Members of the American Legion, Department of Indiana’s 3rd District has named the 2017 EMS of the Year.
Jeffrey Koon, of La Porte, is the recipient of this year’s award. According to 3rd District Commander Chuck Wotring, Koon was chosen for his outstanding service to his community in the medical field. Koon has worked as an EMT and paramedic for La Porte County EMS since 1993. He currently serves as captain there.
The Knox Community School Corporation will implement the use of eLearning Days during the 2017-2018 school year.
According to Director of Curriculum and Instruction Peggy Shidaker, when inclement weather creates a school cancellation all students K-12 will log into the district Learning Management System, Canvas, to access learning targets and assignments for the day.
The Starke County Council will revisit its salary ordinance pertaining to classifications of employees as part-time or skilled part-time.
There are different pay scales for those employees who work part-time and those part-time workers who have developed skills that can be interchangeable between departments. It is up to the department head to determine which level of pay that employee receives.
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Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin asked the county council members to review the pay scale for the sheriff’s department.
Sheriff Dulin said he’s losing officers to other departments and the salary offered is not competitive with other departments. In fact, he told the council that he’s lost four officers. He said it’s hard to attract applicants with what he’s able to offer. Dulin mentioned that his department is the lowest paid department in the county and the eighth lowest in terms of competitive salaries in the state.
Two Starke County organizations have been awarded grant funds from the Kankakee Valley REMC Operation Round Up program.
Community Services of Starke County received $3,300 grant to help purchase a computer system that will better serve the organization’s needs and the needs of clients. The organization helps low-income, elderly and disabled citizens in Starke County. Community Services hosts a food pantry, senior activities, meal assistance, and transportation assistance.
Starke County Attorney Marty Lucas presented the Starke County Commissioners this week with a document that clarifies disclosure of properties sold in a tax sale.
Lucas said there’s a fine line of tax sale properties being sold at a “buyer beware” condition, but there should be disclosure of known issues. He’s working with Frank Lynch in the health department on this subject as the commissioners recently refunded money in a tax sale as the property was deemed contaminated. The refund was given as a case the commissioners felt warranted the action. Refunds are not common in tax sales.
Starke County Coroner Dannie Hoffer approached the Starke County Council Monday night seeking additional funds to help pay autopsy fees.
Hoffer explained that three cases of accidental overdoses have caused additional expenses that his budget doesn’t allow. The cost of an autopsy is $1,600 and sometimes more depending on the forensic pathologist used. Hoffer said he typically uses the service of a forensic pathologist south of Indianapolis as his fee is $1,500 while the fee in South Bend is $3,200 and $2,800 in Fort Wayne.
A report given by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation updated the Starke County Council members and Starke County Commissioners on a few projects.
The sale of the Stelrema building on U.S. 35 north of Knox that would become a manufacturing home to the Gary Poppins Gourmet Popcorn company is not yet finalized. According to SCEDF officials, the contract is still on the table, but both sides have not agreed to sign to the terms.
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler presented a plan to the Starke County Commissioners this week on updating some ADA requirements in terms of communication.
Ritzler commented that the American Disabilities Act forms on the website are outdated and he’s been in touch with the IT Director to work on getting those forms changed and add some required elements to the website.
Starke County EMS officials approached the Starke County Council members Monday night to request a transfer of funds to cover ambulance repair costs.
Starke County EMS Director Travis Clary informed the board that an inactive rotation roster for primary and backup ambulances as led to a large amount of breakdowns recently. The costs for repairs have gotten to the point that funds have gone into the red with constant work being done.
There are five ambulances on the fleet: three primary and two backup.
The Culver Redevelopment Commission members discussed a proposal from SRKM Architects during their meeting Monday afternoon.
The proposal outlined several actions the company could do to help the commission reach a decision about how to proceed with the theater. A structural assessment would be included along with a business plan, a chance to set up a public hearing to gather comments on potential uses for the building, marketing plan, preliminary budget, and more. The cost would be $8,530.
A Knox boy was injured Thursday evening after being attacked by a dog at the Jellystone Campground in Plymouth.
After an investigation, Marshall County Sheriff’s deputies say the boy went to a neighbor’s lot when the dog bit him. The 10-year-old was transported to the hospital for the injuries he sustained in the incident. The owner of dog was also bitten when he attempted to assist in the attack, according to police. The owner refused medical assistance.
An in-depth investigation by the La Porte County Drug Task Force resulted in the arrest of three people on charges of dealing cocaine.
Police say 34-year-old Carl K. Adkins, 44-year-old Stephanie Berg and 24-year-old Brandon Zachary were arrested on arrest warrants after investigating a resident complaint about suspicious activity at 214 Ohio Street in La Porte. Those warrants were executed Monday morning where officers were able to collect evidence, according to a press release.
A 35-year-old woman was found unresponsive in her cell in the La Porte County Jail on Saturday night.
Police say that around 10 p.m. CT a jail supervisor was conducting routine cell checks and inmate counts when Andrea Roberts was found inside her cell and not responding to the officer. The jail supervisor attempted resuscitation efforts. Roberts was transported to the La Porte Hospital where she was pronounced dead a half hour later, according to police.
Newly installed Starke County EMS Director Travis Clary will be before the Starke County Council tonight to discuss a transfer request and an amendment to the 2017 salary ordinance. Starke County Coroner Dannie Hoffer will present an update on autopsy fees, the annual Starke County Economic Development Foundation monthly report will be given as well as an appropriation for SCILL and the council members will set a date for the county budget workshop.
The Starke County Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. CT.
The Culver Redevelopment Commission’s meeting this evening will include discussions surrounding the possible purchase of the movie theater.
The town council last week voted to present the redevelopment commission members proposals for the theater from the Troyer Group and SRKM that include plans for a public meeting to gather comments on the uses for the theater, a preliminary project budget for outlaying the capital costs for repairs on the building, a structural engineering assessment of the building, and a basic outline for a business plan with annual expenses versus revenue expenses for whatever concept may occupy the building.
Now that most of the funds for the Lake Maxinkuckee Amphitheater have been gathered, officials can move forward with making the plan a reality.
Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist told the town council last week that the plans for the construction phase of the project will be presented this week. Construction may begin in October of this year and be complete in April of 2018.
The Knox Community School Board will consider a recommendation for a new superintendent when they meet tonight.
The board held a public hearing on the superintendent’s contract last week where only one comment was received concerning the lack of the action of a rollover with the contract. The board will also approve that contract tonight during their regularly scheduled meeting.
