Knox City Street Department Hoping to Start Spring Projects
The Knox Board of Public Works learned that the street department is working hard to start on spring projects.
Street Superintendent Jeff Borg told the board that the crews are attempting to work on alleys to smooth them out. Street sweeping started but had to be put on hold as temperatures did not allow for that activity to immediately continue. Equipment maintenance has been ongoing until the weather breaks. Borg notified the board that two new plows are needed for the trucks as they are getting to the point of deterioration. Crews keep repairing the plows, but they’re hanging on by a thread.
Voter Registration Deadline Approaching for May Primary
Starke United Fund Grant Applications Now Available
Drop Boxes Available to Discard Prescription Medications
It was recently reported that one of the biggest issues in Starke County is prescription drug abuse. A program sponsored by Moving Starke County Forward will be held in the next couple of months that will give information to community members on how to combat this pressing issue.
If you have unwanted, unused or expired prescription medication, you may take that medication to drop off locations at the Knox City Police Department and at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.
Johnny Dubois Found Not Guilty in Bench Trial
A bench trial was held Wednesday in Starke Circuit Court in which Judge Kim Hall heard testimony in the matter of Johnny Dubois.
Dubois was charged with Intimidation, a Class D felony. As written in the charging information, Dubois had verbally threatened to physically harm the victim if she didn’t give him the money he wanted. He also told her that he would kill her if she took their children away from him.
Winamac Pipes Have Thawed, Turn Off Your Faucets
Winamac residents no longer need to let their faucets drip to keep their pipes from freezing. That’s the word from town manager Jim Conner. He tells WKVI news water lines in town have finally thawed out and thanks residents for their cooperation. Also, Conner says any residents who no longer want the small recycling containers provided by the town can put them out, empty, with their trash on your collection day April 7th or 8th. The town will pick them up on those days.
Knox Board of Works Given Update on Lift Station Project
The Knox Board of Works received an update on the lift station project on Clabaugh Drive.
A pay application for $10,553.07 was approved. Bob Aloi from Territorial Engineering explained that the pump issue over the winter was reportedly caused by a problem with the force main. He said once the wastewater department crews finished cleaning the force main, crews will see how well the pump works. Aloi doesn’t anticipate any further costs in this project, but if the crews evaluate the pump after the force main is cleared and they find that it’s not working properly, crews would need to remove the pump and reevaluate the situation which could cost the city more money.
The project, which was supposed to be completed before the winter season, is nearly finished. The old lift station still needs to be removed and other items need to be wrapped up, including paving, before it is all said and done.
Bench Trial Held in Starke Circuit Court
During a pre-trial motion and instructions hearing on Tuesday, both the defense and the state agreed to waive the right for a trial and the defense asked for a bench trial which was granted.
Both sides presented evidence in the case yesterday and Judge Kim Hall took all evidence under advisement. Judge Hall will deliver a verdict today at 10 a.m.
Moving Starke County Forward Looks Deeper into Health Rankings Report
The Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings report came out this week and Starke County ranked in the bottom ten of all 92 counties in the state.
Moving Starke County Forward leader Nancy Dembowski said the organization began working to improve the numbers last year and noted that it takes a while to get things moving in the right direction. She said it’s going to take time and effort to overturn the numbers.
LaPorte Couple Reports Tax-Related Identity Theft
Visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website to learn how to guard against identity theft and the steps to take should your identity be stolen. You can access all this information at http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft.
Knox Council Once Again Tables Museum Relocation Discussion
The Starke County Historical Society has hit another roadblock as they seek to relocate their museum. The Knox City Council this week refused to give the Historical Society permission to lease the city’s railroad right-of-way on U.S. 35, across from the visitor’s center, but Marvin McLaughlin with the Historical Society said this won’t necessarily stop them from establishing the new building.
Gas Prices Still Fluctuating in Indiana
Food Finders Mobile Food Pantry Returns to Pulaski County
IU Health Starke Hospital Offers Final Free Affordable Care Act Event
The federal government did grant a reprieve for people who have started an application on the healthcare.gov website but can’t complete it by the March 31 deadline. They will be given an extension, although the amount of time was not specified. In order to qualify, the applicant needs to check the blue box on the healthcare.gov website indicating an attempt to sign up for coverage by the March 31 deadline.
Hamlin is Cleared to Race in Martinsville
Denny Hamlin will race this Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.
Hamlin missed the race on Sunday, March 23 as he was having trouble with his vision and the medical staff would not clear him to race.
According to a press release from Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin visited the infield care center at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday night with an eye irritation. The issue worsened the morning of the race and medical officials could not clear him to race.
Two Injured in Marshall County Accident
Two people were injured in a three vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon in Marshall County.
Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene in front of Ev and Jayne’s Irish Inn on Michigan Road north of 7B Road in Plymouth at 12:08 p.m. ET. A semi driven by Lavern Sampler of Michigan was traveling south behind a vehicle driven by Summer Scott of Syracuse, Indiana . The semi driver told police that he reportedly did not know the vehicle was turning into the business. The semi rear-ended Scott’s vehicle which was pushed into the path of an SUV driven by Cheryl Kuhn of Plymouth. Kuhn was traveling north on Michigan Road.
Offenders Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
Several offenders were sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Tuesday morning.
Starke County Ranks Low in Health Outcomes
The ten counties with the lowest ranking include Delaware, Lawrence, Sullivan, Orange, Jasper, Starke, Crawford, Blackford, Fayette and Scott.
Applications for Federal Funding for Transportation Projects to be Accepted Soon
INDOT was awarded the money in February for local transportation projects to be bid in July 2016. This round of funding is for projects that would be designed, developed and have purchased land according to federal standards prior to bid during the fiscal year beginning July 2017.
