A Valparaiso man faces numerous child pornography and child exploitation charges following an Indiana State Police investigation. Michael Tichenor Jr., 33, is accused of contacting juvenile boys through popular social media sites and having inappropriate sexual interactions with them.He also traded nude images with them, according to investigators. Continue reading
The suspect in a Nov. 30 stabbing that sent a Knox man to a hospital will make his initial court appearance this afternoon. Benton Christopher Howard, 42, is charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery. Continue reading
Visitor restrictions are now in place at IU Health Starke Hospital and at IU Health LaPorte Hospital to help prevent the spread of the flu.
An increasing number of flu cases have been reported in the entire state and the policy is in place at many IU-based hospitals statewide.
IU Health Starke and LaPorte hospitals are allowing healthy adults aged 18 and older to visit patients in the hospital. Only two people may visit with a patient at a time. Parents are urged to refrain from bringing children to the hospital as visitors this flu season.
Bass Lake Campground patrons with seasonal site leases in good standing can leave their recreational vehicles there year-round. That’s the policy as adopted by the Starke County Park Board last night. Continue reading
Starke County Coroner-elect Adam Gray intends to maintain a separation between his full-time job and his elected office.
“When I am working at the sheriff’s department, I am working at the sheriff’s department. I am not working at the coroner’s office. I will have deputy coroners covering call when I am on duty for the sheriff’s department,” Gray told the Starke County Council Monday night.
Gray added he’s made arrangements to ensure calls are covered. Continue reading
The water heater installation at the Pulaski County Justice Center has been delayed, according to Maintenance Director Jeff Johnston.
“One of the delays was with a vendor where they ordered parts for their machinery. That kind of set us back a little bit. They now have the parts that they need. They have most of the water lines in place. This week they’re going to start up the one unit and take the old one off line. We’re going to run it for a while to make sure that we have confidence that it’s going to do the job. Then they’ll remove the old one altogether and start installing the second one,” said Johnston.
The Oregon-Davis School Board added six months to Superintendent Greg Briles’ contract this week.
Briles said his contract will be now be valid until June 2017.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board unanimously approved tax anticipation warrants in the amount of $662,000, with an interest rate of .95 percent. Continue reading
The Knox School Board’s attorney for the past decade, William Satterlee, of Valparaiso, Monday night attended his last meeting in that role. In an emotion filled statement, Satterlee expressed his gratitude for the opportunity of working with the Knox School Board. Each of the board members and the administrators responded with complimentary remarks about the legal work done for them. Continue reading
The Starke County Economic Development Foundation (SCEDF) Board of Directors met recently to discuss the past, present and future of the organization.
One concern that the board members felt that needed improvement was communication with the public. SCEDF Executive Director Charlie Weaver stated that what they are doing is not secretive and work done by the organization could be more transparent.
The Oregon-Davis FFA Crops and Forestry teams competed Saturday in state competition at Purdue University. The Junior High and Senior Crops Teams went through various studies of crops, weed plants, seeds and grain grading for an overall score. Continue reading
The Culver Community School Board learned this week that the corporation recently received the School Performance Award from the state that is just over $35,000. This money will go to effective and highly effective teachers that have been with the corporation for the 2013-2014 school year and are currently still there. Continue reading
Knox residents are encouraged to channel their inner Clark Griswold tonight in hopes of winning a prize. Judging for the annual City of Knox Decorating Contest will take place from 6 until 9 p.m. CST, so be sure your outdoor lights are on during those hours. Continue reading
A service is planned tomorrow for the 24-year-old Culver woman who died in a house fire there last week. Anjelica C. Bush suffered smoke inhalation. She was the lone occupant of a home at 504 Mill Street that caught fire around 1:30 Thursday morning. Continue reading
A meeting is set for today to move forward with the closure of the Pleasant View Rest Home in Pulaski County.
Pulaski County Attorney Kevin Tankersley will be meeting with an attorney in Plymouth to discuss the matter and to see if the attorney would be willing to take over legal issues in the closure of the county home. Tankersley will not be taking over the legal issues in this matter as it was thought an outside agency would be a better choice in the process. If the attorney agrees to work with the county, the commissioners would need to approve a retainer for the attorney’s services.
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler has an employment contract through March of 2017 after action last night by the county commissioners. They agreed to offer him a two-year, three-month contract to allow for a transition to the next administration. Continue reading
There’s a big difference between a morgue and a coroner’s office with cold storage available for bodies. That’s why Starke County Coroner-elect Adam Gray has opted to wait on construction of space for his department. He told the county council last night he wants to take his time and make sure the county’s needs are met. Per the state, a morgue has space available for a pathologist to work and must adhere to strict guidelines. An office space with storage is less restrictive. Continue reading
The Culver Community School Board unanimously approved the new contract last night for Superintendent Dr. Vicki McGuire. Continue reading
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board will vote on bids for the approval of tax anticipation warrants tonight. This is done every year to get the school through the end of December in terms of finances. Continue reading
The Marshall County Community Foundation is accepting applications for the first of two Community Fund grant rounds in 2015. This endowment fund award allows grants twice a year to nonprofit organizations for support in the arts, education, health and human services, recreation and the environment throughout Marshall County.
