Fire Chief Joe Leszek told WKVI that they were called out at about 12:07 p.m. CT Saturday to 3800 W. Third Street in North Judson. When they arrived at the scene, they found the home’s garage and the home on fire. Leszak said all occupants got out of the home safely and no injuries were reported.
The fire had started in the garage and spread quickly to the home. Leszek indicated that the home was not a total loss but heavily damaged.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
A Kewanna-based business is poised to expand operations into Winamac, according to information shared with the Pulaski County Economic Development Board of Directors. Winamac Coil Spring is in the process of purchasing the former Chesapeake Recycling property south of Winamac on U.S. 35 and plans to move a production line from Fulton to Pulaski County. The move will initially create between nine and 12 jobs with the potential for significant sales and employment growth over the next decade. Winamac Coil Spring officials recently approached Pulaski County Economic Development Director Nathan P. Origer to ask about an upfront cash incentive from the county to offset some of the hefty front-end costs involved in the project. Origer’s board discussed the matter and agreed to recommend a forgivable loan of up to $150,000 guaranteed by a contract.
WCS is a leading manufacturer of compression, extension and torsion springs for a variety of customers and also offers wireforms. The company was founded in 1948 by Walter Pesaresi and is now run by second and third generation descendants.
The Starke County Highway Department has been working hard to get ready for the impending winter, and Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told WKVI that they’ve hauled in all 3000 tons of their sand and their salt contract is ready. He said the department has been checking their equipment as they get ready for winter operations, including switching to winter-grade gas and oil and prepping snowplows.
The Knox City Council will meet tonight to discuss a number of agenda items.
The water line easement for the new Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center will be discussed. The city is putting in water lines that will extend from Henry Drive to the property on County Road 550 East.
Superintendent Charles Mellon said the program leader was able to attain the grant.
“Monica Gainor who writes this grant is in charge of the program,” said Mellon. “We get about $28,000 from the state to operate a program for our higher ability students. The board approved that.”
Dana Vann, the coordinator at the Indiana State Soldiers’ Home Cemetery in West Lafayette, said she gets a lot of satisfaction from the program.
A U.S. Army National Guard staff sergeant visited the Knox Community High School today where he gave some inspirational words to the student body. SSG Jerry Nenycz, a graduate of Knox High School, enlisted in the National Guard in 2002 before being mobilized with the infantry and deployed to Afghanistan where he supported Operation Enduring Freedom from 2004 to 2005.
There, he earned his combat infantryman’s badge. Upon his return home, Nenycz was promoted to sergeant, became a member of the Honor Guard, and became a paratrooper and assistant team leader. At the same time, he has worked as a recruiter and instructor with the Indiana Army National Guard.
A Walkerton man is hospitalized in Indianapolis following an accident involving a grenade launcher at a private shooting range in Marshall County yesterday. Kevin Patterson, 41, of Walkerton, was firing a starburst grenade round from an AR-15 platform rifle when it detonated in the launch tube under the rifle barrel, according to officials with the DNR. Conservation Officer Corporal Ashlee Jackson describes the round as similar to an aerial firework. Patterson was taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment of injuries to his arm. Officers from the DNR, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police responded.
The Culver Community School Corporation is continuing in their effort to hire a new superintendent for the school to replace current Superintendent Brad Schuldt who has announced he will be leaving the corporation at the end of the year. Board President Ryan Sieber explained that the board has gone through the application and interview processes, and on Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. ET, the board will hold a public input meeting regarding the contract that has been offered and publicized.
Sieber explained that after the input has been taken, the board will look to vote on the contract on Nov. 25 at their regularly scheduled meeting, and he said it’s likely that the new superintendent’s name will be announced at that time.
While there are no glaring differences in the contract for Schuldt and the new contract, Sieber said there are a few changes necessary to get the contract up-to-date. Schuldt’s contract, Sieber explained, included a grandfathered deal regarding annuities, and this new contract scratches that.
Sieber said the board feels very fortunate with the quality of the applicants that came forth, and they have narrowed it down to three possibilities.
The new superintendent would take over the position on Jan. 2.
The West Central School Board members received word last week that the school corporation was the recipient of a Secured School Safety grant.
Superintendent Charles Mellon commented that Safety Director Chuck Evans worked hard to make sure the grant was completed properly and on time to be considered for this grant. The grant, totaling just over $26,000, will be used to upgrade security in the entryways to all of the schools.
After raising more than 375 pounds of food for the food pantry last year, it’s time again for the WKVI Five Star Food Drive and 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. This is fourth consecutive year for the food drive event, and Curtis said he has been involved in three of them, doing live remote broadcasts from the store.
Curtis said the food drive event is something WKVI is proud to do to help their community.
The Starke County Community Foundation has announced a new endowment fund to help preschool students obtain the education they need before entering kindergarten.
The new Starke County Preschool Education Fund was established by Peggy Shidaker, the director of curriculum and instruction at the Knox Community School Corporation. The fund was created to honor her parents, Arthur and Carolyn Shidaker, and to support early childhood education in Starke County.
Oregon-Davis students are continuing a longstanding Veterans Day tradition of inviting members of the community who have served in the military to school for breakfast and convocation. High school principal Tim Pletcher says the sophomore class hosts the program as a way to say thank you to the men and women who have defended our freedom.
“It’s a nice way in a small community like this to let the community and the veterans know that the students and the staff here at Oregon-Davis appreciate everything they’ve done for us, and we realize we couldn’t do without the sacrifices they’ve made,” said Pletcher.
It’s time to submit your nominations for the prestigious Henry F. Schricker Community Service Award.
Henry F. Schricker was a Starke County native who lived by the attitude of “service before self”. This is the foundation for the Schricker Award and nominees should share that attitude.
1st Source Bank is celebrating 150 years in business and officials are giving away 150 $1,000 donations to your favorite not-for-profit charity. Two $15,000 donations will be given away as well.
All you need to do is nominate your favorite 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Go to 1stsource.com and fill out the form provided and give a brief description of the organization and why you believe they are deserving of a $1,000 donation. Continue reading
