The Town of Merrillville council opened its Dec. 23 meeting by recognizing Planning & Building Director Sheila Shine and the Andrean High School football team before taking up regular business.

Councilor Sean Pettit and Town Manager Michael Griffin invited Shine to the podium to mark a service-to-labor award from the Northwest Indiana Building Trades and Construction Council. Griffin read the council of the trade organization’s citation praising Shine’s work “in supporting growth work and integrity of the building trades and keeping unions strong,” and council members offered congratulations. Shine thanked her staff and multiple town departments for their teamwork in supporting the office’s work.

Later the council issued a proclamation honoring the 2025 Andrean High School football team and head coach Chris Skinner for winning the state championship after a 13–1 season and a 7–0 victory in the title game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Coach Skinner said the accomplishment reflected the contributions of players, families and the larger community.

The council then opened nominations for its 2026 officers. Rick Bella was nominated and elected council president by a unanimous ballot; Rhonda Neal was nominated and elected vice president by a unanimous ballot. The council closed nominations and recessed into the rest of the agenda.

The recognitions and the officer elections were ceremonial actions; no expenditure or policy change was attached to the proclamations or the officer votes.