The Starke County Commissioners will get monthly reports from the EMS director, county highway superintendent and economic development foundation executive director when they meet this evening. Other items on their agenda include establishment of a county maintenance director position, a request from the county building commissioner to re-plat Cedar Pointe Park and scheduling dates for the county tax sale. Deputy coroner Kris Rannells is also on the agenda for a follow-up on a coroner’s item. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the county annex building.
Courthouse Repairs to be Detailed in Pulaski County Commissioners Special Meeting
The Pulaski County Commissioners will meet in special session today to discuss repairs needed at the courthouse.
Maintenance Director Jeff Johnston told the commissioners in April that he has an extensive presentation to detail renovations and upgrades at the courthouse. He said issues remain that can no longer be ignored and plans need to be put into place now to make these repairs. Structural concerns and infrastructure needs are part of Johnston’s focus.
Marshall County Commissioners to Discuss LOHUT in Today’s Meeting
A local resident will be giving her opinion about a wheel tax to the Marshall County Commissioners when they meet this morning.
The Culver Town Council and the Plymouth Common Council have approved letters of support to the Marshall County Commissioners and the council for a proposed Local Option Highway User Tax (LOHUT). A LOHUT includes a vehicle excise tax and wheel tax that is payable at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when vehicle registration is due. Those fees will be distributed to the county for use to construct, reconstruct, repair or maintain streets under county, city or town jurisdiction.
North Judson Truck Route Established
North Judson has solidified the route that commercial trucks can take in the community.
The ordinance specifies the path to enter the community and reach the industrial park through State Road 10 without traveling on residential streets. North Judson has undertaken the effort to help preserve road quality and prevent other traffic impediments.
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Pulaski County Continues HCI Project with Community Forum
Pulaski County had a strong showing for collecting surveys, but now additional information needs to be gathered.
As part of its Hometown Collaborative Initiative, Pulaski County’s oversight committee will be hosting a community forum. The forum will allow community members to better explain their answers on the survey, as well as find out more about what other residents prioritize.
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Ancilla College President Discusses Agriculture Program
Ancilla College is adding a new two-year degree program in agriculture. President Dr. Ken Zirkle says classes will be offered this fall. Students who complete the program can either transfer to Purdue and get a bachelor’s degree or enter the workforce.
Zirkle says the head of a regional agriculture-related corporation recently told him they need workers with training beyond high school but not a bachelor’s degree. He says that’s a perfect fit for what Ancilla has to offer. School officials will be working with local corporations to develop classes to meet their needs. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Addresses School Funding Rumors
North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation officials are eying a local property tax hike to cover operating expenses. A combination of state funding cuts and declining enrollment have cost the corporation a significant amount of money. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says they are not planning to consolidate.
“This is North Judson-San Pierre. It needs to stay North Judson-San Pierre. We’re not going to be absorbed into Knox. That is not true,” Johnson said. Continue reading
O-D Principal Encourages Prom Goers to Be Responsible
Oregon-Davis High School students are off to prom this evening. High school principal Tim Pletcher wants them all to return to school safely Monday morning.
“The last thing I want to do is come in Monday morning and deal with almost 300 grieving kids because something tragic happened,” Pletcher told the students during a Thursday afternoon program. “You can’t control what other people do. You cannot do that, but if you’ve ever been in my office or in Mr. Estok’s office we talk about there’s one thing you can control, and that’s what you do and what you say.” Continue reading
Absentee Voting Available Today
Voters in the City of Knox Primary Municipal Election have a chance to vote absentee today in the Starke County Clerk’s office.
The second-floor meeting room in the Starke County Courthouse is open to absentee voters today from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT. One more opportunity remains to vote absentee. The last chance to submit a ballot before Election Day is Monday, May 4 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Some BMV Branches to Changes Hours for Primary Elections
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles will be changing their hours slightly, next week.
According to BMV Commissioner Kent Abernathy, branches located in counties with elections in May will extend their hours on Monday and Tuesday. The extended hours will allow the BMV to issue driver’s licenses and state ID cards that can be used for identification at polling sites.
Knox City Council Receives Funding Request from Community Services of Starke County
The Knox City Council discussed a request for funding from Community Services of Starke County.
The city council anticipates this request each year and $500 was already included in the budget for this year. The organization helps residents with transportation and nutrition needs for the elderly. Residents who need assistance with food use the food pantry to feed their families.
SCYC Raises More than $40-thousand for Youth Activities
An organization dedicated to youth has raised thousands of dollars to support their efforts.
The Starke County Youth Club hosted its 8th annual radio-thon. The event was held on the airwaves of WKVI. A goal of $50-thousand was set to support after school activities in Starke County.
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HVRM Kicks Off Rail Season Saturday
The spring season has started, and so has baseball season, but how about rail season?
The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum will have its season kick-off on Saturday. The museum is considered a tourism draw for thousands who have an appreciation of railroads post-World War II.
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Lincoln Funeral Train Commemoration Planned in San Pierre
The unique event of a train stopping in San Pierre in 1865, which carried the coffin of assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, will be remembered in that community with a program this afternoon at 2 p.m.
The Starke County Historical Society will also place a rock monument with an appropriate bronze plaque on the grounds near where the Monon Line railway, which carried the President’s body through northwestern Indiana, once operated. Continue reading
DNR Approves Grants to Eradicate Invasive Aquatic Vegetation
The Department of Natural Resources has issued grant money to local counties to fight invasive aquatic vegetation. Lake and River Enhancement program grants from the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife allow for the completion of projects that would be difficult for local organizations to fund on their own.
DNR Redesigns, Launches Mobile “App”
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources may be providing easier access to information.
A mobile “app” that the DNR oversees for mobile devices has been redesigned for both Apple and Android operating systems. The remake comes after the previous “app” was launched in 2011. According to the DNR, the previous application was downloaded almost 33-thousand times.
Indiana Sheriff’s Youth Leadership Camp Set for June
LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd encourages the youth of the area to attend the 36th annual Indiana Sheriff’s Youth Leadership Camp in June.
The four-day camp beginning June 23 allows students to gain knowledge about law enforcement and participate in team building exercises and squad competitions. Students will see what deputy sheriffs do on a daily basis along with self-defense, SWAT, K9, gang and narcotics enforcement and SCUBA demonstrations.
The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office will pay the $25 fee for any seventh or eighth grade student wanting to attend the camp. Applications to attend are available at the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department or any LaPorte County school.
North Judson-San Pierre School Officials Propose School Funding Referendum
North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation officials will ask voters to approve a property tax referendum this fall to help fund day-to-day school operations. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says a combination of declining enrollment and state budget cuts have forced the corporation to cut $2.5 million since 2010. She stresses there are no plans to close schools or consolidate with another corporation, despite rumors to the contrary. Continue reading
O-D Stages Mock Crash, Teachers Talk Candidly About Drunk Driving
You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of those choices. That’s the message Oregon-Davis Middle School language arts teacher Angie Radke shared with high school students there after a mock drunk driving crash in the school parking lot. Radke’s best friend, Brooklyn Boo, was killed by a drunk driver in 1998, a week after their junior prom at North Judson-San Pierre High School. Continue reading
Student Achievements Showcased at Spring Celebration
The Crossing has only been operating for about one year, but according to their students, there have been some major accomplishments.
A spring celebration was held in Knox at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center on Thursday night. The gathering allows the alternative education school to showcase what students have been working to accomplish in their academic and personal lives.
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