Betty Dotlich, of rural Grovertown, appeared before the Starke County Commissioners again this week seeking information and assistance in halting the use of a structure she claims is improperly zoned. Dotlich has sought help several time in having a home owned by Julia Povalitis properly zoned, saying she doesn’t believe it meets minimum residential standards. Dotlich said it appears that it is still being used for housing.
Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Star City man, Thursday, on manufacturing methamphetamine charges.
Police had received a call of possible drug activity at a Star City residence on State Road 119. When police arrived, they asked Matthew Nolte if they could search the residence. He reportedly agreed and police found a large trash bag on the property with two-liter bottles with an off-white substance. Officers determined that with the consistency of the substance and the odor emitting from the container, it was meth. Police also reportedly found several precursors that are used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
North Judson Town Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller and Town Board President Dan Anderson said thank you to the community Monday night as they were recognized for their efforts as elected officials. They also welcomed Donna Henry and Tim Cummins who will taking over as Clerk-Treasurer and Town Board member January 2nd, 2012.
Pulaski County is now nearly $15,000 richer, thanks to a land auction recently held by the county. The auction, which occurred earlier this week, successfully sold 26 parcels of land including some vacated alleys that were combined with their adjoining parcel.
Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department officers arrested an Indianapolis man on Sunday on drug charges.
Police conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 35 south of County Road 200 North and found 35-year-old Christopher Standefer to be impaired. He failed a Field Sobriety Test and in the search of his vehicle, officers found marijuana and paraphernalia in a duffel bag.
Standfer was arrested on preliminary charges of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated with a BAC between .08 and .14, Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangerment, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia and Maintaining a Common Nuisance.
Eight Starke County Democrats who were successful in the fall election were sworn into office on Sunday. Swearing in the office holders was 17th District State Democrat Representative Nancy Dembowski.
Sworn in were: Knox Mayor Rick Chambers, Knox Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, incumbent Knox City Councilmen Linda Berndt, Greg Matt, and Jeff Berg, plus newly elected councilman Donald Kring.
A Medaryville man was arrested after leading police on a pursuit in the Medaryville area on Thursday.
Billy Anthony, Jr., 26, was traveling on Maple Avenue and police saw him cross the center line a few times while traveling. The officer from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department followed him and then stopped at a stop sign and observed the vehicle. The vehicle turned onto an intersected roadway and allegedly evaded police. The Medaryville police officer on duty and the deputy chased Anthony along 175 North.
Considering a pet for Christmas? Suzanne Crider from the Starke County Humane Society says it may be a good idea in some instances.
“It depends on what the family is prepared for,” said Crider. “We are always looking for homes for pets, but we do encourage you not to surprise someone in your family with one that they’re not expecting. It’s often a better idea to take them pet shopping and let them pick out the pet that they’re hopefully going to spend the next 10 or 12 years with.”
Crider has another suggestion for parents.
“We encourage parents to not wait until Christmas morning if you are getting a new family pet. Get them in the home before Christmas. It makes life much easier for Mom and much less hectic for everybody and it gives the animal time to settle in.”
Here’s a gift idea from Suzanne for that pet lover on your list.
“A great gift for animal lovers is always money put down at their vet. If you know of somebody who may be having a hard time and keeping up with vet care that their animal needs, ask what vet they go to and the vets will let you put money on their account. When that animal needs something, the owner can take them in and use that credit and that is a wonderful, wonderful gift to do for people.”
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Winamac man, Friday, after he eluded police on a moped.
An officer saw that James Larvick was swerving back and forth in his lane and after he did not come to a complete stop at a stop sign, the officer began following him. Larvick was followed on Riverside Drive and the officer turned on his lights and siren to alert Larvick to pull over to the side of the road. Larvick motioned at the officer and kept driving. As they passed the Management Building of the Indian Head Motel, the driver pulled into the driveway.
The City of Knox outdoor Christmas decoration contest winners have been released from the Mayor’s Office. First place went to Rachel Fletcher at 567 S. 500 E.; second place went to Melinda Majchrzak at 1269 S. 500 E.; and third place went to Dave Heineman at 253 E. Lake Street.
Honorable mention winners include:
Gene Wheeler – 423 S. Carlson Drive
Connie Byer- 607 Bower Street
Donna Moroni – 707 Portland Street
Ken and Sandy Wagner – 101 Potter
Toni Baldwin-Dufour – 1309 Evelyn
Greg and LuAnn Matt – 104 W. New York Street
A Plymouth resident plead not guilty to eight charges in an incident that occurred in Starke County on October 16th, 2009.
Dale Hite appeared for his initial hearing in Starke Circuit Court Monday morning where he plead not guilty to two counts of Resisting Law Enforcement Resulting in Death, two counts of Reckless Homicide, and one count each of Resisting Law Enforcement, Possession of Methamphetamine, Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign and Failure to use Headlights from Sunset to Sunrise. His bond was set at $100,000 surety.
With their return of $309,000 to the county, the Pulaski County Recycling Center is continuing with their request for part-time help from the county commissioners. Ed Clark of the recycling center approached the county commissioners this week to request their approval to hire a new part-time employee for the center.
Members of the Starke County Election Board, Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski and Voter Registration Deputy, Randi Beem, recently attended the 2012 Election Conference in Indianapolis.
Five awards were given at the conference and two of those awarded were given to Starke County. Pat Mitchell and Jim Henriott received the “County Election Board Members of the Year” Award. This award is given to county Election Board members whose service embodies bipartisan cooperation in the administration and election process, and whose achievement is to represent one political party while serving all county voters.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board held a Public Hearing regarding the Corporation’s fiscal-year budget.
“At our last meeting in November, there was a work session with the Board and went through the entire budget – every account, every fund – and then asked for authorization to advertise. That’s all by statute. We did have the Public Hearing and from this point on, we will go to our January meeting and I will ask the Board to approve the budget. At that time, I’ll send it into the state,” said Superintendent, Dr. Robert Klitzman.
A Knox man was charged in an indictment with accessing with the intent to view child pornography in South Bend’s U.S. District Court last week.
The Starke County Sheriff’s Department investigated allegations that 40-year-old Jeffrey Farmer was involved in a child molestation incident and officers obtained a federal search warrant to search his computer. Agents discovered images depicting child pornography. Charges were brought about as a result of an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Custom Office of Homeland Security Investigations, Starke County Sheriff’s Department and the Hammand Police Department.
The West Central School Board discussed insurance costs at their meeting last week.
“I just brought up the fact that the State has mandated that we do a self study as far as the amount of funds that our Corporation puts towards the employee’s premium,” said Superintendent Charles Mellon. “That has to be compared to what a state employee is receiving from the State towards their premium. As the mandate states, or the law, you can not pay more than 112% of what the State pays its employee. If you do, then you’re either encouraged to join the State Health Plan or to join a consortium or to make other changes within your corporation locally.”
Longtime Starke County Hospital Community Board Member, Ed Hasnerl, recently notified hospital officials that he would be stepping down from the position January 1st, 2012.
IU Health Starke Hospital official, David Hiatt, commented recently on the outstanding job Mr. Hasnerl did as a member of the board.
“There’s not much we can say about Ed that’s not positive,” said Hiatt. “Ed has been with the hospital as long as I’ve been here. I think he started serving on the Board of Advisors in 1997 and he’s always been just a staunch supporter of the hospital and really contributed a lot of his time in making sure that healthcare in Starke County is better than anything else around. We couldn’t have gotten to where we are without Ed and it’s hard to say in words how much appreciation we have for the time and effort that he’s put in to helping the hospital.”
The wind turbine project has been delayed at the West Central School Corporation.
“The components that are coming from Germany are here, but the tower itself is being manufactured in Tennessee. That component is being delayed as far as the manufacturing date. I think they had some issues at their factory so we’ve been pushed back to the week of January 9th,” said Superintendent Charles Mellon.
Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman compiled data that compares the tax rates of the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation and schools in the area. He gave that report to the Board.
The LaPorte County DUI Task Force is in the midst of saturation patrols in an effort to reduce impaired and dangerous driving. The increased enforcement will continue through the New Year’s holiday.
Marked and unmarked police vehicles will also be out seeking aggressive driving.
LaPorte County law enforcement has a zero tolerance for those under the age of 21 consuming alcohol or who are in possession of alcohol.
