LaPorte Police Investigating Counterfeit $100 Bills

 
 

LaPorte Police are investigating reports of counterfeit $100 bills being presented for payment at two businesses on Pine Lake Avenue. Officers were called to the NAPA Auto Parts last Thursday after an employee took a $100 bill from a customer who bought $28 worth of merchandise. The clerk checked the bill with a counterfeit pen, according to the incident report but later realized it was a fake. Continue reading

Check for Excise Tax Eligibility on the BMV Website

 
 

You can check to see if you are eligible for an excise tax refund on the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle’s website.

BMV Commissioner Don Snemis said letters have been sent to those who are eligible but in case you didn’t receive a claim form, access the refund eligibility page at www.myBMV.com. A “Check Your Excise Tax Refund Eligibility” icon can be found on the right side of the page and users will be asked for a Social Security Number or Driver’s License Number in order to check eligibility.

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Several Local Programs Planned to Celebrate Veterans Day

 
 

Today we pause to honor the sacrifices of the men and women who have served in our nation’s armed services. Veterans Day is celebrated each Nov. 11th. That’s the date in 1918 on which fighting between the Allied Nations and Germany stopped, marking the unofficial end of World War I. The following year President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11th Armistice Day. That celebration evolved into Veterans Day after World War II. Continue reading

IBA Names WKVI-FM Market 3 Station of the Year

WKVI Sales Manager Tony Ross, Morning Show Host Tom Berg, News Director Mary Perren, General Manager Jerry Curtis, Operations Manager/Program Director Lenny Dessauer and Sports Director Nathan Welter are all smiles after accepting the Indiana Broadcasters Association Spectrum Award for Market 3 Station of the Year.
WKVI Sales Manager Tony Ross, Morning Show Host Tom Berg, News Director Mary Perren, General Manager Jerry Curtis, Operations Manager/Program Director Lenny Dessauer and Sports Director Nathan Welter are all smiles after accepting the Indiana Broadcasters Association Spectrum Award for Market 3 Station of the Year.

WKVI-FM is the Indiana Broadcasters Association Market 3 Station of the Year. General Manager Jerry Curtis says the judges look closely at the service stations provide to the community.

“We have a full-time, full-service news department. They look at that. They look at other community events that we’re involved in, like the Pizza Hut World Hunger night that we did. Also the radiothon for the Starke County Youth Club. Those are all factors that they consider heavily,” Curtis said. Continue reading

Washington Township School to be Demolished Tuesday

Washington Township SchoolThe Washington Township School will be demolished Tuesday.  Officials told WKVI News that the contractor has delayed the project by one day.

The building has been a safety issue in the area and could not be rehabilitated at a reasonable cost.

A volunteer contractor from Monterey will bring down the longtime fixture at the intersection of Division Road and State Road 23 in Starke County.

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Residents Grill Pulaski County Council over County Home Budget Elimination

Pleasant View Rest Home
Pleasant View Rest Home

Two members of the Pleasant View Rest Home Board of Directors and several residents approached the Pulaski County Council last week to discuss the elimination of the county home’s funding from the 2015 budget.

Larry Rausch and Michelle Roudebush explained to the council that 1,640 signatures were gathered on petitions to keep the county home open.

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Starke County Jail Construction Still on Schedule

Paving work is set to start soon at the site of the new Starke County Sheriff's Office and Detention Center.
Paving work is set to start soon at the site of the new Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center.

The site of the new Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Detention Center east of Knox is looking less like a job site and more like a finished building. Crews have started grading around the building on State Road 8 at County Road 550 East and are getting ready to pave the parking areas. That work will be done before Thanksgiving, according to a schedule presented last week to the Starke County Building Corporation. Continue reading

Property Taxes Due Today

 
 

Property taxes are due today in the Starke County Treasurer’s Office.

Treasurer Kasey Clark said you may visit the office on the ground floor of the Starke County Annex building Monday today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to make a payment. A drop box is also available outside the office. If you taxes are postmarked with today’s date, they will be accepted.

Property taxes may also be paid online at www.starketax.net. Follow the instructions carefully.

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West Central School Board Approves School Calendar

west central logoThe West Central School Board approved a school calendar for the 2015-2016 school year.

Superintendent Don Street said the calendar is similar to this year’s calendar.

“Our teachers will be starting school on the tenth of August and the students will be arriving on Thursday the 13th of August. We also had a little discussion concerning balanced calendars of the schools in the area that are looking at, if you will, a semi-balanced calendar,” said Street.

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Weather Delays Jefferson Bridge Opening

Jefferson Street bridge
Jefferson Street bridge

It will take a couple of more days to open the Jefferson Street bridge in Plymouth.

Marshall County Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters told WKVI News that weather has delayed the completion of bridge work. The projected reopening date is now Wednesday.

Bart Trester from USI Consultants told the Marshall County Commissioners last week that the remaining items on the checklist include sidewalks and curbs. Crews also want to reseal the bridge deck to complete the project.

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Marshall County Council to Meet Tonight

  
 

The Marshall County Council will meet tonight where several additional appropriation requests are on the table for approval.

A representative from the Argos Community School Corporation will request money from the rainy day fund for stipends, health insurance and utilities totaling $140,000. A request will also be made for a reduction in General Fund appropriation for health insurance and utilities in the amount of $120,360.

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Lilly Endowment Offers Starke County Community Foundation Matching Opportunity

The Starke County Youth Club is one of several organizations funded by the Starke County Community Foundation.
The Starke County Youth Club is one of several organizations funded by the Starke County Community Foundation.

Donors to the Starke County Community Foundation can double their support to the community funds. Lilly Endowment, Inc. has agreed to match donations dollar-for-dollar up to $250,000 for the next 18 months. Starke County Community Foundation Development Director Sarah Origer said no gift is too small.

“Our community funds are the funds that allow us to make our community grants every fall. These are the grants that go to support organizations like the Starke County Youth club and our library systems and the SCILL Center.” Continue reading

Police Warn of Phone Scam

  
 

Several complaints of a phone scam have been received by the Knox City Police Department.

According to police, residents are getting phone calls by people claiming to be from NIPSCO and demanding payment on their bill. The caller threatens the resident that a utility worker will arrive at their residence to shut off power in an hour if the payment is not made during the phone call.

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Building Corporation, Commissioners Discuss Courthouse Renovations

starke-county-courthouseMoney to renovate the second floor of the Starke County Courthouse could come from the county economic development income tax funds used to pay for the new jail. At that time the existing jail across from the courthouse will be renovated to accommodate Starke County Community Corrections and the probation department. Plans call for the prosecutor’s office to move from the basement of the current jail into the courthouse and the current clerk’s office to be renovated. Continue reading