The Culver School Board will consider renewing a few contracts.
During tonight’s meeting, alterations in those documents from the previous year will be reviewed.
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Candidates for Town Offices May File until August
Candidates may continue to file for office in the municipal election.
The filing deadline for the Knox City Council, mayor, judge and clerk-treasurer candidate positions has expired with the primary election set for Tuesday, May 5.
Candidates seeking office in towns with a population less than 3,500 can file until Monday, Aug. 3. If there is more than one party candidate running for a seat, a town convention will be held to determine the party candidate on the General Election ballot in November.
Culver Holding Preliminary Discussions on Annexation
The Town of Culver’s Plan Commission is considering a proposal to expand its city limits.
Preliminary discussions are scheduled for Tuesday’s Plan Commission meeting that would involve extending Culver’s town limits to the intersection of state road 10 and state road 17. That area currently lies northwest of Culver.
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Building Permits Required Prior to Start of Construction Projects
Snow piles are disappearing, and spring is upon us. Many residents are beginning to make plans to begin outdoor projects, but the Pulaski County Building Inspector reminds you to apply for building permits before you begin building projects.
New construction of any type needs a permit. New houses, barns, garages, sheds, porches, decks, and the placement of modular homes need a building permit. Room or building additions, remodeling, electrical upgrades, plumbing, air conditioning repair, above-ground swimming pools and any commercial project will also need a permit.
Know Severe Weather Terminology as We Head into Spring
As we turn the corner into spring, the weather will become more volatile.
The observation of Severe Weather Preparedness Week is underway and Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery says it’s a time to alert the public about the hazards of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. Meteorologists will be using terms like severe thunderstorm watch and severe thunderstorm warning and Avery says it’s important that residents know the difference.
Statewide Winter Moratorium Ends, Utility Payment Assistance Still Available
The state-mandated moratorium on utility service disconnection during the winter months is over. However, several forms of payment assistance are still available for low-income families who need help paying their heating bills. These include assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Program. It is available to households that fall within 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines and is administered through local community action agencies. LIHEAP-eligible NIPSCO customers may also qualify for additional discounts through the NIPSCO Customer Assistance for Residential Energy, or CARE, program. Applications are made at the same time as those for LIHEAP assistance. Continue reading
Final Pretrial Hearing Set for Murder Defendant
Next month’s murder trial for a Knox man accused of killing his estranged wife at their rural California Township home last June is still on schedule. Gary Chavez is charged with murder, kidnapping and carjacking. Police say he beat his wife Kimberly to death on June 6, 2014, drove to Mark Bailey’s Discount Center and kidnapped an employee who was sitting in his car in the store parking lot. The two drove to English Lake where Chavez is accused of stealing another vehicle at gunpoint and leading authorities on a high-speed chase through LaPorte and Porter Counties. That vehicle broke down near Kouts, which is where Chavez allegedly stole a pickup truck at gunpoint from two men who stopped to help him. Police in Lake County deployed stop sticks on Interstate 65 near Crown Point in an attempt to end the pursuit. That’s when Chavez shot himself in the face. He spent two months in a Chicago hospital before being released to the custody of the Starke County Sheriff and has been jailed ever since. Continue reading
Second Suspect Arrested in Burglary Investigation
Another suspect has been arrested in a burglary investigation in Starke County.
On Feb. 16, a North Judson man called police to report that two men were coming out of his garage with his possessions and ran through the woods. Officers were able to track footprints to a neighboring pole barn to the north where the stolen items were found, according to a press release.
Rickie Clemons, 19, of Knox was arrested on site and has preliminary charges of burglary and theft.
Robert Manns, 40, of Knox had an active warrant for his arrest for his alleged involvement in this burglary. His information was featured on the Starke County’s Most Wanted list, and an anonymous tip led police to his location. On Thursday, March 12, deputies from the Stake County Sheriff’s Department, along with the K9 unit, arrived at a home in the 6200 south block of 250 W. in North Judson. Officers heard movement in the residence and after five minutes, a woman answered the door, according to police. They entered the residence with K9 Terror and located Manns hiding in a trap door and arrested him without incident.
Manns was booked into the Starke County Jail on charges of burglary and theft. Both suspects are being held in the Starke County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges in Starke Circuit Court on Friday morning and was appointed a public defender.
The Starke County Most Wanted list is available by clicking here.
LaPorte Man Sentenced In Federal Court For Grow Operation
A LaPorte man has been sentenced in federal court.
42-year-old Adrian Williams was sentenced this week on charges stemming from an incident occurring in 2013. Law enforcement responded in September of that year to a building Williams owned in LaPorte County.
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Mother of Baby Left in Car Makes Initial Court Appearance
The mother of an infant who suffered frostbite after being left alone in a car after a Feb. 5 crash near North Judson made her initial appearance in Starke Circuit Court yesterday. Shayna Madison, 24, is charged with neglect of a dependent as a level 5 felony. Police responded to a wreck in the area of 250 West and 500 South. No driver was in the vehicle, but a small child was found in a car seat in the back. The child was treated at IU Health Starke Hospital and turned over to the Department of Child Services. Continue reading
Warming Weather Means Preparations To Fix Potholes
The weather has been warming over the last few days, and crews at the Starke County Highway Department have transitioned to their springtime activity of filling potholes.
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Town of Hamlet Discusses Sidewalk Program
The Town of Hamlet is still accepting applications for its summer 50/50 sidewalk replacement program. Residents should contact Town Hall representatives for details and an application.
The board gave attention to an annual spring-time problem, potholes. Focus was on repair of the intersection of Indiana and Jefferson streets.
Officials Warn of High Water Levels
Severe Weather Preparedness Week officially begins tomorrow, and officials are already warning of possible flooding issues this weekend.
With rainfall in parts of the state, yesterday, rivers, creeks, streams and low-lying areas could experience flooding. The addition of snow melt will increase changes of flooding.
No watches or warnings have been enacted in our area at this time.
LaPorte Police to Conduct Patrols
The LaPorte Police Department will participate in an effort to reduce aggressive and dangerous driving.
Officers will be working 80 hours in an Operation Pull Over event that begins today and ends March 28. The purpose of the added hours of patrols is to reduce crashes and injuries by encouraging safe driving behavior by motorists driving on the streets.
Robert Corbin Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
Robert Corbin was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Thursday afternoon.
Corbin pleaded guilty to child seduction as a Class C felony in a previous court setting. Judge Kim Hall accepted the plea agreement that called for a seven-year sentence in the Indiana Department of Corrections. His sentence was broken into three components: 28 months will be served in the Indiana Department of Corrections, 28 months will be served on home detention with electronic monitoring and 28-months was suspended to be served on probation. By pleading guilty, all other counts against Corbin were dropped.
Police Still Seeking Information Child Pornography Case
The investigation into the arrest of a Knox resident is ongoing with the Knox City Police Department.
Police have been able to identify victims from child pornography images allegedly found on Robert Wisilinski’s computer. The officers continue to work on leads and help victims in the wake of Wislinski’s alleged actions. Continue reading
Charges Filed in Runaway Case
Formal charges were filed Thursday in Marshall Superior Court 1 against a man suspected of participating in sexual misconduct with a minor and helping a minor run away from home.
Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman filed felony charges against Rigoberto Calix Reyes, 21, that include sexual misconduct with a minor and forgery, as well as a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. Bail is set at $100,000 cash.
DNR Honors Winamac Fish and Wildlife Manager
The manager of the Winamac Fish & Wildlife Area is the recipient of the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife’s highest honor. Tony Carroll was recently recognized as the 2014 Wildlife Biologist of the Year during the division’s annual conference at Brown County State Park. Director Mark Reiter acknowledged Carroll’s exceptional work ethic, professionalism and dedication to Indiana’s fish and wildlife resources as basis for the award. Continue reading
Right to Try Bill Advances in State Senate
A local lawmaker’s bill to potentially give terminally ill patients access to medications that might save their lives is headed to the full Senate. The measure sponsored by Sen. Ed Charbonneau of Valparaiso passed the Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services by a vote of 10-0. It would allow terminally ill patients who meet certain criteria to receive pharmaceuticals which have passed the first phase of the Food and Drug Administration’s approval process. Currently patients must wait two or four months to receive approval on an FDA application for expanded access. Continue reading
Knox Officials Continue to Move Forward with Blight Elimination Grant
Paperwork will need to be published in order for Knox officials to move along with a grant for blighted properties.
Mayor Rick Chambers explained to the city council members this week that the city purchased five properties in the recent tax sale and those properties will be included as part of the Blight Elimination grant. Chambers said Judge Kim Hall informed the city that the sale needs to be published three times in order before deeds can be issued. Certified letters were also sent.
