LaPorte Police are investigating reports of counterfeit $100 bills being presented for payment at two businesses on Pine Lake Avenue. Officers were called to the NAPA Auto Parts last Thursday after an employee took a $100 bill from a customer who bought $28 worth of merchandise. The clerk checked the bill with a counterfeit pen, according to the incident report but later realized it was a fake. Continue reading
Starke County children will stay warm this winter thanks to a grant from the Starke County Community Foundation to the Kids Closet Ministry at North Judson United Methodist Church. The $2,000 in community fund money will be used to buy coats and boots for children in need.
The West Central School Board members took care of several items of business during their meeting last week.
Superintendent Don Street commented that the school board discussed the enrollment within the career and technical courses and the financial reimbursement of those courses.
You can check to see if you are eligible for an excise tax refund on the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle’s website.
BMV Commissioner Don Snemis said letters have been sent to those who are eligible but in case you didn’t receive a claim form, access the refund eligibility page at www.myBMV.com. A “Check Your Excise Tax Refund Eligibility” icon can be found on the right side of the page and users will be asked for a Social Security Number or Driver’s License Number in order to check eligibility.
Today we pause to honor the sacrifices of the men and women who have served in our nation’s armed services. Veterans Day is celebrated each Nov. 11th. That’s the date in 1918 on which fighting between the Allied Nations and Germany stopped, marking the unofficial end of World War I. The following year President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11th Armistice Day. That celebration evolved into Veterans Day after World War II. Continue reading
WKVI-FM is the Indiana Broadcasters Association Market 3 Station of the Year. General Manager Jerry Curtis says the judges look closely at the service stations provide to the community.
“We have a full-time, full-service news department. They look at that. They look at other community events that we’re involved in, like the Pizza Hut World Hunger night that we did. Also the radiothon for the Starke County Youth Club. Those are all factors that they consider heavily,” Curtis said. Continue reading
The Washington Township School will be demolished Tuesday. Officials told WKVI News that the contractor has delayed the project by one day.
The building has been a safety issue in the area and could not be rehabilitated at a reasonable cost.
A volunteer contractor from Monterey will bring down the longtime fixture at the intersection of Division Road and State Road 23 in Starke County.
Klockner Drive/Starke County Road 300 East will soon be open to traffic in both directions between Culver Road and State Road 8. Work on the road to improve access to the Starke County Industrial Park is continuing. Starting today the intersection of Klockner Drive and Culver Road will be closed in all directions. It’s slated to reopen Wednesday, Nov. 26. Continue reading
Two members of the Pleasant View Rest Home Board of Directors and several residents approached the Pulaski County Council last week to discuss the elimination of the county home’s funding from the 2015 budget.
Larry Rausch and Michelle Roudebush explained to the council that 1,640 signatures were gathered on petitions to keep the county home open.
The site of the new Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Detention Center east of Knox is looking less like a job site and more like a finished building. Crews have started grading around the building on State Road 8 at County Road 550 East and are getting ready to pave the parking areas. That work will be done before Thanksgiving, according to a schedule presented last week to the Starke County Building Corporation. Continue reading
Property taxes are due today in the Starke County Treasurer’s Office.
Treasurer Kasey Clark said you may visit the office on the ground floor of the Starke County Annex building Monday today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to make a payment. A drop box is also available outside the office. If you taxes are postmarked with today’s date, they will be accepted.
Property taxes may also be paid online at www.starketax.net. Follow the instructions carefully.
The West Central School Board approved a school calendar for the 2015-2016 school year.
Superintendent Don Street said the calendar is similar to this year’s calendar.
“Our teachers will be starting school on the tenth of August and the students will be arriving on Thursday the 13th of August. We also had a little discussion concerning balanced calendars of the schools in the area that are looking at, if you will, a semi-balanced calendar,” said Street.
The Starke County Highway Department is ready for winter weather. Superintendent Rik Ritzler says the county has plenty of salt and sand stockpiled to help melt ice and make roads passable. Also, Ritzler says the necessary winter equipment is ready to go. Continue reading
The Knox City Council may finalize an agreement withe area churches for use of the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center when they meet tonight. The churches have asked to use the facility for free once a week to serve free meals to area residents. Tonight’s agenda includes the signing of a memorandum of understanding as to the details of that arrangement. Continue reading
Donors to the Starke County Community Foundation can double their support to the community funds. Lilly Endowment, Inc. has agreed to match donations dollar-for-dollar up to $250,000 for the next 18 months. Starke County Community Foundation Development Director Sarah Origer said no gift is too small.
“Our community funds are the funds that allow us to make our community grants every fall. These are the grants that go to support organizations like the Starke County Youth club and our library systems and the SCILL Center.” Continue reading
Several complaints of a phone scam have been received by the Knox City Police Department.
According to police, residents are getting phone calls by people claiming to be from NIPSCO and demanding payment on their bill. The caller threatens the resident that a utility worker will arrive at their residence to shut off power in an hour if the payment is not made during the phone call.
Money to renovate the second floor of the Starke County Courthouse could come from the county economic development income tax funds used to pay for the new jail. At that time the existing jail across from the courthouse will be renovated to accommodate Starke County Community Corrections and the probation department. Plans call for the prosecutor’s office to move from the basement of the current jail into the courthouse and the current clerk’s office to be renovated. Continue reading
The Starke County Highway Department got through the summer without any accidents or injuries. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler says the last one occurred in February of this year. Each employee received a letter of commendation for helping to ensure a safe summer. Continue reading
The LaPorte Police Department conducted 40 hours of patrols during last week’s Operation Pull Over event. Officers wrote 52 citations and 64 warnings which included 39 citations for seat belt violations and one citation for a child restraint violation.
Operation Pull Over is a federally funded traffic safety program administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
The Starke County 4-H program recently celebrated the accomplishments of the youth and adult volunteers from the 2014 program year. Exploring 4-H Leader with the Starke County Barn Busters Dawn Wallen was named the Outstanding 4-H Leader for 2014. Continue reading
