Skip to main content

Government & School Board

Tracy Street reconstruction project moves forward


Photo by Jessica Williams.

The Markle Town Council has taken the next step in the Tracy Street project - a complete reconstruction of the street, which has been in the works for the last five or so years - on Wednesday night, May 19.

An 80-20 Indiana Department of Transportation grant application was approved during the meeting.

David Harvey of Fleis and Vandenbrink, an engineering firm based in Fort Wayne, was on hand to briefly review the project for the council and guide them through some application changes, such as identifying which funds will be tapped into for the town's share.

Roanoke will drop legal action against Vera Bradley wetlands

The Roanoke Town Council voted to stop legal action against Vera Bradley Corp. over the company's proposed wetland mitigation project at the council's meeting on Tuesday, May 18.

Council President John Stoeckley recently met with Vera Bradley officials, and says he came away with a different understanding of what the project will complete.

"What (Vera Bradley) is proposing is no worse than what is already there," Stoeckley said.

Stoeckley mentioned that the flood situation is improving thanks to the project Huntington County is completing along the Little River.

Monday, May 17 is deadline to file property assessment forms

Huntington County residents are reminded that Monday, May 17 is the deadline to file business, farmer's personal property forms and not-for-profit corporation exemptions.

There will be no extensions granted and there is a $25 penalty for failure to file the assessment form.

If a late return is not filed within 30 days, there is a penalty in the amount of 20 percent of the tax.

For more information or for forms, contact the Huntington County Assessor's Office at the Courthouse, room 102, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or call 358-4800 or 358-4801.

$10 city services fee passes on first reading

A $10-a-month city services fee could go a long way toward making sure the city of Huntington ends the year in the black.

Or maybe not, depending on whose figures are used.

The Huntington Common Council chose to believe it would. During its meeting on Tuesday, May 11, the council voted 5-2 to pass on first reading an ordinance that would implement the fee in July of this year. The fee would be charged to every holder of a city utility account and, unless action is taken to extend the fee, would expire on May 1, 2011.

School corporation to lay off 12 teachers at end of school year

Huntington County Community School Corporation will lay off 12 teachers at the end of the school year.

The HCCSC Board of Trustees voted Monday night, May 10, to put 12 teachers on Reduction in Force (RIF) callback lists.

Notifications delivered by Superintendent Tracey Shafer in late March put 17 teachers on standby for possible layoffs. Shafer says the layoffs may be necessary because of declining enrollment and budgetary needs.

HCCSC board rejects Shafer proposal for filling HNHS principal's job short-term

The Huntington County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees has rejected a proposal by Superintendent of Schools Tracey Shafer for filling Huntington North Principal Jeremy Gulley's position while he is deployed to Afghanistan for a year.

Shafer said the best route would be to name current HNHS Assistant Principal Kelly Renier as interim principal and New Tech director, and current Dean of Students Russ Degitz as interim New Tech director. Then, Shafer said, Degitz's dean position would be posted internally with a one-year leave of absence offered to the hired person.

Not a lot of business at Warren Town Council meeting

It was business as usual - and not much of it - when the Warren Town Council met on Monday, May 10.

Marilyn Morrison, clerk-treasurer, introduced Ordinance 2010-1, Heritage Pointe's request for vacation of an adjoining alley way.

A public hearing on the request will be held on June 14, the next council meeting.

The council voted to renew its contract with Keystone, the company responsible for all the town's software programs and maintenance. The cost is $5,765, up $400 from last year.

IRS open house May 15

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will host a nationwide open house on Saturday, May 15, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., to help small businesses and individuals solve tax problems.

IRS staff will be available on site or by telephone to help taxpayers work through their problems and walk out with solutions.

IRS locations will be equipped to provide help to small business owners and individual taxpayers dealing with audits, notices and payments. Assistance with return preparation, offers-in-compromise, payment plans and a variety of other tax issues will be available.

Lewis receives medal from Army

Army Specialist Cory A. Lewis has been decorated with the Army Commendation Medal.

The medal is awarded to individuals who, while serving in any capacity with the Army, have distinguished themselves by acts of heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.

Lewis is a food service specialist assigned to the 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Missile Artillery Regiment, Fort Hood, TX.

He has served in the military for three years.

State to help with Rangeline bridge

Indiana Rep. Dan Leonard (third from left) presents the official letter of grant acceptance to (from left) Huntington County Commissioners Jerry Helvie and Tom Wall and County Highway Department Superintendent Troy Hostetler on Friday afternoon, April 30.
Photo by Jessica Williams.

Huntington County has been awarded an additional $505,000 from the Indiana Department of Transportation for rehabilitation of the bridge on Rangeline Road.
The county already has $760,000 earmarked for the project.

Indiana House of Representative Dan Leonard was in Huntington Friday, April 30, to announce the new funding with the Huntington County Commissioners and Huntington County Highway Superintendent Troy Hostetler, who is overseeing the project.

Four county officeholders fall to challengers in primary election

Huntington County clerk candidate Kittie Keiffer (right) and her husband Richard enjoy the polling numbers flashed on a projection during the Republican Party gathering after the primary election on Tuesday, May 4.
Photo by Scott Trauner.

At least four county officeholders won't be retaining their positions after voters in the May 4 primary election gave victories to their opponents.

All the primary action was on the Republican ticket, with the local Democrat party having until the end of June to name candidates for its side of November's general election ballot.

The Republican ticket, though, is set, with new names in several spots where incumbents had hoped to remain, according to unofficial results from the Huntington County Clerk's office.