Crews remain on the scene of a train derailment near Ligonier which spilled nearly 200,000 pounds of molten sulfur and toluene. The car that was carrying the molten sulfur had burst into flames after the derailment of 27 cars of the 59-car train. Crews have smothered the burning train cars with clean soil, and officials say that once the fires are completely extinguished, they will get rid of the dirt and remove the cars.
The Lincoln Township Volunteer Fire Department in Walkerton is the recipient of a $684,864 Operations and Safety grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
Congressman Joe Donnelly made the announcement and he thanked the fire department for their tireless effort in protecting the community and for their dedicated service.
The Habitat for Humanity of Marshall County Restore sells discount building supplies, with the proceeds helping to build the next habitat home. Manager Steve Guriel explained where the proceeds go.
“All the proceeds go toward funding a house,” said Guriel.
According to Guriel, the items are all donated.
“Everything here is donated. We do offer a tax donation receipt if they do want one,” said Guriel.
Habitat for Humanity is a non profit ecumenical Christian housing ministry that works in partnership with people in need to improve the conditions in which they live.
Many of their donated items came from people who are remodeling their homes. They also receive tons of donated items from builders, contractors, businesses and corporations. The hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and the business is located at 116 S. Walnut Street in Plymouth.
If you would like to donate items bring them to the store, and if you have a large number of items they will pick them up. Call (574) 935-4214 for more information or to schedule a pickup.
The Powerball Jackpot is up to an estimated $40 million, and the Hoosier Lotto is $5 million. The drawing is tonight on both of them.
In Hoosier Lottery news, Ralph Frazee of Cedar Lake was a Lucky 5 winner two weeks ago– but that’s not all. Two year years ago in May, Ralph was also a Lucky 5 winner. Both jackpots were $50,000. So what will he do with his winnings?
His wife “Bert” gave the answer at Lottery Headquarters. Said Bert, “We’re going to do a renovation of the kitchen after 43 years in the home.”
To be eligible tonight, tickets must be purchased by 9 p.m. CT.
After a decrease of almost $.10 in some cases earlier this week, gas prices jumped back up to $3.99 by Wednesday.
Gas prices were $3.99 in Knox and around $3.89 in North Judson yesterday. The average price in Indiana yesterday was $4.00 a gallon while the national average was $3.86.
Gasbuddy.com offers these gas saving tips: Avoid high speeds, do not accelerate or brake hard, keep tires properly inflated, use your air conditioner sparingly, keep windows closed, service your vehicle regularly, use cruise control, avoid long idles and if it’s time for a new vehicle, consider a fuel efficient one.
Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.
Monterey Town Board President, Jim Fleury, asked the Culver Community School Board about what to do about the items on display at the Monterey Elementary School. A committee will tour the school and bring a list of items to be removed to the School Board for approval.
The Knox City Council is considering a request by Knox Mayor Rick Chambers to install security cameras at City Hall. Continue reading
The Indiana State Police received complaints today regarding a fraud alert from Demotte State Bank. According to a press release, the bank’s name is being used in a “phishing scam” to gain information from unsuspecting victims.
Northwest Indiana residents, especially those with Verizon telephone numbers, are receiving an automated message using a woman’s voice that their debit or credit card has been compromised. She then asks you to verify your account number and other information by having you go through a series of automated prompting questions. The numbers that will show up on your phone or caller ID are from out of state.
This is a phishing exploit to trick people into revealing personal and confidential information. Do not respond to any requests or give them any information. The scammers will likely use this information to withdraw money from your account or obtain credit in your name.
Demotte State Bank DOES NOT contact their customers in this matter. If you have given account or other personal information please contact Demotte State Bank and your local law enforcement immediately.
A public informational meeting concerning the proposed property tax levy for Oregon-Davis Schools is scheduled for Tuesday, March 20th. Terry Minix, President of the Oregon-Davis Education Political Action Committee, said that discussion will be held concerning what will happen if the tax levy is approved or not approved.
Three homes have now been hooked up to the newly operational Koontz Lake Regional Sewer facilities. 938 connections have yet to be made which will take up to six months to complete. Continue reading
Daylight Savings Time begins tomorrow, Sunday, March 11 at 2 a.m. prevailing time. You will need to set your clock ahead one hour before you go to bed tonight, or at 2 a.m. prevailing time Sunday morning.
Everyone in the Kankakee Valley changes their clocks in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which marks the change in the observance of Daylight Savings Time. It officially begins on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday in November.
Some students in the Jacksonville, Florida religious school where a shooting occurred this week said they were not surprised with Shane Schumerth’s action. Schumerth, the 28-year-old Spanish teacher who was originally from Culver, opened fire on the headmistress of the school after being relieved of his duties Tuesday.
After being fired, Schumerth returned with an AK-47 assault rifle in a guitar case, according to accounts in the Jacksonville Union Times. After shooting and killing Dale Regan, he turned the gun on himself, committing suicide.
In the newspaper account one student called Schumerth “an awkward man,” saying he did not seem to fit in with the other teachers. Another report by a Jacksonville T.V. station said that Schumerth had been fired earlier by a public school, and was given a “do not hire” status.
Schumerth was a Culver Academy graduate in 2002, whose family still lives in Culver. They have expressed shock and sorrow over the incident. Memorial services were held for Dale Regan yesterday in Jacksonville.
As you’ve heard the Welter boys, Harold and Nathan, say all week, the WKVI microphone will be at the North Judson-San Pierre Gymnasium today for the boys regional basketball tournament.
Fans will be streaming in from four schools to follow their teams and we will be following the Hebron Hawks in first round action. If they win the first game, we’ll be on hand for the championship game at night, too.
Hebron will take on Bowman Academy in game one, and Adams Central plays Westview in the second game.
Approximately 200 youngsters are expected to gather tomorrow at the North Judson-San Pierre Elementary School for the 17th Annual Young Artists Conference sponsored by Psi Iota Xi Sorority, the Starke County Fine Arts Commission, and the Starke County Community Foundation.
Marilyn Lucac is one of the organizers who helps arrange for talented presenters to come to the event. She explained how many authors would be in attendance.
“We have four published authors. A few of them will have their books for sale, and will autograph them,” said Lucac.
The Sief brothers will be back again. The pair were favorites in the past.
”I have a set of twins, Adam and Jeremy Seif, coming. Adam has a book, ‘All About Spencer.’ I have an order form for the book if any of the children wants one. Last year he brought books, and ran out,” Lucac said.
This is the Seventeenth Young Artists Conference. There is a $5 registration fee which includes lunch. No child is turned away, they can register at the door.
The conference is for children first grade through the fifth, and registration is between 8:30 and 9 a.m. CT tomorrow.
According to a press release, LaPorte County Sheriff Mike Mollenhauer announced yesterday that an incident has occurred in which an inmate was mistakenly released from the LaPorte County Jail– the third such incident in about five weeks.
All three incidents occurred due to jail staff failing to follow proper procedure. The latest incident, which occurred on Feb. 28, was blamed on a paperwork mistake, and the error was not discovered until March 5. The man released, Jervon Martin, was being held on drug and resisting law enforcement charges, and is still at large, possibly in the St. Louis area.
A sobriety check will conducted by the Bremen State Police Police Post in Marshall County beginning during the evening hours on Friday, March 9th.
You will be asked to have your Driver’s License and vehicle registrations available when entering the checkpoint. You can expect short delays of only two to three minutes.
After the checkpoint, troopers will be conducting saturation patrols looking for impaired drivers. Sergeant Chad Larsh says the state police has zero tolerance for impaired drivers and if you are over the limit, you will be arrested.
The City of Knox is alerting you that a company that sells homeowners an insurance protection plan that covers the water line on their property is not affiliated with the City of Knox.
The City does not endorse or oppose this plan.
Officials at Knox City Hall says that the City of Knox is responsible for the water line up to and including the water pit. The water pit is the location where the shut off for your house and the water meter is located. If there is a water line break on the side of the meter closest to the house, that is the property owner’s responsibility.
Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:
Jeff Brewer and Steve Brewer found a dead alligator in the Kankakee River in Starke County on Sunday. If anyone knows anything about this incident, call the Indiana Department of Natural Resources at 1-800-TIP-IDNR.
The Starke County Tourism Board reorganized with Julie Dessauer named President. John Hensler was named Vice President, Thom Morin, Secretary and Tabitha Dillner, Treasurer. Continue reading
Elaine Beatty, an Employee Benefits Consultant, and Sheriff Oscar Cowen appeared before the Starke County Commissioners during the Commissioners’ recent meeting to discuss the Police Pension Fund.
Beatty administers the Police Pension Fund in Starke County and she discussed a new plan for the officers.
“The Indiana Sheriff’s Association really took hold of it and it is available to all the county sheriff’s departments in the State of Indiana,” she told the Commissioners. “Right now, about 60 of them have this program available to their employees. It’s purely voluntary and there’s no cost to the county to add this program. The expenses come out of the investments which are mutual funds that require that expenses come out of them. Those are the fees that are paying organizations like Morgan Stanley for the program so there’s no fees to the membership.”
Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:
Robert Singleton, Samuel Singleton, Amber Rose and Matthew Baker were arrested on Friday after officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and the Knox City Police Department executed an arrest warrant at 415 N. State Road 23 in Knox.
Bridge #62, #9 and #51 that are now closed in Starke County are expected to see repairs early this spring and summer. 19 bridges are on a priority schedule in the county. Continue reading
Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:
Tessa J. Haney and her two year old daughter, Jocelyn, were saved by Knox City Police Officer, Chad Dulin, and Knox-Center Township Firefighter, Wayne Noah, after they helped them from their overturned car that had crashed into a deep ditch filled with water on State Road 8.
The Family Dollar store in Culver was robbed at gunpoint late Saturday night. The Culver Police Department continues to search for the suspect. Continue reading
The West Central Lady Trojans have won their 2nd consecutive sectional title! The Trojans had very little trouble collecting their championship in the all Midwest Conference sectional at North White. In their first game, West Central outscored Pioneer 26-6 in the first half on their way to a 43-22 win, behind Marissa Hamilton’s game-high 15 points. The Trojans came back in their second game to defeat Tri-County 54-39 and put themselves in the championship game. The duo of Hamilton and Justine Kruger combined for 37 of the team’s 54 points. In the championship game, West Central’s smothering defense was too much for Caston as the Trojans defeated the Lady Comets 43-18. Again, it was the combination of Hamilton and Kruger who lead the offensive charge, this time scoring 34 of the team’s 43 points. This sectional championship is the fourth in the six year coaching career of Gina Hierlmeier, proving that tradition never graduates!
West Central (18-5) will be taking on Fort Wayne Canterbury (21-2) in the first round of the Caston Regional. Congratulations to the West Central Lady Trojans on their 2nd consecutive sectional championship!
