The Francesville Town Council members will be researching more information on wind turbines and the formation of a Francesville Plan Commission.
Starke County Council Discusses Expenditures for Sheriff’s Office
The Starke County Council members discussed funding for a new industrial-type washer and dryer at the justice center.
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin told the council members Monday night that one set is from the old location on Pearl Street and they need an additional set to keep up with the amount of laundry. A quote from Miller Laundry Service was provided at a cost of $15,152. The price includes delivery and installation.
Kankakee River Basin Commission Discusses Pros and Cons of Yellow River Pilot Project
A bank stabilization pilot project that was recently conducted on the Yellow River was discussed during last Thursday’s Kankakee River Basin Commission meeting.
Starke County Surveyor Bill Crase said that about 2200 feet of work was completed along both sides of the river. He told commission members that he was very impressed with the results, especially with the way the banks were able to withstand recent flooding.
He said only about 300 feet of damage was incurred and suspected that was likely from floating debris striking the spot rather than structural inefficiencies. However, there were certain issues with the way that the project that kept Crase from considering it a complete success. Continue reading
Knox Fifth Grade Class May Be Moving to Middle School
The Knox Community School Corporation is looking into moving the fifth grade from the elementary school to the middle school. “There is a rumor going around that fifth grade is moving, possibly, to the middle school, and I want to say that yes, that rumor is true,” Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart told the school board Tuesday. “We have lots of rumors that go around and that one we are looking at, based upon our facilities study by Schmidt.”
Several Local Officials Attend Starke County Economic Development Foundation’s Community Retreat
A variety of local representatives gathered Tuesday morning to learn more about development opportunities during the Starke County Economic Development Foundation’s Community Retreat.
Those in attendance included members of the Starke County Chamber of Commerce as well as local officials from the communities of Bass Lake, Hamlet, Knox and North Judson. Continue reading
Strategic Action Plan Presented to Oregon-Davis School Board
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation is putting the finishing touches on its plan for the next five years. A strategic action plan for the years 2018 through 2023 was presented to the school board on first reading Monday by Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. “What I’ve tried to do is put a plan in place, just so we can explain to our patrons, so we as the board kind of know what our vision is for our student body and then also know where, financially, we’re going with our facilities,” he explained.
Pulaski County Election Board Formalizes Early Voting Ballot ID Policy
A policy related to early voting has been formalized by the Pulaski County Election Board. “The state has changed some laws, and they required us to provide them with our policy of how to assign a specific ID number to the early voting, the in-person absentee voting ballots,” explains election board member Laura Bailey.
Preliminary Work on North Judson-San Pierre Capital Projects to Start Soon
Preliminary work will soon begin on a series of capital projects at North Judson-San Pierre, according to Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin.
At the February NJSP school board meeting, members approved contractors for approximately $4.2 million worth of projects. They also learned that since the entire Lease Project came in under budget, a few alternates can be tackled as well, including the addition of a digital sign on Highway 10. Continue reading
Permit Question Brought Before the North Judson Town Council
With this weekend’s pleasant weather, you may have noticed ice cream trucks making their first rounds of the season. A citizen of North Judson submitted a question to town council members Monday night, about a truck he saw driving around town over the weekend.
He asked what kind of permit is required for those drivers to sell their wares. Town Council President Wendy Hoppe responded that they need a peddler’s permit to legally sell the treats within the town limits. Continue reading
North Judson Resident Dies from Injuries, Following Marshall County Crash
Inmates Graduate from Chemical Dependency and Addictions Program
Eight inmates from the Starke County Justice Center are now graduates of the Chemical Dependency and Addictions Program.
The program allowed inmates the opportunity to obtain counseling services and substance abuse education while incarcerated in the Starke County Justice Center. It was a 14-week treatment program facilitated by Porter-Starke Services and led by Chemical Dependency and Addictions Therapist Leo Smith. Therapists assisted inmates in restructuring behaviors and thoughts in addiction remediation. Skills taught included the management of stress, anger, cravings, triggers, critical reasoning and decision making.
Wind Turbine Concerns Continue to Be Discussed with Pulaski County Commissioners
Pulaski County officials continue to gather information about wind turbines. Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer told the county commissioners Monday he plans to put together an informational meeting on the topic. Continue reading
Starke County Council Approves Cardiac Monitor Funding
The Starke County Council members approved funding for two Lifepak 15 cardiac monitors during their meeting Monday night.
The commissioners deemed the purchase as an emergency during their March 5 meeting after EMS Director Travis Clary reported that two decades-old devices recently quit working. That left the county with no backup devices. To ensure that each ambulance had a working device with spares, the emergency purchase was made. Clary told the county council members Monday night that the devices arrived earlier in the day.
Pulaski County Unified Development Ordinance Creates Confusion for Campaign Signs
Campaign sign regulations are causing confusion for Pulaski County candidates. The county’s updated Unified Development Ordinance that took effect at the beginning of the year appears to include some rules for campaign signs, but no one’s entirely sure, according to election board member Laura Bailey. “We have had, in the last 10 days, multiple contacts from concerned citizens, which then went out to various candidates, had all sorts of panic with the candidates because of the Unified Development Ordinance that you guys passed on December 18,” she told the county commissioners Monday. Continue reading
Oregon-Davis School Board Approves 2018-2019, 2019-2020 School Calendars
The Oregon-Davis School Board approved school calendars for the next two school years Monday. Superintendent Dr. Don Harman explained the 2018-2019 calendar will mostly be the same as this year’s. “First student day will be August 9,” he said. “Christmas break will be very similar, which will be a split Christmas break. Christmas break will start on Thursday, December 20; students will return on Thursday, January 3. Spring break will be the week of March 25. Scheduled right now, the last student day is May 23.”
North Judson-San Pierre School Board to Meet Tonight
North Judson-San Pierre School Board members will consider the approval of textbook adoption as well as the notification of reductions in force when they meet tonight.
Last month, members approved contractors for the several jobs included in the Lease Project so Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin is expected to cover any on going progress when she delivers her report. Continue reading
Knox School Board to Discuss PreVenture Program, Custodian and Maintenance Reorganization Plan
The Knox School Board is expected to learn about the PreVenture Program during tonight’s meeting. It consists of personality-targeted interventions for adolescent substance misuse, according to the advance meeting agenda.
Updates at Norwayne Field Discussed During North Judson Town Council Meeting
Big changes are happening at Norwayne Field in North Judson.
At last night’s town council meeting Park Board representative Nick Radke informed members that the band shell has been fully assembled. He added that additional lighting and stonework is pending. He also thanked Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann and members of the utility department for all their assistance with the assembly.
Clerk-Treasurer Andrew Rowe stated that once the remainder of the work is finished, an event will be held with community members and local officials to commemorate its completion.
In other news, Schambers Masonry completed the repair work that needed to be done to the brick wall that runs along highway 10. Continue reading
Knox City Council Considers the Potential of Installing a Digital Message Board
The possibility of installing a digital message board near the entryway into Knox was discussed during last week’s city council meeting. Mayor Dennis Estok told members that a message board could be utilized to notify citizens about upcoming events or any other messages that they may need to convey.
He said after doing a bit of research, he found there are few different options they have to consider. They can get a sign that would be on wheels, similar to what traffic control uses. That would cost approximately $15,000 to $20,000.
The other option they have is a sign that would be placed in the ground. Continue reading
Be Prepared for Severe Weather
Be prepared for severe weather by creating a safety plan and prepare a household disaster kit.
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security encourages residents to practice severe weather emergency plans which include identifying an evacuation route in your home and in neighborhoods. During a tornado, the safest place is the basement or storm cellar. If those options are not available, go to an interior room on the lowest level with no windows. Seek shelter from flying debris by getting under a desk, table or sturdy object.
