The number of Americans estimated to hit the road this holiday travel season is the highest that AAA has ever recorded. The end of the year holiday period runs from Dec. 23 through Jan. 4. Triple A predicts 98.6 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more during the year-end holiday season, showing a 4 percent increase from the number of travelers in 2013. Continue reading
INDOT Wraps Up Road Construction Season
Motorists on Indiana’s highways will enjoy a holiday travel season free from road construction. INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield says most projects are on hold until spring.
“Winter temperatures generally do not allow for paving and lane striping, and most asphalt and concrete plants close this time of year,” Wingfield tells WKVI News. Continue reading
White Christmas Possible Across Kankakee Valley
The dream of a white Christmas could be a reality this year. AccuWeather.com meterologist Heather Zehr says rain will change over to snow later today, with a coating to an inch possible overnight. Continue reading
Ho Ho Hold Your Tongue – Tips to Avoid Confrontation this Christmas
The holidays are upon us and that means family gatherings. Unfortunately these reunions can often be a bit rockier than Norman Rockwell depicted. Continue reading
Protect Your Pets From Holiday Pitfalls
Holidays can seem hectic at times,especially for our four-legged friends. The director of pet care issues at the Humane Society of the United States, K.C. Theisen, advises pet owners to take some precautionary steps to ensure a safe holiday for all members of the family, including the furry ones.
Before putting your pets outside consider the weather conditions. Although dogs and cats do have fur coats, they are still in danger of hypothermia or frostbite if left outdoors in freezing temperatures for an extended period of time.
Establish a “safe space” for your pet when guests come to visit. Some pets mingle among groups without an issue but others may be a bit skittish. Having a space where your animals can get away from all the hustle and bustle can reduce anxiety for yourself and your pets using THC extracts like the Delta-8 THC gummies.
Keep absolutely all chocolate out of reach because it contains a toxin that is dangerous for cats or dogs to ingest. Plants to place in a pet-free space are poinsettias, mistletoe and holly. These plants can be poisonous and cause stomach problems if consumed.
If your pet is known to act rambunctiously be sure to securely anchor your Christmas tree and place garland, tinsel, breakable decorations and ornaments out of reach. Even the most well-behaved pets can become curious about decorations, so to be safe, hang them in pet free zones.
Don’t Get Scrooged this Holiday Season -Check into Charities Before Handing Over a Check
Especially around the holidays, Hoosiers are encouraged to think of the less fortunate and give what they can to charitable organizations. The Better Business Bureau serving central Indiana proposes that people look at the big picture when choosing a charity.
Bonus Antlerless Hunting Program Starts Soon
Area hunters looking to help manage the antlerless white-tailed deer population can start at the end of the week.
Bonus quotas for the state of Indiana’s female deer have been in place for some time, but the official start of the special antlerless hunting season starts this Friday. Continue reading
Government Holiday Closings Vary
Starke County government buildings will close at noon at noon central time today.
Sheriff’s Department Investigating Shooting
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a shooting in the Denham area that sent a child to a South Bend hospital. The incident happened around 9:30 a.m. EST today in the area of 550 North and 700 West. Continue reading
Authorities Identify Body Found Near Bremen
The partially charred body of a woman discovered in a woods near Bremen Friday morning is that of a 15-year-old girl. Continue reading
BraunAbility Nissan Accessible Taxis Hit New York City Streets
New York City’s latest wheelchair-accessible taxis hit the streets last week. Winamac-based BraunAbility adapted the chassis of the Nissan NV200 cargo van to accommodate a rear-entry wheelchair ramp. It folds away when not in use by a wheelchair user, so the taxis are able to be used by both disabled and non-disabled passengers. The rear-entry design also eliminates the need for wheelchair passengers to load and unload in street traffic. Continue reading
Unemployment Increases in Starke, Surrounding Counties
The unemployment rate in Starke County increased slightly in November. Starke County rose to 6.9 percent which ranks the county 11th in the state. The rate in October was 6.1 percent.
Pulaski County remains the lowest in the area in terms of unemployment at 4.9 percent which ranks the county 82nd in the state. Marshall County comes in at 5.7 percent, Fulton County at 5.9 percent, St. Joseph County and Porter County at 6.3 percent and LaPorte County is at 7.5 percent unemployment.
Pulaski County Commissioners to Discuss Closing County Home
The Pulaski County Commissioners will meet in special session today to address issues in closing the Pleasant View Rest Home.
By a majority vote, the Pulaski County Council voted to defund the county home in October and that decision was reaffirmed earlier this month by a majority vote.
County Attorney Kevin Tankersley informed the Pulaski County Commissioners last week that there is a lot to go through to close the facility. He met with an attorney in Plymouth last week to see if that attorney would take over the responsibility of overseeing the process as he thought that would be a better practice.
Historical Society Buys Knox Family Practice Building
Dr. and Mrs. Walter Fritz transferred ownership of the former Knox Family Practice building and parking lot at 1520 South Heaton Street in Knox to the Starke County Historical Society yesterday in a signing ceremony at the 1st Source Bank in Plymouth.
The property is to be developed as additional display and storage space for the Starke County Museum now located at 401 South Main Street in Knox. The Main Street building, the home of former Indiana Governor Henry F. Schricker, will continue to be a major area attraction. Continue reading
Quotes Approved for New Street Department Truck
The Knox Board of Public Works met Monday morning where quotes were opened for a cab and chassis plus equipment for a truck for the street department.
The board members approved the lowest quote for the cab and chassis for a 2016 International from Wiers International for $64,143.75 and an equipment quote from Lindco Equipment for $54,665 that includes hydraulics, salt spreader, plow, electrical, dump body, and hoist system. The quotes will be reviewed by Street Superintendent Jeff Borg and City Attorney David Matsey.
Pulaski County Elected Officials Sworn In
Starke County Election Board to Meet Today
The Starke County Election Board members will hold their final meeting of the year this morning in the second floor conference room in the Starke County Courthouse.
The board members will be discussing a disclaimer dispute plus reviewing the November General Election and the recount. There were recounts in the Starke County Council District 4 and the Railroad Township Trustee races. Both recounts showed the same results as in the General Election.
Knox City Council to Meet Tonight
The Knox City Council members are looking to discuss a dumpster ordinance in which they could possibly approve on second reading when they meet tonight.
The ordinance set limits on the duration a dumpster may be placed on a property and also requires registration of the receptacle. The council members previously commented that the use of dumpsters at homes as trash bins become storage bins for garbage and attract animals. That issue may be addressed by the plan commission.
INDOT Offers Holiday Travel Tips
Winter Wonderland or Winter Wasteland?
Between Thanksgiving and New Years day, the average household produces about 25 percent more waste than normal. Continue reading
