The operators of the Bass Lake Beach have agreed to make some repairs to the property’s seawall, but they’re asking for the county’s help with some related work. The Starke County Park Board has asked the operator of the facility, Callahan Development, LLC, to stabilize the seawall surrounding the beach house patio.
Eastern Pulaski School Board Discusses Substitute Teacher Pay Policy
A request to increase the pay for a substitute elementary school teacher was up for approval at the Eastern Pulaski Community School Board meeting Monday night.
Superintendent Dan Foster explained that Joan Murray has taken on the roll of a teacher twice so far this year. At the beginning of the year she filled in for Dana Field for five weeks. Most recently, she started subbing for Brandi Kappes and will remain in that position until January.
The superintendent explained that Mrs. Murray has taken on quite a few more responsibilities that warrant additional compensation. Continue reading
Winamac Park Board to Get Architectural Plans for New Town Park Restrooms
The Winamac Town Park is a step closer to getting new restrooms. The park board voted last week to hire Mark Maddox to draw up architectural plans for a cost of $3,000. That’s significantly lower than the other bid the town received, for $9,500. The goal is to expand the facility to allow for more toilets and more space for wheelchairs.
Budget Adoption Scheduled During Tonight’s Hamlet Town Council Meeting
The Hamlet Town Council is expected to adopt the town’s 2018 budget when it meets tonight. It calls for a total budget of just over $468,000, with a General Fund of more than $321,000 and a Motor Vehicle Highway Fund of just under $60,000.
Starke County Inmates Graduate from Nurturing Fathers Program
Fourteen students in the Nurturing Fathers program formally graduated yesterday. They attended the program while incarcerated in the Starke County Jail.
The program was facilitated by Jerome Kelly of Family Focus, Inc. out of Valparaiso who said that he gives the attendees the understanding of how to change behavior.
Plethora of Public Input Provided During EPCS Board Meeting
The Winamac High School library was filled with community members attending last night’s Eastern Pulaski Community School Board meeting. Individuals of various walks of life came to defend a faculty member who is currently the subject of an ongoing board investigation. Following the regular meeting, board members were scheduled to hold an executive session regarding alleged misconduct and to discuss job performance evaluation. Continue reading
Community Mourns the Loss of Retired Starke Circuit Court Judge
This week, the Starke County community learned of the passing of long-time Starke Circuit Court Judge Marvin D. McLaughlin. Though he was retired at the time of his death, community members remember his years of service to the county. The 87-year-old North Judson resident was at Pulaski Memorial Hospital when he passed away on Saturday, October 7th.
Marvin McLaughlin attended Butler University and obtained his law degree from Indianapolis University. In 1957, he moved to North Judson to start a law practice. He served as Starke County Prosecutor for four years. McLaughlin went on to serve as a Starke Circuit Court Judge for nearly three decades, from 1963 until his retirement in 1992. Continue reading
Pulaski Council Finalizes Local Funding Match for Pulaski County Human Services Van Purchase
Pulaski County Human Services apparently will be getting its new van. The Pulaski County Council approved the local share of the funding Monday. It took them six months to do it.
Winamac Pool Donations to Remain in Place at Community Foundation of Pulaski County
Winamac’s swimming pool rebuilding effort is not quite done yet. While the town has pulled its official support for the project, the Winamac Pool Committee will be able to continue fundraising.
West Central School Board Adopts 2018 Budget
The West Central School Board members adopted the corporation’s 2018 budget when they met on Thursday.
Superintendent Don Street said the 2018 budget is similar to last year’s numbers. According to Indiana Gateway, the budget is listed at $9,933,348 with $200,000 in the Bus Replacement Plan and $1.1 million in the budget for capital projects.
Culver Town Council to Meet Tonight
The Culver Town Council will meet tonight where the members will conduct a public hearing on the Sand Hill Farm residential tax abatement. The council will then consider a adopting a declaratory resolution designating the real estate containing the housing development as an economic target area and within an economic revitalization area for purposes of property tax abatement
The town council members will also consider second and third readings on the 2018 budget ordinance as well as an ordinance that establishes fees or costs for the Town of Culver Park and Recreation Department. Continue reading
Knox City Council Meets Tonight
No specific action or discussion items are listed on the agenda for the Knox City Council meeting being held tonight at 7 p.m. in Knox City Hall.
The council will hear reports from Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston and Mayor Dennis Estok. There will be time allotted toward the end of the meeting for citizen’s comments and council items.
In recent meetings, council items included the potential striping of Culver Road and an ordinance pertaining to parking downtown. There is a possibility these items will be revisited tonight but they are not specifically listed on the agenda.
North Judson Town Marshal Reports Concerns Surrounding Semis Braking Near School
The possibility of some “no Jake-brake” signs being installed at the edge of the Town of North Judson was discussed last Monday night at the North Judson Town Council meeting. Town Marshal Kelly Fisher told council members that she’s received some complaints, one from the school corporation and another from a resident, regarding semi-trucks utilizing their noisy engine brakes where the speed limit is reduced on State Road 39/State Road 10 near the location of the schools.
Fisher said “With the speed limit dropping the semis are hitting their “Jake brakes” and its disrupting the school and like I said, a citizen who’s not in very good health, she said it’s bothering her as well.” Continue reading
Starke County Park Board to Discuss Bass Lake Beach Maintenance, Open Timber Bids
Upgrades to the Bass Lake Beach seawall will continue to be discussed during tonight’s Starke County Park Board meeting. Board members are calling on facility operator Callahan Development, LLC to stabilize the seawall surrounding the beach house patio. Representatives from the county discussed the issue with Callahan’s attorney last month, and the entire board is expected to get an update tonight.
Iris-Elm Garden Club to Seek Grant Funds for Winamac Parkway Landscaping Projects
Efforts to beautify the Winamac Parkway continue to move ahead. ProscapeS Unlimited has been working on a landscaping plan for the trail. Now the Iris-Elm Garden Club is planning to apply for state and federal grants to help implement some of those ideas.
Pulaski County Council to Adopt 2018 Budget Tonight
The Pulaski County Council is expected to adopt the county’s 2018 budget when it meets tonight. This comes after council members made an additional round of cuts to the proposal last week. That included giving county employees a one-percent raise, rather than two-percent, and denying a request from Superior Court to add a second public defender. They also plan to shift $200,000 in 911 dispatchers’ salaries out of the county’s General Fund.
West Central School Board Discusses Enrollment Count
The West Central School Board members received enrollment information during their meeting on Thursday night.
Superintendent Don Street said the official count was taken on Friday, Sept. 15.
“Our current enrollment is 775 students which is down from last year,” explained Street. Fifty-six of those students live outside of our school district.”
North Judson Town Superintendent Announces Community Crossings Grant Funds
The Town Superintendent of North Judson, Marshall Horstmann, told council members the amount of money that was received through the INDOT Community Crossings Grant when they met last week.
Horstmann said the Town of North Judson was awarded $125,094.75 to go toward paving for next year. He alerted the council members that a certain rule surrounding the grant funding has changed.
“Now the way they do it is you have to pay for the paving and then you have to turn in a receipt to INDOT. Then they’ll reimburse you.” Horstmann went on, explaining the reason for the switch, “They’ve had issues in the past where towns have gotten the money but then they didn’t do the paving.”
Horstmann told council members he is meeting with INDOT representatives on October 16th to go into more detail about project specifics.
Eastern Pulaski Community School Board Meets Tonight
The Eastern Pulaski Community School Board will hold a public hearing over the school corporation’s 2018 budget, capital projects plan and bus replacement plan when they meet tonight.
The budget estimate submitted to Gateway Indiana states that the corporation’s general fund is estimated at a little over $9 million, while the rainy day fund has exactly $1 million. The capital projects plan has more than $2 million and the bus replacement plan is estimated at $270,000. Continue reading
Winamac Park Board Approves New Landscaping for Town Park Pavilion
Upgrades to the Winamac Park Pavilion continue to move ahead. During last week’s park board meeting, Park Manager Dave DeLorenzo reported that Boardman Construction is about 80-percent done with repair work. Continue reading
