Discussion Session Held for Knox Comprehensive Plan

City_of_Knox_LogoKnox community members, county and city officials, and business and organization leaders gathered Wednesday afternoon for a discussion session at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center for the purposes of assembling a comprehensive plan for the City of Knox.

Officials with Green3 led those in attendance on a networking exercise to discuss assets of the community, concerns of the community and what to envision in the city in five years.

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Hamlet Officials Hope to Sell Vacant Lot

Hamlet Town HallThe Town of Hamlet is offering for sale a vacant downtown property at the corner of Davis and Main Streets, east of the Rannells Funeral Home. The Town clerk has details for those interested in purchasing the property.

At its Wednesday meeting, the Town Board adopted a 2015 operating budget of $488,211.

Five residents have financially completed their 50-50 sidewalk replacement agreements. Construction is expected to start early next week. The Board plans to replace some of the sidewalk at the Town Hall entrance.

When the 3-man board convened as the Park Board it approved a $4,500 purchase of new playground equipment for toddlers.

Culver Community School Corporation Applies for State Grant

CulverHSThe Culver Community School Corporation is seeking a $52,747 grant from the state for retention incentives for highly effective teachers. The purpose of the state grant is to increase the academic achievement of all students by helping schools and districts improve teacher and principal quality and effectiveness. Evaluations of the teachers determine who receives part of the grant as a bonus. Continue reading

Recovering Addict Shares Story With Local Students

Todd Crandell
Todd Crandell

With sobriety, anything is possible. That’s the message addict turned triathlete Todd Crandell is sharing with students in Starke and Marshall Counties during Red Ribbon Week. He first tried alcohol when he was 13. Crandall says his life was” normal on the outside” but he was pretty emotionally distraught due to his Mom’s suicide 10 years earlier due to her struggles with addiction.

“I had a giant void that I was looking for something to fill it with, and unfortunately trying alcohol at age 13 was the catalyst for the next 13 years of destruction,” Crandall said.

He says he used “anything I could get my hands on” to try to numb the pain. Continue reading

Three Injured in U.S. 30 Accident

 
 

Three people were injured in a traffic accident on U.S. 30 at Knoll Brothers in Starke County this morning.

Starke County deputies conducted an investigation and found that a semi truck pulled out of the truck stop headed west on U.S. 30 when a driver in an SUV traveling in the same direction rear-ended the semi, according to witness accounts released in a news release by the sheriff’s department. The SUV rolled on its side. The SUV was pulling a wood chipper at the time of the accident. The semi was stopped four-tenths of a mile west of the scene on U.S. 30.

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Trial Set in Starke Circuit Court

 Curtis DeVries will be on trial in Starke Circuit Court.

DeVries was arrested in February of this year for his alleged involvement in a burglary that was reported at a home in Starke County. DeVries has pleaded not guilty to charges of burglary as a Class B felony and criminal mischief as a Class A misdemeanor.

The state, represented by Starke County Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff, will attempt to prove that DeVries committed the elements of those charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Defense attorney, Steve Bohm, will attempt to prove DeVries’ innocence in the matter.

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Suspicious Backpack Leads to Warrant Arrest

Brandon Adkins
Brandon Adkins

A man was arrested on a warrant for attempted manufacture of methamphetamine after a suspicious backpack was found in his car after an accident.

Brandon Adkins, 29, was injured in the accident on Michigan Road near 3rd Road on Sunday afternoon and was taken to Memorial Hospital in South Bend for treatment.

Marshall County deputies conducted a routine search of his vehicle and they found a suspicious backpack, according to a news release. The Indiana State Police Methamphetamine Suppression Team was called to process the contents of the backpack. Marshall County Superior Court No. 1 Judge Robert O. Bowen reviewed a probable cause affidavit and a warrant was issued for Adkins’ arrest.

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County Home to be Considered as a National Historic Landmark

Pleasant View Rest Home
Pleasant View Rest Home

In a meeting set for this afternoon, the Pleasant View Rest Home will be up for consideration to be placed on the list of historic landmarks.

Officials with the Division of State Historic Preservation and Archaeology will review written comments submitted by supporters and non-supporters of the county home for nomination for placement into the National Register of Historic Places.

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North Judson-San Pierre Board Questions Balanced Calendar Alignment

Michael Shireman, Jim Menis, Larry Lambert Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
Michael Shireman, Jim Menis, Larry Lambert
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin

North Judson-San Pierre School Board members raised a question about the balanced calendar during their meeting last night. The proposed calendar moves the start of school to the first of August, adds longer breaks in the fall and spring that can be used for remediation if necessary and ends the school year the first of June. The first semester would still end in December before the two week Christmas break as it presently does.

Board members wondered what the earlier start to the school year would do to high school students who work for Pioneer detassling corn during their summer vacations. Continue reading

LaPorte High School on Lockdown Early Tuesday

  
 

LaPorte High School was on lockdown on Tuesday after officials found an unspent 9mm bullet in the parking lot.

According to LaPorte Mayor Blair Milo’s Facebook page, the lockdown was a precautionary move and officials are looking into the situation.

We will have more information as it becomes available.

County Home Supporters Voice Concerns to Pulaski County Commissioners

Pleasant View Rest Home
Pleasant View Rest Home

Members of the Pleasant View Rest Home Board, employees of the facility and family members of the residents in the county home appeared before the Pulaski County Commissioners last night to ask for the commissioners’ support to keep the county home open.

The Pulaski County Council members voted last week by a majority vote to eliminate the funding for the county home in the 2015 budget.

Pleasant View Rest Home Board President Bob White read a letter to the commissioners submitted by the residents to keep the county home open. He asked that the county home board and the county work together to keep the facility operational. Employees made an impassioned plea to support the people in their effort.

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Season Wrapping Up at Bass Lake Beach and Campground

  
 

Bass Lake Beach and Campground will soon close for the season. Manager Richard Callahan and his attorney Dave Wallsmith advised the Starke County Commissioners last night the group piers have been removed from the beach area and all but a few boats are out of the water. Wallsmith also told the commissioners he has not gotten any complaints about the amenities of late and has received complements about how nice and well maintained the facilities are. Continue reading