Elkhart County Commissioners congratulate leaf contest winners
GOSHEN — Winners of the Elkhart County leaf pickup contest for 2024 were announced during the county commissioner's meeting on Monday.
With a total prize of $50,000 available among contestants, with each team received a guaranteed $500 if they collected a ton of leaves. The remainder was then divided among the top teams.
Jamie Tubicsak, Elkhart County Landfill, said since the inception of the contest in 2018, 1,154 tons of leaves have been brought to the landfill, rather than potentially burned.
In 2024, competitive teams brought in 99 tons of leaves.
The top three teams in 2024 were Prairie Camp at first place with 31.77 tons winning a prize of $15,198; Yellow Creek Mennonite Church at second place with 30.49 tons winning a prize of $14,606; and Leaves for Light at third place with 20.37 tons winning a prize of $10,090
Elkhart County Landfill's Leaf Program educates residents on disposing leaves without burning.
Top three teams recognized for bringing in over 1,153 tons of leaves, reducing air pollution.
OTHER BOARD ITEMS
Commissioners terminated an agreement with the Elkhart County Regional Sewer District for fiber location services with the Foraker-Southwest-Tecumseh Project. County Attorney Steve Olsen explained that the county established a contract themselves for the services and so the contract was terminated.
Commissioners approved a request for Feb. 22 to use the courthouse lawn for a protest on basic human rights for Hispanics and Latinos.
Commissioners approved a request from Elkhart County Redevelopment to transfer a property at 25053 California Court to an abutting landowner for $3,000. The property will become part of three smaller parcels that the landowner will combine to be able to build a home on the site.
Commissioners received several requests for a master plan for a new county park at C.R. 17 and C.R. 20 currently known as Beachgrove. Abonmarche, American Structure Point Inc., Beacon Street Consulting, Context Design, Danch Harner & Associates Inc., Davey Resource Group, Inc., DLZ, Jones Petrie Rafinski, MKSK, and V3 Companies all submitted RFPs.
Commissioners approved an annual grant from the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative for meeting and food for travel, software, cellphones, lunch with a cop, community engagements and incentives, Bashor partnership, another other things.
They also approved a bonus grant from the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. The grant will held to fund a new Teen Community Outreach Manager at the Elkhart County Boys & Girls Club and a second trauma service dog to go to court with youth from the Juvenile Detention Center, probation and community meetings.
A Juvenile Community Corrections Grant for $151,802, another annual grant, for GPS and home detention staff was also approved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Former Colorado teachers union president Amie Baca-Oehlert launches congressional bid
Amie Baca-Oehlert, a former teachers union president, launches her congressional campaign in Colorado's 8th District at Adams City High School on June 5, 2025. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) It's suddenly a very crowded race in the Democratic primary for Colorado's most competitive congressional seat. One day after Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young announced his bid, former teachers union president Amie Baca-Oehlert became the latest Democratic hopeful in the 8th Congressional District, a key battleground in the nationwide battle for control of the House of Representatives. Baca-Oehlert, who served as president of the Colorado Education Association from 2018 to 2024, launched her campaign in front of a crowd of about 50 supporters Thursday evening at Adams City High School, where she got her first teaching job. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'When I look at Congress, I don't see people like me,' Baca-Oehlert said. 'I don't see enough teachers, Latinos, moms, union members or middle class Americans. What I do see is a broken system, a system that caters to the wealthy and well-connected, where plenty of politicians are looking out for themselves and their billionaire donors.' Drawn by an independent redistricting commission in 2021, the 8th District includes parts of Denver's northern suburbs as well as more rural areas in southern Weld County. Four in 10 residents of the district are Latino. The seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, a Fort Lupton Republican who unseated former Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo by a margin of fewer than 2,500 votes in the 2024 election. Despite representing one of the nation's most evenly divided congressional districts, Evans has remained a steadfast supporter of President Donald Trump's historically extreme anti-immigration agenda, his chaotic efforts to launch a global trade war and a sweeping GOP budget bill that would cut $625 billion from Medicaid. 'Nearly all of us are hurting right now, because of the fear, division and economic turmoil that Trump has created,' Baca-Oehlert said. 'And Evans is literally standing by — standing beside his friends like Lauren Boebert, to promote this disastrous agenda, and not fight against it.' Boebert, a staunch Trump supporter, is the Republican representative of Colorado's 4th Congressional District. Caraveo has launched a bid to win back her seat in 2026, joining a Democratic primary that also includes Young, state Reps. Manny Rutinel of Commerce City and Shannon Bird of Westminster. Baca-Oehlert's campaign launch featured endorsements from Adams County Commissioner Emma Pinter and former state Reps. Judy Solano and Joe Salazar. 'I know all the candidates that are running, I know all of them,' Solano told the crowd. 'But Amy's the one.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
Editorial: Leaders' resolve on Pulse memorial reflects our community's strength
It's time. It's time. It's past time. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings knows the truth of those words more than most. As the county's elected sheriff, he left his home in the pre-dawn hours of June 12, 2016 to rush to the site of downtown Orlando's Pulse nightclub. He'd stay there for nearly 24 hours, working beside his friend John Mina (who was at the time Orlando's police chief) as law enforcement frantically sought to rescue those trapped inside. Demings will likely never forget that night, nor the weeks and months that followed. There are so many more Central Floridians who have horrific memories engraved on their souls. The survivors who huddled and hid as a gunman stalked through the club. The emergency-department staffers who worked tirelessly to save as many lives as they could. The family members who pleaded to know if their sons, daughters, spouses, friends or other loved ones were among the dead. Community leaders like Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan, the county's first openly gay elected official, who rushed to the site and tried to comfort family members' fear and grief. And the millions of Central Floridians who fought to reconcile the knowledge that their home had become the site of the worst mass shooting in the nation's history — up until that point. (Sadly, it's been eclipsed). Those survivors may not need a memorial to recall the horror of those early dawn hours. But they deserve one, especially if it nurtures the lasting changes that brought Orlando-area residents together in anguish and solidarity. That compassion has centered on the LGBTQ+ community that formed the base of Pulse's clientele, and the young Hispanics who came from across Central Florida for a weekly celebration of Latin music. It was an outpouring of acceptance that transcended the political, changing Orlando for good, and for the better. It lives on in many local residents's stubborn resistance to anti-immigrant crusades and attempts to marginalize sexual minorities. The names and faces of the 49 'angels' who died that night should never be forgotten. Nor should the terror of another 53 who were wounded but survived. The psychological scars of those who ran for their lives, or who huddled in hiding while waiting for rescue, also deserve acknowledgement. Most of all, the tragic lessons of this hate crime should be memorialized in the hopes that it avoids a repeat. And the resilience of local residents — their steadfast refusal to let Orlando and its surroundings be redefined by hate — should be celebrated. That's why Orange County residents should applaud the leadership of elected county and city leaders, who are joining forces to insist on (and pay for) a memorial on the site of the nightclub at the corner of Orange Avenue and Kaley Street. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer pushed for the city to take the lead after the collapse of the nonprofit foundation that was supposed to build the memorial. The wait has been infuriating, stretching the boundaries of trust and raising serious questions about what happened to millions of dollars raised toward the ostensible goal of creating a suitable tribute. Local leaders should continue to push — through any means at their disposal — for a thorough audit of OnePulse, the nonprofit that solicited money toward a memorial yet stumbled again and again. But the plans for a $12 million memorial, developed under the guidance of Orlando city government, are heartbreakingly beautiful — a glowing tribute of brightly colored glass, flowing water and the names of those angels who now stand as guardians to this community's resilience, hope and love. Plans unveiled before the County Commission Tuesday show a site that will offer ample opportunity for reflection — both of the tragedy that brought Central Floridians to their knees, and the inspiration leading them to stand together in solidarity and service without prejudice. Commissioners spent nearly two hours discussing the city's request to contribute $5 million toward the cost of the memorial, but the outcome was never seriously in doubt. The biggest point of strife: Who would make the motion to proceed with the donation. Demings took that victory by fiat, and it's hard to criticize his decision. His early, strong leadership almost certainly broke down barriers among more conservative communities that might otherwise have responded to the massacre with silence — or worse. There are still big questions ahead, including a continued probe into the failures of the OnePulse Foundation. City and county leaders should work together to demand answers. Some community members may also criticise the decision to remove most — possibly all — of the nightclub building and its iconic sign as the memorial is constructed. Certainly, their shared financial contribution gives every Orange County resident the right to voice their opinion; for more information, visit But that should not obscure the victory here, and Orange County and Orlando residents should be rightly proud of their elected leaders for insisting that plans for a memorial move forward — despite the delays and abuse of trust. Once again, this community has chosen to transcend tragedy and hatred with hope and unity. It is the right decision, and within two years this city should have a fitting memorial to the sacrifice of young people who only wanted to dance and have fun, without boundaries or prejudice. It is time. It is past time. The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Executive Editor Roger Simmons and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
A new Florida law aims to protect immigrants from notary fraud scams
In many Latin American countries, a notary public, or notario público, is a highly trained legal professional and, in many cases, an attorney. With notaries public in the United states, that's not always the case. The similarity in terminology can lead to confusion and open the door to fraud, making immigrants in the United States believe they're dealing with a qualified lawyer. A new law (HB 915) will prohibit Florida notaries without the appropriate law license from misrepresenting their legal experience when advertising their services, and bars them from using terms such as 'immigration specialist', 'notario público' and 'immigration consultant.' The law will take effect July 1 and was sponsored by State Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, and Democratic Reps. Johanna López of Orlando and Marie Paule Woodson of Hollywood. The law also gives victims of fraud a way to seek justice or compensation. The bill received bipartisan support, though Gov. Ron DeSantis did not make any specific mention of it. Florida has made cracking down on illegal immigration one of its priorities, and DeSantis said the state can serve as an example for others in that effort. According to the law, notaries who are not lawyers must clearly display a disclaimer, in both English and any other language used in their materials, outlining the limitations of their role, including that they 'may not give legal advice or accept fees for legal advice,' and that they cannot represent people in 'immigration matters.' In a statement, Woodson underscored the importance of helping those who are most at risk. 'This bill is about protecting vulnerable communities, about advertisement, misleading advertisement, and unauthorized legal practices,' she said. 'It's about transparency and accountability.' Community advocate Ana Lamb said she receives at least a dozen cases and complaints each month from people who claim to have been victims of fraud by unscrupulous notaries. Lamb, a certified notary public herself, said confusion is especially common among Hispanics. 'A notary is not a lawyer, but people still get confused when they're dealing with immigration problems,' Lamb said. 'In that desperation, people start looking for help and often end up with someone who lies to them and tells them what they want to hear.' Teresita Matos-Post, executive director of the Presbyterian Beth-El Farmworker Ministry in Wimauma, said the recent legislation 'is an important step' in protecting vulnerable communities and immigrants who may not be familiar with how the legal system works in the United States. 'In many Latin American countries, notaries are attorneys with broad legal authority, which can cause confusion and lead to abuse here,' Matos-Post added. Beth-El launched its notary services program last April in response to a growing community need. The organization now has five registered notaries. The program includes educational efforts to help community members clearly understand the role and limitations of a notary public, which helps reduce the risk of fraud. In Tampa, one of the most severe fraud cases was orchestrated by Elvis Harold Reyes of Brandon. Reyes posed as a pastor, notary and immigration attorney. He collected thousands of dollars from more than 200 immigrants by promising to obtain documents such as driver's licenses, work permits and green cards. In 2021, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Elizabeth Gutierrez, a Hispanic community leader and founder of the Wimauma nonprofit Enterprising Latinas, said it makes sense to define the scope of notary services because 'there are too many bad actors.' 'This law will protect people needing professional and experienced legal services,' Gutierrez said.
