Preliminary work is set to get underway for Hamlet’s Starke Street improvement project. Engineer Lee Nagai gave an update to the town council Wednesday. He’s been working with Starke County Surveyor Bill Crase to extend the culvert at Benninghoff Ditch. Continue reading
All posts by Michael Gallenberger
Oregon-Davis School Board Updated on Curriculum Maps
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation continues to try to strengthen its curriculum. The school board got an update Monday on the Junior/Senior High School’s new curriculum maps, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. Continue reading
Two Winamac Park Board Members Up for Reappointment
Two Winamac Park Board members are up for reappointment. The terms of Chris Schramm and Pat Bawcum both expire around January, according to Park Board Secretary Kim Burke.
Starke County Park Board Looking to Replace Bass Lake Beach Gatehouse, Following Accident
The Starke County Park Board may be looking at replacing one of the structures at the Bass Lake Beach, after it was seriously damaged in an accident last month. Park board member Roger Chaffins explains that a pickup truck apparently backed itself into the gatehouse, “The guy was deer hunting over there, had a new vehicle, didn’t realize that he didn’t have it fully in park, and the vehicle ran over him and then ran into the building.”
Starke County Election Board to Enforce Deadlines on Candidate Financial Statements
The Starke County Election Board is cracking down on candidates who don’t turn in their financial statements on time. “They have to close out their candidacy by preparing the forms according to the deadlines,” Election Board President Peg Brettin explained during last week’s meeting. “If they don’t, the way the law is set up, the county election boards throughout the State of Indiana can have a hearing for them, can bring them before the board, can assess them.”
Metal Fab Engineering Granted Tax Abatement for Equipment Upgrades
The Pulaski County Council has finalized a tax abatement for Metal Fab Engineering. Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer told council members Monday that the request would help the company buy new automation equipment and Squickmons plasma cutters. That’s expected to lead to the creation of about 10 new jobs.
Then for some exterior metal we needed a nice ultra-marine blue and so chose the Ral 5002 powder coating from Trident Powders and it has worked amazingly well so we are very pleased with that.
One unusual thing about this request, according to Origer, is that the equipment has already been installed. “There is a mechanism that we have employed in the past that will allow for us to move forward with a resolution for a tax abatement,” he explained, “if we first approve a resolution waiving the non-compliance and saying, ‘Yes, technically you shouldn’t have it in before you submitted the paperwork, but we want to work with you and we are going to allow that.'” Both of the necessary resolutions were approved by the county council Monday.
Continue readingWinamac Park Board May Consider Additional Pickleball Courts
Pickleball has the potential to be a major tourist draw for the Town of Winamac. That’s according to park board member and pickleball enthusiast Jon Chapman.
Oregon-Davis School Board Decides to Move Ahead with Property Tax Referendum
Residents of Oregon and Davis townships will soon be asked to consider a tax increase to fund school operations. The Oregon-Davis School Board decided Monday to place a property tax referendum on the May 8 ballot.
Starke County Working to Increase Voting Machine Storage Security
The Starke County Election Board is taking steps to keep voters’ ballots secure. New regulations now require that voting machines be locked up when they aren’t in use, to prevent tampering.
Open House Planned for Pulaski County CASA Program
Pulaski County residents have the chance to learn how they can help guide abused and neglected kids through the court system. Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn told the county council and commissioners Monday that an open house is planned, to celebrate the county’s newly-independent Court Appointed Special Advocates program. Continue reading
Winamac Park Board Discusses Ideas for Future Park Upgrades
Now that the Town of Winamac has pulled its financial support of the swimming pool rebuilding project, the town’s park board is thinking about other projects that could benefit from potential grant funding.
Starke County Park Board to Get Updates on Bass Lake Beach, Koontz Lake Lions Club Park
The Starke County Park Board is expected to continue discussing several ongoing issues when it meets tonight. One of those is the proposed county ownership of Koontz Lake Lions Club Memorial Park. Lions Club members say they plan to continue maintaining the park as long as they can, but transferring ownership to Starke County would save them the cost of insurance.
Starke County Election Board to Pursue Voting Machine Upgrades
The Starke County Election Board has decided to proceed with upgrades to the county’s 46 voting machines. Steve Shamo with vendor MicroVote said the goal is to bring the machines up to the latest federal standards, in time for the 2020 presidential election. Continue reading
Pulaski County Council to Consider Potential Metal Fab Tax Abatement, Vocational Training Funding
The possibility of a tax abatement for Metal Fab Engineering will be considered by the Pulaski County Council tonight. Council members will decide whether to confirm the business’s designation as an economic recovery area. That would allow the company to request a tax abatement. Members of the public will have a chance to weigh in tonight, before a decision is made.
Winamac Park Pavilion Landscaping Updates Complete
Updates to the Winamac Park Pavilion are now complete. Park Manager Dave DeLorenzo told the park board last week that he and staff from the town’s wastewater and electric departments have finished the new landscaping around the building. That involved removing the plants around the building and replacing them with landscaping stone.
Travel Advisory Remains in Effect in Starke, LaPorte Counties
A travel advisory remains in effect for Starke, Marshall, LaPorte, and St. Joseph Counties, as of Sunday afternoon. That means travel may be restricted, and drivers are asked to use caution.
Weather conditions Saturday reportedly led to several accidents throughout the area. Updated travel advisories can be found on the Indiana Department of Homeland Security’s website.
Pulaski County Commissioners to Advertise for New EMS Director
The search is on for a new Pulaski County Emergency Medical Services director. The county commissioners decided Monday to advertise the opening for two weeks in the Pulaski County Journal, Francesville Tribune, Pulaski Post, and Logansport Pharos-Tribune. They hope to hire someone in January.
Preparations Begin for New Starke County Early Voting Site
The Starke County Clerk’s Office is getting its new early voting location ready for the May primary. In-person absentee voting will still take place in the Starke County Courthouse, but it will move from the Clerk’s Office on the second floor to a meeting room on the first floor.
Winamac Park Board Abolishes Advisory Council, Paving Way for ‘Friends of the Parks’ Group
The Winamac Park Board has cleared the way for its advisory council to restructure as a “Friends of the Parks” group. Board members passed a resolution Thursday that formally abolished the advisory council. That will allow the group to reorganize as a “Friends of the Parks” group.
Knox School Board Approves Teacher Appreciation Grant Distribution
Some Knox teachers will be getting a little extra money from the State of Indiana. The Knox School Board approved the distribution of Teacher Appreciation Grant monies this week, according to Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart. Continue reading
