William Perryman Hobart Precinct 23 Committeeman

10/13/2026

🍁 LEAF VACUUM COLLECTION: Oct. 19 – Dec. 11. Please rake loose leaves into narrow piles within 5 feet of the street for collection.

✅ COMPOST BAG COLLECTION: Compost bags will continue to be collected on residents' regularly scheduled trash days through Nov. 13.

🚛 CITY YARD DROP-OFF: Residents can drop off bagged leaves and yard waste at the City Yard 24 hours a day, seven days a week, free of charge.

For more information about fall leaf collection and Public Works services, visit: https://cityofhobart.org/189/Public-Works

10/06/2026

Today marks the start of early voting, a crucial opportunity for citizens to engage in the democratic process. Attached are the early voting locations and sample ballots for Lake Station, New Chicago, and both Hobart and Ross Township within Hobart.

You will also encounter two proposed amendments to the Indiana Constitution, alongside three questions regarding the retention of judges.

Please take the time to research on these amendments. Hopefully see all of you at the polls.

10/06/2026

I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones of City of Gary Councilwoman Mary Brown following her passing.

For over twenty years, Councilwoman Brown devoted herself to serving the people of Gary, representing the 3rd District with unwavering commitment. Her legacy of public service and dedication to the community will forever be cherished.

During this challenging time, my thoughts and prayers are with all who are mourning her loss. May her contributions to her community inspire us, and may she rest in peace.

Sincerely,
William Perryman

09/29/2026

Provisional Ballots
General Information on Provisional Ballots
Laws and procedures regarding provisional ballots are covered in IC 3-11.7.
The following information is taken from the Voter's Bill of Rights:
What is a provisional ballot?
• There are several situations in which you may be required to cast a provisional ballot as a voter:
1. You lack the requisite photo identification.
2. Your name appears on the poll list, but you have been challenged as not eligible to vote at the precinct for some other reason sworn to in writing by the person who challenges your eligibility to vote.
3. An order has been issued by a court extending the hours that the polls must remain open.
• A provisional ballot allows you to cast a vote if:
1. There is a question about your qualification to vote in the precinct (for example, you are not on the poll book), which is not resolved by a fail-safe procedure and you believe you are qualified to vote in the precinct; or
2. You have been challenged as not qualified to vote in your precinct (for example, you did not have photo identification).
• A person may not challenge the right of an individual to vote at an election in the precinct solely on the basis of the individual’s:
1. Enrollment in an educational institution; or
2. Being adjudged mentally ill and committed to an institution; or
3. Registration to vote at an address that is housing provided for students by the educational institution.
4. Actual or perceived affiliation with a political party; or
5. Support or opposition to a candidate or the adoption of a public question.
• Your provisional ballot will be kept separate from the other ballots cast in that precinct. After Election Day, the county election board will decide whether you were qualified to vote in that precinct and whether your ballot should be counted. Voters CANNOT cast a provisional ballot on a direct record electronic voting system; a provisional ballot must be cast on a traditional hand-counted paper ballot or an optical scan ballot card, which is then secured in a PRE-4/PRO-2 envelope for the county election board to review at a provisional ballot hearing.
• If you cast a provisional ballot, you have until noon, ten (10) days after the election to follow up with the county election board and either provide the necessary documentation or complete an affidavit available in the clerk’s office to affirm one of the photo ID law’s exemptions applies to you.
• You will be able to contact your county election board after Election Day to find out whether your ballot was counted, and if it was not counted, why not. This information can also be found on the voter’s portal page after logging in to indianavoters.com, if you are a registered voter of the county where you cast your provisional ballot.
How do you cast a provisional ballot?
Generally, the same rules and procedures that apply to casting a traditional paper ballot apply to casting a provisional ballot, but there are some special procedures that are similar to casting an absentee ballot:
1. You must mark the provisional ballot privately, unless you are entitled to assistance and request it.
2. You enclose the provisional ballot inside a provisional ballot secrecy envelope provided for this purpose (Form PRO-2) and seal the envelope.
3. You return the sealed envelope, with the ballot inside, to the inspector.
4. It is important for both the voter and the challenger to complete both sides of the provisional ballot envelope (PRE-4 FORM, PRO-2 FORM). This information is used by the county election board to determine whether or not your vote will count. Inaccurate or missing information may prevent a properly cast ballot from being counted.
General Information on Challenging a Voter
The Challenging Process is covered in 3-11-8-20 through IC 3-11-8-23.5.
The following information is taken from the Election Day Handbook:
Who may Challenge a Voter?
1. A member of the precinct election board (the inspector or either judge).
2. A poll clerk (but only if the clerk does so based on a questionable signature by the voter on the poll list).
3. A challenger appointed by an independent candidate or a political party with the proper credentials.
4. During a primary election, a voter who is a member of the political party whose ballot is being requested by the voter.
Situations in which a Challenge Should be Issued
1. If the voter is unable or unwilling to present photo ID that meets the photo ID requirements.
2. If the voter’s name does not appear on the poll list (the voter is not registered to vote in the precinct) unless the voter qualifies to vote using one of the “Fail-Safes” explained in Chapter Five of this manual
3. The voter’s name appears on the poll list, but the voter does not currently reside in the precinct, unless the voter qualifies to vote using one of the “Fail-Safes” explained in Chapter five of this manual.
4. The poll list indicates that the voter is also required to present additional residence documentation, but is not able to do so. (See Chapter Four on Additional Documentation.)
5. The voter is not a U.S. citizen.
6. The voter will not be 18 years of age or older by November 5, 2026.
• NOTE: Otherwise qualified 17-year olds who will be 18 or older by November 5, 2026, may vote in a primary election, but NOT on a public question voted on at the same time as the primary. If a public question will be voted on, and the inspector did not receive ballots for use by 17-year olds, contact the county election board immediately.
7. The voter’s signature on the poll list does not match that on the registration record of the county.
8. In a primary election, the voter is not affiliated with the party whose ballot the voter is requesting.
EXCEPTION: A voter challenged in a primary due to party affiliation is NOT issued a provisional ballot. If the challenged voter is willing to complete and sign the challenged voter’s affidavit (PRE-6), then the voter is issued the regular ballot of that party, which is NOT kept separate from the undisputed ballots cast in the precinct.
For more information on provisional ballots please read Chapter 7: Provisional Ballots in the Indiana Election Day Handbook. (Embed a link in “Indiana Election Day Handbook” https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/files/PDF-2023-Election-Day-Handbook-ENGLISH-FINAL.pdf)

09/25/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18BKKoWpoF/

09/18/2026

Shoshana Johnson was shot in both ankles, unable to escape, dragged away as a prisoner of war, and became the first Black woman in U.S. military history captured as a POW.

She was not supposed to be fighting.

She was a 30-year-old Army specialist.

A cook.

A soldier supporting the 3rd Infantry Division during the opening days of the Iraq War.

But on March 23, 2003, a wrong turn near Nasiriyah, Iraq, sent her convoy straight into a nightmare.

The 507th Maintenance Company was moving through southern Iraq when the unit became lost.

Then the ambush began.

Gunfire erupted from multiple directions.

Vehicles were attacked.

American soldiers were killed.

Johnson was hit in both ankles.

She could not run.

She could not move away.

She was captured by Iraqi forces.

Among those taken was Private First Class Jessica Lynch, whose rescue later received major media attention.

But Johnson’s story carried a different weight.

She became the first Black female American prisoner of war. ([army.mil](https://www.army.mil/article/171930/shoshana_johnson_first_black_woman_pow_in_us_history))

The next 22 days became a battle nobody outside could see.

Johnson was wounded.

She was transported between locations by her captors.

She was interrogated.

She was forced to appear in a propaganda video broadcast on Iraqi television.

Her family saw images of their daughter as a prisoner.

But they did not know what she was enduring behind those images.

Every day carried the same terrifying question.

Would she survive?

Would she ever return home?

Would she see her family again?

Johnson later described captivity as a constant fight to hold onto hope.

She focused on surviving one moment at a time.

Then, 22 days after her capture, the waiting ended.

U.S. forces received intelligence about the location of the prisoners.

On April 13, 2003, Marines and special operations forces launched a rescue mission in Samarra, Iraq.

They entered the building where Johnson and six other POWs were being held.

The mission succeeded.

Shoshana Johnson was finally free. ([army.mil](https://www.army.mil/article/171930/shoshana_johnson_first_black_woman_pow_in_us_history))

But coming home did not erase what happened.

The physical wounds healed.

The memories remained.

Johnson returned carrying experiences few people could understand.

She received the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Prisoner of War Medal for her service. ([army.mil](https://www.army.mil/article/171930/shoshana_johnson_first_black_woman_pow_in_us_history))

Yet one of her hardest battles came after the war.

Like many veterans, Johnson faced the struggle of rebuilding a normal life after extraordinary trauma.

She later wrote “I’m Still Standing: From Captive U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen — My Journey Home,” sharing the story of her capture, rescue and the challenges of returning home.

She became an advocate for veterans, speaking about PTSD and the difficulties many service members face after leaving combat.

Her story was never just about being captured.

It was about what happened after.

The world saw Shoshana Johnson as a prisoner.

History remembers her as a survivor.

A woman who entered a war zone as a soldier doing her duty.

A woman who was wounded, taken away, and displayed as a symbol of the enemy’s propaganda.

A woman who came home and refused to let captivity define her.

On March 23, 2003, one wrong turn changed her life forever.

Twenty-two days later, she walked back into freedom.

And the soldier who was once a prisoner became a symbol of resilience for generations who came after her.

09/11/2026

September 11, 2001, stands as a pivotal moment in modern history, a day that began like any other but ended in profound tragedy and transformation. The coordinated attacks by al-Qaeda not only devastated the iconic Twin Towers, symbols of American prosperity, but also struck at the heart of the nation's military with the assault on the Pentagon. The heroism displayed by passengers aboard United Flight 93, who thwarted a potential catastrophe, serves as a poignant reminder of courage in the face of terror. The staggering loss of nearly 3,000 lives left an indelible mark on countless families and communities, reshaping national and global policies in its wake. This tragic day exposed vulnerabilities that many had overlooked, catalyzing a collective response rooted in resilience and unity. The sacrifices made by first responders and ordinary citizens alike underscore the importance of solidarity during times of crisis. As we reflect on this somber anniversary, it is crucial to honor those who lost their lives and to recognize the enduring spirit of togetherness that emerged in the aftermath, reminding us of our shared humanity in the face of adversity.

09/09/2026