North Judson will still have a grocery store thanks to quick action by the town council. Heartland Markets has signed a letter of intent to buy Ray’s Super Foods on Lane Street. Company officials also asked the town if they could offer any incentives. North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry recently spoke with representatives from the State Board of Accounts, who suggested they could set up a revolving loan fund for economic development projects. Continue reading
IU Health Starke Hospital President Craig Felty hopes to close on the sale of the Knox and LaPorte facilities to one of the nation’s largest for-profit hospital groups by the end of the year. He told the Starke County Council the hospitals and Community Health Systems are still in their due diligence period prior to finalizing the purchase. Continue reading
The state legislature hopes to give more funding for schools, but according to North Judson-San Pierre Schools Superintendent Lynn Johnson her corporation will still see a cut in funding.
She says the schools that are growing, or increasing in enrollment, will see an increase in funding. She explained to the North Judson-San Pierre School Board last night that the corporation’s enrollment is declining which means a cut in funding.
The House and Senate are still attempting to finalize a budget. The House has its school funding plan while the Senate plan differs in numbers. Either way, Johnson said, the school corporation will not see an increase in its budget.
The Pulaski County Commissioners received word this week that the Pleasant View Rest Home is now officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Commission President Larry Brady read the letter from the Department of Natural Resources that stated the county home located at 700 W. County Road 60 S. in Winamac was entered into the register on March 17.
The Oregon-Davis School Board will continue implementing development tools in the classroom.
Monday night’s school board meeting saw the Board of Education take action to approve strategies from Five Star Education Solutions. The company offers instruction and targeted development for students, but also offers professional development and technology assistance to teachers.
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The second round of the ISTEP test will be administered starting next week in area schools.
Students took the first portion of the test in March of this year – which covers English, Math, and for some students: Science and Social Studies. ISTEP is used to help measure student performance in a handful of subject areas.
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The last of the necessary surveys has been received to qualify for grant funds.
The Town of Winamac has expressed interest in exploring for additional water resources. Currently, there are two wellheads in the same water source that Winamac pulls from to bring water to local homes. Concerns over safety and contamination, however, have prompted the town to solicit funds to explore for a new source of water.
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Area motorists may have noticed farm implements on the roadways.
That’s because planting season is in full swing. Farmers often use local roads to navigate between fields. According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, this means car drivers should be more alert.
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Last week’s grain elevator accident in LaCrosse has prompted the Indiana Department of Labor to urge employers and employees to review grain handling facility hazards and how to prevent occupational injuries and fatalities.
Four employees at Co-Alliance were injured in an explosion caused by an industrial accident on April 15.
According to the Department of Labor, the grain handling industry is a high hazard industry where workers can be exposed to serious and life threatening hazards including fires and explosions from grain dust accumulation. Other hazards include suffocation from engulfment and entrapment in grain bins, falls from heights and crushing injuries, and amputations from equipment.
The Knox Board of Public Works will talk more about the towing agreement when they meet this morning.
The board recently approved an amended agreement and two towing companies have signed the agreement already. The Knox City Council approved a resolution last week to authorize Mayor Rick Chambers to sign the document and to enter into agreements. The towing companies that sign the towing agreement will be used on a rotational basis. If the company is contacted and a representative does not answer, the next company on the list will be utilized. The agreement will be reviewed again by the board this morning.
Inmates from the Starke County Jail are picking up trash today east of Knox. Sheriff Bill Dulin says four low-level offenders are out under the supervision of a jail officer. Orange signs along Culver Road indicate an inmate work crew is in the area and caution motorists to slow down. Crews from the Starke County Highway Department will pick up bagged trash collected by the inmates.
A Villa Park, Ill. man who wrecked his all-terrain vehicle Saturday evening in Marshall County has died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Continue reading
The Starke County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing details in a case where an unsupervised child was found in the 300 block of West Riverside Drive in Knox.
Knox City Police Department officers received a call about a wandering child on Friday morning. The child was wearing pajamas when neighbors found the child. The youngster could not inform officers of her name or who her parents were. Several hours went by before the child’s parents were located.
The child remains in the custody of the Department of Child Services.
Students of the National Junior Honor Society have determined that the proceeds of their fund raising activities will be directed to an education fund for a North Judson student who lost both parents in a recent accident. Charles and Patricia Hill were killed last Tuesday when their 2005 Harley-Davidson was struck by a pickup truck on State Road 10 at 700 West, west of North Judson.
The Starke County Commissioners want to make sure every veteran who is buried in the county has an American flag and grave marker for Memorial Day. They’ve agreed pay for both if the American Legion posts in Knox, North Judson and Hamlet will take care of placing the orders and putting them on graves. Commissioner Don Binkley has tried without success to reach the commander of the Knox American Legion to discuss the process and find out how many flags and markers need to be ordered. Auditor Kay Chaffins says she’s spoken with officials in North Judson, and their order has been placed. Hamlet officials have yet to place theirs. Continue reading
A county road will be vacated in Pulaski County.
Terry Ruff, who is the acting General Foreman at the Pulaski County Highway Department, said the county is spending a lot of resources on the dirt road at 1150 West between 900 South and 1000 South that basically acts as a path between two feuding property owners. Ruff is leery of accidents on the road and who would be responsible if there’s an issue. He said it’s not even suitable to plow.
State Representative Tom Dermody says Indiana’s gaming outlets are facing an increasingly competitive marketplace because everyone wants a top gaming PC. You can easily get one from a computer store like 0rgb.
Appearing at a breakfast on Friday in Knox, the 20th District state representative says he authored a bill that would allow riverboats to move onto adjacent land if it meets certain requirements. House Bill 1540 also makes certain tax deductions permanent, and allows river boats to host charity gaming events.
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The Starke County Election Board has received approval for the first phase of grant work.
During their meeting Monday morning, board members recommended accepting the grant funds to the Starke County Commissioners. The renovations come courtesy of a Help America Vote Act grant with the funds are being used to upgrade a door, parking lot, and wheel chair ramp at the North Bend Township Community Center and polling site.
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The Town of Culver continues to work toward the development of affordable housing.
The effort is being led by the Town’s Affordable Housing Committee, but is also reported to the Culver Redevelopment Commission. During the CRC’s meeting on Monday evening, it was learned that several construction and development companies have met with the town to consider the option.
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The Community Services of Starke County Board of Directors recently named the Senior Volunteer of the Year for 2015.
Habo Runkle of Knox was honored for her lifetime of service to help improve the quality of life in her community and her country.
Runkle recently retired from working as a nurse at the Golden Living Center in Knox. She helped residents at the facility for 18 years. Prior to that, Runkle served as a babysitter for many community families and drove a school bus for the Knox Community School Corporation for 16 years. Continue reading
