MARKLEVILLE — Thanks to the help from a young boy’s lemonade stand, the Markleville Police Department has three new Vehicle Trauma Kits for its three police cars.
The kits — which contain a tourniquet, bandages, surgical gauze and other related items — are designed for vehicles, boats and other locations where they could prove to be useful, specifically in treating gunshot wounds.
Madison County youth Garrett Imel raised money through a lemonade stand set up at the Adams Markleville Fire Territory ice cream social this summer. Along with lemonade, Imel sold cookies and donuts.
“It’s called Garrett’s Lemonade Stand, and that’s what he wanted to do with the profits, buy us trauma kits,” Basey added.
The trauma kits cost $150 each.
“I wanted to recognize Garrett and give him and his family a ‘thank you’,” Police chief Tim Basey told the council.
He said AMFT chief Jim Chaplin brought the kits to the police station last week.
Basey said the kits are not first aid sets, something they already have, but rather are designed to treat injuries that typically result from a shooting.
Sneaky Santa
The Markleville Police Department, for the fourth straight year, will conduct its Sneaky Santa program to help local children have a better Christmas.
A fundraiser conducted last month raised $2,300 and garnered donations of new and gently-used toys, clothes and shoes that were on the youngster’s Christmas lists.
Basey said Sneaky Santa has grown each year. The program helped 25 kids the first year. He anticipates about 85 children will benefit this year.
Donations will be accepted until Sunday. Interested donors can do so by calling the police department at 765-533-2354 or by contacting Basey at the Markleville Police Department Facebook page.
Toys will be distributed Tuesday.
“It’s kind of geared toward families that have been taking it a little hard,” Basey said. “It’s where moms and dads can come in and get the gifts, and they can distribute them to the kids.”
Added reserves
Markleville Police Department has added four reserve officers to give the unit a total to 13. Reserve officers work 20 hours per month with a minimum of 16 hours.
All four officers are veterans in the field. The group includes recently retired Indiana State Trooper Bob May, who has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience; Rob O’Reilly, a 20-year veteran of the Frankton Police Department; James Doty, a 17-year veteran formerly of the Ingalls Police Department; and Steve Lovins, a 15-year veteran who worked in Pendleton.
BZA officers sought
The Markleville Board of Zoning Appeals is looking for two members to have a full five-member board.
The current board is at four, with one representative, Dan Fesler, planning to step down once the two new members have been found. Other current members are Doug Tupling, Sherilyn Stohler and Darlene Coverdale.
Those interested must be a resident of Markleville and can find more information by calling town hall at 765-533-2354.
The town is also looking for a new building inspector. Brad Orms gave his resignation to the town council on Monday. Orms was named the town’s building inspector during the summer. He had shared a dual role previously with Tupling, in a change that was made to free up Tupling, who wears many hats in the town, including bMarkleville sewer inspector and a member of both the board of zoning appeals and plan commission.
Do not enter
The town has placed a “No Outlet” sign at Rosewood Drive. The sign was suggested by a family that lives on the road as an alert for semi-trucks that have tried taking the road located off State Street between county roads 900 South and 950 South.
The town also has plans to add an additional “No Outlet” sign for Riley Road, also located off State Street, north of Home Avenue.
Re-appointment approved
The council unanimously approved Linda Fesmire for another four-year term as a member of the Adams Markleville Fire Territory board.