NASCAR has made modifications in the qualifying process effective immediately.
A group qualifying format was released at Phoenix International Raceway and through continued evaluation, officials have decided to make the following changes during qualifying including the breaks:NASCAR notified its teams this afternoon that effective immediately the following modifications apply to all elements of its national series qualifying including the breaks: Continue reading
Snow is expected to continue throughout the Kankakee Valley this morning before tapering off later today. It started out as rain overnight, and temperatures dropped below freezing, so roads may be slippery. Remember, ice and snow, take it slow. If you go out, give yourself plenty of travel time, leave ample space between vehicles and avoid having to slam on your brakes. Starke County is still under a yellow-level travel advisory, which means routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation, and individuals should use caution or avoid those areas. The same is in effect in Porter County. Otherwise, there are not any travel restrictions in effect for other area counties. Should that change we will let you know. The winter storm watch is in effect until 4 this afternoon. Continue reading
Bystanders are credited with saving the life of an elderly Marshall County woman trapped in a house that caught fire Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters were called to the scene on 5C Road just north of Plymouth just after 3 p.m., according to our reporting partner at WNDU-TV. More than 50 firefighters from 16 agencies worked to battle the blaze which destroyed the residence. A total of four people were in the home when the fire started. Officials say two were taken to Memorial Hospital and two were taken to Plymouth. There’s no word on the extent of their injuries. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, and the state fire marshal’s office will investigate.
No person from the public spoke about the project so the Medaryville Town Council will move forward with the project. The council will be working with the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission to submit a Community Development Block Grant worth $450,000. The town is also expected to expend an estimated $400,000 in non-CDBG funds on the project. These funds will come from the town of Medaryville and a bond issue.
The council also went ahead and hired McMann for design work and University Research Consortium to conduct an income survey.
The Knox City Council last night had a difficult time explaining the desired effect of an amendment to the zoning ordinance regarding outdoor displays. When the owner of Smith Farm Stores in Knox approached the council asking about a portion of the amendment that indicates outdoor displays can only display items that are “in season,” such as jack o’ lanterns in fall or Christmas items in the winter, the question of how items that are not explicitly seasonal would be classified.
The weather is slowly warming up as we approach the spring season, and many summer movie enthusiasts are chomping at the bit to enjoy the warmer air and a good movie. Fred Heise from the Melody Drive-In recently announced that the drive-in theater has set a tentative date to open this season, weather permitting.
In his presentation to the council on Monday morning, Prosecutor David Holmes said sometimes what you see on the internet isn’t always what you get. He explained that his department purchased a copier online for $7,645 which was supposed to operate just like the copier the department was attempting to retire after several years of use.
Superintendent Charles Mellon said the plan is usually simply updated, but this year’s plan included another focus.
“One of the major goals in that plan has been to implement the one-to-one technology where every student would have their laptop or some device and we are on target with that,” said Mellon. “By the beginning of the fall of next year, every student will have a device.”
The one-to-one computer initiative was done in the middle school for this school year, and different devices have been handed to the students at the elementary school this year. With this plan, the corporation is on track to have full implementation of the computer initiative, including high school students, by August.
Volunteers with charitable organizations are encouraged to apply for these grants. Applications can be found online at http://www.nicf.org. The application deadline May 2.
The Starke United Fund Committee will review applications and award the grants to the chosen organizations.
For more information, contact the Northern Indiana Community Foundation toll free at 1-877-432-6423 or call Sarah Origer at the Starke County Community Foundation at (574) 772-3665.
Michael McDowell was most familiar with road course racing when he entered the NASCAR world, but finds driving stock cars more fun. Listen more about his season so far with Leavine Family Racing and how he travels to most racetracks in this Behind the Wheel interview with Anita Goodan.
Three people each face attempted murder and other felony charged in Marshall County stemming from a Feb. 22 report of gunshots fired at the Economy Inn on North Michigan Street in Plymouth. Officers reportedly found four .380 shell casings and two bullets lodged in the interior wall of one of the motel rooms. Witnesses reported a dark-colored car sped away from the motel. Officers determined it belongs to Heather Alexander, 21, of Warsaw. Police say Blake Spindler, 19, of Warsaw, and Christopher Tackett, 16, of Tippecanoe, were in the vehicle when the shooting occurred. Continue reading
Gravel roads throughout the area are extremely soft and in poor condition due to melting snow and standing water. Motorists are advised to avoid these roads if possible. In Starke County, the highway department has placed high water signs at the intersections of 275 West and 500 South; 100 West and Toto Road; and 250 North and 600 East.
Starke County has also issued an advisory travel status. That’s the yellow level and means routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation, and individuals should use caution or avoid those areas. Starke County officials say roads are free of ice and snow cover, but pooling and ponding conditions are occurring on many county roads. Much of the remaining snow will melt today because daytime temperatures will remain above freezing. However, the frost line is too deep in most places for the ground to absorb the water. Additionally, overnight temperatures will be at or below freezing, so roads will be slick tonight and tomorrow morning.
