Several complaints of a phone scam have been received by the Knox City Police Department.
According to police, residents are getting phone calls by people claiming to be from NIPSCO and demanding payment on their bill. The caller threatens the resident that a utility worker will arrive at their residence to shut off power in an hour if the payment is not made during the phone call.
Money to renovate the second floor of the Starke County Courthouse could come from the county economic development income tax funds used to pay for the new jail. At that time the existing jail across from the courthouse will be renovated to accommodate Starke County Community Corrections and the probation department. Plans call for the prosecutor’s office to move from the basement of the current jail into the courthouse and the current clerk’s office to be renovated. Continue reading
The Starke County Highway Department got through the summer without any accidents or injuries. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler says the last one occurred in February of this year. Each employee received a letter of commendation for helping to ensure a safe summer. Continue reading
The Starke County 4-H program recently celebrated the accomplishments of the youth and adult volunteers from the 2014 program year. Exploring 4-H Leader with the Starke County Barn Busters Dawn Wallen was named the Outstanding 4-H Leader for 2014. Continue reading
A telephone call from WKVI News to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has brought more clarity to the question of whether seasonal campsite leases are allowed at Bass Lake Beach and Campground. Bob Bronson is the section chief for the DNR Division of Outdoor Recreation. He originally told us camping is limited to two weeks at a time at properties like Bass Lake, which get funds from the federal Land and Water Conservation Act. Bronson has since spoken to officials with the National Park Service and learned otherwise.
“There is no policy on the length of how long you can camp. The state has policies and recommendations, but the funding source and Land and Water Conservation Act does not direct how long somebody can stay at a campground,” Bronson told WKVI News late Thursday. Continue reading
Work on Klockner Drive/County Road 300 East to improve access to the Starke County Industrial Park is on track to wrap up before Thanksgiving. Crews will be paving the east side of Klockner from south of Pacific Avenue north to the railroad spur today. Klockner Drive is set to reopen in both directions from Pacific Avenue north to State Road 8 on Monday, Nov. 10. Local traffic will also be able to access Klockner from Pacific Avenue south to just north of Culver Road.
The Starke County Commissioners hope the addition of a new well at the site of the former county landfill will adequately address problems with gas levels. They call it a “first line of defense” to remedy the issue and keep costs down. The additional probe will cost the county between $2,000 and $4,000. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is still monitoring gas levels at the site. Recently methane levels tested higher than normal. The probe will help determine how far the gas is from the site.
The Town of North Judson is looking to fill several positions by the town council early next year. A building inspector is needed for 2015 and one town representative for the North Judson-San Pierre School Board is also available for those interested. Continue reading
The Country Music Awards New Artist of the Year is related to a Marshall County resident. Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter has known winner and cousin by marriage Brett Eldredge since he was a young boy. Continue reading
Enrollment to be in 4H is going on right now until Jan. 15th. You can enroll online or by going to the Starke County courthouse on the first floor where the Purdue Extension Starke County Office is. Continue reading
Starting Tuesday, Mediacom Communications customers will no longer have access to most analog television channels. As part of its digital upgrade, Mediacom will not use the analog frequencies for channels 22-78. This leaves digital-only reception for the company’s Family Cable channel series, which includes cable news, sports and entertainment networks. Customers will need a digital adapter in order to maintain reception for those channels. Mediacom is providing them free of charge through Oct. 31, 2015. Mediacom officials say 10 popular cable channels have already switched to digital reception in the past two weeks. Continue reading
Candidates who lost by narrow margins have until Tuesday, Nov. 18 at noon to file a request for a recount with the county clerk’s office. Unofficial vote totals in Starke County indicate three candidates lost by miniscule margins. Continue reading
Two members of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation Board of Directors were named finalists for the 2014 Influential Women of Northwest Indiana recognition award. Carla Musial and Kathy Norem both were nominated by the Foundation for their work in Starke County. Musial was one of five finalists for Influential Woman in the Finance category, while Norem was one of three finalists for Up and Coming Woman in Government.
The Indiana Department of Education released the A-F grades for all schools in the state on Wednesday. The release of the grades was delayed after the State Board of Education had received appeals from several schools.
Locally, Knox High School and Knox Elementary School received an A grade, along with Culver Elementary and Middle Schools, the North Judson-San Pierre Elementary School, West Central High School and Elementary School and all three Eastern Pulaski schools.
Every year the Knox Community School Corporation helps families and students in need over the holidays. Area clubs, agencies and civic organizations all work with Knox Community Schools to provide food baskets to families that appreciate the extra help over Christmas break. Continue reading
The Food Finders Food Bank Mobile Pantry will be at the Pulaski County Highway Garage at 1131 N. US 35 in Winamac.
An oversize load traveling through northern Indiana the next five nights may snarl traffic in Porter, LaPorte, Starke and Marshall Counties as it passes through. The slow-moving, oversize, overweight load will have a police escort from the Port of Indiana to the Ohio border. INDOT advises short-term road closures will be necessary as it moves through the area. Motorists are urged to avoid the routes during the scheduled travel times. Continue reading
Election Day was all about the Democrats in Starke County.
“We had a strong bunch of candidates this time. Not only that, but we had the backing of the Democrat Party. Everyone worked together and we were able to do stuff for the candidates that we haven’t done in the past. The bottom line was it paid off,” Democratic Party Chairman Kenny Wallace said.
Longtime Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Dulin posted a solid victory over Republican Bill Bope in his quest to succeed term-limited Sheriff Oscar Cowen. Dulin plans to take a comprehensive look at how the department is run. Continue reading
In Pulaski County Republican Jeff Richwine is the sheriff-elect. He beat Democrat Paul Grandstaff in the contest to replace Mike Gayer, who is retiring due to term limits. Republican Bud Krohn Jr. beat Democrat John Plowman in the county commissioners race. He will replace incumbent Tracey Shorter, who did not seek reelection. Neither did Democrat Councilman Ron Powers. His daughter Linda Powers beat Republican Pam Chumley in that race. Continue reading
Work on two Starke County bridges should be finished by the end of the month. Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler says the replacement bridge on 800 East over Eagle Creek just north of 500 West is halfway done. Work is also under way on the bridge on 900 South over Bogus run just west of 100 West. LaPorte Construction is doing both projects for the county. They will also replace the bridges on 50 East over Smith Ditch just south of 500 South and on 450 South just west of Range Road over Smith Ditch in the spring. Continue reading
