The lone contractor to submit a timely cemetery mowing bid to the town of North Judson will do the work this year. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the town council awarded the bid to Shef’s Lawn Care Services. Their $15,000 bid includes mowing of Highland and Pioneer Cemeteries and other miscellaneous lawn care around town. Continue reading
Starke County Council Approves Mower Purchase for Jail
Starke County officials have opted to do their own lawn maintenance and snow removal at the new jail in an effort to contain costs. On Monday the county council approved the purchase of a mower with a commercial grade deck for the facility. It will be paid for with tax money set aside for construction of the building east of Knox on State Road 8. Continue reading
Knox Board of Public Works Approves Loan of K9 Kennel
The Starke County Sheriff’s Office will have a vehicle kennel for another K9 when the time comes to purchase another dog.
The Knox Board of Public Works agreed to loan the city-owned kennel to the county to help reduce the county’s costs toward another K9 unit. Mayor Rick Chambers explained that the Knox City Police Department no longer has a K9 unit and had the kennel in storage. Sheriff Bill Dulin requested the use of the kennel and the request was granted Wednesday morning.
Mock Crash Demonstration Scheduled at South Central Schools
A demonstration to bring awareness to student driver safety is set for Friday, April 24 at 10:30 a.m. CT at the South Central School Corporation.
The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office is focused on safety for the upcoming prom season. Sheriff John Boyd stated that LaPorte County has not seen any accidents involving teen drivers during this time of the year, and he wants that to continue.
Sheriff Boyd wants to focus on the importance of safe driving habits including distracted driving. Cell phone calls and texting are two issues surrounding distracted driving.
Sisters for Life Executive Director to Headline Marshall County RTL Banquet
A born-again Christian who had two abortions during her teenage years is the featured speaker at this evening’s Marshall County Right to Life banquet. Angela Minter is the founder and executive director of Louisville-based Sisters for Life. Continue reading
Hamlet Town Council Accepts Sidewalk Bid
A bid of $13,100 was accepted by the Hamlet Town Board last night to complete six improvements in Hamlet’s 2015 50-50 sidewalk replacement project. There was also discussion with engineer Lee Nagai about installing new street lights and sidewalks in a possible downtown revitalization project.
Another improvement under consideration includes solving the standing water problem at a street intersection near the Lutheran Church. Continue reading
Industrial Park Road Rehab Forces Temporary Closure of 300 East
Part of Starke County Road 300 East through the Knox Industrial Park will be closed overnight and through the day tomorrow to allow concrete to cure. Contractors are working in the area to restore lawns and driveways that were disturbed by last year’s road widening project. Continue reading
Grovertown Man Faces Theft, Drug Charges in Marshall County
A Grovertown man faces theft and drug charges in Marshall County following a weekend undercover investigation. A patrolman from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department was investigating the theft of truck rims and tires which the victim had located for sale on Craigslist. Continue reading
Structural Concerns Delay LaCrosse Feed Mill Explosion Investigation
Concerns over the stability of a grain elevator that exploded last week, injuring four employees, have delayed the investigation into the cause of the blast. Experts at the LaCrosse Feed Mill site say some work will need to be done first to make the structure safe for entry. Continue reading
Formal Charges Filed in Alleged Criminal Confinement Incidents
Formal charges have been filed against a Knox man accused of handcuffing, shackling and water boarding a woman at his Bass Lake area home. Employees at Bass Lake Pub and Ristorante called 911 after the woman showed up there early last Wednesday afternoon and told them she had managed to escape. Benny Giselbach was arrested nearby by deputies from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office after a multi-agency manhunt. Continue reading
North Judson Town Council Sets Up Revolving Loan Fund
North Judson will still have a grocery store thanks to quick action by the town council. Heartland Markets has signed a letter of intent to buy Ray’s Super Foods on Lane Street. Company officials also asked the town if they could offer any incentives. North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry recently spoke with representatives from the State Board of Accounts, who suggested they could set up a revolving loan fund for economic development projects. Continue reading
IU Health Starke Hospital President Talks Partnership, New Building
IU Health Starke Hospital President Craig Felty hopes to close on the sale of the Knox and LaPorte facilities to one of the nation’s largest for-profit hospital groups by the end of the year. He told the Starke County Council the hospitals and Community Health Systems are still in their due diligence period prior to finalizing the purchase. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre School Board Bracing for More Funding Cuts
The state legislature hopes to give more funding for schools, but according to North Judson-San Pierre Schools Superintendent Lynn Johnson her corporation will still see a cut in funding.
She says the schools that are growing, or increasing in enrollment, will see an increase in funding. She explained to the North Judson-San Pierre School Board last night that the corporation’s enrollment is declining which means a cut in funding.
The House and Senate are still attempting to finalize a budget. The House has its school funding plan while the Senate plan differs in numbers. Either way, Johnson said, the school corporation will not see an increase in its budget.
Pleasant View Rest Home Enters National Register of Historic Places
The Pulaski County Commissioners received word this week that the Pleasant View Rest Home is now officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Commission President Larry Brady read the letter from the Department of Natural Resources that stated the county home located at 700 W. County Road 60 S. in Winamac was entered into the register on March 17.
Oregon-Davis Continues With Development Solutions
The Oregon-Davis School Board will continue implementing development tools in the classroom.
Monday night’s school board meeting saw the Board of Education take action to approve strategies from Five Star Education Solutions. The company offers instruction and targeted development for students, but also offers professional development and technology assistance to teachers.
Continue reading
ISTEP Round Two Begins Next Week
The second round of the ISTEP test will be administered starting next week in area schools.
Students took the first portion of the test in March of this year – which covers English, Math, and for some students: Science and Social Studies. ISTEP is used to help measure student performance in a handful of subject areas.
Continue reading
Winamac Water Surveys Complete, Data Being Compiled
The last of the necessary surveys has been received to qualify for grant funds.
The Town of Winamac has expressed interest in exploring for additional water resources. Currently, there are two wellheads in the same water source that Winamac pulls from to bring water to local homes. Concerns over safety and contamination, however, have prompted the town to solicit funds to explore for a new source of water.
Continue reading
INDOT Encourages Safety with Farm Equipment on Roadways
Area motorists may have noticed farm implements on the roadways.
That’s because planting season is in full swing. Farmers often use local roads to navigate between fields. According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, this means car drivers should be more alert.
Continue reading
Grain Accident Prompts Reminder of Facility Hazards and Occupational Injuries
Last week’s grain elevator accident in LaCrosse has prompted the Indiana Department of Labor to urge employers and employees to review grain handling facility hazards and how to prevent occupational injuries and fatalities.
Four employees at Co-Alliance were injured in an explosion caused by an industrial accident on April 15.
According to the Department of Labor, the grain handling industry is a high hazard industry where workers can be exposed to serious and life threatening hazards including fires and explosions from grain dust accumulation. Other hazards include suffocation from engulfment and entrapment in grain bins, falls from heights and crushing injuries, and amputations from equipment.
Knox Board of Public Works to Meet Today
The Knox Board of Public Works will talk more about the towing agreement when they meet this morning.
The board recently approved an amended agreement and two towing companies have signed the agreement already. The Knox City Council approved a resolution last week to authorize Mayor Rick Chambers to sign the document and to enter into agreements. The towing companies that sign the towing agreement will be used on a rotational basis. If the company is contacted and a representative does not answer, the next company on the list will be utilized. The agreement will be reviewed again by the board this morning.
