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.

Pulaski County Fugitive Surrenders After Seeing Facebook Post

Lisa L. Wilson
Lisa L. Wilson

A fugitive wanted by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office turned herself in last night after being featured on a wanted poster on the department’s Facebook page. Lisa L. Wilson, 27, was wanted for failure to appear, never a valid license and failure to sign, carry, display registration. Her photo and information were posted on the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana Facebook page on Thursday, March 13 and shared 14 times. Continue reading →

Plymouth Airport Manager Pursuing Automated Weather Observation System

 
 
The city of Plymouth may be helping the Plymouth Aviation Board in obtaining an Automated Weather Observation System.

That information was presented to the Marshall County Commissioners Monday morning by Plymouth Aviation Board representative Dave Lattimer, who is also the airport manager. He explained that Plymouth needs to have its own system as the weather is its own animal in Marshall County and the installation of the system would be beneficial to pilots in the area.

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Marshall County EMA Director Provides Quarterly Update to Commissioners

  
 
Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery discussed some items with the Marshall County Commissioners Monday morning.

Avery told the commissioners that he recently met with the EMA advisory council and discussed the County Emergency Management Plan. The members agreed that some minor changes need to be made and those changes will be forthcoming for the advisory council’s approval and for the approval of the commissioners.

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North Judson Police Warn of Social Media Scam

  
 
A new scam has hit social media.

According to a report taken by an officer with the North Judson Police Department, a resident claimed she was contacted through Facebook of a person claiming to be in the military stationed in Afghanistan. The person asked for her bank account information so he could mail some money back home. Luckily, the transaction was voided before money could be taken from the bank account.

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NJ-SP Board to Discuss Budget Reductions, Alternative School

Superintendent Lynn Johnson
Superintendent Lynn Johnson
North Judson-San Pierre School Board members are faced with the formidable task of slashing $1.2 million from their budget. That’s the amount of money the state is cutting from the corporation’s general fund due to a decline in enrollment. Discussion of proposed budget reductions is one of several items on the agenda for tonight’s school board meeting. Superintendent Lynn Johnson previously told WKVI news that the general fund is 85 percent salaries and benefits. Options Johnson previously mentioned include not filling vacancies created by retirements or resignations, reductions in force, non-contractual salary freezes, increasing class sizes and reducing or eliminating extracurricular activities.

Board members will also discuss The Crossing, which is the proposed Starke County Alternative School. Other agenda items include approval of the 2014-2015 school calendar, the superintendent’s contract and facility fees for the upcoming school year. The N.J.-S.P. School Board meeting starts at 7 p.m. CDT in the central office meeting room.

Date Set for 7th Annual SCYC Radiothon

  
 
The date has been set for this year’s Starke County Youth Club Radiothon! The community is encouraged to participate in this year’s 7th annual radiothon to benefit the SCYC on K99.3 WKVI, Friday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day of the radiothon is filled with testimonials, special guests and fun challenges on the air as WKVI helps to spread the word about this amazing program and some of their exciting changes ahead.

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Culver Park Board to Meet Wednesday

  
 
The Culver Park Board will soon hold its first meeting since the public hearing on Feb. 18 held by the town council to garner input from the public as to how things at the park could be improved. The hearing, however, took a different path than was expected as community members offered their opinions on the controversy surrounding the park board in the wake of the discharging of superintendent Kelly Young and Donna McKee, the park activities director.

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City of Knox Schedules Spring Leaf Pick Up

  
 
The temperature may still feel like winter, but the city of Knox has set Spring leaf pick-up days. Leaves will be picked up April 1-4 and May 5-9. They should be placed in the street along the curb and not in the alley. The Knox City Street Department will pick up brush and limbs each Thursday. However, it’s up to professional tree removal companies to clean up brush and limbs left behind as a result of their jobs. The Knox composting site is also available at the north end of Shield Street between city hall and the police station. Grass clippings, leaves, fruits and vegetables may be dropped off there.

Habitat For Humanity Informational Meetings Scheduled for April

 
 

“Could you become a homeowner?” That’s the question asked during the upcoming informational meetings for the Starke/Pulaski Habitat For Humanity aimed at providing much-needed information to prospective Habitat for Humanity homeowners. Steve Morrison, president of the organization, told WKVI that these meetings will allow them to explain the process and take applications as they seek to build a house this summer somewhere in Starke or Pulaski County.

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Plymouth Man Sentenced on Federal Child Pornography Charges

 

 
 

A Plymouth man was sentenced last week in U.S. District Court to seven years in federal prison with five years supervised release after previously pleading guilty to distribution of material involving a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Lawrence Tinsman, 67, was also fined $500 in restitution. Federal court records indicate Tinsman possessed a computer which contained numerous images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He downloaded the images through a peer-to-peer file sharing program, according to FBI agents, and also made the images available for download by other individuals seeking child pornography.

 

Flood Warnings Extended for Kankakeee and Tippecanoe Rivers

 
 

Flooding remains a concern this week in two problem spots. The National Weather Service has extended the flood warning for the Kankakee River at Davis Route 30 until late Friday. Minor flooding is already occurring in that area, and additional flooding is forecast. Flood stage there is 10 feet, at which point flooding of low-lying agricultural areas begins. Last night at 9 the river there was at 10.3 feet and holding steady. The Kankakee River at Davis Route 30 is expected to drop below flood stage early Friday morning.

The flood warning for the Tippecanoe River near Ora has also been extended until tomorrow night. As of 10 p.m. Sunday the river there was at 12.2 feet and steady. Flood stage is 12 feet. Minor flooding is occurring, and more minor flooding is forecast. The Tippecanoe River near Ora is expected to fall below flood stage tonight.

If you encounter roads that are covered with water, don’t try to drive through it, as the road surface may be washed out underneath. High water and road closed signs are put in place for your safety.

 

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Pulaski County Council Concerned About Sheriff’s Department Time Cards

Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer
Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer
Officials in Pulaski County are once again concerned with the method used to keep track of time worked for sheriff’s department employees, and the council asked Sheriff Michael Gayer to provide additional time sheet information to the auditor in the future. The council addressed Gayer at their meeting on March 10, explaining that the current method does not comply with the federal law.

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Starke Council, Commissioners to Meet Tonight With Full Agenda

  
 
The Starke County Council and commissioners will meet tonight with a full slate of discussions in their monthly joint meeting. The Starke County Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. starting with a presentation from Marshall-Starke Services, the first quarter capital expenditure report from IU Health Starke Hospital, and a resolution to create a loan to the county general fund for a cash flow issue.

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