Knox City Council Discusses Medic Calls for Fire Dept.

Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council this week learned an unexpected statistic from Knox-Center Township Fire Chief Kenny Pfost, who explained that one-third of his department’s calls are for medical purposes. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, it is inconvenient for the fire department because they receive no reimbursement for medical calls, but must pay $10 to each firefighter that responds to the call.

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Stay Safe in the Frigid Cold This Winter

 
 

With frigid cold temperatures in the forecast, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency wants families and individuals to stay safe when faced with hazardously cold temperatures.

Andrew Velasquez, FEMA regional administrator, said subfreezing temperatures can be dangerous and even life-threatening for people who don’t take the proper precautions.

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Gen-6 Test a Success at Charlotte Motor Speedway

NASCAR TestingIt was music to the ears of race fans to hear the cars back on the track Wednesday after the NASCAR season ended on Nov. 17 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

This wasn’t specifically a race, but a test to gather data for the development of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series intermediate-track package for 2014.

Sixteen race teams and 30 drivers were on hand to test several changes to the Gen-6 car. Officials believe that the changes will enhance racing.

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Richard Childress Racing Announces 2014 Plans

750As expected, Richard Childress named Austin Dillon as the driver of the No. 3 Dow Chemicals Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in a press conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway Wednesday afternoon.

Executives from Dow Chemicals expressed their enthusiasm by expanding their partnership with NASCAR. The company already provides safety innovations in the sport and will sponsor 16 races with Austin piloting the No. 3.

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Sleeping Restaurant Patron Arrested on Firearm Charge, Theft Charges Pending

Russell Prosser Jr.
Russell Prosser Jr.
A suspect in several Culver area thefts is jailed in Marshall County after apparently picking a bad place to take a nap. An officer from the Marshall County Police Department reportedly found Russell A. Prosser sleeping in a car in the Lapaz McDonald’s parking lot around 4:30 Monday morning. The car matched the description of one that was part of several thefts and a foot chase in Culver on Sunday, according to the arrest report. A rifle and several items believed to have been part of the theft and subsequent chase in Culver were reportedly visible through the car window. Prosser is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to several prior serious felony convictions. He was arrested on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. Officers obtained a search warrant for Prosser’s car and reportedly found several items that had apparently been stolen the previous evening in Culver. Additional charges are pending.

Donation Account Established for Knox Fire Victims

 

 
 

Sunday’s house fire in downtown Knox left two single mothers and seven children homeless. The blaze at 7 N. Bower Street started in a second floor bedroom, according to Knox-Center Township Fire Chief Kenny Pfost, who believes an electrical heater is to blame. Nobody was injured, but the families were able to salvage very little. The Kid’s Closet Ministry at North Judson United Methodist Church has stepped in to offer assistance, and the St. Joseph County American Red Cross chapter is providing temporary shelter. An account has also been set up at First Farmer’s Bank and Trust in Knox and North Judson if anyone would like to make a monetary gift to the Sexton Family Fire Fund.

 

Town of Winamac Hires Garbage, Recycling Collection Company

Winamac Town Hall
Winamac Town Hall
The town of Winamac will save roughly $12,000 a year by privatizing the collection of garbage and recycling in the town, according to Town Manager Jim Conner. Conner told WKVI that the town council this week decided to accept a bid from Advanced Disposal Services to provide garbage and recycling services for the town at a cost of $141,408 for the first year.

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Cerebral Palsy Won’t Keep Montana Resident From His Rock Star Dreams

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Gavin Gristy and his mother, Casey Clark

Hometown pride runs deep, even when it is shown 1,519 miles away.

WKVI’s Anita Goodan has an old school friend who is helping her son with Cerebral Palsy reach rock star status. Casey Clark, who lives in Anita’s hometown of Shelby, Montana, is asking friends and neighbors to send her son, Gavin Gristy, Christmas cards. Clark said the main purpose of this venture is to show her son that even with his physical and speech ailments, he can reach his rock star status.

“My son has Cerebral Palsy and I wanted him to have a very special Christmas this year,” explained Clark. “Things kind of get hard for him at times. He has always dreamed of being a rock star, wanting fans and wanting to get mail. So, I decided to start a Facebook thing and ask all of my friends to send Christmas cards in his name so he can go through mail and get the mail. I had no idea it was going to explode into this huge extravaganza!”

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West Central School Board Discusses Budget

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central School Board discussed the corporation’s budget at their recent meeting.

Superintendent Charles Mellon said the corporation received the 1792 notice and the board reviewed the notice.

“I went through that with the board and explained the rationale behind some of the budget cuts with the main reason being the reduction in revenue coming in,” said Mellon.

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State Changes Distribution Schedule for SNAP Benefits

  
 
Families who receive SNAP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, benefits will need to adjust their grocery shopping schedules. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration is changing the dates on which the benefits will be received. January of 2014 will serve as a transition month for the program, with the changes to be fully implemented in February. State officials stress that benefit amounts are not changing. The only change is the date on which benefits are applied to the Hoosier Works EBT card. Previously payments were made during the first 10 days of the month. However, a change to state law will spread payments from the 5th to the 23rd of each month, on odd days. More information about the change is available online at www.SNAP.IN.gov.