The award boasts a lengthy list of required qualifications, including a C-average and significant accomplishments in Supervised Agricultural Experiences. Jernas told WKVI morning host Tom Berg that her SAE covered beef production over two years, keeping records of projects as she built up her herd and maintained her beef production education.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board this week honored nine students who participated in the small school division of the Online National Academic Decathlon competition. The NJ-SP Academic Decathlon team beat out their nearest competitor, Reitz Memorial of Evansville, by more than 2200 points during the competition on Feb. 8 and 9, and will now move on to the national competition.
A bill that would prevent a property tax increase for Hoosier farmers is currently awaiting the governor’s final approval. Co-authored by Senator Richard D. Young, Jr., Senate Bill 319 would revert the factors that determine soil productivity to the levels set in March 2011. This is the first bill to be approved by both Chambers of the Indiana General Assembly.
Young said it’s a very important bill that would prevent a lot of financial troubles for farmers.
A Tyner woman faces theft charges after police say she tried to leave the Plymouth Wal-Mart without paying for a cart full of groceries. Plymouth Police responded to the store around 2:30 Wednesday afternoon after loss prevention officers detained Cathy Paschen, 59, of Tyner. She’s due in court on March 12.
A Marshall County man faces up to 30 years in prison after a jury there found him guilty of five felony counts after deliberating for about an hour. Marshall County Judge Robert O. Bowen set sentencing for Anthony Eugene Fields for March 21. He was found guilty of manufacturing and possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a common nuisance, possession of precursors with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of precursors. The charges stem from evidence discovered during a home visit by officers from the Marshall County Probation Department and Indiana State Police.
A Marshall County native police say left a string of broken hearts and bad debt from Oregon to Indiana and stole a gun in Kokomo is due in court in South Bend this afternoon. 29-year-old Raymond Holycross reportedly uses several aliases, including Ray Paris and Ray Cross to meet women, earn their trust and charm them out of their money. Continue reading
A Starke County woman police say fatally shot her boyfriend in the chest at their rural Knox home last week remains in jail. Bond was denied for Kathleen Holt, 51. She reportedly called 911 after shooting Ron Worker on Feb.13 and confessed to the crime. Holt pleaded not guilty during her initial court appearance last Friday. She faces up to 55 years in prison if she’s convicted. Investigators with the Starke County Sheriff’s Office have yet to release a motive in the shooting. Holt’s trial is set to start May 22.
Information is slowly emerging about the recent suspensions with pay of longtime Pulaski County Highway Superintendent Kenny Becker and office manager Lin Morrison and subsequent investigation by the county commissioners. Both are back to work, although Becker has not been restored to the superintendent’s job. He’s handling the day-to-day duties and reporting to commissioner Larry Brady. Continue reading
Officers from the LaPorte City Police Department were called to an armed robbery incident yesterday morning at the First Trust Credit Union on J. Street just before 10 a.m.
Witnesses told police that a man wearing a gray hoodie with a blue bandana over his face displayed a knife and demanded money. He then fled the scene in a vehicle.
Starke County deputies have arrested two on warrants for drug charges.
On Friday, information was received that Timothy Barnette was in possession of a dangerous drug and was on probation through Starke Circuit Court. Police from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, the probation department and the Knox City Police Department arrived at a home on Denny Street in Knox, conducted a search of the residence and found drugs and other paraphernalia at the scene.
The Starke County Commissioners this week approved a motion to authorize a representative of Weaver Boos Consultants to contact the Indiana Department of Environmental Management in the hopes of revising their remediation plan regarding the county landfill.
Brian Horvath presented the commissioners with a report detailing the results of the company’s groundwater monitoring at the landfill, and said nothing stood out too much. While he has no major concerns, he did note that the gas monitoring did show some upward trends in methane levels; anything more than five percent methane is potentially explosive, and some areas in the landfill were as high as 10 percent.
The Marshall County Commissioners received an update on the county’s insurance plan from Mike Miley from Gibson Insurance.
The property and casualty premiums were discussed and Miley suggested that in order to save the county about $10,000, the commissioners approve an increase in the deductible for property insurance. The commissioners approved a motion to increase the deductible from $5,000 to $10,000 to reduce the premium cost.
Miley told the commissioners that the insurance has increased 3.95 percent. Most of the insurance claims have been filed with workman’s compensation and those have decreased since last year. As usual, the most of the claims come from within the Marshall County Highway Department and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department.
Cowen said that he has heard several reports of a Caucasian woman and an African-American man attempting to sell cleaning products door-to-door in the county during non-business hours. They are reportedly driving a white and green van and are attempting to force their way into homes.
A number of local governmental entities have announced their support of Moving Starke County Forward, having declared 2013, “A Year of Health in Starke County.” The North Judson Town Board signed the proclamation in January, while the Starke County Commissioners and Knox City Council had done the same two weeks prior.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that the issue surrounded the public question that will be offered to voters in the Knox school district in May.
Johnson told the board that in order for the lessons to be web-based and allow students to use mobile devices, the schools will need to be equipped with a full wireless network. Right now, she said the school is just utilizing hubs, but the corporation would need to look into a full-scale wireless network in order to accommodate a large number of devices.
A Starke County farmer was presented with the opportunity to make two $2500 donations to non-profit organizations of his choice. The Monsanto Fund selected Edward Mau as the Starke County winner for their third annual America’s Farmers Grow Communities program. This year, however, rather than make just one donation, Monsanto elected to give each county designated as a disaster relief area two donations, and Mau selected the Starke County Humane Society and St. Paul Lutheran Church Outreach to each receive $2500.
Winamac employees can no longer smoke in vehicles owned or operated by the town. The council voted 4-1 to ban the practice last week. Councilman Tom Murray cast the lone “no” vote. The policy applies immediately to all police cars, fire trucks and utility department vehicles.
