The Starke County Election Board met Tuesday morning and Oregon-Davis School Superintendent, Dr. Steve Disney, approached the board with a referendum for the May ballot.
Tax Levy Question for Oregon and Davis Township Voters to be on May Ballot
Drew Shearin’s Music to be Recognized
The music of a Knox High School student who was killed in an auto accident last Fall will be featured at the Indiana Music Educators Association annual Professional Development Conference in Fort Wayne this afternoon.
Drew Shearin, one of the Drum Majors for the Knox High School band, will be recognized for the second time by the IMEA. Last year, he was recognized for his instrumental composition called “Uncertainty” which was performed by the Lafayette Jefferson High School Orchestra. Today, he will be recognized as the winner in the Choral Division for a work entitled “The Sweetest Air is Most Often the Thickest”. His composition will be performed by the Butler University Chorale.
Pulaski County EMS Looks Into Uncollected Bills
With over $110,000 in uncollected overdue bills, the Pulaski County EMS may soon be looking to get more aggressive in getting money they are owed. While Commissioner Ken Boswell recommended that the EMS step up their collection efforts, he also expressed that those who are at least making an effort to pay should be given leniency.
Two Arrested in LaPorte County on Dog Fighting Charges
The LaPorte County Metro Drug Task Force and the DEA have arrested two LaPorte County residents on animal fighting charges.
Police say federal and local arrest warrants were issued and George Wedow and Lisa Daube were arrested on Friday, January 13th at their residence at 5589 N. 600 West in LaPorte County. The investigation revealed a large dog fighting operation involving 12 dogs and dog fighting equipment at that address. 70 pounds of processed marijuana was also confiscated from the residence. Police also searched a Grovertown residence and found 19 more dogs.
Starke County Police Arrest Two on Warrants
Two people have been arrested on warrants involving drug charges. In December, Starke County police conducted a search warrant on a camper located on 200 South in Knox and found several items associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine and other controlled substances and drugs. Police also searched an area in the woods and found other items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Arrest warrants were then applied for and approved for Aaron Armes and Anne Marie Geller who were known to live in the camper. Continue reading
Township Trustee Bill to be Discussed in House Committee
A bill that could impact all counties in our listening area could come up for a committee vote on Friday.
Members of a House of Representatives could vote on a bill that would dramatically change the way government operates in each county. If the bill became law, county residents would have the option of retaining or eliminating townships. The responsibilities the township trustees now coordinate would be handed over to the county. Even if voters decided through an election to keep the trustee offices. the responsibility in some areas would be changed. For instance, cemetery maintenance and weed control would move to the county, as well as the funding for poor relief.
Starke County Jail Committee Holds Public Meeting
A sparse crowd attended the first Starke County Jail Committee informational meeting at the Knox Middle School Cafeteria last night.
Sheriff Oscar Cowen addressed the needs at the jail and County Attorney Martin Lucas spoke on the impact a class action lawsuit could have on the project as it works its way through the court system. Starke County Council President David Pearman talked about the five options the committee is discussing.
Man Damages Pulaski County Justice Center Doors
The Pulaski County Commissioners this week received some disturbing news: according to Maintenance Director Morry Demarco, someone had gotten very upset at the justice center and slammed the doors hard enough to cause some extensive damage.
“They slammed the doors open real hard, both sets of doors, and twisted the one door frame and bent three hinges on it. So the hinges had to be taken off and replaced and straightened, and the door frame had to be straightened on one door, but they’re in good working order now,” said DeMarco.
North Judson Town Board Makes Annual Appointments
The North Judson Town Board made several appointments at their meeting this week.
The Board appointed Marshall Horstmann as the Town Superintendent. Horstmann replaces Dan Anderson who had been the Town Superintendent for the past several years. The Board also appointed Anthony Benson as the Building Inspector, a position that had been held by Steve Ransom for a number of years.
Starke County Plan Commission to Hear Property Issue
The Starke County Plan Commission will meet tonight. On the agenda is an item that has drawn much interest in the past. Betty Dotlich has been before the Commission, BZA and County Commissioners trying to get a structure removed from a property. Dotlich claims the home does not meet code for its location.
Starke County Commissioners Approve Drainage Board Accounts Schedule
The Starke County Commissioners signed documents that showed the schedule for the Starke County Drainage Board accounts to be collected in 2012.
In explaining the documents, Commissioner Dan Bridegroom pointed out that Starke County has more drainage boards than any county in the state.
Knox Woman Arrested on Possession Charges
A Knox woman was arrested on Thursday on drug possession charges.
Knox City Police officers were called to investigate a suspicious vehicle on Delaware Street. An officer found the suspect vehicle driving in the area of New York and East Street and conducted a traffic stop after the driver failed to stop at a stop sign.
The officer identified the occupants of the vehicle and asked to search the woman’s purse. Dawn Wilson reportedly consented and the officer found controlled substances, some legally prescribed to Wilson. One medication was not prescribed to her and she was taken into custody on a preliminary charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Yellow River Tree Removal in Progress
The Yellow River tree removal project is moving along. Starke County Surveyor Dennis Estok said this week that he is in the process of forming a three-man committee to interview and score the various engineering proposals.
Estok said he is on track to present contracts for signing by May with work scheduled for this summer and fall. Work cannot be done in April or May as this is the spawning season.
From the WKVI Archives
On this date 40 years ago, a very special visitor came to our area. Louis Russell, Jr. was a guest of the Pulaski County Heart Association organization at its annual meeting at West Central High School. He was a guest, specifically, of the late Dr. Martin Barco, who was President of the local association.
Starke County Commissioners Discuss Bass Lake Campground
The Starke County Commissioners discussed the status of the Bass Lake Campground during last night’s meeting. It’s come to the commissioners’ attention that 28 of the 56 campsites are rented year-round. In the course of the conversation, it was stated that when the state of Indiana ran the campground you could only rent a space for two weeks and then you had to vacate to give others a chance at the sites. At the end of the season, all of the campers had to be moved off the campsite.
Democrats Want Right to Work on a Referendum
Facing long odds, House Democrats are trying to slow down approval of Governor Mitch Daniels’ right to work legislation, House Minority Leader B. Patrick Bauer is asking that the measure go to a referendum.
Representative Nancy Dembowski agrees with Bauer.
“The problem is that people just don’t understand what the right to work bill does,” stated Dembowski. “We’re trying to get it off the fast track and trying to hold it back a little bit so that people can begin to understand it. Ideally, the best way to handle this situation would be to put it on a referendum. I doubt very seriously if we’ll be able to get that done.”
Jackie Walorski Looking Forward to 2012 Election
Jackie Walorski recently announced that she is again running in the Second District Republican Primary for the right to be the U.S. Congressional candidate in the fall election. Walorski is pretty much assured of the nomination, as she ran a close race in 2010.
She said this is a “new race in a new district.”
Francesville Woman Arrested on Possession, OVWI Charges
A Francesville woman was arrested Thursday after she reportedly was operating a vehicle under the influence of controlled substances.
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department had received a call about an intoxicated driver and police found Samantha Davis’ vehicle at 1726 W. 560 S. The vehicle was off the road stuck in a large snow bank. Police found the driver, Davis, in the passenger side of the vehicle. The officer tried talking to her but he stated in the police report that she was having a hard time focusing and talking. She was asked to step back to the police car and she reportedly stumbled to the car. The officer asked for her ID and she had a difficult time retrieving her wallet from the car. The officer also reportedly found marijuana in her vehicle.
Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Statistics for 2011
Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer released the Department’s statistics for 2011.
The Department investigated 384 accidents which is a decrease from 2010, deputies investigated 220 car vs. deer accidents, 35 burglaries, 114 thefts, 45 drug cases, 6 child molesting cases, 8 residential entry calls and 23 battery incidents. There were 7,275 total dispatch calls in 2011.
USMCR Looking for Volunteers
Carroll Harris, Lt. Col, United States Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR), announced that she manages Selective Service System Boards which would be activated in the event of a draft and she is looking for volunteers in the area including Starke, LaPorte, Lake, St. Joseph, and Elkhart Counties.
Col. Harris says if you are willing to serve, call her and send her an application. For more information, you are asked to call her at (317) 506-0369.
