A pair of LaPorte County residents are free on bond following their recent arrests on drug charges. Jason Kazen, 41, and Jenny Kazen, 38, both of Hudson Lake, surrendered themselves at the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office last Thursday after criminal arrest warrants were issued. Both are charged with possession of marijuana as a class D felony. Jenny is also charged with the felony offense of possession of hydrocodone, which is a Schedule II Controlled Substance. Both are free on bond. Their arrests are a result of an investigation by officers from the LaPorte County Metro Operations Unit. The public is encouraged to report potential drug activity to the La Porte County Metro Operations Unit by calling (219) 325-9022.
Gas Leak at LaCrosse Schools Causes Evacuation
A gas leak at the LaCrosse School Corporation caused varsity and junior varsity volleyball games against West Central to be postponed until Thursday night. Superintendent Tim Summers told WKVI that the gas leak was caused by an unmarked gas line that was struck while crews were working on putting in a new parking lot.
Fire Ruled Undetermined
The cause of the fire at the corner of Mound and Prettman Street in Knox is undetermined.
Knox-Center Township Fire Chief Kenny Pfost told WKVI that there is too much damage and the structure is unsafe to excavate.
Knox-Center Township firefighters were at the scene for several hours in the overnight hours on Sunday battling the that fire that destroyed the property that was once known as “Mackey’s Boarding House.”
U.S. 35 Bridge Opening Delayed
The bridge projects in Starke and LaPorte Counties that Indiana Department of Transportation crews have been feverishly working on for the past six months are close to being done.
INDOT Spokesman Matt Deitchley says one bridge opening has been delayed while the other will be opening at the end of the month.
Pulaski CDC Website to Undergo Redesign
The Pulaski County Commissioners this week received an update on the efforts of the Community Development Commission, as Executive Director Nathan Origer explained they are moving forward with their “Savor Indiana” special and the hiring of a company to redesign the CDC website.
Public Health Forum Held Last Night in Knox
The third in a series of four public forums on the topic of the quality of health services in Starke County was held last night at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox. Commissioner Jennifer Davis hosted the forum, which she said was aimed at gathering input on the direction the county needs to take in order to provide quality healthcare.
State Certified Classes Taught at Washington Township Fire Department
Two state certified classes were recently taught by Dave Pearman at the Washington Township Fire Department over the course of five weeks.
Pearman taught an Instructor 1 class that will bring additional instructors into the fire service which will allow them to enhance training at their departments. Those who successfully complete the rather extensive Instructor 1 training can then train students in mandatory, firefighter 1 and firefighter II classes. These training sessions are the foundation of all firefighter classes.
Marshall County Commissioners Approve Property Purchase
The Marshall County Commissioners Monday morning approved the purchase of the Anthony Ross property in the amount of $87,248.
The Ross property sits alongside the river and the commissioners are buying the property in order to control riverbank erosion as part of the Yellow River Bank Stabilization Project.
Winter Weather Preparedness Week Demonstration at INDOT Plymouth Site
This week is Winter Weather Preparedness Week and to gain a better perspective of what it’s like for a snow plow driver during a snow event, Indiana Department of Transportation officials invited members of the media to hitch a ride with driver Dave Pennington to get a snowbird’s eye view of the process.
WKVI’s Anita Goodan rode in the snow plow and even though reporters were offered a chance to drive in an obstacle course at the Plymouth Sub-district, she opted not to challenge the state’s insurance policy. However she did talk to six-year snow plow driver, Dave Pennington, while in the snow plow about what challenges he faces while out on a route.
North Judson Making Progress Toward Town Maintenance Building
The town of North Judson is making progress toward its proposed town maintenance building. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained the town board held the public hearing for the structure on Nov. 12 to give the public an opportunity to hear details about the project and ask questions, but no members of the public were present; only a guest from First Farmers Bank and Trust, with whom the town is likely to sign a lease agreement for the building, was present.
Sentencing Policy Study Committee to Visit Starke County
Members of a legislative study committee charged with looking into the effects of the state’s sentencing overhaul will be in Starke County next week.
“Starke County, as well as seven additional Indiana counties, has been chosen to participate in the sentencing policy study committee. It’s quite an honor.”
Special Presentation Featured During Knox Community School Board Meeting
A special presentation was featured during the regular meeting of the Knox Community School Board Monday night. High school teacher Taylor White and students in her Family and Consumer Sciences class presented a unique school project.
Principal Dr. Elizabeth Ratliff explained that the students in the high school adult roles class featured two technology projects related to roles that students take that are not only inherited but those they accept.
“What the students were asked to do was highlight a couple of the roles that they take in the community – some that are inherited, as a daughter, as a sister, as a family member, and some of those that are chosen. One of the projects a student reviewed was how she has chosen to work with her faith. The other one could have dealt with their role as an employee or their role in school and academics to really be able to highlight a little bit of themselves.”
The students presented their projects to the board that were completed with iMovie on their school-issued computers in the one-to-one computer initiative.
Oregon-Davis School Board Gets Positive Feedback During Public Hearing
The Oregon-Davis School Board held a public hearing to gather opinions on the proposed contract for employment of a new Superintendent of Schools.
Interim Superintendent Greg Briles commented that the public hearing went very well.
“We had a packed house and it was very refreshing that people would take the interest in coming in and expressing their opinions on the hiring of a school superintendent,” stated Briles. “There was a lot of positive feedback. There was not one negative thing said in regards to the contract. They were very appreciative of the work that our board had done in establishing a contract for the new superintendent.”
The next step will be the hiring and naming of the new school superintendent which will be done during the board’s next regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 16.
Donate to the Starke County Food Pantry This Holiday Season
With the holiday season upon us, it’s time to give back to the community and help out a family in need. The Starke County Food Pantry is asking for donations to help stock their shelves, and Rhonda Overmyer at the pantry said they are most in need of shampoo, laundry soap, dish soap, canned tuna and soups, canned fruits and vegetables, box dinners similar to “Hamburger Helper” dinners, macaroni and cheese, and pancake mix and syrup.
Salvation Army Bell Ringers Begin Early This Year
Salvation Army volunteer bell ringers will be starting their holiday chiming early according to coordinator Joe Lopez, who told WKVI that the bell ringers will be at Bailey’s and Five Star in Starke County beginning Nov. 22. Both locations are indoors.
Expert Offers Tips to Help Children Cope with Disasters
As residents pick up the pieces after a storm spawning tornadoes tore through the state Sunday, children who witnessed the destruction may be trying to make sense of what they saw. President and C-E-O of the Indiana Youth Institute Bill Stanczykiewicz says first and foremost, adults should listen to the child, hear their concerns and take them seriously.
NCWTS Crew Member Suspended for Violating Substance Abuse Policy
NASCAR has announced that a crew member in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has been indefinitely suspended for violating the sanctioning body’s Substance Abuse Policy.
Curtis Martin Jr., was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy) of the 2013 NASCAR Rule Book.
This reportedly occurred on Nov. 12.
Martin is also a former crew chief in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
National Weather Service Confirms Pulaski County Tornado
The National Weather Service confirms a tornado struck Pulaski County on Sunday. An EF-1 tornado touched down just south of U.S. 421 and Delaware Street in Medaryville at 3:03 p.m. and lifted 10 minutes later about 2.5 miles northeast of Denham. The funnel cloud’s path width is estimated at 100 yards, with a length of 13 miles. The storm’s maximum wind speed is estimated at 110 miles per hour. The storm was one of at least 15 that hit the Hoosier State on Sunday.
Starke County Council Approves Transfer for Autopsy Funds
The four forensic autopsies required by law this year in Starke County have put a pinch on the county coroner’s budget. Last Friday’s death of a three-week old infant required a more in-depth determination of the cause. It’s the second forensic autopsy performed this year on an infant, according to Starke County Coroner Kris Rannells. The county also conducted forensic autopsies on the pilot of a small plane who was killed when his experimental aircraft crash-landed at the Starke County Airport in July and on the victim of a February domestic homicide. Rannells says these more extensive procedures ate up more than $10,000 of his total $13,000 autopsy budget for the year. Council members approved total transfers of $4,133 into his budget with the understanding that additional funds may still be needed if more procedures are required between now and the end of the year. County officials also plan to meet informally with Rannells and other former coroners to talk about budget planning for the office.
Fire Destroys Bass Lake Home; No Injuries
A fire at a Bass Lake summer residence destroyed the home but caused no injuries, according to Bass Lake Fire Chief Les Jensen. He told WKVI that the fire occurred at a residence in the 3700 block of South County Road 210, on the north side of the lake between Boa Shores and the Shore Club.