A report of shoplifting allegedly led to the discovery of methamphetamine in Plymouth Friday night. Plymouth Police were called to the Walmart parking lot shortly after 7:30, after store employees accused two men of shoplifting.
Pulaski County Sheriff Granted Permission to Sell Automatic Firearms to Starke County
Ten automatic firearms owned by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office will soon be sold to the Starke County Sheriff’s Office. Last week, the Pulaski County Commissioners authorized Sheriff Jeff Richwine to sell the ten MP5s.
Teacher Contracts, Arrest Policy to Be Considered by Eastern Pulaski School Board Tonight
The Eastern Pulaski School Board is expected to consider teacher contracts during tonight’s meeting. A compensation plan for employees not covered under the collective bargaining agreement will also be up for approval. Meanwhile, a policy requiring school employees to report all arrests and criminal charges to the superintendent will be considered on second reading.
Real Estate Taxes Due Today
This is a quick reminder to Starke County residents that real estate taxes are due today, if you are interested in the real estate market, you should check this darien homes for sale.
Tax payment drop off locations include 1st Farmers Bank, Demotte St Bank and 1st Source Bank in Knox, 1st Famers Bank and Bank of Monterey in North Judson or Bank of Monterey in Monterey.
There is also a drop box outside of the Starke County Treasurer’s Office in Knox. Payments can be dropped off with a self-addressed stamped envelope so a receipt can be sent. Individuals are advised to bring their statements with them for faster service.
Direct any further questions to the Treasurer’s Office at 772-9111 extension 3.
Starke County Highway Department to Apply for Federal Grants
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler will be applying for federal funds for three projects.
The deadline for the federal roll call for project applications is at the end of the month. Ritzler said the county will be applying for funds to complete an intersection improvement at County Road 210 and old State Road 10. That project also includes plans for a bike trail station that would be coordinated with a local trail organization. Continue reading
Pulaski County Election Board Scheduled to Investigate Potential Absentee Voting Site
The Pulaski County Election Board is holding a work session this Wednesday to investigate the suitability of a site for potential in-person absentee voting.
At 11 a.m. ET the board will meet in the Pulaski County Clerk’s office at 112 East Main Street in Winamac. The group will move to the Justice Center for the investigation and then return to the Clerk’s office for investigation. If you have any questions, contact the County Clerk’s Office at 574-946-4953.
Pulaski County Council to Consider Additional Appropriations for Circuit Court, IT Department
The Pulaski County Council will consider extra funding to cover overtime costs for Circuit Court staff tonight. Judge Michael Shurn is asking for permission to spend another $10,000 for employee overtime. Several cases have been transferred to Circuit Court from Superior Court, following Crystal Brucker Kocher’s appointment as Superior Court judge this past summer. There are many cases she’s not allowed to hear because she worked on them when she was chief deputy prosecutor.
Winamac Town Council Scheduled To Consider Four Ordinances During Tonight’s Meeting
There are a few different ordinances up for consideration during tonight’s Winamac Town Council meeting.
During the Clerk-Treasurer’s report, an ordinance regulating golf carts and one establishing a Community Crossings grant fund will be discussed. Town Attorney Justin Schramm is scheduled to discuss salary and water rates ordinances. Continue reading
West Central High School Recognized During Department of Education’s Dual Credit Ceremony
West Central High School was recently recognized for the success of its dual credit courses. It was one of 130 schools honored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick last Monday, during a Dual Credit Ceremony at the Indiana Statehouse.
North Judson-San Pierre School to Serve as Healthy Mobile Market Site
The Healthy Mobile Market will be making a stop in North Judson tomorrow to assist local families in need of food assistance. From 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the Food Bank of Northern Indiana will have their mobile unit stationed in the North Judson-San Pierre Elementary School parking lot.
The service is provided free of charge for families in need but it is first come, first served based on available product while supplies last. Bring along bags or boxes to transport items home. Items that will be offered include frozen and canned meats including ham, whole chicken, hamburger as well as canned fruits, flour, fresh cheese and more.
The Food Bank provides SNAP Outreach at all healthy mobile markets. If weather conditions are inclement or product is unavailable, there is a possibility of cancellation. Location is also subject to change.
Second Opinion Sought on Possible Starke County Intersection Improvements
Three intersections have been studied for potential upgrades in Starke County, but the highway superintendent wants a second opinion.
Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners this week that he is enlisting the help of officials from Purdue University’s Local Technical Assistance Program to decide how to go about improving these intersections. Continue reading
Courthouse Elevator Plans Presented to Pulaski County Commissioners
Plans for a new elevator at the Pulaski County Courthouse were presented to the county commissioners this week. Cameron Chambers with Keystone Architecture explained that it will be in the same general location as the current one, but it will be a little bigger.”On the first floor, you’ll enter it coming in off that main hallway, with one door, and when you go upstairs, you’ll have the same door right above it,” he explained. “We’ll actually end up creating a storage closet there, so when you come up the stairs from the ground to the main floor, you’ll now be forced to go left because right will be enclosed by this elevator.”
Similarly, the new elevator will block the hallway on the top floor of the courthouse. To provide access to rooms on either side, the elevator will have two doors on that level. Continue reading
SCEDF Continues Working with Railroad to Improve Hamlet Railroad Crossing
A rough railroad crossing in Hamlet continues to draw the attention of economic development officials. The town council has been complaining about the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern’s Starke Street crossing for years. Last month, Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver offered to speak to railroad officials, but the town didn’t get an immediate response.
This week, Weaver told council members that he’s still working with the railroad’s parent company, but he needs to get all the details straight. “I’m in communication with the Genesee & Wyoming railroad. They like to know exactly who you had conversation with, so we can pin it down, and I need to verify the absolute nature of the complaint. It’s a rough crossing right?” Continue reading
Knox Water Superintendent Provides Tips for Winter
Knox Water Department Superintendent Todd Gardner has a few helpful tips for citizens as temperatures start to drop below freezing.
Gardner advises individuals to disconnect hoses from faucets so they can drain. He said a “frost free faucet” will freeze up and can break at temperatures just below freezing if a hose is left attached to it.
He also explained that homes with crawl spaces need to have those closed up as securely as possible. If crawlspace vents have louvers, or slats, they need to be closed up for the winter season. Continue reading
Starke County Highway Department Continues Safety Measures
Starke County Highway Department crews are continuing efforts to make county roadways safer for drivers.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said the installation of reflective post enhancers is ongoing.
“We’ve put the reflectors on the stop signs and they’ve worked very well,” said Ritzler. “We’re doing that throughout the county and we’re about a fifth of the way done. There is still a lot to go with that.” Continue reading
Knox School Board Accepts Over $1,300 in Donations for Student Lunch Accounts
Oregon-Davis School Board to Hold Public Work Session About Fiscal Strategic Planning
The Oregon-Davis School Board is holding a special work session on Monday to deliberate and receive public input about fiscal strategic planning for future operations. Specifically, the meeting will pertain to the general and referendum funds of the Oregon-Davis School Corporation.
Any visitor has the opportunity to speak but they must inform the school board president in advance by registering before the meeting begins. A registration sheet will be available at least thirty minute prior to the meeting. Continue reading
Starke County Law-Enforcement Agencies Join State-Wide Initiative
For the first time in awhile, the law-enforcement agencies of Starke County are joining the state-wide Operation Pull Over campaign. The initiative started on Friday and will run through December 3rd. During this time, there will be increased patrols where officers will be on the look out for motorists violating the seat belt and impaired driving laws.
North Judson Town Marshall Kelly Fisher said her officers will be joining members of the Hamlet and Knox Police Departments as well as the Starke County Sheriff’s Office with the operation. She said it’s important to have this blitz at this time of the year since more people are out on the road visiting friends and family for the holidays.
One bit of advice she had for motorists was to have a designated driver if they plan to be attending a party where they’ll be drinking. She explained the procedure of what happens when an officer has probable cause to pull a vehicle over for driving under the influence. Continue reading
Community Provides Input to Senator Donnelly at Ancilla Farm Bill Listening Session
On Friday, Senator Joe Donnelly visited the Ancilla College campus to hold a listening session over the farm bill that is currently being written. Before Donnelly talked with group gathered in Cana Hall about business, he got comfortable by removing his tie and greeting individuals in the crowd.
Ancilla President Kenneth Zirkle began the event by briefly discussing the agriculture program at the college, stating that when they started two and half years ago they only had three individuals involved, now that number is up to nearly 50 agriculture students.
Agriculture director Tim McLochlin introduced the senator, but first he acknowledged all the community members who help make Ancilla’s agriculture program so immersive and impactful.
During the session, various individuals voiced their concerns about the needs of the agriculture community. One individual spoke about how the current farm bill does little to help the dairy industry and suggested that more needs to be done with supply and control management. Many people spoke about the importance of family-run farms and asked Senator Donnelly to build the bill with generational farms in mind. Continue reading
American Heart Association Seeks Donations for the Little Hats, Big Hearts Program
Can you knit or crochet? Your skills are needed to help the American Heart Association with their Little Hats, Big Hearts program.
Now through December 31st the AHA is collecting knitted or crocheted red baby hats to distribute in Indiana hospitals in the month of February, American Heart Month. The program is meant to raise awareness of heart disease, the number one killer of Americans and congenital heart defects, the most common birth defect in the country.
They are seeking hats for newborns and preemies made of red yarn that is either cotton or acrylic, medium to heavy weight that can be machine washed and dried. Don’t worry if you’re not the knitting or crocheting type, yarn can also be donated to the cause. Continue reading
