A pair of men whose vehicle got stuck in the mud ended up in jail Monday night after a Marshall County Police patrolman stopped to lend them a hand. The officer found the vehicle at the intersection of U.S. 6 and Sycamore Road, according to a news release. The driver, Jack William Clemons, 27, was arrested for driving while suspended. His passenger, Gilberto Canul, faces a false informing charge. The arrest report indicates he gave the officer a fake name.
The recently formed Starke County Park Board is two members away from being populated. The county council appointed Democrat Rosemary Rose and Republican Debbie Mix to the five-member panel. The commissioners named Marsha Bedrock as their appointee. Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall has the remaining two appointments to the board. State law requires him to appoint one Democrat and one Republican. All five initial terms will be staggered. The council appointees will serve for two and four years, the commissioners appointee for two and the judge’s appointees for one and three years. Continue reading
When the Davis Township Building Corporation met last night it was advised by the Starke County Community Foundation that the James Hardesty Endowment Fund would be providing $25,000 a year, for eight years, for the construction of the new firehouse and community building.
The Davis Township Advisory Board and Trustee, which met concurrently, were advised by Umbaugh Associates that the Hardesty eight-year annual gift will reduce the total amount of interest the corporation will have to pay for the bonding. Continue reading
The Pulaski County Commissioners approved funds for a continuous water heating system at the Pulaski County Justice Center.
Maintenance Director Jeff Johnston explained that he attempted to get quotes for an Emergency Water Heater Repair or replacement and for a continuous water heating system. Johnson said he got quotes for the equipment that is just like what the justice center has now, but found that the continuous water heating system is less expensive, more efficient and will better fit the needs at the jail.
If you get a call from a relative requesting bail money, make sure the person is really in jail before you rush to their aid. Officials with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department say scammers are preying on local residents in an attempt to swindle money from them. The caller tells the potential victim they need money to get out of jail and will pay them back when they go to court. Continue reading
Harvest season is almost here. This is Farm Safety Week, which is a good time to plan for the coming weeks. Soon you will be sharing the highways and roadways with farm equipment, and your attention to traffic will need to be up. Purdue Extension Agriculture Educator Chad Rushing says there will be a lot to watch out for this season. Continue reading
A public hearing is scheduled for this week to gather input on the proposed U.S. 20 pavement project from a 0.2 mile east of U.S. 421 to a 0.3 mile west of the U.S. 35/State Road 212 interchange in Coolspring and Michigan Township in LaPorte County.
The pavement conditions will be improved in that section of road with the addition of a center turn lane with concrete curb and gutter between Woodland Avenue and Johnson Road. An auxiliary turn lane for westbound traffic will be constructed adjacent to the Evergreen Park Business Center.
Trial and appellate judges will be talking to students about the U.S. Constitution on Wednesday, Sept. 17 in recognition of the anniversary of the signing of the document.
The judges will be passing out pocket constitutions for the students to keep. Judges will also discuss how the jury process works and why it is such an important component of citizenship. The project may include a public service announcement about jury duty, a discussion about statistics on state and county jury trials and a mock jury selection.
A new program at Ancilla College allows students to earn a degree without setting foot on campus. Behavioral science is the first two year degree offered online by Ancilla. They have had course offerings over the Internet before but have never offered a full degree solely online. Executive Director of Admissions Eric Wignall says instruction and assessment will be online with help from professors and other students to aid individuals in keeping up. Continue reading
A Saturday night bachelorette party ended with a trip to jail for two LaPorte women after an incident at a Wal-Mart store. LaPorte Police responded to the Wal-Mart on Boyd Boulevard just before midnight. Witnesses told the officers a large group of loud, obnoxious people came into the store. Continue reading
Officers from multiple police departments arrested four people Friday night after forcibly entering an Argos apartment. They were executing a search warrant at the Colonial Heights Apartments on West Marshall Street, according to a news release, and nobody would answer the door. Continue reading
The Starke County Council and Commissioners are expected to make their appointments to the county park and recreation board at their respective meetings this evening. The council gets two appointments, one Democrat and one Republican. The commissioners get one appointment, and it is not restricted by political party affiliation. Continue reading
The North Judson Town Council will hold a public hearing for the budget tonight at 6 p.m. CT in the community center. If anyone has any comment on the 2015 budget, those remarks will be heard during that time.
Voter registration is open now until Monday, Oct. 6 at the end of the business day at the county courthouses.
If you need to register to vote or have questions about your current registration, call the Starke County clerk’s office at (574) 772-9160 or the Pulaski County clerk’s office at (574) 946-3313.
Absentee voting in Starke County and in Pulaski County begins Oct. 7.
The Marshall County Election Board invites voters to test voting machines in a test session this week.
Testing will be of the automatic tabulating equipment to be used in the General Election on Nov. 4. This will allow all voters to familiarize themselves with the voting process and to properly cast ballots.
Gary Chavez told Judge Pro Tem Daniel Murphy in Starke Circuit Court Friday morning that he will not be able to afford a private attorney.
A status hearing was held in his case on Friday to see where Chavez was in terms of obtaining counsel. He hasn’t been represented since he appeared for his initial hearing in August. Murphy informed Chavez that a court appointed attorney will be assigned to his case.
Four Lake County children have been diagnosed with enterovirus D68. The cases were confirmed by state health officials on Friday.
The Indiana State Department of Health is working with local health departments and hospitals to detect others with the illness.
State health officials have already reported a higher than expected level of respiratory illnesess statewide for this time of year.
Workers’ compensation insurance premiums for Starke County employees have spiked for the coming year. The annual increase of nearly $60,000 is blamed on the county’s prior claims history. Premiums are determined based on three years worth of data. Continue reading
The Eastern Pulaski School Board approved administrator contracts for another year.
Superintendent Dan Foster said the process has been delayed with the new evaluation system.
Downtown Knox will be bustling today with a veteran’s parade and the free WoodStarke Festival at Wythogan Park. The parade organized by the Blue Star Mothers will begin at 10 a.m. CT at Five Star and concludes at the Starke County Courthouse. U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly, Representative Jackie Walorski and veterans will speak on the courthouse steps after the parade concludes. Veterans, service members and their families are invited afterward to lunch at Knox United Methodist Church. Continue reading
