All posts by Anita Goodan

Knox Peppermint Parade, Tree Lighting Next Week

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
 

The City of Knox is hosting the holiday peppermint parade on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. CT.

Knox Mayor Dennis Estok invites all businesses, churches and organizations to be part of the revived holiday tradition down Main Street. A parade application is available here on our website.

After the parade is concluded, everyone is welcome to Santa’s House in Wythogan Park for free hot apple cider, coffee, hot cocoa, and s’mores and a visit with Santa! At 5 p.m., the tree lighting ceremony will officially usher in the Christmas season in the City of Knox.

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BMV Branches Reopen Saturday

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

All Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle branches are closed today due to the Thanksgiving holiday, but those facilities that normally operate on Saturdays will reopen on Saturday, Nov. 25.

The Plymouth BMV branch will be open tomorrow from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET while the La Porte and Valparaiso branches will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT.

The Knox, Walkerton and Winamac branches will conduct business during regular hours next week.

Nine Inmates Complete Chemical Dependency and Addictions Program

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Nine Starke County Justice Center inmates recently graduated from a Chemical Dependency and Addictions Program.

The program focuses on addiction thought processes and criminal behavior. The inmates learn how to overcome their addiction while restructuring thoughts and behavior.

Porter-Starke Services therapists dedicate time to help the inmates conquer the program. Inmates focus on self awareness and self improvement in treatment sessions over a period of 14 weeks. Inmates develop skills to manage stress, anger, cravings and appropriate ways to respond to triggers. Critical reasoning and decision making skills are also taught in these courses. Continue reading →

Police, Coroner Investigate Stabbing, Shooting Incident in Medaryville

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

One man is dead after an incident at a residence in Medaryville on Tuesday afternoon.

Officers arrived at a home in the 200 block of  S. Waldron in Medaryville at 12:41 p.m. after receiving a report about a stabbing and shooting there.  Pulaski County Coroner John Behny says the cause and manner of death are under investigation at this time pending an autopsy and toxicology results.

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Starke County Sheriff Asks for Fund Transfers

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Starke County Council heard a request from Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin Monday night to transfer money within his budgets to fund various needs.

He requested $23,665.56 to fund the retirement shortfall. The county has been in arrears with retirement for the past two years and in order to keep the police retirement fund with Morgan Stanley active, the shortage needs to be brought up to date by the end of the year. If the county is short three years in a row, it ceases.

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Knox Board of Public Works to Meet Today

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
 

The Knox Board of Public Works will meet today where a public hearing is scheduled for the property at 1 and 3 N. Main Street.

The board members took action in October to enforce unsafe building violations at that location. Mayor Dennis Estok said the Main Street property owner was previously told to replace glass in the storefront and respond to other violations within the building and it wasn’t done within the timeframe given.

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Starke County Commissioners Pass Second Reading of UTV Ordinance

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Starke County Commissioners passed the UTV ordinance on second reading.

County Attorney Marty Lucas clarified the wording of “county highway” in the ordinance. He said the wording is a little aged, but it means county road and does not reflect any permission on the state highways to operate UTVs. Highways such as U.S. 35, U.S. 30, State Road 8, State Road 10, State Road 39 and U.S. 421 that run through Starke County are the jurisdiction of the state or federal highway system.

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Starke County Council, Commissioners to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Starke County Council members will consider several fund requests this evening.

They will have a presentation of a refund from NIPSCO and consider transfer requests from the auditor’s office and the clerk’s office. Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler will present transfer and additional appropriation requests and the sheriff’s budget will be discussed along with Sheriff Bill Dulin’s requests for fund transfers. The council members will also consider the 2018 salary ordinance and receive information from Starke County Economic Development Foundation Director Charlie Weaver. Continue reading →

Semi Trailer Rolls onto Unoccupied Truck

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

A semi trailer containing grain rolled onto an unoccupied service truck Thursday afternoon.

According to the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, a semi driver pulled over to the side of the road with mechanical issues at the intersection of State Road 8 and State Road 39 around 4 p.m. CT. Police say the driver attempted to unhook the semi from the trailer to reconnect with a different semi when the trailer became unstable and rolled over. The trailer rolled onto a pickup truck parked near the rear of the trailer. The pickup truck was owned by the repair company that was at the scene to assist the semi driver with the mechanical issues. No one was inside the pickup truck at the time of the incident and no other injuries were reported.

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Culver Town Council to Address Semi Truck Parking

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Culver Town Council members will soon tackle an issue surrounding semi truck parking in residential areas.

A citizen brought forth issues during the council’s regular meeting on Tuesday night stating that it’s difficult to maneuver around the semis parked in residential areas. He’s fearful for the safety of the residents and children, in addition to it being an eyesore. Some trucks are parking on narrow streets like Ohio Street and Mill Street. Continue reading →

La Porte Emergency Responders Investigate Fatal Crash

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
 

A single vehicle crash claimed the life of a 20-year-old man Wednesday afternoon.

La Porte County police say a car driven by Cody Strauch was traveling west on U.S. 20 and went off the north side of the road and stuck a tree in the 7400 E. block of U.S. 20 near New Prairie High School. After the impact, the vehicle spun off into the yard for approximately 30 feet, according to the report. Continue reading →

Relocation of Culver and Lake Maxinkuckee Visitor’s Center Discussed

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council members revisited a request this week from Becca Pazin with the Culver and Lake Maxinkuckee Visitor’s Center to move her office from the bank building downtown to the Culver Beach Lodge.

She explained that the change in location would create better visibility of the office for tourists. Her office would be located on the third floor of the beach lodge. The move also allows more space for her especially in terms of meeting space. She could have more private conversations with visitors to the visitor’s center or clients to discuss business. There would be more space to display brochures available to attractions in Culver and Marshall County. Continue reading →

Culver Town Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council members will hold a public hearing tonight to gather comments on an amendment to the Culver Zoning Ordinance.

The proposed changes include lowering the number of parking spaces for general commercial businesses in the C2 district, changing the sign ordinance to allow lighted signs, changes to the height and visibility requirements for fences in the L1 district, also changes in the side yard setback area in the L1 district. Additionally, the ordinance creates permit requirements for solar power systems and building permits for roof and shingle replacement. Continue reading →

Starke County Highway Department to Apply for Federal Grants

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
 

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 →

Second Opinion Sought on Possible Starke County Intersection Improvements

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

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 →