test photo

Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 17, 2014 in Brooklyn, Michigan. Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/NASCAR via Getty Images
Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 17, 2014 in Brooklyn, Michigan. Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/NASCAR via Getty Images

Property Taxes Will Increase to Build Hamlet Fire Station

The new fire station will be built between the Starke County Fairgrounds and the Wayne Apartments in Hamlet.
The new fire station will be built between the Starke County Fairgrounds and the Wayne Apartments in Hamlet.

Davis Township property owners who live outside the Hamlet town limits will see a property tax increase of about 14-cents per $100 of assessed valuation to pay for the new 9,300 square foot, $750,000 fire station. That’s an estimate provided by officials with accounting firm Umbaugh and Associates during Monday’s public hearing on the project. Continue reading

Pulaski County Commissioners Approve Purchase of New Ambulance

 
 

The Pulaski County Commissioners approved a quote for a new ambulance during their meeting on Monday night.

EMS officials announced last week that the ambulance damaged from a February fire and subsequently repaired did not pass state inspection so it was totaled by the insurance company.

During this week’s meeting, EMS Director Nikki Lowry presented the commissioners with four quotes for a new ambulance. They approved a quote from Arrow in the amount of $130,700. Since the insurance company totaled the truck, an $82,000 settlement will go toward the purchase of a new ambulance.

Continue reading

Metronet Nearing Completion, One Connection Approved

 The Metronet project is expected to finish ahead of schedule.

The Marshall County Commissioners noted that the installation of conduit has been going smoothly for the most part and the installation should be complete in mid-September. The Metronet officials will then install the dark fiber and companies should be able to connect to high-speed internet soon after the construction.

Roland Houin with Fourway Computer Products at 12700 4A Road told the commissioners that he’s ready to tap into the service to run to his facility as soon as possible. He plans to lay down conduit and to be prepared once the fibers are lit. He said he wants to experiment running the conduit and fibers to a communication tower and to homes in that area which is by the Tri-Way Theatre and the state highway garage.

Continue reading

Oregon-Davis School Board Approves Firearms Policy

Oregon-Davis Jr./Sr. High School
Oregon-Davis Jr./Sr. High School

The Oregon Davis School Board members approved the revised firearms policy during Monday’s meeting.

As per state law, firearms may be in a school employee’s locked car out of the sight of the public, which Oregon Davis’s policy will reflect. School Superintendent Greg Briles said the only person or persons who would be allowed to have firearms in the buildings would be the schools resource officers or police officers.

Continue reading

North Judson Town Maintenance Building Nearing Completion

  
 

he North Judson Town Council members held discussion on a number of topics during their Monday meeting.

Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann told the council members the new maintenance building should be completed by the end of the month. The project was to be complete a few months ago, but the weather and other unforeseen circumstances delayed the start of the project until late March. The town employees have been working on the building’s interior.

Continue reading

Mayor Chambers Clears an Issue with Outdoor Storage Ordinance Confusion

  
 

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers informed the city council members last week that a fundraising concept has been nixed at a few businesses in the city because there is some confusion with the outdoor storage ordinance.

Mayor Chambers explained that a non-profit organization attempted to have a port-a-pit chicken sale at a business but the organization members were told it couldn’t be held at the location because it conflicted with the outdoor storage ordinance.

Continue reading

Kankakee Valley FOP Holds Successful Event

06-04-14 FOP pictureThe Kankakee Valley Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #129 held a shop with a cop event prior to the start of school.

FOP President Chris Kisela told WKVI News that they were able to assist 40 children with $125 in school supplies this year. On Aug. 10, the kids got to shop for clothes, shoes or whatever school supplies they needed with officers, dispatchers and officials from the Starke County Prosecutor’s Office at a department store in Valparaiso.

Continue reading

Preschool scholarships available at SCCF

 Many local preschools still have openings for children to ensure your child is ready for kindergarten.

Full and partial scholarships are still available at several local preschools through the Starke County Community Foundation’s Preschool Scholarship Program. Preschools participating in the scholarship program that still have openings include Foundations Preschool and Little Lambs Preschool, both located in Knox plus adventure Island Preschool and St. Peter Lutheran Preschool in North Judson.

Continue reading

Fate of Bass Lake Seasonal Camping in Park Board’s Hands

Bass Lake Beach
The Starke County Park Board will oversee Bass Lake Beach and Campground

The future of seasonal camping at the Bass Lake Beach and Campground is in the hands of the five yet-to-be-named Starke County Park Board members. The county commissioners previously announced plans to limit camping to 15 days at a time after this season concludes but have not yet sent a formal notice to manager Richard Callahan and his attorney David Wallsmith. They contend those statements have caused damage to the business, as many campers are uncertain whether they will be able to return next year. Continue reading

Pulaski County Commissioner Voices Support for County Home

Pleasant View Rest Home
Pleasant View Rest Home

A lot of discussion has been held on the County Home in Pulaski County in the past couple of months, especially since a preliminary study was released concerning structural issues that plague the rather dated facility.

Recent discussion held during a joint meeting of the county commissioners and the county council focused on three solutions to remedy the situation: closing down the county home, remodeling the county home or building a new structure.

No government officials have made a decision on what the future holds for the County Home, but there are some immediate repairs that need to be done to keep the building from further deterioration.

Continue reading

Marshall County Commissioners Tentatively Approve Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Contract

  
 

The Marshall County Commissioners approved a contract for gas and diesel with one company – provided some language can be ironed out between the company and the county attorney.

Representatives from North-Central Co-op went before the commissioners Monday morning to discuss the agreement which allows for gasoline and diesel fuel at the highway department with a card reader system and tank monitoring. The company would install the hardware and software and equipment at the highway department at no up-front charge, but a four-and-a-half cent additional cost over the rack price will be assessed on fueling to pay for the cost of the equipment over a five-year period.

Continue reading

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Scheduled This Weekend

Hazardous Household Waste trailerThe Lake Michigan Household Hazardous Waste District is conducting a collections event at the La Porte County Fairgrounds on Saturday Aug. 23rd from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT. Items that can be disposed of include, ammunition, flares, fireworks, aerosols, automotive supplies, batteries, corrosives, expired medications, mercury containing products, florescent tubes, thermometers, thermostats, paint, medical sharps, pesticides as well as other poisons, and waste fuels.  Continue reading

Rape Charge Filed Against Knox Man

 
 

A Knox man has been charged after an alleged sexual assault.

A call was made to the Starke County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday afternoon that a female had been raped. The victim was transported to IU Health Starke Hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

The incident occurred in the 200 block of North Main Street, according to Knox City Police Department officials. A warrant was secured to search the residence. Michael J. Salita, 28, was taken into custody for questioning and was held in the Starke County Jail while the investigation continued through Friday.

Continue reading