The Knox Board of Public Works approved three change orders to the Phoenix House construction project Wednesday morning.
The construction project began in mid-January with site preparations beginning in December. The Phoenix House suffered flooding and grant money was sought by K-IRPC to aid in the construction project. The garage is being expanded to include a storage area, a group meeting room, a library and computer area.
In memory of Eric Corey, the Turkey Tracks annual hunt in Starke County is quickly approaching and the organization is gearing up with a Saturday banquet at the Washington Township Community Center on State Road 23. The fish dinner – more than a fish fry as in previous years – is being prepared by the San Pierre Fire Department with all-you-can-eat fish, baked potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, and dessert. Carol Corey, Eric’s mother, said the hunt – created as part of the Eric Corey Foundation – means a lot to her and it continues in his honor.
While most colleges and universities in Indiana have made headlines with their tuition increases, the Ancilla College Board of Trustees have voted to approve a four percent across-the-board tuition reduction for the 2013-2014 school year.
The new tuition cost will be $6,500 per semester for a full-time student enrolled in 15 credit hours.
Live music will be provided by Category 5, food from a variety of decades – 50s, 60s, and 70s – will be provided, and attendees are encouraged to dress casually in the style of their favorite era. Social hour begins at 6 p.m. on March 9, while dinner starts at 7 p.m. with dancing immediately afterward from 8 to 11 p.m.
In an annual report, the Indiana State Excise Police found that the arrests of minors for possession and consumption of alcohol rose 37 percent from 2011 to 2012. Arrests of those who provided alcohol to minors rose 46.2 percent.
On a positive note, the Indiana Excise Police noted that since the start of the Intensified College Enforcement program, fewer alcohol-related crashes have been reported that involved teen drunk drivers. Taking place on six college campuses, the program saw a 53.4 percent decrease in alcohol-related crashes involving 15- to 20-year-old drunk drivers in 2012 from the year before.
Senate Enrolled Act 319 prevents an estimated $57 million property tax increase on farmers by delaying the use of new soil productivity factors in farmland assessment until the Department of Local Government Finance and the Purdue University College of Agriculture complete a study on the process.
The legislation passed unanimously in both the Indiana House and Senate.
The proposed new soil productivity factors used for farmland assessment in Indiana could have caused an estimated 25 percent average increase in property tax payments for Indiana’s farmers, depending on the county in which they live.
Pulaski Memorial Hospital has begun expanding their oncology coverage to three Fridays each month in an effort to provide the community with quicker and more convenient medical oncology appointments at a location not too far from home.
The notice contends he has been damaged in the sum of $500,000 by their actions, which began with his Jan. 22 suspension with pay after unspecified accusations of wrongdoing. Becker immediately retained Valparaiso attorney Steven Bush, who sent a letter to county attorney Kevin Tankersley on Feb. 1 asking for the allegations against his client and the names of his accusers. Tankersley refused, and three days later Becker was demoted to the position of “county highway manager” during a commissioners meeting. Bush was there and was told by Tankersley that he could not question the commissioners.
“It is clear by the way in which the entire situation was handled that Tracey Shorter, Larry Brady, Shelia Garling and Kevin Tankersley conspired together to damage the reputation and name of Kenneth Becker by leaving a cloud of suspicion with the public as to what acts or misdeeds may or may not have been committed by Kenneth Becker to justify his demotion; by suggesting criminal activity in the form of infractions, and by jointly refusing to provide any information whatsoever regarding the allegations, accusations and accusers;” the complaint reads. It also contends that Becker’s name, reputation and character were slandered and his civil and constitutional rights were violated by the refusal to provide him the names of his accusers, what their accusations were and what proof they had as to those accusations.
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A Knox man was arrested Sunday after a brief pursuit with an officer from the Knox City Police Department.
The officer saw a vehicle travel at a high rate of speed on Main Street near the John Street intersection. As the driver approached the Culver Road intersection, the officer saw that he had picked up speed. The officer turned on his red and blue lights to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver failed to stop.
Police continue to encourage Starke County residents to report any suspicious activity to the dispatch center as soon as it occurs in light of the continued complaints of pushy door-to-door salespeople. As recent as yesterday morning, the Starke County Sheriff’s Department has been receiving reports of a white van with Michigan plates that have been trying to sell vacuums or other items to residents.
The Melody Drive-In in Knox is preparing for the upcoming movie season with some new digital upgrades. Fred Heise, owner of the drive-in, said that the theater will soon be moving away from the older standard of film to digital film, and he said they are now putting in new digital equipment in an effort to enhance the movie-viewing experience.
Heise said the new equipment will serve to make the picture more clear and improve the sound quality, but it’s not just moviegoers who will benefit from the new equipment. Heise said the new equipment and digital film will save the theater a lot of time and preparation.
This is a chance for residents to repair sidewalks at half the cost. If you have a troublesome area that would benefit from this program, Mayor Rick Chambers is accepting requests now from homeowners and business owners. The application deadline is Monday, April 15.
“It’s funded by our Title 1 funds, which is a federal grant program for schools that have a high percentage of free and reduced lunch students,” explained Gappa. “We’re presently screening students so if parents have children that they think might fit the program they can contact Jana Hazelton at the Knox Elementary School and set up a screening appointment.”
The Hamlet Town Board conducted a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 19th to gather the opinions of residents of a proposed small livestock ordinance.
Clerk-Treasurer Kristina Pitts noted that the proposed ordinance would allow residents in the town limits to house chickens on their property. She stated that several people have been in favor of the ordinance. No complaints were brought forth during the hearing.
Norem has logged 24 bottles of unwanted and unused prescription medication. They need to be logged just like any other drugs taken in during a regular investigation and then they will be moved from the facility and destroyed at a later time.
The drop-off box is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is monitored by a security camera. You may drop-off any unwanted or unused prescription medication in the front lobby of the Knox City Police Department. Any abuse of the service will not be tolerated.
A fundraiser at Pulaski Memorial Hospital culminated in the presentation of a check for $350 to Christina Pugh to go toward a $5000 goal pledged to Riley Children’s Foundation in Indianapolis by Emily Larkin. Larkin pledged the goal in honor of her sister, Christina Pugh, a cancer survivor. The $350 check had been raised by hospital employees during a “pizza and jeans day” fundraiser.
Tickets for the Halleck Award Banquet are still available.
The event is set for Friday, March 8 beginning with a social gathering at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m., the annual meeting and organization of the year for the Pulaski County Chamber at 7:15 p.m. and the Halleck Award Program at 7:30 p.m. ET.
