Woman Revived After Life-Threatening Heroin Overdose

 
 
The presence of heroin in the area has resulted in a near-death experience for a LaPorte woman, as LaPorte police responded to a home in the 100 block of Stanton Street on Thursday for a possible drug overdose. Inside the home, police found a 30 year-old woman in the bathroom, lying against the tub, unconscious and turning blue. EMS arrived and were able to revive the woman.

Friends of the woman told police she had used heroin earlier and that they found her lying unconscious in the bathroom. They then called EMS and another friend.

The woman confirmed to EMS personnel that she had used heroin that night. She refused further medical treatment at the scene.

Beer Burglar Sought by LaPorte Police

 
 
A desperate man in need of liquid motivation reportedly stole a case of beer from the LaPorte Pantry after his SNAP card was denied for the purchase – not surprising, since SNAP benefits are not eligible to be used to purchase alcohol. According to the report, on Thursday, Nov. 14, at approximately 4:03 p.m., police responded to the store for the theft that had just occurred.

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House Fire Remains Under Investigation in LaPorte

 
 
LaPorte fire officials are investigating a house fire at 206 Washington St.

The fire occurred on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Police and firefighters responded to the scene where a vacant home was found to be fully engulfed in flames. No injuries were reported at the scene and the fire remains under investigation.

If you know anything about this incident, or have any criminal or suspicious activity to report, call the LaPorte City Police Department at (219) 362-9446. You may also submit an anonymous crime tip online at http://www.lpcitypd.com.

Knox City Street Department Receives Grant

Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council learned this week that the city will be receiving new railroad signs and equipment.

Street Department Superintendent Jeff Borg applied for a grant for the signs in the amount of $2,681.20. Most of the signs are outdated and have lost their luster.

With this grant, the city will receive all new highly reflective signs that alert drivers of a railroad crossing. The grant will cover all new signs and poles for installation.

Pulaski Council Approves Transfer for Bridge 268

 
 
One bridge undergoing some work in Pulaski County will soon be complete, according to Highway Superintendent Mark Fox. Fox approached the county council this week to request a $10,462.68 transfer from the bridge repair fund to the fund specifically for bridge 268, and explained that more partial-depth patch work needed done than had been expected.

The county commissioners awarded a bid for the bridge’s inspection to JCI Bridge Group out of LaPorte, authorizing the company to inspect the bridge and shoreline to ensure there is no runoff or loose dirt that could develop problems. The original bid was in the amount of $176,527.32, and this additional expense was not foreseen.

Fox also informed the council that the decks are now on the bridge and the company is working on expansion joints and guardrails.

Eastern Pulaski School Board Approves Sound System Replacement

 
 

The Eastern Pulaski School Board approved a motion to replace the sound system in the middle school gym.

Superintendent Dan Foster stressed that the system has been very useful for the facility but it’s outdated.

“Dave DeLorenzo and the maintenance staff have had a lot of trouble with the sound system and it’s just an old system that needs some updating. We’re going to have that replaced,” explained Foster.

The system will be replaced in the next few months.

Knox Elementary School Students Participate in Carnival

 
 

The Knox Community Elementary School students participated in a carnival night Thursday night.

Guidance Counselor Connie Arndt said this was a great event to get the students and parents together and have some fun together on a school night. Dennis Fornelli helps coordinate the event and plans most of the activities throughout the night.

Arndt explained that it’s also a fundraiser for a school group.

“The student council earns money to help out the school and we buy different things for the school,” explained Arndt. “They get a lot of prizes. Hopefully, what we go for, is that they just have a fun time with their parents.”

This is an annual event and has been a successful fundraiser for the student council since its inception.

Greening of the Statehouse Gathering Today in Indianapolis

The state's largest gathering of environmental advocates will be held at the statehouse with the focus on agriculture and the impact on the environment and public health.
The state’s largest gathering of environmental advocates will be held at the statehouse with the focus on agriculture and the impact on the environment and public health.
The Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Campus Center will be overtaken by environmentalists today for “Greening of the Statehouse,” a day of learning and engagement about Indiana’s most pressing environmental issues. The focus of this year’s event is on agriculture and safeguarding the state’s air, water and quality of life.

Kim Ferraro with the Hoosier Environmental Council said it’s an important issue this year because of several proposed policy measures aimed at significantly weakening protections from polluting industrial livestock operations.

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Matt Crafton Wins NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship

All he had to do was start the Ford Ecoboost 250 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway Friday night and he would clinch the championship. When the command to start engines was made, Crafton did just that and won his first NCWTS championship in his 13-year career.

The race wasn’t as easy as getting the championship for Crafton. He was involved in an accident on lap 137 that caused a lot of damage to his truck. The pit crew worked hard to get him back out on the racetrack to make sure his truck remained in contention for the owner’s championship. A piece of metal was hanging under the front bumper of the truck and Crafton kept going to ensure that track position was not lost. He drove his truck into the champion circle a little battered, but the crunched metal didn’t photobomb his winning smile as he held onto the NCWTS trophy.

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Kyle Busch Wins Nail Biter at Homestead

There wasn’t one green-white-checkered finish in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race, but three and Kyle Busch led all three to win the Ford Ecoboost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Jeb Burton was the cause of the first G-W-C when he got into the wall and cut a right front tire. Kyle Busch was able to keep the lead as Johnny Sauter spun to cause a second G-W-C and a great restart for Busch earned him the win on the final G-W-C.

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship Contender on the Pole for Sunday’s Race

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Matt Kenseth proved that he’s still a viable contender in the chase for the Sprint Cup trophy when he qualified his yellow No. 20 Dollar General Toyota on the pole for Sunday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Kenseth had the top speed of 177.677 mph.

Kenseth trails points leader Jimmie Johnson by 28 and leads Kevin Harvick by six points as they head into Sunday’s race where a new champion will be crowned.

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Three Arrested after Standoff with Police in Pulaski County

 Three people were arrested after a stand off with several members of law enforcement in Pulaski County Thursday night.

James Anthony Miller, 48, failed to return to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department after working at a local business as part of work release. The sheriff’s department was notified of Miller’s whereabouts at a residence north of Medaryville on U.S. 421. Two officers approached the house on foot in the dark and they could clearly see Miller, and two other people wanted on warrants inside the home.

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Knox City Police Department Investigating Infant Death

 
 
The Knox City Police Department is investigating the death of an infant.

Officers were called to the Woods Apartment complex at 701 E. Danker St. after dispatchers received a report of an infant who was not breathing. Medics from Starke County EMS arrived at the scene and were assisted by officers in the care of the infant. The child was transported to IU Health Starke Hospital and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

This incident remains under investigation with the Knox City Police Department. Foul play is not suspected, however an autopsy is scheduled for today. The child’s name is currently being withheld pending the outcome of the investigation.

LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office Excited About Video Visitation

LaPorte County Sheriff's Department
La Porte County Sheriff’s Office
A level of convenience has been added to visitation at the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office, thanks to the installation of the Securus Video Visitation system. According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, the system allows family, friends and attorneys to schedule and participate in video visitation with inmates from a dedicated video visitation room at the County Complex or from any personal computer that is connected to the Internet, even from their own home.

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Knox Students Raise Pennies for Vance

 
 
Students at two local schools raised nearly $3,000 for one of their own recently during a goodhearted competition. Proceeds from the two-week Pennies for Vance drive at Knox elementary and middle schools were given to the family of kindergarten student Vance Flagg, who is undergoing treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He’s scheduled for a stem cell transplant in a couple of weeks and and additional rounds of intense chemotherapy.

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Pulaski County Council Approves Additional Funds for Recycling Center

  
 
The director of the Pulaski County Recycling Center made an impassioned plea to the county council for additional funds and a transfer of funds in order to keep the center running. Ed Clark told the council that he needed a $2200 transfer into his overtime line item to finish out the year, and on top of that, he was also requesting $40,000 in addition funds in order to “pay the bills.”

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Knox City Council Receives Revenue Projection

Knox City Council
Knox City Council

Knox City Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston reported to city council this week that the revenue projection looks little lean when it comes to the budget.

Houston explained that $6,000 has been cut from EDIT fund and other places will be out money. However, the certified shares will get a boost of $2,000. The 1782 form has not yet come back from the state which will mandate where the city will need to cut from the 2014 budget.

Houston also told the council that 34 delinquent utility notices have been sent out. As a result, $3,926.83 has since been collected with $1,000 still outstanding.