Medaryville Woman Admits Drinking Problem in Starke Circuit Court Hearing
Patricia Vega had agreed to plead guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a charge of Possession of a Legend Drug as a Class D felony. As part of the plea agreement, she would serve 24 months in the Department of Corrections with 12 months suspended to be served on home detention.
Starke County Commissioners Weigh Insurance Options
Starke County Commissioners have chosen the less expensive premium option for insurance to ensure the county has coverage, but they intend to keep shopping for lower cost alternatives. They finally got rate quotes Monday morning and did not have time to explore other options prior to their meeting that night. Doing nothing wasn’t an option, as the county’s existing policy expires this week. After quite a bit of discussion they chose the policy with a $153,000 annual premium and a $50,000 deductible on all claims, including vehicles. The premium for the other policy is $225,000 per year, and the deductible is $10,000. The premium spike is due to the high number of insurance claims filed by the county over the last five years. It’s unclear whether the county will have to pay a penalty if they find a less expensive policy and cancel this one.
NIPSCO to Hold Open House in Winamac for Reynolds-Topeka Line
NIPSCO has announced that their Reynolds-Topeka Electric System Improvement Project is now in its Routing Phase as they focus on developing a set of potential routes to take to the public and local communities to allow them to get input for the final route selection. Kathleen Szot, spokesperson for NIPSCO, explained the business was approached by a planning group requesting help.
“NIPSCO has been asked by a regional transmission planner group that oversees the whole Midwest area to help construct a project between Reynolds and Topeka, so running through north central Indiana,” said Szot.
Plea Agreement Rejected in Shawn Smith’s Case
Smith had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Receiving Stolen Property as a Class D felony in two separate cases. He admitted to stealing a John Deere Gator, a compressor and a welder from a storage shed in Holland, Mich. and attempting to sell those items in Starke County. A potential buyer believed that the item he was about to purchase was stolen and called the Starke County Sheriff’s Department. Smith was subsequently arrested. That occurred in January.
FRATCO Awarded Place in “Companies to Watch” List
Fire Destroys Fulton County Fireworks Store
A Fulton County fireworks store went up in flames last night. Firefighters were called to Windy City Fireworks just east of Rochester on State Road 14 at U.S. 31 around 10 last night and found the building fully engulfed when they arrived. Every fire department in Fulton County was called out to battle the blaze, according to WSBT-TV. Pulaski County dispatchers tell WKVI news that no requests for mutual aid from departments there were received. The fire created quite the spectacle as fireworks ignited and exploded overhead. We have not received word of any injuries, and the cause remains under investigation.
Heat Advisory Issued Until Friday Night
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the WKVI listening area until Friday evening. It officially takes effect today at noon ET and continues until 8 tomorrow night, as temperatures climb into the low 90s and heat indexes hit the triple digit mark. Overnight lows will only drop into the low 70s tonight. A heat advisory means a combination of high temperatures and high humidity significantly increase the likelihood of heat related illness. If you have to be outside, drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks. Children and the elderly are especially susceptible to heatstroke and other conditions, so be sure to check on them and make sure they are well hydrated. Likewise, see that outdoor pets have ample water and shade. If possible, stay inside in the air conditioning until this weather breaks.
IU Health and PNC to Offer Sports Physicals
Marshall County REMC to Begin Rounding Up Participating Members’ Bills
“We’re allowing our members to kind of give back to the service territory that we serve – mainly Marshall County, but also parts of Starke, Kosciusko and Kankakee also. And we’re allowing different organizations and individuals to fill out applications for different needs,” said Howard.
Hostess Snacks Return to Starke County
Twinkies have made their long-awaited return to Starke County to minimal fanfare, but while the snack cakes aren’t exactly flying off the shelves, some residents were excited to see their favorite Hostess treats back on sale. Five Star in Knox began selling Hostess products this morning, with a display set up and ready before 11 a.m.
One Knox resident said he was elated to see the products back on the shelves, though they didn’t have the snack his wife was looking for.
NJ-SP Staff Focusing on Technology Training This Summer
On top of that, Johnson said that teachers and leadership members will be provided with iPads next year and will learn how to operate the devices. The following year, the board will look into student implementation of the devices.
Johnson said this summer has been all about technology training, and the month of August will focus largely on training in various services, such as School Messenger – a parent contact and notification system – as well as Google Drive and MyBigCampus.
Plymouth Man Airlifted to South Bend Following Grovertown Crash
An early afternoon pickup truck versus motorcycle crash in front of the Grovertown Truck Stop shut down traffic in both directions for about an hour and sent a Plymouth man to a South Bend hospital. Justin Neher was westbound on U.S. 30 on his bike when a Chevrolet Silverado driven by Natalie Radtke, 17, of North Judson turned east out of the truck stop into his path. Continue reading
No Cause Found in Medaryville Home Fires
Medaryville firefighters were called to a house fire on Prairie Street but when they arrived at the scene, they found a second home on fire. Firefighters from the Francesville Fire Department were then called to the scene.
The two-story house owned by Danny Clark was a complete loss while Randy Franscoviak’s home suffered severe damage to an exterior wall, rood and attic area. The main floor suffered heat, smoke and water damage.
Commissioner Asks Beach Manager to Step Aside, No Action Taken
“The hot water doesn’t work, there’s feces in the toilet, there’s sewage leaking here and there, no safety and security equipment, toilets don’t flush…every year, and frankly, sometime you’ve got to say, ‘hello, there’s a problem here,’” said Norem.
Man Arrested After Accident and Foot Pursuit in Marshall County
A hit and run accident was reported on U.S. 30 near Oak Road at approximately 6:23 p.m. ET. One vehicle involved in the incident continued traveling east on U.S. 30. A deputy located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on Jarrah Road north of 5th Road. The officer noted that the driver, identified as Omer Trent, appeared intoxicated.
Pulaski County to Be Spotlighted in “Savor Indiana”
Sheriff’s Sale Scheduled for Former Chesapeake Recycling Facility
Candidate Signs Displayed Several Months Before Primary Election
Starke County Clerk stated that the campaign signs can be displayed as long as the proper paperwork has been filed in her office. She said the candidate may campaign using signs or any other kind of advertising use he or she may desire in using to collect favorable votes.
Some signs have been posted around the Starke County Fair for Bill Dulin, Harold Smith and Greg Wireman who have displayed their intentions to run for their party’s nominee for Starke County sheriff in the Primary Election in May.
Walkerton Fire Cause Under Investigation
The cause of a Tuesday morning fire at a Walkerton home remains under investigation. It started in the garage of the residence at 2973 Redwood Road around 9:30 a.m. The family got out of the home safely, according to ABC 57, but three firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion. Lapaz-North Township Fire Chief Chris Oginsky tells the TV station they were treated with IV fluids and will be fine. Tanker trucks from multiple departments hauled water to the scene since there are not fire hydrants in the area. Oginsky says firefighters also had a tough time accessing the attic area to extinguish the flames.
