The construction project on U.S. 6 at the new U.S. 31 site has caused a road closure in that area and drivers are attempting to use the back roads to get around the inconvenience instead of the suggested detours that utilize highways. Semi truck drivers are even using back roads for a quicker route and are tearing up the surface. Haeck said the county roads are not equipped to handle that type of traffic and “No Thru Truck” signs have been posted along the road to deter further damage.
Representatives of the Division of Family Services called police to conduct a welfare check and when officers arrived at the home in the 900 block of West Jefferson Street a man come out of the home and reportedly would not allow the officers to check the children.
A resident in the 200 block of Baker Street called Plymouth Police to report a burglary at his home. The victim told police that the suspect running north from the residence toward Centennial Park and he was chasing him. An officer located the suspect in Centennial Park who was identified as 57-year-old Jeffrey B. Lusch.
The students in the “Pay it Forward” camp in the middle school summer school enrichment portion will be bagging groceries for tips. Those donations will be used to purchase food for the Starke County Food Pantry.
The program was held on Saturday, June 29 at 3 p.m. ET at the Entertainment Stage during the 4-H Fair, when Brooke Daugherty and Eric Newman were named the 4-H Achievement Royalty. Royalty Court was Walker Wank, Cole Hoover, Dustin Dahn, and David Putt.
The Starke County 4-H Achievement Royalty event is approaching as well, planned for Monday, July 15 around 6:15 p.m. The Achievement Royalty candidates in Starke County include Rachel Lenig, Taylor Kemble, Kamie Salkeld, Katie Back, Kayla Bailey, Katelyn Surfus, Kayla Grossman, Natalie Radtke, and Erica Pick.
The law prohibits smoking in all businesses, except for membership clubs, bars, casinos, and retail tobacco shops. This is to help protect against secondhand smoke which contains 4,000 chemicals, including at least 69 carcinogens.
Francesville’s Spirit Day celebration is set for Saturday, July 13 where town-wide garage sales are planned beginning around 8 a.m. ET. Forty-one locations are on the map that will feature a variety of items for sale. Food will be served at the Francesville Fire Station as a fundraiser for September’s Francesville Fall Festival. Maps can be picked up at the fire station.
Possible items to be distributed include frozen meat, baked goods, beverages, vegetables, snacks, and cereal, and the organization is requesting that participants bring a laundry basket or box in which to carry the food home.
The mobile pantry is a program that is available to those who meet 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines of $1772 monthly or $21,257 annual income for a single household, $2392 monthly or $28,694 annually for a two-member household, or $3,011 monthly or $36,131 annually for a three-member household. Four member households must earn less than $43,568 annually; five-member households $51,005; and six-member households $58,442. For each additional household member, add $620 per month.
You need to verify that you have a homestead deduction. If you go onto the auditor’s page on the Starke County website there is a list of property owners that need to verify exemptions.
More vegetables are being offered to students to help improve healthy eating and to tackle child obesity issues. Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman noted that changes were made last school year and more changes are expected on plates this coming school year.
The Oregon-Davis School Board members continue in their search for a new superintendent.
Dr. Steve Disney is no longer at the school corporation. He announced earlier that he accepted a position to teach school finance, educational law, principalship and undergraduate education classes at Indiana University Northwest in Lake County.
The school board will meet in executive session tonight to receive information about and interview prospective employees and to recommend an appointment for an interim superintendent to be voted on in a public meeting.
The branches will resume normal business hours on Friday, July 5 except for 16 branches state-wide including Rensselaer, Walkerton and Winamac which will reopen on Tuesday, July 9.
Online transactions can be conducted at www.mybmv.com.
In a new law that took effect in May, wording tightens the current law regarding synthetic drugs. It makes it illegal to possess or sell products that look like the chemically enhanced substances banned under previous laws targeting products sold legally as incense or bath salts but that mimic the effects of marijuana and cocaine when smoked or ingested.
The General Assembly chose to allocate a significant increase in funding for counties, cities and towns to more fully maintain and construct new road and bridge projects as the years go on. With the economy and greater usage of high fuel economy vehicles giving the state less of a chance to collect revenue with the gas tax, local road and bridge projects have been delayed to keep local budgets fiscally balanced.
Chief Clint Norem told the Knox Board of Public Works that the car had been in repair status for a while and when Norem was off-duty, his patrol car was being used during evening rotation. The Charger was returned to the department on Thursday and is back in rotation.
Properties where meth labs are discovered must be professionally decontaminated by a state-licensed contractor before they can be deemed fit for human habitation again. Local enforcement of that law falls to county health officials, who work closely with law enforcement to keep tabs on arrest records and make sure properties are cleaned up. Joe Mazuka, the operations manager for Meth Lab Cleanup Company, says the toxic waste can linger indefinitely if it’s not addressed.
“It doesn’t go away. A lot of people think meth has a half-life or something. It does not,” said Mazuka.
