The Plymouth police department is looking to get a much needed facelift.
Chief of Police David Bacon appeared before the Board of Works and Safety Monday night to explain some issues with the building. He said that there are some exterior problems as well as painting that needs done on the interior. New wallpaper is also needed as the current wallpaper is starting to look bad in some spots.
The Knox City Council approved a 10 percent match to attempt to get a grant to rid the city of some unsafe homes.
It’s part of the Blight Elimination Program which would assist the city in purchasing homes that are listed as unsafe and blighted and demolish them. The majority of the homes that would be considered for this grant are in the Parkview Heights area.
To combat impaired driving, the LaPorte County DUI Task Force will be setting up sobriety checkpoints in the evening hours of Friday, Aug. 29.
These checkpoints will be conducted as part of the statewide Operation Pullover Blitz #80.
The location of these checkpoints are based upon the analysis of available accident data, impaired driving arrest data and officer safety. When you arrive at a checkpoint, you will be required to show the officer your driver’s license and vehicle registration. DUI Task Force members will evaluate drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment. If you do not exhibit signs of impairment or there is no other need to detain you further, your approximate delay will be two minutes or less.
A LaPorte woman who became upset when a police officer there told her she could not report the vehicle she co-owns with her boyfriend stolen just because he is in jail ended up behind bars herself early Sunday morning. Continue reading
Labor Day weekend is almost here and that means it’s time for the 48th annual Marshall County Blueberry Festival.
Festivities get underway Friday with the Little Miss and Mister Blueberry Pageant, the fast pitch competitions and the headline concert by country duo Montgomery Gentry and Frankie Ballard.
The Knox Board of Public Works will meet today with a light agenda.
The board members will discuss bids for tree cutting and discuss a drug screening policy for employees.
Water Superintendent Todd Gardner, Street Superintendent Jeff Borg, Wastewater Superintendent Kelly Clemons, and Knox City Police Chief Clint Norem will have updates from activities in their departments.
The meeting is open to the public and begins at 9:30 a.m. CT in Knox City Hall.
The lights are back on for NIPSCO and Kankakee Valley REMC customers after a strong thunderstorm rolled through the area yesterday afternoon. Neither utility is reporting outages at this time. Yesterday more than 1,000 NIPSCO and 230 Kankakee Valley REMC customers were without power. Continue reading
The man accused of beating his estranged wife to death at a home in Knox, kidnapping an employee in a vehicle from Mark Bailey’s Discount Center, and carjacking a vehicle from a couple in English Lake appeared in Starke Circuit Court Monday afternoon for his initial hearing.
Gary Chavez pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, kidnapping and carjacking. He told Judge Kim Hall that his family is working on getting an attorney for him. An attorney status hearing is set for Sept. 5 at 9 a.m. but will be vacated if a notice of an attorney has been filed with the court. His omnibus date was set for Oct. 9.
A Starke County road that has been closed since April is once again open to traffic. The county’s bridge inspector signed off on the emergency repair on 700 East over the Yellow River. A log floating down the river struck the bridge supports, rendering the structure unstable and forcing the emergency closure. A field inspection performed Sunday recommended additional monitoring of the timber piles, as they are starting to deteriorate, but found the bridge is able to handle traffic again.
The Starke County Commissioners have changed the job criteria for the EMS director in order to expand the potential pool of applicants. Previously the county was only considering paramedics for the position. That has now been expanded to allow EMT’s to also apply for the opening. The job will pay between $38,000 and $45,000 per year, depending on experience, and the EMS director will have use of a county vehicle. Continue reading
Gov. Mike Pence, U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski and other dignitaries will be on hand for tomorrow’s ribbon cutting and dedication of the new U.S. 31 between Plymouth and South Bend. The ceremony will take place at 2:30 p.m. EDT on State Road 4 at the new U.S. 31 interchange. The road will be closed in that area from 12:30 until 3:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. During that time traffic will not be able to enter or exit the new section of highway. Continue reading
Summer is finally here. The hot days ahead remind us of some safety tips and guidelines to help you stay safe from the heat. Starke County Health Nurse Frank Lynch says hydrating is a key element to staying cool.
“People need to stay hydrated, try and stay in the shade, try and stay in cool area,” said Lynch.
With this week’s heat getting up to the level it will, Lynch says anyone can be susceptible to the heat.
“Any type of diabetes, heart conditions, respiratory problems. When the heat index starts getting up to where they are supposed to be this week, anybody’s susceptible.”
The Starke County Sheriff’s Department is set to make offers of employment to two deputies. The county commissioners reviewed the merit board’s prioritized recommendations of the five applicants during an executive session meeting. Continue reading
The Knox City Council will discuss a 10 percent match from the city to go toward a $180,000 grant in the Blight Elimination Program.
A match and commitment letter will be considered by the council tonight.
The grant will assist the city with identifying unsafe or abandoned properties to be acquired by the city, estimating the costs of any project, and preparation of the application for funding and developing a strategy.
The Moving Starke County Forward organization’s Another Step Forward walking challenge is drawing to a close.
If you are taking part in the challenge, officials ask that you turn in your steps so they can be added to the grand total. Walking, biking, running and swimming all count toward the total. Send in your statistics to anotherstepforward2014@gmail.com.
We’re in for another hot, humid day across the Kankakee Valley. Temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 80s to around 90 today. It will feel much warmer due to increasing humidity. By this afternoon the heat index is expected to be in the 95 to 100 degree range. Outdoor workers are urged to take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. If you have outdoor pets, make sure they have ample water and plenty of shade as well.
The town of Medaryville is the recipient of a $450,000 grant from the state Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) for a wastewater system improvement project. The money will be used to build a biodome structure into their current lagoons to meet Indiana Department of Environmental Management standards. Continue reading
Deputies from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department will now be securing the Marshall County building.
Commissioner Deb Griewank explained that the maintenance department had been securing the building at the end of the day, but felt the sheriff’s department’s court security could take over that responsibility. She asked Sheriff Tom Chamberlin if a deputy could secure the building and he would agree to that as long as it is in writing.
Community members are invited to learn more about Starke County’s newest school during a spotlight breakfast. It’s scheduled at The Crossing campus on U.S. 35 next to Save A Lot on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7:30 a.m. The faith-based alternative school opened recently and provides a combination of classroom and vocational training for students who have dropped out, been expelled or otherwise fallen through the cracks in the public school system. Continue reading
The Knox Community School Board received an update on the first week of school when they met this week.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the principals gave building reports and said it was a smooth opening week of school.
“Other than some minor bus on the first day getting the elementary students on board and then getting to the middle school, which is now the last school dismissed this year and is a change from last year, everything else has gone very smoothly,” said Gappa.
