Planting season is making progress in the Hoosier State.
According to Purdue Extension’s Ag Educator Phil Woolery, planting data is considered in-line with previous averages for this time of year, though things picked up in recent weeks.
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Efforts are being made to save wear and tear on wastewater equipment as North Judson residents continue to flush unnecessary items into the sewer system.
Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry told WKVI News that the town council approved the purchase of five baskets totalling $1,700 that will capture large items in the sewer system. The wastewater crews continue to find shirts, sleeves, underwear, and other items not suitable for flushing down the toilet in the sewer pumps. As a result, the pumps are damaged and it’s quite an expense to replace those pumps.
A Union Mills woman faces a felony charge after initiating a pursuit with police that spanned two counties.
The incident started around 3:15 p.m. CT Tuesday afternoon when LaPorte County Sheriff’s Officers were notified of a vehicle involved in a hit and run and headed into the county from St. Joseph County. The vehicle driven by 56-year-old Kim Echterling failed to stop on State Road 2 at County Road 300 East after LaPorte County Captain Dave Pflughaupt attempted to end the pursuit. The vehicle continued into the City of LaPorte.
A Winamac man who is charged with murder in Sunday’s stabbing death of his wife apparently tried to kill himself as well. Michael Kasten Sr., 59, is accused of stabbing his wife, Tina Kasten, 58, in the chest with a steak knife at their home on State Road 119. A friend who lived with the couple called 911, according to the police report. Officers found Tina Kasten on a loveseat in the living room of the home with a chest wound and her husband in the garage covered in blood with a steak knife nearby. He reportedly told officers he stabbed himself and said repeatedly he wanted to die. Continue reading
The murder trial for a Knox man accused of beating his estranged wife to death at their rural California Township home last June is still on schedule for late July. Gary Chavez was scheduled to stand trial last month, but the proceeding was canceled at the last minute due to what a jail physician deemed an urgent surgical procedure. Continue reading
The victim of a Saturday morning explosion near Medaryville has been positively identified.
According to information released by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, 53-year-old Nancy Jendrasziewicz was occupying the home at the time of the incident.
Authorities in LaPorte County say road rage may have been a factor in a fatal two-vehicle Sunday night crash near Union Mills. Michael Edwards, 38, of LaPorte, died en route to a medical helicopter that had been summoned to the crash site in the 8500 block of County Road 600 West. The second driver, Bryan Baker, 21, of Hobart, was treated at IU Health LaPorte Hospital and released. Continue reading
A public hearing is set for June 1 to discuss the demolition and clean up of the debris from the Sportsman’s Bar and Grill in Monterey.
The structure that housed the business at the corner of Walnut and Main Streets collapsed during the evening hours of Thursday, April 23. An asbestos study was completed on the rubble where testing found the debris positive for the presence of asbestos.
The owner, Courtney Hardin, has 30 days to clean up the property. She will need to appear before the commissioners for the public hearing and comply with the demolition order.
The two quotes for tuckpointing at the Starke County courthouse are so widely varied in terms of price the commissioners have decided to go through a formal bid process for the work. They plan to ask the contractors who are completing the new jail to put together bid packets for the scope of the project. It includes masonry repair from the top of the clock tower to the basement, electrical and plumbing upgrades and the remodeling of space on the second floor to accommodate the prosecutor’s office. It’s currently in the basement of the existing jail across the street. That building will be remodeled after the inmates move out and will eventually be home to Starke County Community Corrections and the probation office. Continue reading
The Starke County Highway Department has reduced the allowable weight on a bridge northeast of Knox. Effective immediately, the bridge on County Road 25 north immediately west of 600 East has a posted limit of five tons. Highway department officials say the change is due to the recent bridge inspection.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board will be setting the table for future budget discussions.
At their meeting tonight, Board members will learn more about how the latest decisions in the state legislature will affect their fiscal year budget. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says she hopes to explain the new revenue figures to the board.
The Culver School Corporation is preparing itself for reduced funding levels.
Now that the state of Indiana has determined new school funding formulas, the Culver School Corporation stands to lose revenue. Many rural school districts are facing a similar predicament due to reduced student populations.
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A Knox man received a sentence of five years on home detention after pleading guilty to charges in two different cases in Starke Circuit Court.
Nathaniel Furlong admitted to a probation violation and was sentenced to four years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with no part of the sentence suspended. He was permitted to serve his sentence on home detention with electronic monitoring with Starke County Community Corrections.
A 27-year-old Knox man with a history of drug use was sentenced to 30 months in the Department of Correction for maintaining a common nuisance and another 12 months for violating his probation during a hearing in Starke Circuit Court. The sentences are to be served consecutively, for a total of 42 months. Continue reading
The People’s University of Marshall County is a learning center that teams up with local businesses to offer specialized classes for interested individuals of all ages. Currently, People’s U is seeking potential students and instructors as well as new ideas for desired courses. Continue reading
Marshall County will act as a funding pass-through point to deliver transportation funding from the Indiana Department of Transportation to the Marshall County Council on Aging.
Executive Director Jackie Wright explained to the Marshall County Commissioners Monday morning that she is submitting grant paperwork to INDOT for the annual request for transportation funding. She requested that the County be the pass-through point for the funds. She anticipates the reception of $277,000 this year.
The facility is not being fully used, presenting an opportunity to fundraise for a good cause.
Starke County Relay for Life will be hosting an event on May 21st that mimics being jailed. Individuals can surrender themselves at the new Starke County Jail on that date, or issue a “warrant” for someone’s “arrest.”
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A rural Winamac man is charged with murder in connection with Sunday night’s stabbing death of his wife at their home. Continue reading
An investigation is ongoing, but the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department has identified the possible cause of a home explosion near Medaryville on Saturday morning.
Investigators from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a fatal stabbing. It happened around 9:30 last night, according to a department news release. Continue reading
