Now that snow from the winter season is melting, the Starke County Sheriff’s Department is reminding residents of increased drug visibility.
Continue reading
NJ-SP School Board Approves Drivers Ed Program
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board has decided to maintain a program for their summer programming.
During this week’s school board meeting, board members considered offering a Driver’s Education program. The offering runs each summer for students who are interested in training prior to turning a legal age to drive.
Continue reading
Local Students Compete In State Speech Competition
Three Knox High School students will be competing in State speech competition next Saturday.
Nathan and Coy Graham are in “duo interpretation” competition and Nathan Gagnon is in “broadcast.”
Continue reading
Starke County Prosecutor Reminding Residents of Motor Driven Cycle Changes
The Starke County Prosecutor’s Office is reminding residents of a law change that went into effect on January 1st of this year.
Continue reading
DNR Prepares for Stream Trout Season With Stocking Efforts
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is making a few changes for the spring fishing season.
The DNR says they will be stocking more than 55-thousand trout in the state’s waterways. In the past, rainbow trout have stocked in all but a few locations. Stocking efforts will be conducted prior to stream trout season beginning on April 25th.
Investigators Testify in Salvage Yard Arson Trial
The arson trial of a Knox man whose business went up in flames a year ago yesterday will resume Monday morning. A pair of investigators from the state fire marshal’s office testified in James Campbell’s trial yesterday. They both took part in the investigation in the fire that destroyed the buildings Campbell owns at the intersection of U.S. 35 and Toto Road which were home to C&C Salvage, Starke County Recycling and Campbell’s Tire Barn and Shop. Both agree the fires were set and started in two areas of the shop. Continue reading
Plymouth Man Shot By Police Facing Attempted Murder Charge
The Plymouth man shot by police in December is now facing a few felony charges.
34-year-old Lane Dodson was shot by police in the parking lot of the K-Mart in Plymouth on December 29th. That’s after a state trooper began questioning him about an earlier battery call they suspected he was involved with.
Continue reading
Fire Investigator Testifies in Arson Trial
A fire investigator who looked into the cause an origin of the fire that destroyed a Knox business a year ago says it started in two separate spots. Larry Cooper was hired by the insurance company for Starke County Recycling, also known as C&C Salvage. Owner James Campbell is on trial for arson. Continue reading
Ritz Touts Reading in Education, Criticizes Standardized Assessments
One of Indiana’s most staunch advocates for public education ventured to Plymouth on Thursday.
Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz was the invited guest speaker at the Marshall County Reading Council’s spring banquet. Between promoting several of her initiatives in elective office, Ritz took time to criticize the way standardized tests are being utilized, as well as their effect on student learning.
Continue reading
Gov. Pence Touts HIP 2.0 Provider Increases
Governor Mike Pence is touting a bit of an expansion through the state’s Healthy Indiana Plan.
Low-income state residents have seen increases in the number of primary-care doctors. According to information released from the Governor’s office 335 physicians and 939 providers have joined since the Plans’ expansion.
Continue reading
Sen. Donnelly Believes Ample Time Exists For Hoosier Line Fix
U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly is continuing comments on the operation of the Hoosier State Line.
The four-day per week train between Indianapolis and Chicago was initially anticipated to cease service on April 1st of this year. That announcement came after a Federal Railroad Administration decision that would require Indiana to serve as a railroad carrier.
Continue reading
Sheriff’s Department Makes Arrest in North Judson Meth Case
Information gained by the Starke County Sheriff’s Office led to an arrest in a methamphetamine case.
Authorities responded to the 2-thousand South block of 100 West in North Judson on Tuesday. The tip that came into the Sheriff’s Department led investigators to believe that a couple may have been manufacturing meth in the residence.
Continue reading
Stuck Accelerator Incurs Damage To Multiple Knox Homes
Knox Police were called to the scene of an accident on Wednesday after a vehicle saw the accelerator stuck.
According to officers, 52-year-old Roy McCarty was traveling northbound of S. East Street when he allegedly lost control.
Continue reading
Starke County Officers Make HTV Arrest
Starke County Sheriff’s Department officials say a man is in custody for having too many traffic violations.
Information released by the department says that the K-9 officer conducted a traffic stop on Tuesday. The vehicle was being driven by John Schacht. Police say they ran his information through Starke County Dispatch only to find that he’s considered a Habitual Traffic Violator.
Continue reading
Starke County Park Board Developing Property List
The Starke County Park Board is continuing its efforts to develop a list of county properties that have been, or can be, designated as parks to be placed under the authority of the board. The Bass Lake Beach has already been designated as such a property by the county commissioners. The five-member park board has planned an inspection visit to the beach property sometime next month. Continue reading
Marshall County Commissioners Discuss Lawsuit over Stolen Documents
The Marshall County Commissioners got an update on a class-action lawsuit against a company who allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of data from the recorder’s office.
County Attorney Jim Clevenger told the commissioners that the lawsuit involves Marshall County and several other counties against Black Knight Real Estate Data Solutions. Recorder Marlene Mahler previously told the commissioners that the company reportedly took 2,700 documents totaling 39,000 pages out of the computer system without going through the proper channels. The recorder’s office would normally charge $1 per page so the company would owe $39,000. The lawsuit seeking damages would triple that amount.
Fire Investigator Testifies In Arson Trial
Testimony continued this morning in the case of a man accused of burning down his salvage business.
As of this afternoon, the jury continued to hear from the day’s first witness. WKVI reporters at the scene say the witness is Larry Cooper, a contract fire investigator hired by James Campbell’s insurance company. Campbell is the owner of C&C Salvage, and is on trial for arson charges.
Continue reading
Firefighters Testify in Arson Trial
The first firefighters to arrive at the scene of a blaze at a Knox business testified yesterday in the arson trial of its owner. James Campbell is accused of setting fire to his salvage yard and tire shop on U.S. 35 at Toto Road last March 20st. Barry Sanders from the Bass Lake Fire Department was the first to arrive. He showed up in his personal vehicle with his sons about five minutes after the notification went out. Sanders was recovering from shoulder surgery but still came out to assist. He testified his concern was for Campbell’s house, which is located just south of the salvage yard. Sanders said he knocked loudly on the doors and windows for several minutes until the heat drove him away, and nobody answered. Earlier witnesses testified Campbell was at the shop until around 5 p.m. Firefighters were notified at 5:17 p.m., according to dispatch records. Continue reading
Blight Elimination Program Lines Up Several Homes For Possible Demolition
The City of Knox held a public hearing today on a grant program that could improve a few neighborhoods.
The Blight Elimination Program allocates funds for the demolition of homes and other multi-family residential structures. The City of Knox applied for more than $180-thousand.
Continue reading
Legislation Would Allow Inmates E-mail Access
Legislation sponsored by State Representative Tom Dermody will be signed into law.
According to a press release from the LaPorte Republican’s offices, the legislation would allow for additional options for prison inmates to correspond with their families. The Indiana Department of Corrections is required to provide necessary items to send mail through the postal service.