The Culver Community School Board met after the public forum held to weigh the pros and cons of the balanced calendar. The board isn’t ready to vote but is still considering the change in schedules. Continue reading
Knox Redskin Brigade Ends Season at Semi-State
The Knox Redskin Brigade performed in the semi-state round at Decatur Central High School this past weekend. Twenty schools competed for the top ten spots to advance to state on Nov. 8th at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Their gold rating received at the Indiana State School Music Association regional competition earned the band a slot to compete at the semi-state round. Continue reading
Officials to Discuss Pleasant View Rest Home’s Historic Landmark Status in Thursday Meeting
The Pulaski County Commissioners and the Pulaski County Council will meet in joint session this week with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology regarding the historical landmark status of the Pleasant View Rest Home.
The members of the historic preservation committee met on Oct. 22 to hear comments of support or non-support of the county home’s nomination as a historic landmark. The committee received 27 letters of support and Pulaski County Commission President Larry Brady was the only county representative who spoke to the panel.
Fire Destroys Walkerton Bar
Officials are investigating a fire that occurred early Sunday morning at Red Hot’s Bar in Walkerton.
The fire started around 3:30 a.m. ET and crews were on the scene for several hours attempting to extinguish the fire. Several departments responded to the scene.
The fire started in the basement, according to report on WNDU-TV.
The Indiana State Fire Marshal will assist in the investigation.
Today is the Last Chance to Vote Absentee
Public Balanced Calendar Presentation Scheduled Tonight at Culver
Several area school corporations are considering the adoption of a balanced school calendar for the 2015-2016 school year. The Rochester Community School Corporation already has one in place. Officials from that corporation will present information during a community meeting this evening at 6 p.m. EDT at Culver Community High School. North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson says the proposed schedule would still provide the state-mandated 180 instructional days with more breaks during the school year. Summer vacation would be eight weeks instead of 10 due to the proposed earlier start of school. Continue reading
Culver School Board Has Decision to Make
The Culver Community School Board has a decision to make tonight on whether to switch their 2015-2016 schedule to the balanced calendar. They will meet right after the public forum being held in the Culver Community High School auditorium. Continue reading
Pulaski County Sheriff Hires Part-Time Officers
With the amount of retirements, officers seeking other employment and movement of personnel within the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, several part-time patrol officers have been hired to help provide safety to residents of the county.
Ten people have left the department in the past several months including a few deputies, a chief deputy, two detectives and three dispatchers.
Mayor Chambers Voices Concerns over SWAT Mutual Aid Agreement
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers told the Knox City Council members last week about some concerns he has with a proposed SWAT mutual aid agreement between Knox City Police Department officer Chad Dulin and Pulaski County.
Chambers noted that SWAT is a worthwhile program and would be great training for the rest of the city officers. It would also benefit to the community when there is a need. However, Mayor Chambers does have concerns with personnel availability and shift coverage if Dulin is called to active assignment. He’s working on those issues before an agreement is brought before the council for final approval.
Starke County Commissioners to Discuss Space for Coroner, Plans for Current Jail
Starke County Coroner-elect Adam Gray will provide a report to the commissioners today on his quest to find suitable space for a county morgue. The commissioners previously told him to meet with the county building inspector to see if suitable space is available in any of the county-owned buildings. Gray will be the first non-funeral director in several years to serve as Starke County Coroner. In the past, the funeral directors have used their facilities for storage and viewing. Continue reading
Expungement Seminar Scheduled at Ivy Tech
Ivy Tech Community College in South Bend is hosting a half-day seminar on Saturday, Nov. 8th on the criminal records expungement process. The program educates residents about Indiana’s criminal expungement law and eligibility requirements. The expungement process is an option for a person seeking to have an arrest or criminal conviction removed from their record.
Attendees can schedule a meeting with an Ivy Tech specialist and learn how to prepare proper documentation to file for expungement. Family members wishing to gather information on behalf of someone else are also encouraged to attend. There is no cost for the seminar and no RSVP is required.
NIPSCO Now Accepting Winter Energy Assistance Applications
Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) utility customers who may need help paying their heating bills this winter can now sign up for the federal low income energy assistance program. Available assistance includes the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP. It’s available to households falling within 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Between Dec. 1 and March 15, Indiana natural gas utilities do not disconnect service to customers enrolled in LIHEAP who are behind on their bills. NIPSCO customers enrolled in LIHEAP also qualify for the Customer Assistance for Residential Energy, or CARE, program. It provides further bill reductions to eligible customers. Continue reading
Arguments Taken under Advisement in Campbell Case
Testimony was given in a hearing in Starke Circuit Court to suppress evidence in the case of James Campbell.
It is alleged that Campbell set fire to his business, C&C Salvage, also known as Starke County Recycling, at the intersection of Toto Road and U.S. 35 on March 20. Campbell is charged with a Class A felony count of arson.
Memorial Service Scheduled Today for Local Murder Victim
A murder victim will be remembered today in her home town. Kristine Williams, 36, was found in an abandoned house in Gary on Sunday, Oct. 19. Police there say accused serial killer Darren Vann, 43, has confessed to killing her and six other women. Williams grew up in Knox and would have graduated from Knox High School in 1997. A service will take place this morning 11 a.m. at M.C. Smith Funeral Home in Knox. Continue reading
Redskin Brigade Heads to Semi-State Competition
The Knox Redskin Brigade will compete this afternoon for a shot at a state championship. Their gold rating last Saturday at the Indiana State School Music Association regional competition earned the band a slot in today’s competition at Decatur Central High School. They must place in the top 10 among the 20 schools performing in order to advance. “It’s a pretty tall order for any band, really,” band director Craige Phipps said. “These guys have done an amazing job over the last two weeks. I’m pretty confident they can do it. They’ve just got to have ‘that show’ – that one show.”
Phipps added the Redskin Brigade is more than capable of advancing to state.
“They’ve had some amazing performances this year, and the best thing about this group is everyone keeps considering them an underdog. We don’t consider ourselves an underdog. We keep rising to the challenge every week. I tell these guys when they come off the field after a performances, ‘you guys just had a great performance, but it’s not good enough any more. Now we need to take that next step.’ They’ve really risen to that challenge all season long,” he said.
The Redskin Brigade will take the field at 4:20 p.m. CDT today at Decatur Central High School. The state finals will take place Saturday, Nov. 8 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Daylight Saving Time Ends
Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday local time. Before you go to bed tonight or at 2 a.m. Sunday, you will need to set your clocks back one hour.
The Indiana State Fire Marshal encourages you to change the batteries in your smoke detectors when you change your clock. Smoke detector batteries should be changed twice a year.
Two More Chances to Vote Absentee
Voters have two more chances to vote absentee.
Starke County voters may vote today in the second floor meeting room in the Starke County Courthouse from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT. In Pulaski County, absentee voting is available from 8 a.m. to noon ET in the courthouse and absentee voting in Marshall County is in the courthouse today from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET.
The Importance of One Vote
An Indiana farmer, from Switzerland County, changed the course of American history with his ONE VOTE back in 1842,
Freeman Clark was old and seriously ill. From his bed, he begged his sons to carry him to the county seat of Vevey, so he could cast his vote for his friend Daniel Kelso, who was running for the Indiana State Senate. They took him. He voted. And on the way home from his last public duty, Clark died.
Victory Christian Church Burns Mortgage
The annual Victory Christian Church harvest party was extra special this year as members of the congregation burned their mortgage. The fellowship was founded in 1993 by Jim and Brenda Pradke and went from meeting in their living room to the old California Township school building. In 1996 the congregation bought a vacant church building on the north edge of Toto in 1996. Within a few months attendance increased by one-third. Continue reading
North Judson Council Makes Decision on Group Insurance Plans
The North Judson Town Council held a special meeting to review the different insurance group plans presented by Anthem and United Health Care yesterday morning. Every year renewals are required on insurance for the town. Continue reading
