The CTO position has been open since the end of school in May following the resignation of Adam Bennett who held the post for 22 years.

Under financial items, the school board approved monthly claims of $2.086,865. Members reviewed the fund report, transfers, clearing liability account transfers, multi-year contracts and a summary of education expenditures.

 

Personnel items

The board voted to approve the following individuals for employment:

  • Alisyn Kiser - Part-time OT - CEP Shared Services
  • Denise Tiede – Elementary School Nurse
  • Tasha Linback - Elementary Instructional Assistant (Special Ed)
  • Crystal Krueger - Cafeteria
  • Brittany Gielow - Cafeteria
  • Regina Martin - 6th grade volleyball
  • Sabrina Zellers - 7th Grade Volleyball
  • Max Murray - Varsity Assistant Soccer
  • Carlos Badallo - MS Soccer (Volunteer)
  • Kyle Burgess - Volunteer Football
  • Tim Reutebuch - Volunteer Football
  • Shanna Bonnell - MS Girls Cross Country
  • Connor Jones - MS Boys Cross Country
  • Hope Rhodes - Assistant Volleyball/Freshman
  • Morgan Ball - 8th Grade Volleyball
  • Morgan Ruff - Girls Basketball (Volunteer)
  • Stan Czech - 6th Grade Girls Basketball
  • Stephanie Keller - 7th Grade Girls Basketball
  • Adam Loehmer - 7th Grade Boys Basketball
  • Jake Armstrong - MS Wrestling Coach
  • Donny Jones - HS Wrestling (Volunteer)
  • Tony Stesiak - HS Leadership Team
  • Jenni Belcher - High School Leadership Team
  • Jeremy Wegner - Superbowl (Math)
  • Emily Ludwig - Superbowl (Social Studies
  • Amy Booker - Superbowl Coordinator
  • Natalie Dickinson - Art Club

The board approved two transfers:

  • Lynn Garbison - Transfer to Second Grade (from PreK)
  • Shanna Bradley - Transfer to Cafeteria (from Custodial Sub)

The board accepted the following resignations:

  • Elaine Krintz - Elementary Nurse
  • Samantha Garlach - Elementary Instructional Assistant
  • Kim Foerg - WCMS Yearbook
  • Brian Kocher - Varsity Assistant Soccer Coach

Bernard White was granted an extended leave for Sept. 5-11

In other personnel Items the board approved the following recommendations

  • Vivian Hornback – Recommendation to make her salaried
  • Increase in town bus trip rates - Recommendef $17/hour
  • Raise for Mary Hoover
  • Recommended increased substitute teacher pay to $85 without license, and $100 with license.

 

 Action/discussion items

The school board accepted the following donations:

  • ACE Hardware - $690 toward Sharing Closets
  • Music Boosters - 35 choir robes ($5,950)
  • Don and Margaret Good - Play equipment to childcare

The board approved the first reading of its NEOLA Policy Updates. NEOLA is an independent provider of policy service and serves over 200 school corporations in Indiana. The EPCS policy is available at Central Office upon request

In addition, a memorandum of understanding with Ivy Tech was approved for welding classes as dual enrollment.

Approval was given to custom net backstops, at $57,450, for the athletic field expansion project.

The meeting concluded with principals’ reports, the superintendent’s report and board comment.

  
Ace Hardware
Pulaski Health Care Center
Pulaski Health Care Center - Parkview
FNB Monterery
Habitat
WKVI Side

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.

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.