The Kankakee Valley REMC presented an Operation Roundup grant check to Bella Vita Pregnancy Resource Center in Knox yesterday for $3,500.00. Amanda Steeb of Kankakee Valley REMC was on hand to give the check to Susanne Lange, the center’s Executive Director.
“We’re really excited about what they’re going to be able to use the money for and that is baby items to assist individuals as they visit this organization,” said Amanda Steeb.
Pulaski County United Fund, Inc. is pleased to announce participation in an Indiana Association of United Ways/Funds matching grant opportunity.
“Indiana United Ways/Funds have had a tough fund raising environment since 2008 and we wanted to provide an incentive program to attract new giving,” according to Roger L. Frick laUW President.
Support from Lilly Endowment created this opportunity for United Way and Funds in Indiana to rebuild and recover and find new donors. Donors who have decreased giving or had a temporary halt in giving can help their community claim the match by resuming support. New donors to the campaign will also qualify United Fund for the match. The grant will provide Pulaski County United Fund, Inc. with up to $3,122 in funding by matching any increase or new donation made towards this year’s Fall Campaign 2012. Grant funds received will be used to provide utility deposits for those seeking assistance through the Energy Assistance Program.
What is now Pulaski County was ceded by the Pottawatomie Indians to the United States on October 26th, 1832 near Rochester. Chief Aubbeenaubee represented the Indians and John Davis represented the government.
Starke County Councilwoman, Judy Benninghoff, still believes that the errors reported in the Treasurer’s office by the State Board of Accounts are actually errors in the Auditor’s office. In a release to WKVI, Benninghoff said that is backed up by an official in the State Board of Accounts.
“I called the State Board of Accounts and I spoke to Debbie Gibson, and she told me that the paragraph that was inserted in the Treasurer’s audit had nothing to do with the Treasurer,” said Benninghoff. “That pertained only to the Auditor. So, where it says that ‘beginning in March 2010 and continuing through 2011, there was a failure to post the entries pertaining to the remittance of various payroll withholdings’, that was true. That withholding fund is with the Auditor’s office, not in the Treasurer’s office.”
To school systems around the state, the Average Daily Membership (ADM) figures are important because enrollment is a factor in how much money schools get in their funding.
The Knox Community Elementary School recently held parent/teacher conferences and during that time, parents were asked to go through the Palmer Wing.
“The administrators from the Elementary School invited members and parents in to look at Palmer Wing at the Elementary School just to show some of the needs that might be necessary,” said Superintendent A.J. Gappa. “Our maintenance people do a great job of maintaining things, but that building is nearing 60 years old so some things are going to need to be taken care of. Six or seven parents each night did take advantage and looked at the Palmer Wing and pretty much the comments were unanimous. There is going to have to be something done sometime in the near future.”
A Ladies Car Care Clinic begins tonight at the SCILL Center in Knox.
“Rod Dawson and Mark Anderson had initiated that a number of years ago and we’re expanding it just a tad bit this year,” said SCILL Center Director Jerry Gurrado. “We’re going to be holding it evenings on October 25th and then a follow-up on November 8th, both from 6:00-8:00 p.m. There’s only a $5.00 donation for that.”
The North Judson Town Board approved a request by the Cross-Town Collision band to host a concert and get-together at the North Judson Community Building after Trick-or-Treat.
The band will provide music to the kids and several door prizes will be awarded throughout the evening. Trick-or-Treat in North Judson is on Monday, October 31st from 5:00-6:30 p.m. CT.
In Knox, the Friends of the park will sponsor costume judging and refreshments at the Knox Community Center after Trick-or-Treat on Monday, October 31st. Trick-or-Treat in Knox is from 5:30-7:00 p.m. CT on Monday.
We’re nearing the end of October and according to Conservation Officer, Keith Wildeman, that means hunters are gearing up for hunting season.
“Right now in mid-October, we’re already in to the deer archery season and it runs through November 27th,” said Wildeman. “Our fall gun season will start November 12th and run until November 27th and then muzzleloader season will pick up December 3rd through the 18th.”
Shelby Thomas appeared in Starke Circuit Court on Friday where he plead not guilty to three counts of Attempted Murder, four counts of Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon and three counts of Resisting Law Enforcement with a Deadly Weapon.
Thomas, of North Judson, was arrested on Sunday, October 16th after he allegedly threatened to kill a Knox man in the 1400 block of west 400 S. in Knox as he held a knife up against his throat. The man got away and Thomas was later questioned about the incident. When officers from the Knox City Police Department and the Starke County Sheriff’s Department asked Thomas to place his hands behind his back, his demeanor reportedly turned to anger. He then reached behind his back to remove a knife from his pants line and threatened the lives of two of the officers trying to place him into custody. The blade on the knife was 10 to 12 inches in length and Thomas reportedly began swinging the knife at the three officers and telling them, “I’m not going back to prison. You’ll have to kill me first.” Thomas was then tasered and officers were able to free the knife from Thomas’ hands. Thomas was tasered twice before he released the knife that he reportedly swung at the officers.
The Starke County Council recently passed a $2 million capital spending request by administrators from IU Health Starke Hospital for 2012.
A discussion was held on hospital administrators reporting on the use of discretionary funds, which CEO Linda Satkoski said was acceptable.
The North Judson Town Board approved the expenditure of an additional $2,900 for repairs done to the Main Street railroad crossing. The Board approved the work to be done for $4,875 but the an error was made in the coverage area. Town and Country Paving found that more work needed to be done at that location and the Board agreed to pay the extra money for the repairs.
33-year-old Nathan VanDerAa, of Star City, plead guilty before a Federal Magistrate Judge on Thursday, October 20th.
VanDerAa plead guilty to the felony offense of being an Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm. Sentencing is set for January 27th, 2012. A charge of Manufacture of a Controlled Substance was dropped as part of his plea agreement.
The Knox Redskin Brigade ended its season Saturday after placing 11th in the Semi-State Marching band competition at Decatur High School in Indianapolis. The top 10 bands went on to the State Finals.
Director Craige Phipps said it was tough, but the students did a great job and got a standing ovation for their performance.
Starke County’s unemployment rate stayed almost the same in September as it did in August. The rate was 10.1% vs. 10.3% in August. That placed Starke County as the 12th highest in the state.
The state rate was 8.9% vs. 9.1% for the country. Fayette County was the highest in the state with 12.0% while Elkhart was second at 11.1%.
An Open House was held Sunday at the Washington Township Community Building.
Township Trustee, Shelly Kemble, said that this is a building able to handle any sized crowd.
The 2011 Bling my Bra promotion is nearing an end in Starke County. The Red Hat organization in Starke County has spearheaded a promotion where women bling their bras for auction. The bras were on display Sunday at the Washington Township Community Building Open House. Kathy Cooper talks about the promotion for breast cancer research.
The Mothers of Pre-Schoolers, known as M.O.P.S., was honored to have John Hensler from Hensler’s Nursery as their guest speaker this month. John Hensler told the M.O.P.S. group about each of the Christmas tree varieties and what it takes to grow a Christmas tree from seed to harvest. John also talked about the upcoming events, including the Pumpkin Drop, Fall Festival, and Christmas activities.
Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:
Shelby Thomas, of North Judson, was arrested Sunday after police found he allegedly held a knife up to a person’s throat and threatened death. Thomas has preliminary charges of Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon, Attempted Murder and Resisting with a Deadly Weapon.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you are needing help in an abusive situation, call the Starke County Coalition Against Domestic Abuse at 772-3331 or The Caring Place at 772-2222. Continue reading
LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department officers arrested a 25-year-old LaPorte man on Thursday in conjunction with several counts of dealing in narcotics.
Indiana Department of Corrections Parole Officers and investigators from the Michigan City Police Street Crimes unit arrested Virgil Marshall for two outstanding warrants for Class B Felony Dealing in Schedule II Controlled Substances as well as a parole violation. LaPorte County Metro Operations Unit had conducted an investigation and Marshall was identified as distributing narcotics in the City of LaPorte.
