Moving Starke County Forward Honored by IPHCA Award

Nancy Dembowski
Nancy Dembowski
Moving Starke County Forward – a health coalition working to improve the quality of life for Starke County residents through the encouragement, creation and advocacy for a healthy Starke County – was recently heralded for their efforts. HealthLinc was given the Special Exemplary Project Award by the Indiana Primary Health Care Association for their role in creating the organization, and according to Beth Wrobel, CEO of HealthLinc, Moving Starke County Forward is “emblematic of community groups coming together to focus not only on improving health outcomes, but also identifying the social determinants that lead to poor health.”

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Indiana Deer Hunters Help Feed Hoosiers in Need

 
 

Deer hunters in Indiana will soon be offering a helping hand in putting food on the tables of Hoosiers in need through the DNR Division of Law Enforcement’s Sportsman’s Benevolence Fund. The fund makes it possible for hunters to donate venison through a participating butcher by paying the processing fee, and Conservation Officer Lt. Colonel Steve Hunter said the program provides an opportunity for hunters to demonstrate concern for their fellow man.

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Bremen Man Dies in Single-Vehicle Semi Crash

 
 

A single-vehicle semi-truck crash in St. Joseph County claims the life of a Bremen man. Andrew Ginther, 30, was pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck south of Wyatt, according to the Indiana State Police. He was southbound on State Road 331, drove his truck off the west side of the highway and hit a tree. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and the incident remains under investigation. Troopers do not believe weather was a factor in the wreck.

Starke County Emergency Food and Shelter Board to Distribute Funds

  
 

Starke County has chosen to receive $11,262 in federal funds made available through the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board for Phase 31.

The national board is made of representatives from the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, the Jewish Federations of North America, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and United Way Worldwide.

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Marshall County Council Approves Grant Ordinance

  
 

The Marshall County Council members approved the Marshall County Grant Approval and Administration Policy Monday morning.

Auditor Penny Lukenbill explained that all departments who apply for federal funds should file paperwork with her office to better report to the state board of accounts. The paperwork will include a detailed description of what the grant money will be used for and include a plan of spending. The council and commissioners will look over the paperwork and pre-approve the grant request and it can be filed on the federal level.

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Pulaski County Human Services Recruiting Tax Prep Volunteer

 
 

With tax season coming up soon, Northwest Indiana Community Action is looking to once again hold their Asset Building Campaign, a program aiming to help prepare and file taxes for low-income families. Jackie Frain with Pulaski County Human Services explained the program not only benefits the low-income families by helping them afford winter coats, pay utility bills and even save for homeownership, it also benefits the community as a whole.

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Red Ribbon Week Brings International Drug Abuse Prevention Speaker

David Parnell
David Parnell

An internationally known speaker with a checkered past will soon be visiting the area to spread his message about the dangers of methamphetamine. David Parnell is not only an author, husband and father of seven who hails from Tennessee, but he is also a methamphetamine and suicide survivor, recovering addict and alcoholic, former drug dealer and convicted felon, who has since devoted his life to educating others about the horrific effects methamphetamine can have on one’s life.

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Investigators Say Knox Fire Deliberately Set

 
 
The fire that destroyed a vacant home on County Road 300 East just south of Binkley Drive last Friday morning was deliberately set, according to fire investigators. The Knox-Center Township Fire Department was dispatched to the scene around 1 a.m. and remained on the scene for about six hours. An investigator from the state fire marshal’s office was called in to determine the cause. Firefighters were called back to the residence around 5 last evening for a rekindle and spent 90 minutes or so there.

Anyone with information the fires is urged to call the state’s arson hotline at 1-800-382-4628. A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest or conviction. Callers can remain anonymous.

Chicago Man Arrested Following DNR Undercover Investigation

 
 
A Chicago man DNR officials say has been illegally buying and selling wildlife for the past several months is jailed in Starke County after conservation officers raided a property he owns in Hamlet and seized various equipment and animal species as evidence. They started investigating Alexander Moy, 47, in 2011 after receiving complaints that he was buying whitetail deer from members of the public and have reportedly documented several wildlife sales in the ensuing months. Investigators also learned that Moy was selling the wildlife to markets and restaurants in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood, according to investigators. He’s accused of buying and selling fish, turtles, raccoons and whitetail deer.

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Marshall County Council Approves Prosecutor Requests

  
 
The Marshall County Council members approved several requests by Prosecutor David Holmes during their meeting Monday morning.

The prosecutor’s office has acquired a new deputy prosecutor out of St. Joseph County and Prosecutor Holmes asked that the probationary period be waived so full status can be obtained. Holmes stated that she has had four years of experience outside of the office and does not need the normal training period for her duties in the office. The communication between the outgoing deputy prosecutor and the new deputy prosecutor is a little lacking, but that should clear soon. The council approved the request.

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Another Scam in Full Force in Starke County

  
 
The Starke County Sheriff’s Department has received calls from residents about another scam that has hit the area.

Sheriff Oscar Cowen said the scammer will tell you that a debit card that you have with First Farmers Bank is lost and you need to press numbers on your phone and give out personal information in order to remedy the situation.

Sheriff Cowen noted that many times the person receiving the call will not even have an account with First Farmers. He assured that this is a scam and not to give any untrusted source any personal information, including your debit card, credit card, Social Security Number, or banking information.

Be Cautious When Giving to a Charity

  
 
With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many of us want to donate money to help support the cause, but sometimes people are out just to scam you out of your money.

The Better Business Bureau cautions you to avoid being scammed. When donating to charities, make sure they are legitimate. Confirm the charity’s corporation partners by checking online and verifying sources. Do not give cash and make a check out to the organization and not to the individual. It is best not to give out your credit card number or other personal information in response to unsolicited donation requests. Keep records of your donations with receipts, canceled checks or bank statements to document your giving for taxes.

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Investigators Say Knox Fire Deliberately Set

 
 

The fire that destroyed a vacant home on County Road 300 East just south of Binkley Drive last Friday morning was deliberately set, according to fire investigators. The Knox-Center Township Fire Department was dispatched to the scene around 1 a.m. and remained on the scene for about six hours. An investigator from the state fire marshal’s office was called in to determine the cause. Firefighters were called back to the residence around 5 last evening for a rekindle and spent 90 minutes or so there.

Anyone with information the fires is urged to call the state’s arson hotline at 1-800-382-4628. A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest or conviction. Callers can remain anonymous.