Theft incidents are on the rise in Plymouth.
The Plymouth Police Department has arrested three different people in a week for theft of items from Walmart. The most recent arrest was Monday, June 11, when Michael Dalton of Plymouth reportedly concealed and failed to pay for lithium batteries. Dalton had paid for Coleman fuel and drain cleaner, but did not pay for the batteries.
There is one element of the Mint Festival that makes it completely unique: mint! The agricultural aspect of mint is celebrated during this time and many farmers in the North Judson area and in Starke County produce mint that is used in every day items such as toothpaste, gum and candies.
Mint Festival President, Terry Thompson, says the oil that is distilled from the mint plants will be available for purchase during the festival.
“We do have the mint oil that everybody loves,” said Thompson. “We have mint plants and hopefully we’ll have some mint candy.”
Members of the Winamac Town Board heard from Commonwealth Engineering representatives Monday night as they reported the final figures from the storm sewer separation project.
The project was finally finished with the separation of several sewer lines in the downtown area and the repaving of some areas in town that were not properly paved in the fall. Stripes have been painted on all the streets and parking lines have also been marked.
The water tower is being painted in the town of Winamac, and that project is expected to be complete by the end of the month. Water pressure has been an issue during this project, but pressure should return to normal when painting is done. This action is done for safety issues and to make any necessary repairs.
Brooke Webb, charged with multiple counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana and Visiting a Common Nuisance after she was arrested at a residence in Knox on Nov. 23, 2011, appeared in the Starke Circuit Court Monday morning for her plea and sentencing hearing.
Webb was sentenced to three years in the Department of Corrections for Possession of a Controlled Substance as both a Class D felony and a Class C felony. One year of that sentence has been stayed, and one year will be served on probation. In addition, the court will allow her to serve the one remaining year on home detention. The rest of the charges against her were dismissed as part of the agreement.
Accused of battering his girlfriend in March, David Zachary was to appear for his plea and sentencing hearing in the Starke Circuit Court this week as well. However, due to an incomplete questionnaire, the pre-sentence investigation was not complete. A status hearing has been scheduled for Zachary on June 14 at 8 a.m., when they will learn if the pre-sentence investigation has been completed.
Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent Dr. Robert Kltizman announced that the school board members have approved the employment of a new middle school principal.
“We hired Mr. Ryan Dickenson as the middle school principal,” announced Klitzman. “Mr. Dickenson has 13 years of teaching experience, all at the middle school level, at a couple of school corporations. For the past four years, he has been the assistant principal/athletic director at Bremen schools. He is credited by administrators at Bremen of being key in the turnaround Bremen has experienced academically. He’s got a great faculty to work with and a great staff. We look forward to Mr. Dickenson’s start in the fall.”
Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen has informed the county commissioners that he is in need of three new cars.
Commission President Kathy Norem asked Cowen to come back with actual quotes, a listing of the current fleet with years in service, and their current mileage.
She also asked Cowen to look at trucks, stating they “have better resale value.”
Maintenance workers at the West Central School Corporation will be busy this summer with several projects. Superintendent Charles Mellon outlined those projects, which include work at both the elementary school and the high school.
“In the elementary school, we will be replacing the lights in the classrooms and hallways and we’re going to upgrade the pool’s filtration system,” commented Mellon. “There’s always a little bit of carpeting that we do throughout the corporation. We’re sanding down and refinishing the high school gym floor and replacing the black boards with marker boards throughout the corporation.”
The topsy-turvy weather pattern that occurred early this spring saw many farmers planting earlier than usual. Now, the hot temperatures with little moisture is taking a toll on the young corn crop. La Porte County Agricultural and Natural Resources Extension Educator for Purdue University Eugene Matzat explained that the corn crop isn’t doing the greatest.
“Obviously the corn crop needs a drink of water. It’s showing some signs of stress. Corn that is relatively tall is probably about hip high, and it’s showing signs of moisture stress. I saw some corn late last week that was curling up trying to conserve moisture,” said Matzat.
Unfortunately, there’s no relief in sight as Matzat also noted that no rain is forecast for the immediate future.
“He could and did fill almost every position in the school system. We’re losing a great employee.” Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Steve Disney said these kind words about Rex Miller as he announced his retirement from the system.
During his tenure, Miller has been, among other things, the athletic director, media specialist, assistant principal, and even subbed as a bus driver occasionally. He retired as the dean-administrative assistant.
“He was an Oregon-Davis Bobcat through and through. He and his wife Brenda moved to this school system, and they never left. Rex was a strong community member who was willing to do whatever he could for the O.D. kids,” said Disney.
Do you ever remember diving off the diving board at Bass Lake? What year was it? Well, you might never dive off of it again, but because of the low water at Bass Lake the old diving board and platform have been discovered. A boat struck the items in about four feet of water, and although at first no one knew what it was, it was soon discovered that the platform had four polls on each corner and a rug on top of the deck.
On another note, Starke County’s most famous bridge – the one that went over Eagle Creek – has been removed. The wooden bridge was the site of a near-tragic event that occurred in April 1996 when a runaway school bus went over the bridge before a student, John Waldron, stopped it in a field.
The bridge has recently been taken out and a culvert installed. Highway workers brought the old wooden bridge to the highway garage property. It’s not known if it will be sold, scrapped, or used for parts.
Two Winamac residents were arrested June 6 after Pulaski County officers found them to be in possession of a stolen firearm. Officers were called to a domestic dispute and, while information was being gathered concerning the alleged incident, they found a weapon after the suspect said there weren’t any weapons in the home.
Hollis Howard was asked about his status as a convicted felon after he confirmed he was a convicted felon, officers searched the home and found a .22 caliber rifle in the kitchen area. Howard stated that he had forgotten about the rifle and the weapon was in the home for his wife’s protection. He reportedly stated that he had gotten it from an uncle some time ago. Police ran the serial numbers of the rifle and discovered it had been reported stolen to the Hobart Police Department.
Starke County Prosecutor Nicolas Bourff has confirmed that he has received a State Board of Accounts special report for the town of North Judson. The report covers the period of time between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2011.
In the summary of the report, the field examiners who worked on the audit identified financial discrepancies totaling $74,408.67.
The largest discrepancy was in the cemetery lot sales category. Based on the information posted in the cemetery book, and the confirmations that were returned with receipts, the examiners determined that $40,350 was collected for cemetery lots sales but that amount was not receipted to the records. Former Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller was requested to reimburse the town for this amount, and it was also noted that Miller required cash payments for the cemetery lot sales.
One suspect was arrested Thursday, June 7 after a burglary incident in Pulaski County.
Police were called to 7102 W. 100 N. in response to a burglary in progress. Thomas Parker was caught inside the home, but he told police that he was at his uncle’s house and he was there to check on the mail. He said he had just taken his uncle to Indianapolis. Police contacted Parker’s uncle, who said that Parker was to check on the mail but he didn’t give Parker permission to be in the residence and he wanted to press charges.
The 35th Annual Mint Festival begins Friday, June 15 and runs through Sunday, June 17. The event is held every year during the Father’s Day weekend and a Father and Grandfather of the Year are selected annually. Mint Festival President Terry Thompson has a few other items that will be featured during the event.
“We have a lot of vendors this year,” stated Thompson. “There are a lot of craft vendors and food vendors. We also have a lot of music. Mike McBride has a lot of live bands this year which include a lot of new bands for your entertainment.”
Don’t forget the parade on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m., and Thompson will discuss another unique aspect of the Mint Festival tomorrow.
The Disabled American Veterans Department of Indiana on Friday named State Senator Jim Arnold of LaPorte Legislator of the Year in recognition of his support for key veteran and military affairs issues at their annual state convention in Indianapolis. Arnold was previously recognized in April by the Michigan City chapter of the DAV for his dedication and commitment to Indiana servicemen and women.
Arnold said that because of his personal experience as an air traffic controller in the U.S. Air Force, these issues are particularly important to him. Since he joined the State Senate in 2007, Arnold has supported several legislative initiatives in support of Indiana’s veterans, including House Bill 1178 in 2010 – an act requiring post-deployment health evaluations of returning Indiana National Guardsmen and women to be conducted in person by a trained healthcare provider.
Starke County EMS Director Paul Mathewson informed the Starke County Commissioners last week that he is looking into more modern equipment that might cut down on Workers Compensation Claims. He specifically said that he is pricing power-lifting cots and stair chairs.
One of the real dangers for EMS personnel is bringing patients from their home to the ambulance. Many back injury claims have been submitted in the past, and Mathewson said it would pay off in the long run to cut down on these injuries.
Five young business people will be presented with college scholarships for their outstanding entrepreneurial spirit today from members of the National Federation of Independent Business.
Nolan Sampson of Union Mills and a student from South Central Junior-Senior High School will be awarded scholarships. Sampson currently runs a mowing business with one employee and has 30 clients, and he says this business has been thriving throughout his high school career. He plans to go to college at Purdue this fall and to continue with his business in the Union Mills area. Sampson plans on focusing more on the agricultural side of business while at Purdue and after he graduates.
The scholarship presentation will be made at noon at the Hilton Downtown in the Vincennes Room in Indianapolis.
The West Central School Board signed a renewable energy credit contract. Superintendent Charles Mellon explains what that means for the corporation.
“Companies buy renewable energy credits – this is in connection with our wind turbine – that way they can say they are part owner of someone who is doing something along the ‘green lines,’ as far as not polluting the air. As a part of that, the corporation was awarded $67,000 for that right to those companies,” Mellon said.
The contract is for an eight-year period and when that time period is up, the board can renegotiate or send it out for bid. The corporation is only responsible for one thing.
Nearly $3,200 was raised Saturday in a fundraiser held by the members of the Kankakee Valley Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #129.
The proceeds will be used to fund the “Shop with a Cop” program in Starke County. The money will be used to purchase much-needed school clothes and school supplies for the 2012-2013 school year, and children in grades kindergarten through fifth grade will get to shop for these items with the help of members of the FOP.
Last year, the FOP was able to help 33 children, spending between $100 to $150 per child. Several businesses helped with donations for raffle items and more.
Knox City Police Department Officer and FOP President Chris Kisela will announce plans for the Shop with a Cop program as we get closer to the start of the school year.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Board Member Wendy Hoppe has been named the recipient of a Northwest Indiana Most Influential Woman Award, presented at the Radisson Hotel in Merrillville on May 31.
This was the second year for such awards, with Hoppe being named as the Most Influential Woman in the category of construction.
This is the second year a SCEDF Board member has won an award. Diane Thalman, vice president, was the inaugural winner in the 2011 category of Most Influential Woman in Economic Development.
Wendy Hoppe is currently the North Judson Town Council president for 2012. She was the first licensed female plumbing contractor in Indiana. Wendy is well known at the state level and is sometimes the subject of referrals when other females inquire about the possibility of obtaining a plumbing license.
Her next goal is to hold classes for females in the community to learn the basics of plumbing so that they might feel comfortable in performing some of the more routine tasks that they might face. Hoppe is in her eighth year on the Starke-Pulaski Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors.
