Candidates running for office in Starke County could be facing fines for not filing the appropriate financial disclosure forms.
During Tuesday’s Starke County Election Commission meeting, filing CFA-4 forms was discussed as important due to laws implemented at the state level. There are three financial documents that need to be filed for a candidate to be in compliance.
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A man who police say ran from the scene where a meth lab and stolen items were found was taken into custody.
Jason E. Cooke, 35, of Plymouth was located and taken into custody by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department on Monday, Jan. 26. Cooke was later transported to the Starke County Jail and is being held on preliminary charges of burglary and theft, according to a Knox City Police Department press release.
Five people were arrested Saturday, Jan. 24 after Winamac police received a complaint of high traffic and a smell at one of the Franklin Street apartment complex around 11:30 p.m. ET.
A search warrant was obtained for 214 S. Franklin Apt. B. and where an active meth lab was allegedly found along with marijuana, prescription medication, packaging materials, meth, and syringes, according to Winamac officer Mark Hoffman.
Suspicious activity at the CVS in Culver led Indiana State Police to assist local police.
Officers responded January 21st around 1 p.m. to the area of East Lake Shore Drive and Coolidge Street in Culver.
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The Knox City Council members again tabled the second reading of the dumpster ordinance last night.
City Attorney David Matsey was able to pare down the ordinance, so it suits the city and focuses on the residential district. Matsey said the ordinance restricts the use of dumpsters in areas zoned R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 on the public right of way. As the discussion went on, the council wanted to go further to include the dumpsters on private property. Mayor Rick Chambers suggested allowing dumpsters on private property as long as they are behind the front of the house in a fenced area and permitted to be there by a building permit. The dumpster may be placed on the property for ten days out of a 30 day period once a year. Discussion also surrounded proper registration by the contractor placing the dumpster on the property.
An ordinance that better defines when and where wind energy can be used in Culver went to first reading last night.
The Culver Town Council delayed the first reading after a public hearing at their last meeting. The decision was made after the council said they needed additional time to review the ordinance before making a decision.
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The Marshall County Safety Commission held a discussion on many key issues of emergency planning when they met Tuesday morning.
Troy Heckaman from Culver Military Academy and Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery noted that they were trying to put together a crisis communication plan for each school. Avery said they would like to have representatives from each of the schools to designate a safety person to be a part of a sub-committee that will work on a plan that’s specific to the school.
The state’s unemployment rate went up a tenth of a percent to 5.8 percent. Since December 2013, Indiana’s labor force has grown by over 83,000 people that is nearly twice of any neighboring state, according to Indiana Workforce Development. December was the first month where Indiana’s unemployment rate has exceeded the U.S. rate. The U.S. rate has declined by two-tenths of a percent to 5.6 percent, mainly due to a decrease of 273,000 in the national labor force.
Members of the United States Senate debated 18 amendments yesterday on a bill that would approve construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.
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The Knox Board of Public Works will meet this morning where Building Administrator Bruce Williams will discuss a storm-water runoff issue as part of a new construction project for the Knox Community Elementary School. Williams told WKVI News that a 7,000 square foot addition is proposed at the school.
Street Superintendent Jeff Borg, Water Superintendent Todd Gardner, Wastewater Superintendent Kelly Clemons, and Police Chief Clint Norem will give department reports.
The Knox City Council members will be approving a fireworks date when they meet for their regular meeting tonight. When they met on Jan. 13, the council members had concerns holding the fireworks celebration on the Fourth of July as they were afraid of interfering with family gatherings. If the celebration was on July 3, the fireworks celebration would cost the city less money and more people could come through the gate. The matter will be settled tonight.
Pulaski County Community Development Commission Director Nathan Origer told the commissioners last week that appraisals will be done on some land in the industrial park for possible development.
Origer said there are two potential projects coming to the area that would allow the land to go up for sale or lease. Indiana code mandates that two separate appraisals will be done in order for that to move forward.
The Marshall County Safety Commission will meet for the first of its two meetings of the year this morning.
The commission members will develop strategies in emergency planning for schools, highways, emergency management, police, and health department.
During the fall meeting, programs were suggested to better gather information about how to handle bomb threats at school corporations and how to prepare for winter weather. A system for responding to emergencies was also discussed where communication plans were laid out. Those plans will be reviewed, and other thoughts given to help ensure all entities are on the same page when emergencies occur.
Officers from the North Judson Police Department warn residents that scams are making the rounds.
Several complaints have been made about a caller posing as a Social Security or an IRS worker looking for information and requesting account numbers. Police have also received information that people are posing as other county officers are calling residents asking for bail money for a loved one. Other calls have been reported involving a police detective looking for information about a warrant. If the resident puts up bail money immediately, then the arrest warrant would not be carried out.
The Culver Town Council will be reviewing an economic development presentation during tonight’s meeting.
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A bill has been filed in Indianapolis that could affect local businesses.
Senate Bill 41 looks to increase Indiana’s minimum wage from its current rate of $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour. If signed into law, the increase would put Indiana in line with other states implementing similar pieces of legislation.
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The Indiana Department of Revenue is promoting an option that some Indiana residents may qualify for when filing their taxes.
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Income tax filing time means it’s also time to see where you stand in terms of need-based college financial aid for the 2015-16 academic year. Ancilla College Executive Director of Admissions Eric Wignall says you need to have family income information handy before visiting www.fafsa.gov to fill out the necessary form. Last year’s tax information can be used to estimate, and this year’s data can be plugged in after taxes are finished.
In conjunction with national efforts, Indiana Governor Mike Pence has issued a proclamation recognizing this week as Indiana School Choice Week.
The movement organizes events that look to inform parents about the K-12 education options available, and to point out a few of the benefits for choice in education policy.
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The Indiana Sheriff’s Association (ISA) is awarding college scholarship to high school students or college students who are pursuing a degree in criminal justice.
LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd said there are 40 scholarships valued at $500 to qualifying students throughout the state. Sheriff Boyd said the ISA provides invaluable services to the citizens of LaPorte County and the county is pleased to be a part of the scholarship program.
The applicant must be an Indiana resident, a current member of the ISA or dependent child or grandchild of a current member of the Indiana Sheriff’s Association, attend an Indiana college or university, major in a law enforcement-related field, and be enrolled is a full-time student.
