Indiana’s first lady, along with the Indiana State Department of Health, have announced a new initiative.
The campaign called “Labor of Love” looks to raise awareness about infant mortality in the Hoosier state. According to a press release, Indiana ranks near the bottom compared with other states for infant mortality.
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Plans are in their preliminary stages, but the Culver Plan Commission may help decide whether a local restaurant can expand their current location.
Papa’s Pizza, located in the 800 block of North Lake Shore Drive, has submitted plans to add onto their kitchen and provide additional seating for customers.
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Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths. It’s also one of the most treatable if caught early through preventive screenings like colonoscopies. Dr. Mangalore J. Subba Rao is a general surgeon at IU Health Starke Hospital. He says many people avoid the outpatinet procedure because they fear pain. He says patients are given IV sedation and often don’t realize the procedure is going on until it is finished.
The preparation required before the procedure is also a deterrent for some people. Subba Rao admits some of the bowel preps taste bad and are expensive but says he offers his patients a less costly, better tasting option. Continue reading
A new semester at area schools is bringing another opportunity to meet qualifications to become a Certified Nursing Assistant at Ancilla College.
Ancilla is offering the CNA courses beginning February 2nd, but spots are still available for those interested. CNA’s have opportunities to work in long-term care, in home, hospitals, and doctors’ office facilities in the workforce.
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An Oregon-Davis High School student among those selected from around the region for a youth leadership program. Hannah Clark is the only student from Starke County chosen for the South Shore Leadership Youth for Community Engagement (SLYCE) program. She was among 70 applicants interviewed by a selection committee. Continue reading
The Oregon-Davis School Board members will reorganize when they meet tonight. That will come after board members Christopher Lawrence, Andrea McIntosh, Kurt Hayes, Shirley Budka and Lee Nagai are sworn into office by the corporation attorney. Along with the reorganization, the board will set their meeting dates and set salaries for the school board members as well as the corporation attorney.
Culver Community Schools may soon be advertising for buses.
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The Marshall County Commissioners will not meet today as the county employees will observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
When they meet tomorrow, the highway department heads will have updates on the wetland mitigation issue and the mill pond dam. Highway Administrator Laurie Baker and Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters will also have pug mill estimates and bid specifications for a loader.
Bart Trester from USI Consultants will present a fiber-optic conduit certification of completion for Glen Overmyer Drive in connection with the Metronet project. Curt Fey from Legal Shield will have a presentation, and the commissioners will discuss the 2015 covered bridge certification.
Pulaski County Commissioner Bud Krohn, Jr. brought up the idea of adding another position out at the county highway garage when they met last week.
He suggested a working supervisor position be created at the Pulaski County Highway Garage and requested a pay raise for that position of $750. He thought that another supervisor position could improve productivity at the highway garage. Krohn said that it would not be an additional employee but just an additional position.
The Knox City Council members entered into a lease to purchase a truck for the street department.
The Board of Works approved quotes for the truck $118,808.75 in December but papers could not be signed until after the first of the year. It will be financed through Republic First National Bank at 3.11 percent interest. The quotes for the truck and for the interest rate came in lower than originally thought.
The Culver Town Council will have a very similar look after being reorganized on Tuesday night.
The council is required to select leaders under state statute. Ginny Bess Munroe was re-elected as the Culver Town Council’s President for another term. Munroe has served on the board for the last seven years.
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Another competition is being put on by the Northern Indiana Tourism Development Commission and, this time, it involves pizza.
The NITDC held a similar competition last year to declare the top burger restaurant in the Northern Indiana region. This spring 56 of the top locally owned pizza restaurants will be squaring off to determine the areas’ best pies.
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Students from several organizations at Winamac Community High School took time to volunteer for the Salvation Army during the holiday season. Principal Rick DeFries says they raised a significant amount of money for the organization during their annual bell ringing campaign. Of the $5,600 raised, the students brought in $2,500. DeFries told the Eastern Pulaski School Board an estimated 10 groups raised that amount of money in 20 hours.
State park patrons are encouraged to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service on Monday by signing up to volunteer at an Indiana State Park in 2015. Opportunities include maintaining trails, assistance with clerical work and helping out at nature centers. More information about volunteering can be found online at stateparks.IN.gov/2443.htm. Continue reading
One of the most frequent questions Starke County Veterans Service Officer Terry Turner gets is how one who has been honorably discharged from the service obtains an identification card. He says the only ID cards issued by the VA are for medical purposes. However, Turner says veterans can take their discharge papers to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch and have a “v” put on the back of their license or state identification card. Continue reading
The community is mourning the loss of a friend.
Mathew Swanson passed away this week.
That’s “Mathew” with just one “t”. He was 87.
Mat had been actively involved in many local organizations that continue to provide benefits to young and old alike. His interest in area youth is exemplified by his support of 4-H activities and of the Starke County Development Foundation because he said, he saw students leaving the community due of a lack of jobs, and was hopeful that the exodus could be stopped. His involvement in the Starke County Community Foundation and its many scholarships for area youth in another example. And, as a member of the Board at Ancilla College, yet another.
His service and expertise benefited almost every not-for-profit organization at one time or another. He served as treasurer of most and president of many.
A jury returned a not guilty verdict concluding a two-day trial in Starke Circuit Court with defendant Michael Salita on Thursday afternoon.
Salita was arrested in August on a charge of rape as Level 3 felony. He had been incarcerated since he was arrested. The state had called four witnesses and the defense called five, including Salita.
Twelve jurors were selected Wednesday morning to hear testimony in the case in addition to one alternate. They returned Thursday afternoon with a verdict after 35 minutes of deliberation.
Starke County Townships could be affected if another attempt to transfer their duties to the county level is successful.
House Bill 1309 was recently filed and looks to dissolve township governments. The transition would take place by 2019. Starke County has nine townships with hundreds more in the state of Indiana.
The Pulaski County Council this week discussed an ordinance that pertains to allowing sheriff’s deputies to be issued a firearm, retired ID card and retired badge after serving honorably for a minimum of 20 years.
In this case, Paul Grandstaff retired in December after serving over 20 years with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, including two terms as sheriff, and he has requested the retention of his shotgun that he first received when arriving on staff at the department.
The Knox City Council council members voted to retain Don Kring as the president of the city council when they reorganized this week.
David Matsey was retained as the city attorney along with Jeff Borg as street superintendent, Todd Gardner as water superintendent, Kelly Clemons as wastewater superintendent, Bruce Williams as planning commission administrator, Clint Norem as police chief and Kenny Pfost as fire chief. Cliff Shelhart was appointed as the animal control officer.
