Storm Water Plans Presented to Knox Board of Public Works

  
 

The Knox Board of Public Works discussed plans for a storm water system for the new addition to the Knox Elementary School.

Andy Bearman from Commonwealth Engineers said that the addition will create an additional one percent rain-water run-off as a portion of the ground covered with grass will be dug up for the project. That soft area was able to absorb the extra water so it wouldn’t create any water build up anywhere on the property.

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Pulaski County Legislation May Lack State Support

Pulaski County Economic DevelopmentEfforts that could potentially benefit Pulaski County’s economic development may have a difficult time gaining support in Indianapolis.

Pulaski County Economic Development representatives say there is language in the Indiana Code restricting use of County Adjusted Gross Income Tax, or CAGIT funds. Those restrictions specify that monies generated through the tax are to be used only for the maintenance and operations of the Pulaski County Justice Center. Economic Development Director Nathan Origer says the jail’s lease payment is about 260-thousand dollars annually, the balance of which comes out of the County Economic Development Income Tax, or CEDIT fund. He would like to see a change in the law to allow that payment to be made from the CAGIT fund instead. Continue reading

CAGIT Fund Proposal May Lack Statewide Support

Pulaski County Economic DevelopmentEfforts that could potentially benefit Pulaski County’s economic development may have a difficult time gaining support in Indianapolis.

Representatives of the Pulaski County Economic Development Organization say there is language in the Indiana Code restricting use of County Adjusted Gross Income Tax, or CAGIT funds. Those restrictions specify that monies generated through the tax are to be used only for the maintenance and operations of the Pulaski County Justice Center.
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Indiana State Police Polygraph Unit Receives Acceditation

ISP polygraphThe Indiana State Police Polygraph Unit is now accredited. The unit was accredited by the Polygraph Law Enforcement Accreditation (PLEA).

A polygraph unit monitors and records readings of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems when a person is asked a series of carefully designed questions while attached to the unit. The person taking the test is asked questions where they only answer yes or no. The examiner can determine if the person is giving a true statement by reviewing the readings.

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Officer Injured in Altercation during Traffic Stop

 
 

Two Munster residents were arrested late Tuesday night after the driver of the vehicle got into a physical confrontation with the arresting officer.

According to a release from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, a car driven by Travis Dade, 23, was traveling at 80 mph in a 55 mph zone. Sgt. Brett Swanson stopped the vehicle at Range Road and U.S. 6 near the town of Kingsbury. Sgt. Swanson asked Dade to step out of the vehicle after the officer smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

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Tax Refund Delay: Separating Fact from Fiction

Tax Tips are provided to you by H&R Block, for questions schedule an appointment with Michelle Bachtel at your local Knox H&R Block or reach them at 574-772-2316

Did you hear that tax refunds were going to be delayed until October? Yeah, that’s false. An article on a satirical website last fall fueled controversy that taxpayers wouldn’t get their refunds until many, many months after filing. It isn’t true. However, the Commissioner of the IRS has made comments that may make it seem more plausible. Continue reading

No Injuries Reported in Vehicle Versus Train Collision

Truck v train 1An Argos man walked away from a Tuesday morning vehicle versus train crash in Marshall County. Joshua Ramer, 33, was crossing the tracks on 18B and Dewberry Roads just before 11 a.m. in a 2005 Dodge pickup truck when the trailer he was pulling got stuck on the tracks. An eastbound Norfolk Southern train hit the truck and trailer, causing extensive damage to both and to the railroad crossing signal. Continue reading

Election Board Discusses Late Fees on Candidate Financial Forms

 
 

Candidates running for office in Starke County could be facing fines for not filing the appropriate financial disclosure forms.

During Tuesday’s Starke County Election Commission meeting, filing CFA-4 forms was discussed as important due to laws implemented at the state level. There are three financial documents that need to be filed for a candidate to be in compliance.
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Knox Burglary Suspect Taken into Custody

Jason Cooke
Jason Cooke

A man who police say ran from the scene where a meth lab and stolen items were found was taken into custody.

Jason E. Cooke, 35, of Plymouth was located and taken into custody by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department on Monday, Jan. 26. Cooke was later transported to the Starke County Jail and is being held on preliminary charges of burglary and theft, according to a Knox City Police Department press release.

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Five Arrested in Winamac Meth Lab Bust

 
 

Five people were arrested Saturday, Jan. 24 after Winamac police received a complaint of high traffic and a smell at one of the Franklin Street apartment complex around 11:30 p.m. ET.

A search warrant was obtained for 214 S. Franklin Apt. B. and where an active meth lab was allegedly found along with marijuana, prescription medication, packaging materials, meth, and syringes, according to Winamac officer Mark Hoffman.

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Knox City Council Members Table Dumpster Ordinance

Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council members again tabled the second reading of the dumpster ordinance last night.

City Attorney David Matsey was able to pare down the ordinance, so it suits the city and focuses on the residential district. Matsey said the ordinance restricts the use of dumpsters in areas zoned R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 on the public right of way. As the discussion went on, the council wanted to go further to include the dumpsters on private property. Mayor Rick Chambers suggested allowing dumpsters on private property as long as they are behind the front of the house in a fenced area and permitted to be there by a building permit. The dumpster may be placed on the property for ten days out of a 30 day period once a year. Discussion also surrounded proper registration by the contractor placing the dumpster on the property.

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Marshall County Safety Commission Sub-Committee to Formulate Crisis Communication

  
 

The Marshall County Safety Commission held a discussion on many key issues of emergency planning when they met Tuesday morning.

Troy Heckaman from Culver Military Academy and Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery noted that they were trying to put together a crisis communication plan for each school. Avery said they would like to have representatives from each of the schools to designate a safety person to be a part of a sub-committee that will work on a plan that’s specific to the school.

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State Unemployment Rate Rises Slightly

Indiana Workforce DevelopmentThe state’s unemployment rate went up a tenth of a percent to 5.8 percent. Since December 2013, Indiana’s labor force has grown by over 83,000 people that is nearly twice of any neighboring state, according to Indiana Workforce Development. December was the first month where Indiana’s unemployment rate has exceeded the U.S. rate. The U.S. rate has declined by two-tenths of a percent to 5.6 percent, mainly due to a decrease of 273,000 in the national labor force.

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Knox Board of Public Works to Meet Today

  
 

The Knox Board of Public Works will meet this morning where Building Administrator Bruce Williams will discuss a storm-water runoff issue as part of a new construction project for the Knox Community Elementary School. Williams told WKVI News that a 7,000 square foot addition is proposed at the school.

Street Superintendent Jeff Borg, Water Superintendent Todd Gardner, Wastewater Superintendent Kelly Clemons, and Police Chief Clint Norem will give department reports.

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