Firefighters from five area departments spent the morning battling a pole barn fire in the 1500 block of 500 N. Koontz Lake Volunteer Fire Department Chief Andy Lawrence says they received the call around 5 a.m. and remained on the scene until around 9:30. No injuries were reported, but Lawrence says the pole barn and its contents were a complete loss. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Governor Signs LaPorte County Property Tax Law
LaPorte County property owners have a new layer of protections and payment options thanks to a bill authored by Rep. Tom Dermody and signed into law by Gov. Mike Pence. The measure offers flexible repayment options and plans along with incentives to make early or on-time payments. It authorizes the Department of Local Government Finance to delay the payment of tax bills imposed for the March 1, 2012 or Jan. 15, 2013 assessment dates. The bill also creates a 2 percent discount for those who pay their property taxes on time. If payments are delinquent, the bill creates an additional 12 month period before a property is put up for auction. Continue reading
Pulaski County Commissioners Hire New Maintenance Supervisor
Pulaski County has a new maintenance supervisor. The commissioners voted unanimously last night to hire Winamac native Jeff Johnston, contingent on his passing a pre-employment drug screening. He will oversee maintenance and upkeep of all of the county’s buildings. Commissioner Larry Brady noted that a number of qualified individuals applied for the job and says their resumes will remain on file with the county. Johnston replaces longtime maintenance supervisor Morry DeMarco, who was fired last month by the commissioners.
Plymouth Board of Works Approves Vehicle Purchases
The lone quote for a truck chassis and body for the Plymouth Waste Water Department is well under budget. Oliver Ford bid $52,685 for a single axle truck with the tool box and a hoist to raise lift stations. Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson told the Plymouth Board of Works he had budgeted $58,000 for this year’s vehicle.
The board also ratified the award of quotes for three new police vehicles. The Plymouth Police Department will purchase a Dodge Charger from County Auto for $20,357 and two all-wheel drive Ford Interceptors from Oliver Ford for a total of $45,397. The total cost for all three vehicles is nearly $2,000 less than Police Chief Dave Bacon has budgeted this year.
A former 1999 Ford Crown Victoria police car will be traded in to offset the cost of the new cop cars. It’s currently being used by the Plymouth Board of Aviation and will be replaced by a 2006 unmarked Ford Taurus Police Department vehicle that was designated as surplus by the board.
Ind. Civil Rights Commission and Dept. of Child Services Look Into Claims Against MBH
An investigation is underway into the Michiana Behavioral Health Center after a number of former employees claimed the center has committed a number of employee discrimination violations and maintains an unsafe work environment through consistent understaffing. Dominique Smith, a former employee at the center between November 2010 and April 2012, said that she was witness to a number of incidents involving sexual misconduct and physical abuse and that she was discriminated against while employed at MBHC. She also claimed that the administration ignored her health issues her supervisors intentionally mistreated her specifically.
Starke County Bridge 43 Soon to Be Replaced
Recently appointed Starke County Highway Director Stephen “Rik” Ritzler this week presented the commissioners with an update on the Bridge 43 project, and informed them that the preliminary plans for the bridge are nearly complete with the help of engineering firm Jones Petrie Rafinski. Ritzler told the commissioners that JPR is designing the bridge on County Road 1000 East over the Robbins Ditch, and they will soon be able to send the project out for bids.
“Plans are almost done. We need to get the permits and the next step is to put it out for bid for construction and then starting a construction schedule after that,” said Ritzler.
Marshall County Commissioners Approve Motion Concerning Wind Farms
In his report, County Attorney James Clevenger explained to the commissioners that the plan commission reviewed the proposed amendment changes to the ordinance and it came to a vote of 4-4 to approve them. The changes would virtually make it impossible to place a wind turbine farm anywhere in Marshall County.
Senate Committee Approves Criminal Code Reform Bill
A four-year study of the current laws by the Criminal Code Evaluation Commission found that legislation needed to be drafted to change the four classes of felonies into six classes. Felonies are currently classified as A-D and will be revamped to classes 1-6. This better defines the perimeters of the classes of felonies. The legislation also changes the credit time system requiring offenders to serve at least 75 percent of their sentence instead of half of the time under current law.
If this legislation is enacted, the revised criminal code would be effective July 1, 2014. This would give law enforcement and corrections officials one year to prepare for the implementation of the changes.
Nonprofit Seeks to Give Seniors Job Skills and Opportunities
Participant assistant Laura White explained that anyone over the age of 55 with low income is encouraged to check out the program. The organization will be taking applications for various positions on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Starke County Community Service Center, located at 311 E. Culver Road in Knox.
Celebrating the Arts Event this Saturday!
The event, sponsored by the Winamac Psi Iota Xi Sorority, Iota Xi, will be held Saturday, April 6 at the Church of the Heartland at 890 E. Highway 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET. Admission is free, but a $1 suggested donation will support the event.
Bullying Lasts a Lifetime, Says Study
The lead author of the study, Dr. William Copeland, said one group was even more troubled than the others: those who responded to being the victims of bullying by bullying others.
National Walking Day April 3
Heart Cart Offering Discounted Screenings This Spring
Both visits will be held at IU Health Primary Care at LifePlex, located at 2855 Miller Dr., Ste. 117, in Plymouth. All Plymouth residents and those of surrounding counties are encouraged to take advantage of the Heart Cart visit so close to home by pre-registering for a screening. The service is now even less expensive; the screenings cost only $50 for tests that would normally cost more than $1200.
Knox Police Working Crash on Heaton Street
No injuries were sustained in a two-vehicle accident this morning at the corner of Clabaugh and U.S. 35 in Knox.
According to the preliminary investigation and witness statements, Betty Dotlich, of Grovertown, was driving south on U.S. 35 when she apparently ran a stop light at the intersection. Valerie Erickson of Knox was traveling east on Clabaugh Drive and proceeded through the intersection and hit Dotlich’s vehicle.
Officers from the Knox City Police Department responded to the scene along with other emergency responders.
Measles Case Confirmed in Bloomington
Officials at Indiana University are working to identify potential measles cases and prevent further transmission of the disease. State health officials have confirmed a case of measles in an IU student. The student did not attend classes while infectious and does not live on campus, according to health officials. The individual visited the IU Health Bloomington Hospital emergency department and a CVS pharmacy while infectious on March 24. IU Health Bloomington Hospital is contacting individuals directly who may have been exposed to measles. Continue reading
Court Hearing Set for April 8 for Connie Miller
Open House Tomorrow at Knox Elementary School
An opportunity is available for you to see what the Knox Community School Board is looking to do in terms of renovation and construction at the Knox Elementary School if the voters approve a public question that will be offered on the May 7 ballot.
You will be able to tour the Palmer Wing of the Knox Elementary School tomorrow from 6–7 p.m. CT. Your tour will begin in the old all-purpose room at the east end of the elementary building.
Starke County Library Project Resumes after Winter Hiatus
The Starke County Library construction project has been on hold throughout the winter season as most of the work that needs to be done first has been outdoors.
Library Director Sheila Urwiler said the under-sub duct work is being done and when that is finished the foundation will be poured. Walls will be built after the foundation is complete.
Volunteers Carry Cross to Raise Awareness of Community Issues
The organizers of an Easter-eve walk from Knox to North Judson hope their event will raise awareness of many problems that plague Starke County.
“One person can’t fix it all, but as a community we can come together, and we can show these people that we care about ’em,” organizer Jerry Bacon told the crowd prior to the start of the event. “We don’t want to see ’em all thrown in jail because they’re all addicted to drugs. We want to see ’em delivered from that. We want to see ’em set free from that addiction. We don’t want to see people without jobs. We want to see jobs brought into our community and people working and taken out of the situations they’re in.”
Mayor Chambers Discusses DOT Testing with Board of Works
He asked Street Superintendent Jeff Borg and Wastewater Superintendent Kelly Clemons to give him job descriptions and a list of all the employees who need a CDL license for drug testing purposes. Mayor Chambers explained that he wants to cut down the number of random drug tests given to the employees. About 50 percent of the employees are being drug tested and the mayor wants to revise the employee handbook to reflect which employees need to be drug tested. If a supervisor believes a drug test is warranted on a certain employee, a drug test will be performed.
All potential employees will be screened for drugs upon pre-employment and that requirement will not change.
