New Winfield town marshal looks foward to move to remodeled police station
Robert K. Byrd, a little more than one month into his new job as Winfield's new town marshal, is looking forward to the future including a move into a newly remodeled police department.
'The first month has been busy and fast-paced and we've done a deep dive into the neighborhoods to do a lot of listening and learning,' Byrd said.
Byrd, a Chesterton resident, was sworn in as Winfield's new town marshal at the April 22 Town Council meeting and started his work immediately afterward.
In addition to his new position as town marshal, Byrd will also be overseeing the move into a new police department.
The present police department, at 10645 Randolph St. in the Winfield Municipal Complex, will be relocated to 10688 Randolph St., in the former People's Bank.
'Hopefully we will be making the final move by sometime next week,' he said.
He said plans are to hold an official opening day event which residents would be invited to attend.
During his update at the Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Byrd complimented his department of eight, not including himself, calling them 'dedicated officers who genuinely care about Winfield.'
Plans also include changing the status of the police department from marshal-based to metropolitan-based, he said.
Byrd, whose salary was prorated starting from April 22, will receive $95,000 this year; $96,900 in 2026; $98,38 in 2027 and $100,814 in 2028, according to an agreement unanimously approved by the Town Council.
Byrd is a 50-year law enforcement professional who began his career as a military police officer in the U.S. Army.
He replaced former Town Marshal Dan Ball who resigned in late January.
Ball was sworn in as Winfield's first town marshal on Aug. 26, 2014, and was instrumental in starting up the new police department a month later.
Ball was placed on paid administrative leave, then later resigned, following a Jan. 10 meeting with two members of the town council — Councilman Zack Beaver, R-at-large, and Councilman Tim Clayton, R-at-large.
In other business, the Town Council on Tuesday opened two bids received for its 2025 Community Crossings Match Grant Road Project.
The bids included a total of $1.8 million from Rieth-Riley and $1.7 million from Milestone Contractors.
The bids were taken under advisement but sent to both the engineering and legal departments for review.
The Town Council agreed to allow Town Council President Zack Beaver to sign off on the lowest, responsible bid after review given the warm weather timeline.
Roads that are part of the road maintenance project are: 104th Avenue, from Pike Street to Randolph Street; 106th Avenue, from Newton Avenue to Pike Street; 103rd Avenue, from Nicklaus Street to where it dead ends; 105th Avenue, from Benton Street to Dearborn Street; 105th Lane, from Dearborn Street to Green Place; Green Place, from 190 feet north of 109th Avenue to 105th Lane; Benton Street, from 109th Avenue to 105th Court; and Lawrence Drive from, 112th Avenue to 110th Lane.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Politico
4 hours ago
- Politico
The 7 pieces of the House megabill that could succumb to Senate rules
Pet policy measures stuffed into President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' by House Republicans are now at risk of getting jettisoned by the Senate. From Planned Parenthood to gun silencers to expedited energy permits, Speaker Mike Johnson and committee chairs tucked various provisions into the recently passed megabill to secure votes — and deliver some elusive GOP wins. But several are considered likely to run afoul of strict Senate rules governing reconciliation — the budget process Republicans are using to skirt a Democratic filibuster. Under what's known as the Byrd rule, 'extraneous' measures that have only a negligible impact on the budget, or none at all, have to go. Senate Republicans are expected to closely follow the guidance of parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough as they embark on the 'Byrd bath' in the coming weeks, with noncompliant provisions sometimes referred to as, yes, 'Byrd droppings.' Here are some of the biggest areas to watch for a big Byrd mess: The most consequential item subject to Byrd review is the GOP's proposal to use a controversial accounting tactic to essentially zero out the cost of extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts. Republicans temporarily sidestepped getting a formal blessing of the 'current policy baseline' method from MacDonough as part of the budget resolution debate earlier this year, but Senate GOP staff have met with her several times this year on how to try to craft the megabill, two people with knowledge of the discussions said. Other tax provisions are also at risk, though Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) has worked with House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) to fine-tune some of the House text in anticipation of Byrd challenges. The House megabill includes a 10-year ban on states enforcing regulations on artificial intelligence. While there has been no official budgetary score for the provision, Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has acknowledged the provision will be challenged for a Byrd violation. During a marathon House Energy and Commerce Committee markup earlier this month, panel staff called the provision a 'policy change,' which could be detrimental to Republicans' case that it can be included under Senate rules. GOP aides argue it's necessary to carry out a $500 million upgrade of technology at the Commerce Department but Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said it didn't seem to pass the budget-impact smell test. 'That sounds awfully policy-centric in my mind,' he said. Senate Democrats are planning to challenge House language that would place limits on the federal courts' ability to enforce contempt citations. House Republicans have argued the language is aimed at frivolous lawsuits, but Democrats and some legal scholars view it as an attempt to rein in the courts' ability to hold the Trump administration accountable. Some House Republicans have also vowed to try to get the Senate to remove the language, with Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) telling constituents at a town hall this week that he wasn't aware the provision was in the bill. House Republicans made a major change to the way gun silencers are regulated as part of an eleventh-hour effort to win over Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.). They had already agreed to eliminate a $200 transfer tax on gun silencers in an initial draft of the bill. The final version, however, went much further — also ending the $200 tax on the manufacture of gun silencers and removing them from the regulatory purview of the National Firearms Act, which involves mandatory registration and other strictures. While Republicans are confident the tax eliminations will survive in the Senate, there was internal debate over whether the deregulatory provision would ultimately fall under Byrd, according to one person granted anonymity to disclose private deliberations. Senate Agriculture Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) has privately warned that the House's agriculture package — which includes $60 billion in programs typically included in the farm bill — could face Byrd-related complications. Boozman supports including 'risk management' policies for farmers — like bolstering crop insurance, which make up the most expensive parts of the farm bill. But he and other Senate Republicans are skeptical that some other programs — dealing with biosecurity, trade promotion, research and more — will comply with Byrd. The decision has big implications for ag policy: If those pieces are stripped out, it could become difficult, if not impossible, for lawmakers to pass a 'skinny' farm bill later this year. MacDonough ruled in 2017 that language aimed at defunding Planned Parenthood did not comply with Byrd amid Republicans' bid to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Now, the GOP is making a similar effort, with the House including language broadly barring Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding. The parliamentarian isn't the only threat here: Several centrist Republicans in both the House and Senate oppose targeting the organization, which provides other health care services in addition to abortion. House Republicans moved to streamline permitting for fossil fuel projects in their version of the megabill, but — as they have long acknowledged — Senate budget rules are likely to come into play. In 2022, for instance, Democrats omitted energy permitting provisions sought by then-Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin from the reconciliation package that became the Inflation Reduction Act, in part due to Byrd concerns. But Republicans say the narrower measures they included that raise money by charging fees to developers to expedite their permits could skirt Byrd scrutiny. They've already dropped several pipeline permitting provisions and softened language to advance the controversial Ambler Road project in Alaska.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Terra Alta council appoints mayor, recorder at emergency meeting
TERRA ALTA, (WBOY) — Following the recent resignations of its mayor and town recorder, Terra Alta's Town Council held an emergency meeting Thursday evening to appoint people to serve as interims in those positions. During the emergency session, the council appointed James 'Monk' Tasker as interim mayor and Jason Verbonitz as interim town recorder, both will serve in these roles until July 1. The town's municipal election will be held on June 10. 'So, filling that vacancy of mayor and recorder, we had to fill that so that we can continue to move forward to pay our bills, our utilities, things like that so we aren't falling behind with late fees and things being shut off,' Terra Alta Town Clerk Kambra Sisler said. 'So, now that we do have an active mayor and a recorder, we can proceed with paying our monthly bills as usual and try to take steps forward to get moving in the right direction.' Earlier this month, former Terra Alta Mayor Dan Hauger took responsibility for the town's failure to meet its 2025-2026 budget deadline, which could jeopardize the town's ability to collect taxes for the next fiscal year. The West Virginia State Auditor's office previously told 12 News that the town was seven weeks behind on submitting an extension to submit its budget. Levy funds in jeopardy for Terra Alta Public Library 'We did submit the budget last Friday, [May 23], we sent that by email to the state,' Sisler said. 'We got an email back that said that 'it was their standard acknowledgement that we submitted the budget, and that they had received it, that the acknowledgement does not imply it is being processed at this time. I must speak with our legal department before I consider processing this budget document that you have submitted.' So, I do have phone calls into the state today.' During the meeting, concerned community members questioned the four council members about the town charter and the recent appointments of the mayor and recorder. Town officials admitted they could not locate the current charter and only found an outdated version from before the town was officially established. They also explained that they were following guidance from the state code in making the appointments. Despite Hauger's resignation, he is the sole candidate listed on the ballot for mayor in the upcoming election, making his re-election highly likely. Should Hauger be re-elected, he will be required to resign once more, prompting the council to appoint a new mayor for the term beginning July 1. A comparable situation applies to former town recorder Mikaela Bernard, who is running as a write-in candidate against two others. If elected, she would also need to resign, and the council would once again appoint someone to fill the position. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
On a crammed U.S. Women's Open leaderboard at Erin Hills, a Cinderella lurks
ERIN, Wisconsin – Hailee Cooper was trying to get in somewhere at Erin Hills earlier this week, but had left her credential in her golf bag. She pulled out her player clip, but that didn't work. A caddie passed by and convinced security that she was a player. Advertisement 'He goes, 'Just become a big name this week,'' said Cooper with a laugh. 'And I was like, 'OK, let's do it.' ' Hailey Cooper off to a great start at U.S. Women's Open Cooper, 25, got off to a flying start on Thursday at Erin Hills in her second U.S. Women's Open start and first as a professional. She had it to 3 under until two late bogeys dropped her to 1 under, three shots back of a logjam of six players leading at 4 under. Cooper wasn't really sure if she even wanted to turn pro last year until after she did it. When she played in an Annika Women's All Pro Tour event and won, she decided that she wanted more. The smiley Texan ended up playing her way onto the Epson Tour through the WAPT and has put together a solid season so far with back-to-back top-5 finishes in recent weeks. In seven starts in 2025, Cooper hasn't finished outside the top 25 on the developmental tour. She's made just shy of $50,000 so far this season, relying on the support of one sponsor, Reliance Matrix, to ease the financial strain. Advertisement 'Huge blessing,' said Cooper, 'because you can't do it. We don't make a lot of money out here.' U.S. Women's Open offers life-changing purse The U.S. Women's Open purse of $12 million offers a life-changing opportunity for so many in the field. Those who miss the cut won't be out any money for expenses either, as every player receives $10,000. Cooper got into the field by advancing through a sectional qualifier – all 38 holes. Outside of her now two U.S. Women's Open appearances, Cooper, who won the 2016 U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball title at Streamsong with partner Kaitlyn Papp, has never played in an LPGA event. She has decided to give herself two years to get on the LPGA, and she if she doesn't make it, she'll likely move on to something else. Advertisement 'I'm not gonna be 28 or 29 on the Epson Tour,' she said. It's a familiar refrain, though Cooper, who played collegiate golf at both Texas and Texas A&M, got a later start than most. Cooper's dad wanted Hailee to try pro golf Ronnie Cooper wanted his daughter to give pro golf a chance after she rediscovered her love of the game at A&M. 'It's a game, but, you know, you live and die and starve and eat because of the money you make as a pro,' he said. 'But the good thing is, just give it a shot. I mean, worst-case scenario, you turn back amateur, we get ready for the mid-ams, we go play in stuff like that. Golf will always be a part of your life.' Advertisement The last time Cooper played in a Women's Open, she had her dad on the bag. This time, she reached out to A&M coach Gerrod Chadwell to see if he could help connect her with a professional caddie. He came back with Travis Wilson, longtime caddie of Chadwell's wife, Stacy Lewis. It wouldn't be a U.S. Women's Open without a few Cinderella stories sprinkled in the mix. Dad said Hailee will be out signing autographs til midnight if she makes it big. Cooper finds herself in the top 20 early, and the affable, level-leaded pro is making the most of whatever happens next. 'I might not get to play this again,' she said after a formal meeting with the press, 'so just enjoy it.' This article originally appeared on Golfweek: On a crammed U.S. Women's Open leaderboard, a Cinderella lurks
