Lawsuit Filed Against Railroad Township Trustee, Advisory Board Member

 A lawsuit filed on behalf of three Railroad Township advisory board members against the township trustee secretary claims the Dec. 15 meeting in which the trustee announced plans to abolish the San Pierre Volunteer Fire Department violated the state’s Open Door Law. If you have bonds from UBS Puerto Rico, find out what you should do next.

The suit claims Trustee Mandy Thomason and board member Michael Lawecki were in attendance at the meeting, but advisory board President Clarence Gehrke and member August Eckert were not notified in advance. Thomason announced via Facebook the day of the meeting that a session was taking place “regarding the status of fire protection in Railroad Township.” Continue reading

Medaryville Home Sustains Damage in Fire

 
 

The Medaryville Fire Department fought a brush and house fire this afternoon.

Medaryville Fire Chief Shaun Hauptli told WKVI News that the fire started as a neighbor was burning brush at 14715 W. 450 N. in Medaryville. The pile was left unattended. The wind picked up and spread the fire to the home of Charlotte Stoner. The home sustained water and smoke damage along with structure damage to the second story, mainly contained to the roof.

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North Judson Fire Under Investigation

 
 

Firefighters from the North Judson-Wayne Township and San Pierre Fire Departments spent about two hours extinguishing a trailer full of tires that caught fire last evening in North Judson. They were dispatched to the fire at the end of Sheridan Avenue at the old Cravens factory around 5:30 p.m. Fire Chief Joe Leszek tells WKVI news the cause has not yet been determined. No injuries were reported.

 

Fire Destroys C&C Salvage

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An investigator from the state fire marshal’s office will be called in to determine the origin and cause of a fire that destroyed a Starke County business. The Bass Lake Fire Department was initially called to C &C Salvage on U.S. 35 south of Toto Road at 5:17 p.m. Thursday night, according to dispatchers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office. A black mushroom cloud of smoke could be seen for miles. Firefighters from the Knox, North Judson, Hamlet, Washington Township, Koontz Lake, San Pierre and Monterey were all called in to assist. Bass Lake Fire Chief Les Jensen says one firefighter suffered minor injuries. Continue reading

San Pierre Barn Fire Intentionally Set

 
 

Last Thursday’s fire that damaged a vacant barn south of San Pierre was intentionally set, according to fire investigators. The San Pierre Volunteer Fire Department was called to the structure at 8720 S. U.S. 421 around 11:30 Thursday night and remained on the scene for about 90 minutes. No injuries were reported.

This is the third intentionally-set fire in San Pierre in the past month. The first was a vacant house at 9360 W. 900 S., which was destroyed by flames on Sept. 11. The second structure fire was Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the vacant San Pierre Grain Elevator. Firefighters from San Pierre, North Judson, Bass Lake Medaryville and Wheatfield spent about four hours extinguishing that blaze. Fire department officials aren’t sure at this time whether the three fires are related.

Anyone with information about any of the fires is urged to call the state’s arson hotline at 1-800-382-4628. A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest or conviction. Callers can remain anonymous.

Overnight Fire Destroys Vacant San Pierre Barn

 
 

Lightning from a storm that rolled through the area late last night may be to blame for sparking a fire that destroyed a vacant pallet barn on U.S. 421 in San Pierre. Dispatchers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office got a call about the blaze around 11:30. Firefighters remained on the scene for about an hour and a half. No injuries were reported. We’ll have more information later today.

 

Several Fires Reported over the Weekend

 
 
Firefighters were busy responding to various calls this weekend.

Spring fever has hit and everyone has been out cleaning yards and burning unwanted brush and leaves. Firefighters ask that you not burn anything outside on days where the gusty winds are forecast. It’s safer to put off until a calm wind is predicted in order to burn things outside.

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San Pierre Fire Department Search for Serial Arsonist

 
 
The San Pierre Fire Department is on the hunt for a person intentionally setting fires alongside the road in the San Pierre area for the past four nights.

San Pierre Fire Chief Mike Korous said that beginning Friday night and each night through Tuesday morning, an hour later each time, an unknown person(s) has started a fire on 900 West south of 700 South, 900 West north of 500 South, and on 800 West and 500 South. No homes or other buildings have been threatened by the fires, but a grass and brush fire is started every night on the side of the roads mentioned.

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San Pierre Home Destroyed From Fire Shortly After Storms

The San Pierre Fire Department responded to a house fire Tuesday morning, just two hours after the storms rolled through the area. The home was on State Road 10 west of the town of San Pierre.

San Pierre Fire Department Investigator Andy Tilleraas said that a large tree fell on electric wires by the residence and pulled the wires from the meter box, causing the fire. When firefighters arrived on scene, the house was fully engulfed and it was a total loss.

The fire does remain under investigation.

No Life Threatening Injuries in Fiery Crash in San Pierre

Starke County emergency personnel were called to an accident yesterday afternoon where two vehicles burst into flames.

When officers arrived at the scene at U.S. 421 in San Pierre, they found a semi and a car fully engulfed in flames. Both drivers had been pulled from the wreckage. Officers determined that the driver of the passenger vehicle crossed the center line causing the accident. The semi was hauling mattresses which took firefighters nearly three hours to extinguish.

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Demotte Man Injured in Single Vehicle Accident in Starke County

Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and emergency personnel were called to a personal injury accident on Saturday afternoon.

The accident occurred on Highway 421 south of San Pierre by the south junction of State Road 10. Carey Foley, 56, of Demotte, was traveling in that area when for some unknown reason, he passed out, left the roadway, hit a tree, hit a utility pole and then hit another tree and came to rest. Foley was pinned in the vehicle and the San Pierre and North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Departments were called to the scene to assist with extrication. Foley was airlifted from the scene to Memorial Hospital in South Bend and his condition is unknown at this time.

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Robert Rozhon Receives Larry Hartley-Striker Award

Back Row: James Minkert, Rick Minkert and Chuck Lovins. Front Row: Floyd Burton, Robert Rozhon and Grover Goetz

In a ceremony held at the Knox South Side Fire Station Sunday, Starke County Honor Guard member, Robert Rozhon, of North Judson, was presented the Larry Hartley-Striker award for service to the unit.

Mr. Rozhon, 79, is a charter member of the award winning organization. He was a member of the San Pierre Fire Department from 1963-1976, and the North Judson Fire Department from 1976-1997.

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