Rodney Freet Jr. was charged with child solicitation after an incident reported in January. A six-member jury in Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall’s court took less than an hour to deliberate and found Freet not guilty of the charge.
Five witnesses for the state were called to the stand while two witnesses were called by the defense, including the defendant.
Commissioner Jack Roose asked Highway Superintendent Neal Haeck Monday to see what Elkhart and LaGrange county highway departments do to reduce the cost on the wear and tear on roads.
Materials for the building are expected to be delivered on Nov. 27 with construction expected to begin on Dec. 3.
Henry also said the board held the first reading of the 2014 salary ordinance, and they will move on to the second and third readings on Dec. 2. Following that, the board will advertise the ordinance and put it into effect on Jan. 1.
Interim Superintendent Greg Briles stated that the property would be used for an upcoming project proposed by the Hamlet Fire Department.
“We’ve been working on the transfer of property in Hamlet, where the elementary school previously sat, back to the township so they would have the capabilities of potentially building a new fire station,” explained Briles.
This was one of the goals set forth the school board at the beginning of the year so this project could move along.
The paperwork for the transfer of property will be officially complete and that project should be wrapped up at the school board’s next meeting on Dec. 16.
Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County chairperson Judy Jelinek said the goal is to give smokers the initial push they need in order to beat their nicotine addictions.
The Winter Wonderland event, sponsored by the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, is set for Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET in downtown Winamac.
But first, join the chamber in ushering in the holiday season in the lighting of the Christmas Tree on the Pulaski County Courthouse lawn on Friday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. ET followed by tours of three beautiful homes in Pulaski County. Tickets for the home tour can be purchased at the Pulaski County Chamber office, at Refined or from Winter Wonderland committee members. Tours will be given at Melody Braun’s home as well as at Bailey Hoover’s home and Patrick Shuttrow’s home.
Dermody explained that the committee covers all of the pertinent items in the legislature.
Donnelly donated his take-home pay for the 16 days of the federal government shutdown to the ten food banks in Indiana. The ten food banks each received a $500 gift from Donnelly.
Senator Donnelly refused to take the salary he received during the shutdown. This action by the federal government had a direct affect on families all over the state as well as businesses and the country’s economy.
The Food Bank of Northern Indiana in South Bend and the Food Finders Food Bank in Lafayette were two of the ten food banks that profited from this action.
School is open at LaCrosse following a two-hour delay this morning. Classes at LaCrosse High School were dismissed early yesterday when workers putting in a new parking lot hit an unmarked gas line. No injuries were reported. The line was capped, and the start of school was delayed this morning to allow ample time to make the necessary repairs. School officials tell WKVI news the heat is back on and the building is safe for occupancy. Yesterday’s incident also forced the cancellation of the girls JV and varsity basketball games between LaCrosse and West Central. Those games will be made up tomorrow evening.
A pair of LaPorte County residents are free on bond following their recent arrests on drug charges. Jason Kazen, 41, and Jenny Kazen, 38, both of Hudson Lake, surrendered themselves at the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office last Thursday after criminal arrest warrants were issued. Both are charged with possession of marijuana as a class D felony. Jenny is also charged with the felony offense of possession of hydrocodone, which is a Schedule II Controlled Substance. Both are free on bond. Their arrests are a result of an investigation by officers from the LaPorte County Metro Operations Unit. The public is encouraged to report potential drug activity to the La Porte County Metro Operations Unit by calling (219) 325-9022.
Knox-Center Township Fire Chief Kenny Pfost told WKVI that there is too much damage and the structure is unsafe to excavate.
Knox-Center Township firefighters were at the scene for several hours in the overnight hours on Sunday battling the that fire that destroyed the property that was once known as “Mackey’s Boarding House.”
INDOT Spokesman Matt Deitchley says one bridge opening has been delayed while the other will be opening at the end of the month.
Two state certified classes were recently taught by Dave Pearman at the Washington Township Fire Department over the course of five weeks.
Pearman taught an Instructor 1 class that will bring additional instructors into the fire service which will allow them to enhance training at their departments. Those who successfully complete the rather extensive Instructor 1 training can then train students in mandatory, firefighter 1 and firefighter II classes. These training sessions are the foundation of all firefighter classes.
The Ross property sits alongside the river and the commissioners are buying the property in order to control riverbank erosion as part of the Yellow River Bank Stabilization Project.
