A juvenile Plymouth Police believe robbed a local store at knifepoint before fleeing on foot is jailed in Marshall County. An employee at Karma Records in the Pine Creek Plaza at U.S. 30 called 911 at 5:23 a.m. to report a knife-wielding male entered the store, demanded money and fled on foot toward Beef O’Bradys. Officers fanned out over the area and arrested the suspect about 15 minutes later. They reportedly found the note believed to have been used in the robbery in his pocket. The weapon officers say was used in the robbery was located a short time later. The subject’s name and additional details will be released later this morning.
LaPorte Police investigating break-in
The LaPorte County Police Department is seeking the public’s help in solving a break-in. Someone broke into Stan’s Service Center at 212 Lincolnway sometime Thursday night. An entry door, door handle and lock lever were damaged, according to police. Officers say the west entry door appeared to have been kicked in. A handle to a north overhead door was also damaged from prying force. Police say nothing was determined missing at the time of the report. Anyone with information regarding this crime or any other criminal or suspicious activity is urged to contact the La Porte Police Department at 219-362-9446, or at www.lpcitypd.com to submit a crime tip. You can remain anonymous while providing important information to help make your community safer. Please be as specific as you can about the activity you are reporting.
Funeral arrangments set for Braun Corporation founder and CEO
Ralph William Braun, founder and CEO of The Braun Corporation, passed away Friday, Feb. 8, 2013 in Winamac. He was 72.
Born on Dec. 18, 1940 in Winamac, he was the son of Joseph J. and Olive M. Braun. He was a pioneer in the mobility industry, after struggling with SMA from a young age. Out of a need to improve his own mobility, Braun built his first three-wheel scooter in 1962. Realizing that there were many others like him, he started his own company, Save-A-Step Manufacturing, in 1963. It eventually grew into The Braun Corporation, which was incorporated in 1972. What began as a solution to his own mobility needs grew to a company that would eventually change thousands of lives. In 2006, The Braun Corporation adopted the brand name, BraunAbility for its products. Today his company has grown into a world-wide corporation, with its headquarters still based in Winamac.
In 2010, Ralph Braun released his autobiography, Rise Above. He then started The Ralph Braun Foundation as a way to assist the disabled population with purchasing mobility equipment. As a recipient of many awards and honors, Braun’s recognition began in 1979 when he received the Employer of the Year Award from the Commission for the Handicapped and the Indiana State Board of Health. Since that time, he has been featured on television and in many newspaper and magazine articles for his success and drive to improve the lives of others with disabilities. In 2012 he was recognized as a “Champion of Change” by President Barack Obama. Braun was also honored with the Support of the Guard and Reserves Patriot Award for his dedicated support and flexibility offered to employees serving in the military. Braun’s most recent award was a bronze plaque from the Adaptive Driving Alliance for being the leader and pioneer for mobility products. Continue reading
Starke Judge Rules on Commercial Structure Debate
The ongoing debate between Betty and George Dotlich and Julia Ford seems to have come to a conclusion, as Patrick Blankenship, special judge with the Starke Circuit Court, ruled that the Starke County Board of Zoning Appeals failed to follow proper procedure, allowed ex parte communication, and made a decision unsupported by substantial evidence.
The case came to light when Julia Ford of Starke County purchased a used manufactured commercial office structure that had been certified in Illinois and applied for a permit to convert it to a single-family residence, which the BZA approved on Jan. 11, 2012. Petitioners George and Betty Dotlich, James and Linda Siroky, and Anthony and Jane Standifer own real estate adjacent to Ford’s residence.
Bass Lake Festival Board Appointed; Festival Fate Determined
A meeting was held recently to determine the fate of the Bass Lake Summer Festival.
The Bass Lake Festival Association met in January when the new officers were appointed and determined that the festival will continue in 2013.
West Central School Board welcomes new member
The West Central School Board is back to full strength after a new member was sworn in last week. Jeff Lowry was appointed to the seat his father, Dean, held since 1986.The seat has been vacant since Lowry’s death on Dec. 21. Jeff Lowry will serve the remainder of his father’s term and will be eligible to run for reelection in 2014 if he chooses. He attended Thursday’s meeting with his wife, Kasey, and their children, Kaitlynn and Sarabeth.
North Judson Town Board Seeking Cemetery Mowing Bids
The North Judson Town Board last week received an update on the bids for town cemetery mowing services, and Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained the board approved a motion to advertise for bids in local papers with a deadline of Feb. 18.
Henry said the bids must be sealed and submitted as per the specs in the advertisement. The board will review bids at their meeting on Feb. 18, but she said the board may not award the bid that night; rather, the board may want to review the contracts further before making a decision.
Knox High School Junior Wins NCWIT Award
A Knox High School Junior was recognized by the school board during the Spotlight on Success portion of their meeting.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that Emily Burton received a high academic honor.
“Emily won the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) award for Aspirations in Computing,” said Gappa. “Emily was among 20 students who won the Aspirations in Computing award in the Indiana affiliate membership. There were 1800 applications nationwide and only three national award winners. Emily was also runner-up for the national award.”
Burton recently attended a dinner and awards banquet in Indianapolis where she received a $250 cash award, trophies and other items for her accomplishment.
Free Dental Services to be Offered to Children Feb. 18
Monday, Feb. 18 is American Dental Association’s “Give Kids a Smile” Day and HealthLinc will be participating in offering free dental services to uninsured children 18 years old and younger.
HealthLinc’s dental professionals will be giving free exams, cleanings, sealants and education at the Valparaiso and Michigan City sites. Those from Knox who would like to schedule an appointment can do so at either location. If you have Medicaid and other insurance coverage, you should call and ask about other appointment options.
IRS Accepting Tax Returns with Depreciation Credits
Taxpayers who claim depreciation credits can now file their federal income taxes. Laws passed by Congress in January required the Internal Revenue Service to reprogram and test its systems, leaving some filers in hiatus. Affected filers file Form 4562 for depreciation and amortization. Most of the people using the depreciation form tend to file later in the tax season or obtain a six-month extension, according to the IRS. Non-1040 business filers using Form 4562 can also file starting Sunday.
Henry F. Schricker Award Winner Dies
02-11-13 – Henry F. Schricker Award Winner Dies
By Anita Goodan
The newly-named Henry F. Schricker Award winner has died.
Gene Blastic suffered through the effects of cancer treatment to attend the Schricker Award dinner on Jan. 17 to accept this prestigious honor. He passed away Friday night.
Blastic was honored for his “service before self” attitude and was active in many community programs including the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, Starke United, Starke County Chamber of Commerce, Starke County Right to Life, and countless others.
Blastic was president of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation Board for two years, having been a member for more than 10 years, and was nominated volunteer of the year for Starke United in 2003. Blastic was also recognized as the Older Hoosier of the Year in 2009 by the board of Community Services of Starke County in recognition of his lifetime of service to improve the quality of life in the community.
In recent years, he spearheaded talks about improving the status of downtown Knox.
Visitation will be Wednesday, Feb. 13 from 4 until 8 p.m. at M.C. Smith Funeral Home, with a wake service at 8 p.m.
A rosary service will be Thursday, Feb. 14 at 9 a.m. at the funeral home, prior to a 10 a.m. funeral mass at at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
Burial will take place at the Rose Lawn Cemetery on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 12:30 p.m.
Braun Corporation Founder Dies
A prominent Winamac resident is dead. Sources close to the family confirm that Braun Corporation founder and self-made millionaire Ralph Braun died Friday afternoon. He was 72.
As a child Braun was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy and by age 15 was unable to walk. Braun was confined to a manual wheelchair, which left him exhausted at the end of the day. He was in his early 20s when he started to tinker in his cousin’s farm shop and invented the world’s first electric scooter. Braun dubbed it the Tri-Wheeler, and it quickly gained popularity in the disability community. Braun took orders and built Tri-Wheelers in his parents’ garage under the name Save-A-Step Manufacturing.
Jury Convicts Singleton on All Counts; Sentencing Set for March
The jury found Singleton guilty of Dealing in Methamphetamine as a Class B felony, and Possession of Precursors, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Maintaining a Common Nuisance as Class D felonies.
Three Sent to the Hospital in Chain Reaction Crash
A chain reaction accident sent three to a Plymouth hospital for evaluation.
The accident happened Wednesday afternoon on Michigan road south of 3rd Road in Plymouth. George Mosley of Plymouth told an officer with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department that he was traveling on the road when the sun got into his eyes and didn’t see an ambulance stopped in front of him. He rearended the ambulance, who in turn rearended another vehicle driven by Suzanne Mauro, also of Plymouth. They had been stopped in the roadway waiting on a school bus that was dropping off children.
The driver of the ambulance, Megan Houston, of Walkerton, a passenger in the ambulance and Mauro were transported to the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Plymouth to be evaluated.
Marshall County Sheriff’s Department Investigating Home Burglary
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department is currently looking for information regarding a burglary in the 5000 block of Union Road. The department has reported a burglary took place during the day while the owner was away from home, and police suspect one individual was responsible.
Evidence at the scene suggests one suspect broke into the home and was operating an unknown type of full-size vehicle. The suspect forced entry via a patio door and stole items including a flat-screen RCA TV, jewelry, and two firearms.
Police were notified of the incident at 2:37 p.m. ET on Thursday but have not been able to identify the suspect responsible. As a result, police are looking for help in ascertaining the culprit, and is encouraging anyone with information to contact the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department at (574) 936-3187.
Local Men Honored for Community Service and Leadership
A Knox man was recently honored with the 2013 Certificate of Distinction award that was presented during the Purdue University Agricultural Alumni Association’s annual fish fry at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.
The award honors those who go above and beyond the call of duty in their work and volunteer work and leadership in organizations associated with agriculture and community service.
Knox School Board to Attend Seminar March 14
The Knox Community School Board received information about an upcoming seminar and presentation by Author Patrick Carr. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said he will be discussing his book “Hallowing Out the Middle: The Rural Brain Drain and What it Means for America”.
“The book is about how many top students in many high schools leave the community and go to college and never return to the local community. They move on to other places and other parts of the country to find jobs elsewhere. That is a brain drain, as he called it, on the local community. If your top students are leaving, then who’s coming in to replace them?”
Local Legislator Authors Bill for Trafficking, Possessing Cell Phones in Prison
LaPorte Republican State Representative Tom Dermody has authored a House Bill that would place a misdemeanor or felony charge and a fine for anyone possessing or trafficking a cell phone in prison.
Under House Bill 1256, inmates would face a Class A Misdemeanor charge for possession of a cell phone and that inmate could face up to an additional year in prison and up to a $5,000 if convicted. If an inmate is trafficking cell phones, a Class C Felony and a $500-$10,000 fine would be imposed.
Dermody suggested that cell phone trafficking puts employees and other inmates at risk. Cell phones can be used by inmates to harass victims, traffic drugs, monitor staff routine procedures or plan prison escapes.
Motorist Uninjured in Friday Night Wreck
A Winamac man turned a little too soon Friday night and wound up driving off the side of the road. Ronald W. Garrett, 76, was southbound on U.S. 35 just south of Winamac and thought he was turning into Casey’s General Store. He was not injured. Deputies with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office called a tow truck to pull Garrett’s Chevrolet S-10 out of the ditch, and he drove it from the scene.
Two-Vehicle Accident Snarls Traffic on U.S. 30
No injuries were reported in an accident that involved two semis in front of the Grovertown Truck Stop in Starke County early this morning.
Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and fire crews were called to the scene as one semi was fully engulfed in flames. Traffic was backed up on U.S. 30 for more than an hour as crews investigated the accident.
Photo provided.
