All posts by Rusty Nixon

INDIANAPOLIS – Area legislators are recognizing the latest local recipient of the Hoosier Homestead Award, which recognizes farms owned and maintained by the same family for 100 years or more.
Represented by State Sen. Mike Bohacek (R-Michiana Shores) and State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie), the Charles E. Troike Family farm in Starke County received a Centennial Award.

WINAMAC – Pulaski County Tribe (PCT) has made an announcement saying it is “setting the stage for a new chapter in community enhancement, one centered on creativity, culture, and collaboration.”

CULVER — The 2025 Culver Sidewalk Program will open at 8 a.m., Tuesday, April 1.

KNOX — The Starke County Clerk Treasurer’s office is in the process of mailing out tax bills. If you have not received your Tax bill by the end of April, please call the Treasurer’s office at 574-772-9111.

All Spring installments are due by May 12th. All Fall installments are due by November 10th. Remember only 1 bill will be sent with both Spring and Fall Remittance Coupons.
Property Tax Bills can be viewed and Paid online @ http://www.lowtaxinfo.com and select Starke County. Enter only one from the Search Menu (Name, Address, Parcel#, Duplicate#). An Error will occur if you use more than 1 Search Field. Then simply follow the online checkout process.
You can pay by phone at 1-877-690-3729, Jurisdiction code 2445, or pay at the Office or by Mail at 53 E. Mound St. Knox, IN 46534, Monday-Friday, 8 am to 4pm.
A Dropbox is also available near the North Entrance of the Annex Building
You can mail:
Starke County Treasurer
1st Source Bank
PO Box 327,
South Bend IN 46624
(Must Include Remittance Coupon or will not be processed)
Drop Box Locations: beginning March 31st.
1st Source bank – Knox
First Farmers Bank – Knox/ North Judson
Demotte State Bank – Knox
First National Bank of Monterey – Monterey /North Judson.
Must be placed in an Envelope (Bank Will Not Provide Envelopes)
If there are any questions or concerns about your bill, please call the Treasurer’s office at 574-772-9111.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Transportation is aware of a tolling-related text message or “smishing” scam targeting Hoosiers statewide.

False messages appearing to come from INDOT or tolling service providers alert recipients of a “final notice” regarding unpaid tolls and mention additional fines, late fees, suspension of vehicle registration, vehicle impoundment, and further legal action, in addition to a link for payment.
“INDOT does not and will not notify drivers of unpaid tolls via text message,” said INDOT Strategic Communications Director Natalie Garrett. “We urge members of the public to exercise extreme caution before opening suspicious links. The best thing to do is delete these messages.”
Various “smishing” scams have been ongoing since the spring of 2024. The FBI issued a warning on April 12, 2024, citing over 2,000 complaints of false text messages representing toll collection services. The agency encourages victims of fraudulent messages to report them to its Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov and to delete the texts.

STARKE COUNTY – On March 23, the Starke County Sheriff’s Office responded to a multi-vehicle crash with injuries at the intersection of State Road 10 and 300 E. Upon arrival, deputies secured the scene and closed the intersection due to the severity of the crash.

The collision involved four vehicles, each sustaining major damage. Two vehicles required the extrication of occupants.
An investigation by the Starke County Sheriff’s Office Patrol and Detective Division determined that a westbound vehicle driven by Coral Rogers (19) was stopped, preparing to turn south onto 300 E.
At that time, another westbound vehicle, driven by Lori Craft (62), failed to stop and rear-ended Rogers’ vehicle. The impact caused Craft’s vehicle to spin into the eastbound lanes, where it was struck by an oncoming vehicle driven by Kaitlyn Dombrosky (29).
Following the collision, Dombrosky’s vehicle rolled and landed on another vehicle stopped at 300 E, driven by Abigail Thomas (22), who was waiting at the stop sign to turn onto SR 10.
All drivers sustained injuries and were transported to area hospitals for treatment. Additional passengers involved — Nicole Furlong (38) and a juvenile — were also transported for medical care.
The Starke County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Starke and Pulaski EMS, MedFlight, Samaritan air ambulances, Bass Lake and Knox Fire Departments, the Indiana State Police (for accident reconstruction), the Starke County Sheriff’s Office Drone Team, and INDOT for traffic control.
This crash remains under investigation. Further details will be released as they become available.

Culver Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim has announced that beginning Monday, March 17, South Main Street will be closed between Wabash and South Street for water main installation.