Sarah Gillard was named the Outstanding 4-H Leader for 2013. Gillard, the Shooting Sports leader, was nominated for this award by other 4-H volunteers and 4-H members, and was chosen by a committee of 4-H Extension educators from across the state.
Pride of Plymouth Marching Band Finishes 10th in State Final
Ten bands competed in Class B on Saturday and Plymouth took the field at 10:13 a.m. Plymouth was the smallest band to perform in that class and Director Bryan Ames said he was proud of the way the band played. Greenwood ended up with the first place trophy in the class.
The last time the Pride of Plymouth Marching Band went to the state level was in 2010 in Class C.
Motorists Reminded to Check Vehicle Lights, Wipers
Truck Series Teams Look to Turn up the Heat at Phoenix International Raceway
The next-to-the-last race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) is this Friday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. ET at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) and the championship battle is just heating up.
Matt Crafton leads the points by 46 over James Buescher. Buescher is closely followed by Ty Dillon and Johnny Sauter is in the fourth place spot 74 points out of first.
Crafton has been driving in the NCWTS for 13 years and it could be this race at Phoenix that clinches the title for the racer. All Crafton has to do with finish at least 18th at Phoenix and at Homestead. He will drive the No. 88 Splash/Menards Toyota Tundra this Friday.
Former Pulaski County Employee Files Tort Claim Against Officials
A former Pulaski County employee has filed a tort claim against the county commissioners, attorney and auditor, claiming the officials slandered and defamed her. According to the claim that was served to the officials at the regular meeting of the county commissioners last night, Sandra Hurd served as the county home superintendent for five years before being discharged by the commissioners under suspicion of fraud.
Rule to Show Cause in Grovertown Structure Case Denied
Special Judge Patrick Blankenship has made yet another ruling in the heated case regarding a structure that was ordered to be removed before June 1 but was never taken down. Walter and Julia Ford were ordered to appear in court to argue why they should not be held in contempt of court for not removing the structure.
Marshall County Building Inspector Proposes Change to Contractor Registration
Marshall County Building Inspector Chuck DeWitt explained that there have been some issues with low bonding amounts for contractors. DeWitt told the commissioners that a contractor made an error in some concrete work and truss work which caused a $30,000 loss to the homeowner to have that work redone. The bond only covered $5,000. Another incident resulted in $19,000 in substandard work after an inspection.
Starke Commissioners Adopt Anthem Health Insurance
The Starke County Commissioners during their regular meeting yesterday morning approved a motion to adopt a new health insurance plan with Anthem, dropping their previous contract with Cigna. Debbie Rykovich and Holly Horan approached the commissioners and explained that Signa provided a third proposal at their request and told the commissioners that they need to decide whether to renew Cigna or take the core option from Anthem. In addition, the commissioners were faced with the choice of whether or not to offer plan options.
Gov. Pence to Announce School Safety Grant at Knox High School
Governor Mike Pence will soon be announcing more than $9 million in grant funding that will go towards improving the safety of schools and school corporations throughout the state at Knox Community High School. Pence will visit the school on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 10 a.m. to announce the Secured School Safety Grant, a dedicated state grant fund that provides matching safety-related grants to school corporations and charter schools.
Pulaski Commissioners Approve Grant for Health Department
Fagner explained the grant will be used to support the coroner’s efforts, to purchase items like bodybags, toe tags, mobile printers to be used in the field, GPS units and other items.
Commissioner Larry Brady made a motion to approve her request. Terry Young seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
30 Percent Increase Will Help Fund Child Care Program for Low-Income Residents
Culver-Union Township Fire Department Accepting Bricks for Honor Wall
The bricks are for active and former firefighters, according to an article in the Culver Citizen. One brick can be purchased per active member or former member.
Most Improved and Top Counties Honored at Emergency Management Conference
Each county was scored in an EMA assessment. County EMA directors were scored on preparedness and response capabilities, plan development, partnerships with other counties, and other criteria. Wabash County was named County Emergency Program of the Year. The most improved Emergency Management Program of the Year went to Henry County.
The local county receiving a top honor was LaPorte County. LaPorte County was named top county in District 1 with EMA Director Fran Tibbot. Most improved went to Jasper County and EMA Director Karen Wilson.
Habitat for Humanity Seeking Partner Families
Drowsy Drivers Are Dangerous on Roadways
Peter Krissinger, president and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, stated that driving while drowsy is dangerous as it slows down reaction time. Consider the dangers when you attempt to push yourself driving to the limits.
Interview: Colin Fambrough with XCalibur Pit School
I had the chance to talk with XCalibur Pit School co-owner Colin Fambrough last week. We had a great discussion about what it takes to be on a pit crew, his work with the XCalibur Pit School and his career as a pit crew member.
Knox Police Recover Stolen Car, Make Two Drug Arrests
A woman from Walkerton faces multiple felony charges following an arrest Friday by officers from the Knox Police Department at Taco Bell. Courtney Owens, 25, was reportedly driving a car that was reported stolen to the Knox Police on Wednesday, Oct. 30. In addition to a felony auto theft charge, she’s also facing charges of dealing a substance represented to be a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia. Officers also arrested Ryan Anguiano, 21, of Plymouth on a misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge. Both are jailed in Starke County pending arraignment. The incident is still under investigation. Officers from the Knox Police Department are still looking for one other male in connection with the stolen automobile.
Indiana Adjutant General Honors Fallen Indiana National Guardsmen
Shadow boxes in memory of seven Indiana National Guardsmen killed in combat are part of a permanent memorial to their sacrifices at the Indiana National Guard Valparaiso Armory. Each one contains items belonging to the soldiers from the 113 Engineer Battalion who were killed in January of 2012 when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Spc. Robert Tauteris of Hamlet was among those killed, along with Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Chavez, Sgt. Brian Leonhart of Merrillville, Staff Sgt. Jonathan Metzger, Spc. Christopher Patterson, Spc. Nicholas Taylor and Spc. Sergio Perez. Indiana Adjutant General Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger unveiled the shadow boxes during a ceremony for the soldiers’ families yesterday at Valparaiso University.
Plans for Medaryville Fire Station Not Yet Started
Members of the Medaryville Fire Department met with an architectural firm last week to discuss a new fire station/community center.
Fire Chief Shaun Hauptli told WKVI that another representative met with the officials and couldn’t get any specific details nailed down about a new building. An architect is expected to come back to the area in a couple of weeks to get plans rolling for a building.
Hauptli said that he is continuing to work with the K-IRPC branch in Monon to get a $400,000 grant for the proposed project.
While Hauptli hasn’t discussed the project with the township trustee at this time, he stated that the best plan is to tear down the existing fire station and build a new structure. The new building would serve as a new fire station and a place for community events.
