Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.
Knox High School gym teacher, Robert “Ryan” Corbin, was arrested Sunday after an alleged improper internet contact incident was reported by a parent. The Knox City Police Department investigated the call and subsequently arrested Corbin on two preliminary charges of Attempted Child Seduction, both Class D Felonies. Corbin is the Physical Education teacher at Knox High School and he is the varsity boys and girls swim coach. The Knox Community School Board suspended Corbin, with pay. Corbin hired an attorney, Nicholas T. Otis, from a law firm in LaPorte, to represent him.
John Goble, Sr., pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft in Starke Circuit Court last week. When Goble and his son resigned their positions with the Hamlet Street Department, the Hamlet Town Board ordered a complete inventory of the equipment at the street department where it was found several items were allegedly missing. An arrest warrant for a charge of theft was issued and he was recently picked up on that charge.
The Starke County Commissioners heard from EMS Director Paul Mathewson about how invaluable the new Advanced Life Service is to the residents in Starke County. Mathewson told the Commissioners that an incident involving five-year-old girl could have turned deadly if it wasn’t for the training and swift action taken by ALS paramedics. The Commissioners praised Mathewson and the staff for their efforts.
Jesus Maldonado of Winamac and Justin Manning of Muncie were arrested on Saturday in Pulaski County after they were reportedly under the influence and in possession of marijuana.
Brandon Williams, of Indiana Testing, discussed the company’s past with Pulaski County concerning drug testing, but the Commissioners passed a motion to allow Cathy Fritz to the testing.
A bill that passed in this session of the state legislature that would allow local governments to eliminate personal property tax on equipment for potential companies. According to Senator Ed Charbonneau, this will make our area more appealing to more hi-tech, high paying jobs. Before the passage of this bill, state and local development directors were working at a disadvantage in competition with neighboring states.
The North Judson Town Board will be holding a public meeting to discuss the possibility of increasing the number of board members from three to five. The meeting will be held on Thursday, April 12th at 5:00 p.m. in the North Judson Civic Center. A representative from the Indiana Association of Clerk-Treasurers will be on hand to provide information and to take questions.
No injuries were reported when Cara Lewellen’s truck, boat and trailer went into Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver on Wednesday. Police say Lewellen was backing up into the water on the west shore access of Lake Maxinkuckee when she lost control of the vehicle and it went into the water. She managed to get out of the vehicle before it entered the water. The vehicle and trailer were later recovered by the Marshall County Dive Team.
State Road 23 between County Roads 1000 East and 825 North in Koontz Lake will be closed beginning Monday, April 9th. INDOT crews will be constructing a bridge and road at the Koontz Lake Dam area. The road closure is expected to last until July.
Starke County will receive a total of $159,067 in County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) money and $140,840 in County Adjusted Gross Income Tax (CAGIT) money as a result of a reported computer glitch that delayed the distribution of $205 million in income tax money to all counties in Indiana for 2011 and 2012. Pulaski County will be getting over $206,000 in CEDIT money and $1.29 million in CAGIT money. Marshall County will collect a total of $1.487 million in CEDIT money.
Starke County Attorney, Martin Lucas, told Betty and George Dotlich at this week’s Commissioners’ that there is not a rule book adopted for a Board of Review – the governing board that will need to hear and rule on their request to overturn a building permit on the property next to theirs in Grovertown. Lucas was instructed to create a written pronouncement on how the board operates.
