MENTONE – Lou Mediano was named as Mentone Police Department’s new deputy during Monday night’s Mentone Town Council meeting. Mediano replaces Terry Engstrand, who resigned in October. The council approved hiring Mediano, effective April 1, at a $40,000-a-year salary. Mediano, 37, has served as town marshal for Claypool Police Department for the past eight years. He also has served as a field training officer for Indiana Department of Corrections. “I’m looking forward to serving Mentone. There are a lot of great people here,” Mediano said. Jim Eads, Mentone town marshal, said Mediano will do a good job. “We will still maintain community policing we do in the schools, and I will take him around this week and introduce him to local business owners,” Eads said. In other business, the council approved Mediano and Eads to attend training through the Indiana Marshal’s Association April 15 and 16 in Lafayette. The council approved the police officers becoming members of the association. Also during the meeting, Tim Croy, councilman, informed the council he’d like for the town to purchase land owned by Jack and Rita Price Simpson for water and sewer or a lift station for the town. The land is behind the Dollar General store at the end of Jackson Street. “We’d be willing to sell the property if the town can use it,” Rita said. The council approved going forward with an appraisal of the property. Council member Shelly Krueger announced the town’s farmer’s market begins May 7 from 8 a.m. to noon at the northeast corner of Ind. 25 and Tucker Street. The council approved a $945 contract with Ziebart, Warsaw, for rust treatment on the street department’s Chevy Dump Truck.
