It was noted during the Knox City Council meeting this week that some “for sale” and political signs are illegally placed in the city.
All signs should be placed inside the boundaries of private property.
Kewanna Fall Festival Starts Today
The town of Kewanna will open its annual Fall Festival today. Festivities get under way at 4 p.m. EDT with carnival rides, a free circus and a library open house. The Night Shift Band perfoms at 5 p.m. while the antique tractor show will be in the park. Continue reading
20th Annual Wanatah Scarecrow Festival Starts Today
Another area festival is planned in a local community, and it begins today. The 20th Annual Wanatah Scarecrow Festival starts with the harvest contest at 3 p.m. CDT. A pork chop dinner, entertainment tent and merchant drawings are all scheduled in the evening to finish off the first day.
Fatality Accident Reportedly Caused by Impaired Driver
A LaPorte County man was arrested after reportedly driving under the influence and causing an accident that resulted in the death of his passenger Wednesday night.
LaPorte County sheriff’s deputies responded to a single vehicle crash in the 0900 North block of County Road 640 West where a passenger car left the roadway and hit a tree, according to a news release. The passenger, Lanny Franks, 47, of LaPorte was transported to St. Anthony Memorial Hospital in Michigan City where he was pronounced dead.
Firefighters Battle Overnight Residential Blaze
Firefighters from the Washington Township and Knox-Center Township Volunteer Fire Departments spent four hours battling a structure fire at a rural residence Wednesday night. They responded to the home at 1120 S. 1025 E. between 10:30 and 11 p.m. Continue reading
Pulaski County Residents Reminded of Leaf Burning Regulations
Pulaski County residents cannot burn leaves in roadways or within five feet of a road pavement edge. The county commissioners passed an ordinance prohibiting the practice earlier this year. Continue reading
Storm Cleanup Continues in Hamlet
Clean-up of the town’s streets, many filled with trees and limbs, from last week’s wind storm took up much of the discussion at the Hamlet Town Board meeting last night. The street department reported to the citizens in attendance that all streets are now open, and limb pickup will continue this week. Continue reading
School Representative Share Ideas in Marshall County Safety Meeting
The Marshall County Safety Committee met this week to go over protocols to make sure all are on the same page when dealing with severe weather, school incidents and roads.
School representatives from Plymouth, Argos, Bremen, Culver, Triton, John Glenn and Culver Military Academy all spoke, commenting on current procedures and things they’d like to focus on in a possible work session.
Plymouth School Superintendent Dan Tyree explained that he will bring a proposal to the school board in October to add a three hour delay to the start of school as an option during severe weather in the winter months.
Knox City Council Entertains Request to Purchase Parkview Property
The Knox City Council heard a request from a homeowner on Giles Court in the Parkview area about buying the trailer and lot in the amount of $4,500.
Destiny Breeze previously offered the property for $6,500, but the council denied the request. She was back before the council Tuesday night with an offer she thought was fair, but Councilman Greg Matt said a similar transaction the city completed was at an even cheaper price. The city would have to demolish the dwelling as well as an outbuilding which means more money spent by the city.
Oregon-Davis School Board Approves Copier Lease Agreement
The Oregon-Davis School Board members reviewed quotes or a copier lease during their meeting Monday night.
Superintendent Greg Briles explained that the current lease agreement is almost over and two proposals were gathered for consideration. Chris Smith from Monticello had a quote for Xerox machines and the Adams Remco company in South Bend provided a quote for Toshiba copiers.
Lighthouse Autism Center Schedules Plymouth Community Interest Meeting
Parents of youngsters with autism are encouraged to attend a community meeting this evening in Plymouth to gauge interest in the establishment of an Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy center in Marshall County. Lighthouse Autism Center currently has facilities in Warsaw and Mishawaka. Co-founder and Controller Sandy Maggioli says they offer intensive, one-on-one therapy for children with autism.
“Typically a child will receive between 20 and 40 hours of therapy per week. There is no age requirement, but typically we try to get to children who are in the preschool age of three to four years old to prepare them for school, but we also see clients that are in school as well,” Maggioli said. “We may pull them out of school for a period of time to get intensive therapy and then transition them back into the school environment.”
Progress Reports Given on Condemned Properties
The Knox Board of Public Works members received an update on two properties that were recently ordered for demolition.
Cleon Wagner presented the board with a statement of a timeline for the clean up of the property at 353 E. Mound Street. Outside work has been done and the building has been sealed. Building Administrator Bruce Williams said he has looked at the foundation in the basement and it looks pretty solid. The Wagners explained that it will be six months or so before all of the work is done, but the building will be remodeled and the property will be cleared of blight.
New Science Club Excites Entire Knox Elementary
Knox Elementary School has a new science club program. Members meet once every seven school days with science teacher Marge Wood. Students get to visit the outdoor lab and see different forms of wildlife in the area. A pond with minnows and frogs is also part of the lab. Approximately 120 kids have signed up to be in the club. Principal Glenn Barnes says the students are really getting into the program.
Tony Stewart Will Not Face Charges in Sprint Car Death Investigation
An Ontario County, New York grand jury deliberated less than an hour to reach a decision in the case involving the death of 20-year-old Kevin Ward, Jr. on Aug. 9 at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in New York.
According to a statement released by Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo on Wednesday, the grand jury determined that there is “no basis to charge Tony Stewart with any crimes”. The case was “no-billed” by the grand jury.
Eagle Creek Bridge Repairs Under Way, Detour Posted
Starke County Road 800 East will be closed for the next couple of months in order to accommodate a bridge replacement. LaPorte Construction Company submitted the lowest bid to replace the bridge over Eagle Creek. The project will cost the county about $300,000.
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler tells WKVI News 800 East is closed between 25 North and 50 South to accommodate the work. Detour signs are posted and direct motorists to use 700 East to get around the closure.
Knox City Council Tables Discussion on Use of Community Center
The Knox City Council members tabled discussion on the use of the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center for free meals catered by local church groups.
The request was made by Deb McIntire who offered the idea that the community center be used one day a week for four hours to prepare and serve free meals. The members of different churches would take turns each week and clean up afterwards.
Oregon-Davis School Board to Make Decision on Balanced Calendar
The Oregon-Davis School Board members are looking at a balanced calendar for the 2015-2016 school year.
Superintendent Greg Briles gave the board a couple of different calendars to study to possibly make a decision at their October meeting.
Open House Planned Tomorrow for North Judson Maintenance Building
The public is invited to tour the new North Judson Town Maintenance Building. An open house is scheduled tomorrow afternoon from 4:30 until 6 p.m. The new building is located at 710 Railroad Street on the west side of town. It features a three-bay garage and will replace the dilapidated structure located near the town park on George Street. North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says light refreshments will be served at tomorrow evening’s open house.
Unemployment Rate Continues to Decrease
The unemployment rate in Starke County dropped another two-tenths of a percent in August to 6.3 percent which ranks the county 16th in the state.
Pulaski County reported the same type of drop. The county stands at 4.2 percent in terms of unemployment which ranks the county 87th in the state. Marshall County reported a rate of 5.2 percent, LaPorte County had 7.0 percent, Fulton County had 5.4 percent , St. Joseph County had 6.4 percent while Porter County had 5.9 percent.
Plymouth School Corporation Invests in Safety
The Plymouth Community School Board members may have spent a good chunk of change for security upgrades at all of the school buildings, but according to the Director of Safety and Security, it was money well spent.
“I think we took a layered approach,” stated Phillips. “We’ve looked at identifying who is coming into our buildings and for what purpose. The camera systems have been widely talked about and they have given us a new opportunity not only to make sure that our grounds are safe but we’ve also been able to assist law enforcement in a few cases that they’ve called us about.”
