The Metronet project in Marshall County is on schedule.
Marshall County Auditor Penny Lukenbill told WKVI News that Bart Trester of USI reported to the commissioners on Tuesday morning that the county’s portion of the project is 85 to 90 percent complete. The hang-up right now surrounds the construction along Kern Road and Ireland in South Bend with the new U.S. 31 project. The company continues to work with INDOT in moving along that portion of the Metronet project.
The Starke County Planning Commission is busy ridding the county of blighted and vacant homes. In the past four months, 18 enforcement letters have been sent out for unsafe structures, and 15 property owners have taken care of the problems themselves. The county will demolish three unsafe structures. Of those, two are already down. Dirtworks Excavating, J.D. Excavating and Pioneer Excavating have each volunteered to demolish one structure at no cost to the county. Planning Commission President Dennis Estok is pleased with the process.
The trial of John Lenig continues today in Starke Circuit Court.
Lenig has been charged with burglary as a Class C felony and criminal mischief as a misdemeanor charge. The jury was selected yesterday and testimony by the state’s witness and the defense will move forward today.
Three days have been set aside in the court’s calendar for the trial. WKVI News will have the verdict after it is delivered in court.
The North Judson Town Council announced that the new town maintenance building is complete. An open house for the public to visit the new building is scheduled Thursday Sept. 25th from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at 710 Railroad Street.
In other news from North Judson, lightning from the Aug. 21st storm caused some damage at the water, police and town office buildings. Some equipment needs to be replaced, and that information will be turned in to the town’s insurance company. Town Marshal Doug Vessely also submitted quotes to replace computers in the police vehicles. Of the $4,430 cost $2000 will come from the police training account and $2,430 will come from the rainy day fund. The council also approved a purchase order for the park to remove seven trees and stumps for a total of $1,400.
The LaPorte County DUI Task Force conducted three sobriety checkpoints in the evening hours of Aug. 29.
Members from the task force and a Sergeant from the Indiana State Police Lowell District were at three separate locations to help deter impaired driving and remove impaired drivers from roadways.
The results found that of the 210 vehicles stopped during the sobriety checkpoints one person was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, three citations were given and 12 warnings were issued. If you get caught driving under the alcohol influences, this atlanta dui lawyer can help you with the legal process.
A newly developed “intensive care unit,” for helping Knox Middle School students complete unfinished homework, received unanimous accolades from Knox School Board members when they met Monday evening.
Principal Josh Pugh reported that some 583 pieces of once incomplete homework have been fully completed by students so far this year.
The West Central School Board will meet tonight with several items of discussion on the agenda.
The public hearing concerning the 2015 budget, capital projects plan and the bus replacement plan will be held during the meeting that begins at 7:30 p.m. ET. The board members will also discuss P.L. 221 and the A-F grading system that the state gives every school corporation.
A Rochester woman was injured in a two vehicle accident Tuesday night.
According to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, a teenaged Plymouth resident was traveling north on Michigan Road north of 15th Road and turning left into a driveway behind another vehicle. Judy Pritchett, 50, of Rochester was traveling south on Michigan Road and was struck in the driver’s side by the teenager’s vehicle.
The first tally of the fall 2014 student enrollment at the Knox schools shows a drop of some 50 students from the previous year at the same time. Superintendent A.J. Gappa reported to last night’s meeting of the school board the loss of student attendance was across all grade levels. An officiall tally is scheduled later this month which will determine the state’s financial reimbursement to the schools.
A credit card fraud investigation leads to three arrests in Marshall County. Authorities there got a complaint Saturday night from a Lapaz resident who told police a relative stole the card and made several fraudulent purchases. Continue reading
Police in LaPorte are investigating a child seduction incident that occurred via social media. They were contacted Saturday by the mother of a 15-year-old girl who found disturbing photos on her daughter’s smart phone. Police say the girl had been using the smart phone messenger service Kik to talk to several men. Continue reading
The Starke County Commissioners plan to interview six applicants for the EMS director position on Tuesday, Sept. 23. All six either live in Starke County or work for Starke County EMS. Other applicants will be considered as part of a secondary list. Continue reading
Construction of the new Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center is still on schedule to wrap up next spring. Information shared with the Starke County Building Corporation indicates the metal addition to the rear of the existing building on State Road 8 east of Knox is 80-percent finished. Continue reading
U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski’s education tour will make several stops in the area today and tomorrow. She wants to hear from education officials, community leaders and students about ways to improve opportunities and prepare students for a globally competitive workforce. Continue reading
LaPorte Police are investigating a reported robbery at a discount store. They were called to the Family Dollar on Lincolnway Friday evening. A store employee told the officers she saw two white women leaving the store with items they had not purchased. Continue reading
Telephone scam artists pretending to be with the IRS call claiming you owe money or have a refund trying to trick you into releasing important information. They may know a lot about you, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. Fake names and incorrect identification badge numbers are given to make you think they are who they say they are. Continue reading
Authorities are investigating the botched landing of a small airplane at the Marshall County Airport on Sunday night. WSBT-TV reports the pilot was blinded by the sun as he was coming in for a landing around 8 p.m. The plane skidded across Lilac Road and stopped in a grassy area near the airport. The pilot was treated at a local hospital for a minor eye injury. No other injuries were reported.
Hamlet residents who want to replace their sidewalks can do so at a discounted rate if they opt to take part in the 50-50 sidewalk replacement program. The town will pay half the cost for materials and labor for participating property owners. Funds are available on a first-come, first served basis. Continue reading
Knox Street Department Superintendent Jeff Borg told the Board of Public Works members recently that the price of road salt went up about 50 percent this year.
Borg said the city gets 150 ton of salt and it will cost the city $73.32 a ton in an annual agreement with the state co-op. Last year, the price of road salt was $48.84 and the cost was $7,300. This year the city will be paying $11,000.
