The 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
IRS Scam Callers at it Again
Indiana State Police officials continue to warn everyone of telephone scammers claiming to be with the IRS. These scammers will call claiming you owe money or have a refund. They are trying to trick you into releasing important information. Continue reading
Recovering Addict Shares Story With Local Students
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
Marshall County Museum and Weidner School of Inquiry Honor Local Veterans
The Marshall County Museum and the Weidner School of Inquiry recently teamed up to digitally record stories of World War II veterans. The Museum staff contacted nearly 40 known veterans and high school students to schedule face to face interviews. 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.
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.
Suspicious Backpack Leads to Warrant Arrest
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.
County Home to be Considered as a National Historic Landmark
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.
Balanced Calendar Public Forum Set for Culver Community Schools
Culver Community Schools will host a public forum on Nov. 3rd at 6 p.m. ET to discuss the pros and cons of a balanced calendar. Rochester School Corporation Superintendent Janna Vance, plus a principal and a teacher from the school will be at the Culver High School auditorium to talk about the balanced schedule. Continue reading
Oregon-Davis School Board Holds Discussion on Balanced Calendar
The Oregon-Davis School Board members discussed moving to a balanced calendar Monday night, but did not take action.
Superintendent Greg Briles said the board is considering several factors before they settle on a calendar.
North Judson-San Pierre Board Questions Balanced Calendar Alignment
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
Check Addresses of Sex Offenders before Halloween
Parents should be aware of who is living in the area before taking children trick-or-treating.
Online tools are available to learn the location of sex offenders in a certain area.
There are currently 35 registered sex offenders in Starke County, 21sex offenders listed in Pulaski County, 88 offenders in Marshall County and 183 sex offenders in LaPorte County.
Leaf Pick Up Scheduled in North Judson
Leaf pick up is scheduled for the week of Nov. 3rd in North Judson. Leaves need to be placed next to the curb, not in the alley. 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
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.
Several LaPorte County Residents Arrested in Heroin Distribution Conspiracy
A lengthy federal investigation into the distribution of heroin from Chicago into northwest Indiana resulted in the arrest of six LaPorte County residents. Continue reading
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
Culver Receives Grant for Water Project
The town of Culver is the recipient of a sizeable grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The $500,000 grant will go toward the town’s proposed new water treatment plant. Continue reading
INDOT Closing Portion of State Road 8 This Week
State Road 8 between U.S. 421 and S.R. 39 in LaPorte County will be closed starting tomorrow. Continue reading
Jefferson Street Bridge Rehabilitation Continues
The repairs to the Jefferson Street Bridge in Plymouth are on schedule.
Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters told the Marshall County Commissioners on Monday morning that work is nearly done on the west side of the bridge.
“They’re actually hoping to have that end of the bridge done by Friday. Of course it will be closed for probably a week before that end will all be said and done. Then, they’ll start on the east end. On the east end, they do have the sidewalk off. I think, in previous years, they must have actually cut a hole in the cement and filled it with cement and it actually ran down on the gas line,” Peters said.
