All posts by Jacque Ryan

Starke and Pulaski County Unemployment Statistics From May

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The most recent Indiana Department of Workforce Development unemployment report reveals a growing labor forces in Starke and Pulaski counties and fairly consistent unemployment rates.

From April to May, the labor force in Pulaski gained 338 additional workers and 321 more people were described as employed. Conversely, there were 19 more people determined to be unemployed and the rate rose slightly from 2.9 to 3.0 percent.

Starke County’s rate remains higher than that of their neighbors to the south and west. However, the county did see a slight decrease from April to May, going from 3.9 to 3.8 percent unemployment. Continue reading →

Knox Mayor Aims to Bring Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Grant Funds Back into the City

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Mayor Dennis Estok told City Council members last Tuesday that he’s taking steps to bring the Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Grant back into Knox.

Mayor Estok explained that this specific funding assistance allows residents with lower incomes to apply to receive assistance with various home repairs. Estok said that in the past, recipients of the grant were awarded up to $15,000 in some cases. Continue reading →

INDOT Closes Section of State Road 17 For Chip and Sealing Operations

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Starting today, Culver residents and commuters should be prepared for an ongoing road closure on State Road 17.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced that State Road 17 in Marshall County will be closed between State Road 8 and State Road 10 as crews perform chip sealing operations. The work will begin today and that section of road is expected to reopen by the end of the day on Friday, June 22. Continue reading →

FEMA Officials Provide Additional Guidelines in Public Notice

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

FEMA recently issued a public notice in regards to the major flooding that occurred earlier this year and the subsequent public and individual funding assistance being offered to several counties including Starke, Pulaski, Marshall and La Porte.

The notice, provided by Starke County EMA Director J. Nier, reportedly concerns activities that may affect historic properties, ones that are located in or affecting wetland areas or the 100-year floodplain and critical actions within the 500-year flood plain. FEMA officials report that such incidents may adversely affect the historical property, floodplain, or wetland or could result in continuing vulnerability to flood damage. Continue reading →

The North Judson Town Council Meets Tonight

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

North Judson Town Council members will discuss this year’s Mint Festival when they meet tonight at 6:30 p.m. in North Judson Town Hall.

Department heads will report on any relevant updates and there will be time set aside for guest recognition and any additional business deemed necessary by the council.

Additionally, Clerk-Treasurer Andrew Rowe, Vice President John Rowe and Council members James Young and Jane Ellen Felchuck attended a meeting at the Starke County Economic Development Foundation on Thursday. Continue reading →

Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Contributes to North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department Fundraiser

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan
HVRM President Cory Bennett and Assistant Fire Chief Mike Scutchfield

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum provided a donation to the North Judson-Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department earlier this month.

HVRM President Cory Bennett presented Assistant Fire Chief Mike Scutchfield with a $300 check, just before the annual Fish Fry Fundraiser that was held on June 9th. Continue reading →

Knox Fireworks and Family Fund Day Parade Applications Due by the End of This Month

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Individuals interested in promoting their business, team, school or organization in this year’s Knox Independence Day Parade will need to have their application submitted by Friday, June 29th. Mayor Dennis Estok issued a reminder about the deadline when city council members met Tuesday night.

There is no entry fee to be a part of the parade. Individuals would just need to fill out the application with their contact information and relevant details and return the document to the Mayor’s Office before the end of business hours on the final Friday in June. No applications will be accepted after the deadline, with no exceptions. Continue reading →

Public Nuisance Ordinance Adopted for the Town of Winamac

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Winamac Town Council members considered an ordinance to regulate public nuisances on private property when they met Monday night.

Members reviewed the ordinance which states that in the interests of protecting public safety, health and welfare as well as for the purpose of enhancing the environment for residents of the town, property owners and occupants are prohibited from allowing an environmental public nuisance to exist.

It lays out relevant definitions utilized throughout the document and sets regulations related to vegetation, grass height, yard debris, refuse and drainage and stormwater management. Continue reading →

Starke County Wants to be Designated a Regional Stellar Community and Officials Are Taking Steps to Get There

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

What will it take for Starke County to be designated a Regional Stellar Community?

That is the question that was answered Thursday night when various county, city and town officials met at the Starke County Economic Development Foundation Office to find out what steps they can start taking in order to submit a competitive application in the future. Continue reading →

Selected Furniture’s Tax Abatement Request Denied by Knox City Council

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

A tax abatement request for Selected Furniture was considered during Tuesday night’s Knox City Council meeting. Mayor Dennis Estok presented the request to the council members and noted a few details about the company.

He shared that as of a few weeks ago, Selected Furniture still needed to pay about $37,458 in real property taxes and $21,062.85 in personal property taxes for a total of approximately $58,521 owed in back taxes. Continue reading →

Winamac Town Council Approves Plan Commission Appointment

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Winamac Town Council members approved an appointment to the Plan Commission when they met this week.

Town officials have been seeking someone to fill the open Democrat seat on the Plan Commission for several months. When town council members met Monday night, Town Manager Brad Zellers shared that someone recently expressed an interest in filling the open position. Continue reading →

LEPC Starts Discussion Over Tabletop Exercise to Test All-Hazards Plan for Starke County

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The Local Emergency Planning Committee of Starke County was scheduled to hold a meeting on Wednesday but there were not enough members present to have a quorum.

However, since no quorum was required to hold the first planning meeting for a tabletop exercise that will be held to test the County’s All-Hazards Plan, members went over some preliminary information about that.

A tabletop exercise is a meeting to discuss a simulated emergency situation where officials talk about their individual roles and responsibilities when it comes to responding to a situation. Continue reading →

Registration Dates Set for Oregon-Davis Students, Officials Issue Vaccination Requirement Reminder

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Officials from Oregon-Davis Community School Corporation recently announced that registration for the 2018-2019 school year will be held in July.

Student registration will run from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25th and Thursday, July 26th. Officials noted that athletic physicals will also be available for students.

Something else that was included in this week’s “Bobcat Blast”, the corporation’s newsletter, was a reminder about required vaccinations. Continue reading →

Winamac Town Manager Delivers Fireworks Update to Council Members

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Winamac Town Manager Brad Zellers assured council members on Monday that the money for this year’s fireworks display has been raised and the location has been set.

He explained that the $5,500 for the contract charge with the fireworks company was raised. He added that the display will be held on the school grounds, to the southeast of the football field near the baseball diamond. Continue reading →

Public Vet’s Neuter Scooter to Return to Knox this Weekend

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Due to the incredible success of the event that was held in April, Public Vet’s Neuter Scooter Mobile Clinic will be returning to the City of Knox.

The program provides an integral service that helps keep the feral cat population in check. Mayor Dennis Estok previously reported that more than 130 cats were registered for the last Neuter Scooter Mobile Clinic. Volunteers who are interested can opt to join with the proper requirements. There were already individuals with electric scooters who participated. Interested people are encouraged to get bikes, scooters, or even electric longboards on ScooterAdviser so they can join the cause.

According to the organization’s website, the Neuter Scooter will be in Knox from Friday, June 15th until Monday, June 18th. As a reminder, the exact location of the mobile clinic is not revealed until online registration is completed. Continue reading →

Caucus to Replace District 4 Knox City Council Member Scheduled

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The caucus to find the replacement for the District 4 Knox City Council member will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26th at Knox City Hall.

During citizen comments at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Mayor Dennis Estok mentioned that since the caucus will be held prior to the regularly scheduled meeting, the new member will be sworn in and will attend their first meeting that night. Continue reading →

Request to Vacate Alley in Winamac Moves onto Next Phase

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

An alley in the town of Winamac will be vacated in the near future following a decision made by town council members Wednesday.

Town Manager Brad Zellers provided the council with an update about the request, which was initially submitted on behalf of Frain LLC and neighboring property owners Deborah Worrell and Mike and Peggy Vasa at the last town council meeting in May. Continue reading →

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in LaPorte

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open in LaPorte today to assist flood-affected residents in La Porte, Porter and Starke counties.

The DRC is located in the Sheriff’s Building on Concession Boulevard at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds, located at 2581 West State Road 2 in LaPorte. It will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. (CT), Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Continue reading →

NJ Officials Wait to See Results of County’s UTV Ordinance Before Considering Any Policy Changes

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan
Picture Source: Town of North Judson FB Page

Before considering amendments to the town’s existing golf cart policy, North Judson Officials are waiting to see how Starke County’s new UTV ordinance fares in the summer season.

Clerk-Treasurer Andrew Rowe explained that there have been multiple inquiries made about the town’s golf cart policy and whether officials would be willing to add UTVs to the kinds of vehicles that would be permitted in town. Continue reading →