The clock is ticking on tax deductions for 2013. IRS officials say donations to charities and contributions to workplace retirement plans need to be made by Dec. 31 in order to count for the 2013 tax year. These include donations to qualified charities, which must be itemized when you file your taxes. Additionally taxpayers need receipts for each donation, regardless of how large or small it is, in order to claim it as a charitable deduction. A donation charged to a credit card by Dec. 31, 2013 is deductible even though the bill won’t be paid until next year.
Ancilla College Receives $1 Million Lilly Endowment Grant
Indiana’s only private, Associate’s Degree granting college has been awarded a $1 million Lilly Endowment grant. Ancilla College received one of 39 such grants provided by the Endowment to the state’s accredited colleges and universities as part of its Initiative to Expand Opportunities Through Educational Collaborations. The grants, totaling $62.7 million, will provide a significant boost to the schools’ efforts to enhance and expand opportunities for college graduates to find meaningful employment in Indiana.
Grovertown Man Still Missing; Search Continues
A 26-year-old Starke County man is still missing, having been last seen on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating Isaiah Lincoln Grounds, who was reportedly last seen as he was leaving the Grovertown Truck Stop in a gray four-door 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. He is described as a white male, 6’2” tall, 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Oregon-Davis Schools Conduct Security Drill
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation has considerable room for improvement when it comes to following school safety protocol. School and law enforcement officials put their response to the test yesterday with an unannounced exercise involving an off-duty state trooper dressed in street clothes attempting to get into the high school. He walked in through a door in the shop area that was propped open and strolled around the school for a few minutes before a teacher notified the office and a lockdown notice was issued.
Knox Board of Works Approves Pay Application For Water Line Project
The Knox Board of Works this week approved two motions regarding the water line installation project for the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Detention Center at the intersection of State Road 8 and County Road 550 East in Knox. Bob Alloy with Territorial Engineering approached the board and explained that the work is still taking place for the county’s portion of the project, but the work for the city of Knox has been completed.
Fight Involving a Baseball Bat Under Investigation
Police are investigating a fight involving a baseball bat in La Porte Village this weekend. According to the report, on Saturday, Dec. 14, at approximately 7:52 a.m., police responded to 1083 E. SR 2, lot 809, and found the victim with injuries to his face, back and ankle.
Starke County Officials Looking to Fill Nominated Positions
The Starke County Council and Commissioners are looking for local residents who want to serve as appointees on various boards and commissions in 2014.
“The board of commissioners and the county council reorganize, and part of that reorganization includes appointments to various boards. We do try to advertise those. We do try to solicit extra folks out in the community to participate on these boards. We’re looking for good, qualified people,” Norem said.
Oregon-Davis Hires New Superintendent
Greg Briles can remove the “interim” from his title at Oregon-Davis Schools. The board voted Monday night to hire him as the superintendent permanently. Briles taught for many years at O-D and replaced Dr. Steven Disney in the front office when he left to take a college faculty position. He tells WKVI news that he’s striving for transparency in the way the corporation is run and says the students at Oregon-Davis are his number one priority.
Rental Properties in Knox Require Registration
Any rental property owners within the corporate limits of Knox are required to register their rental properties beginning January 2014. Bruce Williams, planning commission for the city, told WKVI that all rental properties must be registered with the city planning commission.
North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Dept. Receives New Equipment
The North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department has received a couple new pieces of equipment, thanks to the township trustee. The township purchased a new positive pressure fan and two new task force tip nozzles for the fire department, allowing them to more effectively fight fires and prevent further property damage.
Pulaski EMS Dept. May Need to Expand Ambulance Garage
The Pulaski County Council this week heard a report from EMS Director Nikki Lowry, who told the commissioners that they are looking into the purchase of a new ambulance next year but there are a few problems. Lowry said the new ambulance will likely cost around $120,000, but the new rigs are bigger and the facilities available in Pulaski County to house ambulances are not big enough to accommodate them.
Hensler Nursery Presents Christmas Trees to Governor’s Office, Residence
Hensler Nursery in Hamlet presented Statehouse officials with a real Indiana grown Christmas tree on Dec. 2. The nursery presented an eight-and-a-half-foot Fraser fir to the governor’s residence on Dec. 2 and a 10-foot Canaan fir to the governor’s office.
State Excise Officers Bust Underage Drinking Party
Officers from the Indiana State Excise Police cited 17 people for underage drinking after responding to an anonymous complaint about an underage drinking party at a Knox home early Monday morning. When they arrived at the home in the 1100 block of East John Street in Knox they reportedly found 20 or so vehicles parked there and saw a young woman standing outside a pole barn holding a bottle of beer. She reportedly tried to hide the beer bottle and walked back into the barn, according to a news release from the state. When she opened the door, the responding officers heard loud music and saw people who appeared to be underage consuming possible alcoholic beverages. The three juveniles cited were released to their parents. Resident James A. Hudgens, 19, faces charges of illegal consumption of alcohol and furnishing alcohol to a minor. All of those cited will appear in Knox City Court to answer charges. Officers from the Knox Police and Starke County Sheriff’s Departments assisted with the investigation.
Marshall County Council Approves Metronet Expansion
Work on the expansion of a dark fiber broadband network into Marshall County could start this spring following approval by the county council of funds for the project. St. Joseph County Metronet wants to extend the dark fiber infrastructure into Marshall County. It will mean extremely fast Internet speeds for both business and residential customers. County officials say having that infrastructure in place will significantly boost economic development. The county has agreed to contribute $500,000 toward the project. St. Joseph County is also funding $250,000, and several local businesses are also kicking in some cash. The Marshall County Council yesterday approved the advertisement of the proposed appropriation, but final approval is still needed when they meet next month.
Police Respond to Domestic Violence Call, Arrest Stabbing Victim
A Rochester man is jailed on a domestic battery charge after police responded to a report of a stabbing at his rural Fulton County residence. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office got a 911 call around 9:30 yesterday morning about a stabbing in the 700 block of County Road 300 West. Through an investigation they determined that a fight between Nicholas Ponto, 30, and his girlfriend had turned physical, and Ponto was stabbed in the left shoulder. He was taken to Woodlawn Hospital in Rochester for treatment of injuries before being arrested. The authorities stress this is an ongoing investigation and say Ponto’s girlfriend reportedly suffered injuries as well during the fight.
New Courtroom May Be Added to Jail Project
Plans for the new Starke County Jail call for the eventual addition of a courtroom at the facility east of Knox on State Road 8, but the county may opt to include that project in the initial construction. President of the Commissioners Kathy Norem says the favorable financing terms the county received for the project combined with the sentencing reform that’s set to take effect make the new courtroom a higher priority. In order to accommodate this addition to the initial project, change orders will need to be turned in. Norem told the commissioners that the changes will result in some extra design costs. For instance, the video arraignment room in the current plans will be turned into a jury room, and an additional exterior door to accommodate a juror smoking area will be added. The office space for the detectives with the sheriff’s office would be moved upstairs in order to accommodate the circuit court clerks on the building’s first floor. The commissioners discussed the matter and voted to authorize DLZ to make the necessary changes to the plans in order to revisit the proposal with a better idea of the cost involved.
Pulaski Commissioners Rescind Motion to Move Offices
The Pulaski County Commissioners this week approved a motion to rescind a previous motion to approve the move of the assessor’s and surveyor’s offices. Assessor Holly VanDerAa told the commissioners that she has some health concerns with her new location and said she would like to have more testing done.
Police Searching for Suspect in Pole Barn Break In
Marshall County authorities are investigating a recent break-in at a rural residence. Sometime between 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16 and 7 Monday morning a pole barn in the 11000 block of 11th Road was broken into and several power tools were taken. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department at 574-936-3187.
Salt Shed Construction for North Judson Delayed to Jan. 14
Because the salt shed construction for the town of North Judson has been delayed, Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said the town board this week was forced to encumber the funds allocated to the project to allow the construction to take place in January. She said a shortage in crew members caused the project to be delayed until Jan. 14.
NWS Reporting Station at Starke County Airport Down
A number of Starke County residents have been unable to check the weather specifically for Knox due to a failing reporting station at the Starke County Airport. According to an official with the National Weather Service, this reporting station has been down for a while, but it doesn’t have much of an effect on their ability to predict and monitor weather. There are other sites in the surrounding area and observers that give weather information on a daily basis, but the malfunctioning reporting station does prevent Knox-specific weather from being reported.