Government & School Board

Mindy Reust will be the new principal at Horace Mann Elementary.
She was previously the vice principal there.  

Patrick McLaughlin will be the new principal of Huntington North High School.
He has 19 years of high school experience and is a resident of Huntington County.

Michael Sumpter will be the new director of technology.
He has more than 20 years in education.

Huntington County Community School Corporation (HCCSC) has begun high ability programs with STEAM LABS at both Crestview and Riverview middle schools.

High ability is support for students who are performing above average in the schools.

STEAM LAB stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math, Leadership, Agriculture, and Business.

There are three rooms at the Crestview location. One room is a science lab and the other two are for technology and engineering are based in.  

The Huntington City Council members approved $10,000 for fire department building repairs.

Chief Tony Johnson presented information about the repairs for Station 1.
Last year, the fire department had Baker Construction check air quality where they found moisture coming through blocks and a failing window.

During the window repair and the installment of insulation on the east wall in the spring of this year, they found four more rotted windows. The project was completed but went over their building structure budget.

The Huntington City Council approved the ordinance for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund expenditures.

The funds will be distributed to eight different categories. These categories and their estimated cost are:

The demolition of Kriegbaum football field was discussed by Steve Park and the Huntington County Community School (HCCSC) board.

The board is approaching the demolition of the facility through a bid process due to the dollar amount they are anticipating it to be which allows for them to get quotes rather than a public bidding.

It will receive these bids from invited list of contractors by the end of June. The list of contractors invited to bid include Amor Excavating, D & R Demolition, Crosby Excavating, Inc., Geiger Excavating, Inc., and Star Excavating.

The Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) approved new K-12 Indiana Academic Standards in science and computer science, as well as academic standards for a new middle school civics course.

Indiana’s new science standards reflect similar content areas as Indiana’s previous 2016 standards, with an increased focus on supporting active student engagement in science learning.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the Department has provided $700 million to help lower costs and support biofuel producers who faced unexpected market losses due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The funds are available through the Biofuel Producer Program, which was created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and economic Security Act (CARES Act).
Investments include more than $486 million for 62 producers located in socially vulnerable communities.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering nationwide waivers to increase access to infant formula for families in need as states receive and distribute imported formula.
This imported formula is made available by the Biden-Harris Administration’s operation Fly Formula. The USDA is leveraging new authority from this recently passed Access to Baby Formula act to offer this flexibility.

You can help the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife by submitting reports of certain mammals of interest.
By reporting a compiling observation of these species, it will help identify local and statewide trends in these rare or elusive mammals.
Mammals of interest include a variety of species ranging from nocturnal and difficult to observe mammals to common mammals locally that are rare elsewhere.
Some of these mammals may have no resident breeding population but are just visitors to Indiana.

An ordinance for Flint Creek Development annexation was introduced at the May 24 City of Huntington Council meeting. 

The voluntary annexation was requested by the private parties involved in a recent purchase agreement for the property in order to be eligible for city services.

The property is located along US 24 East across from Parkview Hospital and is contiguous to the existing city limits. 

The entire parcel, which is approximately 59.85 acres, is owned by one individual.

Work is nearing completion on Warren’s water project.

Lee Poulson, town manager and utilities superintendent, reported earlier this month that the 11th Street water tower is almost finished.

The new well has been successfully tested. Crews are building a well house in Tower Park and working on the water treatment plant.

The project includes construction of a new tower and well replacement to bring the system up to 2022 standards.

A second tower also is being constructed.

Poulson anticipates that the project will be completed in August.

The Town of Warren is working on a new comprehensive plan.

“A comprehensive plan is required for most grants,” said Kim Hostetler, Huntington County Community Development (HCCD) executive director.

The plan is available for review in the HCCD office and in the Warren clerk treasurer’s office.

There will be a public hearing on the plan at the June 8, 6:30 p.m. meeting of the Warren Plan Commission. That meeting will take place in the GAR Room of the Huntington County Courthouse.

The town is paying $10,000 for the plan.

The DNR Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology (DHPA) plans to award 15 federal Historic Preservation Fund grants totaling more than $575,000 for historic preservation and archaeology projects in Indiana communities.
In most cases, these grants require at least a dollar-for-dollar match of local or private funds, though many exceed that threshold. In total these grants will spur a total projected investment of $1.8 million in these important cultural resource projects.

 The City of Huntington’s 2022 paving projects, have been announced. They are being funded by thanks to a $346,000 grant from Indiana’s Community Crossings program.

Each year, the city paves approximately 3.8 miles of streets and 1.5 miles of alleys, according to Adam Cuttriss, director of public works and engineering services for the city.

Paving needs are prioritized with data collected in Pasar, the pavement rating system used by the city. Use of a pavement rating system in required for application to Community Crossings for funds.