Ambrose to Donate Fine Amount to Victory Junction, Needs All-Star Votes

Marcos Ambrose
Marcos Ambrose

Marcos Ambrose was fined $25,000 last week after his involvement in a post-race incident with Casey Mears at Richmond International Raceway. Ambrose had such overwhelming support from his fans, he wants to pay it forward.

There were so many fans from the United States and Australia who wanted to donate money to help pay his fine in the incident Ambrose came up with another idea.

Ambrose and the team are prepared to pay the fine from potential All-Star Race winnings and donate it to the camp founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty, Victory Junction. The camp was developed in honor of their son, Adam.

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Camping World Extends Entitlement Sponsorship of Truck Series

  
 

A seven-year agreement has been reached between NASCAR and Camping World to remain as the entitlement sponsor of the truck series.

The new deal extends the exclusive rights as the title sponsor through 2022.

“The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has one of the most consistent and durable audiences in all of sports, averaging approximately 800,000 or more television viewers per event over the past six years,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR chief marketing officer. “Camping World’s seven-year continued commitment to our sport demonstrates its confidence in our on-track product and strength of our brand loyal fan base.”

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Clint Bowyer, Brian Pattie and 5-Hour Energy Sign Contract Extensions with MWR

Clint Bowyer
Clint Bowyer

Clint Bowyer will be staying in the driver’s seat with Michael Waltrip Racing as he has signed a multi-year contract, according to a press release on http://www.michaelwaltrip.com. Bowyer’s crew chief Brian Pattie will also be staying with the Sprint Cup Series driver and team. Bowyer drives the No. 15 Toyota Camry.

One of Bowyer’s primary sponsors, 5-Hour Energy, has also come to terms on a multi-year agreement.

The team has scored three wins and has participated in the Chase for the Sprint Cup twice since joining MWR in 2012.

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Two Arrested in LaPorte for Attempted Armed Robbery

 
 

A 17-year-old and an 18-year-old were arrested in LaPorte on Sunday after attempting to get into Little Caeser’s Pizza on Monroe Street.

According to LaPorte police, the employee had just locked the front door to close the business when they arrived. One suspect was reportedly masked and caried a weapon when he tried to open the locked door. When they found the door to be secured, they ran from the business.

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Today is the Final Day to Vote Absentee

  
 

Today is the last day to vote absentee in the May Primary Election.

As of Friday morning, the Starke County Clerk’s office reported a count of 643 absentee ballots and the Pulaski County Clerk’s had a count of 306. The number jumped quickly in Pulaski County during the past week.

You may vote in the Starke County Courthouse or in the Pulaski County Courthouse from 8 a.m. to Noon local time today. The absentee voting period for tomorrow’s election will close today at Noon.

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Every Vote Counts, Especially in Local Elections

 
 

Tomorrow is Election Day. Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. local time in each of Indiana’s 92 counties. In-person absentee voting wraps up today at noon at the courthouse. If you wait until tomorrow to vote, you will need to do so at your local precinct. County historian Ed Hasnerl says every vote counts, especially in local races.

“There have been many elections decided by one or two votes. We had a mayoral primary here where the winning person was elected by one vote.” Continue reading →

Knox Elementary Hosting Kindergarten Countdown

 
 

Knox Elementary School is once again offering a three-week Kindergarten Countdown to help students who have little or no preschool experience get ready to start school in the fall. Curriculum director Peggy Shidaker says it gives youngsters an idea of what to expect.
“They experience the type of class atmosphere and learning that actually happens or will happen when they enter kindergarten. They have an opportunity to ride a school bus, which the kids absolutely love. They’ll eat breakfast with their peers, and they’ll eat lunch with them as well. Since it is actually kindergarten readiness, the students will be immersed in those literacy and math skills to help those students enter kindergarten at the same academic levels as their peers, or at least close to the same academic levels as their peers who have had some preschool.” Continue reading →

Knox Community School Board to Meet in Work Session Tonight

  
 

The Knox Community School Board will not have a regular school board meeting tonight. Instead, the board members will have a work session to talk about the elementary facility study.

According to Superintendent A.J. Gappa, the board is expected to discuss different options that the board can move forward with after receiving information in the facility study that was done on the elementary school prior to the referendum.

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Building Corporation to get Reports on Old, New Jails

Starke County Sheriff's Department
A committee is looking into possible uses for the current Starke County Jail when a new facility east of Knox is completed.

The Starke County Building Corporation is expected to get an update from the committee tasked with looking into future uses of the former jail when they meet this morning. Representatives from Skillman Corporation will also discuss the scope of the old jail renovation as well as share information about how construction of the new facility is going. The building east of Knox on State Road 8 is due to open next spring. The Starke County Building Corporation meeting will take place at 8:30 a.m. at the county annex building prior to the commissioners meeting at 9.

 

Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Today

  
 

The Marshall County Commissioners will meet in regular session today in the commissioners meeting room on the second floor in the Marshall County Building.

Bart Trester from USI is expected to discuss the 7th Road project; Director of Court Services, Ward Byers, will talk about the Software Maintenance Project and the commissioners will appoint members to the Argos Plan Commission.

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Starke County Commissioners to Discuss County Dog Ordinances

starke-county-courthouseThe Starke County Commissioners will discuss dog ordinances when they meet this morning. That’s one of several items on their agenda. Others include an update of the county’s nepotism ordinance to match the state’s policy and an update on the status of proposed revisions to the county employee handbook. Terry Stephenson from the plan commission is also scheduled to talk to the commissioners about a flood plain ordinance. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the county annex building.

INDOT to Close Part of State Road 23 Through Mid-June

 
 

Motorists who travel through Walkerton on State Road 23 will need to find a new route for the next several weeks. Starting tomorrow, INDOT is closing 23 between Union Road and County Road 900 North, just south of Walkerton so crews can replace a small structure in the roadway. Southbound SR 23 drivers will be detoured west on U.S. 6, south on U.S. 35 and east on U.S. 30 to get back to 23. Northbound traffic will go west on 30, north on 35, east on 6 and back to 23 to bypass the construction. INDOT can only use state roads for detours. The project should be finished in mid-June, according to INDOT officials.

Knox Street Sweeping Resumes Early Tomorrow Morning

City of Knox logoStreet sweeping in the city of Knox will take place for the first time this year early tomorrow morning and continue each Tuesday through September. Stopping, standing and parking are restricted on several city streets between the hours of 4 and 8 a.m. Those routes include Shield Street from Washington Street to Culver Road; Main Street from Washington Street to Culver Road; Pearl Street from Washington Street to Culver Road; Washington Street from Heaton to Shield Street; and Lake Street from Heaton to Shield Street. Vehicles in violation may be impounded, and owners may be subject to fines in accordance with Knox City Ordinance 914 Set. 9-444-9446, which can be read by clicking https://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=14045.

 

 

North Judson Spring Brush Pickup Scheduled This Week

North Judson Water TowerSpring brush pickup is scheduled this week in North Judson. Brush piles need to be placed along the edge of the alleyway by 7 a.m. on Monday, May 5. Residents who do not have an alleyway should pile their brush along the street curb. This pickup is for brush only, not for leaves. Utility crews will not be able to return once they finish picking up brush on a particular street or from an alley. Residents are welcome to haul brush, grass and leaves to the town dump site. The key is available at the town water department office during business hours, which are 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office closes for lunch from noon until 1 p.m. daily.

Hamlin Gets First Win of the Season

Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 4, 2014 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo by Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 4, 2014 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo by Getty Images

At Talladega Superspeedway, anything can happen. Tell that to Denny Hamlin as he won the Aaron’s 499 on Sunday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway. Hamlin won as a caution came out on the last lap for debris. A large piece of debris was found on the front stretch and NASCAR officials took their time and threw the caution flag on the last lap of the race. Once that happens, the field is frozen. Hamlin was able to secure the win.

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SCYC Radiothon Successful

  
 

The Starke County Youth Club held the 7th annual Radiothon yesterday on WKVI.

Executive Director Irene Szakonyi said it was a great event.

“We had an absolutely fantastic day,” beamed Szakonyi. “This community comes through every year for our kids and so we can chalk this up to another really great day.”

Several testimonials were given by students and leaders of the club. Organizations, residents and businesses donated just over $42,000 during the six-hour event, which was the fundraising goal.

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LaPorte City Police Department Shooting Review Board Completes Investigation

 
 

The LaPorte City Police Department Shooting Review Board completed an investigation on an incident involving the fatal shooting of a resident’s aggressive dog.

According to LaPorte City Police Chief Adam Klimczak, Officer Chris Schoof was dispatched to 316 G. Street in LaPorte on Tuesday, April 29 to look for a wanted person. While on the property, the 50-pound dog broke its collar and charged at the officer while barking and showing its teeth. Officer Schoof tried to retreat but due to the dog’s aggressive actions and that the occupants did nothing to stop the action, the officer was forced to fire two shots into the animal.

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