A Starke County Highway snow plow driver considers himself lucky today after the truck he was plowing with rolled into a ditchcaved in a ditch, and rolled onto it’s side. Andy Cornwall, the driver, was taken to Starke Memorial Hospital where he was examined and released.
Christmas Cantata Held During Snow Storm
Fifty-five singers from several area churches braved the snow and cold Sunday to provide two concerts for area residents during the annual Christmas Cantata, held at the Knox United Methodist Church.
Standing Order Issued by Starke Circuit Court
The Starke Circuit Court has issued a standing order in the interest of judicial economy to identify certain felony crimes with the intent to establish a standard condition of bond for each, which would allow offenders to be released without judicial intervention. This would help alleviate some of the on going over crowding situation in the Starke County Jail and help expedite the process for the Sheriffs Office, Prosecutors Office and the Circuit Court.
The new bond amounts are shown below and and the charges to which they apply. Charges involving unusual, violent, resisting arrest, burglaries, and assault or battery type crimes would not be subject to the order and those bonds would be set by the presiding Judge. The complete standing order is set forth below.
BONDS
STANDING ORDER
The Judge of the Starke Circuit Court deems it necessary, and in the interest of judicial economy, to identify certain felony crimes, and to establish a standard condition of bond for each, which would not require judicial intervention.
If an individual is arrested in Starke County based upon probable cause that the individual has committed one of the following felony crimes, and transported and booked into the Starke County Jail, then the following bonds are ordered:
Possession of Marijuana – class D felony = $250.00 cash.
Possession of a Controlled Substance – class D felony = $250.00 cash.
Possession of Methamphetamine – class D felony = $500.00 cash.
Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors -class D felony= $500.00 cash.
Maintaining a Common Nuisance – class D felony = $250.00 cash.
Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated – Resident = $750.00 cash.
Non-resident = $7,500.00 surety.
Habitual Traffic Violator – class D felony = Own Recognizance.
Theft (under $200.00) – class D felony – Resident = $250.00 cash.
Non-resident = $2,500.00 surety.
Forgery – class C felony – Resident = $1,000.00 cash.
Non-resident = $10,000.00 surety.
10. Check Deception – class D felony – Resident = $1,000.00 cash.
Non-resident = $10,000 surety.
If there is probable cause to believe that the person committed more than one of the above crimes, then the bond for each crime shall be added to each other to arrive at the total bond.
If there is probable cause to believe that the person committed one of the above crimes and a crime that does not appear on the above list, then the judicial officer of the Starke Circuit Court shall set the bond.
If there is probable cause to believe that the person committed a crime that does not appear on this list then a judicial officer of the Starke Circuit Court shall set the bond.
Prior to the person being released from custody, he or she shall execute the Recognizance Bond Agreement, together with the Terms and Conditions of Recognizance Bond, which are attached hereto.
The person is ORDERED to appear in the Starke Circuit Court on the first Wednesday after the person’s release from the Starke County Jail, at 1:30 p.m.
A judicial officer of the Starke Circuit Court may issue an Order, at any time, that departs from the provisions of the Bonds Standing Order, the Recognizance Bond Agreement, and the Terms and Conditions of Recognizance Bond.
STARKE CIRCUIT COURT
Knox Mayor Lifts Snow Emergency Declaration
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers has announced that the snow emergency in the City of Knox only has been lifted. This applies only to the City of Knox. The Mayor explained that snow has been plowed in the City from curb to curb but that no alley-ways have been touched. the drivers will go home at 3.00pm today and get some rest and will be back at it again tomorrow at 4.30am.
At that time the City will be plowing and removing the snow from the intersections that have been piled up.
Starke Co. Sheriff’s Dept. Report Accidents
The Starke County Sheriff’s Department has reported that there have been approximately eleven accidents and twenty eight slide offs since last night due to the winter storm we are experiencing. The Sheriff’s Department requests that only emergency travel be undertaken at this time until the snow emergency is lifted.
Hensler Nursery to Deliver Trees to the Statehouse
Trees from Hensler Nursery in Hamlet are going to Indianapolis today. Hensler’s will provide a 25 foot Concolor Fir for the Statehouse Rotunda. The tree is approximately 28 years old and had stood for years at Hensler’s main location.
A second tree grown by Hensler Nursery is an 8 foot Fraser Fir that is being presented to Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman.
Starke County Commissioners Discuss Burn Ordinance at Recent Meeting
When is a burn ban, not a burn ban? According to the Starke County Commissioners, it’s when a local ordinance is updated that would spell out the penalties for violations. Commission President, Dan Bridegroom, said this week that when the burn ordinance was discussed it came out as meaning a “burn-ban” and that is not what the commission wanted to convey to the public.
“I think the biggest misconception right away was the word ‘ban’ was in everything they read,” said Commission President, Dan Bridegroom. “As soon as I would explain to the people that called me and talked to me and stopped me, it’s not a ban, then they were ok. They were ok almost immediately to know that they can still burn their leaves and burn their brush. I guess that part of the blame should fall back on us in that we didn’t get it out, specifically, what we were looking at.”
Starke County Development Foundation Holds 25th Anniversary Celebration
Dignitaries from throughout the county and Northwest Indiana attended the 25th Anniversary celebration for the Starke County Development Foundation Friday afternoon at the Knox Community Center.
Emcee, Ted Hayes, brought a number of people to the microphone during the program. They included State Representative Nancy Dembowski, State Senator Ed Charbonneau, Northwest Indiana Forum President, Mark Maassel; Starke County Development Foundation President, Bill Sonnemaker; Foundation Director, Charles Weaver; and former Foundation Director, Terry Kimmel.
Marvin Allen Wins Hubert Hawkins History Award
Marvin Allen of Knox is this year’s recipient of the Indiana Historical Society’s Hubert Hawkins History Award. The presentation will be made during the Society’s annual Founders Day Dinner at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis. The Hubert Hawkins History Award is made annually to a local historian for his or her distinguished service and career in local history.
Starke County Community Foundation Awards Grants
The Starke County Community Foundation made the holiday bright for many community organizations during its 2010 Grant Award Banquet. Over $24,000 was awarded on Monday, December 6th at the Community Center in Knox.
The grants are part of the Community Foundation’s Unrestricted Funds which allow the Community Foundation to assess the greatest needs of the community and assist the individual agency programs. Since 1998, the Community Foundation has awarded over $1.7 million to local organizations and projects that make a difference in Starke County.
Gilsinger Implement Purchases Kauffman Sons Inc.
Gilsinger Implement, Indiana’s oldest John Deere Dealership, recently purchased Kauffman Sons, Inc., a fourth-generation commercial and lawn and garden dealer. With established locations in Winamac, Knox, Leesburg, and Plymouth, Gilsinger Implement will now operate dealerships in Goshen and Mishawaka.
Local Lawmaker to Serve on Several Key Senate Committees
President Pro Tem David C. Long (R-Fort Wayne) has appointed State Senator Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) to serve as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Charbonneau said the committee examines the budget bill and the school funding formula, along with other legislation allocating state funds to numerous government agencies, departments and organizations on a biannual basis, in addition to other related issues.
Knox Community School Board Moves Ahead with High School Project
The Knox Community School Board approved two agenda items that involve the Qualified School Construction Bond project at the high school. The project includes rehabilitating the roof, lighting, ceiling and HVAC unit in the pool area and water piping throughout the building.
Two Arrested in Knox on Methamphetamine Charges
Knox City Police Department officers arrested Matthew Blount, 23, of Wheatfield and Erica Bailey, 21, of Knox on methamphetamine related charges Wednesday night.
Many Activities are Scheduled Saturday and Sunday in the Kankakee Valley!
Even though Christmas Eve is a few days off, many children in our area will get some gifts early. The Starke County Abate organization will be handing out toys, clothing and food items to 90 families at the Bass Lake Golf Course on Saturday. “It will be at the Bass Lake Golf Course,” said Abate President, Terry Young. “We have 90 families that will be coming out this year. They were all sent out invitations to come. There are 240 kids and all the families will have a turkey and all kinds of gifts. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will also be there.” When it comes to a big heart for children, the 290 members of Abate are in the forefront.
Week in Review for December 6th-10th, 2010
Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.
Diana Jedynak, 67, died of fire related injuries after her home caught fire early Monday morning in Washington Township. Indiana State Fire Marshal, Fred Sumpter, said the investigation into the cause of the fire was postponed due to the weather conditions and the integrity of the structure.
The Northwest Indiana Forum’s Board of Directors have voted to acknowldge the organization’s service territory to extend beyond Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Starke Counties to include Newton, Jasper and Pulaski Counties.
Starke County Development Foundation Celebrates 25th Anniversary Today
Today, a gala will be held at the Knox Community Center to celebrate the formation of the Starke County Development Foundation. The program will begin at 12:30 p.m. CT and is open to the public.
Supporting the Development Foundation over the course of 25 years have been our U.S. Representatives who have represented Starke County. They include Republicans John Hiler, Chris Chocola, and Steve Buyer and Democrats Tim Roemer and Joe Donnelly.
North Judson Town Board Approves First Reading of Synthetic Marijuana Ordinance
The North Judson Town Board approved the first reading of an ordinance that prohibits the sale of synthetic marijuana within the incorporated town of North Judson. The ordinance mirrors the same guidelines as passed by the Starke County Commissioners. The Knox City Council has approved a similar ordinance on second reading and the final reading will be discussed at its meeting on Tuesday, December 14th.
1982 North Judson-San Pierre Graduate Killed in Car Accident
A 1982 graduate of North Judson-San Pierre High School was killed in a traffic accident Wednesday morning. Leon Wera, of New Buffalo, Michigan, died when the SUV he was driving landed upside down in a creek in New Buffalo Township. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police surmise he hit an ice patch and lost control of the SUV.
Wera was off work from the Four Winds Casino running errands at the time of the accident. He was reportedly 5 minutes from his home when he lost control of his SUV. Locally, he is the brother of Mary Rowe of North Judson and his brother-in-law is Ken Rowe.
Photos provided.
Congressman Joe Donnelly to Vote in Favor of the President’s Tax Cut Compromise
Second District Congressman Joe Donnelly said Thursday that he will be voting for the President’s tax cut compromise. Democrat opponents are poised to attempt to sink the measure that came after a compromise with Republicans.
The Obama plan, agreed to in principal by the Republican side, would prevent the December expiration of all the Bush tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003. Obama had originally balked at cutting taxes for the highest earners.
