Proposed Pulaski County Hog Farm Gets Conditional Green Light

 
 

The Pulaski County Advisory Plan Commission granted conditional approval to a rezoning request for a proposed confined hog feeding operation pending approval from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Brothers Joshua and Jared Brown of North Judson, doing business as JoJa, LLC, want to raise between 20 and 25,000 pigs per year on 40 acres of land at 200 North and 400 West. The proposed farming operation will be situated behind a large sand hill in order to be somewhat less obtrusive. John Hoek is acting as a consultant on the project.

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Burglary Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse
A man accused of stealing several items from the USA Cafe has pleaded not guilty in Starke Circuit Court to charges of Burglary and Theft.

It is alleged that on Aug. 18, Michael Hoekman, 22, entered the USA Cafe in Knox during the overnight hours and stole a desktop computer and accessories, cash, a television, an Xbox 360 and games, a handgun, and several other items.

He was arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 20 by officers from the Knox City Police Department and officially charged with Burglary and Theft and given a $25,000 surety bond. Hoekman was released to Community Corrections on Monday morning. He was also ordered to have no contact with the victim.

LaPorte Officers Respond to Marijuana Complaint, Infant Found in Environment

 
 
LaPorte city police responded to a complaint of the smell of burnt marijuana emitting from an apartment at 701 Maple Ave. and found that a two month old child was in the environment.

Police were able to determine from which apartment the odor was originating and knocked on the door. The occupants turned down the music playing and locked the door. Officers reportedly heard people scurrying inside the apartment.

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Medaryville Dollar General Store Plan Clears Hurdle

  
 

The town of Medaryville is a step closer to having a Dollar General store after a proposed zoning change to accommodate the 9,100 square foot facility received the blessing of the Pulaski County Advisory Plan Commission. Town Council President Gene Payne says the proposal will now go to the county commissioners for final approval.

“It means everything to Medaryville and the surrounding community to get a business like that, or any kind of business. Everyone in the area is in support of it. We really need it,” Payne said.

The next Pulaski County Commissioners meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 3, but it’s unclear whether the matter will be discussed then. Click here to view the Dollar General site plan

MCLWC to Discuss Septic Issues in Area

  
 
Various septic issues around Marshall County have prompted the Marshall County Health Department to make a presentation at the Marshall County Lakes and Waters Council meeting this week in an effort to inform the public on some of the problematic septic disposal sites near the lakes. The meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Aug. 28 in Room 203 at the Marshall County Building, will lay out issues involved in these septic disposal sites including separation of septic systems, limitations on space, plumbing fixture problems, and other issues that could potential impact the lake communities.

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Donations Needed at Pulaski County Food Pantry

 
 
The Pulaski County Food Pantry is in need of donations.

You are encouraged to drop off canned goods, boxed foods and toiletries to the food pantry at any time during their regular business hours. They are in desperate need of canned fruits and vegetables, canned tuna, canned chicken, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, spaghetti noodles, any type of noodles, rice, crackers, macaroni and cheese, hamburger helper, toilet paper, dish soap, deodorant, liquid laundry soap, and Kleenex.

Deliver your donation to the Pulaski County Human Services building at 115 W. Pearl Street in Winamac. The staff will be able to assist you from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. The food pantry is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or by appointment.

Monterey Days Festival This Weekend

  
 
The 16th annual Monterey Days Festival is coming up this weekend, with a number of events planned beginning Friday, entertaining guests through Monday, Sept. 2. On Friday, the craft and food booths open, and the Mister and Miss Monterey Days Pageant will take place at 6 p.m. At 8:30 p.m., open mic karaoke will be hosted by Ruff Kutt Entertainment.

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Application Deadline is Wednesday for Little Miss, Mister Blueberry Pageant

  
 
Wednesday marks the last day applications will be accepted for the Little Miss and Mister Blueberry Pageant. According to Daphne Stapleton, head of the event, the pageant usually draws about 60 participants – typically 40 girls and 20 boys, she said.

This is the 25th year for the Little Miss and Mister Blueberry Pageant, and according to Stapleton, the format has never changed. Contestants must be from Marshall County and be between the ages of 3 and 6, and once on stage, they will be interviewed by the emcee and factors such as personality and the contestant’s ability to stand out will be used in deciding the winner.

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Tippecanoe River State Park to Celebrate 70th Anniversary

Tippecanoe River State Park
Tippecanoe River State Park
The Tippecanoe River State Park is gearing up to celebrate its 70th anniversary, promising a weekend of fun on Sept. 6, 7, and 8. In honor of the anniversary, Assistant Manager Jason Hickman said the weekend will be packed with events beginning at the Family Campground on Friday evening with a program presented by wildlife rehabilitator Kim Hoover, followed by a day of adventures on Saturday.

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Rail Safety Week Aug. 25-31

 
 
This week is Rail Safety Week, as declared by Governor Mike Pence.

Indiana Operation Lifesaver, Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Transportation, local law enforcement and railroad companies have partnered to raise awareness about the dangers of disregarding railroad crossings and transportation laws.

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Hot Weather Expected This Week; Stay Hydrated!

  
 

A stretch of hot weather is expected this week, prompting health officials to urge everyone with outdoor activities planned to take frequent breaks during this weather and drink plenty of fluids. Temperatures in the lower to mid 90s are expected today, combined with increasing low-level moisture resulting in peak afternoon heat indices in the mid to upper 90s.

A week cool front is expected to reach the area Wednesday, but weather officials still anticipate afternoon heat index values to reach into the mid 90s.

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Football Coaching Leaders

(Through 8-23-13)

1. Tim Roth-Winamac (33 years): 203-132  .606

2. Kirk Kennedy-NJSP (23 years): 166-96  .634

3. Andy Thomas (14 years)-Culver: 86-61  .585

4. Dan Klimczak (8 years)-South Central: 66-15  .815

5. Darren Rodriguez (6 years)-West Central: 25-29  .462

6. Chris McGowen-Knox (2 years): 2-9 .181

7. Dave Sharpe-John Glenn (1 year): 0-1  .000

Proposed Pulaski County Hog Farm Gets Conditional Green Light

  
 

The Pulaski County Advisory Plan Commission granted conditional approval to a rezoning request for a proposed confined hog feeding operation pending approval from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Brothers Joshua and Jared Brown of North Judson, doing business as JoJa, LLC, want to raise between 20 and 25,000 pigs per year on 40 acres of land at 200 North and 400 West. The proposed farming operation will be situated behind a large sand hill in order to be somewhat less obtrusive. John Hoek  is acting as a consultant on the project.

“They’re meeting all the obligations with IDEM, with the zoning, with the setbacks, with the farming practices. Morgan Hill has demonstrated a history of excellent farming practices with no IDEM violations at all. Very professional family, and this will be no different,” Hoek said. Continue reading

Roy Bell on Trial Tuesday

Roy Bell
Roy Bell
Defendant Roy Bell will be in Fulton County Superior Court on Tuesday in a bench trial. He was charged with Murder, Robbery, Burglary and Criminal Confinement after an incident involving the death of Wilma Upsall in Rochester in November 2011.

Bell and two others allegedly forcibly entered the home of Upsall’s daughter and son-in-law on Nov. 23, 2011 in Rochester. Upsall was reportedly tied to a chair and shot to death. Items were also stolen from the home.

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Public Hearing Tonight Regarding Proposed Dollar General in Medaryville

  
 
The Advisory Plan Commission will hold a public hearing tonight at the Pulaski County Courthouse to discuss the request from the company Foster Builders to rezone the property at 103 W. West St. in Medaryville from residential to commercial in order to construct a Dollar General.

According to the notice of public hearing, the proposed development involves construction of a 9,100 square foot Dollar General building as a single-story mercantile structure. Because it would be a commercial business, and the proposed location is in a residential area, the company must first receive the approval by the Advisory Plan Commission to rezone the area before they can proceed.

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Knox City Council to Hold Public Hearing for Budget

Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council will hold a public hearing during their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 27 to discuss the 2014 budget, and according to Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, the city expects to see an increase in the overall budget of just under 3 percent. However, he said the city will likely have to make some cuts in order to capture the maximum amount of taxes the city has coming to it, but overall, the budget is in pretty good shape.

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County Council Approves Chipper, GPS Purchases for Highway Department

Starke County Highway Superintendent Stephen "Rik" Ritzler
Starke County Highway Superintendent Stephen “Rik” Ritzler

The money the Starke County Highway Department saved on gas is being put toward new equipment to further improve safety and efficiency. The county council approved superintendent Rik Ritzler’s request to transfer $42,000 within his budget to cover the additional cost of a new wood chipper to replace one that was recently stolen. That chipper was 10 years old, and questions have been raised about why the county should spend the money on a new one. Ritzler says they demoed a new one in order to have something to use in the meanwhile and realized how far superior it is to the one that was stolen.

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