Knox Sidewalk Replacement Program Application Deadline April 16

 
 
The application deadline is just over a month away as the city of Knox gears up for their 50/50 sidewalk replacement program. Apply before Wednesday, April 16 for the program that offers a chance for residents to have their sidewalks repaired at half the cost. Any residents suffering from some problematic areas on their sidewalks would benefit from this program, and Mayor Rick Chambers is accepting replacement requests now from homeowners and business owners.

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West Central School Board Approves Technology Plan

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central School Board approved a new three-year technology plan during their recent meeting.

Superintendent Charles Mellon said the plan is usually simply updated, but this year’s plan included another focus.

“One of the major goals in that plan has been to implement the one-to-one technology where every student would have their laptop or some device and we are on target with that,” said Mellon. “By the beginning of the fall of next year, every student will have a device.”

The one-to-one computer initiative was done in the middle school for this school year, and different devices have been handed to the students at the elementary school this year. With this plan, the corporation is on track to have full implementation of the computer initiative, including high school students, by August.

Starke United Fund Grant Applications Available Now

Starke United
 
Starke United Fund grant applications are now available through the Northern Indiana Community Foundation.

Volunteers with charitable organizations are encouraged to apply for these grants. Applications can be found online at www.nicf.org. The application deadline May 2.

The Starke United Fund Committee will review applications and award the grants to the chosen organizations.

For more information, contact the Northern Indiana Community Foundation toll free at 1-877-432-6423 or call Sarah Origer at the Starke County Community Foundation at (574) 772-3665.

ACA Application Deadline Approaching

 
 
The clock is ticking for uninsured Hoosiers to apply for health-care coverage through the insurance marketplace. HealthLinc is a federally qualified health center serving northern Indiana. According to CEO Beth Wrobel, now that the initial hiccups with the national website for the Affordable Care Act are resolved, and those who signed up now getting their insurance cards, perceptions about the marketplace plans have changed.

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Attempted Murder Charges Filed In Connection With Marshall County Motel Shooting

ShootingThree people each face attempted murder and other felony charged in Marshall County stemming from a Feb. 22 report of gunshots fired at the Economy Inn on North Michigan Street in Plymouth. Officers reportedly found four .380 shell casings and two bullets lodged in the interior wall of one of the motel rooms. Witnesses reported a dark-colored car sped away from the motel. Officers determined it belongs to Heather Alexander, 21, of Warsaw. Police say Blake Spindler, 19, of Warsaw, and Christopher Tackett, 16, of Tippecanoe, were in the vehicle when the shooting occurred. Continue reading

Soft, Wet Roads Create Travel Problems

  
 

Gravel roads throughout the area are extremely soft and in poor condition due to melting snow and standing water. Motorists are advised to avoid these roads if possible. In Starke County, the highway department has placed high water signs at the intersections of 275 West and 500 South; 100 West and Toto Road; and 250 North and 600 East.

Starke County has also issued an advisory travel status. That’s the yellow level and means routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation, and individuals should use caution or avoid those areas. Starke County officials say roads are free of ice and snow cover, but pooling and ponding conditions are occurring on many county roads. Much of the remaining snow will melt today because daytime temperatures will remain above freezing. However, the frost line is too deep in most places for the ground to absorb the water. Additionally, overnight temperatures will be at or below freezing, so roads will be slick tonight and tomorrow morning.

Continue Running Faucets; Frost Level Still Problematic

 
 
The temperature is above freezing, bringing welcome relief from this winter’s bitter cold temperatures, but local water and clerk-treasurer departments continue to urge area residents to keep the faucets running. The frost is still settling in, according to officials at the Knox Water Department, and while the ground may start feeling warm on top, the frost is still present below the surface.

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LaPorte Bank Employees Report Suspicious Patron

 
 
Employees at a bank in downtown LaPorte called the police on Friday to report a man who was acting suspicious. The incident happened around noon at the PNC Bank at 800 Lincolnway. A bank representative says a white man came into the bank and walked away each time an employee asked if he needed assistance. The man appeared to be studying the ceiling, and possibly the camera system, according to bank officials. He was also typing or texting something on his cell phone while in the bank and appeared to be wearing an ill-fitting wig. The officer who took the report told the bank employees to call the police immediately should any other suspicious activity occur.

Marshall County Council Approves Transfers

  
 
The Marshall County Council members approved nearly $350,000 in transfers for the highway department to cover a grant reimbursement that hasn’t been received and is due.

Highway Superintendent Neal Haeck said the money is for the 7th Road project and the federal reimbursement has not yet come in. He assured the council that the money is coming, it’s just slow in its arrival.

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RoboNinjas Advanced to World Championships

Josh Kuhn and Kennedy Schnieders
Josh Kuhn and Kennedy Schneiders

A robotics team from Plymouth will soon have the chance to represent the state at this year’s VEX Robotics World Championships in Anaheim, Calif. April 22 – 26, going toe-to-toe with 400 top teams from cities and countries around the world as the boys look forward to the chance to improve upon last year’s quarterfinal tournament run.

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Knox School Board Approves Courses to Pave Way for Grant

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The Knox Community School Board is looking into applying for a Project Lead the Way grant for a new course at the high school.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the grant would be for a bio-medical science course.

“If we were to receive this grant, then we would have to offer, over the next couple of years, four new courses that are not currently in the course description book,” said Gappa. “We had the board approve these courses: Principles of Bio-Medical Science, Human Body Systems, Medical Interventions, and Bio-Medical Innovation. The board did this just in case we were to receive the grant and then we’d be prepared to offer the courses.”

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Eastern Pulaski School Board to Meet Wednesday Morning

 
 

The Eastern Pulaski School Board will meet in a morning session on Wednesday, March 12 at 10:30 a.m. ET.

The board members will consider two retirement requests and a recommendation to purchase school buses. The three school principals will discuss activities pertinent to their buildings and Superintendent Dan Foster will have items of information for the board.

The board is expected to tour the elementary school after lunch. As time permits, a work session will be held at the conclusion of the regular meeting or after lunch.

Knox Woman Arrested on Neglect Charges

 
 
A Knox woman was arrested Thursday after officers from the Knox City Police Department executed a search warrant at her residence.

When officers searched the residence, they found that Angela Clemons allegedly took her young children’s ADHD medication instead of giving it to her children who need the prescription.

Clemons, 31, of Knox was taken to the Starke County Jail and booked on two preliminary counts of Neglect of a Dependent.

Knox Winter Guard Advance to State Finals

 
 
The Knox High School Winter Guard is headed to the state competition.

The group will participate in the Indiana High School Color Guard Association Finals Competition at Center Grove High School on Saturday, March 22.

The Knox Winter Guard, which is comprised of 14 students from high school and middle school, will be competing against 10 other schools for the top honor.

State Revenue Report Below Projections

  
 
The state revenue report for the month of February had a bit of bad news.

For the first time in Fiscal Year 2014, the month’s sales tax collections were below collections for the same month in Fiscal Year 2013. Sales tax collections in February 2014 were below collection in 2013 by $13.7 million. Analysts say severe winter weather throughout the state in January likely contributed to the lower sales tax collections.

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Groups Speak Out Against Energy Efficiency Cuts

  
 
A diverse collective of organizations are speaking out against proposed cuts to Indiana’s energy efficiency program contained in Senate Bill 340 – cuts that would prevent the state from holding utilities to energy-savings goals and would end the Energizing Indiana program. While supporters of the legislation argue that the current program is too expensive, opponents say cuts would end the energy savings customers are seeing.

According to Marty Kushler, senior fellow at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, the program saved $80 million in utility system costs in its first year – 2012.

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