The Starke County Commissioners are looking to fill a part-time position that will be shared between two departments. The applicant will serve as a part-time building inspector and assist with data entry to help update the county codes and ordinances. The need for a part-time building inspector was pointed out recently when Terry Stephenson was off work due to illness and work he normally handles could not be done. County commissioners discussed the matter and decided to hire someone to handle both roles. Members voted unanimously to advertise the opening for the position.
Pulaski Commissioners Hear EMS Update
The Pulaski County Commissioners this week heard a report from Nikki Lowry with the Pulaski County EMS. Lowry said her department is all caught up on past due accounts, and they are doing a cost assessment to get more reimbursements from Medicaid.
National Adoption Day Ceremony Held in Starke Circuit Court
Friday was National Adoption Day, offering a time for courts across the country to raise awareness of children in foster care who are ready and waiting to be adopted. Rhonda Adcock, director of the Starke County CASA program, told the audience assembled in the courtroom of the importance of adoption and the effect it can have on a child eagerly awaiting their “forever” family.
SCYC Receives CVS Caremark Community Grant
The Starke County Youth Club has received a $1500 CVS Caremark Community Grant.
The Community Grants program was created by CVS Caremark as part of its commitment to help people achieve their best health by providing financial assistance to program that are focused on wellness and prevention
NJ-SP School Board Honors Two Teachers
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board recognized the efforts of two teachers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Superintendent Lynn Johnson said Leslie Hampton and Chrystal Ingram received the Bluejay Way awards in light of their dedication to the success of the corporation.
Johnson said Leslie not only teaches the course for Family Consumer Science but she has also been managing the PowerSchool system for the corporation.
Starke County Commissioners Approve 2014 Holiday Schedule
Starke County employees will get a long weekend next year to celebrate Christmas. December 25, 2014 falls on a Thursday. The Starke County Commissioners approved a holiday schedule that includes closing the courthouse at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014 and remaining closed through the following Monday. Commissioner Jennifer Davis says that decision was reached after consulting county employees as to their preference. The rest of the county’s holiday observances will remain the same.
Pulaski County CDC and Winamac Town Manager Meet with Investors
Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer and Winamac Town Manager Jim Conner met with potential investors concerning a proposed hotel project on Wednesday.
Conner told WKVI that about 15 potential investors met and learned more about the project and discussed the need for a hotel in the area. Local business and industry leaders expressed that several representatives visit not only the Pulaski County area, but the Knox and Culver areas and it would beneficial to them to see this project become a reality.
McCurdy Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
A Knox man was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Thursday and was released from the Starke County Jail.
Christopher McCurdy, 46 of Knox, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a charge of Strangulation as a Class D felony and Battery as a Class A misdemeanor.
Town of Winamac Looking to Divest Airport Interest
The Pulaski County Commissioners and the county council will soon be discussing the possibility of purchasing one-third ownership of the Pulaski County Airport after a representative for the town of Winamac approached the commissioners and explained the town is looking to divest their interest in the airport.
WKVI Food Drive Begins Tomorrow at Five Star, Sanders
It’s time again for the WKVI Food Drive and the staff is hoping to obliterate last year’s donation of 375 pounds of food for the local food pantry. This year features a new addition to the event as WKVI General Manager Jerry Curtis will be broadcasting live and accepting donations at Sander’s Foods in Winamac while Tom Berg and Lenny Dessauer broadcast and collect at Five Star in Knox. This is fourth consecutive year for the food drive event.
Starke County Council Moves Money to Sheriff’s Pension Fund
The Starke County Sheriff’s Pension Fund is funded at a historically high level thanks to action earlier this week by the county council. Members voted unanimously to move $65,890.98 from the County Adjusted Gross Income Tax fund into the pension line item. Auditor Kay Chaffins explained that the state Department of Local Government Finance does not want the CAGIT money to go into the county general fund this year. Council President Dave Pearman says the transfer is consistent with the overall vision for the pension fund.
North Judson Fire Dept. to Purchase Pressure Washer
The North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department will soon be cleaning their equipment with some real power, after the town board this week approved a purchase order for Fire Chief Joe Leszek to purchase a pressure washer. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said the pressure washer will be installed in the fire station at a cost of $3200.
Oregon-Davis School Board Approves Principal Contracts
The Oregon-Davis School Board members approved contracts for the principals during their meeting this week.
Interim Superintendent Greg Briles said Elementary Principal William Bennett and High School Principal Tim Pletcher are great assets to the corporation, especially during the transition of a new interim superintendent. Briles added that they were both offered fair contracts and the board accepted those for renewal.
The board also approved the purchase request for new computers for the central office.
Briles stated it was time to upgrade to keep up with changing technology.
“Our central office computers had been here for the past five years and as technology has changed over those five years we’ve kind of fallen behind a little bit. So, we’re going to upgrade those,” said Briles.
The change will help streamline processes within the central office.
NJ-SP to Purchase Two New 72-Passenger Buses
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation will soon be toting kids around in style, after the approval for the purchase of two new 72-passenger buses. Superintendent Lynn Johnson told WKVI that the school board approved the bus bids to purchase the new buses after they received three bids, but only two of the bids came back with trade-ins.
Johnson said allowing the trade-ins was vital, as two buses were ready to be cycled out and the extra money would go a long way financially – especially since the buses will cost a total of $157,000.
Midwest Transit submitted the lowest bid, which the board accepted.
Amanda Barber to Discuss Publishing Pitfalls at SCPL Today
The Starke County Public Library will soon be hosting a discussion with a recently published author who will explain the headache-inducing process of getting a book published. Rachael Herbert-Varchetto, program coordinator at the library, said Amanda Barber, author of “The Pursuit of Elizabeth Millhouse,” will talk about some of the difficulties she had in getting her work published.
Great American Smoke Out Urged Americans to Drop the Habit
The American Cancer Society’s 38th Great American Smoke Out was held yesterday, when Starke County residents were encouraged to drop the habit in celebration of the event. Brittany Ward, a respiratory therapist at IU Health Starke Hospital, said even though the event is over, now is still the perfect time to quit.
“According to the American Cancer Society, the Great American Smoke Out is held on the third Thursday in November. During this day, smokers across the nation make a plan to quit or plan in advance to quit smoking today. It challenges people to stop using tobacco and makes people aware of the many tools and resources they can use to quit for good,” Ward said.
Food Finders Mobile Food Pantry Schedules Visit in Winamac
The Food Finders mobile pantry will be at the Pulaski County Human Services building in Winamac on Friday, Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. ET for a food giveaway day.
Free food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible residents. You must meet 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines to be eligible to receive this service.
Overall Cost of a Thanksgiving Meal Lower in 2013
It looks like a Thanksgiving meal will cost a little less this year, according to an informal survey of grocery costs from Indiana Farm Bureau.
The average cost for this year’s Thanksgiving meal for 10 is $48.12 which is $3 less than last year’s average. The shopping list includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and both coffee and milk.
Kewanna Man Faces Charges Stemming from Fatal 2012 Hunting Trip
A Kewanna man accused of fatally shooting a friend in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun during a 2012 hunting trip in rural Fulton County faces multiple felony charges. Indiana Conservation Officers and Fulton County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Matthew Carlson, 25, at his residence Wednesday night. He’s charged with reckless homicide and criminal recklessness as C felonies as well as a D felony offense of criminal recklessness. The charges stem from the Sept. 30, 2012 shooting death of Kenneth Moore, 28, of Rochester. Investigators say the men were hunting together on private property north of Rochester with another adult male and a 12-year-old boy. Information released shortly after the incident occurred indicates the hunting party split into two groups, and Moore and the boy walked into an adjacent cornfield. Shortly afterward, Carlson picked up the gun and shot Moore in the head. He was pronounced dead a short time later at Woodlawn Hospital in Rochester.
Freet Found Not Guilty
A Knox man was found not guilty after a two-day trial in Starke Circuit Court.
Rodney Freet Jr. was charged with child solicitation after an incident reported in January. A six-member jury in Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall’s court took less than an hour to deliberate and found Freet not guilty of the charge.
Five witnesses for the state were called to the stand while two witnesses were called by the defense, including the defendant.