The commissioners met in a special session Monday, to open and discuss courthouse renovation bids. A joint session with the county council followed; and then the council met separately to vote on the bond measure.

The estimated $12 million courthouse project has been designed by Luminaut, Inc. of Indianapolis, and Tonn & Blank Construction, LLC of Michigan City is the construction manager. All bidders must be pre-qualified with Tonn & Blank specifically for the project. Two pre-bid meetings were held March 13 for prospective bidders.

Earlier bids on the project came in over budget. The county's project manager has worked with architects and contractors to revise some aspects of the project and submit them for re-bidding.

The commissioners (president Charles Mellon, vice president J. Michael McClure and Maurice Loehmer), as expected, opened the bids Monday evening, and then took them under advisement. The bids will be reviewed by Tonn & Blank for compliance with specifications. The commissioners may approve acceptable bids at its next regular meeting April 15.

The county council members are president Ken Boswell, vice president Michael Tiede, Sheila Jimenez, Tim Overmyer, Brad Bonnell, Jeff Richwine and Jerry Locke. Their vote advances the project on course.

Preliminary steps for the project are well underway. Among them, are considerable county funds that have already been spent on the project that cannot be recouped. Also, courthouse offices were relocated to temporary quarters in November 2023 in preparation for the renovation project duration. A state-prescribed building corporation was established in September 2023 for the purpose of obtaining an eventual bond issue for the project.

All applicable laws, and the rules and regulations of all authorities having jurisdiction over the construction of the project will apply to the project throughout. The project architect is Matt Ireton of Luminaut, and the county’s project manager is CDC Executive Director Nathan Origer.

For more details about the courthouse renovation project, visit the county website: https://gov.pulaskionline.org/courthouse/

  
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Local News Briefs

Indiana Primary Election May 7: When, where can I vote?

Early voting underway

Indiana’s 2024 Primary Election will be held Tuesday, May 7.

Early in-person voting in Indiana began Tuesday, April 9 and will run until 12 noon, Monday May 6.

State law requires counties to make early in-person voting available for 28-days before the election, ending at noon (local prevailing time), the date before the election. In addition, all Indiana counties must make in-person absentee voting available the two Saturdays immediately before the election.

Chamber names Ray Michau as 2024 Halleck Award recipient

The Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce has announced its selection for the 2024 Halleck Community Service Award is Ray Michau Jr. of Pulaski.

Chamber president Amy Cantu made the announcement Tuesday (April 2). 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.  

The HeARTery lists April events

KEWANNA - The HeARTery, Inc. has listed its activities for April, including an interactive theatrical event, yoga classes and Spring Tai Chi.

The HeARTery, located at 414 E Main St., Kewanna, is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that offers events to nourish the heart and mind. Learn more here: https://thehearterykewanna.wordpress.com/

U.S. 35 to be reduced to one lane in Winamac

April 15 to late May

WINAMAC - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Superior Construction Co Inc. will reduce U.S. 35 to one lane between 15th St. and CR 50 N in Winamac on or after Monday, April 15.

U.S. 35 will be reduced to one lane at Quigley Marsh Ditch, with traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals through late May. Crews will conduct a bridge deck overlay preventative maintenance project.

Spring property taxes due May 10

Pulaski County taxpayers are reminded by the Pulaski County Treasurer's Office that the spring installment of property taxes are due Friday, May 10.

The taxes may be paid at the County Building or County Highway Garage in Winamac, at several banks around the county, paid online, or mailed to the temporary treasurer's office at the County Building in Winamac.

State Road 14 to be closed east of Winamac

PULASKI/FULTON COUNTIES - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor E&B Paving LLC will close SR 14 between U.S. 35 and SR 17 on or after Monday, April 15.

SR 14 will be resurfaced in this area through early November. This project will be done through Cold-in-Place (CIR) recycling, a method of removing and reusing the existing asphalt surface. It involves grinding off the top two to five inches of the existing asphalt surface and mixing the crushed asphalt with an asphalt recycling agent, and placing it back down with a paver.

PCPL lists April programs, activities

The Pulaski County Public Library in Winamac has listed its programs and activities for April. They include a Reiki session for caregivers, an adult canvas painting workshop, an observance of Library Week, a coping with grief discussion – and adult Legos.

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

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.

Surplus soil moisture hinders state’s crop planting

EAST LANSING, MI - Above average precipitation for two consecutive weeks hindered fieldwork for many Indiana farmers, according to Nathanial Warenski, state statistician, USDA NASS (National Agriculture Statistics Service), Indiana Field Office.

Topsoil moisture levels increased from the previous week, with 97 percent rated adequate or surplus. The average temperature for the week was 56.1 degrees Fahrenheit, 7.1 degrees above normal for the state.

READI 2.0 funding, expected to yield $11B in generational ‘quality of place’ investments statewide

Pulaski County to receive funds

INDIANAPOLIS (April 11) – Gov. Eric Holcomb has announced plans to award $500 million to 15 regions representing all 92 counties to support “quality of place and quality of life” initiatives statewide.

The funding, made available through the expansion of the Indiana Regional Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI), was approved Thursday by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) board of directors at a special session hosted by the governor and Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg.

INDOT, Purdue partnering to build first-of-its-kind electric charging highway segment in the U.S.

Construction to begin in early April

WEST LAFAYETTE (March 27) - The Indiana Department of Transportation is partnering with Purdue University and Cummins Inc. to build the United States' first-of-its-kind segment of roadway that can charge both heavy duty and passenger electric vehicles as they travel at highway speeds.

Following multiple years of in-depth research and testing, a pilot segment will be constructed on U.S. 231/U.S. 52 between Cumberland Avenue and Lindberg Road in West Lafayette, near INDOT's West Lafayette sub-district office. The construction contract was awarded to White Construction.

Indiana COVID-19 News

April 24: Indiana reports COVID cases down in 7-day average, at 66

INDIANAPOLIS (April 24) – The Indiana Department of Health reported Wednesday that the state’s 7-day average COVID-19 count stood at 66 cases for the period of April 14-20. That number is down 20 cases from the previous revised count. The total state COVID deaths for the week was one. Indiana's all-time COVID deaths total 26,497.

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 3,724 (reported) COVID cases and 95 deaths.

According to the CDC, respiratory illness activity is now minimal in Indiana (reported April 19), as well as for neighboring states Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky; and low in Michigan. Based on visits to emergency departments, illness trends in the Pulaski County area show all respiratory illnesses are at low levels (less than 2%).

  

Post News

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.

County police log 155 calls for service April 19-26

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s office has released its April 19-26 police blotter report. During the seven-day period, deputies logged 155 calls for service. 

During the 7-day period, Deputies logged 155 calls for service. Of the calls, 60 were traffic stops. Deputies responded to several suspicious incidents, several domestic disputes, property damage crashes, a run-away juvenile, and medical related incidents.

Economic Summit: good news about county finances

Updated*
CDC reports $9.4 million county surplus
The news was upbeat and the speakers were animated at the annual Pulaski County Economic Development Summit Tuesday (April 23) in Winamac. The event is hosted by the Pulaski County Community Development Commission.

CDC executive director Nathan Origer had good news to report about county finances, while keynote speaker John Eric Bry, an award-winning leader in the Main Street America program, enthusiastically outlined usable tips for building dynamic communities.

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.

Indiana Primary Election May 7: Who's on my ballot?

The Indiana Primary Election is Tuesday, May 7. Early voting runs April 9 until 12 noon May 6 (read voting procedure details in related article on this website). 

Update: To see the financial reports of receipts and expenditures for local candidates, visit gov.pulaskionline.org/2024primary/

Who will be on your Pulaski County Democrat or Republican ballots? The list (with links to many candidates' websites) follows:

County school board members honored by ISBA with Exemplary Governance Awards

Five Pulaski County residents serving on area school boards have been recognized by the Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA) with Exemplary Governance Awards for calendar year 2023 for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to professional learning and student success.

They are Beth Ruff-Crawford and Tim Rausch (Eastern Pulaski Community Schools); Derrick Stalbaum (North Judson-San Pierre Schools); and Mandy Sharpe and Jake Tanner (West Central Schools).

Dr. Allman receives State Health Commissioner Award 

WINAMAC – The Pulaski County Health Department has announced that State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver has awarded Dr. Rex Allman of Winamac the Commissioner's Award for supporting and advancing public health during his many years working with the county health department.

The award was presented April 10. Dr. Allman retired earlier this month from his long career as a family physician; the last years associated with Pulaski Memorial Hospital.