LaPorte Police Investigating Counterfeit Checks

 
 
The LaPorte Police Department is investigating two separate attempts to cash counterfeit checks at the LaPorte Community Federal Credit Union. An official there told police the credit union got a check in the mail from a casino for one of their customers in May of 2013. The check was for $67,000. It was made out to the credit union but was supposed to be deposited in the customer’s account, according to the police report. When credit union officials asked the customer about the check, she told them it was from her retirement fund at the casino. They later found out the check was counterfeit.

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Senator Charbonneau to Visit Pulaski County Next Week

State Senator Ed Charbonneau
State Senator Ed Charbonneau
The Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce will welcome Senator Ed Charbonneau for a visit in Winamac next week.

The senator will discuss bills that affect business in Pulaski County and other items in the legislature as well.

Senator Charbonneau will be at the Fox’s Den in Winamac on Wednesday, March 26 at 1 p.m. ET. If you would like to go to the meeting, RSVP by calling
(574) 946-3895.

Spring Brings Potential for Severe Weather

 
 
Today is the first day of Spring. Unfortunately the season is known for severe weather events that could be dangerous and potentially deadly. This is Severe Weather Preparedness Week. Dave Tucek with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis says this time of the year, residents should keep an eye on the forecast, but also be aware that severe weather can strike at any time.

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Political Signs May Be Posted, Know the Guidelines

  
 
Political signs are being posted around the Starke County and surrounding areas but candidates need to follow the guidelines of the state and local laws to make sure the signs are being properly placed.

Political signs may not be posted on a highway right-of-way, utility poles, or any person’s property without the property owner’s permission. Placing political signs with the approval of the property owner may be subject to local zoning regulations. If a sign is placed in a highway right-of-way, INDOT crews will remove the sign and you may retrieve it at the nearest INDOT facility.

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Coats’ Staff Member to Hold Starke County Office Hours

U.S. Sen. Dan Coats
U.S. Sen. Dan Coats
Hoosiers who need help with a federal agency or have a concern about the government can meet Monday with a representative from U.S. Senator Dan Coats office. A member of the Republican Senator’s staff will hold office hours at the Henry F. Schricker branch of the Starke County Public Library at 152 West Culver Road in Knox on Monday, March 24 from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m. CDT.

CPS Called After Cops Find Naked Toddler on LaPorte Roof

 
 

A LaPorte family is under investigation by Child Protective Services after police there responded to a report of a naked baby on the roof of a home in the 300 block of East Lincolnway around 6:30 Tuesday evening. The child’s father reportedly told LaPorte Police officers that his two-year-old daughter had been on the roof after her siblings opened a second-story window. He was watching all six of his children while his wife was at work, according to the police report. Officers reportedly found unsanitary living conditions and structure hazards inside the home. City Code Enforcement was also notified.

N.J.-S.P. Hopes to Cut Budget Without Layoffs

Michael Shireman, Jim Menis, Larry Lambert Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
Michael Shireman, Jim Menis, Larry Lambert
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board could vote next month on proposed cuts to the budget necessary to slash more than $1 million from the general fund. Corporation business manager and treasurer Guy Richie says they’re trying to eliminate positions instead of jobs. “If somebody retires, we are eliminating the position if at all possible,” Richie told the school board. “That way no one has lost an income. They retired and we didn’t bring anybody back in. That was our first concern that we did not go into our employees pockets out of this. I think we’ve done a good job when you look that we’re going to cut a million dollars next year and have not yet told a single employee they do not have a job here.” Continue reading

New Town Garage Structure Arriving in North Judson

These structure components will soon be constructed into the new North Judson town garage.
These structure components will soon be constructed into the new North Judson town garage.
A new building is being delivered to North Judson, and crews are eager to get started on constructing the new town maintenance building. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said Mortons Buildings will start construction on the building in about a week and a half, and after the shell has been erected, Henry said the utility crew will install plumbing, electric and finish other work as well.

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Starke Commissioners Accept Two Bids for County Work

  
 
Monday night’s meeting of the Starke County Commissioners featured two bid openings for the county’s reassessment and the County Road 300 East/State Road 8 project. County attorney Martin Lucas opened the bids at the start of the commissioners’ meeting and read them aloud with the bidders’ names and gross bids.

For the reassessments, four companies submitted timely bids and all were compliant with the county’s requirements. The county received bids from Tyler Technologies of Ohio, Accurate Assessments of Fort Wayne, Nexus Group of Zionsville, and the Appraisal Research Corporation of Ohio. The commissioners approved a motion taking the bids under advisement, and will discuss the matter further at a meeting in April.

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Pulaski Commissioners Hear Highway Department Report

Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
The Pulaski County Commissioners this week heard the monthly report from Highway Superintendent Mark Fox, who explained that his crews are currently working on gravel roads to get them fixed as quickly as possible. Soon, he said, they will begin patching the roads up a bit as the weather allows.

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Starke Council Approves Appropriation Requests

Charles Weaver
Charles Weaver
The Starke County Council approved a number of appropriation requests at their meeting Monday night, including a request from Charles Weaver, executive director of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation. Weaver approached the council and requested an appropriation of $1,035,000 to fund a number of county projects. The commissioners gave the request their approval, and the council approved a motion to appropriate the funds.

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Marshall County Building Inspector Anticipates More Permits, Inspections Once Weather Changes

  
 
The Marshall County Commissioners heard a report from Building Inspector Chuck DeWitt on progress in his office so far this year.

He explained that 48 inspections were done in January and 52 were complete in February, which is a decrease from last year. DeWitt issued 18 permits in January and 19 in Feburary. He notes that the inclement weather throughout the two months did not help numbers. Forty-two permits have already been issued in March through March 14.

DeWitt’s office has taken in $3.97 million in permit fees compared to $1.58 million last year. He said there are a lot of larger projects this year.

He anticipates more inspections and permit applications once the weather breaks and the numbers could be better than last year.

State Recognizes Tippecanoe River State Park Staff and Volunteers

Tippecanoe River State Park Assistant Manager Jason Hickman, Jon Chapman, John Wheeler and Park Manager Vernon Gillum
Tippecanoe River State Park Assistant Manager Jason Hickman, Jon Chapman, John Wheeler and Park Manager Vernon Gillum
Management and volunteers at Tippecanoe River State Park were honored recently by the state Department of Natural Resources for the effort they’ve put into the property north of Winamac on U.S. 35. Manager Vernon Gillum, assistant manager Jason Hickman and the rest of the park staff were recognized with a Natural Resource Management Award for promoting, managing and protecting natural resources through prescribed fires and the removal of invasive plants. State officials also honored two members of the Friends of Tippecanoe River State Park volunteer organization for their dedication to the park. Jon Chapman and John Wheeler, both of Winamac, were recognized with Volunteer of the Year awards for their leadership in building a river overlook and other projects at Tippecanoe River State Park. Work on a second river overlook will be done later this year.

State Decreases Overall in Unemployment Numbers, Local Counties Increase

  
 
Eighty-two Indiana counties increased in unemployment numbers in January 2014.

Starke County is still ranked 10th in the state with 8.5 percent unemployment which is an increase of 0.7 percent from December. All surrounding counties increased in unemployment. Pulaski County’s unemployment number rose to 6 percent, Marshall County up to 7.1 percent, LaPorte County up to 9 percent, Fulton County sits at 8.8 percent, St. Joseph County is at 7.3 percent and Porter County is at 7.1 percent.

Despite the numbers, the state led the nation in manufacturing jobs added in January with 4,600 and ranks second in the rate of growth for January. Indiana also is second in the nation in jobs added over the past year with 13,800 and 6th in rate of growth over the past year.

Overall, Indiana had an unemployment drop of 0.4 percent.

Marshall County Police Bust Underage Drinking Party

 
 

Officers from the Marshall County Police Department and Indiana State Police arrested seven adults after reportedly breaking up an underage drinking party early Sunday morning. They got a tip about the party taking place at a residence in the 13-thousand block of 2A Road in Plymouth, according to a department news release and arrived just before 2 a.m. Officers found seven underage adults and three juveniles drinking at the residence, according to the police report, which also notes there was evidence of marijuana use inside the residence. The seven underage adults were all arrested on a misdemeanor charge of illegal consumption of alcohol. They are: Zachary Hostetler, 18 of Plymouth; Rex Budzielek, 18, of Lakeville; Howard Borton, 18, of Lakeville; Tyler Thompson, 19, of Lakeville; Jordan Hoober, 18, of Plymouth; Gage Chapman, 19, of Mishawaka; and Devin Johnson, 19, of Plymouth. Authorities called the parents of the three juveniles involved and asked them to pick up their children. Police reports were forwarded to the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office and Marshall County Probation Department for further juvenile proceedings.