The Department of Local Government Finance certified Starke County’s 2011 budget order and tax rates on December 21st, paving the way for on-time property tax bills for the second year in a row. The budget certification put the county in a position to have taxes due on May 10th, 2011. Starke County was the 28th county in the State to receive its 2011 budget order and tax rates.
A North Judson man was arrested Thursday morning on charges of Domestic Battery Causing Serious Bodily Injury, a Class C Felony and Invasion of Privacy, a Class A Misdemeanor.
The Starke County Public Library system is sponsoring a Youth Photo Contest. Children ages 5 to 18 are welcome to participate.
Photos need to be taken to the Children’s Department desk at the Henry F. Schricker branch from January 6th until January 22nd. Pick up a form to fill out to tape to the back of the photo and sign a release of liability to the Library. All entries must be a minimum measurement of 5×7. Two pictures may be submitted and they may be black and white, color, or one of each. Photos must be framed. The photos will be displayed February 1st through February 28th and judging will be done by patrons on February 15th and 16th. Winners will be posted on the library’s website and winners will be notified by email or by phone.
For more information, call (574) 772-7323.
Accumulated snow combined with below average temperatures will ensure that much of Indiana will remain blanketed in white this Christmas holiday. With a chance of winter weather forecast on Christmas Eve, the Indiana Department of Transportation stands ready to plow and treat highways ahead of the holiday traffic. Yellow plow trucks are deployed ahead of predicted winter weather to make state highways as safe as possible, but winter driving safety is a partnership where motorists play an equally important role.
At its Monday meeting, the North Judson Town Board approved the CKIN railroad’s request to purchase new railroad ties at a cost of $7,000. The volunteers plan to replace several ties in need of repair.
August 12th was an ordinary day in Starke County, except for Pete Daley who claimed his dog was killed when it jumped into a drainage ditch while playing fetch with its owner. The problem was the water temperature was near 200 degrees after the ditch was infused with scalding water from a Mint Still.
The Starke County Commissioners heard a report on the First Responder Training from Charlie Collins and Kris Rannells. There are now 9 certified first responders since November 15th. All scored over 90% and are operating at this time.
Every fire department in the County now has at least one first responder. The protocols are written and have been approved, according to Rannells.
In a joint swearing ceremony, all candidates elected in the General Election in Pulaski County were sworn in by Circuit Court Judge, Michael Shurn, and Superior Court Judge, Patrick Blankenship.
One of those sworn into office was Tracey Shorter who will be the newest member of the Board of Commissioners on January 1st.
Besides being the first woman Commissioner in Pulaski County, she is also the youngest at age 42. Ted asked what prompted her to seek the office.
“I ran four years ago and the race was so close,” said Shorter. “Part of it was because there had never been a woman Commissioner and it became a goal of mine. I got sick and realized life is too short to wait so I ran. None of us knows what tomorrow holds. I’m excited. I think it shows a big win for the party but it also shows progress for our County as far as moving forward. I haven’t really done the background but I think not only am I the first woman, but I think I’m the youngest.”
Like all counties, Pulaski has its share of pressing issues that will need to be addressed in 2011.
“Zoning is a big issue, whether or not we keep the County Home open, keeping our budget balanced and not borrowing what we don’t have. All of those things are huge,” said Shorter.
The following were sworn into office: Ron Powers, Pulaski County Council District 3; Tasha Foerg, Pulaski County Clerk; Tom Roth, Pulaski County Council District 2; Stacey Mrak, Pulaski County Prosecutor; Michael “Mick” Tiede, Pulaski County Council District 4; Alex Haschel Pulaski County Council District 1; Joyce Weaver, Pulaski County Surveyor; Steve Van Der Aa, Pulaski County Coroner; Holly Van Der Aa, Pulaski County Assessor; Michael Gayer, Pulaski County Sheriff; and Tracey Shorter, County Commissioner District 3.
The Department of Education has recently released graduation rates for schools in Indiana and for the first time, Oregon-Davis has gone over 90%. Superintendent, Dr. Steve Disney, was understandably proud of the accomplishment.
“We’re just so proud and we do have one of the highest rates around,” said Dr. Disney.
Ted Hayes asked Dr. Disney what he attributes the increase to.
The North Town Board approved the second reading of an ordinance that prohibits the sale of synthetic marijuana during its meeting Monday night. A Public Hearing concerning this ordinance will be held on Monday, January 3rd, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. CT at the North Judson Civic Center. A third and final reading will be approved during the Board’s regular meeting that evening at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Last year, two Starke County World War II veterans, Joe Smrt and Harvey Hammerlund, were flown to Washington, D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial by a veteran’s service organization called “Honor Flight”.
John Jordan, of Honor Flight, was asked if there will be an opportunity for additional World War II veterans to make the trip.
For over 25 years, Clara Belle Troike has provided a delicious fruit cake to the employees of WKVI radio. When Ted Hayes was on the air, he mentioned once that he had never tasted a fruit cake that he liked. Clara Belle put him to the test with one of her fruit cakes, and that turned Ted around forever. Since that time, Ted and the staff have received a delicious holiday fruit cake. We look forward to it every year.
Wednesday, the station’s fruit cake arrived; a big one for the gang and a smaller one for Ted. To answer a question posed by a listener some years ago, “the fruit cake is the virgin kind, with no alcohol added.”
Again, thank you Clara Belle for the fruit cake, and may you have a blessed Christmas.
Sonny Newbauer, Plant Manager at Hoosier Custom Plastics, was struck by lightning in the business’ parking lot on Tuesday, August 3rd.
Gordon Shank, owner of Hoosier Custom Plastics, told WKVI that day that he had heard a clap of thunder at 7:45 a.m., looked outside the plant, and saw Sonny Newbauer on the ground after he was struck by lightning. Newbauer, of Knox, was given CPR by a fellow employee and while still unconscious, he was taken to Starke Memorial Hospital. The medical staff sedated Newbauer and he was flown to a Fort Wayne Hospital.
Newbauer is still recovering from the incident.
The discussion between the Starke County Commissioners and outgoing Prosecutor Julianne Havens came to an amicable agreement Monday night. Havens had earlier submitted claims for law enforcement needs and the Commissioners questioned whether the funding was appropriate for the funding source. Havens, herself, eliminated some of the items from questionable categories.
“It gets complicated because I can use the IV-D fund for child support enforcement and for five years I’ve been using it to support child support,” explained Prosecutor Havens. “This year, I was going to try and focus on the enforcement aspect of it which, to me, means police. They agreed with my argument. However, they indicated that if an audit were to happen, the way they look at it is a proportional nexus. They are going to look at it whether or not the police are out supporting child support, making arrests, picking up people on body attachments and things of that nature. Their fear is that the proportionate nexus is not going to be enough for them to say that these funds that were spent were reasonable.”
The Starke County Chamber of Commerce announces that this year’s Henry F. Schricker “Service before Self” Award winner is Marvin D. McLaughlin. McLaughlin is well-known to all citizens in Starke County.
Marvin McLaughlin is known to most of us in the County as the “Honorable Judge Marvin McLaughlin” for his many years of service on the Starke County Circuit Court bench.
When Marvin McLaughlin was sworn in as judge, then-retired Governor Schricker said a few words. McLaughlin said this about Henry Schricker.
“Back in the 1950s when he ran for Congress, I worked as a volunteer on his campaign at the Statehouse,” said McLaughlin. “He was a very interesting person and he was very interested in you as an individual and he was a very appreciative person.”
He is a winner of the Sagamore of the Wabash, having been presented the award at his retirement recognition event from the bench in 1992.
Among his proud achievements is having been a 4-H leader.
“For 15 years I was a 4-H leader,” said McLaughlin. “When we first came to the County, that’s when Purdue had changed, saying that the agriculture teachers could no longer be 4-H leaders. In North Judson, we didn’t have a 4-H club. The kids had to go somewhere else. I started the club from scratch.”
Congratulations to Marvin McLaughlin of North Judson who is this year’s Henry F. Schricker Award winner for 2010. He will be feted at a banquet in January at the Knox Community Center.
Knox Mayor, Rick Chambers, wants to congratulate the winners of the 2010 Outdoor Christmas Decoration contest.
First place went to Rachel Fletcher at 5675 S. 500 E. in Knox. Mr. and Mrs. Gene Wheeler and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Parkison, who live in the 400 block of Carlson Drive in Knox tied for second place and Mr. and Mrs. Stacey Griffith at 302 Main Street in Knox took third place.
Additional charges have been filed against a Walkerton man who told Starke County police officers to leave him alone or he would kill them or himself. Donald Smith, 33, engaged in a 45 minute standoff with officers before he was taken into custody on December 15th, from a camper he was occupying.
Smith has been charged with Dealing Methamphetamine, a Class B Felony; Possession of Precursors with a Firearm, a Class C Felony; Intimidation, a Class D Felony; and Theft, a Class D Felony. He has a bond of $75,000 through Starke Circuit Court.
Christmas came early for Knox and North Judson officials. Lieutenant Governor, Becky Skillman, announced that 13 Hoosier communities will receive grants totaling almost $11 million dollars for storm water infrastructure projects. These grants are funded by an appropriation for disaster recovery efforts from the federal Community Development Block Grant program.
At their recent meeting, the Winamac Town Board members approved the salary ordinances for employees and elected officials. A one-and-a-half percent increase was approved.
Brad Zellers, Wastewater Superintendent, told the Board members that the lack of grass sitting in the streets has made a difference. Earlier this year, the Town Board was concerned about how the clippings were clogging the sewer system, especially during rain events. Zellers said he will be able to determine the true success of that change in the Spring when he and his staff vactor the sewer lines. Zellers reported to the Board that they been repairing several small pumps and will start on building improvements in the remaining portion of the pole building this winter.
Several government buildings will be closed due to the Christmas holiday.
The Post Office will be open Friday from 8:00 a.m. to Noon CT only. Mail will not be delivered until Monday, December 27th. The Starke County Courthouse and the Pulaski County Courthouse will be closed Thursday and Friday this week. The Bureau of Motor Vehicle branches will be closed Friday and will resume normal hours of operation on Tuesday, December 28th.
