The Knox Board of Works will get updates on a couple of properties this morning.
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Pulaski County Facing $210,000 Increase in Health Insurance Costs
Pulaski County’s annual health insurance bill could be going up by more than $200,000, following a sharp increase in claims. Steve Gregory with Shepherd Insurance told the county commissioners last week that the plan hasn’t been running well. Cigna initially wanted to raise the cost by almost 44 percent but they negotiated it down to less than 20 percent.
Continue reading4-H Club, Fair Organizers to Help Pay for Landscaping Upgrades at Pulaski County Fairgrounds Entrance
Landscaping upgrades at the entrance to the Pulaski County Fairgrounds have gotten some financial support from 4-H leaders and fair organizers. The Winamac Park Board has decided to install landscaping stone in the island where the entrance sign is located and surround it with curbing to replace the rotting wooden posts.
Continue readingKnox City Council to Consider Building Violation Fines Tonight
The City of Knox is looking to step up fines for building violations. A new fine schedule will be up for the city council’s approval tonight.
Continue readingLocal Unemployment Rates Ease Considerably As Residents Return to Work
Starke and Pulaski County residents are heading back to work. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s May report showed that almost 1,000 more Starke County residents were employed than the month before, while Starke County’s unemployment rate dropped by seven percent to 12.4.
Continue readingSchools Can Now Apply for Funding to Improve Remote Learning
Schools can now apply for grant funding to boost their remote learning capabilities. Indiana is distributing almost $62 million it received from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund as part of the federal CARES Act.
Continue readingOregon-Davis Elementary Principal Promoted to Superintendent
A longtime Oregon-Davis principal has been named the school corporation’s next superintendent. Elementary School Principal Bill Bennett was given the superintendent’s job during a special school board meeting Monday.
Continue readingParolee Back in Custody on Charges of Criminal Confinement, Battery, Rape
A Starke County man was arrested, after police were called to assist state parole officers Friday. The Starke County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were told that a woman claimed she’d been held captive and battered by Tracy Kell, 42, who was on parole. Deputies say that during the investigation, they found evidence that led to Kell’s arrest.
Continue readingOregon-Davis School Board to Name Superintendent Tonight
The Oregon-Davis School Board will name the corporation’s next superintendent tonight. No comments were offered during last week’s public hearing on the new superintendent’s contract. It calls for a base salary of $95,000, plus benefits.
Continue readingRoad Construction Planned on East, New York Streets in Knox this Week
Those driving through the City of Knox may encounter some road construction this week. Mayor Dennis Estok says work is taking place on East Street from John Street to State Road 8 and on all of East New York Street. Rieth-Riley crews will be doing milling and street resurfacing work until at least Friday. Motorists are asked to avoid those roads whenever possible.
Continue readingFormer Hamlet Town Marshal Voices Concern with Out-of-Town U.S. 30 Patrols
Hamlet’s former town marshal is questioning some of the police department’s current operations. Frank Lonigro recently told the town council that he often sees Hamlet Police patrolling U.S. 30 outside the town limits, something that wasn’t allowed when he was with the department.
Continue readingNorth Judson Schedules Town-Wide Yard Sale for August 8
The Town of North Judson has set the date for this year’s town-wide yard sale. The town council last week agreed to hold the yard sale on Saturday, August 8. Vendors need to register with the town by Wednesday, August 5, to be included on the map.
Continue readingDedicated Park Board Funding Sought in 2021 Starke County Budget
The Starke County Park Board could get dedicated funding from the county, under a proposal from County Commissioner Kathy Norem. Until now, the park board’s revenue sources have been limited to grants, donations, and Starke County Forest timber sales, but no regular budget from the county.
Continue readingProposed Student, Employee Handbook Updates Presented to Eastern Pulaski School Board
The Eastern Pulaski Community School Corporation is looking to move bus stops off of highways. A proposed update to the transportation handbook would eliminate all highway stops both in and out of town, according to the draft minutes from last week’s school board meeting. Another change would offer more guidance on when drivers should use the buses’ strobe lights.
Continue readingKnox School Board Considers Additional Items for Third Phase of Building Project
The Knox Community School Corporation may add a number of items to its building project, after bids for the site work and building construction came in under budget.
Continue readingWinamac Moving Ahead with July 4th Fireworks, Hamlet May Have Display in August
The Town of Winamac is moving ahead with its Fourth of July fireworks. Town Manager Brad Zellers told the town council last week that enough donations have come in, and the contracts with the fireworks company are now in place.
Continue readingBids for Pulaski County Road 400 East Bridge Replacement Higher than Expected
An upcoming Pulaski County bridge replacement project may cost a bit more than officials had hoped. The county commissioners Monday opened four construction bids for the bridge on County Road 400 East over Mill Creek. They ranged from just over $561,000 to more than $817,000. JCI Bridge Group was the apparent low bidder.
Continue readingKnox City Council Approves Budget Transfers for Insurance and Benefits
The Knox City Council took action last week to make up a shortfall in the city’s insurance budget. Council members transferred more than $68,000 into the insurance line item and over $23,000 into benefits. That money will come out of four other line items funded by economic development income tax revenues.
Continue readingCrime Back Up in Pulaski County Following COVID-19-Related Dip
Lately you may have noticed an increase in crime news, as indeed it seems that after a drop due to COVID-19, crime is heading back up in Pulaski County, . Sheriff Jeff Richwine told the county commissioners Monday that calls were down by about 75 percent during the coronavirus shutdown.
Continue readingNorth Judson-San Pierre, Oregon-Davis Share More Graduation Details
North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis are sharing more details about their graduation plans.
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