The Pulaski County Public Library is celebrating banned books this week. Banned Books Week, according to the library’s website, is a celebration of more than 30 years of the freedom to read, a freedom firmly rooted in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that guarantees not only freedom of speech but freedom of the press as well.
Overnight Fire Destroys San Pierre Grain Elevator
Firefighters from four departments in three counties spent the night fighting a blaze at the grain elevator in San Pierre. Dispatchers got a call about the fire just after 9 last night and notified the San Pierre Volunteer Fire Department. They were assisted by North Judson, Medaryville and Wheatfield. No injuries were reported, and the firefighters cleared the scene at 1:12 this morning. There’s no word yet on the origin of the blaze.
Forgery Suspect Apprehended in Michigan
Allan Best, who was listed as the Wanted Person of the Week by the LaPorte City Council Department in April, was taken into custody near Detroit and he is expected to be extradited back to LaPorte County sometime this week.
Best, 22, was wanted through LaPorte Circuit Court for Forgery as a Class C felony.
Haschel’s Bridge to Close Sept. 30
Fox said this work shouldn’t take more than two months and a detour is in place utilizing State Road 14 and County Road 200 East to circumvent the bridge.
The project is funded entirely with local funds, Fox explained, and the bridge will soon be repaired and reopened.
Linda Lewandowski is This Year’s Unsung Hero
According to the nomination letter written to Chambers by Lawson, Lewandowski is not only the director of Kid’s Closet Ministry, an organization run out of the north Judson Methodist Church to give needy families gently used clothing, but she also organized an event to give backpacks for the start of school to families. The event gave more than 100 backpacks to families in need.
Knox City Council Approves Rental Property Fee Ordinance
The Knox City Council approved the third and final reading of an ordinance that creates a fund for fees collected for rental property registrations and inspections.
Mayor Rick Chambers clarified that there are no new fees with this ordinance, and said the city was just required by the state to create a separate fund in the budget for the fees. The fees are currently $25 for both rental property registrations and inspections. The city building administrator and the council may look at adjusting that fee at a later time.
The fees have to placed in a certain account per Indiana code. The motion was made by Greg Matt, seconded by Jeff Berg, and passed unanimously.
Be Alert When Door-to-Door Salesmen Visit Your Home
These salesmen reportedly acted suspicious in nature. After an investigation, deputies found that the salesmen did not possess a peddler’s permit and were asked to leave. They were reportedly working for the Kirby vacuum company.
If you encounter unsolicited salespeople visiting your home, make sure their business logo is on a vehicle parked nearby or ask for credentials. Officers suggest you ask to see a peddler’s permit that allows them to sell the product they are pitching. If they do not have a permit, ask them to leave and call the Starke County Sheriff’s Department at (574) 772-3771. Be prepared to give a thorough description of the people in question.
Local Chambers of Commerce Meet in “Business After Hours” Event
“It’s a Business After Hours event because it allows different businesses to network with each other on a regional basis instead of just local. It will be including Starke County, Marshall County, Bremen and Culver chamber members, and they get the opportunity to meet each other and greet each other,” said Mix.
Knox Redskin Brigade Marching Season Steps Off on Right Foot
The band placed first in marching and second overall in the Class C competition.
This year’s Brigade features 82 members – 50 of which play woodwind instruments and 15 students in the percussion section. The 2013 show features various Hitchcock themes including “Psycho,” “The Birds,” “North by Northwest,” and “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.”
Ancilla College Offers Dual-Credit Program for High School Students
High school juniors and seniors with a 3.0 grade point average can participate in Ancilla’s Early Bird program. A brief letter of recommendation is needed by a guidance counselor. A selection of courses is available online and students can take afternoon, evening and Saturday courses in the program.
PMH to Offer Discounted Mammograms on Oct. 8
Forester Foresees Fantastic Fall Foliage
The Band Notre Dame Exhibit Featured at Center for History
This particular music exhibit is open at the South Bend facility until Aug. 2, 2014 and will feature vintage photographs, instruments, uniforms and more. The Band of the Fighting Irish exhibit chronicles the 168 years that the Notre Dame band has been in existence. The Band’s history includes its presence at the very first Notre Dame football game played against Michigan in 1887.
Formal Charges Pending in Marshall County Drug Arrest
A motorist’s erratic driving early Sunday morning led to a traffic stop and subsequent arrest for drug possession after a patrolman from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office reportedly recovered drugs that were thrown from the vehicle. The officer pulled the car, driven by Matthew C. Cadwell, over on U.S. 30 east of Oak Road. Prior to the stop, the officer saw Cadwell toss items from the window, according to the incident report. Another officer retrieved the baggie, which reportedly contained two white pills identified as a controlled substance. Officers searched the vehicle and reportedly found more drug paraphernalia and evidence of recent drug use. Cadwell appeared nervous, according to the arresting officer. During a search at the Marshall County Jail, employees there reportedly found seven small baggies of white powder that field-tested positive for heroin. Formal charges against Cadwell are pending.
Absence of Smoke Detectors Blamed for Plymouth Fire Fatality
A Walkerton man who died in a Sunday house fire in Plymouth might be alive today had the home been equipped with smoke detectors. That’s according to fire investigators, who say the early morning blaze in the 400 block of Alexander Street was accidental and electrical in nature. WNDU-TV reports that an extension cord running from the garage to the house was plugged into a six-prong power strip, which was in turn managing several devices, including a stereo and a computer. The cord had become frayed over time and was underneath the couch. At least 10 people were in the house when the fire started around 5:30 Sunday morning. Most everyone got out but realized someone was missing. Anthony Johnson, 21, of Walkerton, died of smoke inhalation. Plymouth Fire Department Assistant Chief John Pasley tells the TV station that smoke detectors could have awakened Johnson and given him ample time to get out of the house. Additionally he says more people could have died had someone not been awake to alert the others when the fire started.
Crews to Demolish Buildings on Main Street in Knox
Crews are set to demolish the old Knox theater and the structure that formerly housed the Starke County Economic Development Foundation’s office.
The demolition will begin at 6:30 a.m. today at 2 and 4 N. Main Street in Knox. Knox Mayor Rick Chambers told WKVI that crews will take one day to completely knock down the building and they will take three days to remove the rubble.
Argos Man Arrested for Possession of Precursors with Prior Conviction
Marshall County police arrested an Argos man with a prior history of dealing methamphetamine on Saturday following a traffic stop on U.S. 31 near the intersection of 12th Road. According to the report, at approximately 12:54 a.m., an officer with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and, during the course of the stop, K9 unit Arras was walked around the outside of the vehicle and indicated the presence of narcotics.
Bids to be Opened Wednesday for Starke County Jail Water Project
Bids are due this week for the Starke County Jail water project.
The Knox Board of Public Works members will open bids Wednesday morning during their regular meeting that is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. in Knox City Hall.
This project will improve water capacity for the building that will be the site of the Starke County Jail on State Road 8 east of Knox. Larger water lines are needed to increase the width of the pipes from six inches to eight inches. The project is expected to be extended along Henry Drive in Knox. The project should be completed no later than April 1, 2014.
Bourbon Man Arrested for Theft, Auto Theft
An auto theft incident was reported yesterday morning around 7:42 a.m. in the 10,000 block of Gumwood Road in Bourbon. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department reported that Doyne and Mary Snider found that their 2007 white Lincoln, along with a debit card, had been stolen during the early morning hours.
Officer Les McFarland traveled to the residence and completed a case report for the auto theft and theft cases before making contact with the Bourbon Police Department in an effort to locate and recover the stolen vehicle. Chief William Martin and Officer Matt Geiger soon located the vehicle in question within the Pentecostal Church parking lot.
Knox City Council to Honor Unsung Hero Prior to Regular Meeting
The Knox City Council members will be honoring the Unsung Hero prior to the start of their regular meeting tonight in Knox City Hall.
The name of the recipient hasn’t been released so the winner will be a surprise to those attending the meeting tonight at 7 p.m. CT. Knox Mayor Rick Chambers will be presenting the award to the person whom a committee has chosen as the county’s unsung hero for performing random acts of kindness.
