Winamac Valedictorian
Kaden Burns
Winamac Co-Salutatorian
Olivia Link
Winamac Co-Salutatorian
Lily Bennett

Kaden Burns of Winamac is the son of Martin and Heather Burns. He plans to attend Indiana Wesleyan University in the John Wesley Honors College to double major in chemistry and music composition.

In school he was a member of the Robotics, Science Olympiad, Academic Superbowl, HNAC math competition, Fall Play (The Play that Goes Wrong), Spring Musical (Beauty and the Beast), FCA, 4-H, National Honor Society, Band, Choir, All-Region Choir, Kankakee Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra, ISSMA Solo and Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra and All Region Orchestra.

His awards and honors include Indiana Region Academic All Star 2024, HNAC Math Competition - second place in Calculus 2024, Student of the 9 weeks for achievements in Math 2023, ISSMA Solo & Ensemble Gold medalist at Region & State in 2023 and 2024, Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Dignity 2024, Academic Superbowl - second place in Fine Arts and Math, Science Olympiad - firstt in Chemistry, HNAC Math Competition Top 5 in Pre-Calculus 2023, Rising Star of Indiana 2022, SC Junior Scholar, Concert Master of Chamber Orchestra 2021-2022, Most Outstanding Sophomore in Chamber Orchestra 2022, First Violin in All Region Orchestra 2018-2022

Olivia Link of Winamac is the daughter of Don and Leslie Link. She will attend Purdue University to major in horticulture.

Her activities in school included Band (4 years), ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest (3 years), Drama (1 year), Art Club (4 years), Athletic Leadership Council (4 years), Key Club (2 years), National Honor Society (2 years), HNAC Math Contest and Spanish Quiz Bowl Contest (3 years). Also, Sports: Girls' Golf (4 years), Girls' Basketball (4 years), Softball (4 years)

Her awards and honors include Girls Golf Varsity Letters (x4), Girls' Golf HNAC Conference Champs (x4), Girls' Basketball Varsity Letters (x3) and Softball Varsity Letters (x3). Also: Gold Ratings for ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest (x3), Distinguished Honor Roll, Student of the 9 weeks for Math, 2022 Student of the Year for World History, and Rising Star of Indiana.

Lily Bennett of Winamac is the daughter of Adam and Mandy Bennett. She will attend Butler University to major in biochemistry and neurology.

Her activities in school included NHS, FCA, FFA, Sunshine Society, Student Council, Athletic Leadership, Drama Department, Math and Spanish academic teams and REMC Junior Board of Directors. Sports: Basketball: 4, Cross Country: 4, Track: 4, Cheer: 3.

Her awards and honors include Lilly Endowment Scholarship, Distinguished Honor Roll, Mental Attitude, Most Improved, Outstanding Leadership and the Jen Goodman award.

 

 

  
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Local News Briefs

Chamber ‘Lunch & Learn’ program May 22

The Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce will present its first “Lunch & Learn” session of the year on “Fraud Prevention” at 12 noon, Wednesday, May 22, at Celebration Station in downtown Winamac.

The event is co-sponsored by 1st Source Bank. Tickets are $10 if purchased by May 15; or $15 after that date.

State Road 14 to be closed east of Winamac

Updated

PULASKI/FULTON COUNTIES - SR 14 will close Wednesday (May 8) between CR 1100W and SR 17 in Fulton County. Approximately 1-mile closures will continue westward sequentially until the scheduled pipe replacements have been completed. Resurfacing of the entire roadway will follow.

While local access will be maintained, through traffic should seek alternate routes. The official detour will follow US 35, SR 10 and SR 17.

PCPL announces May programs, activities

The Pulaski County Public Library has listed its programs and activities for May, which include observations of Mental Health Month, and Free Comic Book Day, as well as Reiki for the Caregiver, Chair Yoga, Hoosier Explorers and more.

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 mobile office hours locally in May

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) has announced that his staff will hold mobile office hours in Pulaski County May 13 and 20, in Winamac and Medaryville, respectively.

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

Pulaski County Historical Society Museum open Saturdays

The Pulaski County Historical Society is open Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  (unless posted otherwise on Facebook). The museum is located in the “Carriage House” at 500 S. Monticello St. (U.S. 35), Winamac.

New to the museum are the interactive features which allow visitors to explore the extensive history of the county’s Native American peoples – from the Ice Age to the Indian removals in the 1840s. Other interactive displays feature stories of Casimir Pulaski, local historical sites, and Winamac “Bits and Pieces.”

SR 16 to close for bridge work

ROYAL CENTER - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Milestone Contractors LP will close SR 16, west of Royal Center, between CR 1050 W and CR 900 W on or after Monday, April 1.

SR 16 will be closed through early October for a bridge deck overlay project. Motorists should seek an alternate route. The official detour will follow SR 119, SR 39, US 24 and US 35.

New grant application process at the Community Foundation

The grant application process became a little bit easier this year.

Organizations that wish to apply for a grant through the Community Foundation of Pulaski County (CFPC) will be interested to learn the process is now one streamlined application to cover all types of grant opportunities, including field of interest grants. No matter the size of your request, all you need to do is complete one simplified grant application.

  

Indiana News

Improved weather last week allows crop planting to catch up

EAST LANSING, MI - Some areas of Indiana saw ideal planting and germinating conditions last week, while others received heavy rains and high winds which prevented fieldwork, according to Nathanial Warenski, state statistician, USDA NASS (National Agriculture Statistics Service), Indiana Field Office.

Topsoil moisture levels did not change from the previous week, with 96 percent rated adequate or surplus. The average temperature for the week was 63.3 degrees Fahrenheit, 3.2 degrees above normal for the state. The statewide average precipitation was 1.26 inches, 0.34 inches above normal.

Young praises Senate passage of FAA reauthorization focused on improving safety, advancing technology

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, praised Senate passage of the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024.

The legislation, which passed the Senate 88-4 Thursday (May 9), reauthorizes the FAA for five years. The bill includes several provisions to strengthen aviation safety and oversight at the FAA, address air traffic controller shortages, require airlines to seat families together, and support the next generation of aviation technology innovations.

Amazon Web Services plans to invest $11B to create a new data center campus in Northern Indiana

Announcement marks the largest planned capital investment in state history

NEW CARLISLE (April 25) – Gov. Eric Holcomb today announced that Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com. Inc. company (NASDAQ: AMZN), plans to invest $11 billion to build a data center campus in north central Indiana and create at least 1,000 new jobs.

This planned investment marks the largest capital investment announcement in Indiana’s history.

Pulaski County unemployment dips to 3.5% in March

Pulaski County's unemployment rate dipped to 3.5 percent in March, down from 3.6 percent in February the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported Monday, (April 22). The rate was 3.5 percent a year ago.

The county had 6,376 employed persons in a labor force of 6,605 in March. In February those numbers were 6,444 of 6,683. A year ago the numbers were 6,368 of 6,602.

 

Indiana COVID-19 News

May 8: Indiana reports COVID cases down in 7-day average, at 53

INDIANAPOLIS (May 8) – The Indiana Department of Health reported Wednesday that the state’s 7-day average COVID-19 count stood at 53 cases for the period of April 28 to May 4. That number is down six cases from the previous revised count. The total state COVID deaths for the week was zero. Indiana's all-time COVID deaths total 26,519.

Pulaski County reported no new cases and no deaths to IDH in the latest seven-day report. The county's all-time pandemic numbers are 3,725 (reported) COVID cases and 95 deaths.

According to the CDC, respiratory illness activity is now minimal in Indiana (reported May 3), as well as for neighboring states of Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky. Based on visits to emergency departments, illness trends in the Pulaski County area show all respiratory illnesses (COVID, influenza, RSV) are at low levels (less than 1%).

  

Post News

West Central School Board reviews next facilities updates

FRANCESVILLE - The West Central School Board reviewed  a planned improvements listing that will be undertaken in the next bond project at its monthly meeting May 2.

Discussion followed with Superintendent Dr. Cathy Rowe about the inclusion of a high school football bleacher replacement project, and the elementary and middle/high school cafeteria areas including floor finishes.

Primary Election draws much local interest; 28.6% of registered voters

Updated

Tuesday’s Indiana Primary Election drew much local interest during the campaign season on issues ranging from solar farms, the courthouse renovation and county finances, but drew only a modest number of voters.

The election did unseat one county commissioner and one county councilman, both on the Republican ballot. Challenger Jennifer Halleck Knebel defeated commissioner Maurice Loehmer by 138 votes, 1,205 to 1,067 to win the party’s nomination for the District 1 seat on the November ticket. County councilman Kenneth Boswell narrowly lost his re-election bid (by 23 votes) for one of three at-large seats. In a tight race the winners were incumbents Sheila Hazemi Jimenez and Tim Overmyer, along with challenger AJ Gutwein.

Winamac Community HS names 2024 top academic seniors

Winamac Community High School has named its top academic seniors in the Class of 2024. They are Valedictorian Kaden Burns and Co-Salutatorians Olivia Link and Lily Bennett.

Winamac will hold graduation ceremonies Sunday, June 2.

Michau presented with 2024 Halleck Community Service Award

The 2024 Halleck Community Service Award was presented to Ray Michau Jr. at the annual Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce banquet Monday (April 29), at the VFW Hall, Winamac.

Michau moved to Pulaski County in 1999 from Calumet City, IL. Since that time he has been an active volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, Gideons, the Humanitarian Distribution Center, Mobile Food Pantry and Pulaski County Human Services.  

4C Health implements market-leading wage increase for licensed Indiana therapists

ROCHESTER - 4C Health has announced it is leading the way in the state by implementing industry- and market-leading wages for licensed clinical social workers, licensed mental health counselors, and licensed marriage/family therapists under their four-day/32-hour work week model.

4C Health began as Four County Comprehensive Mental Health Center in 1975. It has served as the designated community mental health center for Cass, Miami, Fulton, and Pulaski counties since that time.

Pulaski County steps up to address mental health, addiction crisis

By Karen Clem Fritz, editor

Pulaski County has a “drug problem.” We all know that. However, it’s ever so much worse than most of us imagine.

The Pulaski County Drug Free Council hosted a town hall discussion Wednesday on substance abuse and mental health issues in Pulaski County communities. There were tears. From men as well as women. From the sheriff, counselors, first responders and school principals. And parents.