Construction of the new Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center is still on schedule to wrap up next spring. Information shared with the Starke County Building Corporation indicates the metal addition to the rear of the existing building on State Road 8 east of Knox is 80-percent finished. Continue reading
U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski’s education tour will make several stops in the area today and tomorrow. She wants to hear from education officials, community leaders and students about ways to improve opportunities and prepare students for a globally competitive workforce. Continue reading
LaPorte Police are investigating a reported robbery at a discount store. They were called to the Family Dollar on Lincolnway Friday evening. A store employee told the officers she saw two white women leaving the store with items they had not purchased. Continue reading
Telephone scam artists pretending to be with the IRS call claiming you owe money or have a refund trying to trick you into releasing important information. They may know a lot about you, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. Fake names and incorrect identification badge numbers are given to make you think they are who they say they are. Continue reading
Authorities are investigating the botched landing of a small airplane at the Marshall County Airport on Sunday night. WSBT-TV reports the pilot was blinded by the sun as he was coming in for a landing around 8 p.m. The plane skidded across Lilac Road and stopped in a grassy area near the airport. The pilot was treated at a local hospital for a minor eye injury. No other injuries were reported.
Hamlet residents who want to replace their sidewalks can do so at a discounted rate if they opt to take part in the 50-50 sidewalk replacement program. The town will pay half the cost for materials and labor for participating property owners. Funds are available on a first-come, first served basis. Continue reading
Indiana University Health LaPorte VNA is offering flu and pneumonia shots at a walk-in clinic in Hamlet. Starting today the vaccines are available to people ages 65 and older at IU Health VNA, located at 5595 County Road 600 North in Hamlet. Medicare Part B covers the shots, or participants may pay with cash or check. Continue reading
The Starke County Commissioners have asked the county attorney to look into work restrictions for county employees who have been cleared to return to work by their physicians but are still under restrictions. Interim EMS Director Keith Emigh asked about the county’s policy during the most recent regular commissioners meeting and was told employees cannot return to work unless they can perform all of their required job duties. The commissioners last week asked county attorney Marty Lucas to further research the issue and placed the matter on the agenda for their meeting this morning. Continue reading
September is National Preparedness Month.
Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery said this is the time of year that we should be preparing for emergencies including natural disaster events and potential terrorist attacks and to take action to protect ourselves and our families.
The American Red Cross is hosting blood drives during the Marshall County Blueberry Festival. They will be set up at 1600 N. Michigan St. in Plymouth today and tomorrow from noon until 6 p.m. EDT. Donors are encouraged to “sip in style.” They will receive Mason jar tumblers while supplies last. Continue reading
The Tippecanoe Arts Federation is looking for visual art exhibits to hang in the Wells Community Cultural Center galleries in 2016. All artists, art groups, arts organization and schools from the Region IV counties are eligible to submit an application and electronic portfolio for panel review. Artists in Pulaski, White, Jasper, Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fountain, Howard, , Montgomery, Newton, Tippecanoe, Tipton and Warren counties who are at least 18 are eligible to apply. Continue reading
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers will get quotes from NIPSCO to add more lights to Wythogan Park in an attempt to curb vandalism. The Knox Park Board decided strategic lighting is the the most cost effective option to deal with problems there. Continue reading
The 29 students enrolled at Starke County’s newest school are thriving in the non-traditional learning environment. The Crossing alternative school opened recently and offers a second chance to students who have been expelled from or dropped out of public schools. Principal Quentin Bishop says the school is an extension of the students’ sending schools.
“This is like a classroom just down the road from their sending school. We have that type of relationship, that type of partnership to say we’re not only just The Crossing Education Center working as an independent school. We’re actually in partnership with our public schools,” Bishop said. Continue reading
The Operation Pull Over safe driving campaign will be in effect this weekend for the State and local law enforcement agencies.
Additional patrols on the road in high traffic areas as well as sobriety checkpoints will be arranged. Troopers will be looking for aggressive drivers that are speeding, following too close, making unsafe lane changes and not wearing seatbelts.
If you have business with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, you need to take care of it today or wait until Tuesday. BMV branches across the state are closing tomorrow and Monday in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday. More information about BMV branches and services offered is available online at www.MyBMV.com.
A two-week long Indiana State Police investigation into drug activity in Fulton County ended with six arrests last night after officers served search warrants at three Rochester homes. A state police news release indicates the officers found methamphetamine, a meth lab, drug precursors and paraphernalia. They searched homes at 1124 Bancroft Street, 317 West 11th Street and 4729 Camp Shahola Drive in Rochester. Continue reading
The grand opening of the new U.S. 31 highway between Plymouth and South Bend was held Wednesday afternoon with Governor Mike Pence and Congresswoman Jackie Walorski in attendance plus the engineers behind the project and the crews that worked on the highway.
Governor Pence said the new U.S. 31 will be a great asset to the economy of not only Northern Indiana but the whole state.
“I think it’s really incalculable,” said Pence. “When I say that roads mean jobs, I mean that having the right infrastructure creates conditions that invite more investment that will put Hoosiers to work for generations to come. The vision for what used to be called the expressway that now is the Mangus Memorial Highway is a result of decades of effort here in Indiana. I believe that it’s going to put not only Northern Indiana, but all of Indiana in a position to attract more investment, create more jobs and opportunities in addition to creating a safe and more accessible thoroughfare.”
U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski will visit Pulaski, Starke, Marshall, St. Joseph and LaPorte Counties next week as part of a district-wide education tour. She wants to hear from education officials, community leaders and students about ways to improve opportunities and prepare students for a globally competitive workforce. Continue reading
The Knox Park Board will consider suggestions offered recently to curb vandalism at Wythogan Park when they meet this evening. Mayor Rick Chambers recently hosted a community discussion to gather thoughts on the issue. Afterward he said several good suggestions were offered, including a stronger police presence and writing more curfew tickets to juveniles who are in the park after hours. Continue reading
