Officers from the LaPorte City Police Department are getting more reports of counterfeit $100 bills.
A representative from Fifth/Third Bank told police that three $100 counterfeit bills were found in the night deposit box. Two of the bills came from the Family Dollar store and the other came from Advanced Auto Parts, both located in the area of State Road 2 W., according to a news release.
Law enforcement agencies across Indiana are taking part in an Operation Pull Over blitz through the end of the month. Patrol officers will be looking for drunk drivers and seatbelt violators.
Last November 490 alcohol-related crashes occurred in Indiana, resulting in 224 injuries and 13 fatalities. A total of 735 drivers were arrested statewide for driving under the influence, and 9.504 seatbelt citations were issued to drivers and passengers who were not buckled up. Continue reading
The annual Fourth of July fireworks show held during the 4-H Fair in the Winamac Town Park is in need of community support. Continue reading
A longtime town of Winamac employee is now looking for work. The town council Monday decided to terminate Town Manager Jim Conner effective immediately. He has been the town manager for the past 15 years. Continue reading
The former Washington Township School on State Road 23 next to the fire station is a pile of bricks, boards and broken glass. Chris Loehmer from Monterey-based Chris Loehmer Excavating is demolishing the building free of charge for the township. The school opened in 1959 and closed when Knox Community School Corporation folded the township schools into one site. Continue reading
The Culver Town Council approved two-tiered increases to the town’s water and sewer rates last night after no comments or questions were received during a public hearing.
The increases will occur in two phases. The first will take effect in December. Average and will increase the average residential water bill by $4.20 per month, and sewer bills will go up by $2. Water bills will go up again on May 1 by $5.04, while sewer bills will increase by $2 next December. Continue reading
An Oregon-Davis teacher will serve 18 months on probation in Michigan after pleading guilty to numerous felony offenses. Eric Christopher Baierl, 31, of South Bend, was sentenced Friday in Cass Circuit Court, according to the “South Bend Tribune.” He pleaded guilty to bringing contraband into the Cass County Jail, possession of narcotics, possession of marijuana and an open container violation. Baierl was also ordered to pay $1,046 in court costs. Continue reading
The Bass Lake Fire Department was called to a fire Monday night where the debris of the old Hacker Shack building on the Bass Lake Golf Course was located.
Fire Chief Les Jensen told WKVI News said that the building was previously demolished. The remaining rubble was on fire when they got there. The firefighters arrived at the scene on 500 S. shortly after they were notified which was around 5:30 p.m.
Jensen said the sheriff’s department was notified of the incident and it remains under investigation.
The Indiana State Fire Marshal is continuing to investigate the cause of a fire at Red Hots Bar in Walkerton.
Fire Chief Jeff Baker told WKVI News that crews were called to the scene on Nov. 2 at 3:30 a.m. and stayed on the scene on Roosevelt Road almost 12 hours later. Baker said they worked to get the fire under control until 9:29 a.m. and worked to secure the scene until after 2 p.m. ET.
Pulaski County Maintenance Director Jeff Johnston brought the county council up to speed on the justice center equipment repairs and replacement.
He explained that the water heater replacement is already underway due to a directive from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
“Right now they’ve got one water heater doing the work of two and it’s on its last leg,” said Johnston. “They’re halfway through the installation process for the new system. The total cost for the water heaters is $65,790. That includes the system and all new piping. As we were taking the insulation off the large copper pipes up there, there were leaks and cracks throughout.”
The Knox City Council is still gathering information about dumpster regulations before drafting an ordinance to govern their placement within the city limits. City attorney David Matsey gave the council copies of policies from other communities to review. He says the goal is to keep dumpsters from being placed indefinitely in front of homes or other structures. Continue reading
The Knox Pop Warner Junior Redskin cheerleaders competed this past weekend after making it to regionals in DeKalb, Ill. Two squads were put together for traveling and non-traveling opportunities. The Knox Pop Warner Junior Pee Wee non traveling squad received first place in their division at regionals. Head coach Melissa Fairchild and assistant coach Amber Rinard lead 16 girls in 3rd and 4th grades to their first competition.
The Jefferson Street bridge in Plymouth will open to traffic today.
Marshall County Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters told WKVI News that the bridge will open at 6:30 a.m. ET. Crews from Beer and Slabaugh will continue to work on the northeast corner of the bridge but traffic will be allowed to pass.
Discussion surrounding the Pleasant View Rest Home was held during the Pulaski County Council meeting last night.
Larry Rausch, who is a county home board member, said their number one priority is keeping the county home open and realizes there is some work that needs to be done. He said if the county home is deemed a historical structure, grants would be available to assist the county in getting these repairs done. He also had another option.
A philosophical disconnect between the Starke County Commissioners may keep them from offering county highway superintendent Rik Ritzler a long-term employment contract. His is one of the jobs appointed each year by the commissioners. President of the Commissioners Jennifer Davis would like to change that.
“This is to our advantage to have a contract with our current highway superintendent, because of the job that he has demonstrated that he has done. I hope that we will be able to consider that at our next meeting,” Davis said during the Monday, Nov. 3 Starke County Commissioners meeting.
That will require a unanimous vote. Commissioner Kathy Norem supports the notion, but Commissioner Kent Danford does not. Continue reading
IU Health LaPorte Hospital has a new website to share information with the public about the ongoing search for an additional partner. The site will also solicit input from community members on the future of health care in Starke and LaPorte Counties. Hospital officials say the website will provide frequent updates about the process.
Members of the IU Health LaPorte Hospital Board of Directors are seeking an additional partner to help the two Northwest Indiana hospitals thrive with a broader network, improved facilities, and a strong strategy that is more ready to respond to tomorrow’s healthcare challenges in this part of the state.
The website features quite a bit of background information about the process, including a “fact check” page where questions and rumors can be submitted anonymously and addressed. Continue reading
The Knox City Council is prepared to sign a memorandum of understanding for free use by local churches of the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center to serve weekly community meals there. However the person spearheading that effort is still seeking commitments from churches to do so. Deb McIntire told City Attorney David Matsey she wants to have at least eight churches on board before proceeding.
The Winamac Town Council is considering a new recreational water area to fill the void of the now closed Pulaski County Family YMCA swimming pool. It is an outdoor water play area with fountains and minimal standing water. Continue reading
