The Indiana Retired Teachers Association members in Starke and Pulaski counties recently met and those who attended the meeting had an opportunity to hear Lynn Johnson, Superintendent of the North Judson-San Pierre School system, talk about the state of education in Indiana today.
Dennis Norman, the Area 1 Director for the Association, said the Association was established 61 years ago to work for retired teachers pensions. He explains how the pension plan was funded.
A jury of nine men and three women were seated yesterday in the trial of Fred Boggess II in Starke Circuit Court. The trial then began where the State called four witnesses. The fourth witness was an Indiana State Police Lab Team officer and he will resume with testimony this morning when the court convenes at 9:00 a.m.
Five people were arrested after a drug raid in LaPorte County.
Investigators from the Metro Operations Unit and detectives from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office conducted surveillance in the 300 block of State Street in LaPorte for drug activity. When officers saw a suspect enter the area, officers approached him and he fled. Michael Mikowski, of LaPorte, was quickly apprehended and a K9 found crack cocaine in his possession. He was arrested on preliminary charges of Dealing Cocaine and Resisting Law Enforcement.
The wind turbine project at the West Central School Corporation is moving along schedule.
“Sometime soon here in November, we will start having equipment coming in as far as the tower itself being erected,” said Superintendent Charles Mellon. “The cement base has been poured and it’s going through the curing process. Once the curing process ends in December, they will begin getting the wiring set up and doing all their testing. They still say that we would be functioning by the first week in January. I hope we stay on that schedule.”
The man who initiated the talks on revitalizing downtown Knox was at last week’s Knox City Council meeting to listen to a plan of action to get the ball rolling. Gene Blastic was given the assignment to gauge interest from city officials and business owners in putting together a comprehensive plan that would address the deficiencies in the downtown area.
One of those deficiencies is the Starke County Economic Development building at the corner of Lake and Main Streets. The Foundation is considering plans to remodel or raze the century-old building at 2 North Main Street. Remodeling the building could cost in the range of $350,000 and that might not be in the best interest for the organization.
The 2nd Annual WKVI/Five Star Food Drive will be held Saturday, November 19th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Five Star in Knox.
We will be broadcasting live during that time and we will be accepting donations for the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry. Five Star has some good deals this week so stop in the store and buy a couple of extra items and donate them to the food pantry. You may also make cash donations.
The SCILL Center students are collecting coats for those in need this winter season.
If you have a gently used coat that you can donate, or maybe you’d like to purchase a new coat for the cause, you may drop them off for the SCILL Center students to collect. You may leave them at the Oregon-Davis High School, Ray’s Super Foods in North Judson, Pioneer Florist in North Judson, Five Star in Knox, Sears and Bailey’s Discount Center.
The Starke County Precinct Committee persons have been notified that the Democrat party has decided to permanently replace Linda Belork in the office of Starke County Treasurer. Belork was removed as Treasurer on August 11th by the Starke County Commissioners because of a state audit that pointed out financial discrepancies. The county also filed suit against the bonding company, Ohio Casualty, which subsequently canceled Mrs. Belork’s bond.
The Starke County Jail Committee met this week. Eight of the ten members were in attendance and heard presentations from two construction project management companies. Representatives from CCI in Ft. Wayne and The Skillman Corporation regional office in Merrillville were on hand to answer questions about jail construction.
Also on hand to address the group was State Senator Jim Arnold of LaPorte. Senator Arnold went through a jail building project when he was the Sheriff of LaPorte County and had this advice for the Committee.
The Knox City Police Department continues to investigate a break-in at the Starke County Abstract building on 14 E. Washington Street in Knox.
Suzie Gerretson called police on Wednesday, November 9th, when she entered the office and noticed that the safe was open and there were numerous papers scattered around the outside of the safe. Her desk drawer was also open.
The West Central School Board got an update from the Technology Committee at their recent meeting. The Board has wrapped up many of the Capital Projects it had planned for the year and now they can focus on technology. Superintendent Charles Mellon said that policies on social networking are being explored which includes cell phone use, Facebook usage and email. Other avenues are being researched as well.
The 4th Annual Turkey Tracks Hunt is coming up in April 2012. Eric Corey, who has Lou Gehrig’s Disease, has been instrumental in organizing a turkey hunt each year for handicapped hunters. Along the way he has met numerous people who have taken advantage of his generosity.
One of those people is motivational speaker LaDonna Brock, from Richmond, Kentucky. LaDonna got her first turkey last spring in this hunt and is back now trying to get her first deer.
The Starke County EMS family is currently accepting canned goods and non-perishable items at each of the county’s EMS stations. The emergency responders will be collecting items through Christmas. The donations will be given to the county food pantry.
EMS Director, Paul Mathewson, said that while they are collecting food at each of the stations in Grovertown, Knox, and North Judson, they are accepting donations of coats for those in need this winter season. They hope to get coats for children and adults in time for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. New or gently used coats will be accepted.
Several members of the Knox Zeta Eta Chapter of the Tri Kappa organization recently attended the Tri Kappa XXI Convention at the LaPorte First United Methodist Church.
Rhonda Cavinder gave a report and a Fine Arts competition was held. Brenda Krom and Shirley Fosler had entries in the photography division and Jennifer Frasure had made a Zeta Eta scrapbook.
The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department is seeking assistance in finding suspects responsible for a burglary that occurred in the 3500 North block of U.S. 35, north of the City of LaPorte.
Sheriff’s deputies found that sometime between Saturday afternoon and mid-morning Sunday, the detached garage on the property was forcibly entered and several items were stolen. A blue Miller portable MIG welder and a purple 1985 Chevrolet Monte Carlo were stolen. The Monte Carlo is very distinctive as it is a modified race car and has “NMCA DRAG RACING” on the front windshield. The vehicle has no license plate. Continue reading
A Medaryville woman was arrested Sunday after telling police of a battery incident that never occurred.
Heather Robbins reportedly told police that she was traveling on County Road 200 North just west of State Road 39 in Pulaski County when she saw red and blue lights behind her at approximately 4:00 a.m. ET. She said that she pulled over to the side of the road and an unknown person pulled her from the vehicle and beat her. She said she lost consciousness and woke up in her car. She returned home to North Judson to visit her family who urged her to go to the hospital.
The recent municipal election in North Judson had Republican Donna Henry defeating incumbent Democrat Connie Miller for Clerk-Treasurer by four votes. Even though it would be a very slim chance, that specific election could end up tied because there are still four provisional votes out.
“Provisional ballots are going to be looked at at 10:00 a.m. on Friday which is the ten day deadline to come up to the Clerk’s Office and show us your ID, or if it’s a voting line problem, then we would determine that also,” said Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski. “There’s four provisional ballots in North Judson and one provisional in Knox.”
The West Central School Board is considering eliminating the position of Middle School Principal. Superintendent Charles Mellon says that the action is being considered due to several reasons, mostly due to the Corporation’s financial outlook.
Candice Bernier from the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns made a presentation to the Knox City Council last week concerning the downtown area. She talked about creating a five year plan for the downtown portion of the city.
One person who was excited with the presentation, and looks forward to assisting in getting the project off the ground, is Debbie Mix, the Executive Director of the Greater Starke County Chamber of Commerce. Bernier talked about involving every segment of the population in the decision making for improving the downtown. Mix said she looks forward to bringing the business segment into the planning process.
With deer hunting season going on, we are thinking ahead to the Fourth Annual Turkey Tracks event that is scheduled for April 2012.
This event, organized by the Doug Corey family, is for disabled hunters and has grown three fold over the past three years.
Eric Corey talked what the event is all about.
“People with disabilities, handicaps and different diseases can get out in the outdoors and hunt for a weekend,” said Corey. “They can get their minds off hospitals and doctor’s appointments and let them have a good time.”
