INDOT Spokesman Matt Deitchley said salt, chemical de-icers and abrasives were put down yesterday. In addition, crews are using plows and heavy duty equipment to break the snow apart. Deitchely stresses that road conditions may get worse before they get better.
A Rolling Prairie man was one of four United States airmen killed Tuesday when their helicopter crashed off the coast of England. Tech. Sgt. Dale E. Mathews was one of four killed during a training mission when his chopper crashed into a marshy area of a nature reserve, according to the U.S. Air Force. Our reporting partners at WNDU-TV spoke with Mathews family, who say he was due to come home for good in a March and end a military career of nearly two decades. Mathews joined the military soon after his 19th birthday and served in Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. He leaves behind a wife, two children and two stepchildren. A memorial fund for his children has been set up at 1st Source Bank. Contributions can be mailed to: Dale E Mathews Memorial Fund, 848 West Michigan Street, New Carlisle, IN 46552. Mathews will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are pending. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
###
“She had missed her turn which was not far from where we were at and it was very foggy out. She said she was looking for her turn and the next thing she knew water was coming in her car. She was screaming because she didn’t know how to swim. The driver’s side window happened to be broken – she couldn’t get it up or down. She was able to climb out there and as she was climbing out my husband said she was screaming the whole time – screaming she couldn’t swim and he just went right into the water and down the ramp,” said Elaine.
In addition, Henry said the meeting will include a review of the process regarding the reading of ordinances, with the possibility of a reading to be held regarding the proposed ordinances. She said the board will also elect the new board president, and appoint the town marshal, town superintendent, town attorney, and board member positions as necessary.
Coats submitted amendments that would reform the existing program to ensure that it is paid for and benefits are going to those actively looking for work. One of those amendments includes prohibiting simultaneous collection of Social Security disability insurance and unemployment insurance. By law, a person must be able to work to qualify for unemployment benefits, yet some people claiming unemployment benefits also request Social Security disability benefits. This would save roughly $6 billion.
NASCAR has restructured the manufacturers points system which will make it a little easier to understand while still making it competitive.
The system will mirror the owner championship points structure. Points will be awarded to the single highest finisher for each car manufacturer in each championship event according to the finishing position awarded for each race.
To help commemorate the 25th anniversary of Rusty Wallace’s 1989 championship and the approaching 40th anniversary of the original Miller Lite beer, Wallace will drive the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford during a test session at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, Jan. 9.
Sam Hornish, Jr. will be driving in seven races this season for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series where he will pilot the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota. His first race will be May 3 at Talladega Super Speedway. He will also participate in races at Road America, Chicagoland Speedway, Mid-Ohio, Kentucky Speedway and both races at Iowa Speedway. Kyle Busch will drive in the remaining 26 races of the season with Adam Stevens calling the shots from atop the pit box. Hornish spent the past two seasons driving the No. 12 Ford for Penske Racing in the Nationwide Series.
A Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect for the entire WKVI listening area through mid-morning Wednesday. Deadly wind chills of between 15 and 20 below zero can be expected this evening and tonight. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur quickly when very cold air and strong winds combine like this. If you do have to be outdoors, be sure to wear a hat, gloves and protect any exposed skin.
Starke County roads are open for essential travel, such as trips to and from work or emergency situations. Pulaski County is still under a travel advisory warning, which means non-emergency travelers are subject to receiving tickets, and Marshall County is under no restriction whatsoever. Those decisions are made by the commissioners of each county.
Check travel advisory levels for all 92 Indiana Counties:
http://www.in.gov/dhs/traveladvisory/
###
Most roads across Northwest Indiana are now passable. However, it’s still too cold for road salt to be effective, so a sheet of ice should be expected on all roads across northwest Indiana. Conditions may get worse overnight when any thawing and melting that has occurred during the day may refreeze. Deichley adds icy conditions likely won’t improve until later in the day tomorrow when temperatures are expected to become more favorable for chemical melting agents and plows to achieve optimal results. Until then, INDOT is asking the public to refrain from any non-emergency travel. Those who must travel are asked to be prepared for these conditions before leaving and to adjust driving behaviors in order to arrive at destinations safely. Take it slow, leave plenty of room between vehicles and give plows ample space to work.
All hearings scheduled for Wednesday morning in Starke Circuit Court have been canceled due to the hazardous travel conditions. If you have a Court hearing for Wednesday afternoon, you should contact the Court prior to traveling to the Courthouse. The court administrator can be reached at 574-772-9146.
INDOT snow plow drivers are fighting a losing battle with Mother Nature as they try to clear snow from the roads. They advise blowing and drifting snow has intensified and icy conditions persist on nearly all roadways. All roads should be considered extremely slick and hazardous, and motorists are discouraged from driving in non-emergency situations.
The sub-zero temperatures are wreaking havoc on plow trucks and other heavy machinery, and this is forcing repairs in the midst of plow routes. Roads are also drifting shut soon after they are cleared by plows, and abandoned vehicles on some roadways are making it impossible to clear them. Additionally, road salt is less effective in these frigid temperatures, making it very difficult to remove hard-pack snow and ice without a spike in temperatures. INDOT officials stress that motorist safety is their primary concern when they ask people to stay off the roads. If you insist on being out, take it slow and carry a charged cell phone and emergency kit in your car. Remember, these road conditions are slowing response times for police, firefighters, EMTS and tow trucks. Frostbite and hypothermia can develop very quickly on exposed skin, and you may freeze to death before help arrives.
The entire WKVI listening area is covered by a gubernatorial disaster declaration. Gov. Mike Pence issued the declaration for 29 Indiana counties. State law allows him to do so by executive order if he determines that a disaster involving widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property has occurred or that the occurrence or threat of a disaster is imminent. Pence’s declaration covers the storm system that set up across the state on Sunday and allows the executive director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to coordinate all necessary assistance with appropriate federal, state and local agencies.
Click below to view a copy of Gov. Mike Pence’s Executive Order
Schools that canceled classes due to the extreme winter conditions may not have to make up the day of missed instruction. “The Elkhart Truth” reports that State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz has authorized schools to apply for a one-day waiver from the required 180 days of instruction. The waiver was initially offered after school districts across the state canceled classes on Monday. However, the director of the office of accreditation for the education department told the paper that the waiver will be offered to schools on Tuesday as well. He says the waiver means that schools can escape the “very severe financial penalty” they would otherwise incur by canceling one day of instruction. The waiver has only been used a few times in the past several years to offset instructional days lost due to severe weather. School districts typically build in makeup days in the event of snow, but if they miss more days than they have built into the calendar they’re forced to extend the school year into summer vacation in order to meet the state’s requirements.
The travel warning for counties in northwest Indiana has been extended until further notice. Starke County Emergency Management Agency Director Ted Bombagetti says high winds and extremely cold temperatures are causing large amount of drifting on county roads. Starke County and all the surrounding counties are under the Warning Level, which only allows emergency responders and equipment to be on the roadways. Also, INDOT has once again shut down I-65 from Merrillville to Lafayette. I-94 is open again, but INDOT officials warn it is very treacherous and advise motorists to use extreme caution if they do travel. If you need to find out about road conditions call 1-800-261-7623. For any other information call the Starke County Emergency Management Agency office at 574-772-9182.
###
The state of emergency has been extended for counties in the WKVI listening area due to the bone-chilling cold. Starke, Pulaski and Marshall County offices are all closed again, and the Starke County Council meeting scheduled this evening at 5:30 p.m. has been pushed back to Wednesday instead due to the weather. Should that change, we’ll post the information our closings and delays page. The travel warnings for Starke, Pulaski and Marshall Counties have also been extended until further notice. This means you should not get out on the road unless it is a true emergency. Please do not call 911 or dispatch centers for updates, as they are extremely busy fielding emergency calls. Drivers in Northwest Indiana can monitor road closures, road conditions, and traffic alerts at any time via the District’s social media channels: www.Facebook.com/INDOTNorthwest or Twitter @INDOTNorthwest. Or visit http://www.trafficwise.in.gov for INDOT’s TrafficWise Traveler Information Service.
