Starke County Highway Dept. to Begin Mowing Monday
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler has announced that the highway department will begin mowing county rights-of-way on Monday, May 20, and will continue through the summer. He said it is important to remember that for safety reasons, workers will be mowing up to five feet from the county right-of-way, and at each intersection, they will mow 50 feet in each direction and back 10 feet. He said most items have been cleared from the rights-of-way, but any items that are still in the mowing path will be dealt with on an individual basis.
Culver Schools to Participate in Summer Food Service Program
Starke County Triad Places Drop Box at Starke County Sheriff’s Department
A new secured drop box for unwanted prescription medication has been placed in the lobby at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.
Starke County Triad raised funds to purchase a permanent drop box for residents who would like to dispose of their unwanted, unused and expired prescription medications. Those medications can be placed in the box at any time at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department on Pearl Street.
No liquid medications or needles will be accepted.
Community Services of Starke County plans on applying to the Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County for a pill drop box for the North Judson Police Department as well. The Knox City Police Department has a secured and monitored pill drop box in the department’s lobby and you are able to drop-off medications 24 hours a day and seven days a week at that location.
Indiana Department of Education Releases Graduation Rate Data
Governor Signs Dermody Graduation Bill, Other Education Legislation
Pence Set to Sign “Senior Consumer Protection Act”
Governor Mike Pence is set to sign a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting some of Indiana’s most vulnerable residents. The Senior Consumer Protection Bill was prompted by a spike in the exploitation of senior citizens, which rose by 80 percent from 2001 through 2011 according to the Indiana Division of Aging. Senator Tim Lanae hopes the measure will encourage seniors, friends and family members to seek advice from an expert.
Local Schools Named 4-Star Schools
In order to achieve this designation, a school must be in the top 25th percentile of schools in the ISTEP+ testing results.
Eastern Pulaski Elementary School in Winamac, John Glenn High School in Walkerton, F. Willard Crichfield Elementary School in LaPorte, Saint Peter’s Lutheran School in North Judson, Webster Elementary School in Plymouth, and West Central High School in Francesville were all recognized as being 4-Star Schools.
A total of 313 schools in the state received this honor.
Judge Rejects Miller’s Plea Agreement
A special judge in South Bend has rejected former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller’s plea agreement. Jerome Frese told Miller he will not accept anything less than six years as punishment for the theft of more than $74,000 in public funds from the town of North Judson between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2011.
The plea agreement would have sentenced Miller to three years on each count to be served concurrently and each of those sentences would be suspended to be served on probation. As part of the recommended plea agreement, Miler would be required to pay court costs, probation fees and serve one year on home detention through Starke County Community Corrections. She would also have to pay restitution of $52,044.
Again, that plea agreement was rejected by Judge Frese. A hearing in the matter has been set for June 7 at 10 a.m. ET in St. Joseph County.
Marjorie Darosci
Funeral arrangements are pending at Odom Funeral Home in Culver for Marjorie Darosci, 88, of Fort Wayne.
Whitney Products Likely to Close Permanently
A deal to keep a Plymouth manufacturing plant open has apparently fallen through. WSBT-TV reports that negotiations between AMI Incorporated and Whitney Products have fallen through because the sides are too far apart. Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter tells the TV station AMI officials notified him on Friday that they couldn’t reach an agreement. This latest development likely means Whitney is closing its Marshall County plant for good. About 50 people work there. The company sent WARN notices to employees earlier this year alerting them to the possible closing. The Warsaw-based company makes precision tubular products for diesel engines, agricultural equipment, off-highway, construction equipment and HVAC markets.
iPad Purchases Leave Commissioners Budget Short
Plymouth Plan Commission Approves “Shell” Building Plat Changes
Long Beach Manager Thanks District 2 Task Force
The letter was written by the City Manager of Long Beach Jack Schnirman in which he thanked the immediate response of Indiana’s District 2 Task Force in their time of need after Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc in that area. Members of the Incident Management team set up camp and helped coordinate emergency efforts in stabilizing the conditions in the city.
The Cast is Set for Maxinkuckee Players Summer Production
Zachary West of Argos has been cast as Joseph and Kathy Overmyer of Bremen is the narrator. The brothers will be played by Brian Liechty, Tom Boys, Eric Burch, Grant Ringenberg and Kevin Mallory from Plymouth; Brad Foster and Tony Hutchinson from Bremen; Doug Nielson of North Judson; Phillip McFarland of Knox; Austin Saenz of Tippecanoe; and Caleb Dehning of Culver.
DNR Pleased With Bruce Lake Muskie Population
State fisheries biologists are pleased with the muskie population at Bruce Lake. The DNR has stocked muskies annually at the lake since 2000 and periodically monitors their numbers. A week-long survey in April netted 90 muskies, including 20 measuring over 40 inches long. The largest was a 48-inch, 32-pound female. The daily bag limit for muskie is one, and it must be at least 36 inches long. DNR Fisheries Biologist Tom Bacula and his crew also caught a number of large crappie and several large bluegill at Bruce Lake. DNR officials report the lake has a good balance of prey and predator fish and say muskies will continue to be stocked.
Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, Refined Team Up for Spring Expo
Angie Anspach said this is the first time the Chamber has held such an event, but they’re hoping to make it an annual expo to promote local businesses every year.
Oregon-Davis Schools to Offer Free Lunches This Summer
Free lunch will be offered to students 18 years of age and younger Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to noon ET at the Oregon-Davis Elementary School. All students are welcome without residential or financial stipulations.
If adults aged 19 and older would like to have a nutritious lunch, the cost will be $2.
No students will be turned away. Oregon-Davis is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
Sign up Now for the Walking Challenge in Starke County
Seventh Annual Indiana Fallen Officers Blood Drive Begins This Month
