School Budget Set + Día de los Muertos 5K Returns + Trojans Shine in the Classroom

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Check out our Highland Halloween Guide 2026 for haunted homes, trunk-or-treats, family activities and more!

On Halloween night in 2008, just four days before the presidential election, Barack Obama brought his campaign to Wicker Memorial Park in Highland.

An estimated 40,000 people packed the park for the evening rally as Obama made one of his final campaign stops before Election Day. The event was scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. after Obama had spent part of the day in Iowa and Chicago.

Four days later, Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States and became the nation’s first African American president. Wicker Memorial Park still includes the 2008 campaign stop among the notable moments in its history.

The School Town of Highland has its 2027 budget in place after the school board unanimously approved the budget, a capital projects plan through 2029 and a five-year bus replacement plan at its Oct. 20 meeting.

The board also approved its annual transfer of up to $4.16 million from the education fund to the operations fund.

But one of the more encouraging updates for school employees came during the district’s insurance renewal. Health insurance premiums will increase just 4% next year, while dental, vision and life insurance rates will remain unchanged.

The district’s insurance consultant told the board that many other school clients are seeing health insurance increases of roughly 8% to 13%.

The district also noted that this is the final year of returning remaining health insurance funds to employees..

Wicker Memorial Park will fill with color, music and remembrance Sunday as Adelante, Inc. brings its 3rd annual Día de los Muertos 5K Run & Walk to Highland.

The timed Run with the Spirits 5K begins at 9 a.m., followed by the Alebrijito Dash for kids ages 4-12 at 9:05 and the Remembrance Walk at 9:10.

It’s more than a race. The morning also includes a Zumba warm-up, live DJ, Aztec ceremonial dancers and a Día de los Muertos costume contest, with prizes for the top costumes and makeup. Leashed dogs are welcome to join the festivities too.

Race-day registration and packet pickup begin at 7:30 a.m. at Wicker Memorial Park, 8554 Indianapolis Blvd. Current registration is $40 for the 5K, $30 for the Remembrance Walk and $15 for the youth dash, plus signup fees.

Proceeds help Adelante fund scholarships for local college students, combining a celebration of Día de los Muertos traditions with support for education across Northwest Indiana.

Register here.

Highland’s fall athletes had a strong season in the classroom too.

Highland High School Athletics named the boys cross country team the fall President’s Cup winner after the team posted a 3.98 GPA, the highest among Highland’s fall sports teams.

Girls soccer finished close behind at 3.97, followed by girls cross country at 3.88, boys soccer at 3.84 and volleyball at 3.81.

Across all fall sports, Highland student-athletes averaged a 3.68 GPA.

The results were also recognized during the School Town of Highland’s Oct. 20 board meeting - a pretty strong reminder that these Trojans are putting the student in student-athlete.