One of the more exciting local races in the 2008 Starke County General Election involved commissioner candidates Kathy Norem and Mark Allen. Both were attempting to fill a vacant seat on the board and 9,223 votes were cast in that specific race. At the end of the night, Norem, a Republican, edged Democrat Allen by 73 votes.
Alan T. Hildebrand, a Certified Public Accountant with Cross Roads Business Advisors, appeared before the Starke County Commissioners this week. Hildebrand represents Teachers Credit Union, owners of the housing development at Chesapeake Run Golf Course in North Judson, and presented a petition the commissioners to accept the roads in the subdivision. If accepted, the county would be charged with maintenance of the streets on the property.
Commissioner Dan Bridegroom said he had observed the paving work done on the property and was impressed. He did express concern over the closeness of the street lamps to the roads, saying this could cause a problem in snowplowing.
The commissioners did not take possession of the roads at this meeting, pending presentation of a legal description of the streets.
North Judson Park Board President Bob Kolanowski told the Town Board this week that a new park caretaker has been hired. Jon Harrison was hired after six applicants were interviewed. Jon Harrison takes over the position from James Harrison, his father, who passed away last year. He worked with his father at the Park before and has the experience necessary to fulfill the caretaker’s duties.
The Board also held a discussion about increasing the Board to five members. The board, which numbers three, talked about what is required for that increase to take place. No decision was made during Monday night’s meeting.
The Board also approved a special event permit form.
Following a valiant battle against cancer, Diane Squibb, 63, passed away yesterday.
Diane is the wife of Knox United Methodist Church Pastor Ray Squibb who has hosted the “Sunday Morning Day by Day” program for several years. Diane often accompanied her husband to the studio and occasionally was part of the program.
She worked at the Henry F. Schricker Library in Knox, until becoming too ill to fulfill her duties.
The Rannells Funeral Home, Hamlet Chapel is in charge of the services.
Retired Starke County Police officer Fred “Freddie” Baker is the latest candidate to sign up for the May primary. Baker has filed for a position on the Starke County Council. He will be running in the Democrat Primary as a council at large candidate.
Other candidates to file for Starke County Council at-large seats include Republican Bryan H. Cavender, Democrat Robert (Bob) Sims, Democrat Judy Benninghoff and Republican Talia Reed.
The Indiana Sheriff’s Association will be awarding college scholarships to qualified high school seniors or college students who are pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies. Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen encourages you to apply for one of 40$500 scholarships awarded to qualifying students throughout the state.
You must be an Indiana resident, be a current member of the Indiana Sheriff’s Association or a dependent child or grandchild of a current member of the association, attend an Indiana college or university, major in law enforcement field and enroll as a full-time student.
The application deadline is April 1st.
In an effort to explain how the embezzlement of $7,140 could go undetected for almost a year, the Starke County Tourism Board issued a timeline and statement yesterday in the Jennie Carter case.
According to the timeline, Carter, Coordinator of the Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County organization, wrote a check for that amount of money on March 21st, 2011 to the Drug Free organization. She claimed it was for money owed to the Indiana Department of Revenue in taxes. Cosigning with Carter was the Tourism Board President, Rich Wieczorek, who is not suspected of wrongdoing. The check was cashed by Carter, who took possession of the money.
Pulaski County Maintenance Director Morry Demarco told the Commissioners this week that the bell and clock tower atop the courthouse is in pretty rough shape. According to Demarco, the tower is in need of being re-tuckpointed to reapply mortar between the bricks with an estimated repair time of up to four weeks.
The Starke County Commissioners decided this week to not allow the number of polling places to be reduced from 17 to 10 in this year’s May Primary election. The Election Board members were told that the reduction would be too much of a change, and that the Commissioners would rather have it phased in during another election year. Commissioner Dan Bridegroom said they asked the Board to sit down with Democrat Chairman Ken Wallace and Republican Chairman Brenda Stanojevich and they opposed the proposal.
The West Central School Board approved the retirement of Middle School Principal, Kay Beasey at their meeting last week.
“She’s been with the corporation for 24 years I believe and she’s done an outstanding job,” said Superintendent Charles Mellon. “There were just some health issues that she is dealing with so she felt it best to take an early retirement.”
A Knox man was arrested Sunday, January 29th after he reportedly hit a patch of ice and hit a tree while driving under the influence.
John Lenig told a Starke County Sheriff’s Department officer that he hit a patch of ice on Toto Road near State Road 23 and he hit a tree. After the vehicle hit the tree, it burst into flames. Josh Workman said that he drove upon the accident and saw that the car had hit the tree and was on fire. He saw Lenig out of the car and a female passenger, Amber Sheperd, still trapped in the car. Workman removed her from the wreckage and took her to IU Health Starke Hospital. She was later airlifted to a South Bend hospital for treatment of a broken neck and an internal injury.
A LaPorte man was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for Dealing Cocaine, a Class A Felony.
26-year-old Anthony Flores, of 605 Fremont Street in LaPorte was taken into custody at his home without incident and is currently in the LaPorte County Jail. His initial hearing in LaPorte Circuit Court is scheduled for Friday, February 10th.
This arrest was the result of a four week investigation into the distribution of cocaine in the City of LaPorte as well as LaPorte County. Sheriff Michael Mollenhauer credits this arrest on a team effort between the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department and the LaPorte and Michigan City Police Departments. If you suspect drug activity in your neighborhood, call the Metro Operations Unit at (219) 325-9022.
The North Judson Town Board reviewed the paperwork that will be published concerning the trash bids. The Board will be accepting bids in the next couple of months.
The Board tabled a resolution from the U.S. Bicycle Route #35 organization. The resolution asks that the town maintain a route for bicycles that will be connected to the Erie Trail in North Judson. The resolution was tabled because the Board thought the proposed route was unclear. The project would not cost the Town of North Judson anything.
The Tourism Commission is dedicated to promote Starke County in the most positive manner and it is with great regret that there was a misappropriation of funds. Tourism has put new and formal procedures in place to prevent this from ever happening again.
In 2011, some checks were issued in which proper documentation was questioned by the Board of Tourism. Jennie Carter repeatedly told the board she had the supporting documentation and her explanation was believable.
Through a series of events more concern over the checks came into question. Confirming documentation from Indiana Department of Revenue was received in late December. At that time, fact finding meetings were scheduled with Jennie on three occasions, however she was unresponsive. A time line of events was established to verify misappropriation of funds.
On January 10, 2012 the full tourism board met and was informed of the chain of events implicating Jennie Carter in the misuse of funds. Later that same day the board drafted a letter of demand asking Jennie for the funds, confirming responsibility, and her immediate removal from the board. That letter was signed by Jennie and notarized that same day. Also on the 10th, a call was made to Martin Lucas the County’s Attorney to inform him and a January 13th meeting was scheduled.
On January 16th the Tourism Board met again and agreed the President would contact the Auditor’s office to schedule a meeting with the County Commissioners. On January 26th the Auditor’s office responded with a February 6th executive meeting with the County Commissioners.
It has never been the board’s intention to hide anything. It is unfortunate but it takes time to do a thorough investigation. No one was willing to make false accusations. Tourism took the appropriate steps to make sure the admission of guilt was made, a return of funds scheduled, and contacts made to take further action. The board is willing to release the time line and/or minutes to anyone who is interested.
The accusation that the Tourism Board knew ahead of time and took no action was unfounded and was a personal comment unsupported by facts. Tourism has worked methodically and with due diligence to be sure it acted responsibly.
Sincerely,
-Debbie
Deborah J. Mix
Starke County Chamber of Commerce/Tourism Commission
Executive Director/Coordinator
P.O. Box 5
Knox, IN 46534
574-772-5548 (p)
574-772-0867 (f)
A North Judson man sustained minor injuries in an accident that claimed the life of a Michigan City man on Saturday.
Michael Kieszkowski, 45, of Michigan City, was reportedly highly intoxicated when he crossed into oncoming traffic on U.S. 421 near County Road 1000 South. Keith Belcher, 20, of North Judson told LaPorte County police that he was southbound on U.S. 421 when Kieszkowski began flashing his high-beam headlights as he approached in the opposing lane. Belcher said he did not have his high-bream headlights on and flashed his to signal that he was not using them. Kieszkowski then reportedly veered into Belcher’s lane and Belcher told police could not avoid a head-on collision.
The Starke County Commissioners emerged from an Executive Session yesterday to announce financial improprieties involving taxpayer money by Jennie Carter. Carter is the Coalition Coordinator for Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County.
According to County Attorney Martin Lucas, the commissioners came to the conclusion that Carter committed financial improprieties by transferring funds from the Convention and Visitors Board to the Tourism Board.
A slight hiccup in the Monterey Bridge project has brought with it some extra cost—but not to Pulaski County. Jeff Larrison of United Consulting told the county commissioners this week that a small sliver of land along the riverbank slipped under their radar and must be acquired before the project to continue. However, because the parcel wasn’t appraised along with the other properties or included in the right-of-way engineering, an additional cost would be incurred.
Two North Judson residents were arrested Sunday after they were reportedly tearing up a resident’s yard on 750 North in Pulaski County.
An officer with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department responded to the residence. The owners reportedly had a run-in with Allen before and had buried 2X4 boards with nails sticking out of them in the front yard. Allen had allegedly showed up at the house, revved his engine and started doing donuts in the yard. The owners ran outside with a baseball bat and Allen exited his vehicle and they all exchanged words. Allen then reportedly got back into his truck and drove the truck toward the residents. They then called police.
Bass Lake resident, Patti Bush, appeared before the Starke County Commissioners yesterday to defend the owners of the Bass Lake Beach and Campground. At the January meeting, there had been some discussion of year-round parking of campers at the campground. The commissioners discussed whether it should be allowed.
The use of $20,000 for fuel, oil, and repairs was approved for the Recycling Transfer Station by the Pulaski County Commissioners this week. Ed Clark of the recycling center approached the commissioners requesting to use that amount from a grant they had received, because of the $28,000 the center had requested from the county council, they had only received $8,000—a steep cut.
