30 counties at 9.0 percent or higher

Pulaski County's unemployment rate fell to 6.1. percent in April, down from 7.7 percent (revised) in March, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported Friday (May 17). The rate was 6.4 percent a year ago.

The state's April rate dipped to 8.5 percent (seasonally adjusted), from 8.7 percent in March. The April 2012 rate was 8.3 percent. The U.S. rate improved to 7.5 percent (seasonally adjusted), down from March's 7.6 revised rate. A year ago, the national rate was 8.1 percent.

INDIANAPOLIS - Excuses for not wearing a life jacket when boating abound. "It's too hot! It doesn't look cool. I know how to swim. Nothing is going to happen to me."

Approximately 700 people drown in the U.S. each year from recreational boating accidents. The vast majority of those drowning victims probably used one of these excuses.

Also, T-Ball registration underway

The Winamac Town Pool is scheduled to open for the season at 12 noon, Saturday, May 25.

Pool passes may be purchased at the Pulaski County YMCA. Also registration for swim lessons has begun at the Family Y.

The Pulaski County Public Library has listed its special programs and activities for May.

All events will take place at the Winamac library, unless otherwise noted. For more information on any program, call the library at 574-946-3432. The April schedule is as follows:

WINAMAC - Winamac Community High School will hold its Senior Awards Night at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 28, in the socialtorium. The public is welcome to attend.

Seniors will receive special recognition in the form of academic competition awards, honor roll, scholarship awards and special academic and athletic awards. Representatives from various colleges, local organizations and the school will present these awards.

INDIANAPOLIS - Private landowners looking to improve wildlife habitat on their property may qualify for financial assistance through the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife, particularly if they want to benefit bobwhite quail and ring-neck pheasants.

Bobwhite quail and ring-neck pheasant are prized game birds. However, populations of both have suffered from permanent habitat loss or lack of maintenance on existing habitat.

Also, sheriff's office to team up with 'Report It'

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department will hold its annual Memorial Day Service at 12 noon, Tuesday (Mary 28), at the county justice center.

Those honored will include the county's fallen officers, Sheriff Charles Oglesby, Sheriff Milo Lewis and Deputy Sheriff Shad Bassett.

Pulaski County Human Services, Inc. is celebrating Older American’s Month throughout the month of May.

The board of directors has announced several special events to recognize area older Americans.

INDIANANPOLIS - The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is encouraging county agriculture organizations to submit a voting certification form in order to participate in the Indiana State Fair Board Elections.

This year, District 3 and District 7 board seats are up for election. The individual elected to represent the districts will serve a four-year term on the Indiana State Fair Board of Directors.

WINAMAC - The Pulaski County Public Library has once again expanded its services, adding digital magazine and MP3 music file downloads.

The library’s website now offers access to over three million downloadable songs, including Sony Music’s catalog of legendary artists via The Freegal Music™ Service. Freegal is an online database, providing access to music files that are legal, do not expire, and are compatible with PCs, Macs, iPods, iPads and other MP3-compatible devices.

The Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce has announced plans for a summer festival - a German Fest - which has been set for Saturday, Aug. 10, in downtown Winamac.

The Chamber plans this as a county-wide event, and is seeking participation from any interested organization.

INDIANAPOLIS – The state’s high school graduation rate inched up to 88.4 percent in 2012, the Department of Education announced Monday.

The rate was 86.6 percent in 2011 and has been steadily increasing. State Superintendent Glenda Ritz had no immediate comment on the new rate.

INDIANAPOLIS – Hoosier workers will get income tax breaks in 2015 and 2017 under a $30 billion, two-year budget bill that Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed into law Thursday (May 8).

The bill reduces individual income tax rates by a total of 5 percent in two steps. It will save a household with $46,000 in taxable income about $46 in 2015 with a second cut of about $32 in 2017.

INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mike Pence signed a bill into law Thursday (May 9) that will expand the state’s school voucher program in front of 150 students, including some who already are benefiting from the program.

Students from seven different private vouchers schools met at the Calvary Christian School auditorium with signs that said, “I yearn to learn” and “school choice now.”

INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mike Pence has signed bills to revamp the state’s felony sentencing laws and give some offenders the ability to expunge their records.

“Indiana should be the worst place in America to commit a serious crime and the best place, once you’ve done your time, to get a second chance,” Pence said in a statement.

INDIANAPOLIS – The organization that regulates high school sports will decide next week whether to let some homeschooled students participate in high school athletics.

The move by the Indiana High School Athletic Association comes two years after the issue bubbled up at the Indiana General Assembly, where lawmakers considered but never passed a bill to mandate the change.

Interested in fact-checking some of the chain emails or political talk you are hearing?

Here are two of the better-known and respected sites for such endeavors: www.FactCheck.org and www.PolitiFact.com.

WEST LAFAYETTE - Warm, sunny days during the week ending Ma;y 20 allowed farmers to make  good progress planting both corn and soybeans, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.  

Once again, the most acreage was planted across northern and some central counties. Soils remained too wet across the southern districts to allow much progress to be made.

FRANCESVILLE - The 45th annual commencement exercises at West Central High School will be at 2 p.m., Sunday (May 26), in the school gymnasium. The program will begin with a baccalaureate service with the address given by Don Nedza, followed by the graduation program.

Forty-nine seniors will receive diplomas. Commencement addresses will be given by valedictorian David Putt and salutatorian Evan Kaeb.

WINAMAC - Commencement exercises at Winamac Community High School will be at 7 p.m., Friday (May 31), in the school gymnasium. The program will include the tradition of awarding several community scholarships.

The Class of 2013 numbers 87 seniors, and will be led down the aisle by valedictorian Kathleen Budd and salutatorian Andrew Brandon.

WINAMAC - Eastern Pulaski Community School Board president Mike Tetzloff outlined the search timeline to hire a new school superintendent at the board's monthly meeting Monday (May 13).

Applications for the position will be accepted until May 28. Interviews will be completed by June 29, and the new superintendent will be named in early July; however, he/she will not be officially placed until the end of July after a public meeting.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -  U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, a member of the Senate Ag Committee, applauded the committee passage Tuesday (May 14) of a five-year farm bill with bipartisan support. 

The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 passed 15 to 5 and would reduce the deficit by $23 billion while protecting the estimated 16 million ag-related jobs across the country.

Action affects Pulaski County

INDIANAPOLIS - Gov. Mike Pence Thursday vetoed House Enrolled Act 1546, concerning unauthorized collection of local option income tax in Jackson and Pulaski counties after legal authority for those tax collections had expired.

The Pulaski County Democrats Central Committee has reorganized for the 2013 year. New officers elected were: county chair Bill Reutebuch; county vice chair, Laura Bailey; secretary, Diana Dutton and treasurer, Jenise Barnhouse.

Long time secretary, Betty Podell, and treasurer, Betty Parcel, have retired from their positions after nearly 40 years each.

INDIANAPOLIS - Citing her broad background in facilitating job creation in rural and agribusiness communities, Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Gina Sheets announced Tuesday (May 14) the appointment of Connie Neininger as ISDA director of Economic Development & Trade.

Meets with U.S. military and diplomatic personnel, foreign leaders to discuss security and humanitarian issues

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly discussed his recent travel to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkey, Monday (May 6).

Donnelly, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, led a congressional delegation to meet with U.S. military and diplomatic personnel, as well as government leaders in each country. 

INDIANAPOLIS - Nearly 60 Pulaski County residents crossed the finish line in the running of the 37th annual One America 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, Saturday (May 4), in downtown Indianapolis. A field of 35,000 participated in the event.

Mike Haschel of Winamac led county runners, finishing with a time of 1:19:20 and a 59th place finish overall. He was followed by Glenn Bailey who completed the Mini in a time of 1:27:07.

Gov. Pence orders flags to half-staff

INDIANAPOLIS – Former Gov. Otis R. Bowen, 95, died Saturday night after a life and career “characterized by integrity, devotion to family, and love for Indiana,” Gov. Mike Pence said on Sunday.

Dr. Bowen's family lived for a while in Pulaski County when he was a youth, and Bowen graduated from Francesville High School.