Brett W. Todd has 930 articles published.
Rossville defeated the Western Boone Stars 47-45 on Saturday, March 7, 2020, at Western Boone High School.
Rossville will take on the Wapahani Raiders on Saturday, March 14, 2020, in the IHSAA 2A regional at Lapel High School.
The Republican Caucus met at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2020, to hear from 4 candidates for Center Township Trustee.
Cory Boyles, Tom Bush, Jami Pratt, and Steve Teegarden each took 3-minutes explaining why they should become the next Center Township Trustee in front of 18 precinct committeemen in attendance.
Jami Pratt was selected on the first ballet receiving 10 votes.
Pratt will be sworn in Monday, March 9th at 9 a.m. in the Courthouse Clerks Office.
The Office of Accountability for the Indiana Department of Education has released the 2018-2019 A-F Grades for Schools and School Corporations.
Public Law 2-2020, signed into law by Governor Holcomb on February 12, 2020, requires that a school’s A-F grade for the 2018-2019 school year may not be lower than that same school’s A-F grade for the 2017-2018 school year. In order to determine the final 2018-2019 A-F grade for each school, the Indiana Department of Education (Department) compared each school’s 2017-2018 grade to its 2018-2019 grade, as calculated pursuant to 511 IAC 6.2-10, and assigned the better grade received by the school between these two school years. Schools received all performance and accountability data for the 2018-2019 school year regardless of the hold harmless application.
The provided image shows the grades assigned to the respective schools and school corporations in Clinton County.
The Community Schools of Frankfort and Clinton Central School Corporation have each appealed its assigned corporation grade. They are 2 of 7 corporations in the state that have appealed.
Frankfort High School and Clinton Central Junior-Senior High School have each appealed its school grade. They are 2 of 9 schools in the state that have appealed.
Below is a breakdown of the Grades statewide:
2018-2019 Hold Harmless Grades for Corporations (289 School Corporations)
A: 50
B: 161
C: 66
D: 2
F: 2
N/A: 1
Appeal Pending: 7
2018-2019 Hold Harmless Grades for Schools (2,158 schools)
A: 680
B: 722
C: 423
D: 177
F: 69
N/A: 78
Appeal Pending: 9
On March 5, 2020, at approximately 7:15 a.m., The Frankfort Police Department, Frankfort Fire Department, and Clinton County EMS responded to Turtle Creek Apartments for an unresponsive child.
Upon arrival, a 4-month-old infant was found unresponsive and was transported to IU Health Frankfort Hospital. The infant was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Detectives are investigating along with the Clinton County Coroner. More information will be released at a later time.
With two (2) new projects recently announced at the I-65 & State Road 28 interchange (NHK manufacturing facility & Five Below distribution center), those respective projects are dependant upon the utility expansion from Jefferson to that area previously announced in June 2019.
During the Tuesday, March 3, 2020, County Commissioners meeting, Jon Query of HWC Engineering provided the Commissioners with a report on the bids for Divison “B” (Water Project) of the I-65 utility expansion from Jefferson. A total of six (6) bids were received.
The I-65 utility expansion project comprises two parts or divisions. Division “B” is the water portion while Division “A” is the sewer portion.
Division “A” of the project and has not been bid yet due to waiting on EDA grant funding status before that portion bids.
HWC Engineering received a total of six (6) bids on February 20, 2020, ranging from $4,720,735 to $5,635,390.
The low bidder was J.G. Case Construction Inc. of Muncie, IN. HWC Engineering has worked with J.G Case Construction Inc. on prior projects and “that work has all been acceptable and good,” said Query.
The low bid of $4,720,735 came back close to the revised estimated of $4,750,000. The biggest reason for the change in estimated project cost was the change from a 12″ to an 18″ water main.
HWC Engineering recommended the Commissioners accept the low bid from J.G. Case Contruction Inc. in the amount of $4,720,735 pending the final review from the financial advisor, Baker Tilly, and the funding agency, SRF.
“Given the schedule with the developments (at I-65), we need to proceed with this pretty quickly,” said Query. “They (the independent project developers) are wanting water service early next year…we need to get notice to proceed to the contractor in the next few weeks.”
“(I) was very pleased the amount of bidders that we received,” said Commissioner Josh Uitts. “It made it a competitive bid and I think we saw the results of that with the bid coming in right where we thought it would, our estimated budget.”
The Commissioners voted to accept the recommendation, 3-0.
When the Clinton County Commissioners met on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, they did so with a full room. Those in attendance ranged from the public concerned with the proposed solar farm to department heads to representatives of Invenergy, LLC, the parent company of Hardy Hills Solar Energy LLC.
Liz Stitzel of the Area Plan Commission came before the Clinton County Commissioners to present the favorable recommendation voted by the APC on Wednesday, February 26, 2020. The legal document is known as Lupac #02-20-358 Ordinance 2020-04.
The Lupac is a binding legal document, including the commitments previously agreed to, not only on the company but all individuals who hold interest in that land.
The presentation made by Stitzel came after the public portion of the Commissioners meeting where three (3) members of the public spoke on the topic of the Hardy Hills Solar Energy LLC proposed project, all three spoke against the proposed project.
The three individuals spoke on issues ranging from a potential loss of property value, groundwater contamination, impact on wildlife, and the perception the commissioners are rushing to make a decision.
“The only thing we could do this morning if we wanted to, is approve the rezoning of the overlay district,” said Commissioner Josh Uitts.
Commissioners Uitts made the recommendation to table the decision on voting on the Lupac at the meeting today and take it under consideration at a future point.
Stitzel informed the Commissioners under state law they have 90-days to either vote to approve or deny the Lupac or the Lupac becomes effective the way it is recommended by the Area Plan Commission without action.
“I think we have a lot of good conversation. We still have letters coming in and I just read two more,” said Commissioner Steve Woods. “I’m more than willing to wait to get this done, done the right way.”
The Commissioners’ next meeting could see a vote taken on the APC recommendation.
Frankfort travels to Greencastle to open Class 3A, Sectional 25 play to start its post-season play against the Tiger Cubs of Greencastle High School.
Tip-off begins at 7:00 p.m.
Other Clinton County Boys Basketball Schedule:
Rossville plays Carroll at Western Boone, Tuesday, March 3 at 6 p.m.
Clinton Prairie plays the winner of Western Boone vs Fountain Central, Friday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Western Boone
Clinton Central plays the winner of Attica vs North Vermillion, Friday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Attica
Rossville travels to Western Boone to open Class 2A, Sectional 38 play to start its post-season play against the Cougars of Carroll High School.
Tip-off begins at 6:00 p.m.
Other Clinton County Boys Basketball Schedule:
Frankfort plays Greencastle in Greencastle, Tuesday, March 3 at 7 p.m.
Clinton Prairie plays the winner of Western Boone vs Fountain Central, Friday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Western Boone
Clinton Central plays the winner of Attica vs North Vermillion, Friday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Attica
Mayor Judy Sheets’ first Board of Works meeting allowed her to introduce to the public the members of her Board of Works and Department Heads.
In addition to Mayor Sheets, Megan Sheets and Mark Mitchell make-up the three-person Board of Works. Mayor Sheets also noted there is no family relation to Megan Sheets or Travis Sheets. The comment was in response to posts on social media asking if there is any family relationship.
Mayor Sheets introduced the following individuals who will serve as her department heads:
John Kirby – Fire Chief
Jason Forsythe – Street Department Superintendent
Bart Kraning – Parks Superintendent
Scott Shoemaker – Police Deputy Chief
Don Stock – Director of Planning and Housing Initiatives
There is currently a vacancy for senior building inspector as Sam Payne retired today, Monday, March 2, 2020.
While a search is ongoing to fill this position, the BOW voted to accept an independent contractor contract with Sam Payne so the city can fulfill housing inspection in the interim until a person can be hired.
The BOW also set the ongoing meeting schedule as the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 5 p.m. in the council chambers. The BOW meeting will take place prior to 7 p.m. City Council meetings.
Mayor Judy Sheets took office at 12:01 P.M. on Monday, March 2, 2020.
Mayor Sheets will have her first public meeting at 5 p.m. this evening as she leads the Board of Works meeting in the Council Chambers.
