Held the third weekend of July, the event format is a four-person scramble and designed with enough “game enhancements” so that every team experiences success and a good time on the golf course.

At check-in each team received a TaylorMade Distance golf ball, golf tees, a Fall Festival poker chip/ball marker and a door prize entry. The opportunity to “bend the rules’ was also offered as teams could purchase mulligans and/or a yard stick with 36” to be applied throughout the golf course to any shot that ended up near the hole. 

Again, this year’s outing offered a special grand prize of $10,000 awarded to any golfer lucky/skilled enough to score a hole in one on hole 18. Also available were numerous valuable smaller prizes for a hole in one at the other three par 3’s. Alas, no golfer came close to obtaining the $10,000 or the other prizes! Maybe next year??

The 2024 championship was a close contest.  Here are the results:

First Place – FTC consisting of Ron Barlow, Ed Cain, Les Whitaker and Terry Geyer shot a very impressive 53 (-17) to win the outing. 

Second Place – Last year’s winners – Moss Creek with a score of 55 (-15) led by team members Trevor Wildermuth, Tori Wildermuth, Travis Miller, and Danny Kasten. 

Third place (tie) – Two teams shot 58 (-12) – Tippy’s1 consisting of Al Breyfogle, Gary White, Doug Fox, and Rick Fox and MacAllister with members Roger Cords, Lori Cords, Nanci Gutwein, and Jason Gutwein.

Skills challenge winners were as follows: 

  • Longest drive for women at hole 13 – Tori Wildermuth
  • Longest drive for men at hole 7 – Kyle Gregor
  • Closest to the pin for women at hole 6 – Joelyn Flotow
  • Closest to the pin for men at hole 1 – Ed Cain
  • Longest putt for both men and women at hole 12 – Eric Rodriguez
  • Closest to the pin at hole 14 for both men and women – Les Whitaker.

At the conclusion of golf, all participants cooled off in the banquet room with an outstanding meal of hamburgers and hotdogs, chips, salad and cookies.  Awards were presented and door prize tickets drawn for the many nice prizes.  

The Fall Festival Committee thanks the following businesses for purchasing hole sponsorships and their support of the outing: 

Al Breyfogle Family
Alliance Bank
Bane Welker
Chris Schramm for Sheriff
Circle S Farms Solutions
Complete Electric
D1 Truck & Trailer Repair & Towing
Disinger Truck Parts & Services Inc.
FRATCO
Francesville Market
FTC Enterprises Inc.
GreenMark Equipment
Greiger’s Motor Sales
Gutwein Insurance
Hardrock Drilling
Hillcrest Dental
Holly VanDerAa – Pulaski County Assessor
Jennifer Garten Family
Kaeb Sales
Kelly Gaumer – Pulaski County Prosecutor
Kopka Auction Service
MacAllister Rentals
Marsha Tetzloff – Pulaski County Recorder
The Mellon Family
Salem Township Trustee’s
Novotny & Associates Insurance
O-Zone Screenprint & Embroidery
Sanders Foods
Schlatter’s Inc.
SJE Equipment Rental
Synergy Labor Solutions
Tippy’s, Teresa Bryant – Pulaski County Treasurer
West Central Water Management LLC

Many local citizens and organizations donated gifts which were presented to the players as door prizes so that everyone went home a winner:

Acorn Oaks RV Park
Al Breyfogle Family
Alliance Bank
Cathy Disinger
Country Color Floral
Cut N Cuddle Dog Grooming, Francesville Market
Gutwein Popcorn
Hardrock Drilling
Kennedy Family Car Wash
MacAllister Rentals
Main Street Bakery
Maurice “Moose” Kopka
Montgomery Mercantile
Chuck/Darlene Mellon
Tyson Mellon Family
Mike Holle Family
O-Zone Screen Printing & Embroidery
Patio Drive-In
Rob Evans
Schlatter’s Inc
Sunrise Harvest Farm
Tippy’s Pizza & Beer
West Central Athletic Department

 The Fall Festival Organizing Committee members who helped with check-in were Jodie Schlatter, Darlene Mellon, Betty Kruger and Kitty Gutwein. 

Tony Olson and his staff at Moss Creek were hosts for the tournament and lunch

The fifth annual Francesville Fall Festival Golf Outing information will be available early summer of 2025.

For information on the 2024 Francesville Fall Festival, Sept. 20-22 visit: https://francesvillefallfestival.com/

- Reported by Rob Evans, FFF Golf Outing organizer

  
Don Street
Aaron Hoover
Pulaski Health Care Center - Parkview
Pulaski Health Care Center
Ace Hardware
Habitat
FNB Monterery
WKVI Side

Local News Briefs

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Yakym district staff to hold local mobile office hours in September

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) has announced that his staff will hold mobile office hours in Pulaski County Sept. 5 and 16, in Winamac and Francesville, respectively.

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

I-65 pavement restoration project to begin

NORTHWEST IN - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Rieth Riley Construction will begin a pavement restoration project on I-65 between SR 14 and U.S. 231 (mile marker 223 to 246) on or after Monday, Aug. 12.

Sections of I-65 will be resurfaced, with lane closures from the hours of approximately 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following morning. Lane closures will be in place in one direction at a time and will be only a few miles in length at a time.

  

Indiana News

Dry weather continues; harvest on the horizon

EAST LANSING, MI – Dry conditions continued last week as Indiana farmers prepared for the upcoming harvest, according to Nathanial Warenski, State Statistician, USDA NASS, Indiana Field Office.

Topsoil moisture levels decreased from the previous week, with 37 percent rated adequate or surplus. The average temperature for the week was 65.0 degrees Fahrenheit, 4.9 degrees below normal for the state. The statewide average precipitation was 0.10 inches, 0.53 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

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

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.

The Ryans announce new ownership of historic Lake Shore Drive-In Theatre 

MONTICELLO (Aug. 20) – Ryan Harrison and Ryan Crawford have announced their acquisition of the historic Lake Shore Drive-In Theatre.

The theater had been owned by Phyllis and the late Earl McLachlan since 2000. Mrs. McLachlan will continue to operate the theater through the 2024 season, which ends Sept. 14.

Alliance Bank facilitates grant awards totaling $40,000

RENSSELAER – Alliance Bank, a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBank Indianapolis), has helped two area women win Elevate Small Business grants.

All Aligned Chiropractic, owned by Madeline Barber, and the Law Office of Samantha Joslyn each received a $20,000 award. Both recipients are located in the Rensselaer community.