The Hamlet Town Council is once again calling for repairs to the Starke Street railroad crossing. During Wednesday’s meeting, Council President Dave Kesvormas said the crossing continues to get worse. Continue reading
A previously considered council item was visited once again at the Knox City Council meeting on Tuesday. Council member Bertha Blue asked Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston what he found regarding the city’s rules about vehicles obstructing sidewalks.
Houston said while researching, he was unable to locate a local ordinance but he did find a state statute that specifies parking is prohibited on sidewalks. He said while that would technically be enforceable, he thought the terms were not realistic for Knox.
“If you use the state statute,” Houston explained, “you’re looking at real big fines and stuff so we probably want to write a new one for the city.” Continue reading
The Culver Town Council may soon address semi truck parking in the residential areas in town.
Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist commented that the issue was brought before the Culver Planning Commission this week. Leist said he will meet with Utility Superintendent Bob Porter and Police Chief Wayne Bean about a recommendation to bring before the council.
The members of the Knox Board of Public Works discussed a stop order on a construction permit at 325 Carlson Drive.
According to City Attorney Leslie Baker, the Knox Planning Administrator and Director of Building and Code Compliance Kenny Pfost issued an order to stop work on Sept. 15 on a steel carport at that residence.
College students looking for an internship have a chance to work with state lawmakers during their 2018 session. Indiana House Republicans are accepting internship applications through Tuesday.
Recently, Starke County Magistrate Jeanene E. Calabrese received the Indiana Judicial College certificate at the 2017 Judicial Conference.
Though Halloween isn’t officially until Tuesday, many areas will be celebrating early this weekend. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security has a few tips to celebrate the festivities safely.
DHS reports that children are twice as likely to be killed by an automobile while walking on Halloween compared to any other time of the year. If you’re driving, be alert, drive slow and take extra time at intersections making sure no one is attempting to cross.
Walkers should also use sidewalks when they’re available. If there isn’t one, walk toward the far edge of the street and never cut through yards, alleys or across the road. Utilize crosswalks and be aware of potential oncoming vehicles. Continue reading
Medaryville’s Halloween celebrations will lead to the closure of a downtown street Tuesday evening. After trick-or-treating wraps up at 7:00, the Medaryville Fire Department will have its annual costume judging for local children.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board has removed Kyle Johnson from his coaching positions. During a two-minute special session Thursday, board members narrowly voted to cancel Johnson’s athletic contracts.
The Starke County Council held the county’s 2018 budget and the 2018 Starke County Solid Waste budget adoptions in a special meeting Thursday night.
The Starke County Solid Waste budget totals $205,244 while the county’s 2018 budget totals $11,647,011 with a General Fund just over $7 million. The highway’s budget is just over $3.4 million. The Cumulative Bridge Fund was approved at just over $260,000.
Salary increases for the Starke County Coroner’s Office were again discussed during Monday’s county commissioners meeting. Coroner Dannie Hoffer has been looking for a raise for himself and possibly his deputies in next year’s budget. While the final decision would be up to the county council, council members weren’t ready to approve the raise until Hoffer worked out a few concerns with the commissioners.
The Town of Hamlet is moving ahead with a few vehicle purchases. Last month, the town council approved the purchase of a 2018 Ford Police Interceptor Explorer Utility from Best Ford in Knox for just under $30,000. On Wednesday, council members passed a resolution formally approving the financing.
All four police agencies in Starke County will participate in the upcoming Operation Pull Over Campaign.
Chad Dulin is the coordinator for the Starke County effort. He told the Knox Board of Public Works members Wednesday morning that Starke County is getting 100 hours from the St. Joseph County’s Sheriff’s Department’s enforcement effort to participate in the campaign. Dulin said the county hasn’t been a part of an Operation Pullover campaign for some time and this is a way to get back into the program. Continue reading
The Town of Medaryville will soon have a new insurance provider. During a special session Wednesday, the town council decided to switch to Bliss McKnight, according to Deputy Clerk Jackie Hines.
Mayor Dennis Estok informed Knox City Council members this week that he is looking into funding options to replace a vehicle for Kenny Pfost, the city’s Planning Administrator and Director of Building and Code Compliance.
Pfost told the council members that he’s been utilizing his personal vehicle for about three weeks after the city issued vehicle quit running and. Mayor Estok said the vehicle was provided as a hand-me-down from the police department and has been repaired a few times in the past. The projected cost of current repairs was around $16,000. Continue reading
The Culver Town Council discussed a request from Southwest Conservancy District Representative Kathy Clark to expand the district in order to hook up two properties to that sewer system.
The agreement that the district has allows 175 hookups to the system and 168 are already connected. One family has petitioned to connect to the line as their septic system has failed. The property is contiguous to the district’s system that runs along West Shore Drive. The family plans to combine two lots with one house and request an easement on one parcel to allow a lateral line through the vacant lot on West Shore Circle. Continue reading
Four local high school marching bands will be heading down to Indianapolis tomorrow for the Indiana State School Music Association Open Class Semi-State Marching Band Festival. Students from Bremen, John Glenn, Knox and Plymouth will join 80 other bands from around the state competing to be chosen as one of the 10 bands who will represent their class at the 45th Annual Indiana State Marching Band Finals.
As the sole band representing Starke County, the Knox Band Boosters are asking community members and business owners to put up signs or decorate their windows today to show support for these students. Booster Sandra Redden said the marching band members sacrificed every Saturday since the start of the school year, not to mention band camp during the summer.
She said, in all they have dedicated more than 200 hours of practice to their show entitled Pi 3.14. Friends and family as well as faculty and former band members are encouraged to come out and line Redskin Trail to see the band members off and wish them luck at their performance tomorrow. Continue reading
A Walkerton man who was reported missing earlier this week was found safe in his home today according to the Walkerton Police Department dispatch center.
The Walkerton PD issued a press release on Tuesday, seeking public help finding a missing person. The individual, 25-year-old Robert Allan McEndarfer reportedly hadn’t been seen or heard from since he left work in Napanee on October 19th. The release also stated his phone was found smashed on the side of the road.
As of Thursday, October 26th the search has been called off and McEndarfer is reported to be alive and well.
The Starke County Economic Development Foundation hosted a meeting last night with various members of the Starke County community who would be impacted by the proposed U.S. 30 Freeway Project.
SCEDF Executive Director Charles Weaver began the meeting and introduced representatives from Appian , a consulting firm that is working with the foundation. President of the organization, Dennis Faulkenberg started by saying that though the project is still very far down the line, they wanted to hear some of the ideas that were circulating within the community.
Faulkenberg advised everyone present that it is imperative to collect data and come up with a concrete plan prior to approaching INDOT. He said that’s the best way to avoid being pressured into doing the most cost effective option at the expense of what is best for the community. Continue reading
