Half of the residents at Pleasant View Rest Home have found placement in other facilities.
Pulaski County Auditor Shelia Garling asked the county council this week how to handle funds coming into the county from residents who self-pay. They are paying for the month but leaving before the month is over. The council members agreed that the residents will get a refund that will be distributed when notification is received of their new placement.
It’s important to clear sidewalks of snow for public safety. That’s the opinion of the Knox City Council members after receiving complaints from residents after the last snow storm.
Several council members received complaints of residents having to walk in the street in order to get to their destination. They were especially concerned when they saw citizens walking on U.S. 35 because the sidewalks were not cleared by property owners.
Mayor Rick Chambers said he received complaints about snow piled up on street corners. The street department was sent out to clear sidewalks and corners where private contractors piled the snow too high. Several mailboxes will be repaired by the city. They were knocked down to due to the heavy, wet snow.
U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski will attend a signing ceremony at the White House today for a bill she cosponsored. The Clay Hunt SAV Act provides greater access to mental health care for military veterans. It’s named in honor of Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran Clay Hunt, who committed suicide after battling with post-traumatic stress disorder brought on by his service overseas. He sought care from the VA and received a 30 percent disability rating for his PTSD. He appealed and encountered administrative obstacles, including the VA losing his files. Hunt took his life weeks later, and five weeks after his death his appeal was approved. Continue reading
Guilty verdicts were returned on three counts filed against Joseph Esposito.
The half-day trial began Wednesday morning in Starke Circuit Court, and two witnesses testified during the hearing including officer Frank Thomas from the North Judson Police Department and Indiana State Police Trooper Jim Strong.
A man wanted for failure to register as a sex offender is now in custody.
According to LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd, Sir Moore was arrested Wednesday afternoon. Moore has a lifetime requirement to register his residence as he was previously convicted of child molesting. Continue reading
Marshall County Sheriff Tom Chamberlin presented a resolution regarding commissary fund expenditures to the county council this week.
Sheriff Chamberlin explained that the funds are spent by guidelines set forth in the state statute. He felt that a resolution be enacted to have a better understanding of how the money can be spent out of certain line items. Detailed information would be provided on active expenditures. Continue reading
The community of Culver is coming together this weekend for the Culver Winter Festival.
The event kicks off Friday with the lighting of the ice sculptures at 6 p.m. and the Cupid’s Crawl until 9 p.m. The Cupid’s Crawl is a chance for festival attendees to shop and dine at local establishments to win prizes. An artist class begins at 5:30 p.m.
The Lion’s Club will host a pancake breakfast on Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., an ice carving demonstration is at noon and a free ice fishing camp for kids is at 1 p.m. A snow fort construction class begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
A committee will be formed to help plan this year’s Knox Harvest Days Festival.
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers told WKVI News that 13 people attended a planning meeting Wednesday morning at Knox City Hall. They are exploring other dates to hold the festival. One of the possible dates is Sept. 19 and 20. The festival could be held in the downtown area, but no final decisions were made during this meeting.
The continued cold weather means higher utility bills for Hoosiers. NIPSCO offers a variety of energy efficiency rebates that can save money in both the short and long-term. They include up to $450 back, on attic insulation with air sealing, up to $250 back on a 95 percent efficient furnace, a $20 rebate on a programmable thermostat and a $50 rebate on a smart wi-fi thermostat. Customers can schedule a free home energy assessment by calling 1-800-721-7385. Continue reading
A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the Kanakee Valley during the overnight hours. It takes effect at 11 p.m. EST/10 p.m. CST and continues through tomorrow evening. Snow and blowing snow are possible, with totals of 3 to 7 inches expected across the advisory area. The system is lake effect, so forecasters stress it’s hard to predict where it will hit. Continue reading
The Knox City Council held discussion on the dumpster ordinance last night.
Mayor Rick Chambers explained that at the last meeting they discussed allowing dumpsters in the residential districts if certain criteria are met. However, the mayor said he and City Attorney David Matsey looked over the ordinance, and the original intent was not to allow dumpsters in the areas zoned R-1 and on the public right of way. The way the ordinance is amended for the second reading, in order to have a dumpster in R-1 a building permit is needed. A dumpster is allowed in any ten-day period out of a month one time a year for cleaning projects or a roofing project, or appear before the Board of Public Works for a variance.
The process for renovations at Eastern Pulaski Schools took another step during Monday night’s School Board meeting.
Board members discussed, and approved, letting bids on the $14-million project. Bids are expected back sometime in March after an extensive design process. Eastern Pulaski Schools Superintendent Dan Foster says they don’t quite know how many firms will see the project.
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Discussions on a new vision for the Culver EMS Department will continue next week.
Over the last several years, the number of volunteers working with the EMS Department has been dwindling. That has created staffing issues for the department that the Town Council hopes can be remedied.
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The Marshall County Council discussed an additional appropriation request by the county commissioners for the Metronet project in the amount of $119,750.19.
Commission President Kevin Overmyer explained that the money was leftover in their line item in 2014 and was reverted to the Rainy Day Fund. Overmyer asked that the money be appropriated to finish paying bills for the Metronet project. He said the entire amount will not be spent and whatever is left can be put back into the Rainy Day Fund.
A committee will look into wages and salaries in the coming weeks in Pulaski County.
EMS Director Nikki Lowry begged the Pulaski County Council for help as she cannot keep staff in her department. She said she is in desperate need for paramedics, but the county’s wages and benefits don’t entice potential applicants to work with the county. According to Lowry, first-year staff members don’t get any extra time off.
A new plaque in the lobby of the Catherine Kasper Life Center on the Center at Donaldson Campus celebrates the generosity of one of the ministry’s most staunch supporters. The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Foundation created the Otis Bowen, M.D. Fund after his death two years ago. The pediatrician-turned-politician resided there until his death. Sister Judith Diltz says they are delighted to be able to honor Doc Bowen.
“His presence here among us was a gift and a grace. Carol put many miles on that wheelchair as she rolled him around this facility and our whole campus, and he was just such a delight.” Continue reading
The Town of Winamac will soon be able to provide some better services for its residents.
A new Town website is anticipated to launch this week. The websites’ development was started in October of 2014. The company developing the site has spent the last several months gathering information from the Town to better supply residents with proper information.
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A deadline is approaching for students interested in scholarships from the Starke County Community Foundation.
The organization says it has about 30 scholarships available for Starke County students to pursue post secondary education. According to a press release, more than $55-thousand was distributed in 2014.
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There will be two pick-up locations for for travelers in WKVI and WYMR’s springtime Tulip Festival tour of Holland and Sagatuck, Mich. Departures from Plymouth as well as Knox will make it more convenient for Marshall County travelers. Continue reading
