Starke County residents can get rid of their unused prescription drugs this week at the Starke County Justice Center. The Sheriff’s Office is hosting a drug take-back event today through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fuel Analyst Says Gas Prices Have Fallen From Last Month But Risen From Last Year
You may have noticed that gas prices have recently gone down. Though that is partially due to certain areas finally regaining stability after the recent natural disasters, it also has to do with the annual switch from summer fuel to winter fuel. Senior Petroleum Analyst for Gas Buddy, Dan McTeague said that prices in Indiana have dropped on average around 15 cents from last month, when there was still speculation and concern over the amount of refineries damaged.
Though we may be experiencing lower gas prices than a month ago, compared to this time of year in 2016, we’re paying approximately twenty more cents. McTeague said there a few factors responsible for that difference. Continue reading
Cheryl Lyn Welter Family Foundation Receives 2017 Advisor Charitable Leadership Award
Seventeen years ago, the Knox community collectively grieved the loss of Cheryl Lyn Welter, a dedicated and involved senior at KHS who tragically lost her life in an automobile accident the day before Homecoming.
These days Cheryl is still making impacting the community by making a difference in the lives of underprivileged school children thanks to the efforts of her family. The Cheryl Lyn Welter Family Charitable Foundation was established back in March to raise money to assist local school children in grades K-12 with various expenses that are out of their reach.
Starke Hospital Offering Free Mammogram Vouchers to Those Who Qualify
According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer found in women. They say 1 in 8 American women will have breast cancer at some point in their life. The good news is that when the cancer is detected early, it can be treated and the survival rate goes up substantially. In order to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and to promote mammograms and self-examinations, we recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness month.
The Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust is a not-for-profit organization that improves access to breast cancer screenings and diagnosis and support services while also increasing awareness. One of the ways they accomplish all of that is by selling Breast Cancer Awareness specialty license plates through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. A $25 donation is generated through every license plate sold. Since the plate was introduced in 2002, tens of thousands of Hoosier women have received screening, diagnostic and support services with nearly $4 million being awarded through their competitive grants.
Regional manager of community relations for Starke Hospital Stacey Kellog says that through grant funds provided by IBCAT, the hospital is able to offer free screening mammogram vouchers this year. Continue reading
Charge Against Augusta Hadden Dismissed
A felony charge has been dropped against a woman who’d been accused of assisting a murder suspect back in March. Augusta Hadden, 39, was accused of throwing a cell phone out of a truck driven by Edward Blackburn, following the murder of Cord Colgrove in rural North Judson.
Pulaski County Commissioners to Meet Tonight
Pulaski County’s ATV ordinance is expected to be discussed during tonight’s county commissioners meeting. Last year, the commissioners adopted an ordinance allowing off-road vehicles to be driven on county roads in certain circumstances. These include agricultural and governmental uses.
Town of Culver Awarded All Requested Community Crossings Funding
Culver Town Manger Jonathan Leist informed the board last week that the town is one of the few communities in the area who received all the Community Crossings grant funds they requested this year. He said the $206,000 received will go a long way to assist with projects they have in the works.
Leist mentioned that work on College Avenue, parts of Jefferson Street and the entrance at the Sand Hill Farm are the three priority projects. He told council members that in their grant proposal they utilized estimates that came from E&B paving. However, since those numbers were calculated several months ago, Utility Superintendent Bob Porter is looking into quotes. Leist said he is expected to present those quotes at the next town council meeting. Continue reading
Starke County Council, Commissioners to Meet Tonight
Starke County Community Health Fair Registration Still Open
There’s still time to register for the Starke County Community Health Fair. It will take place Tuesday, October 17 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Knox Middle School.
Knox City Council Unofficially Discusses Potential New Lighting Downtown
Mayor Dennis Estok has been discussing the possibility of replacing the lights in the downtown area during the last few Knox City Council meetings. They have been experimenting with a new kind of bulb. When they first met in September, he suggested that the council members take a little time after the meeting was adjourned to see the change and provide their input.
At their meeting last Tuesday, Mayor Estok said the experiment bulb was moved from its initial placement due to an obstruction from a near by tree. However, even with the tree covering the original spot, many council members said they could see a definite difference in brightness. Continue reading
Budget Hearing Scheduled for NJ Town Council Meeting Tonight
The North Judson Town Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing for their proposed 2018 Budget when members meet tonight at 6:30 p.m. According to Indiana Gateway, the budget estimate submitted for the general fund is $728,584, while the total estimated budget amounts to $983,546.
The meeting agenda states that council members will discuss the railroad bank account that was established during a meeting in September. At that meeting, they passed an ordinance designating an account where all funds railroad related would go. That includes money set aside for renovations as well as revenue received from the railroad company. Continue reading
LaPorte Physician Network to Cut Ribbon on New North Judson Office Tomorrow
North Judson residents can check out the town’s new doctor’s office tomorrow. The LaPorte Physician Network’s new location at 701 Talmer Avenue is now open.
New Culver Teen Center Opens Today
The new teen center in Culver opens today.
The new center is located in the Culver Jr./Sr. High School in Room 913. The Culver Teen Center is open to students in 6th through 12th grades and offers a variety of programs. The Center will offer food, drinks, door prizes, video game competitions, ping pong, air hockey tournaments, and more.
Crane Cruise Bicycle Ride to Take Place October 14
See the sandhill cranes while enjoying a bike ride through rural Pulaski and Jasper counties next week. The Medaryville-White Post Township Fire Department will hold the 19th annual Crane Cruise Bicycle Ride on Saturday, October 14.
Indiana State Police Conduct Enforcement Blitz in Pulaski County
The Indiana State Police District #13 All Crimes Policing Team joined forces with the Medaryville PD, Francesville PD and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department for the second time to conduct a multi-agency law enforcement blitz in Pulaski County on Friday. The 8-hour enforcement resulted in 1-felony arrest, 2-drug related arrests, 8-criminal arrests, 13-traffic citations and 84-warnings given.
According to an ISP press release, the Indiana State Police District #13 ACP Team is a group of State Troopers who work in several counties including Pulaski, Starke and La Porte to deter violent crime and address drug related activity. The additional manpower and resource support provided helps local agencies address specific crime trends within local communities to make the area as safe as possible. Continue reading
Starke County Sheriff’s Office Receives Award from Porter-Starke Services
Porter-Starke Services, the local not-for-profit community mental health center, has a mission to enhance the quality of life in our community through prevention, treatment, education and research. The organization presents the Service to Community Mental Health Award to individuals in the area who are contributing to that mission.
The Starke County Sheriff’s Office recently won the award for their work with inmates. Sheriff Bill Dulin described receiving the recognition as a huge testament to the hard work the jail and Starke County Staff does on a daily basis that sometimes goes unnoticed. Continue reading
Nominate Someone Now for the Henry F. Schricker Award
Nominations are now being accepted for the Henry F. Schricker Award.
The members of the Starke County Chamber of Commerce will review all nominations of those Starke County residents who exemplify the former governor’s motto of “service before self”. This is the 30th Schricker Award to be given to a worthy Starke County resident.
The chamber is also accepting nominations of the Business of the Year.
Knox Mayor Announces Committee Meeting, Requests Volunteers
A committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4 at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center. During a Knox City Council meeting Tuesday evening, Mayor Dennis Estok reminded council members that the focus would be on some past and future projects.
Estok said the committee will discuss the financial results of this year’s fireworks display as well as address the upcoming Peppermint Parade. Estok said the parade applications have already been submitted for the event. Continue reading
Brown Circle Water Line Project Nearly Complete, Water Tower Cleaning Needed
Only six houses are left that need to hook up to the new water lines in the Brown Circle project in Knox.
Water Superintendent Todd Gardner told the Knox Board of Public Works on Wednesday that everything should be done by the end of October. He said that firm costs will be presented at the next meeting on Oct. 25.
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum’s Pumpkin, Halloween Trains to Return in October
Special fall train excursions will be offered during the month of October at North Judson’s Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum. Pumpkin Trains will run the first three Saturdays in October. Passengers will enjoy a trip through the countryside to English Lake and back, before stopping at the museum’s pumpkin patch.
