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Government & School Board

Huntington Police Department will no longer unlock cars

If you've locked your keys in your car, don't call the Huntington Police Department.

For years, city police officers have provided free unlocks to residents who have found themselves locked out of their cars.

As of Friday, May 13, however, the department will no longer routinely provide that service, Huntington Police Chief Tom Emely says. The only exception would be emergency situations, such as a small child being locked inside a vehicle, he adds.

Anyone who locks their keys in their car should call a local locksmith, Emely says.

Warren will attempt to tame town’s feral cat population

A program to control the feral cat population in Warren will begin next month, the Warren Town Council learned during its meeting on Monday, May 9.

Marshal Dennis Spitler said a local veterinarian and the Huntington County animal control officer will work together to trap the cats and have them spayed or neutered, at a cost of $40 per cat. The cats would then be placed with individuals who have expressed an interest in barn cats.

The program, which was approved by council by consensus, is expected to begin the week of June 13.

Board plan will save an estimated $2.5 million

Horace Mann Elementary School will be closed as a school building at the end of this school year as a scost-saving measure for the Huntington County Community Schools Corp., the HCCSC board decided Monday night, May 9.
Photo by Andre B. Laird.

Here are the actions approved by the Huntington County Community School Board of Trustees by a 4-3 vote on Monday, May 9:

A) Close Horace Mann Elementary as a K-5 school effective at the end of the 2010-11 school year and transition those students to the remaining elementary buildings as determined by the administration. (Savings: $1,033,190.87.)

B) Move Salamonie 6-8 grade students to Riverview for the 2011-12 school year. (Savings: $931,054.87.)

C) Reduce the extracurricular activity budget by $100,000 starting with the 2011-12 school year. (Savings $100,000.)

HCCSC board moves to close Horace Mann; Salamonie 6-8 students to Riverview

Huntington County Community Schools Corp. Superintendent Tracey Shafer speaks to the school board, including (front from left) Tom King, Ben Landrum and Kevin Patrick, at a board meeting Monday, May 9, at Huntington North High School.
Photo by Cindy Klepper.

More than 550 students will be moved to new school districts this fall as Horace Mann Elementary School closes its doors and Salamonie School loses its middle grades.

Those changes were part of a package approved Monday, May 9, by the Huntington County Community Schools Board of Trustees in response to a decline in both enrollment and revenue.

Applications through May 12 to fill Warren council vacancy

The Warren Town Council will accept applications through May 12 from those interested in filling a vacancy on the council.

The vacancy was created by the April 12 death of Bill Cartwright.

Applicants must be registered voters and must reside inside the town limits.

Those interested should submit a letter stating their interest in serving, along with the applicant's physical and mailing address. Party affiliation is not a consideration.

Democrats to fill ballot vacancies soon

Huntington County Democrats, who fielded just one candidate on the Huntington primary, say they'll be filling at least some of the vacancies on their general election ballot by the end of this month.

"We have four for sure," Democrat Chairman Greg Carroll says.

According to state election law, major political parties have until the end of June to appoint candidates for the general election if no candidates ran in the primary. Independent candidates also have until late June to file for the fall election.

Commissioners approve llama carcass disposal funds

The Huntington County Commissioners approved funding for County Animal Control Officer Lori VanOver to pay for the disposal of three dozen llama carcasses from a rural Andrews property during the commissioners' meeting on Monday, May 2.

The expenditure stems from an animal neglect case last week that resulted in the county assuming control of over 30 llamas in ill health. There were at least 36 dead llamas on the property, owned by Thomas Andrew, but VanOver said that a survey by the Indiana Board of Animal Health indicated there may have been more.

Harshbarger, Ness and Rohler will be Andrews GOP council candidates in fall

Andrews Clerk-Treasurer candidate Kathy Juillerat (right) talks with her husband, Van, at the Republican Party primary election reception on Tuesday, May 3.
Photo by Matt Murphy.

John Harshbarger, Tim Ness and sitting Councilman Mike Rohler will be on the Republican ticket as candidates for the Andrews Town Council in the November general election.

Current Councilman Ray Tackett, a Democrat, was unopposed in that party's primary, as were current Clerk-Treasurer William "Bill" Johnson, also running on the Democrat ticket, and former Clerk-Treasurer Kathy Juillerat, now the Republican nominee for the fall.

Fetters dominates Republican mayoral field

Huntington City Councilman and now Republican candidate for mayor Brooks Fetters shares a celebratory kiss with his wife, Barb, at the Republican Party primary reception at the LaFontaine Golf Club on Tuesday, May 3.
Photo by Matt Murphy.

Huntington County Republicans tossed out a sitting mayor in favor of a city council member who held his first city job while still in college.

Brooks Fetters, a four-year member of the Huntington Common Council, won 32.25 percent of the vote to win the Republican nomination for mayor. Steve Updike, a former city police officer who is completing his first term as mayor, finished fourth in the seven-man field with just 17 percent of the vote.

Republican slate set for fall council election

Newcomers Charlie Chapman, Paul Pike, Wayne Powell, John "Greg" Davis and incumbent Jack Slusser won contested races in the May 2 primary to secure Republican nominations as candidates for the Huntington Common Council.

Incumbent council members Steve McIntyre and Joe Blomeke won renomination without opposition. If they win election in the fall, they will be the only returning members of the seven-person council next January.

Liking what he sees


Photo by Matt Murphy.

Former Huntington mayor Terry Abbett, one of seven primary candidates for the position this year, apparently likes what he is seeing on the big screen at the Republican Party reception at the LaFontaine Golf Club on Tuesday, May 3. Abbott placed third in the race, with Brooks Fetters winning.

Watching the screen


Photo by Matt Murphy.

Huntington mayoral primary candidate Erv Ebersole (left) checks the big screen for vote totals during the Republican Party reception at the LaFontaine Colf Club on Tuesday, May 3. Ebersole, one of seven GOP candidates, lost to Brooks Fetters.

First precinct in


Photo by Cindy Klepper.

Pollworkers Tara Bowman (left) and Gennie Guhl bring in votes from Huntington Precinct 1 to be counted at the Huntington County Clerk's office following the close of voting on Tuesday, May 3. They were the first precinct to return to the courthouse with votes. Turnout for the primary was 29.35 percent, with 3,199 out of 10,898 registered voters casting ballots.

Huntington County primary election results

Colleen Kavaney (left) signs in to vote in the Huntington primary election earlier today, Tuesday, May 3, at her polling place at St. Peter's First Community Church. Assisting her is pollworker Edna Hunt.
Photo by Cindy Klepper.

Results with absentee ballots and 16 precincts reported.

Here are the unofficial results from the Huntington County primary elections on May 3.

CITY OF HUNTINGTON

MAYOR
15 of 15 precincts reporting

Republican
Terry Abbett 582
Tyler Biggs 19
Larry Buzzard 636
Tom Carney 181
Erv Ebersole 46
Brooks Fetters 929
Steven Updike 488

Democrat
Tony Hiles 164

CLERK-TREASURER
15 of 15 precincts reporting