The Wisconsin Historical Society has announced the appointment of Daniel J. Freas of Noblesville as director of Old World Wisconsin, the society’s flagship outdoor history museum in Waukesha County. Freas began his new position Jan. 23.

Freas recently served as vice president of guest experiences for Conner Prairie Interactive History Park in Fishers, a position he has held since 2000, and has nearly 30 years of firsthand experience in outdoor museum education and administration. He served in a variety of other capacities at Conner Prairie since 1998.

Freas’ earlier experience includes historic sites administration and education positions at the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh, the North Carolina Dept. of Cultural Resources in Raleigh, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in Harrisburg and Old Salem Museums and Gardens in Winston-Salem, N.C. He holds a bachelor’s degree in outdoor museum studies from Salem College in West Virginia.

As site director at Old World Wisconsin, Freas will oversee a full-time professional staff of 15, and a large seasonal staff of interpreters and volunteers. The museum comprises more than 65 historic buildings relocated from around the state, and represents the material and cultural history of nearly a dozen ethnic groups on 10 farmsteads, a 1870s rural crossroads village and a Visitor Center complex. Full Story

Huntley

Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear has announced three major moves that will impact City Hall and two departments. Steve Huntley, the city’s planning director, will be retiring on March 31. Huntley has worked in the city’s Planning Dept. for almost 32 years. He has served as the planning director since 1980 and worked for five different Noblesville mayors during his career.

Some of Huntley’s many accomplishments during his time with the City of Noblesville have been: serving as project manager for the expansion and renovation of the Public Safety Building (completed in 1992); applying for and receiving the city’s first Federal Emergency Management Agency grant of more than $1 million to buy homes in the flood hazard area of the Southwest Quadrant; helping to develop and plan Noblesville’s Corporate Campus; and establishing the road impact fee program in Noblesville.

During Huntley’s time with the city, he has received such awards as the Ivan H. Brinegar Municipal Management Award from the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, and was twice selected by the Noblesville Common Council as the recipient of their annual Stake in the Ground award. Full Story

Current Publishing General Manager Steve Greenberg, from left, Noblesville Main Street President Gail Nowicki, Current Publishing Publisher Brian Kelly, Current in Noblesville Managing Editor Robert Herrington, Noblesville Main Street Executive Director Joe Arrowood and Current in Noblesville Advertising Sales Executive Bev Sams.

Current in Noblesville was given the Extra Effort Award for outstanding support and media coverage by Noblesville Main Street during its annual dinner Thursday night at Asian Grill.

“We depend on publicity to draw people to events and the Current has accomplished that for us,” said Noblesville Main Street President Gail Nowicki. “They are supportive and support is every important to us.”

Accepting the award was Current Publishing General Manager Steve Greenberg and Publisher Brian Kelly and Current in Noblesville Managing Editor Robert Herrington and Advertising Sales Executive Bev Sams.