The Indiana Department of Homeland Security is providing a few tips as rain comes into the state.
Rain can often add to problems caused by snow accumulation such as making the burden heavier on area roofs. Others include the potential for flooding in the state.
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Starke County officials are making plans for a May 22nd open house to celebrate the completion of the Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center. Contractors are putting final touches on the new facility east of Knox on State Road 8 and will have the building ready to turn over to the county by May 1st. Continue reading
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin will hire two additional part-time jail officers for now in anticipation of the new jail opening in a few months. They may eventually be promoted to full-time once the facility is online and the county is housing more prisoners.
Dulin is also looking to hire a part-time maintenance person for the new jail soon. The position will require quite a bit of technical expertise to handle the state-of-the-art correctional facility. Applications for that job close Friday. Dulin says he’s already gotten a dozen or so resumes. He plans to review them all with the commissioners in an executive session after the application deadline. Continue reading
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s K9 unit was instrumental in capturing a wanted felon.
On Friday, Feb. 27, deputies from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department served an arrest warrant after receiving information that Donald Ray Fitch, 47, from Kentucky was living at a home south of Denham. When officers knocked on the door, Fitch refused to answer to police. According to a press release, officers gained entry into the home and Fitch surrendered when K9 Gil was deployed. Police say Fitch was found in a bedroom.
The Pulaski County Commissioners discussed the last Revolving Loan Fund request until Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer revamps the process.
Origer was before the commissioners last night with Sheila Jimenez, who requested a $10,000 loan for fixtures in order to open a new restaurant on Main Street in Winamac. Jimenez said the Warrior Den will be a finer family dining facility at 121 W. Main Street. She hopes to open in May.
The Marshall County Commissioners held a public hearing Monday morning to take comments on the proposed ordinance amendment on the Commercial Overlay District.
The ordinance encompasses all of Marshall County, but some LaPaz citizens spoke out about the ordinance as they’re worried about commercial development with the overpass on U.S. 6 and the new U.S. 31.
Residents are concerned about existing businesses that were “displaced” when the new U.S. 31 was constructed. Most traffic now passes by LaPaz instead of through LaPaz and taxpayers are concerned about those establishments. Agriculture ground was also a focus of concern as commercial developments could dig into the county’s agribusiness district.
Funds promised in November of last year have received approval by the Culver School Board.
The group reviewed donations to be received during their meeting last night. Among the donations was $50-thousand that will help with the start-up costs for Project Lead the Way. Funds were given by the Culver Redevelopment Commission.
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A federally funded program that allows law enforcement officers to work additional hours will not be in use in Starke County this year.
Operation Pull Over is designed to target areas that are considered problematic by enforcing traffic laws and seatbelt violations more aggressively. The Knox City Police Department oversaw the program’s operation last year in conjunction with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.
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U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly is urging members of the House of Representatives to approve appropriations for a federal department through September of this year.
A stopgap bill designed to fund the Department of Homeland Security for one week passed the House on Friday evening. That followed a failed House vote to fund the DHS for three weeks.
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An HIV outbreak in downstate Indiana has state health officials responding.
According to the Indiana State Department of Health, there have been 26 confirmed cases of the disease since mid-December. That same report says those cases find common ground in prescription drug and injection abuse.
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The deadline is drawing near for students interested in applying for federal student aid.
More workshops will be held in the area for students and their families who may require help filling out FAFSA documents properly. Deadline for applications in Indiana is March 10th.
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A new Pulaski County Council member was chosen by a Republican Party Caucus last week.
Republican Chairman Blair Todd told WKVI News that former Pulaski County Commissioner Michael “Big Mike” Tiede was selected in a second round of voting to fill the District 4 seat vacated by Mick Tiede.
Mick Tiede stepped down from his Pulaski County Council seat in order to retain his part-time job in the Pulaski County Assessor’s office. State and local statutes do not allow a county employee to hold a county council seat.
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin will discuss the staffing needs for the new jail with the county commissioners when they meet this evening. The facility east of Knox on State Road 8 is scheduled to open in June and will house nearly twice as many inmates as the existing jail. The advance agenda for the 6 p.m. meeting indicates Dulin will ask for permission to hire two more full-time jail officers. He will also review the revised listing of needed equipment with the commissioners. Continue reading
Several applicants in Indiana have been awarded funds to help fight blighted homes.
According to the Lt. Governor’s office dozens of municipalities and counties received funds from the BEP, otherwise known as the Blight Elimination Program. Among those receiving dollars is Pulaski County.
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The clock is ticking for prospective college students to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Ancilla College Executive Director of Admissions Eric Wignall encourages anyone who may be considering college next year to fill out the FAFSA.
“There’s no age limit. There’s no income limit. You may not qualify for aid. You may make more money or your family make more money so you don’t qualify for the need-based scholarships, but the FAFSA is your way to get into the financial aid system,” Wignall said. Continue reading
The Knox City Police Department is working hard to cover shifts. One full-time officer is out on medical leave, and others have been out sick. Only two part-time officers are on the roster while a third is on medical leave, and it’s not known when that officer will return. Chief Clint Norem said other departments have offered to step up to assist the department.
Chief Norem also recently told the Board of Public Works that officer Eric Vanderhoff will be on his way to the police academy on March 9 and will be gone until July.
Candidates for town offices are still eligible to sign up for offices up for election in this municipal cycle.
The latest candidate to file in the Stake County Clerk’s Office is Democrat Dean Goble, who is running for a seat on the Hamlet Town Council. Since the last report in Pulaski County, Democrat Emily L. Bailey and James Fleury filed for a Monterey Town Council positions while Republican Ronald “Rudy” Desabitine is seeking a Ward 2 seat on the Winamac Town Council.
The deadline to file for a town office is Aug. 3. If a race develops in a party, a town convention will be held to determine a party candidate to be on the November ballot in the General Election.
Voter registration ends April 6, and absentee voting opens the next day. For information on those items, call you local voter registration clerk.
The City of Knox Primary Election is Tuesday, May 5.
The lobby at the Pulaski County Justice Center can be offered as a safe location to make online transactions.
Craigslist and Facebook exchanges can be done inside the building to lift a concern of a possible tense situation. While the staff at the justice center will not a part of the transaction, the lobby of the justice center is monitored by both corrections and communications officers as well as a recorded DVR system.
The Culver School Board will be reviewing whether to accept a couple of donations at tonight’s meeting.
According to the agenda, the board must approve those donations prior to use. According to officials with the Culver School Corporation, two donations have been made for various uses.
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The Marshall County Commissioners will hold three public hearings this morning.
Plan Director Ralph Booker will present three ordinances for public comment. An ordinance to establish a fee schedule, an amendment to the Marshall County Zoning Ordinance and an amendment to the Marshall County Zoning Map will be brought forth for comment. The ordinances have been approved by the plan commission. The public hearings are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. ET.
