Grants are available from the Pulaski County Drug Free Council for programs that combat marijuana and alcohol abuse. Those are the main issues identified in the council’s three-year comprehensive plan, based on data from the police, prosecutor’s office, probation department and local treatment providers. They found alcohol abuse is on the rise among both juveniles and adults in Pulaski County. Also adult abuse of marijuana is increasing. Continue reading
Bids Accepted for Hamlet-Davis Township Fire Station
The plans for the new Hamlet-Davis Township Fire Department building moved forward last night at a joint meeting of the Davis Township Advisory Board and the Davis Township Building Corporation. Construction bids totaling $665,681.00 from seven contractors for the $870,000 project were accepted. There is no re-bidding required. Continue reading
Vocational Program’s Fate Hinges on Balanced Calendar Adoption
At least one of the popular trade programs offered through the North Central Vocational Educational Cooperative could be in jeopardy as participating corporations weigh the pros and cons of a balanced school calendar. Kyle Elliott is instructor for the building trades program based at Culver Community High School. He says students from Knox and North Judson-San Pierre are also enrolled in the program. If the three schools are on different schedules, Elliott says it will put kids and parents in a really tough situation. Continue reading
No Decision on Balanced Calendar from Culver Community School Board
The Culver Community School Board met after the public forum held to weigh the pros and cons of the balanced calendar. The board isn’t ready to vote but is still considering the change in schedules. Continue reading
Knox Redskin Brigade Ends Season at Semi-State
The Knox Redskin Brigade performed in the semi-state round at Decatur Central High School this past weekend. Twenty schools competed for the top ten spots to advance to state on Nov. 8th at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Their gold rating received at the Indiana State School Music Association regional competition earned the band a slot to compete at the semi-state round. Continue reading
Fire Destroys Walkerton Bar
Officials are investigating a fire that occurred early Sunday morning at Red Hot’s Bar in Walkerton.
The fire started around 3:30 a.m. ET and crews were on the scene for several hours attempting to extinguish the fire. Several departments responded to the scene.
The fire started in the basement, according to report on WNDU-TV.
The Indiana State Fire Marshal will assist in the investigation.
Public Balanced Calendar Presentation Scheduled Tonight at Culver
Several area school corporations are considering the adoption of a balanced school calendar for the 2015-2016 school year. The Rochester Community School Corporation already has one in place. Officials from that corporation will present information during a community meeting this evening at 6 p.m. EDT at Culver Community High School. North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson says the proposed schedule would still provide the state-mandated 180 instructional days with more breaks during the school year. Summer vacation would be eight weeks instead of 10 due to the proposed earlier start of school. Continue reading
Culver School Board Has Decision to Make
The Culver Community School Board has a decision to make tonight on whether to switch their 2015-2016 schedule to the balanced calendar. They will meet right after the public forum being held in the Culver Community High School auditorium. Continue reading
Starke County Commissioners to Discuss Space for Coroner, Plans for Current Jail
Starke County Coroner-elect Adam Gray will provide a report to the commissioners today on his quest to find suitable space for a county morgue. The commissioners previously told him to meet with the county building inspector to see if suitable space is available in any of the county-owned buildings. Gray will be the first non-funeral director in several years to serve as Starke County Coroner. In the past, the funeral directors have used their facilities for storage and viewing. Continue reading
Expungement Seminar Scheduled at Ivy Tech
Ivy Tech Community College in South Bend is hosting a half-day seminar on Saturday, Nov. 8th on the criminal records expungement process. The program educates residents about Indiana’s criminal expungement law and eligibility requirements. The expungement process is an option for a person seeking to have an arrest or criminal conviction removed from their record.
Attendees can schedule a meeting with an Ivy Tech specialist and learn how to prepare proper documentation to file for expungement. Family members wishing to gather information on behalf of someone else are also encouraged to attend. There is no cost for the seminar and no RSVP is required.
NIPSCO Now Accepting Winter Energy Assistance Applications
Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) utility customers who may need help paying their heating bills this winter can now sign up for the federal low income energy assistance program. Available assistance includes the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP. It’s available to households falling within 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Between Dec. 1 and March 15, Indiana natural gas utilities do not disconnect service to customers enrolled in LIHEAP who are behind on their bills. NIPSCO customers enrolled in LIHEAP also qualify for the Customer Assistance for Residential Energy, or CARE, program. It provides further bill reductions to eligible customers. Continue reading
Memorial Service Scheduled Today for Local Murder Victim
A murder victim will be remembered today in her home town. Kristine Williams, 36, was found in an abandoned house in Gary on Sunday, Oct. 19. Police there say accused serial killer Darren Vann, 43, has confessed to killing her and six other women. Williams grew up in Knox and would have graduated from Knox High School in 1997. A service will take place this morning 11 a.m. at M.C. Smith Funeral Home in Knox. Continue reading
Redskin Brigade Heads to Semi-State Competition
The Knox Redskin Brigade will compete this afternoon for a shot at a state championship. Their gold rating last Saturday at the Indiana State School Music Association regional competition earned the band a slot in today’s competition at Decatur Central High School. They must place in the top 10 among the 20 schools performing in order to advance. “It’s a pretty tall order for any band, really,” band director Craige Phipps said. “These guys have done an amazing job over the last two weeks. I’m pretty confident they can do it. They’ve just got to have ‘that show’ – that one show.”
Phipps added the Redskin Brigade is more than capable of advancing to state.
“They’ve had some amazing performances this year, and the best thing about this group is everyone keeps considering them an underdog. We don’t consider ourselves an underdog. We keep rising to the challenge every week. I tell these guys when they come off the field after a performances, ‘you guys just had a great performance, but it’s not good enough any more. Now we need to take that next step.’ They’ve really risen to that challenge all season long,” he said.
The Redskin Brigade will take the field at 4:20 p.m. CDT today at Decatur Central High School. The state finals will take place Saturday, Nov. 8 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Daylight Saving Time Ends
Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday local time. Before you go to bed tonight or at 2 a.m. Sunday, you will need to set your clocks back one hour.
The Indiana State Fire Marshal encourages you to change the batteries in your smoke detectors when you change your clock. Smoke detector batteries should be changed twice a year.
The Importance of One Vote
An Indiana farmer, from Switzerland County, changed the course of American history with his ONE VOTE back in 1842,
Freeman Clark was old and seriously ill. From his bed, he begged his sons to carry him to the county seat of Vevey, so he could cast his vote for his friend Daniel Kelso, who was running for the Indiana State Senate. They took him. He voted. And on the way home from his last public duty, Clark died.
Victory Christian Church Burns Mortgage
The annual Victory Christian Church harvest party was extra special this year as members of the congregation burned their mortgage. The fellowship was founded in 1993 by Jim and Brenda Pradke and went from meeting in their living room to the old California Township school building. In 1996 the congregation bought a vacant church building on the north edge of Toto in 1996. Within a few months attendance increased by one-third. Continue reading
North Judson Council Makes Decision on Group Insurance Plans
The North Judson Town Council held a special meeting to review the different insurance group plans presented by Anthem and United Health Care yesterday morning. Every year renewals are required on insurance for the town. Continue reading
Operation Quiet Comfort Prepares to Spread Holiday Cheer
Christmas stocking care packages will be sent to military members serving overseas this year thanks to Operation Quiet Comfort of Marshall County. They are asking for $10 donations to fill stockings with a beef stick, granola bar, hand and toe warmers, a pair of white socks, assorted seasonal goodies and special written holiday cards from members of the nonprofit organization. Continue reading
First Snow of the Season Possible Today
Trick-or-treaters could be trudging through the snow this evening to collect candy. The WKVI AccuWeather.com forecast calls for rain and snow showers this afternoon, with snow continuing into the overnight hours. Today’s high temperatures are only expected to hit the low 40s. Overnight we’ll dip into the mid-20s. Continue reading
Early Morning Fight Lands Man in Jail
Formal charges are pending against the man accused of hitting and biting another man at a Bremen residence early this morning. Officers from the Marshall County Police Department responded to 1426 Jute Road in Bremen at 12:43 a.m. for a report of a fight in progress. A man told them Larry W. Baltes, 40, had hit him in the face and bitten his upper thigh. The victim refused medical treatment, according to a news release. Baltes was arrested on preliminary charges of battery resulting in moderate injury, public intoxication and disorderly conduct.