As the Indiana temperatures continue to get colder many residents are turning to their fireplaces or wood stoves for warmth. Keep in mind, there are ways to burn a more efficient fire and reduce wood smoke which is harmful to human health and a source of air pollution.
Change to FAA Drone Rules Could Benefit Indiana Economy
The Federal Aviation Administration is scheduled to release proposed regulations for the commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems (U.A.S), commonly referred to as drones. As of right now, the use of drones is limited to hobbyists and a small number of researchers, businesses and government agencies. The new rules are expected to cover altitude limits and license requirements and will open the doors to using drones in a number of new ways.
One-Time Energy Assistance Available to Struggling Citizens
New Year’s Closings
BMV license branches will be closed on Jan. 1 in observance of New Year’s Day. Continue reading
Fatal Fire Prompts Smoke Detector Donation Drive
Smoke detectors will soon be handed out to residents of Culver and the surrounding community. Culver-Union Township Fire Chief Terry Wakefield told the town council last night his department is collecting smoke detectors to give out. Their action was prompted by a recent fatal house fire in which the home’s lone occupant died of smoke inhalation because the home lacked a smoke detector.
Motor Driven Cycle Laws Take Effect Soon
New laws for mopeds and scooters will take effect on January 1st in Indiana.
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Starke County Council Approves Blanket Bond Purchase
The Starke County Council has authorized the purchase of a blanket bond to cover the various elected officials. It’s less expensive than purchasing individual bonds for the auditor, recorder, surveyor, sheriff, coroner, assessor and clerk. The county pays about $1,000 per year for the policy from its insurance carrier. Continue reading
Hamlet Renews Trash Pickup Contract
Trash pick-up for residents of the Town of Hamlet for the next three years will be supplied byRepublic Services of Culver. The town’s renewal agreement is with the company previously
known as Allied Waste. There will be no change in rates.
Celebrate the New Year Safely with Fireworks
If you would like to celebrate the new year by discharging consumer fireworks, you may do so today beginning at 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. tomorrow morning.
Keep in mind that no person may use, ignite or discharge consumer fireworks on any public street or in any public park within the corporate limits of the City of Knox at any time. According to the ordinance, if the use of discharging consumer fireworks results in a fire and damage is determined to be caused by “negligence or the willful disregard or violation of any of the provisions”, that person will be fined an amount not to exceed $2,500 for the dispatch of firefighters and equipment.
ISP Names Suspect in Officer-Involved Shooting
An officer-involved shooting last night in the parking lot of a Plymouth store resulted in serious injury to a suspect in a domestic battery case. The man, identified as Lane G. Dodson, 33, of Plymouth, allegedly raised a gun at a state trooper and a Plymouth Police Officer when asked to get out of his vehicle in the KMart parking lot. The officers opened fire and struck him multiple times. Continue reading
ISP Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting in Plymouth Kmart Parking Lot
An officer-involved shooting last night in the parking lot of a Plymouth store resulted in serious injury to a suspect in a domestic battery case. The man, whose name has not been released, allegedly raised a gun at a state trooper and a Plymouth Police Officer when asked to get out of his vehicle in the KMart parking lot. The officers opened fire and struck him multiple times. Continue reading
Starke County Council Closes Books on 2014
The Starke County Council moved $50,000 into the rainy day fund to close the books on 2014 and approved a handful of transfers to balance the books. Continue reading
INDOT Planning New Plymouth Facility
Breaking ground won’t take place until 2016, but the Indiana Department of Transportation continues to work toward developing a new sub-district facility in Plymouth.
The current space is being used as a field office for various projects. That sub-district site, however, does not provide direct access to Highway 30.
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Resolve to Maintain a Better Budget in 2015
Money management is difficult and many people resolve to budget better as the new year starts. Devan Wallen from Financial Partners in Knox says the first step to a better budget is to cut out unnecessary expenditures.
“Probably one of the first things you can do is to rid yourself of the non-necessity things. A lot of times people engage in bad habits like smoking, drinking, dining out, and shopping too much and that can cause quite a hindrance to the budget,” said Wallen.
Paying for College: You Don’t Have to Do it Alone
It’s never too early to start thinking about a way to finance college. Students approaching the final semester of their senior year are faced with the responsibility of choosing a university and a major which can seem pretty daunting, not to mention figuring out the finances behind it all. Continue reading
Gleaners Ober Arbor Club Buys Cabinets for Senior Center
The Community Services of Starke County North Judson Senior Center site has new cabinets, thanks to the generosity of the Gleaners Ober Arbor Club. Members recently donated $1,249 to the agency to buy new upper cabinets. That’s in addition to a donation of $1,250 earlier this year for lower cabinets. Gleaners members Arlene Sellers and Ellen Stevenson presented the check to site manager Laura Mihalich, Community Services of Starke County Executive Director Joan Haugh and treasurer Frank Skronski.
Stop Sickness in Its Tracks
Sickness does not discriminate, on average adults get one to three colds every year and according to the Antibody Elisa Research at MyBiosource, colds are the most common illness experienced by children. Although colds can happen anytime of the year, winter is the prime time for a case of the coughs or sniffles to strike. Experts say there are a few things to consider before automatically turning to medications for symptom relief. Continue reading
BMV Reinstatement Relief Program Set to Expire
Hoosiers with suspended drivers licenses have one more day to take advantage of the BMV’s Reinstatement Relief Program. It offers a 50 percent discount to those who qualify on reinstatement fees obtained before July 1, 2013 for operating a vehicle without insurance. The program began in July of 2014, and more than 14,300 customers have paid back more than $3.1 million in reinstatement fees since. Customers may login or create a myBMV.com account to check their eligibility. Reinstatement fees cannot be paid at license branches. Continue reading
Sunday Traffic Stop Ends With Drug Arrests
Formal charges are pending against two men following a Sunday morning traffic stop. A deputy from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department pulled a car driven by William A. Ferguson, 34, over in the area of U.S. 30 and Oak Road just after 11 a.m. Continue reading
Starke County Council Set to Close 2014 Books
The Starke County Council will close the books on 2014 during a special meeting this afternoon. Their agenda includes budget status reports of the county general, highway, assessors and health funds. Continue reading
