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Government & School Board

HCCSC board to meet in exec session on Wednesday, Feb. 1

The Huntington County Community School Corporation’s Board of School Trustees will meet in executive session on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 11:30 a.m. at the Horace Mann Education Center.

During the session, board members will meet with an outside consultant to learn about performing their roles as public officials.

The session is closed to the public.

Firefighter joins HFD


Photo by Rebecca Sandlin

Nate Schmalzried (center) repeats the oath as a newly-installed firefighter on the Huntington Fire Department, sworn in by Huntington Clerk-Treasurer Christi Scher-McElhaney (left) on Wednesday, Jan. 25, in the city council chambers. Holding the Bible is his wife, Jacquelynn. Schmalzried, who was formerly the interim property manager at the Roush Lake Fish and Wildlife Area, will work on the fire department full time at Station 1.

Andrews moving into high gear on wastewater treatment project

Town leaders in Andrews are moving into high gear as they begin the process of making state-mandated improvements to the community’s wastewater treatment facility.

Members of the Andrews Town Council announced during their meeting on Monday, Jan. 23, that they will travel to Indianapolis today, Thursday, Jan. 26, to officially receive a $600,000 grant from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) that will help pay for the improvements.

The grant was announced on Dec. 1.

Newer technology for teachers may be coming

Teachers in the Huntington County Community School Corporation got some welcome news at the school board’s meeting on Monday, Jan. 23, in the form of new iPads and MacBooks.

Board members considered replacing teachers’ five-year-old MacBook computers, which Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Chad Daugherty said are nearly outdated.

Commish start new redevelopment group

The Huntington County Council made several appointments at its meeting on Monday, Jan. 23.

One of those appointments saw Councilman Terry Miller named to a new economic development commission being established by the Huntington County Commissioners. Tom Wall, president of the commissioners, shared that the commission will be known as the Redevelopment Commission and that he envisions it being an entity that will work alongside Huntington County Economic Development.

Markle cabin move likely to happen soon

The Markle log cabin known as the Draper House will likely be moved to its new home sooner than expected, according to a report made to the Markle Town Council during its first meeting of the year on Jan. 18.

Markle Historical Society Co-Chairs Lisa Street and Teresa Beck told councilmen that “unforeseen circumstances” now give the town 30 days from Jan. 9 to move the house from its current location and to its new home on Old Mill Park property.

Banks on Congressional Steel Caucus

U.S. Rep. Jim Banks has joined the Congressional Steel Caucus, a bipartisan group of members of Congress who represent districts with steel manufacturers or are interested in the health of the American steel industry.

“Indiana is one of the nation’s leaders in steel production and more than 18,000 steelworkers reside in northeast Indiana,” Banks says. “I aim to advocate for the interests of Hoosier steelworkers as a member of the Congressional Steel Caucus.”

Roanoke council approves fire protection contract with Jackson Township

The Roanoke Town Council approved a fire protection contract with Jackson Township at its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

The pact, which also covers rescue and first responder services, will now go back to the Jackson Township Board for approval. Should the board approve the contract, it will pay Roanoke a total of $21,550 in two installments, as well as one third of the town’s total premium for volunteer firefighters’ death benefit.

In other business:

Fetters sings praises of city’s volunteers

Mayor Brooks Fetters discusses accomplishments during 2016 and plans for 2017 during his State of the City address before the Huntington Common Council on Tuesday, Jan. 10.
Photo by Cindy Klepper.

Mayor Brooks Fetters is pleased with the progress he’s made during his first five years as leader of the City of Huntington.

And one of the things he’s most pleased with is the number of people who have gotten involved as volunteers to make the city a better place to live.

During 2016, 3,339 individuals volunteered to help put up Christmas lights, fix picnic tables, water flowers, pull weeds and perform other chores around the city, Fetters told members of the Huntington Common Council during his annual State of the City address on Tuesday, Jan. 10.

Banks on Armed Services, Veterans Affairs panels

Congressman Jim Banks, R-IN, has been assigned to two committees and co-sponsored his first piece of legislation during his initial days as a member of the 115th Congress.

Banks will serve on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

“I am excited to be named to the Armed Services Committee,” Banks said. “This committee was my number one choice because I want to actively ensure our men and women in uniform receive the resources they need to protect our nation.”

Banks gets appointed to steering committee for RSC in U.S. House of Reps

Jim Banks
Photo provided.

Indiana Third District Congressman Jim Banks has been named to the steering committee for the Republican Study Committee (RSC), the leading caucus of conservative Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I am honored to have been named to the steering committee of the Republican Study Committee,” Banks said. “In this role, I look forward to fighting for conservative solutions to the biggest challenges our nation faces. I am excited to dive in and get to work.”

Even tourism director surprised by growth of county’s tourist appeal

Tina Bobilya (right), executive director of the Huntington County Visitor and Convention Bureau, reports on an uptick in tourism in the county to Huntington County Commissioners (from left) Larry Buzzard, Tom Wall, and Rob Miller, on Monday, Jan. 9.
Photo by Cindy Klepper.

Tourism in Huntington County is growing by leaps and bounds.

So many leaps and bounds, in fact, that the director of the Huntington County Visitor and Convention Bureau asked the researchers if their figures were right.

“They said, ‘We double checked everything,’” Tina Bobilya says.

“The increases are across the board,” Bobilya said as she presented the Rockport Analytics study, 2015 Economic Impact of Tourism in Huntington County, to the Huntington County commissioners on Monday, Jan. 9.