Looking back in time, it was on this date in 1979 that Knox Fire Chief Pete Corey came before the Knox City Council to quote figures on a new $180,000 fire truck.
The 35 foot long, 10 foot high truck would be equipped with a telescopic unit, bucket and ladder. Corey said because of multiple story buildings being built locally the need for this type of fire protection is needed. City Attorney Henry Hart was asked to report back with a financing plan for such a truck.
A Knox City Police officer and a Knox fireman are being hailed as heroes after they freed occupants of a overturned car in a deep ditch filled with water.
On Saturday afternoon, the Starke County Sheriff’s Department received a call of a traffic accident on State Road 8 near 200 East. The caller stated he was following his wife, Tessa J. Haney, when her vehicle hit a patch of ice and she lost control of the vehicle. It landed on its top in a deep ditch on the south side of the roadway with water filling the car.
The Culver Police Department is investigating an armed robbery incident at the Family Dollar store at 18701 State Road 10 in Culver.
On Saturday evening around 8:40 p.m. ET, a male subject entered the store and approached a cashier, displayed a weapon and bag and then demanded money at gunpoint. Employees followed the demands and an undisclosed amount of money was taken from the business. No one was injured.
A sentencing hearing for Stacie Brown is scheduled in Starke Circuit Court tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
Stacie Brown pleaded guilty in a plea agreement in January to Battery Causing Death, a Class A Felony. Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall will hear testimony in the case and will determine whether he will accept or reject the plea agreement. If the agreement is accepted, she could be sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison.
A snow storm Friday night and early Saturday morning left varying inches of snow in Starke County. Anywhere from three to 11 inches fell depending on where you were in the county. Northeastern Starke County received the heaviest amount of snow, as a band stretched from lower Michigan into Indiana. The Starke County Commissioners issued a Level 2 Travel Advisory for the area and pulled the snow plows at 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon and they resumed duties at 5:00 a.m. Sunday morning. The Commissioners have since lifted that Level 2 Travel Advisory.
Democrat State Representative Nancy Dembowski has decided to end her 26 year political career. In her time, Dembowski served as a county councilman, mayor, state senator, and state representative.
Dembowski talks about her proudest moments as the Mayor of Knox.
“Everything from the Community Center and I’m especially proud of the police force that we were able to have for 11 years,” said Dembowski. “There are so many things. I think the accomplishments that we made and the improvements that we made in our community are some of the things I am most proud of.”
Kent Danford is seeking another term as a Starke County Commissioner. Danford, a Republican, is a former commissioner, who lost in a race to Dan Bridegroom in 2008.
Danford was asked why he decided to run for another term.
“There were several things. The main thing was I felt like I still had more things that I had to give back to the people. I’m a taxpayer and I felt like there were some things that could be done yet,” said Danford.
The Knox Community School Board went paperless at their meeting last week.
“For a long time, our school board, even before I came into this position, has been talking about going paperless with their board meetings,” said Superintendent A.J. Gappa. “There has been some resistance, of course. Many adults are afraid of technology and it’s just the fear factor of moving forward. It came to the point where it was time to make a move.”
A smoking ban for Indiana just might have a chance this year in the Indiana Legislature.
Governor Mitch Daniels has thrown his support behind the legislation this year. The House Bill gives bars an 18 month transitional period to adhere to the ban. Casinos would be exempt. Fraternal and veterans organizations would be exempt under certain conditions. Continue reading
The Pulaski Chamber of Commerce H.J. Halleck Award winner has been announced. Tom Murray, Sr. is this year’s recipient.
Murray, for many years, has gone above and beyond promoting Pulaski County in many ways. To hear his story, plan on attending the Chamber’s Annual Meeting/Recognition dinner on Thursday, March 8th at the Moss Creek Golf Club at 6:00 p.m. ET. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by calling Angie Ansach at (574) 270-0016.
With today’s large amount of snowfall, Starke County has been placed under a travel advisory status of “Advisory.” A travel advisory status of “Advisory” means that routine travel or activity may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation. Citizens should use caution or avoid these areas.
Commissioner Dan Bridegroom says the plow trucks have been pulled off the streets for the day, but will resume clearing the roads at 5 a.m. Sunday morning.
The National Weather Service has issued the following alert for Marshall and St. Joseph counties.
Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.
Phillip Mullins and Angela McDougal were arrested Friday, February 3rd, after police executed an arrest warrant for Mullins. They were charged with several drug charges.
The West Central School Board received the tax rate for next year’s budget. The Board reduced the Capital Projects Fund by $80,000 to keep the rate close to last year’s rate. Continue reading
Two LaPorte residents were arrested Thursday, February 9th after an ongoing investigation by the LaPorte County Metro Operations Unit into the sale and distribution of heroin in the City of LaPorte.
Ryan Thomason, 26, and Jesse Brown, 24, were taken into custody without incident. Thomason has been charged with Dealing a Narcotic Drug in excess of three grams, a Class A Felony. Brown has been charged with Aiding, Inducing and Causing an Offense, a Class A Felony. Both are being held in the LaPorte County Jail pending appearances in LaPorte Circuit Court.
A Plymouth man was arrested Friday on an arrest warrant for drugs.
On January 12th, Chief Jim Cox, Detective Sergeant Leo Mangus and Investigator Ted Brown from the Plymouth Police Department were at a residence in the 17000 block of Lincoln Highway in Plymouth in regards to a theft call. During the investigation, Stewart Hummel, 33, was observed attempting to hide a methamphetamine lab in the garage. He then ran from the residence and police could not locate Hummel.
Starke County officials were brought up to date this week on the progress made by the EMS to attain Advanced Life Support Certification.
According to EMS Director Paul Mathewson, inspectors approved the rigs for Advanced Life Support care and gave their approval for certification.
The regular meeting of Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County was held Wednesday and produced no action on the status of Jennie Carter as Coalition Coordinator of Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County. The President of Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County, Judy Jelinek, said no action could have been taken as the lack of a quorum prohibited the Board to conduct business.
Another meeting has been scheduled for 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 15th at the Girl Scout Cabin in Knox. Carter is still the Coordinator, and Jelinek said that the executive session is scheduled to discuss personnel matters. A yet to be announced open meeting for the public and press will be held after the executive session. No time or location has been announced for that public meeting.
Today is the last day to file for candidacy in the May Primary Election.
Several contested races have already surfaced for the Primary Election. In Starke County, Linda Belork and Kasey Clark, both Democrat candidates, have filed for Treasurer. Democrats Dan Bridegroom and Joseph Woods have filed for County Commissioner District 3.
The Knox Community Elementary School is experiencing a change in its pickup and drop-off procedure for students.
“We had a structural problem in the doorway that has caused us to have to close that door for the time being and only use it for emergency exits if needed,” explained Superintendent A.J. Gappa. “Because of the problem at door #7, the pattern for drop-offs and walkers is going to change. Different door exits and entryways will have to be used for the parents who drop off kids and for the students that walk to school.”
A Knox woman was injured in a single vehicle accident in the City of Knox.
19-year-old Rebecca Stacy told Knox City Police that she was driving on Pacific Avenue by Bender Street at 11:20 p.m. Wednesday night when the vehicle began to go off the road. She corrected and turned the wheel one way and the steering went the other way. She corrected again and the vehicle went sideways and left the roadway.
The convenience of easily-purchased snacks and drinks is coming to more Pulaski County buildings, thanks to a pending contract with Canteen Vending. The courthouse, justice center, and county building will be outfitted with new glass-front Coke, Pepsi, and snack machines, and vending machines that already exist in other departments will be replaced by Canteen as well.
Deputy Auditor Carrie Wilson says that this agreement will bring a bit of money to the county through commission from the machines, and Canteen will provide maintenance for the machines weekly– a much better agreement than the county currently has, as the machines are rarely serviced which often proves problematic.
