The Knox City Council will hold a public hearing during their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 27 to discuss the 2014 budget, and according to Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, the city expects to see an increase in the overall budget of just under 3 percent. However, he said the city will likely have to make some cuts in order to capture the maximum amount of taxes the city has coming to it, but overall, the budget is in pretty good shape.
County Council Approves Chipper, GPS Purchases for Highway Department
The money the Starke County Highway Department saved on gas is being put toward new equipment to further improve safety and efficiency. The county council approved superintendent Rik Ritzler’s request to transfer $42,000 within his budget to cover the additional cost of a new wood chipper to replace one that was recently stolen. That chipper was 10 years old, and questions have been raised about why the county should spend the money on a new one. Ritzler says they demoed a new one in order to have something to use in the meanwhile and realized how far superior it is to the one that was stolen.
Oregon-Davis to Advertise Budget
The Oregon-Davis School Board approved the advertisement of the 2014 budget. Interim Superintendent Greg Briles noted that there weren’t any big changes.
“Nothing significant in our budget,” stated Briles. “We’re looking at all of the things that we’ve done in the past. We’re kind of status quo. We’re going to see what the state is going to allow us to do and we’re going to stay within our means.”
CASA Volunteers Needed in Starke County
Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, volunteers are needed to shepherd abused or neglected children who are taken from their parents by the state through the court system. Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall says that happens for a variety of reasons.
“We have pregnant mothers who intentionally abuse drugs, and then their babies are born with harmful drugs in their bodies. Children are often raised around dangerous meth labs, which is an epidemic in this county. Those labs give off toxic chemicals. You know one in four children in Starke County lives in poverty, and we’ve had children living in homes that are completely uninhabitable. We’ve had evidence where snow’s coming through the walls in the winter time,” said Hall.
Moving Starke County Forward Organization Walking Around the World
One week remains in the Moving Starke County Forward Walking Challenge.
The challenge’s 267 participants have been logging steps over three months to see just how far they could take Starke County around the world. A goal of 3,000 miles was set in the beginning, but when that goal was shattered just a few weeks into the challenge a new goal of 25,000 miles was set. The participants have been sending in their steps daily and sometimes weekly to IU Health Starke County Wellness Director Heather Skelly.
Ryan Povilaitis Found Not Guilty on All Counts
A not guilty verdict has come back on each of the three counts filed against Ryan Povilaitis in Starke Circuit Court.
He was facing charges of Criminal Deviant Conduct and Attempted Rape as Class B felonies and Battery as a Class A Misdemeanor. Several witnesses were called to the stand, including Povilaitis himself.
The trial lasted three days.
Knox City Council Approves Holiday Schedule
The Knox City Council last week approved the city’s holiday schedule for 2014, including trick or treat hours. According to the press release, the city will celebrate New Year’s Day on Jan. 1 and Martin Luther King Day on Monday, Jan. 20.
In February, the city will honor President’s Day on Feb. 17, with no holidays planned in March. Good Friday falls on April 18 and will be observed by the city; Election Day is Tuesday, May 6 and Memorial Day is Monday, May 26.
Koontz Lake Association Seeks County’s Help to Ban Bridge Jumping
The Koontz Lake Association needs the assistance of the Starke County Commissioners in order to keep kids from jumping off a bridge there. They’ve asked INDOT to post a sign prohibiting jumping from the bridge. INDOT officials say they’d be happy to put one up, but first the county has to pass an ordinance formally outlawing the practice. That matter came before the commissioners this week, and Starke County Attorney Marty Lucas has agreed to draft an ordinance for their consideration.
Hoosier Lotto Hits $17 Million
The Hoosier Lotto jackpot is up to $17 million, and while Powerball recently jumped to fantastic heights, capturing national attention, the game has been quietly growing bigger and bigger, having gone 17 consecutive weeks without a jackpot winner.
North Judson Library Seeks Public’s Help in Digitizing Yearbooks
In an effort to preserve the memories stored in school yearbooks before they are lost to the sands of time, the North Judson-Wayne Township Public Library is looking to digitize school yearbooks from North Judson-San Pierre High School, but according to Library Director Jane Ellen Felchuk, their collection is not complete. For that reason, the library is now asking for help from the public in order to compose a complete digital collection of the school’s yearbook history.
Knox Community School Board Discusses Personnel Changes
The Knox Community School Board members approved the retirement of a long-time high school teacher during their meeting Monday night.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said a replacement was hired after the retirement was approved.
Oregon-Davis Hog Roast a Success
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation held a hog roast prior to the start of school which Interim Superintendent Greg Briles deemed a success.
“It gave the students and the parents an opportunity to come and see the grounds and the buildings prior to the start of the year,” stated Briles. “A lot of times we have some issues with our students when they come in on the buses with all of their materials for the start of school. They’re just overcrowded. We opened the building up and they brought in all of their school supplies and then we had a free hog roast.”
School board member Lee Nagai donated three hogs toward the effort and Elementary Principal William Bennett donated more than 300 ears of corn.
Wythougan Valley Preservation Council Invites Public on Trip to Peru
The public is invited to take a trip with the Wythougan Valley Preservation Council as they head to the Miami County Museum in Peru on Wednesday, Sept. 11, departing from the Plymouth Public Library at 9 a.m. Attendees can share a ride with another traveler or caravan in their own vehicle as the group heads to Peru.
The Miami County Museum features Cole Porter memorabilia, such as the 1955 Cadillac used in the film, “The Godfather,” as well as a Big Top Circus collection that includes circus models and coaches. Other attractions, like circus wagon panels, Miami Indiana artifacts, and their newest exhibit showcasing the history of local newspapers called, “An Industry Built in Ink,” will also be available for visitors to peruse.
Tippecanoe River State Park to Celebrate 70th Anniversary
The Tippecanoe River State Park is gearing up to celebrate its 70th anniversary, promising a weekend of fun on Sept. 6, 7, and 8. In honor of the anniversary, the weekend will be packed with events beginning at the Family Campground on Friday evening with a program presented by wildlife rehabilitator Kim Hoover, followed by a day of adventures on Saturday.
Winamac vs. Knox
8-23-13: RB Tyler Katschke (Winamac)-17 carries 157 yards 3 touchdowns in 56-14 win over Knox.
Two Arrested in Shooting Incident in LaPorte County
A father and son were arrested today after a shooting incident in a parking area of Purdue University North Central.
LaPorte County deputies determined that a disagreement over a narcotics transaction at a residence in the 9500 West block of County Road 125 South led to the shooting incident.
Multiple gunshots were fired at a vehicle parked the residence that was occupied by four juveniles. A 17-year-old juvenile riding in the back seat suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound in his hip as a round penetrated the vehicle. The three other occupants fled to Purdue North Central. The victim was transported to a hospital in Michigan City for treatment.
LaPorte Man Charged With Murder in 1993 Cold Case
Authorities in LaPorte County have made an arrest in homicide that occurred more than 20 years ago. Jason L. Tibbs, 38, of LaPorte, was arrested this morning by officers from the Indiana State Police and LaPorte Police Department. He ‘s charged with murdering Rayna Rison, who was 16 at the time of her death. She was last seen alive on March 26,1993. Her father reported her missing when she didn’t come home from work at the Pine Lake Animal Hospital. “America’s Most Wanted” aired a story about her disappearance on April 2nd of that year, and her body was recovered on April 27, 1993 from a pond near Range Road in LaPorte County. An autopsy confirmed she was murdered.
New Vocational Opportunity for Local High School Students
A new vocational class is being offered at Plymouth Schools for students in the North Central Area Vocational Cooperative. Plymouth Schools, the Vocational Cooperative, Ivy Tech and ITAMCO are offering a dual credit course to help teach students CNC and machinist industrial skills. The idea is to bridge a technology gap so these students can be ready when they enter college or the industrial workforce out of high school.
Vocational Cooperative Director Jerry Hollenbaugh said this couldn’t have been done without the partnership of all involved.
Week 1 Football Picks
Harold’s Picks
John Glenn-14 NJSP-7
South Central-32 LaVille-7
West Central-21 Culver-7
Winamac-26 Knox-9
Nathan’s Picks
NJSP-21 John Glenn-14
South Central-28 LaVille-0
West Central-21 Culver-7
Knox-22 Winamac-21
Tom’s Blind Picks
John Glenn over NJSP
LaVille over South Central
Culver over West Central
Winamac over Knox
Daymond Hartley Sentenced in Pulaski Circuit Court
An entry of plea and sentencing hearing was held in Pulaski Circuit Court yesterday in the case of former Winamac police officer Daymond Hartley.
Hartley pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state on a charge of Theft as a Class D felony. He was sentenced to 18 months in the Pulaski County Jail with all but 60 days of the sentence suspended. Those 60 days will be served in the Pulaski County Jail with good time served. Work release was granted, if applicable.