First Baby of 2011 Arrives at Pulaski Memorial Hospital

Pulaski Memorial Hospital

The first baby in Pulaski County arrived Tuesday afternoon at Pulaski Memorial Hospital. Katilyn Michelle Baker arrived at 3:56 p.m. ET. Katilyn’s parents are Lisa Nicholson, and Levi Baker of Star City. There are plenty of relatives awaiting little Katilyn’s arrival home, including a “big” sister Madison Elizabeth who is 18 months old.

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Sam Frain to Serve on the National Funeral Directors Association’s Member Resources Advisory Group

Sam Frain

Sam Frain, of Frain Mortuary in Winamac, Francesville and Medaryville has committed to serve as a member of the National Funeral Directors Association’s Member Resources Advisory Group for the 2010-2011 term.

That group is called upon to assist the national organization in a number of ways, including recommending new programs, products and services, reviewing and providing feedback on new resources, and assisting with the recruitment and retention of members from around the world for the betterment of the profession and the families it serves.

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Knox Community School Board Approves Network and Telecommunication Projects

Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board approved upcoming network and telecommunications projects at its meeting Monday night. The School Board and Technology Director, Jim Landrum, are hoping to secure federal funding for the projects approved.

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Indiana DNR Unveils New Package of Deer Hunting Rules

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has unveiled a new package of recommended changes to deer hunting rules that will be presented to the Natural Resources Commission at its January 11th meeting at Ft. Harrison State Park in Indianapolis.

The Natural Resources Commission withdrew its preliminary approval of an earlier plan because overwhelming public comment opposed shortening some segments of the deer hunting seasons.

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Pulaski County Community Foundation Taking Applications for Lilly Endowment Scholarships

The Pulaski County Community Foundation is participating in the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship program. The program provides scholarships for full college tuition for four years, required fees and book stipends. Applications are available now through the Foundation’s website. The deadline to submit an application is January 10th, 2011.

For more information, contact your local school guidance department or the Pulaski County Community Foundation at (574) 946-0906.

Starke County Ministerial Alliance Reorganizes

Charles Bachelder

The Starke County Ministerial Alliance met Wednesday and selected Reverend Charles Bachelder, of the First Christian Church in Knox, to be the President, and James Pradke, of Victory Christian Church, to be the Secretary.  Retired Father Richard Zollinger has been selected to be the Treasurer.

Discussed at the meeting was the Right to Life Rally to be held in Starke County the end of the month.

North Judson Town Board Approves Reallocation of Funds, Mint Festival Special Event Permit

North Judson Town Board
North Judson Town Board: (L to R) Dan Anderson, Jane Ellen Felchuk, Wendy Hoppe, Connie Miller (Clerk-Treasurer)

The North Judson Town Board approved the reallocation of funds in the 2011 budget to allow a three percent increase for full-time Town employees for this year. The employees have not had a raise in three years. The reallocation did not effect the budget’s bottom line. The Town’s approved budget total is $767,964 for 2011.

The Board also approved a special event permit for the North Judson Mint Festival Committee. The Mint Festival will be held June 17th-19th, 2011.

North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department December Statistics

The North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department presented its December 2010 monthly report to the North Judson Town Board members Monday night.

The Department had three smoke investigations, three structure fires, one vehicle fire, five medical assists and four vehicle accident assists. Four of the calls occurred within the Town limits of North Judson, eight within Wayne Township, one in Jackson Township, one in Rich Grove Township, and two mutual aid calls in San Pierre. 21,650 gallons of water was used in December.

North Judson Police Department Find Missing North Judson Man

police badge

The North Judson Police Department had issued a Silver Alert earlier Wednesday for a missing 82-year-old North Judson man.  North Judson Town Marshal, Doug Vessely canceled the Alert  at 7:40 a.m. CT when Robert L. Lemke was found deceased about a half mile from his home in a lightly wooded area.  Robert Lemke was last known to be in the vicinity of Vine Street in North Judson at 4:00 p.m. CT Sunday, January 2nd.

Walkerton Man Arrested on Theft Charge; Sheriff’s Deputies Recover Stolen Property in Unrelated Case

Robert Packer

Starke County Police deputies arrested Robert Packer, 40, of Walkerton, on Monday, January 3rd, in connection with the theft of auto parts from the Grovertown Truckstop on December 31st, 2010.

Packer is being held at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department on preliminary charges of Theft, Driving While Suspended and Possession of a Syringe.

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Knox Community School Board Reorganizes

Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board reorganized at its meeting Monday night. The new President of the Board is Harold Welter who succeeds Gary Dulin. Mary Lynn Ritchie was retained as Vice President and Jerry Fletcher was retained as Secretary.

The Board also retained Sherry Fort as Corporation Treasurer, Linda Binkowski as Deputy Treasurer, Mark Jensen as Transportation Director/Head Mechanic, Kit Ream as Food Services Director, William F. Satterlee III as Corporation Attorney, Kirk Bennett as the Board’s Legislative Liaison, Alan Selge as the Starke County Historical Society representative and Ruth Bailey as the Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority representative.

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North Judson Town Board Reorganizes; 2011 Annual Appointments Approved

North Judson Town Board
North Judson Town Board: (L to R) Dan Anderson, Jane Ellen Felchuk, Wendy Hoppe, Connie Miller (Clerk-Treasurer)

The North Judson Town Board reorganized at its meeting on Monday night. Dan Anderson was retained as the Town Board President and Utility Superintendent, Cassandra Hines was appointed as the Town Attorney, Doug Vessely was retained as Town Marshal, and Steve Ransom was retained as the Building Inspector.

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Andy Howes’ MIA Bracelet Displayed at Knox Elementary School

Andy Howes' MIA bracelet is displayed at the Knox Elementary School

Before he passed away in 1995, beloved Knox Middle School Principal Chuck James bequeathed some of his prized possessions to those who he thought would enjoy them. One of the possessions was an MIA bracelet he had worn after the downing of Andy Howes’ helicopter in Vietnam. The bracelet has been in the Board Room at the Knox Elementary School in a display case.

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Starke County Commissioners Reorganize

Starke County Commissioners ( L to R ) Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom, Jennifer Davis

On a 2-1 vote, President Dan Bridegroom, Vice President Kathy Norem and Secretary Jennifer Davis were reappointed to their positions on the Starke County Board of Commissioners. Jennifer Davis and Dan Bridegroom voted for the slate and Kathy Norem voted against. Bridegroom and Davis are both Democrats and Norem is a Republican.