All posts by Anita Goodan

Culver Fall Fest Begins Today

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Fall is here and the Town of Culver is ready to celebrate the changing of the season and all of the fun this time of the year has to offer.

The Culver Fall Fest begins today with a special concert by the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute band at the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets in the evening. This is the first time the group has played in the area and the first concert since the passing of Tom Petty. Hear these hits as you’ve never have heard them before beginning at 8 p.m. ET tonight.

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Stellar Site Visit Today in Culver

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Town of Culver will welcome officials from the Stellar Communities Designation Program today for the official site visit. The town is a finalist in Division 2 in the Stellar Communities Designation Program.

Town Manager Jonathan Leist said today’s event will take several hours.

“We get about three hours to present information to the state review team that includes representatives from 14 different state agencies,” said Leist. “It’s our chance to bring the plan that we presented to them back in August to life. We’ll show them some of the sites where the projects would take place and sell them on Culver while they’re here.”

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Starke County Council to Hold Second Public Hearing on Budget

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Starke County Council members did hold a public hearing Monday evening to gather public comment on the 2018 budget, but the lack of a quorum has forced a second public hearing.

The council needs to have at least four members present to recognize a quorum. Members Brad Hazelton, Nancy Dembowski and Bryan Cavendar were physically present Monday night for the public hearing. It was thought that if a fourth member could be part of the meeting via teleconference, it could be a legally called meeting. It was found that the meeting cannot be counted as legal so a second public hearing is scheduled.

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Bridge Bids Opened for Two Projects

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Starke County Attorney Marty Lucas opened bids for two bridge projects during the commissioners meeting on Monday night.

Northern Indiana Construction Company, Inc. submitted the lowest bids for Bridge No. 36 on County Road 25 N. over Eagle Creek and Bridge No. 58 on County Road 800 S. over Bogus Run. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler asked the commissioners to conditionally approve the bids as they will need to satisfy the ordinance checklist before they are formally awarded. If the lowest bidder does not conform to the ordinance requirements, then the next lowest bid will go through the same process.

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Starke County Commissioners Concerned about Drop in Ambulance Transfers

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Starke County EMS Director Travis Clary presented ambulance transfer figures to the county commissioners Monday night and the numbers caused concern.

The percentage of transfers dropped from 35 or 25 percent to 10 percent last month. Clary explained that Porter Regional brought in a full-time ambulance that is available at Starke Hospital 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The Porter ambulance service is getting a majority of the Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support and nursing home transfer calls while Starke County EMS is not getting as many.

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Nominate Someone Now for the Henry F. Schricker Award

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Nominations are now being accepted for the Henry F. Schricker Award.

The members of the Starke County Chamber of Commerce will review all nominations of those Starke County residents who exemplify the former governor’s motto of “service before self”. This is the 30th Schricker Award to be given to a worthy Starke County resident.

The chamber is also accepting nominations of the Business of the Year.

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Site Dedicated for New Assisted Living Facility

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

A 6.2 acre parcel of land in Winamac will soon house a new assisted living facility like this senior living in Pleasant Hill, CA where healthcare workers will be able to assist the elderly of the community by providing respite care Monroe NJ as well as any of their needs in their own custom medical scrubs uniform to represent their local town. You can visit sites like https://residencesatplainview.com/apartments/independent-living/ to know more about senior living.

According to Pulaski Health Foundation Executive Director Sharon McKinley, long-time Winamac residents Kenny and Phyllis Garner wanted to give something back to the community. Continue reading →

Knox Board of Public Works Members Get Updates on Blighted Structures

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
 

The Knox Board of Public Works received updates on two blighted structures in the city limits.

Jack Fogarty owns the property at 301 S. Shield St. and has tried to refinance with no success and he explained that his financial situation doesn’t support the updates. He understands that the property needs a new roof, exterior work and interior work. He just asked the board for one thing.

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Knox Street Department to Complete Four Projects with Community Crossings Grant Funds

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The City of Knox was recently awarded $455,559.61 in Community Crossings grant funds. Street Superintendent Jeff Borg told the Knox Board of Public Works members on Wednesday morning that the city’s match is $151,853.17 which will complete four priority projects.

INDOT funds 75 percent of the projects to help with the purchase of materials for the projects. It is the goal of INDOT to help build and improve Indiana’s infrastructure.

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Starke County Manufacturer’s Day Event and Job Fair Set

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
 

WorkOne and the Starke County Economic Development Foundation will be hosting a Job Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 11 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. CT at the Knox Middle School Auxiliary Gym. This is a new event this year that is designed to showcase what is available for employment in Starke County as workers are needed for several positions. Students and adults are invited to this event.

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NIPSCO to Seek Increase in Natural Gas Bills

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

More than 25 years have gone by since NIPSCO has increased natural gas base rates, but that may change.

NIPSCO along with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission are looking to increase natural gas base rates as the cost to comply with state and federal safety standards has increased. According to a NIPSCO press release, the company has made additional investments in its aging gas system to improve service to 820,000 customers while maintaining more than 17,800 miles of pipelines.

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Knox High School to Host Financial Aid Night

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Help will be available to senior students, parents or guardians in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in a special financial aid informational night.

Kelly Manning from Ancilla College will explain the financial aid process and give information on the FAFSA form which will be available on Oct. 1. Manning will field questions after the presentation, they are equipped with the audio visual systems for school, so hopefully the event goes well. Time will be available to begin work on the FAFSA form online.

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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 this morning where the members will receive information on the cleanup or renovation efforts at 301 N. Shield Street and 6 N. Pearl Street.

The board heard from Lucia Valladares during their last meeting in August where she discussed the progress on renovation efforts on the home at 6 N. Pearl Street. She said she would be hiring a business to help with the demolition portion of the proposed project. She plans on focusing on the exterior part of the building this year. Her plan is to demolish two side additions and the back porch, reinforce the foundation, put up siding, replace the roof and construct a new addition. She anticipates the exterior work to be complete by winter.

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Overdose Cases Cause Shortage of Narcan

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Starke County first responders had an emergency of their own after running out of Narcan to assist in five apparent heroin overdose cases in a six-hour span on Saturday.

When money is not an issue and comfort and privacy are paramount a luxury alcohol rehab has many benefits and can help stack the odds more heavily in your favor as you strive for sobriety.

According to the Starke County Sheriff’s Office, a heroin overdose was called into the dispatch center on Saturday at 9:20 a.m. Two men were found after responders had to breach a door in order to get inside to tend to them. One was found unconscious on the floor and another on a bed inside the home in the 400 E. block of 200 S. Starke County medics were able to revive the man on the floor using heroin antidote, Narcan.

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Court Rejects Plea Agreement

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Defendant Jason Cooke appeared in Starke Circuit Court last week for a plea agreement and sentencing hearing, but Judge Kim Hall rejected the proposed agreement between Cooke and the State.

Cooke was arrested in October 2015 in an alleged robbery and beating of Sescoe Wireman of Knox at a home in the 100 block of East 500 South in Knox. Cooke is accused of hitting Wireman in the head and taking money, prescription medication, an Indiana ID card, and multiple credit cards from him. Wireman died following the alleged incident.

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