The State of Indiana has awarded more than $14 million in this year’s round of Secured School Safety Grants. The program provides a 50-50 match to help schools buy security equipment, hire resource officers, or conduct threat assessments.
All posts by Michael Gallenberger
Pulaski County Council Considers Part-Time Pay Issues
A part-time employee in the Pulaski County Maintenance Department will continue to make $15 an hour and won’t have to pay back a $2-per-hour raise. That was the consensus reached by the county council Monday, although no formal action was taken.
Eastern Pulaski School Board Extends Administrators’ Contracts
The Eastern Pulaski School Board approved one-year contract extensions for the corporation’s principals and athletic director Monday. High School Principal Rick DeFries, Middle School Principal Ryan Dickinson, Elementary School Principal Jill Collins, and Athletic Director Bill Ball are now under contract through June of 2020.
Starke County Park Board to Discuss Bass Lake Beach and Campground, County Forest
The Bass Lake Beach and Campground and the Starke County Forest will be discussed during tonight’s Starke County Park Board meeting. The county has been working to install glacial stone around the Bass Lake Beach, to protect it from incoming waves. But concerns were raised last month that the facility’s operator, Callahan Development, LLC, still hasn’t repaired the beach house patio.
Salary Issues to Continue to be Discussed during Tonight’s Pulaski County Council Meeting
Pulaski County’s salary matrix will continue to be discussed during tonight’s county council meeting. A salary ordinance revision will be up for the council’s approval, while Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston is expected to request a budget transfer and additional appropriation to help cover the wages of part-time employees.
Eastern Pulaski School Board to Consider Contract Renewals, Get Climate Audit Report
The Eastern Pulaski School Board will consider contract extensions for the corporation’s principals and athletic director during today’s meeting. Continue reading
Starke County 4-H Fair Underway
State Health Officials Urge Residents to Protect Themselves from West Nile Virus
Mosquito season is here, and with it comes the risk of West Nile virus. So far this year, mosquitoes in Elkhart, Carroll, Marion, and Bartholomew counties has tested positive for West Nile, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. No human cases have been seen yet in Indiana.
Starke County Health Department Offers Bat Bite Treatment Tips
If you ever get bitten by a bat, the Starke County Health Department wants you to know what steps to take to protect yourself from rabies. Health officials note that people can usually tell when they’ve been bitten, but bite marks may disappear quickly, due to the animals’ small teeth.
Knox School Registration to Take Place Later This Month
The Knox Community School Corporation has set registration dates and times for the 2018-2019 school year. Continue reading
Starke County Probation Department, Community Corrections Merge
The recent merger of Starke County Community Corrections with the County Probation Department will result in better services, as well as cost savings. That’s according to Shawn Mattraw. He’s the director of the new entity, known as Starke County Court Services. “Well, the big difference is that it’s going to [be] a cost savings,” he says, “The past structure, when we were separate entities, we had a director in Community Corrections and a chief probation officer. Those positions were funded pretty nicely. Now, those positions have been eliminated, and it’s just me.”
Lieutenant Governor Discusses Regional Approach to Stellar Communities Program
The State of Indiana hopes to encourage collaboration with this year’s round of Stellar Community designations. Each year since 2011, the program has designated two cities or towns as Stellar Communities, making them eligible for millions of dollars in seed money from the state and federal government, to improve quality of life. This year, the state’s taking a slightly different approach, picking two regions, instead.
Winamac Park Board to Get Update on Grant Application, Pickleball Courts
The Winamac Park Board will get an update tonight on its application for funding for various upgrades to the Town Park. It initially involved replacing the park’s main restrooms and getting new equipment for the toddler playground.
Facebook Helps Reunite Knox Man with Nurse Who Saved His Life
A 92-year-old Knox man was reunited Monday with the nurse who saved his life. It was Memorial Day when Leroy Gudeman, his wife, and two friends were having dinner at Applebee’s in Valparaiso, and he began choking on a piece of steak. He was able to indicate that he was not okay, and a member of the group began the Heimlich maneuver. Gudeman says that’s about all he remembers until he woke up in the hospital two days later.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Touts Progress in Educational Attainment
Starke County residents are steadily becoming more educated, according to Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation. “We’ve gone from 854 people in the county in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree or higher, and we more than doubled it up to 1,840 in 2016,” he told the Hamlet Town Council last week. “We also increased higher than the national average for people who had some college or an associate’s degree.”
Lieutenant Governor Discusses Next Level Veterans Initiative with Culver Officials
Indiana is looking to the military to help boost its workforce. Earlier this year, the state launched its Next Level Veterans initiative to try to entice those leaving the military to move to Indiana. Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch discussed the program during her visit to Culver last week.
Illinois Man Dies in Starke County Off-Road Vehicle Crash
Development Opportunities Discussed during Hamlet Council Meeting
The Hamlet Town Council continues to explore potential development opportunities. During last week’s meeting, Council President Dave Kesvormas said there’s a prospect of a developer doing something with a town-owned lot on Pearl Street.
Lieutenant Governor Stresses Importance of Housing during Culver Visit
Housing is an opportunity to change people’s lives. That’s the view of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, according to Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch.
FEMA Officials Urge Residents to Protect Homes from Flooding
There are just a few days left to register for federal disaster assistance, following February’s floods. The deadline is Thursday, July 5. You can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
