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Government & School Board

It’s down to last 2 days to cast vote

Huntington County residents have two more days to cast their ballots.

Voting takes place today, Monday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to noon on the second floor of the Huntington County Courthouse.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the courthouse; the American Legion post at 1410 S. Jefferson St., Huntington; Parkview Huntington Family YMCA, at 1160W-500N, Huntington; Huntington Nazarene Church, 1555 Flaxmill Rd., Huntington; Cottage Event Center, 9524 U.S.-24 North, Roanoke; and Warren Church of Christ, 302 N. Wayne St., Warren.

Four candidates for county offices unopposed this time around

Unopposed candidates for four offices within Huntington County this year are (from left) Paula Farley, Philip Zahm, Larry Buzzard and Tom Wall.
Photos provided.

Four candidates for Huntington County offices are unopposed in this fall’s general election.

Paula Bonner Farley is set to succeed her boss, Brenda Hamilton, as Huntington County treasurer.

Philip S. Zahm will retain his position as county coroner.

And Larry D. Buzzard and Tom Wall will receive new terms as county commissioners.

All four are Republicans.

Farley is currently a deputy in the county treasurer’s office. Hamilton is limited to two consecutive terms and is completing the final year of her second term.

Pair of school board candidates unopposed

Matt Melcher (left) and Reed Christiansen.
Photos provided.

Two candidates for the Huntington County Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees face no opposition in this fall’s election, with one new face to be seated on the board and an incumbent to retain his seat.

In District 1 (Union and Jackson townships), Matt Melcher, 42, 8163 N. Mayne Rd., Roanoke, will be elected to the seat vacated by outgoing school board president Scott Hoffman.

Retiring judge looking to wield carpentry tools in place of gavel

Jeff Heffelfinger, who retired Oct. 29 as judge of the Huntington Superior Court, leans against the bench on Friday, Oct. 28, his last day in court. Heffelfinger, a longtime woodworking enthusiast, built the courtroom’s bench and rail and plans to scale up his woodworking hobby in retirement.
Photo by Cindy Klepper.

Right about now, thoughts of two-by-fours are probably filling Jeff Heffelfinger’s head.

After his 32 years on the bench came to an end last Saturday, Oct. 29, the now-retired judge says he has one plan in mind.

“I want to build either a cottage — I have a piece of land that I own — or a cabin up north,” he says.

It’s a far cry from what he’s been doing for the past 32 years, and he likes that. When he’s done with a building project, he says, he can see the result.

Moisture test at Andrews Elementary says slab dry, not contributing to carpet problem

A moisture test conducted by Patriot Engineering at Andrews Elementary School revealed the concrete slab is dry and not contributing to problems with the carpeting, members of the Huntington County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees learned during their meeting on Monday, Oct. 31.

But, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Classified Staff Jon Bennett reported, moisture in the building  fluctuates and more tests will need to be conducted.

SWCDs get grants to protect water

Huntington and Wells counties’ soil and water conservation districts are among those recently awarded grants to protect its drinking water, improve water quality and raise awareness about the impact of land use on the state’s water resources.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture and the State Soil Conservation Board awarded $938,651 in Clean Water Indiana grants to 34 soil and water conservation districts across the state.

The Wells and Huntington county districts will share $45,000.

Fire chief updates Roanoke council on rescue truck research

Chad Taylor, chief of the Roanoke Volunteer Fire Department, updated the Roanoke Town Council on his department’s pursuit of a new fire rescue truck during the board’s meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Taylor informed council that his department had a basic spec sheet for a truck compiled and would soon have a more detailed spec sheet put together. Once that happens, says Taylor, the board will be able to use it to gather bids from truck builders.

Veteran legislators Leonard, Banks face challenges for seats

Vying for state legislature positions in the upcoming election are (from left) Dan Leonard, Jorge Fernandez, Jim Banks, Tommy Schrader and Pepper Snyder.
Photos provided.

Veteran legislator Dan Leonard faces a challenge from Fort Wayne teacher Jorge Fernandez in his quest to retain his 50th District Seat in the Indiana House of Representatives.

On the national level, Jim Banks, who was elected to the Indiana Senate in 2010, wants to move up to the United States House of Representatives. Two political newcomers, Tommy A. Schrader and Pepper Snyder, are also in the running to represent the Third District in the U.S. House.

Treasurer’s office to be open Nov. 5 for tax payments

The Huntington County Treasurer’s office will be open to accept property tax payments on Saturday, Nov. 5,  from 8 a.m. to noon.

In addition, payments can be made Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in the Treasurer’s Office, located in Room 104 on the first floor of the Huntington County Courthouse.

The last day to pay property taxes on time without a penalty is Nov. 10.

Pair of three-candidate races for open school board seats

The six candidates running for two open school board seats are (from left) Holly Thompson, Tim Allen, Rebekah Benjamin, Marvin McNew and Kevin Yarger. Not pictured is Cory Reber.
TAB file photos; photos provided.

There are two contested districts in the election for open seats on the Huntington County Community School Board of School Trustees, taking place in districts 4 and 6.

School board positions are non-partisan, meaning candidates do not declare a political party affiliation. Voters can only vote for those school board candidates running in the district in which they reside. Those who vote a straight party ticket must choose school board candidates separately.

New streets and sidewalks on the horizon in Andrews in next few years

New streets and sidewalks are on the horizon for Andrews, but their materialization is still a couple of years away.

Andrews Town Council President John Harshbarger told fellow council members during their meeting on Monday, Oct. 24, that he had met with Indiana Department of Transportation representatives earlier in the day to discuss state plans to repave Ind.-105 through town.

The $350,000 paving project will start just north of the Loon Creek bridge and extend to U.S.-24, Harshbarger said. Construction is planned for 2019, he said.

City council kicks in $350,000 for UB Block

The City of Huntington will put an initial $350,000 toward the rehabilitation of a downtown building that was once thought to be headed for demolition.

Members of the Huntington Common Council, meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25, approved the appropriation of what Mayor Brooks Fetters called “excess” money in the city’s general fund toward the project.

The funds will be used toward an $8 million project to renovate a trio of buildings commonly called the U.B. Block, located on East Franklin Street west of Warren Street.