The Culver Town Council will hold a public hearing tonight to consider comments on the town’s proposed traffic ordinance.
The traffic ordinance designates a congested motor vehicle traffic and pedestrian area on Lakeshore Drive and signage will be placed between 508 Lakeshore east to 824 Lakeshore Drive. The ordinance also creates a no parking zone for 50 feet from the intersection on both sides of the street on Batabano and South Plymouth Street.
Twenty-five flu-related deaths have been reported in Indiana this season and officials with the Indiana State Department of Health are urging residents to reduce the spread of influenza.
A Knox man faces two counts of child molesting as Class A felonies and two additional counts as a Class C felonies in a Starke Circuit Court trial this week.
Jerry Leonard allegedly performed sexual acts with a girl less than the age of 14, four times spanning between 2012 and 2014 while living at a residence in Knox. A child forensic interview was conducted concerning these alleged acts at the First Light Child Advocacy Center in Marion, Indiana, in March of 2017, according to court documents. Continue reading
The Starke County Commissioners will meet tonight after last week’s regular meeting was postponed. The commissioners still plan to hold public discussion tonight on the proposed move of the Dollar General Store to the eastern corner of 200 South and U.S. 35 just south of Knox.
During their December 18th meeting, the commissioners discussed the amended plans for the driveway into the store off of 200 South which presents potential safety concerns, according to Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler. He told the board that it’s a heavily traveled area and he’d like to see a stop light or some safety enhancement at that intersection. The commissioners agreed to gather public comment on the matter during tonight’s regular session meeting.
Two stolen law enforcement snowmobiles were recovered thanks to an anonymous tip on Friday, Jan. 5.
Indiana Conservation Officers say an arrest was made and several more are pending. The incident remains under investigation.
The Knox Board of Works members will be interviewing three candidates to fill an open position on the Knox City Police Department’s roster.
Police Chief Harold Smith said 31 applications were initially requested and nine came back to the department. Those applicants went through knowledge and agility testing. Smith will be conducting background checks and other paperwork on three of the applicants and they will be interviewed by the Knox Board of Works members by the end of January.
Cold temperatures drive heating costs. With the cold snap experienced over the past couple of weeks, heating bills will be high.
NIPSCO suggests setting the thermostat two to four degrees below what you’re used to in order to cut down the heat bill. Change air filters often throughout the season as dirty filters block air causing the furnace to work harder. If you are still unsure about the whole process, you can easily find a reliable services near you, if you are wondering how to find a Michigan furnace installation company, do not worry, we have you covered. With the right furnace installations (like the Furnace installation in Clarks Summit) you can save a lot of money on your energy bills. An expert from a heat repair company, can help you understand the structure of your room and ensure right measures are taken for your comfort.
Firefighters from the North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department battled a house fire Thursday night.
According to Fire Chief Joe Leszek, they arrived at the scene just after 5:30 p.m. CT at 7756 N. 750 W. in Pulaski County. The house was completely engulfed when they arrived with three tanker trucks, an engine truck and a brush truck. They cleared the scene just after 8 p.m.
Culver-Union Township Fire Chief Terry Wakefield told the town council members last week that he’s received three applications for firefighters.
The fire department has suffered from a dwindling roster of firefighters and Wakefield has been soliciting for applications from Culver or Union Township residents for the past year hoping to gather interest in training to be a firefighter.
Some projects within the Town of Culver’s Stellar Communities Designation program will expand thanks to additional Community Development Block Grant funding.
Culver Town Council President Ginny Bess Munroe read a report into the record from Town Manager Jonathan Leist during last week’s meeting. Leist indicated that the Stellar Committee agreed to expand the Cavalier Sports Park project along with the Culver Beach Lodge renovation efforts and Lake Max programming and accessibility. It was the decision of the committee on Dec. 19 to expand on the current projects rather than begin planning for an entirely new venture.
Knox Water Department crews are improving fire protection in city limits.
Water Superintendent Todd Gardner told the Knox Board of Public Works members last week that the fire hydrant fees collected helped pay for the installation of 26 new fire hydrants and updated several others to provide adequate fire protection in neighborhoods. Continue reading
Knox Mayor Dennis Estok is urging residents to take precautions to prevent freezing water pipes.
He told WKVI News that there are a few homes that experience issues every year and the below-freezing temperatures are causing more residents with frozen water pipes. He asks that those who have annual water line freezing problems to let the water run the width of a pencil or a drip. Call the clerk-treasurer’s office at 772-3032 and it will be noted to adjust bills to accommodate preventative measures.
Any questions can be directed to the mayor’s office at 772-4553.
Update: Tonight’s Starke County Commissioners meeting has been rescheduled due to cold weather. Auditor Kay Chaffins says it will now be held Monday, January 8 at 6:00 p.m.
The Starke County Commissioners will hold public discussion on the proposed move of the Dollar General Store to the eastern corner of 200 South and U.S. 35 just south of Knox.
During their December 18th meeting, the commissioners discussed the amended plans for the driveway into the store off of 200 South which presents potential safety concerns, according to Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler. He told the board that it’s a heavily traveled area and he’d like to see a stop light or some safety enhancement at that intersection. The commissioners agreed to gather public comment on the matter during tonight’s regular session meeting.
The Knox Board of Works members considered requests for new vehicles during their meeting on Wednesday.
Water Superintendent Todd Gardner explained that he is looking to purchase a new service truck. He said he is about 10 years behind in getting a new truck as funds weren’t available. He wants to replace a 1989 truck that no longer runs efficiently. He obtained three quotes for a service truck with a service truck from Schepel in Merrillville, Bill Estes in Indianapolis and Gates in South Bend. Schepel gave him the lowest quote at $40,640 for a ¾-ton GMC truck with a service body. Tool boxes may be added that could cost approximately $1,000 extra.
Officials with the Town of Culver and Marshall County Habitat for Humanity are looking for a qualified individual to help build his or her own home in Culver.
Application information can be found on the Town of Culver’s website at www.townofculver.org for a building project at an available site at the Sand Hill Farms workforce housing development project off of West Jefferson Street in Culver. The project is anticipated to begin in late 2018 or early 2019.
The Starke County EMS Department will receive a much needed heater for the Medic 5 base in Grovertown.
In a specially-called joint session of the Starke County Commissioners and Starke County Council Thursday night, EMS Director Travis Clary said medications are freezing in the ambulance at the Grovertown base because there is not a proper heat source in the garage area. There is a good heat supply in the office area, but it is needed where the ambulance is parked to preserve intravenous and other perishable medications. The Starke County Commissioners declared the need an emergency and the council members approved the acquisition of a ceiling heater from McGrath’s Refrigeration not to exceed $2,057.87. The purchase will come from the 2017 budget.
The Knox Board of Works members got an update on repairs being made to 1 and 3 N. Main Street in downtown Knox.
Knox Planning Administrator and Director of Building and Code Compliance Kenny Pfost told the board members that a timeline was provided for repairs. Building Owner Pete Milev was given until May 2018 to complete extensive repairs to the exterior masonry and interior violations. Pfost said he mailed the timeline to Milev by certified mail on Dec. 12, but it has not been returned with a signature.
The Culver Town Council members discussed grant funds that were appropriated during the year at their meeting this week.
Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim commented that the town was fortunate to receive several grants in 2017 that weren’t recognized in the budget. She recommended that the list be available to inform the public of all funds awarded and spent, and on the record for the Department of Local Government Finance.
The Culver Town Council members took action Tuesday night to make sure budget funds will be balanced at the end of the year.
A resolution to transfer funds within departments and department funds was unanimously approved.
An ordinance to encumber funds for 2017 was also considered. A lot of the money to be encumbered is for paving.
