A Grovertown woman was arrested Thursday after a shoplifting incident in Plymouth.
Plymouth police were called to Martins Supermarket on a report of theft. During a search of 35-year-old Sara Hopkins, she was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. She was arrested and booked into the Marshall County Jail on preliminary charges of Theft and Possession of a Controlled Substance. She was given a $1,500 bond.
Karen Salzer has announced her candidacy for the Indiana House of Representatives in District 20.
Salzer, a lifelong LaPorte resident, says she will focus her candidacy on protecting middle class families and working Hoosiers who have faced a series of attacks, including the recent passage of Right to Work.
Salzer added that incumbent State Representative Tom Dermody has repeatedly left middle class families behind and that his failed leadership allowed Republicans to spend the money from the sale of the toll road in only five years, leaving 70 years left for the tolls to increase and jeopardizing Indiana’s future.
House District 20 includes parts of LaPorte and Starke counties. It includes the communities of Knox, Hamlet, LaPorte, Walkerton, Union Mills and Rolling Prairie.
On Wednesday, June 13, officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department traveled to a residence near 1000 East and 500 North in regards to a book bag that was reportedly thrown from a vehicle.
When the officers arrived, they discovered methamphetamine precursors inside the bag, along with identification belonging ato a Travis O. Davis. After an investigation, police located Davis on June 19 at a residence on Railroad Street in Hamlet.
Davis was arrested and faces preliminary charges of Possession of Precursors.
Interest rates for student loans are expected to double if Congress doesn’t act to keep them low.
U.S. Representative Joe Donnelly has called on Congress to act quickly so the more than 260,000 students in Indiana with loans can save an average of nearly $1,000 over the life of their loans.
Donnelly previously supported cutting student loan interest rates in half – lowering them from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent in 2007. If Congress doesn’t act by June 30, these rates will increase back to their original rate.
Thursday’s passage of the bipartisan farm bill by the U.S. Senate has the approval of the Indiana Farm Bureau.
The bill includes many provisions that are good for Indiana farmers and provides a valuable safety net.
American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman says the bill includes important provisions to enhance crop insurance, maintain a viable marketing loan program, and minimize the potential for farm program provisions to drive producer decisions.
Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:
A burn ban was enacted Monday in Pulaski County. The Commissioners are prohibiting open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood or other combustible material, with the exception of grills. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation and recreational campfires, unless enclosed, is prohibited. You are also asked to not discharge any fireworks. This ban is in effect until Noon ET on Monday, June 25th when conditions will be reevaluated. The Starke County Commissioners have enacted a burn ban in the county which is in effect until July 2nd. Continue reading
Three Starke County residents were arrested Thursday on drug charges after a search warrant was executed by the officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.
Officers went to 6135 E. 100 N. in Knox and found one pot meth labs, generators, items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, the finished meth product and drug paraphernalia.
An information session regarding the new statewide smoking ban was held last night at the Bass Lake Community Center, and the more than fifty people that attended learned not just what the law covers, but what procedures need to be followed in order for businesses that qualify for an exemption to receive one.
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers has confirmed that the Starke County fireworks celebration on Wednesday, July 4 will take place at the Starke County Airport. Get to the airport early so you can enjoy demonstrations from the Starke County Amateur Radio Club as well as a remote control plane club. Food and souvenirs will be available from several vendors. The gate opens at 6 p.m. and the firework show begins at dusk.
A public hearing on the proposed golf cart ordinance in Marshall County has been set for Monday, July 2.
The Marshall County Commissioners called for the hearing after a number complaints were filed when the first reading of the golf cart ordinance was passed earlier this month, restricting the carts to certain areas of the county.
Marshall County Commissioner Jack Roose said that the ordinance allows golf carts on roads around the county’s lakes, including Lake Maxinkuckee, Koontz Lake, Pretty Lake, Lake of the Woods, Lawrence Lake, Lake Myers, Cook/Holm Lakes and Kreighbaum/Millpond Lakes. The ordinance also allows golf cart use around Culver Military Academy, although residents are reminded that golf carts cannot be used on a state highway at any time.
The North Judson Town Board this week discussed an audit report from the State Board of Accounts for the audit that had been performed for the town in January and February. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the report is available online at www.in.gov/sboa, and an official record is available in her office.
Henry says the meeting included some discussion over the audit, which identified financial discrepancies totaling $74,408.67 with the majority of discrepancies in the cemetery lot sales category. Based on the information posted in the cemetery book, and the confirmations that were returned with receipts, the examiners determined that $40,350 was collected for cemetery lots sales but that amount was not receipted to the records. Former Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller was requested to reimburse the town for this amount, but in a letter to the state board of accounts, Miller wrote that she “strenuously objected to any allegations or suggestions” that she had “done any wrong for personal gain.”
The Starke County Council discussed the purchase of new software for the Sheriff’s Department to help automate tax warrants and the cash books.
Starke County Council President David Pearman said the biggest concern is the cost for both components which were explained in the proposal given by Rick Culiver from Lieberman Technologies.
“The biggest issue is that it has a pretty substantial cost behind it and it has a pretty substantial maintenance cost,” said Pearman.
Pulaski County Highway Superintendent Kenny Becker told the county commissioners this week that since the department has received a new trailer, they would like to sell some other items they have gathering dust.
Becker said they would like to sell an old dump truck, the old trailer that they had replaced, a Dodge pickup truck with transmission problems, and a 1975 T500 that they have been unable to find parts for. He said he feels selling the items would be best, since there is no sense in the items just taking up space.
After newly-hired Culver Town Manager David Schoeff introduced himself to the community this week at the meeting of the town council, and thanked the community for its warm welcome, he got right to business.
Schoeff told the council that he had a meeting scheduled with the local OCRA representative, Gerry White, at 1 p.m. on Wednesday this week to discuss any outstanding projects, and to get an idea of what areas can be improved by future projects. Utilities Superintendent Bob Porter and Clerk-Treasurer Karen also attended this meeting.
The West Central School Corporation approved an early transfer of funds. Superintendent Charles Mellon said the action is just to make sure there is money in the transportation fund until the end of the year.
“If we don’t get our county draw by June 30, then our transportation account would be in the red instead of the black. The auditors don’t like to see that, so we moved money from the Capital Projects Fund to Transportation. We’ll move it back before the end of December,” stated Mellon.
A Forestry Field Day has been scheduled for the first week in August, giving participants the opportunity to take a tour of the new Starke County Forest. Forester Bruce Wakeland says the forest had opened last year, but because of some troublesome beavers, they have had their work cut out for them to get the forest to prime visiting condition.
While the beavers make the forest unique, Wakeland says they have a habit of damming up the nearby culvert, causing the water level to rise and flow over the top of the lane going through the middle of the marsh. When that lane is underwater, Wakeland says visitors don’t have access to the majority of the area, including the observation tower.
The Walkerton Fire Department is investigating a vehicle fire that occurred yesterday afternoon in the area of Roosevelt and Michigan Streets. Police say a semi truck had caught fire for an unknown reason, but no injuries have been reported. The incident remains under investigation.
An Indiana State Police Trooper found himself in bit of a jam this morning when he was struck by a vehicle after he stopped to assist a stranded motorist.
Police say that at approximately 1:16 a.m., Master Trooper Jeff Council had stopped behind a disabled vehicle on I-94 eastbound, roughly 2 ½ miles west of the Michigan City exit. Both vehicles were pulled completely onto the shoulder and Council’s cruiser had all emergency lights activated as he got out of his car to approach the disabled vehicle.
A Knox man was arrested Monday on an active arrest warrant for Intimidation.
On June 1st, it is alleged that 32-year-old Jason Danekas was attempting to move out of his brother’s home when an argument escalated. Danekas reportedly picked up a large knife and threatened the life of his brother. Their mother stepped in and tried to stop Danekas from doing harm and he allegedly threatened her as well. He then threatened to take his own life.
Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the new statewide smoking ban will be presented in an informational session today from 2 – 3 p.m. ET at the Winamac VFW, and a town hall meeting will take place at the Bass Lake Community Center at 6 p.m.
Attendees will be educated about the new law, how it affects all businesses in Starke and Pulaski Counties and any questions will be answered. On July 1, most Indiana businesses will be required to be smoke-free and to post signs indicating that it is a smoke-free facility. Smoking will not be allowed in places of employment, public places, state-owned vehicles and school buses.
