State Rep. Doug Gutwein, R-Francesville, has been reappointed chair of the House Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee for the next two years. This is the committee that dealt with the workers compensation law that passed in 2012.
Rep. Dermody Reappointed to Public Policy Committee Chair
State Rep. Tom Dermody, R-LaPorte, has been reappointed chair of the Public Policy Committee for the next two years. He has also been named to the Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development Committee and the Statutory Committee on Interstate and International Cooperation.
Bridge Over Bogus Run Set to Reopen Monday
The new bridge over Bogus Run on Starke County 900 East will open again to traffic on Monday. The bridge just west of 100 West has been closed since August. LaPorte Construction is sealing the deck of that bridge. They also replaced the bridge over Eagle Creek on 800 East just north of 50 South. It reopened recently as well. Continue reading
Sprint Reimbursement Enables Marshall County EMA Equipment Purchase
Sprint has reimbursed the Marshall County Emergency Management Agency for the interference issue with the county’s telecommunications system. EMA Director Clyde Avery says the $39,000 the FCC ordered Sprint to pay will compensate the county for the reconfiguration of the radios. Continue reading
Culver Officials Look to Fill Board and Commission Seats
Culver residents interested in serving on various boards and commissioners in the upcoming year have several from which to choose. The town council has one appointment each to the plan commission, tree commission and library board. They are also seeking a Republican park board member. Continue reading
Absence of Smoke Detectors Blamed for Fatal Culver Fire
The absence of smoke detectors in a Culver home is blamed for claiming a life. The Culver-Union Township Volunteer Fire Department responded to 504 Mill Street around 1:30 this morning. Continue reading
Funeral Services Today for Knox Fire Victims
The two North Judson residents who lost their lives in a house fire last Friday morning will be laid to rest today. A joint funeral services for Lucas Finn Fisher, 2, and his grandmother, Linda Manns, will be held at 1 p.m. CST at Braman & Son Memorial Chapel in Knox, with visitation there from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Continue reading
Pulaski County Considering Career and Technical Education Grant Application
The Pulaski County Community Development Commission may apply for a state grant to provide job skills training to high school students. County economic development director Nathan P. Origer says funds are available through the Career and Technical Education Innovative Curriculum Grant program to set up industrial repair and maintenance training programs at Winamac Community and West Central High Schools. Origer says it is a really high-demand occupation in the manufacturing sector locally and regionally. Continue reading
Longtime Pulaski County Deputy Retires
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is fully staffed again, with one notable exception. Cpl. Paul Grandstaff has tendered his retirement after 26 years with the department. Sheriff Mike Gayer says he’s on leave through the end of the year using up accumulated vacation and comp days. Continue reading
Knox Council Agrees to Finance Street Department Truck
The City of Knox will pay for a new International 4300 dump truck for the street department over a three-year period rather than completing the purchase in a single budget year. Mayor Rick Chambers says the chassis carries a price tag of nearly $64,000 plus $55,000 for the box. He told the council they can use the $30,000 remaining in the current year’s budget as a down payment on the vehicle and finance it for three years at a rate of 3.11 percent. Continue reading
Santa Claus is Coming to Hamlet
Santa Claus will be at the Hamlet Town Hall on Dec. 17 to meet and greet the little ones and find out what they would like for Christmas. The “Hamlet Christmas Social,” for Hamlet area families. is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the town hall. Light refreshments will be served and there will be gifts for the kids. Continue reading
Culver Fiber Optic Cables Will Be Repaired
AT&T fiber optic cables along Lake Shore Drive between State and Main Streets in Culver needs to be repaired. Dave Ferguson from Ferguson Michiana, the area AT&T contractor, appeared before the Culver Town Council Tuesday night and explained that the current cables were installed underground in clay tiles. Continue reading
ISP Recognizes Starke County Master Troopers
A pair of Indiana State Police Master Troopers from Starke County are among those from the Lowell Post recently recognized for their commitment to the agency. Continue reading
Eastern Pulaski Schools Schedule Wireless Survey
The new demands that come from living in a technology-based world keep the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation in check. A wireless survey is part of the Christmas break building maintenance plan, along with normal protocol of cleaning, waxing floors, and touching up paint on lockers. Continue reading
Ancilla Announces Next CNA Class
Starke County Historical Society Building Fund Gets a Boost
The Starke County Historical Society received a check for $5,000 from the Starke County Genealogical Society on Sunday at the annual museum open house on Sunday. The gift will be added to the museum’s building and acquisition fund. The museum is currently using only the Main Street home of former Gov. and Mrs. Henry F. Schricker. Continue reading
Second Memorial Fund Established for Fire Victim Expenses
A second fund has been set up on the website GoFundMe.com to cover funeral expenses for the victims of a Friday house fire. Lucas Finn Fisher, 2, was pronounced dead of smoke inhalation at the scene of Friday morning’s blaze. Contributions for his funeral and burial expenses can be made at http://www.gofundme.com/littlelucas. Continue reading
Local Soldier Gets Heroes Welcome Home
A local soldier got a heroes welcome home last night after a six-month tour of duty in the Middle East. The Starke and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Departments and firefighters in both counties escorted Cody Foust and his mother up U.S. 35. He’s with the Indiana National Guard’s 1413th Engineer Company, 81st Troop Command. The unit spent the past several months in Afghanistan performing base-closure and retrograde operations in support of the drawdown of Operation Enduring Freedom. Continue reading
Pulaski County Named Hometown Collaboration Initiative Finalist
Pulaski County is one of six finalists for a new statewide program. The Hometown Collaboration Initiative seeks to help small communities expand their pipeline of local leaders, strengthen and expand jobs by building on existing economic assets and and improve attractiveness and quality of life of their hometowns. Continue reading
Knox Mayor Announces Reelection Bid
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers is running for reelection. He notes much progress has been made in the city during his seven years in office and adds a process is under way to develop a long-range plan with citizen input to continue growth and prosperity.
Chambers also cites his experience running the city on a reduced budget due to state funding cuts. During his tenure as mayor, Knox has been awarded nearly $2 million in grants. Continue reading
