Over 7,700 new jobs were added in Indiana in October. The job gains last month resulted in a drop in Indiana’s unemployment rate. Unemployment decreased to 8.0 percent from 8.2 percent in September which is the largest one month decrease since April.
The public meeting held Monday night regarding the proposed site for the new Starke County Jail facility brought to light a number of community concerns.
Specifically, members of the audience pointed out three main concerns: public safety, property value, and increased traffic. To alleviate these concerns, Commissioner Kathy Norem brought attention to a study performed by the U.S. Department of Justice concerning issues with siting correctional facilities.
A North Judson man was arrested Sunday after allegedly stealing a woman’s purse.
North Judson police received a call late Sunday night from a woman who reported her purse stolen. Clayton E. Hale had left a local establishment with a friend and then he went home. When the woman went home, she noticed her purse was missing.
Officers later found Hale who was in possession of the purse as well as controlled substances and marijuana.
Hale, 26, was arrested on preliminary charges of Theft, and felony counts of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of a Controlled Substance.
The Starke County Commissioners at their meeting this week highlighted the EMS Department, which has exceed their predicted revenue for the year. Auditor Kay Chaffins explained that the EMS Department predicted their revenue for the year to come in around $560,000, but as of Nov. 19, they’ve already collected $601,494.57.
Chaffins said this 7.41 percent increase is extremely helpful for the county, and it’s expected to increase even more as there is still a month and a half left in the year. She explained that the miscellaneous revenue that comes in affects the county’s cash flow; when they don’t reach the estimates, there is a negative impact on cash flow. However, Chaffins said the county has reported a 21.98 percent increase in revenue, which is a very good thing.
The Knox Community School Board Monday night gave authorization for a project hearing and a preliminary determination hearing regarding the elementary school project. The hearing will be held on Monday, Dec. 3 during the regular meeting of the board. They will be discussing the possible referendum during that meeting.
As part of that discussion, Superintendent A.J. Gappa said Dr. Mike Trego, an expert in referendums from Indiana Wesleyan University, came back to the school corporation last week to discuss the referendum process with members of the school board and members of the public. The formation of a Political Action Committee (PAC) was done to work toward the success of that referendum.
The president of IU Health Starke Hospital recently spoke to members of the Bass Lake Property Owners Association and presented an overview of the progress made in medical care since IU Health LaPorte Hospital leased the Starke County facility.
David Hyatt said that $5 million worth of upgrades made in services and equipment by IU Health LaPorte Hospital improved quality healthcare at the Starke County facility and partnering with the county in bringing Advanced Life Support ambulance service was another positive addition.
A North Judson man was sentenced in Pulaski Circuit Court after pleading guilty to a an amended charge of Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury as a Class A Misdemeanor. The charge was originally filed as a Class C Felony. Continue reading
A prescription pill drop site has been placed in the LaPorte City Police Department.
The drop site is available for you to dispose of any unwanted, unused or out-of-date prescription medication. Medication collected will be disposed of properly and kept out of landfills and out of the local water supply.
A former South Central student recently attended an Agriculture Future of America Leaders Conference in Kansas City, Missouri where he was able to meet CHS, Inc. executives and gather information on the future of agriculture. CHS, Inc. is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the country. They are committed to grow their businesses through its domestic and global operations by supplying energy, crop nutrients, grain marketing services, livestock feed, food and food ingredients, among other items.
The Powerball jackpot is up to $250 million!
No one nationwide matched all six numbers in Saturday’s Powerball drawing so tonight’s estimated jackpot has grown to $250 million.
Nearly 30,000 Powerball tickets sold by Indiana retailers were prize winners, including 122 tickets that matched at least four of the six numbers drawn.
If someone wins tonight’s prize, it will mark the third-largest Powerball jackpot win of 2012. You have until 9:58 p.m. ET to purchase a ticket.
Two members of the North Judson-San Pierre High School Band were recently chosen to participate in a regional production at Kankakee Valley High School.
Destiny Bennett and Lexie Miller were chosen to participate in the Indiana Bandmasters Association All-Region Band held at Kankakee Valley High School. Though nearly 300 students applied, only approximately 100 band students in grades 7 through 9 from Northwest Indiana were chosen to participate.
Matthew Hibbets was the guest conductor for the IBA All-Region Band held at Elwood Middle School. All-Region Bands were held at 12 sites throughout the state during the weekend of Nov. 17 and 18.
The Starke County Commissioners this week met with the county council for a discussion regarding the proposed site for the new county jail facility. A huge public turnout filled the meeting room with concerned residents who were uneasy about the idea of having a jail for their neighbor.
Commissioner Kathy Norem explained that they’ve looked at a number of properties over the last several months as prospective jail sites, but the top contender at the moment is a piece of property located at the intersection of State Road 8 and 550 East.
A Leesburg man was recently sentenced in U.S. District Court.
Eric Barker, 42, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of manufacturing marijuana.
Construction efforts have kicked off at the Henry F. Schricker Public Library. Director Shelia Urwiler explained that they’ve started work on the children’s wing as they’re adding about 6000 square feet for the new children and young adult department.
Urwiler said they’re hoping for the construction to be done by mid-July, but it is possible that the construction could take longer than expected. The total price on the work came to about $1.5 million, with the remaining balance from the $1.875 million they received from bonds to go toward furnishings, new fixtures, electrical wiring, and other expenses.
The Pulaski County Commissioners this week received some good news from their insurance company in the form of a $124,000 reimbursement. Commissioner Ken Boswell explained this reimbursement came from savings through their insurance plan, and they’ve already put that money to good use.
“It means that through our renegotiation of our insurance benefits, we’ve been able to bring back $100,000+ savings over the last two years to our county, which in turn, pays for more than one premium of our monthly cost for insurance benefits,” said Boswell.
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the theft of mailboxes on 4th Road between Michigan and Nutmeg Road.
Several homeowners called police to report the federal offense on Saturday and Sunday. Unknown subjects are stealing the same mailboxes and it has happened on more than one occasion.
If you have any information about these thefts, call the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department at (574) 936-3187.
Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department have also been dealing with mailbox damage reports from several residents throughout Pulaski County. If you have any information on these incidents, call the Sheriff’s Department at (574) 946-6655.
Five new firefighters were hired to the Winamac Fire Department.
Fire Chief Bill Weaver told the town board that one of the applicants is fully trained except for training at the station with the trucks. The other four will need training.
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department was recognized yesterday by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute for the county’s participation in the DUI Task Force.
The Marshall County DUI Task Force is comprised of officers from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, and the Bremen, Bourbon, Culver and Plymouth Police Departments. The officers coordinate efforts to keep impaired drivers off the roads with saturated patrols and check points to check for drunk and unrestrained drivers.
An official award presentation was held yesterday morning at the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department. This is the second year in a row the officers within the DUI Task Force have been awarded for their efforts.
The Iris-Elm Christmas Arrangements Show, a long-time Winamac tradition, is set for Saturday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET in downtown Winamac. It is scheduled during the Winter Wonderland events and the show will be held in the H&R Block office in Winamac.
You are welcome to stop by and enjoy the holiday arrangements.
A Walkerton man died Thursday after his car was struck by a train.
64-year-old David Hollinger was traveling eastbound on U.S. 6 in the Walkerton area around 2:00 a.m. Thursday morning when he illegally went around the “road closed” barricades on the tracks that are under construction and attempted to cross them.
