North Judson Town Board Passes Salary Ordinance

North Judson Town Board

The North Judson Town Board held a second public hearing this week – this time regarding their new salary ordinance. The third reading of the ordinance was conducted at the recent meeting of the board and no public comment was made, allowing the board to pass the ordinance as written. The ordinance allows a $.50 raise per hour for employees of the town that receive a license for the application of pesticide, and Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said that only one employee currently qualifies for the raise.

The board also discussed the town’s anti-tobacco policy which prohibits the use of tobacco in public buildings. Henry says the town’s policy is more stringent than the statewide policy which will take effect July 1 and only covers smoking, while she says the town’s policy covers tobacco use as a whole. The board plans to draft an ordinance regulating fines for violations of the policy.

The upcoming Mint Fest has been taking precedence over many town projects, including the replacement of street signs with newer, more reflective signs. Town Superintendent Marshall Horstman says they have gotten the new signs but the replacement has been delayed until after the festival.

Knox School Board Discusses Elementary Palmer Wing Project

Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board got an update on the progress of the Facility Study Committee on Monday night. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the committee is gathering figures for the possible project on the Palmer Wing of the elementary school.

“Architect Dana Wanamaker had sent some figures over to the school and to representatives from Umbaugh finance, and we still haven’t talked to the representative from Umbaugh so we are still in that planning stage of how to move forward,” said Gappa. “We will be meeting with our board committee in the near future and getting information back out to the public.”

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Operation Pullover Blitz Results In More Than 250 Write-Ups

The La Porte City Police Department wrote 144 citations and 109 warnings during the recent Operation Pull Over Blitz #71, which focused on seat belt patrols.

Officers dedicated 35 hours during the day and 34.5 hours at night conducting seat belt patrols. One hundred and fifteen citations were given for seat belt violations, 12 citations were given for child restraint violations, four citations were given for drivers operating a vehicle with a suspended license and two arrests were made for drivers operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

The La Porte Police Department has scheduled 30 hours of seat belt patrols and 25 hours of aggressive driving patrols funded under its Big City/Big County grant for this month. The department will also have impaired driving patrols out on most weekends this month that are funded under La Porte County’s DUI Taskforce Indiana grant.

WWII Reenactment Quickly Approaching

The sound of gunfire and the hustle and bustle of military life during World War II will soon fill Wythogan Park in Knox.

The US 1st Infantry Division, known as the “Big Red One,” is hosting a WWII reenactment as part of the World War II Historical Reenactment Society. The sounds of battle will be heard coming from Wythogan Park, where the reenactors will try to offer visitors a feel of what this exciting period of history must have been like. Chaplain Jay “Sky Pilot” Shuttz says the reenactors are collectors and serious students of history, representing several different nationalities who will try to dress, equip, and conduct themselves in proper 1944 manner.

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The Fire Mission Controller – Part Three

Jim Hardesty

This week we have followed Jim Hardesty of Hamlet from his time at Purdue University to the invasion of Germany during World War II. It is part of a story written for “Generations the Magazine,” a publication dedicated to telling the stories of those people who shaped our nation one generation at a time.

This final episode features Hardesty’s experience with the allied army as it fought the Germans in the Hurtgen Forest along the German-Belgian border.

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Starke County Commissioners Discuss Jail Population

The Starke County Commissioners this week held a lengthy discussion on the jail population. Pulaski County has been housing some Starke County prisoners to keep the population at 62.

Pulaski County has a 130-bed jail, and has been housing the overflow in the Starke County Jail under an informal agreement. The commissioners would like to enter into a long-term agreement with Pulaski County until a new or rehabilitated jail is available to house Starke County’s burgeoning prisoner population.

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Pulaski County Commissioners Approve Construction Inspection Agreement

Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

The Pulaski County Commissioners this week received another update on the Bridge 291 project, in which Jeff Larrison of United Consulting informed them that the next step in the process is to approve the construction inspection agreement. He says the agreement will go to the Indiana Department of Transportation, which will then review the rates for inspection and approve them if acceptable.

As with the rest of the project, 80 percent of this expense would be covered by INDOT, while the county would cover the other 20 percent. The cost of $194,800 for the inspection makes up 12.5 percent of the total construction cost as allotted by INDOT.

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North Judson Town Board Holds Public Hearing For Grant Modification

North Judson Town Board

The North Judson Town Board this week held a public hearing regarding the modification of a grant for the State Road 39 sewer project. Shawn Cain from the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission was present and explained the issue.

According to Cain, the original grant application included two additional extensions on the sewer project. The grant was approved, but the council, town superintendent, and the engineering company expected the bids to come in higher than they could afford, so they removed the two extensions from the bid. Surprisingly, the bids came in far lower than they had been expecting. The town council then contacted KIRPC and received approval to add them back into the bid. The work was later completed, including the two extensions.

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Vocational Welding Class May Soon Be Established At Knox Middle School

Charles Weaver
Charles Weaver

Sparks may soon start flying at the Knox Middle School, as the Knox Community School Corporation has been working with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, the SCILL Center, and North Central Vocational Area School representatives to set up a vocational welding class in the middle school.

Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charles Weaver says that the class would benefit not just students, but adults as well.

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Kindergarten Camp Prepares Kids For School

Twenty Knox children will be attending a Kindergarten Camp in June to get them ready for school. The class is taught by Jill Keiper and Allison Martinkus. Peggy Shidaker, the curriculum director for the Knox School District, explains how the camp is helping the children.

“We do many different activities to get the students ready for school. The biggest activity is getting these students ready to leave home for the classroom,” said Shidaker.

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Community Services of Starke County Offers Summer Cool Program

Community Services of Starke County
Community Services of Starke County

If you signed up for the winter energy assistance program and need help with cooling assistance this summer, the Summer Cool Program through Community Services of Starke County will provide an additional $65 toward your electric bill.

Air conditioners will be available on a first come, first served basis this summer to current and new members, if you qualify. You must meet three requirements to be eligible for the air conditioner installation program. You must be financially eligible based on the income guidelines for the program, you must have a residing member that is elderly or if you have a child under the age of six and have a verified medical requirement for an air conditioner. Air Conditioner Certification affidavit forms are available at Community Services of Starke County and must be completed by a doctor or nurse practitioner.

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The Fire Mission Controller – Part Three

James Hardesty

We have been following the military career of Jim Hardesty of Hamlet this week after he was featured in the latest issue of Generations the Magazine, recounting his military experience in World War II. D-Day was June 6, and every day after that had a number attached. Hardesty landed with the 172nd Field Artillery Battalion on D-8 – June 14.

Today, however, the story focuses on the battles fought in hedgerow country.

Hedgerows were mounds of dirt covered with trees or bushes that were so thick that a tank couldn’t get through them. As the American forces worked their way through this terrain they were forced to endure a considerable cost in lives. The Germans took full advantage of these barricades. Initial attempts at fighting through these barriers consisted of American tanks charging the hedgerows. When it reached the mound it would lift up, exposing the unprotected underbelly. This unarmored part of the tank was vulnerable and, Continue reading

From the WKVI Archives

On this date in 1974, the Starke County Commissioners met in special session and discussed plans and costs for the new county jail. According to Starke County Auditor John “Jack” Milner, the new jail could cost $500,000 to $580,000. The sheriff’s office was currently being operated from the Starke County Courthouse.

Also in 1974, a new addition was planned for the U.S. Army Reserve Center in North Judson. The new addition would house an indoor rifle range, assembly hall, a large kitchen, and a motor pool. The new addition will cost $1,000,000 and an open house and groundbreaking ceremony would be held on Sunday, July 14.

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Outraged Pulaski County Farmers Beat Out Irrigation Ordinance

Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

Farmers in Pulaski County once again voiced their outrage to a previously-drafted ordinance prohibiting the spray of water from irrigation system end-guns onto roads. The concerned residents filled the county commissioners’ meeting room in the courthouse on Monday to express their opposition to the ordinance, which they claim is detrimental to their livelihood and singles out farmers.

The ordinance was originally drafted by the commissioners because of complaints from irritated taxpayers who had driven beneath a stream of water from irrigation systems. More than one person complained that they had been driving a motorcycle or convertible and had gotten drenched from the water spraying onto the road, and the commissioners felt that the ordinance was necessary to prevent an accident in the future.

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Belork, Starke Commissioners To Appear In Jasper Circuit Court Wednesday

Linda Belork

The Starke County Commissioners and Linda Belork will be back in Jasper Circuit Court Wednesday June 6 at 9 a.m. Judge John Potter will hear oral arguments in the case that involves Belork’s removal from the treasurer’s office in August of last year. At the time it was announced that there was a discrepancy in funds in the office. Although the discrepancy was ultimately cleared up, Belork was never returned to the office as treasurer.

The key issue in the case in Rensselaer is whether the commissioners acted correctly under statute in removing Belork from office.

Affidavits of people with knowledge of the case will be presented.

It’s not known whether Judge Potter will render an opinion Wednesday or if he will take the information received under advisement and give his opinion at a later date.

Knox Man Arrested On Methamphetamine-Related Charges

Knox City Police officers arrested a Knox man Thursday on methamphetamine-related charges after executing an arrest warrant.

Police learned of the whereabouts of Anthony Clemons and confirmed that he had an active arrest warrant for Failure to Appear on narcotics-related charges in Starke Circuit Court. Police arrived at the residence and asked the homeowner if Clemons was there. He was seen on a bed in the home and was ordered to surrender to police before being taken into custody without incident.

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Two INDOT Projects Nearing Completion

Two Indiana Department of Transportation construction projects are moving along in the Starke County area.

The Koontz Lake dam road project is nearing completion. Officials say the bridge deck has been poured and the road is expected to be open to traffic sometime in early July.

The Yellow River Bridge project on U.S. 35 in Knox is still in the beginning stages. Half of the bridge has been demolished and the beams should be set on the east side of the bridge in the next two weeks. The one lane restriction will remain in place until the completion of the project, which INDOT predicts will take place in November.

Knox Fireworks Ordinance Prevents Fireworks Before 5 P.M.

A fireworks ordinance is in effect in the City of Knox.

According to the ordinance, fireworks may only be discharged between 5 p.m. and two hours after sunset from June 29 to July 3, and July 5 through July 9. On the Fourth of July, you may ignite fireworks between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight. This includes all consumer fireworks with the exception of sparklers, cone fountains, ground spinners, snakes or glow worms, and smoke devices. Anyone in violation of the ordinance shall be subject to a $100 fine for the first offense, $250 for the second offense, and $500 for a third offense and every subsequent offense.

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Volunteers Host JA Our Nation Program For Fifth Graders

Nancy Griffeth instructs children during the Junior Achievement Our Nation program.

In an effort to introduce students to business operations and economic issues in the United States, volunteers from the community hosted the Junior Achievement’s Our Nation program for fifth grade students at Eastern Pulaski Elementary School on May 18.

Nancy Griffeth, Lori Brumm, Jenny Keller, and Denise Hattinger graciously gave their time to mentor the youths during the Junior Achievement in a Day.

O-D Special Ed Teachers No Longer Employed By J.E.S.S.E.

Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney

Special education teachers in the Oregon-Davis school district are now being employed by the school itself instead of the Joint Educational Services in Special Education cooperative.

The switch is in response to a reorganization of the cooperative. Now being employed by O.D. are Heidi Temme, Robert Kleindeinst, and Roberta Salyer.

The announcement was made by Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney.