A brief look at county news

The County Line

John D. Proffitt, longtime Hamilton County attorney, was awarded the prestigious title of Legendary Lawyer by the Indiana State Bar Foundation at the organization’s banquet Thursday. Proffitt also received a Sagamore of the Wabash for his nearly 60 years of service in the legal profession. Formerly a partner in the Noblesville law firm of Campbell, Kyle and Proffitt, he is now associated with the firm of Altman, Poindexter and Wyatt. Proffitt and his wife, former Circuit Court Judge Judy Proffitt, reside in Carmel.

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The four announced candidates for county sheriff in next May’s Republican primary election vowed Thursday to make new and effective efforts to fight Hamilton County’s dangerous opioid drug crisis if elected. Bill Clifford, Eddie Moore, Mitch Russell and Jason Sloderbeck each spoke briefly to a crowd of more than 200 at the Carmel Clay GOP Club’s annual Pork Roast. Also attending were Congresswoman Susan Brooks and newly elected State Sen. Victoria Spartz.

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Enrollment in Hamilton County’s public schools has reached 60,000 this school year, up from 58,600 last year. Hamilton Southeastern is the largest with well over 20,000 students. Sheridan is the smallest with around 1,100. (Figures do not include private schools Guerin Catholic or University High School.) In 1970, when the county’s total population was 55,000, school enrollment was about 14,000. Many school officials say enrollment will soon “level off,” but obviously not yet.

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County Commissioners have changed their next two meeting dates. There will be no meeting Sept. 25. Commissioners will meet Oct. 2. An Oct. 9 meeting has been called off. They will convene again on Oct. 23.