An award-winning country music artist will perform Sunday in Starke County. Kali Rose is the 2013 Inspirational Country Entertainer of the Year. She will give a free performance at Hamlet United Methodist Church at 10 a.m. CDT to kick off the new Women Anchored in Hope ministry. Founder and President Kathleen Davidson says addiction is complex and can go deep. Members of the group are all living in long-term recovery and want to offer hope and help others. Continue reading
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Offers Halloween Train
The annual Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Halloween Train leaves the station tomorrow evening. It features a three-hour trip beginning at 4 p.m. CT from North Judson to LaCrosse and includes a “Not-So-Scary Animal Show” presented by Silly Safari Shows. Continue reading
Trick or Treat Night at Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s office will host a trick or treat event tomorrow night. A contest with prizes for the top three costumes will be offered. Continue reading
Knox Native Among Gary Homicide Suspect’s Alleged Victims
A Knox native is among the six murder victims tied to an alleged serial killer arrested over the weekend in Gary. Police say Darren Vann, 43, of Gary, confessed to killing the women and led them to abandoned buildings throughout the city where he had dumped their bodies. He was arrested Saturday after Hammond Police linked him to the death of Afrika Hardy, 16, who was found strangled to death in a room at the Hammond Motel 6. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre Schools Brace for More Budget Cuts
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation officials are bracing for more budget cuts. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says enrollment is down 40 students from last year.
“We have made a lot of cuts already, but obviously we need to make more and look at future plans,” Johnson told the school board Tuesday night. “One of the major expenditures we have is special education, which keeps growing and growing and growing. I would say we probably spend $1 million a year on special education.” Continue reading
Hamlet Officials Hope to Sell Vacant Lot
The Town of Hamlet is offering for sale a vacant downtown property at the corner of Davis and Main Streets, east of the Rannells Funeral Home. The Town clerk has details for those interested in purchasing the property.
At its Wednesday meeting, the Town Board adopted a 2015 operating budget of $488,211.
Five residents have financially completed their 50-50 sidewalk replacement agreements. Construction is expected to start early next week. The Board plans to replace some of the sidewalk at the Town Hall entrance.
When the 3-man board convened as the Park Board it approved a $4,500 purchase of new playground equipment for toddlers.
Culver Community School Corporation Applies for State Grant
The Culver Community School Corporation is seeking a $52,747 grant from the state for retention incentives for highly effective teachers. The purpose of the state grant is to increase the academic achievement of all students by helping schools and districts improve teacher and principal quality and effectiveness. Evaluations of the teachers determine who receives part of the grant as a bonus. Continue reading
IRS Scam Callers at it Again
Indiana State Police officials continue to warn everyone of telephone scammers claiming to be with the IRS. These scammers will call claiming you owe money or have a refund. They are trying to trick you into releasing important information. Continue reading
Recovering Addict Shares Story With Local Students
With sobriety, anything is possible. That’s the message addict turned triathlete Todd Crandell is sharing with students in Starke and Marshall Counties during Red Ribbon Week. He first tried alcohol when he was 13. Crandall says his life was” normal on the outside” but he was pretty emotionally distraught due to his Mom’s suicide 10 years earlier due to her struggles with addiction.
“I had a giant void that I was looking for something to fill it with, and unfortunately trying alcohol at age 13 was the catalyst for the next 13 years of destruction,” Crandall said.
He says he used “anything I could get my hands on” to try to numb the pain. Continue reading
Marshall County Museum and Weidner School of Inquiry Honor Local Veterans
The Marshall County Museum and the Weidner School of Inquiry recently teamed up to digitally record stories of World War II veterans. The Museum staff contacted nearly 40 known veterans and high school students to schedule face to face interviews. Continue reading
Starke County Council Staggers Park Board Terms
The two Starke County Park Board members appointed by the county council will serve two and four years respectively. State law requires the terms for the inaugural board to be staggered to ensure continuity. The council members decided Democrat Rosemary Rose will serve for two years. Republican Debbie Mix will be on the board for four years. They are two of the five members of the panel charged with oversight of Bass Lake Beach and Campground, the Starke County Forest and other county-owned recreational areas. The first park board meeting has not yet been set, as members are still trying to coordinate their schedules.
Balanced Calendar Public Forum Set for Culver Community Schools
Culver Community Schools will host a public forum on Nov. 3rd at 6 p.m. ET to discuss the pros and cons of a balanced calendar. Rochester School Corporation Superintendent Janna Vance, plus a principal and a teacher from the school will be at the Culver High School auditorium to talk about the balanced schedule. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre Board Questions Balanced Calendar Alignment
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
North Judson-San Pierre School Board members raised a question about the balanced calendar during their meeting last night. The proposed calendar moves the start of school to the first of August, adds longer breaks in the fall and spring that can be used for remediation if necessary and ends the school year the first of June. The first semester would still end in December before the two week Christmas break as it presently does.
Board members wondered what the earlier start to the school year would do to high school students who work for Pioneer detassling corn during their summer vacations. Continue reading
Check Addresses of Sex Offenders before Halloween
Parents should be aware of who is living in the area before taking children trick-or-treating.
Online tools are available to learn the location of sex offenders in a certain area.
There are currently 35 registered sex offenders in Starke County, 21sex offenders listed in Pulaski County, 88 offenders in Marshall County and 183 sex offenders in LaPorte County.
Leaf Pick Up Scheduled in North Judson
Leaf pick up is scheduled for the week of Nov. 3rd in North Judson. Leaves need to be placed next to the curb, not in the alley. Continue reading
Several LaPorte County Residents Arrested in Heroin Distribution Conspiracy
A lengthy federal investigation into the distribution of heroin from Chicago into northwest Indiana resulted in the arrest of six LaPorte County residents. Continue reading
Season Wrapping Up at Bass Lake Beach and Campground
Bass Lake Beach and Campground will soon close for the season. Manager Richard Callahan and his attorney Dave Wallsmith advised the Starke County Commissioners last night the group piers have been removed from the beach area and all but a few boats are out of the water. Wallsmith also told the commissioners he has not gotten any complaints about the amenities of late and has received complements about how nice and well maintained the facilities are. Continue reading
Culver Receives Grant for Water Project
The town of Culver is the recipient of a sizeable grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The $500,000 grant will go toward the town’s proposed new water treatment plant. Continue reading
INDOT Closing Portion of State Road 8 This Week
State Road 8 between U.S. 421 and S.R. 39 in LaPorte County will be closed starting tomorrow. Continue reading
Davis Township Officials Open Fire Station Bids
Bids submitted Monday for the construction of a new Hamlet-Davis Township fire department building were described by the Pyramid Architecture/Engineering and Construction representative as
“a lot better” than the previously submitted bids.
