Cobblestone Development specializes in building budget friendly accommodations for business travelers and others in small communities like Winamac. Developer John F. Seibert says the accommodations would be similar to those offered by a Holiday Inn Express or Hampton Inn. He adds hotels like the one his company is proposing take about five months to build.
Candidate filing for the 2014 election is just two months away. Several members of the community have already announced intentions to seek their party’s vote for a chance to win a seat in local elections.
Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski said the first day to file for candidacy is Jan. 8, 2014. Her position is up for election in 2014 as well as prosecutor, auditor, sheriff, coroner, assessor, county commissioner district 2, county council districts 1-4, and Center Township assessor. The at-large and North Bend Township seats on the Culver Community School Board are up for election, as well as the California Township, Washington Township and Center Township Seat 1 on the Knox Community School Board and the District 1-3 seats on the Oregon-Davis School Board.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board heard a presentation from a group of seniors who developed a “bring your own device” policy as a class project for the board to consider for second semester.
Superintendent Dan Foster explained that this policy would allow students to bring in their own iPad, laptop, smart phone or technology device for use during the second semester. The seniors felt that they weren’t being treated fairly.
The West Central School Board recently learned that the boiler system needs repairs fairly quickly as the colder weather sets in.
Superintendent Charles Mellon explained that one boiler needs to be repaired and another needs replaced at the high school.
“It’s a three-phase unit so we are down to one boiler and we need one repaired rather quickly,” stated Mellon. “We don’t want to be caught having no heating system at all. We’re going to move rapidly on that.”
Mellon has discussed the issue with the maintenance director at the school corporation and repairs are ongoing at this time.
Real Services in Culver is offering a Thanksgiving meal to those aged 60 and older who may not have a place to go for the holiday.
Site Director Cecelia Moroni said the dinner will be on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at the site at the Culver Beach Lodge beginning at Noon ET. Turkey will be served along with mashed sweet potatoes, corn bread stuffing, green bean almondine, cranberries and pumpkin pie.
The temperature is dropping, prompting residents to stay indoors and crank up the heat to stay warm, but what can outdoor pets do to stay warm? Suzanne Crider with the Starke County Humane Society has a few tips to keep your roaming pets safe and warm this winter.
For those who have a doghouse or other structure for their animals, Crider said it’s important not to make it too big. She said it’s best to have it big enough that the animal can get in and comfortably lay down and stretch out, but any bigger and it becomes harder for the animal’s body heat to keep it warm.
With firearm deer season mere days away, the spooked animals will soon be more active and may be more prominent near roads. Because of that, the Indiana State Police urge drivers to be cautious when traveling.
Motorists should take the following precautions when driving in rural areas to avoid having a crash involving a deer: when possible, use high beam headlights at night and be aware that deer could be standing on or near the side of the roadway; watch approaching vehicles and observe what may break their headlights beams, as it could be a passing deer; watch for reflections from the deer’s eyes; where there is one deer there are often several, so don’t assume you missed the deer because more could follow.
A deputy from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department came upon the vehicle on State Road 8 just east of State Road 39. The vehicle was upside down in a deep ditch filled with water.
A vehicle driven by Joe Duquette was pulled over near the intersection of State Road 17 and Queen Road west of Plymouth for several traffic infractions.
A bridge project in the Koontz Lake area is done ahead of schedule and under budget. Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler tells WKVI news the bridge just north of State Road 23 on County Road 1100 East passed final inspection yesterday and is now open to traffic. Ritzler adds the bridge is opening 18 days early and says the project came in $10,000 under budget.
The Knox City Council approved an easement agreement with Chuck and Dennis Estok to move forward with the water line project for the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Detention Center at the intersection of State Road 8 and County 550 East in Knox.
The city of Knox will be responsible for the installation the water lines for the project that will extend to the property from Henry Drive.
1st Source Bank has received calls from concerned residents who have received phone calls that their debit card has been deactivated. The caller then instructs the victim to enter account information to reactivate the card. 1st Source Bank officials remind you that they will not call you, text you or email you asking for your account number, PIN number or password.
Superintendent Dan Foster explained that the school corporation isn’t on the same budget schedule as the majority of school systems in the state.
Superintendent Charles Mellon explained that while it is early, the course description book was also presented to the board by middle and high school principal Don Street.
“It’s that time of the year where we are getting to enroll students for next year. That seems a little early, but that’s the process. The state had changed a lot of course titles and we have some new offerings that are due to some of the licensing of our staff so we were able to make some course selection changes for the 2014-2015 school year,” said Mellon.
The holidays are coming up quickly and if you’re looking to pay it forward and help a family in need, Community Services of Starke County may be able to help you.
Director Joan Haugh said she hopes Community Services can be the main place to gather names of families to help this season. She explained that some families contacted several agencies and received help while others didn’t receive any help.
