Participants must provide their own kayak, canoe, paddle boat or other current-conveyed flotation device. Registration runs from 9 to 10:30 a.m. the day of the event. All participants must be registered before 10:30 a.m. (All park gate fees apply.)

Prizes will be awarded at 2 p.m. – participants must be present to win.

The event provides family fun boating down the Tippecanoe River, drawing a hand of five-card poker at stops along the way. The best hands receive prizes donated from local community businesses and the park itself. Door prizes will be available, plus a snack donated by the Friends Group of Tippecanoe River State Park at the Nature Center.

Contact the park office (574-946-3213) for information and rules.

 

Local News Briefs

56th Francesville Fall Festival Sept. 20-22

'Small Town with Big Heart' plans family fun

FRANCESVILLE - The 56th Francesville Fall Festival will feature a jam-packed weekend of family fun - featuring "Tag Art" dinosaurs, water walking balls and inflatables, a Harvest Dance, athletic contests, games and much more.

The 2024 three-day festival runs Friday through Sunday, Sept. 20-22. The event also includes arts, crafts and flea market booths, dancing and musical entertainment, a variety of dinners and food booths, an auto show, games, a parade and fireworks. No admission is charged.

Warrior Up after-school program continues at Winamac FUMC

WINAMAC – The Warrior Up Kids Club after-school program is continuing for the 2024-25 school year at the Winamac First United Methodist Church.

 The program offers bus transportation from the Winamac schools, snacks, homework help, some life-skills lessons, crafts and additional activities.

S-P Habitat plans open house for new project Sept. 28

Starke-Pulaski Habitat for Humanity will hold an open house for its latest project, the John and Melissa May family home, at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28.

The house is located at 614 S. Burson St., Winamac, along side the Panhandle Pathway. The public is welcome to attend to congratulate the May family.

Tippecanoe River State Park annual 'Poker Paddle' Sept. 21

The Tippecanoe River State Park will hold its 12th annual "Poker Paddle," beginning at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 21.

The three-and-a-half mile trip will include prizes. The registration fee is $10.

HVRM to run diesel, steam ‘Pumpkin and Twilight Trains’ in October

NORTH JUDSON - The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum will run Pumpkin Trains every Saturday in October in historic North Judson at the junction of four former railroads.

A diorama of the Erie, Chesapeake & Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York Central railroads is on display in the admission-free museum, along with one of the largest collections of working railroad signals, a restored World War II Pullman Troop Car, and all types of rolling stock, engines and memorabilia of a by-gone era.

PCPL September activities, programs listed

The Pulaski County Public Library has listed its programs and activities for September. They include Grandparents Day story time, Yoga classes, avoiding financial fraud, a banned book discussion and celebrating Bluey’s birthday.

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.

Pulaski County Drug Free Council town hall meeting Sept. 18

The Pulaski County Drug Free Council will hold another of it town hall meetings on the topic of “Substance Use in Our Youth,” Wednesday, Sept. 18, at Celebration Station in Winamac.

A special feature of the event will be the Hidden in Plain Sight Trailer, available for public tours from 3 to 6 p.m. This is an interactive experience to help parents learn about ways their teens may be engaging in high risk behaviors.

 

Indiana News

Dry spell continues for state farmers

EAST LANSING, MI – Though precipitation received last week in Indiana was minimal or nonexistent, crop conditions remained stable, according to Nathanial Warenski, State Statistician, USDA NASS, Indiana Field Office.

Topsoil moisture levels decreased from the previous week, with 22 percent rated adequate or surplus. The average temperature for the week was 69.3 degrees Fahrenheit, 1.4 degrees above normal for the state. The statewide average precipitation was 0.22 inches, 0.61 inches below normal.

Holcomb visits in Ukraine with President Zelenskyy

Photos added

KYIV, Ukraine (Sept. 5) – Gov. Eric Holcomb is in Kyiv Thursday to focus on subnational diplomacy that will positively impact future economic, academic and cultural two-way partnerships between Indiana and Ukraine.

This trip marks the first time a U.S. governor has traveled to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Culp, Jordan: Applications now open for 2025 Statehouse internships

STATEHOUSE (Aug. 29) – Applications to intern with Indiana House Republicans for the 2025 legislative session are now open, according to State Reps. Kendell Culp (R-Rensselaer) and Jack Jordan (R-Bremen). 

Culp said the Indiana House of Representatives offers a spring semester internship at the Statehouse in Indianapolis during the legislative session, which will start in January and conclude in April. House interns earn $900 biweekly and work full time, Monday through Friday.

State presents Pulaski County farms with Hoosier Homestead awards

STATEHOUSE (Aug. 16) – Indiana recently honored local farms owned and operated by the same family for at least 100 years with Hoosier Homestead awards. In Pulaski County, the Bergdolt Farm, in operation since 1899, received a centennial award, and the Heater Farm, in operation since 1872, received the sesquicentennial award. (The Heaters also received a second award for their Fulton County Farm.)

Recognized for their families’ longstanding commitment to agriculture, 103 Indiana farm families were presented the Hoosier Homestead Award at the Indiana State Fair from Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Don Lamb.

Pulaski County unemployment rate rose to 4.0% in July

Pulaski County's unemployment rate rose to 4.0 percent in July, up from 3.5 percent in June, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported Monday, (Aug. 19). The rate was 3.0 percent a year ago.

The county had 6,970 employed persons in a labor force of 7,260 in July. In June those numbers were 6,909 of 7,160. A year ago the numbers were 6,874 of 7,088. 

 

Indiana COVID-19 News

CDC releases fall/winter outlook for respiratory illnesses

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 10) - The Indiana Department of Health reported Sept. 10 that COVID-like illness emergency department visits numbered 399 from Aug. 28 - Sept. 3, down 80 from its previous weekly report.

State COVID-19 hospital admissions (Sept. 1-7) totaled 34, up 5 from the week before. The state reported one death in the seven-day period (reflects confirmed COVID deaths reported to IDH).

 

Post News

Pulaski County Commissioners issue burn ban

The Pulaski County Commissioners, with recommendations from the Emergency Management Agency and local fire departments, have issued a “Burn Ban” for Pulaski County effective immediately.

Due to prolonged dry conditions, there is an elevated risk for fires to spread quickly and become out of control. Pulaski County has already experienced a few grass fires recently, and the threat is expected to elevate in the coming days and weeks.

Nov. 5, 2024 General Election: Who's on my ballot?

Who will be on your 2024 Pulaski County general election ballot?

A list of all candidates to be considered by Pulaski County voters is presented here, along with website links for the national and state candidates to give voters an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the office seekers and their platforms.

Voter registration ends Monday, Oct. 7; and Early Voting begins Tuesday, Oct. 8 in Indiana. Information for voters may be found at Secretary of State: Voter Information

ISP arrest Peru man following vehicle pursuit in Fulton County

FULTON COUNTY – A Peru man was arrested Wednesday (Sept. 11) after leading Indiana State Police in a vehicle pursuit in Fulton County.

Jeffrey T. Azbell, 58, was arrested on six felony and misdemeanor drug and resisting law enforcement charges, according to an ISP news release.

Mammoth Solar initiates economic development payments to Pulaski County

Mammoth Solar announced Thursday (Sept. 5) the initiation of economic development payments to Pulaski County, totaling $375,200 this year — $60,200 within the coming months and another $315,000 before the end of 2024.

This payment initiative underscores Doral Renewables LLC's commitment to the economic well-being of Pulaski County, a company spokesperson said. These payments will be made in advance of any tax revenue from the project, ensuring that Pulaski County benefits early on. The project is in preliminary stages of construction in the county.

No injuries reported in early Saturday morning fire

WINAMAC – The Winamac Volunteer Fire Department responded to an early morning fire in a two-story vacant farmhouse Saturday (Aug. 31), north of Winamac on U.S. 35.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation by the Indiana Fire Marshal's office. No injuries were reported.

14 Indiana communities to receive over $8 million in Community Development Block Grants

Francesville awarded $700,000

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 29) –  The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) announced Thursday 14 rural Indiana communities will receive more than $8 million in federal grant funding to expand community facilities and improve water infrastructure.

The Town of Francesville is among the communities to be awarded a grant to be used for its water treatment plant.

Fall Festival golf tournament raises funds, fosters fellowship

Winners listed

FRANCESVILLE - The fourth annual Francesville Fall Festival Golf Outing took place Saturday, Aug 10 under beautiful clear skies with 14 teams meeting for a day of golf, fellowship and fun at Moss Creek Golf Course and Banquet Center in rural Winamac. 

First held in 2021, the golf outing helps raise money to defray the cost of staging Francesville’s annual Fall Festival.