by
Fred Swift
Hamilton County Reporter
If all goes well Hamilton County youngsters will begin using the latest Koteewi Park attraction on Saturday. It’s a ‘tubing hill’ designed for snow sledding, but with inner tubes instead of sleds. County park department employees, using a snow-making machine, are preparing a heavy base of snow on the hill for season long winter use at the county’s largest park west of Strawtown.
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Darren Murphy was sworn in as a court magistrate on Monday afternoon at the Government and Judicial Center. He takes the position formerly held by David Najjar who became judge of Hamilton Superior Court 5 last month. A reception hosted by Murphy’s former law firm followed the swearing-in administered by Superior Court 6 Judge Gail Bardach.
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The Carmel School Board held its last meeting of the year Monday without making any decision on the future of school superintendent Nick Wahl. He was placed on administrative leave in October pending a performance review according to school board spokesmen. No date has been announced for a decision on Wahl who continues to draw his salary while on leave. Roger McMichael and Amy Dudley are acting superintendents.
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The Hamilton County Republican Party is moving its headquarters from Fishers to Westfield. The new offices will open in January at the new Edge Rock Development west of U.S. 31 and south of State Road 32, according to GOP County Chairwoman Laura Campbell. An open house at the new headquarters will be announced later.
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A public retirement party for George Kristo, longtime director of the Hamilton County Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs, is planned for Jan. 5 at the county Government Center. Kristo has served 22 years with the council which works to discourage drinking and illegal drug use by county youth. Kristo’s successor has not yet been named.
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In only four weeks the 2018 election season begins. Candidates for 52 local offices ranging from state legislator to township board member may begin filing for office on Jan. 10. Some candidates have already announced their intentions to run in the May primary. Filing runs until noon on Feb. 9.