The Marshall County Commissioners will meet this morning with several business items up for discussion.
Joe Edwards with SRI, Inc. will appear to explain the process of a certificate sale. Treasurer Deb Vandemark told the commissioners previously that several properties have not sold in the county’s tax sale that have been up for sale for many years. The certificate sale would be a way to get the properties back on the tax rolls.
The absence of smoke detectors in a Culver home is blamed for claiming a life. The Culver-Union Township Volunteer Fire Department responded to 504 Mill Street around 1:30 Thursday morning. Fire Chief Terry Wakefield tells WKVI news the lone occupant died in the blaze, which started accidentally. Continue reading
A ten-year prison sentence was handed down to a Knox man in Marshall Superior Court No. 1.
Tony Clemons, Jr., 36, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a charge of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. He admitted that he assisted in the manufacture of methamphetamine on multiple occasions at an 8th Road address.
Clemons had been on parole from a previous conviction of burglary from another county and failed a drug test previously administered by his parole officer, according to a news release from the Marshall County Prosecutor’s office. Police went to the 8th Road address in July and found a burn pile with remnants of methamphetamine labs. Officers applied for a search warrant. Once the search warrant was executed, officers found items associated with manufacturing methamphetamine.
Marshall County Prosecutor-elect Nelson Chipman has appointed Tami L. Napier of Hancock County as the next chief deputy prosecuting attorney. Her appointment begins Jan. 1.
Tami Napier has been the chief deputy prosecutor in Hancock County for the last four years. Prior to that she served as a deputy prosecutor in Marion County for five years where she was assigned to major felonies, the sex crimes unit and the homicide division. She initiated programs like the Hancock County Child Fatality Review Team, the Hancock County Sexual Assualt Response Team and the Domestic and Sexual Assault Prevention Coalition.
Chipman feels that Napier will be a “great fit for Marshall County”.
The Marshall County Commissioners approved the second reading of an ordinance regulating setbacks at Pretty Lake.
A public hearing on the ordinance was held on Monday, Nov. 17 where Plan Director Ralph Booker explained to the commissioners that the Pretty Lake Homeowners Association approved a change where new construction would need to be a 45-foot setback from an 789.0 elevation line. The setback shall be determined by a line drawn between the furthest extension of adjacent structures including any decks, balconies or raised patios.
Marshall County Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters gave the commissioners a map and a list of which roads are to be opened first in the event of snow.
The commissioners had asked for a list so they know which areas would receive attention first. They also asked Peters to forward the information to the sheriff’s department, EMS, fire department, and EMA Director for emergency planning.
Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery presented the commissioners with a grant sub agreement for their signatures for a competitive EMPG grant that the county received in the amount of $8,485.29.
Avery explained that the grant is a reimbursable grant that will be used for a training exercise and educational material for the public. When he originally requested to apply for the grant, he wanted to purchase recording equipment for the Emergency Operations Center but he found out that could not be approved with the grant funds.
The 7th Road project in Marshall County will not be completed this year.
The project supervisor overseeing the construction, Bart Trester, told the Marshall County Commissioners that the current state of the project on Michigan Road will remain through the winter.
“The traffic has been running on phase three section of the roundabout and will probably remain like this through the winter,” said Trester. “The contractors finished placing the HMA base and intermediate lifts along the main line from Seltenright Ditch to Linden Trail and the HMA base from Seltenright Ditch to the roundabout. Due to weather limitations, the contractor will more than likely shut down operations for the winter. They have opened Lilac Road and Linden Trail for thru-traffic for over the winter.”
The Marshall County Commissioners will meet today where Bart Trester from USI will give an update on the 7th Road construction project, the Metronet project and work on the Jefferson Street bridge.
The commissioners will also have the second reading of an ordinance regulating construction setbacks at Pretty Lake. Plan Director Ralph Booker explained in a public hearing that the Pretty Lake Homeowners Association approved a change where new construction at the lake would need to be a 45 foot setback from an 789.0 elevation line.
A man was sentenced to probation in a hearing in Starke Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon.
William Jones pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a charge of domestic battery as a Class D felony. Judge Kim Hall accepted the plea agreement and Jones was sentenced to 18 months in the Indiana Department of Corrections with the entire sentence suspended to be served on probation. Jones must pay a $50 domestic violence fee along with court costs.
The Marshall County Metronet project is drawing to a close.
The commissioners last week approved a payment agreement between the county and the City of Plymouth for shared conduit installation. The county is to pay half of the cost of the installation and handholds on Lincolnway to State Road 17 on Pioneer Drive, Pioneer Drive to Overmyer Drive and three lateral connections to the three county buildings for a total cost of $37,513.76. The city will pay the same cost for those installation costs.
The Marshall County Commissioners recently discussed a Memorandum of Understanding to continue the Meals on Wheels program at the Marshall County Council on Aging.
County Attorney Jim Clevenger stated that the current agreement expires Dec. 31 of this year and it needed to be renewed. The agreement allows the meals to be cooked at the Marshall County Jail at a cost of $3.25 per person. The personnel at the Marshall County Council on Aging pick up the meals at the jail and deliver them to those in need.
Batten down the hatches, we’re in for a blustery day. The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for the WKVI listening area until 7 p.m. EST/6 p.m. CST this evening. Southwest winds will increase to 25 to 35 miles-per-hour by mid to late morning, with gusts reaching 45 mph during the day. Continue reading
Continuing road work on Interstate 94 in Porter County will reduce the roadway to one lane for the next few nights, weather permitting. Indiana Department of Transportation contractors will be restriping the highway between State Road 249 and State Road 49 tonight and tomorrow night. That work will take place between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Continue reading
The Starke County Historical Society hopes to move its museum into a new building within the next three years. It’s currently located in the home of former Indiana Gov. Henry F. Schricker at 401 South Main Street in downtown Knox. Historical Society President Ron Vendl says the home is “jam packed with items of historical significance.” He adds there is no space left to store or display things. Family physician and longtime historical society benefactor Dr. Walter Fritz has offered to sell the historical society his medical office building at 1520 South Heaton St. to use as an additional museum. The 2,550 square-feet of space on the main floor is equal to that of the Schricker home, with an additional 2,100 square feet of storage space in the the basement. Continue reading
The former Walkerton-Lincoln Township Public Library Director has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to two of the 10 felony charges filed against him. Scott Klingerman faced 10 counts of wire fraud. He’s accused of using the library’s debit card to pay for vacations, health club memberships and other personal business. Continue reading
The Marshall County Commissioners held a public hearing during their meeting Monday morning concerning an ordinance regulating building setbacks at Pretty Lake.
Plan Director Ralph Booker explained that the Pretty Lake Homeowners Association approved a change where new construction at the lake would need to be a 45 foot setback from an 789.0 elevation line. The plan commission also approved the ordinance with one commission member against.
Request for a recount in two races in the General Election have been filed in the Starke County Clerk’s office.
Clerk Evelyn Skronski told WKVI News that a recount has been requested in the County Council District 4 race between Republican Don White and Democrat Pamela Stalbaum. Stalbaum had received 707 votes and White had 705 votes. The second request has been filed in the race for Railroad Township Trustee. Republican Mandy Thompson won the seat by three votes over Democrat Roger Chaffins, Sr.
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation is the first in the area to adopt the balanced calendar concept. The school board voted 5-to-1 in favor of the plan, with board member Lee Nagai casting the lone no vote. Continue reading
The Marshall County Commissioners discussed a contract between the county and Quality Correctional Care, LLC.
Quality Correctional Care, LLC provides the jail’s healthcare needs. The company has provided pharmaceutical needs, a full-time nurse and doctor visits since October of 2013. The current contract expires on Dec. 31 of this year.
County Attorney Jim Clevenger explained that the new contract would be for a four-year term at a cost of $153,000 for the base compensation per year. That figure would not change throughout the duration of the contract. Some add-ons are also available. The monthly cost would be $12,750. A doctor will visit once a week along with a psychologist and a nurse will be there 40 hours a week.
