The Pulaski County Courthouse lobby, in keeping with tradition, was once again the location for residents, candidates, poll workers and media to gather to watch election returns Tuesday evening. Pulask County had a 58 percent voter turnout in the General Election.

In the county commissioner Dist. 1 race, Republican Jerry Locke won 58.9 percent of the vote over his opponent Democrat Derrick Stalbaum who earned 41 percent. Republican Kenny Becker was unopposed in the county commissioner Dist. 2 slot.

In the county council at-large race Republicans Scott Hinkle (27.9%), Jay Sullivan (26.7%) and Ken Boswell (24.3%) won out over the fourth candidate, Independent Doug Roth (21.1%).

Republican Laura Wheeler was unopposed in her bid for county auditor. Republican Sue Fox was elected county recorder with 65.5 percent of the vote over her opponent Democrat Shelia Garling (34.4%).

Lynette Wilder was re-elected as county treasurer unopposed; however, she earlier this month resigned her position to care for an ill family member. She has been succeeded in office by Teresa Bryant.

Winamac clerk/treasurer Melanie Berger was re-elected unopposed to her position. All three town council members are also re-elected, Jim Watkins, Judy Heater and Tom Murray.

In the Eastern Pulaski Community School Board election, winners representing the three Monroe Township seats were Beth Ruff (25.6% of vote), and incumbents Larry Beach (23.2%) and Deke DeMarco (20.5%). Terri Johston was re-elected, unopposed, to represent Van Buren Township.

For West Central School Board, Dennis Gutwein (62%) defeated Janell Odom (37%) for the at-large seat. Jonathan Gutwein was elected unopposed to represent Gillam Township, and Mandy Sharpe, also unopposed, will hold the White Post Township seat.

Straight party voters in Pulaski County included 772 Republicans, 279 Democrats and five Libertarians. Tuesday's election was the second time Pulaski County voters participated in the county's five new "Vote Centers" which have replaced the former 15 precinct sites.

 

The Pulaski County voting totals, 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. President                                
Donald Trump (R) 168 195 196 226 181 196 293 276 312 185 220 505 283 254 264 3854
Hillary Clinton (D) 50 80 66 59 74 49 135 123 126 111 80 99 112 80 83 1327
Gary Johnson (L) 8 24 14 12 15 9 11 24 17 16 15 31 21 22 17 256
U.S. Senator                                
Todd Young (R) 148 148 151 172 146 172 239 242 252 213 168 445 202 194 217 3109
Evan Bayh (D) 62 123 105 94 107 63 158 159 167 157 111 157 156 129 111 1859
Lucy Brenton (L) 15 31 23 21 19 16 22 20 26 33 19 25 35 33 34 372
Indiana Governor                                
Eric Holcomb (R) 140 148 147 183 151 140 220 229 250 217 144 444 191 187 210 3001
John Gregg (D) 72 133 112 95 116 90 185 170 169 164 138 150 190 144 141 2069
Rex Bell (L) 10 15 14 9 5 10 9 12 16 15 10 16 14 22 8 185
Indiana Attorney General                                
Curtis T. Hill Jr. (R) 161 182 184 226 176 186 277 289 309 269 186 505 261 247 248 3706
Lorenzo Arrecondo (D) 45 114 74 49 81 54 109 113 106 113 96 92 122 83 99 1350
Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction                                
Jennifer McCormick (R) 135 158 141 173 137 66 225 232 274 214 175 408 205 179 211 3003
Glenda Ritz (D) 78 135 124 108 131 81 86 184 188 171 114 202 186 163 142 2193
U.S. Rep. Dist. 2                                
Jackie Walorski* (R) 169 174 183 232 198 186 301 297 327 281 195 526 258 258 274 3859
Lynn C. Coleman (D) 43 110 85 50 74 56 117 122 102 109 94 91 132 81 82 1348
Ron Cenkush (L)   11 20 7 12 6 10 9 10 18 19 15 17 18 18 12 202
State Sen. Dist. 5                                
Ed Charbonneau* (R) 159 179 179 204 180 177 276 282 305 254 188 479 237 232 227

3558
Jim Harper (D)   54 122 88 73 82 61 131 124 121 131 105 134 150 108 125 1609
State Rep. Dist. 16                                
Douglas Gutwein* (R) 169 175 183 219 168 180 293 300 318 299 191 489 256 254 239 3733
Richard W. Ludington (D) 58 122 81 62 97 68 113 111 106 95 97 133 129 90 121 1483
                                 
County Auditor                                
Laura Wheeler (R) 170 214 215 244 224 208 336 337 368 340 215 540 297 303 286 4297
County Recorder                                
Susan Fox (R) 154 147 170 210 199 162 292 280 286 267 185 395 244 244 201 3436
Shelia K. Garling (D) 64 145 102 74 72 80 129 143 152 126 101 218 135 104 159 1804
County Treasurer                                
Lynette Wilder* (R) 176 218 211 247 220 202 345 349 369 345 217 544 314 280 286 4323

Commissioner Dist.1

                                
Jerome "Jerry" Locke (R) 128 123 179 203 164 140 262 253 260 232 141 361 246 222 168 3082
Derrick Stalbaum (D) 84 166 93 81 102 101 145 163 168 166 151 269 145 122 194 2150
Commissioner Dist. 2                                
Kenny Becker (R) 189 219 212 252 228 205 355 242 386 354 222 567 329 299 299 4458
Co. Council at-large (3)                                
Kenneth Boswell (R) 140 155 139 135 144 144 195 199 198 193 120 357 197 168 195 2679
Scott Hinkle (R) 127 128 153 202 176 135 152 263 268 229 125 353 202 266 200 3078
Jerry (Jay) Sullivan Jr.* (R) 123 144 161 177 159 135 228 239 273 239 155 323 202 205 177 2940
Douglas Roth (I) 96 113 116 149 132 101 202 220 217 204 113 179 182 163 140 2327
                                 
Winamac Town Clerk/Treasurer                                
Melanie (Parish) Berger* (R)             211 172 131 228           742
Winamac Town Council                                
James (Jim) Watkins* (R) Dist. 1             191 154 111 210           666
Judith Heater* (R) Dist. 2             210 165 124 226           725
Tom (Tommy) Murray* (D) Dist. 3             173 119 105 170           567
                                 
Eastern Pulaski Community School Board                                
Larry Beach* (Monroe) 3   139 180 156 56 252 252 256 240       205   1739
David Delorenzo (Monroe) 2   124 139 134 44 207 179 199 189       159   1376
Deke DeMarco* (Monroe) 3   125 138 145 49 217 217 254 204       188   1540
Kristin Dotlich (Monroe) 1   83 96 87 30 112 151 132 116       110   918
Beth Ruff (Monroe) 4   152 198 174 53 263 278 297 260       246   1925
Terri Johnston* (Van Buren) 4   190 207 206 68 277 290 311 292       285   2130
                                 
West Central School Board                                
Dennis Gutwein (at-large) 135 131       92         433       184 975
Janell Odom (at-large)
 		 65 122       54         179       166 586
Jonathan Gutwein (Gilliam) 149 198       111         503       163 1224
Amanda (Mandy) Sharpe (White Post) 157 216       119         553       290 1335

 

 

 

Donald Trump

Hillary Clinton

Todd Young

`

Evan Bayn

Eric Holcomb

John Gregg

Jackie Walorski

Lynn Coleman

Ed Charbonneau

Jim Harper

Douglas Gutwein

Richard Ludington

 

  
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Local News Briefs

Spring property taxes due Monday, May 12

Pulaski County taxpayers are reminded by the Pulaski County Treasurer's Office that the spring installment of property taxes are due Monday, May 12.

The taxes may be paid at the County Building (Rm. 307) or County Highway Garage in Winamac, or at several banks around the county.

Yakym district staff to hold local mobile office hours May 7 in Medaryville

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) has announced that his staff will hold mobile office hours in Pulaski County May 7, in Medaryville.

Yakym’s mobile office will visit throughout Indiana's Second District in May to assist constituents with casework questions.

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.

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

Indiana State Parks offer free admission May 4 for ‘Welcome Weekend’

INDIANAPOLIS - Celebrate the start of the outdoor recreation season with free admission to all Indiana State Parks properties Sunday, May 4, the second day of “Welcome Weekend” and the opening day of Visit Indiana Week.

Find an Indiana State Parks property and what’s new there at on.IN.gov/stateparks. If you’ve never visited, on.IN.gov/dnr-welcome offers helpful tips. 

Pulaski County March unemployment rate drops to 3.1%

Pulaski County's unemployment rate dropped to 3.1 percent in March, down from 4.3 percent in February, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported Monday, (April 21). The rate was 3.7 percent a year ago.

The county had 6,586 employed persons in a labor force of 6,795 in March. In February those numbers were 6,533 of 6,830. A year ago the numbers were 6,302 of 6.546. 

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

Economic Summit addresses county's financial health, state budget

'Making a place where we choose to live'
With a major restoration of the county courthouse nearing completion and a host of additional business and community projects under development, the mood was upbeat at the annual Pulaski County Economic Development Summit Tuesday (April 29). The event is hosted by the Pulaski County Community Development Commission.

CDC executive director Nathan Origer gave updates on projects and county economics, while keynote speaker Stephanie Wells, president of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute, reviewed legislation from this year's session of the Indiana General Assembly.

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. 

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.

Marlatt, Vanderkleed join IBA 40-Year Club

FRANCESVILLE - Alliance Bank has recently recognized Kimberly Marlatt and Lori Vanderkleed with membership into the 40-Year Club of the Indiana Bankers Association (IBA).

The club recognizes banking professionals who have completed 40 years or more of service to the Indiana banking community. Inductees are given IBA keepsakes and letters of congratulations.

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