Pulaski County is moving ahead with efforts to get COVID-19 relief for small businesses. The county commissioners Monday agreed to let the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission proceed with an application for $250,000 from the state’s COVID-19 Response Program.
Continue readingWest Central Schools Could Save Over $50,000 by Refinancing Wind Turbine Bond
The West Central School Corporation could save over $50,000 by refinancing its wind turbine bonds. The school board recently held a work session with a bond consultant from Baker Tilly, according to Superintendent Dan Zylstra.
Continue readingInformation Kiosk Coming to Starke County Forest
Visitors to the Starke County Forest will soon be greeted with an informational kiosk. The Starke County Park Board last week agreed to let Forester Bruce Wakeland build it out of wood from the forest itself.
Continue readingTwo Starke County Organizations Receive Project Support Funding from Indiana Arts Commission
Two local groups are bringing the arts to Starke County residents, thanks to Project Support Grants from the Indiana Arts Commission.
Continue readingPlymouth Long-Term Care Facility Reports Nine COVID-19 Deaths, 50 Residents Infected
Indiana has released a preliminary list of COVID-19 cases at each long-term care facility. Locally, Miller’s Merry Manor of Plymouth reported nine resident deaths, 50 residents infected, and 29 staff members infected. The data released by the Indiana State Department of Health Wednesday includes cases from the start of the pandemic up until July 14.
Continue readingRange Road Paving Project to Start Monday
Range Road will be under construction starting Monday. Rieth-Riley Construction will be upgrading the road to hot mix asphalt between State Road 10 and Toto Road. The Starke County Highway Department was awarded more than half a million dollars in Community Crossings grant funding to cover 75 percent of the cost.
Continue readingPulaski Courts Plan to Move Jury Selection to School to Ensure Social Distancing
COVID-19 concerns will have Pulaski County’s courts moving some of their operations out of the courthouse and justice center. Circuit Court Judge Mary Welker told the county council last week that she hopes to resume jury trials in mid-to-late August, but jury selection will pose a bit of a challenge.
Continue readingKnox Businesses Meeting Tax Abatement Targets
Three Knox businesses are apparently doing a good job of meeting the conditions of their tax abatements. The city council last week approved the CF-1 forms from Traffic Control Specialists, Reagent Chemical & Research, and J.W. Hicks.
Continue readingHamlet Officials Agree to Review Golf Cart Ordinance
Town of Hamlet will be reviewing its golf cart ordinance, after some concerns were received by Town Marshal Clint Norem. “I don’t know what’s going on,” Norem told the town council Wednesday. “We never really had complaints previously. We’ve gotten like two or three in the last couple weeks.”
Continue readingNorth Judson Council Hires Electrical Contractor As Splash Pad Construction Begins
Work is underway on the Norwayne Field splash pad. James Young told the rest of the North Judson Town Council Monday that the plumbers had begun excavating and planned to put the vault in this week, before laying out the plumbing for the fixtures.
Continue readingKnox Board of Works Not Ready to Give 56-Day Extension for Wastewater Project
The Knox Board of Works wants more information before agreeing to give Thieneman Construction more time to finish improvements to the wastewater treatment plant. Engineer Steve Henschen with Jones Petrie Rafinski told board members Wednesday that Thieneman has asked for a 56-day extension.
Continue readingState Health Officials Share More Guidance on Returning to School during Pandemic
State officials are offering guidance to help students safely return to the classroom. During Wednesday’s COVID-19 briefing, Family and Social Services Administration Secretary Dr. Jennifer Sullivan pointed out some of the ways that schools can slow the spread of COVID-19.
Continue readingGovernor to Order Use of Face Masks in Public Starting Monday
A statewide face mask order will go into effect Monday. Governor Eric Holcomb announced Wednesday that he’ll soon be signing an executive order.
Continue readingSchools Planning ‘Settled and Spaced’ Approach to Mask Order Compliance
How Starke County’s mask mandate will impact students returning to class next month was discussed during Tuesday’s North Judson-San Pierre School Board meeting. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin told board members that schools will be using a “settled and spaced” approach.
Continue readingNorth Judson Startups Can Win $10,000 in Inaugural Business Pitch Competition
New and expanding North Judson businesses have a chance to win $10,000 as part of the first annual North Judson Business Pitch Competition.
Continue readingKnox Board of Works to Hold Hearings on 53 E. Water, 253 E. Washington
The Knox Board of Works will get updates on a number of code enforcement efforts this morning. Public hearings will be held on the properties at 53 East Water and 253 East Washington. Updates will also be given on 204 West Bender and 1 & 3 North Main, and the penalty status of 8 S. Main Street will be discussed.
Continue readingPolice Warn of Burglary Suspects Pretending to Be NIPSCO Employees
Police are warning of a burglary scheme involving people pretending to be NIPSCO employees. The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office says that last Friday, an elderly homeowner in LaPorte had someone show up at his home saying he was from NIPSCO and needed to trim some trees away from wires on the property. As they walked through the home to the backyard, another man allegedly went inside and committed a burglary.
Continue readingPulaski County Officials Considering Social Distancing Protocols for BZA Solar Farm Hearing
A proposed solar farm in Pulaski County is expected to draw a crowd to next week’s board of zoning appeals meeting. How to keep everyone safe from COVID-19 was a topic of discussion during Monday’s county commissioners meeting. A company called Mammoth Solar is seeking permission to build solar arrays on more than 4,500 acres of farmland. The project would be in portions of Jefferson, Beaver, Rich Grove, Franklin, and Monroe townships.
Continue readingMore Starke, Pulaski County Residents Working But Unemployment Rate Also Up
Local unemployment rates are heading back up, even as the number of residents working is also increasing. Pulaski County’s unemployment rate rose a full percentage point to 10.4 percent, according to the June report from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Starke County had a smaller increase from 12.4 percent in May to 12.6 in June.
Continue readingPulaski County Council Adjusts Tax Restructuring Proposal
Pulaski County’s latest tax restructuring proposal would make more money available for public safety but wouldn’t do much to help libraries or townships.
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