The clerk-treasurer in the city of Knox has announced they will soon be going to a new billing system that uses full-size paper rather than postcards, saving roughly $540 per year because, according to Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, sending postcards is more expensive. Houston said the new bills will be sent out soon, so don’t be alarmed if your bill from the city is different!
Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Today
The Marshall County Commissioners will meet this morning at 8:30 a.m. ET in the second floor meeting room in the Marshall County Building.
Several items will be discussed today including a courtroom ADA remodeling project presented by Circuit Court Judge Curtis Palmer, an update on the Metronet Project from a representative from USI, and Treasurer Debbie VanDeMark will discuss extended hours for tax collections.
Knox School Board to Meet, Public Meetings Scheduled This Week for Balanced Calendar Discussion
The Knox Community School Board will meet tonight with a light agenda.
The board members will receive an update on the results of the NWEA test as well as a presentation on the Biomedical Science course addition at the high school.
The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT in the administrative office in the Palmer Wing of the Knox Elementary School.
Ancilla Hosting FAFSA Workshops This Week
The deadline looms for the FAFSA form to be filed in order to qualify for financial aid from the state, and Ancilla College is hosting three financial aid workshops to help prospective students get all the help they can in filing the form due March 10. Mike Brown, executive director of finance at the college, said the workshops will take place March 4, 1:30–3:30 p.m.; March 5, 4:30–6:30 p.m.; and March 6, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Flu Still Widespread in Indiana
Just because the flu season hit early this year doesn’t mean Hoosiers are out of the woods when it comes to the virus, experts say. While flu activity is on the downward trend, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, its prevalence in Indiana remains widespread.
Flu season typically runs through May, said Shawn Richards, a respiratory epidemiologist at the Indiana State Department of Health.
Kevin Harvick’s Car is “Freaky Fast” and Gets Win at Phoenix
Kevin Harvick had sponsor Jimmy John’s on his car this week and proved their slogan to be true. His car was “freaky fast” during The Profit on CNBC 500, Presented by Small Business Fueling America Sunday afternoon from Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.
Harvick picked through the field after starting 13th in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race. By lap five, he was in the sixth position. On Lap 74, Harvick’s No. 4 passed Joey Logano’s No. 22, who had been the race leader throughout the first part of the race. Harvick didn’t look back after that.
Kyle Busch Strikes Again, Wins at PIR
It hadn’t rained in 70 days before Saturday’s race, but it was a wet mess in Avondale, Arizona by late afternoon. With only 32 laps to go in Saturday’s Nationwide race action at Phoenix International Raceway, rain entered the area and drowned the track with raindrops which caused the red flag to stop action during the Blue Jeans Go Green 200, presented by Cotton, the fabric of our lives.
Kyle Busch had just gotten back to the lead after he and Brad Keselowski sparred after a restart on lap 142 after the engine let go in Derrike Cope’s car that caused a caution. At that time, Busch had led all but 13 laps of the race at the time of the red flag.
Paul Stucker Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison
A Scott County man was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the murder of an inmate while they were both incarcerated in the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City.
Paul Stucker, 53, was convicted of murder following a trial on Feb. 13, 2014. Stucker was found to have doused Johnny Hodge with several gallons of a liquid accelerant and burned alive while locked in his cell. This happened in 1983.
Man Arrested after Breaking into a LaPorte Home
A LaPorte man was arrested Thursday morning after being found in a house without the owner’s permission.
The complainant told police that he and his wife take care of the property and when they arrived at the home, they found a pickup backed into the driveway that is not supposed to be there. The front door was standing open.
Knox Council Approves Two Ordinances on First Reading
The Knox City Council this week tentatively approved the first readings of two ordinances, but expressed their intent to revise those ordinances before passing them on their second or third readings. The council first discussed the revised fees ordinance for the Planning Commission that replaced the entirety of the fees laid out previously.
LaPorte County Judge Awarded Grant for Court Program Needs
Twenty-three county courts were granted money to help support local family court projects.
The Indiana Supreme Court awarded $232,470 in grant money to court systems to help focus on creating innovative programs that improve the court process for families. Priority was given to those who emphasized improving access to the courts for families without attorneys, promoting timely resolution of cases and implementing other programs that support families throughout the court process.
Winter Weather Expected This Weekend
A winter storm is expected to impact the area this weekend, with snow beginning to fall tonight and continuing through Sunday night. Forecasters predict total accumulation to come to around four to six inches, with higher amounts possibly to the south of Fulton County.
FAFSA Deadline Approaching; File ASAP
The FAFSA filing deadline is quickly approaching, but there is help available to take the first step toward getting state and federal aid for college. Mike Brown, executive director of finance at Ancilla College, told WKVI that the FAFSA deadline of March 10 means there is just over a week left to get the vital form filed – even a day late can result in no aid from the state.
Documentary Planned to Focus on the Sand Dunes along Lake Michigan
A new documentary is being produced that will feature the history of the sand dunes along with southern shore of Lake Michigan.
Patty Wisniewski, who was a part of the Everglades of the North documentary that featured Starke County, is a part of the production team about this documentary entitled “Shifting Sands”. Wisniewski and Lee Botts are working with Lakeshore Public Television to put together this program.
Tyler Reddick Ready for Challenge in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Tyler Reddick is vying for the Rookie of the Year title in this season’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and he will have to battle his lack of pavement racing along the way to this title. He talks about his dirt racing background and what he expects at Martinsville in his Brad Keselowski Racing Ford in this Behind the Wheel interview with Anita Goodan: Tyler Reddick Behind the Wheel
Photo provided by NASCAR
Brennan Newberry Working His Way to Victory Lane
He’s running a part-time schedule in the NASCAR Camping World Truck series (NCWTS) and is looking for success in the K&N Pro Series East Series in 2014. Brennan Newberry is proud to come from the area where the NCTWS was founded and hopes that rich history, and talent, will put him into victory lane. Find out more in this Behind the Wheel interview with Anita Goodan: Brennan Newberry Behind the Wheel
Photo provided by NASCAR
Marshall County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Lake of the Woods Burglaries
Detectives with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department are investigating five recent burglaries in the Lake of the Woods are. All five occurred in the 3000 block of West Shore Drive and were reported between Feb. 11 and 14. Items reported stolen include food from refrigerators and freezers, televisions, coins, silver and cash, cordless drills, compact discs and movies, an iTunes radio, a game cube and games, a BluRay player, a Craftsman tool box and tools, a Lawn Boy push mower, a Dell laptop, a Wii game console and games, a Craftsman charger and batteries and an impact socket set. Continue reading
Hanley Warren Chapman Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
Hanley Warren Chapman was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Thursday afternoon.
Chapman was arrested on Aug. 7, 2013 after he fired three shots into the floor of his home with his brother-in-law present. The SWAT team was called to the home in North Judson in order to assist the North Judson Police Department in taking him into custody. The SWAT team entered the home and found Chapman in a room in the basement. He was highly intoxicated at the time he was taken to the Starke County Jail.
City of Knox Pursuing “Hardest Hit” Grant for Parkview
The Knox City Council this week approved the purchase of five lots in Parkview Heights, each of which was up for tax sale in the county but, because it was up for tax sale previously and did not sell, the city was able to purchase the properties for $35 each from the county. The city has acquired more than a dozen properties in the neighborhood, and Mayor Rick Chambers said the city is looking into options as far as what they can do to improve Parkview Heights and make it a safer place to live.
Danny Clark, Jeremy Hansen Sentenced in Starke Circuit
Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall sentenced two offenders in hearings Thursday afternoon.
Danny Clark, 21 of Kokomo, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to charges of Burglary as a Class C felony and Receiving Stolen Property as a Class D felony.