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Government & School Board

Christmas cheerfulness


Photo by Rebecca Sandlin

Huntington Fire Department personnel (from left) Lt. John Brewer, and firefighters Steve Renzi and Ryan Anglin grab some cookies at Mayor Brooks Fetters’ annual Christmas open house, held Thursday, Dec. 8, in the Common Council chamber.

Zay to replace Banks at District 17 senator

Photo provided.
Andy Zay

Huntington County resident Andy Zay will become Indiana’s next state senator from District 17, after he handily won the GOP caucus to succeed Jim Banks on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

Zay won on the first ballot, earning the votes of 54 of the 109 voting precinct committeemen in attendance at the caucus, held in Wabash.

Zay, 50, who owns Zay Leasing & Rentals in Huntington, is also a Huntington Township advisory board member.

Zay was one of four candidates.

New Andrews wastewater treatment plant closer

The construction of a new wastewater treatment plant in Andrews is one step closer to happening.

The town learned on Thursday, Dec. 1, that its application for $600,000 for the project from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs had been approved. The funds derive from the federal Community Development Block Grant Program. OCRA is in charge of distributing those funds to rural communities.

Andrews received word in July that its first application for the grant had been turned down. The town reapplied in October and is one of 25 communities to receive funds.

Huntington County SWCD to hold special meeting Dec. 6 at district

The Huntington County Soil and Water Conservation District will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 9 a.m. at the District Office located at 2040 Riverfork Drive, Huntington.  

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss a new grant.

The Huntington County Soil and Water Conservation District will hold its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. at the District Office located at 2040 Riverfork Drive, Huntington.

The meeting is open to the public.    

Town of Andrews taking first steps to establish redevelopment group

The Town of Andrews is taking preliminary steps to establish a redevelopment commission.

“We have been exploring the possibility of developing some land in or around Andrews for commercial use,” Andrews Town Council President John Harshbarger said during the council’s meeting on Monday, Nov. 28.

The redevelopment commission will be charged with making that happen.

Meetings with Town Attorney Michael Hartburg have established the membership of the council, Harshbarger said, and volunteers will be sought to serve on that council.

County council commits funds for system

The Huntington County Council voted to commit Public Safety LOIT funds toward a new computer system for the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department during its meeting on Monday, Nov. 28.

The board joins the Huntington Common Council, as well as the Andrews, Markle, Roanoke and Warren town councils, in moving forward with hiring Spillman Technologies to handle the software needs of the county’s public safety entities.

Common council reaffirms decision to purchase public safety software

During a brief meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 29, the Huntington Common Council reaffirmed its decision to help purchase new public safety software, gave final approval to a zoning map change and OK’d end-of-year appropriations.

Huntington Police Chief Chad Hacker brought representatives of Spillman Technologies, the company that will supply the new software, to the city council meeting to answer questions about the software.

Huntington native hails quarter-century with ISP

Photo provided.
Michael Lantz

Master Trooper Michael W. Lantz has completed 25 years of service to the Indiana State Police.

Lantz, now a resident of rural Kendallville, is a Huntington native and graduated from Huntington North High School in 1985. He earned an associate degree in law enforcement from Vincennes University in 1988 and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne in 1990.

New programs will meet teens online with health services

The Huntington County Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees was introduced to a new program aimed at fighting teen suicide.

The board heard from HCCSC Director of Special Programs Trace Hinesley and Huntington North High School Principal Russ Degitz during its meeting Monday, Nov. 28.

Hinesley and Degitz explained the multi-partnered program that uses social media to reach out to adolescents and young adults ages 14 to 24.

Judge to judge


Photo by Cindy Klepper.

Jeff Heffelfinger (left), who retired in October as judge of the Huntington Superior Court, swears in his successor, Jennifer Newton (center) on Wednesday, Nov. 23. With Newton are (from left) her children, Ella Newton, Haley Newton, and Zachary Newton, and her husband, Chris Newton, chief deputy with the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department. Newton, the first woman to serve as a judge in Huntington County, has served as magistrate/referee for the Huntington Superior Court for 12 years and was previously an attorney in private practice in Huntington. Gov.

Jones serving at Gulfport with U.S. Navy’s Seabees

Photo provided.
Roger Jones

Petty Officer 3rd Class Roger Jones, of Roanoke, is serving with the United States Navy’s Construction Force, known as the Seabees.

Jones, a 2013 graduate of Huntington North High School, is serving at Naval Construction Battalion Center, in Gulfport, MS, where he is responsible for mechanical work on construction equipment.

Gulfport is the command headquarters that oversees all naval construction forces based in the eastern half of the United States.

City BZA will discuss exception for women’s shelter

The Huntington City Board of Zoning Appeals will meet on Dec. 5 to consider granting a special exception that would allow a women’s shelter to be located at 540 Guilford St., Huntington.

The application was filed by Sharon Metzger on behalf of Place of Grace.

The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers on the third floor of the City Building, 300 Cherry St., Huntington. It is open to the public.

Newton is new superior court judge

Photo provided.
Jennifer Newton

Jennifer Newton has been named judge of the Huntington Superior Court.

She succeeds Jeff Heffelfinger, who retired in October after serving as judge for 32 years. Senior Judge Karen Springer, of Allen County, has been serving as judge pro tem since Heffelfinger’s departure.

Newton’s selection to serve the remaining four years of Heffelfinger’s current term was announced on Nov. 21 by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.

Commissioners to hold special meet on Dec. 16

The Huntington County Commissioners will hold a special meeting on Friday, Dec. 16, at 9 a.m.

The meeting, which is open to the public, will be held in the Commissioners’ Room on the first floor of the Huntington County Courthouse, 201 N. Jefferson St., Huntington.

The commissioners have also scheduled three executive sessions, which are closed to the public.