Papacek awarded Pillar of the Community
Also, NW banned from conference play; Tuesday@TheTech focuses on career development
This article is brought to you by Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union. Hey! It's time to par-tay! 🏖️ Join Solidarity for its Members Only Beach Party for a great time at Kokomo Beach! ⛱️ Tuesday, July 25, from 7 - 9 p.m. ⛱️ Your Solidarity membership, debit, or credit card acts as your ticket to join the party. Click here bit.ly/3Jdy2NI for more information.
Recently retired Howard County Councilman Jim Papacek was honored this week with the county’s Pillar of the Community award, recognizing his 47 years of public service. Surrounded by friends and colleagues, the former local leader accepted the award along with a Sagamore of the Wabash, issued by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, on July 17.
Papacek retired from public service at the beginning of the year, having held political office for nearly five decades. The Howard County Commissioners made the presentation, and several in attendance spoke fondly of Papacek and his service.
“Several years ago as director of the Kinsey Youth Center, I came to the council and asked for specific raises,” said Commissioner Jeff Lipinski. “The raises didn't go through. Mr. Papacek two days later called me and said, ‘Hey, we're going to fix this eventually. Just trust me that it will happen.
“The following June, I was sitting in my office, and I get a phone call that said Mr. Papacek here. He stayed for two or three hours, and we worked through it. That September, the council passed the raise we were asking for with additional things. He's definitely a man of his word; a man of integrity.”
Mayor Tyler Moore attended to celebrate with Papacek. As a county commissioner, Moore worked along side his council peer during his 11 years in county office.
“I had the pleasure of spending 11 of the tail end of your 47 years with you,” said Moore. “As Commissioner, I appreciated your diligence. You made the tough decisions, but always kept an open mind. On behalf of a grateful city within our county, we thank you for your years of service and wish you all the best.”
Council president John Roberts also offered words of respect to Papacek. Roberts previously unseated Papacek from the council as a political opponent, then welcomed him back two years later as a colleague when the elder councilman won election to an at-large seat.
“After all these years on the council, I don't know how a man can give any more than what you gave,” said Robert of Papacek. “You’ve lived a life of service. And being a pillar of the community, it is entirely appropriate that you receive this award.
“It ought to be noted that Jim didn't speak much during the meetings. He's a humble, humble servant, never claiming credit for himself. But when he spoke, it often directed the course of the conversation, and action was taken from your words. I salute you. I thank you. I wish you the very, very best, and you've given us all a beacon to follow.”
NW Schools banned from football conference play
Tigers won’t play football tournaments unless deal is struck with Hoosier Conference in punishment for switch to Three Rivers
Northwestern Schools might not get to play in this season’s Hoosier Conference football tournaments, according to Northwestern School Corp. Superintendent Kristen Bilkey. Northwestern is now negotiating with the conference to play the 2023-24 football season because of a punitive ban placed on the school. The Hoosier Conference disqualified Northwestern from conference play due to the school’s intent to leave for the Three Rivers Conference in the 2024-2025 season.
In the school’s July Board of Trustees meeting, Bilkey stated, “We have a year left in the Hoosier Conference, and we are going to the Three Rivers Conference, which is a better fit for our student athletes. The Hoosier Conference has decided that they aren’t going to allow our teams to participate in conference tournaments because of our actions of leaving.”
Many Indiana high school athletic programs have announced that they are switching athletic conferences in the last several months. Locally, Lewis Cass School Corp. is among the schools to also leave the Hoosier Conference.
According to Bilkey, after Lewis Cass announced their intended switch, the Hoosier Conference decided it would punish future programs that considered leaving.
“Lewis Cass left, and the Hoosier Conference got together and quickly and decided that anybody who tried to leave like that would be charged $2,000 per school, which would be $18,000, unless you get an agreement.”
During negotiations, it was found that the Hoosier Conference had broken its own constitution’s timeline rules by adding monetary fines to the sanctions against Northwestern without proper notice.
“I checked with the state, and that was null and void; there was no financial penalty,” said Bilkey. “We are still working with them on it, but it is just disappointing that they would choose to do something that would affect our students.”
Tuesday@TheTech focuses on student-employer connections
Ivy Tech Kokomo’s next Tuesday@TheTech will focus on the student-employer connections offered by the College’s Ivy+ Career Link programs. The Career Link department provides career development services for Ivy Tech students and alumni and works to meet the employee needs of area businesses and industries.
The open house for prospective students and alumni is set for 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, in the Main Building on the campus at 1815 E. Morgan St. in Kokomo.
“This event will include a panel of employers from various industries in the Kokomo economic region,” said Katie Loman, executive director of Ivy+ Career Link for the Ivy Tech Kokomo Service Area. “These partners will share information about their industries – past, present and future. They’ll discuss career opportunities and what they look for in employees and answer questions from those attending the event.”
Loman said this offers a great opportunity for students and graduates to get an in-depth look into an area of interest and start building a network to support their career development.
This is one of a series of monthly events aimed at sharing Ivy Tech’s high-tech facilities and broad range of programming in the Kokomo Service Area, which includes Cass, Fulton, Howard, Miami, Pulaski and Tipton counties. Participants will have an opportunity to tour the campus and learn about the many support options offered by Career Link.
For more information about how to register for this Tuesday@TheTech, go to ivytech.edu/tuesdays or email Kokomo-enrollment@ivytech.edu . Walk-ins are welcome. For more information on Ivy+ Career Link, contact Loman at kloman@ivytech.edu or 765-252-5495.