The talk about gasoline prices and what’s driving the market has overshadowed the fact that huge oil finds have been discovered in the United States. According to Don Good, of Good Oil in Winamac, we are able to get to the product with new technology.
Don talked to us recently about the Bakken Shale Oil Field which stretches from Canada into Montana and North Dakota. This field could hold over four billion barrels of oil reserves, and the Arctic Natural Wildlife Refuge in Alaska could potentially hold up to 10 billion barrels of oil. They are looking at oilfield wireline services for the number of things these can do.
Starke County Commissioners: Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis
The Starke County Commissioners recently passed a motion rejecting a proposal from Alan Hildebrand to annex four roads in the Chesapeake Run Subdivision to the ownership of the county. Hildebrand approached the commissioners with a letter proposing the dedication of the streets to the county in order to have the county maintain the roads.
However, a number of issues arose from the request. The commissioners were uneasy taking responsibility for street lamps located on the easement lines on the properties, and a number of fences were positioned directly on the line as well. The big question on their minds: who would maintain and pay for the lights?
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers told the City Council members recently that a meeting was held to organize for this summer’s Harvest Days celebration. The Mayor said the event will be held the last weekend in August as in past years.
The name of the organization that is assisting the Mayor is the Knox-Winamac Health Care System.
The General Assembly, which began with a month-long battle over right to work, ended with a flurry as legislators passed a smoking ban, abolished the inheritance tax and set aside more money for full day kindergarten and state fair stage collapse victims.
Republican Senate President Pro Tem David Long, of Ft. Wayne, boasts legislators again held the line on spending with taxpayers scheduled to receive a $40-$50 rebate as a result.
Governor Mitch Daniels issued a statement thanking legislators for an extraordinarily productive session.
Agriculture Educator Alan Kurtz will be leaving his position tomorrow. Kurtz has worked in both Starke and Pulaski Counties over the past year and a half.
Kurtz talked about his time here.
“Well, it’s been kind of a whirlwind tour for me. I’ve been involved in a lot of different things. I came in as an Agriculture Educator, I did a lot of 4-H work, and ended up being an Agriculture County Extension Director,” he said.
Online auction shopping website eBay came to the rescue of the City of Knox recently. Unable to sell used equipment and vehicles, the city has turned to eBay and it has turned out to be a gold mine. The most recent thing sold was an
old fire truck, as Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explains.
“We sold the old firetruck on eBay for $4850, and that seems to be a pretty good process for us. We used to set vehicles around and put “For Sale,” and we did set this up here so people could see it, but it had the email address and stuff to be able to bid on it for a certain length of time on eBay rather than to come in and make bids with us. I like it a lot better, and I’m real happy with the rate that we are getting compared with what we were getting before,” said Houston.
As they say, “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” The old fire truck was taken away by a buyer in Michigan.
An interesting story about eBay. The founder, Pierre Omidyar, sold a broken laser pointer in 1995. It was the first item sold over eBay, and Omidyar was so astonished that he called the buyer back and asked, “Do you realize this laser pointer is broken?” To which the man replied, “I’m in the market for broken laser pointers, not new ones.”
Omidyar then realized eBay might really be successful.
Mayor Rick Chambers is announcing the 50-50 sidewalk replacement program is back. The City of Knox will pay 50 percent of the cost of material and labor for the sidewalk replacement, and all available funds are used on a first come, first served basis and until monies to support the program run out.
The work will be approved or disapproved after the Street Superintendent measures and inspects the requested sidewalk.
Property owners must pay their share within 14 days of notification for the project to continue. If not, the project will be placed on the bottom of the work schedule. All applications must be dated and received by 4 p.m. on April 23.
If you’re out driving this weekend be award that 250 law enforcement officers around the state are part of a March crackdown on impaired and dangerous driving. The crackdown goes through March 18, and the officers are working extra hours patrolling the roads and highways.
Also, the officers will be looking for unrestrained motorists during the mobilization.
According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, misuse of alcoholic beverages continues to be the primary factor in more than one-third of all collisions in the state.
Once again, Hoosiers have stepped up at a time of need. Donations have been pouring into southern Indiana, with the official donation site operating out of the old U.S. Census Bureau warehouse located at 700 Partol Road in Charlestown.
Starke County EMA Director Ted Bombagetti says the items of greatest need are money, non-perishable food items, paper products, gloves, heavy duty trash bags, personal hygiene products, baby items, cat and dog food, kitty litter, yard tools, gas cards, socks and underwear, tarps, and other items.
Items that are not needed include perishable, refrigerated, or frozen foods, and clothing. No volunteers are needed at this time, but Bombagetti says this could change in the future. Anyone with questions can call (574) 772-9182.
The Culver community is still in shock over the horrific news from Jacksonville, Florida this week. Shane Schumerth, a recently fired teacher from an Episcopal school there, fatally shot the head of the school Tuesday.
Schumerth, a Culver Academy graduate, had been terminated by the school, and after being escorted from the campus returned with an AK-47 weapon and shot Dale Regan before turning the gun on himself.
His father, Steve Schumerth of Culver, expressed in an e-mail to the Jacksonville Times-Union shock and sadness over the shootings and said the family was very sorry this happened.
Schumerth was described by those who knew him as being shy, but non threatening.
The process of getting the old Marsh Manor on Main Street in Knox demolished is moving along. City Attorney David Matsey told the city council members recently whats next in the demolition process.
“We’re getting ready for the bidding process for the demolition of Marsh Manor. We’re putting together the bid specs.” Matsey said.
The home, that was turned into an apartment building, was built in a bygone time when asbestos was used for many things including insulation. Mayor Rick Chambers said that he has been in touch with a company that can come in and remove the asbestos before the demolition begins.
Asbestos was used primarily in 19th century buildings because it was resistant to fire, heat, and chemicals, but in the early 20th century it was noticed that workers in asbestos plants were getting sick– some even dying. Lung diseases, including cancer, have been attributed to asbestos inhalation.
After the removal of the asbestos the wrecking ball can be brought in to take the building down.
Knox Library Director Sheila Urwiler and Library Board members Dave Bullock and Amie Flora discussed the library’s proposed construction plans with the Knox Community School Board Monday night. Superintendent A.J. Gappa talks about their presentation.
“Since three sides of their property borders the Knox school property, they wanted to give an update on what they want to do and also ask for some cooperation with the board on movement of a sidewalk and tying some sanitation lines into the lines that come through our property which could be a money saver for everyone because if it’s cheaper to tie into these lines and it’s feasible, it makes perfect sense. As they expand their parking lot on the south side of the library, they may tie an entrance or exit into the horseshoe drive of the Elementary School, that is located off of Culver Road, to help with the traffic flow.”
Gappa said the project may be a win-win for both the Corporation and the Library.
Second District U.S. Congressman Joe Donnelly this week commented on the rapidly increasing gasoline prices at the pump, by going after the speculators.
“We are going after the speculators who I think are driving the market up. I have sent a letter this week to go after these speculators. I think what they are doing to the American people is shameful,” Donnelly said.
At least one of the Republican presidential contenders, Newt Gingrich has been campaigning on lower gas prices by saying in campaign speeches that he would bring prices down to the $2.50 a gallon level. Donnelly invited Gingrich to join him in going after the speculators.
“The best thing Newt could do to help everybody is to go after the speculators, and try to get the people who are causing the price increases out of the market,” said Donnelly.
Donnelly and others in congress are attempting to make it harder for the speculators to trade in the futures by forcing the buyer to take actual delivery of the product. Republicans have also called for more U.S. Production.
Both parties agree that oil prices will be unstable until a resolution to the Iranian Nuclear program problem is settled. Iran has threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz if attacked, or other sanctions are sought. That would cut off 2.2 million barrels a day to the world markets. The U.S. is banned from receiving oil from Iran.
The 2012 legislative session could end by as early as today, making it just in time for the March 14 deadline. Democrat Senator Jim Arnold of La Porte late yesterday afternoon explained the possibility of an early finish.
“Right now they’re moving at a pretty good pace. We should have a full day Friday. There are rumors though that we may decide to just adjourn Friday and come back and finish up on Monday, but we do have to finish by Wednesday, March 14, at the latest,” Arnold said.
Whenever they finish, the session will be remembered for the fight over the “Right to Work” bill. That bill brought thousands of labor union members to the statehouse to protest making Indiana the 23rd “Right to Work” state. Governor Mitch Daniels and the Republican majorities in both the House and Senate made it a priority, and in the end it passed.
Steve SiddallStarke County Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall came before the Starke County Commissioners on Monday to request permission to have the “boom truck” taken in for an inspection. Because the truck had not been inspected for five years, Siddall felt that before he sent any personnel up in the bucket he wanted it checked out. The approval was given, and the truck was delivered Wednesday.
Because of the price of $13,000 for the inspection, some taxpayers thought the price tag might be a little high, prompting Siddall to more thoroughly explain the procedure in seeing if the truck conforms to regulations governing safety.
“The biggest thing is its run by hydraulics, cables, and chains and they wear and we do not have the technology nor are we certified to state that this meets OSHA specs or safety specs of the State of Indiana,” Siddall said.
Siddall said the truck is “in the shop,” and explained what’s next in the $13,000 inspection.
“In the inspection is the replacement of lines, cables, and chains, but if there are worn pulleys or something of that nature it is extra or not included in the $13,000 inspection,” Siddall said.
Safety is the number one priority for Siddall.
“I’m not going to send anyone up in a 55 foot boom truck unless I feel comfortable that it is safe,” he said.
There’s a new face at the Pulaski County YMCA: Mike Banta has assumed the role of center director. Banta says he was drawn to Pulaski County because it was close to his home outside of Fort Wayne, and he’s excited to have the opportunity to help people and work with the kids.
Banta says he practically grew up in a Y and had a lot of support from staff and volunteers, so he wants to give that experience back to the community. The YMCA was helpful to him, and he says he wants to be able to make the same difference in Pulaski County.
No big changes are in the works, according to Banta, but he’s looking forward to establishing himself in the community and making everyone in the area aware of what the center is trying to do, and make a difference and have a positive impact on the community.
And with the YMCA’s soccer program starting on April 28, Banta has his hands full. Registrations are now open for program, and will be accepted until April 8. The program, which lasts six weeks, carries a $25 cost for YMCA members and a $35 cost for non-members. Anyone interested can fill out a registration form at the YMCA or call in.
After being on the run from Starke County Community Corrections for six days, Eric Wireman was arrested Tuesday after he was located by a Community Corrections recovery team at a motel in Winamac. Originally released on home detention for B-felony Burglary, Wireman failed to report to Community Corrections on Feb. 29 as part of his weekly check-in as a high-risk offender.
Community Corrections Director Shawn Mattraw said after Wireman’s failure to appear, multiple attempts to contact him were made. Officials traveled to his last known address and were told he had moved out shortly before they arrived, and they determined he had absconded from home detention. After six days of looking for him, a recovery team located him at a motel in Winamac and he has been arrested, with formal charges of Escape to be filed by the prosecutor.
Judge Kim Hall has expressed his agreement with the filing of official charges, and he sent Wireman to back to the Department of Corrections to serve out his initial sentence. The earliest possible release of Wireman is October 15.
Shawn Cain of the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission held a public hearing last week in connection with a housing grant. Cain is the administrator for the grant, and she explained to those assembled at City Hall the details.
“The grant is going to help seniors make repairs on their homes. It’s to help give the selected homeowners an opportunity to age in place, to stay in their home and live independently.” said Cain.
Cain said that she has already met with several applicants, and will next be doing income verification. She next talked about the bidding process for the grant.
The Pulaski County Auditor’s Office may soon find itself painfully understaffed, according to Auditor Sheila Garling. Garling says that a vital deputy has announced her resignation, and she will need to find a replacement as soon as possible. Garling says it will cost $1500 for a new employee to receive training on their software systems, and on top of that, the office expects to have a difficult time getting by while that training is conducted.
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa
During the last Knox Community School Board meeting, Superintendent A.J. Gappa and Bob Wise from the J.E.S.S.E. Co-op presented the board with the J.E.S.S.E. reorganization recommendation that moves the organization from a Co-op to a Localized Educational Agency, or LEA. Gappa tells us what that information entails.
“That information includes students being where they’re going to be with as little transport as possible. Next year, most of the teachers will become employees of the local corporations instead of J.E.S.S.E. employees. The Board did approve, on their part, the reorganization. It also has to go to the other eight boards of the corporation members and we will move forward with that reorganization,” stated Gappa.
Plymouth School Corporation will remain the fiscal agent while Knox will be the main site for the Starke County schools. North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis will be in a group with Knox and can share services, if needed. The North Judson-San Pierre School Board has also approved the proposed recommendations.
