A grant in the amount of $587,253 is to be received by Pulaski County to assist in funding the construction of the Star City sewer project, a new sanitary sewer system for the unincorporated community. This project, which is funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), is to come from CDBG funds that were made available for economic recovery after many areas were damaged by natural disasters in 2008.
America got its first look at Lisa Owens behind bars Tuesday night on the new Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). Owens was filmed on location at the Rockville Correctional Facility as part of a series entitled “Breaking Down the Bars”.
The episode reviewed the crime that led to her incarceration at Rockville which was the shooting of her husband, Jeff, in their Knox home. For that crime, she was sentenced to 40 years behind bars, but she is being given an early release after serving just ten years.
Thirty people charged with Attending an Animal Fighting Contest appeared before Knox City Court Judge Charles Hasnerl Monday evening. The charges stem from a cock fighting raid in Starke County on February 26th. Attending an animal fighting contest is a Class A Misdemeanor. Twenty-three of those charged plead guilty and seven plead not guilty.
House Bill 575 is one of the bills being heard in this year’s legislative session and it pertains to collective bargaining for teachers. In this bill, teachers would be prohibited from bargaining over anything but salaries and a few basic benefits. Bargaining would last 60 days before going to arbitration. The arbitrator would have the final word. Knox Community School Board President, Harold Welter, was asked to talk about collective bargaining at the Knox Community School Corporation.
The Knox Community School Board approved the bid from Hamstra Builders in Wheatfield to work on the softball building project. The bid was approved with a 5-1 vote with Board member Nathan Marcum opposed to the project. $271,900 will be transferred from the Rainy Day Fund to be used for this project.
The softball building project will include the construction of a public restroom and dressing room facility for the softball players. Water and sewer lines will be run and will be extended for a possible baseball building project and the infrastructure will allow for other projects in the future.
Published by Courier-Journal.com:
With numerous family members and friends on hand, an Indiana National Guard soldier who died in Iraq was honored Saturday at a Wall of Honor ceremony at the New Albany National Guard Armory.
Sgt. Joseph A. Ford was 23 years old when he was killed on May 10, 2008 in a non-combat vehicle accident.
Ford’s sacrifice was recognized with the dedication of a shadowbox containing a folded American flag, Ford’s picture, biography and all of his ribbons, awards and medals from his military career. Approximately 75 people turned out for the dedication, including many members of the HQ & HQ Troop of the 1st Squadron, 152nd Cavalry Regiment based at the armory.
On Saturday March 5th, the Winamac Community High School Robotics Team won the Jay County Vex Robotics Tournament. The team finished the qualifying rounds 9-0 then won the elimination rounds. Members of the team are Eric Sass, Alex Gudas, Natasha Daugherty, Eric Newman, Brett Beach, Kohl Hoover, and Greg Zellers.
Lafayette Jefferson World Premiere of “Uncertainty”, composed by Knox High School Student Andrew “Drew” Shearin, occurred on March 2nd, 2011. The Lafayette Jefferson High School Annual Concerto Concert was the forum for this special performance. Drew was represented with his plaque signifying winning the IMEA (Indiana Music Educators Association) Young Composers Competition Concert Band Class which he received at the IMEA State Convention. Drew was asked to introduce the piece that was performed by Lafayette Jefferson’s top Wind Ensemble with a short speech. “Uncertainty” was wonderfully performed and both the piece and Drew received a 2 minute standing ovation. After the concert was concluded, Drew was greeted and congratulated by many of the concert goers and the various attending directors as well as the Knox School Corporation instrumental music staff.
The North Judson Blue Jays are Sectional Champions once again! On Tuesday the Jays defeated Hebron (13-8) in the first round 82-63, then on Friday they were victorious once again defeating Culver (14-8) 42-35, before defeating Winamac (12-11) in the championship game 64-53. Winston Yergler led the Jays in the championship with a season high 23 points as North Judson won their 20th Sectional Championship in boys basketball.
The Starke County Commissioners contracted with a Kalamazoo, Michigan firm to provide drug testing of County employees. Forensic Fluids Laboratories will test all new employees and 10% of randomly selected current employees. The testing will be done with a swab of oral fluids instead of urine specimens.
Deidre Cunningham, a representative of the company, said the testing is 100% accurate.
“An oral sample equates to a blood sample and a lot of people are surprised to hear that,” said Cunningham. “Your mouth resalivates all day long through the oral glands in your oral cavity and they way it resalivates is by the blood stream mixing with the oral fluids; saliva and other fluids. By testing either blood or oral fluid, you’re getting the same information. Isn’t it wonderful to think that you can get the same information from a blood test without the needle poke or the higher price point?”
The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) will feature former Knox resident, Lisa Owens, tonight on the “Breaking Down the Bars”. The program features eight inmates incarcerated at the Rockville Correctional Center.
Owens, who is eligible for release this year because of a modification of her 40 year sentence, was convicted of shooting her husband, Jeff, while he was in the shower. The crime took place on May 18th, 2001. The case was heard before then- Starke Circuit Court Judge, David Matsey and was prosecuted by then-Starke County Prosecutor, Kim Hall. She plead guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter. The modification order was signed by Judge Richard Kickbush.
There are more problems at the Starke County Jail. Sheriff Oscar Cowen told the Starke County Commissioners yesterday that he has been advised that the furnace and air conditioning unit could go out at any time. If that would happen, all prisoners would have to be moved to another facility.
On top of that, the roof needs a new rubber roof to protect the building from leaks. A water pipe leak was reported last week that did damage on the lower floor of the Jail where the Prosecutor’s Office is located.
Knox Community School Board President, Harold Welter, is in today to talk about education and the changes in the proposed Education Reform package.
He was asked about vouchers.
“You’re competing for dollars,” said Welter. “Dick Wagner pointed that out in an earlier interview that we’re competing for dollars and a lot of parents are saying, ‘Hey, we want to have the choice.’ Again, I don’t have a problem with that. It’s a competitive world out there and we are going to compete. We’re going to make sure that Knox Community Schools are the best they can be and that is going to draw students to us, not just because we’re Knox, but because we have programs that are going to be very, very beneficial to the students.”
The Pulaski County Drug Free Council has awarded its annual grants for the reduction of drug and alcohol abuse in Pulaski County. The grants are funded from the collection of statutory countermeasure fees assess of criminal defendants for convictions in certain drug and alcohol offenses. The grants are awarded for programs designed to provide treatment, prevention or the criminal enforcement of drug and alcohol abuse. $5,150 was distributed in this grant cycle.
North Judson Town Marshal, Doug Vessely, reports that in the month of February, the Department received 234 calls. The Department responded to 12 lockout calls, 6 animal control calls, 16 thefts-conversion calls, 3 accidents, 13 juvenile-family disturbance calls, and 2 assault, battery or fighting calls, and conducted 48 traffic stops.
Officers completed 1 battery report, 2 Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated reports, 2 Burglary-Robbery reports, 3 theft-conversion reports, 4 traffic reports, 2 alcohol-drug reports, and 1 death investigation. 15 ordinance tickets were written, 29 traffic warnings given and North Judson officers made 14 adult arrests.
North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Chief, Joe Leszek, reports that his department had 2 structure fires, 2 medical assist calls, 1 vehicle accident call, 2 carbon monoxide investigations. 3 calls were in North Judson town limits, and 4 were in Wayne Township.
Last week we heard from the President of the Knox Federation of Teachers, Dick Wagner, on proposed changes in the State education reform package. This week we’re going to hear from the President of the Knox Community School Board, Harold Welter. He’ll give his views on similar parts of the proposed changes, especially those being advocated by Governor Mitch Daniels and Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Bennett.
First on everyone’s radar is the growing number of charter schools.
The Knox Community School Board approved alternate bids as part of the High School renovation project. The Knox Community School Corporation was recently approved for a Qualified School Construction bond through the state which is backed by federal funds. The Board is using that money to renovate the High School; specifically the lighting, ceiling and HVAC unit in the pool area and water piping throughout the building.
The Board has some leftover funds after the Board refused roofing bids that came in over budget. This leaves money available for projects listed in alternative bids within the scope of the renovation project.
Andrew Glover remains in the Starke County Jail with preliminary charges of criminal confinement a C felony, domestic battery in the presence of a minor child with a prior, a D felony, intimidation, a D felony, battery and resisting law enforcement both A misdemeanors. No bond has been set at this time.
Glover was arrested early Saturday morning after Starke County Police received a call that a woman had been battered at a home located on Long Lane in Knox. Local authorities attempted to make contact with the occupants of the home unsuccessfully and called in the Indiana State Police Negotiation Swat Team for assistance and after their arrival contact was established and Andrew Glover exited the home and was arrested.
Early Saturday morning the Starke County Police Department were notified that an unknown woman had been battered at 8940 E. Long Lane Drive in Knox. Andrew Glover of the same address was identified as the perpetrator.
Starke County Sheriff’s Deputies and Knox City Police Officers responded to the residence and attempted to investigate the complaint with what is referred to as a “Knock and Talk” with residents at the Long Lane location and received no response from within the residence.
Police had at this time developed information that there were possibly three children in the home and that the suspect, Andrew Glover possibly had weapons. Officers requested further assistance and after attempted negotiations failed, the Indiana State Police Negotiation Swat Team was called in for assistance with the situation.
The Swat Team arrived and negotiations continued until Andrew Glover was persuaded to exit the residence and was apprehended by the Indiana State Police Swat Team. The incident is still under investigation by the Starke County Police Department who were assisted by the Indiana State Police, Knox Police Department, Pulaski County Police Department and the Washington Township Fire Department.
Mr. Glover has had previous arrests for Domestic Battery in the presence of a child, intimidation and trespass.
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The investigation of the cock fighting case that came to light on Saturday is still ongoing, according to Starke County Police. One piece of information that was released yesterday was that the house where the rooster contests were being held was being rented by John Mathews, Jr and Connie Clemans.
The home is owned by an unidentified couple who reside in Wanatah.
An 18-year-old San Pierre man was arrested Wednesday night on preliminary charges of Armed Robbery and Felony Intimidation.
North Judson Police Chief, Doug Vessely, said that just after 8:30 p.m. CT, Johnathan Chambers, wearing a rubber mask and a camouflage jacket, entered the Carpenter’s Marathon Oil Station in North Judson with a knife and demanded cash from the gas station clerk. After he was unsuccessful in getting cash, Chambers was scared off and fled the area on foot.
