuethrich, Ian Yockey

 

PERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARDS: 

Zachary Davis and David Southern

 

DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS:

Athletic - 4 Year Awards - Alyssa Bushman, Sammy Daugherty, Keegan Dillman, Lexi Foerg, Parker Fritz, Dylan Ingram,Eli Owens, Luke Owens, Mickayla Wenzel, Angela Wireman

Band - Senior Band Awards: Josh Kottka and Mary Pierce; John Phillip Sousa Award: Josh Kottka

Business - Outstanding Business Student - Max Wuethreich

Chemistry - Ian Yockey

Choir - Senior Choir Awards: Mary Pierce and Mikayla Young

Computer - Outstanding Computer Student: David Southern

English - Senior English Award: Mickayla Wenzel

Life Skills Outstanding Peer Tutors - Ashton Barkho, Daniel Becker, Alyssa Bushman, Hannah Czarnecki, Sammy Daugherty, Hallie Feuquay, Jacquie Frye, Beth Greene, Cylee Marlatt, Mercedes Nine, Luke Owens, Thomas Putt, Cassie Toosley, Emily White, Angela Wireman, Max Wuethrich

Life Skills Students of the Year - Seth Bachman, Dalton Cottrell

Math - Senior Calculus Award: Alan Kaeb

Spanish - Senior Spanish Award: Mickayla Wenzel

National Honor Society Members - Ashton Barkho, Olivia Boisselier, Alyssa Bushman, Parker Fritz, Alan Kaeb, Josh Kottka, Jaylen Kruger, Thomas Putt, Cassidy Tanner, Mickayla Wenzel, Grace Whited, Max Wuethrich, Ian Yockey, Mikayla Young

  
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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 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.

PCT invites photographers to capture spirit of county in photo contest

Participate, share perspective on county

Pulaski County Tribe (PCT) has announced the launch of the "Embrace the Pace Pulaski County" photography contest, inviting photographers of all ages and skill levels to showcase life in Pulaski County through the lens of their cameras.

“With cash prizes and the opportunity to have your work displayed county-wide, this contest is an exciting way to celebrate the beauty and community of Pulaski County,” said Brandi Larkin, PCT president.

  

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.

2025 Indiana General Assembly: Bill Watch

Members of the Indiana General Assembly are working through proposed legislation on such topics such as education, health care, housing, property tax reform, responsible management of water resources, and much more. Gov. Mike Braun has now begun the process of signing passed legislation into law.

The 2025 legislative session runs January through April 29. This is a “long session” during which legislators will craft a two-year state budget. The status of bills under consideration, in both the House and Senate, may be viewed here: IGA | Bills for 2025 Session.  

 

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.