The Starke County Sheriff’s Department responded to a dog attack call Thursday. When officers arrived on scene, at 2220 East 200 South in Knox, they saw Marshall Garlach had extensive injuries to his entire body after being attacked by two American Bulldogs.
After having plead guilty to six counts of Class B Burglary last year and sentenced to 15 years in the Department of Corrections, Ian Bastin appeared in the Starke Circuit Court to request a modification of his sentence.
The “No Vacancy” sign at the Pleasant View Rest Home in Pulaski County is officially lit. With their capacity of 15 residents completely full, the county commissioners this week denied a request from an individual who wanted to stay at the home.
The state ombudsman asked if the county would be willing to take someone in with an income of only $700– a little under the $1148 the home normally charges. Previously, the ARCH program offered by the state would make up that difference, but that program has been frozen for two years, offering elderly people with low income fewer places to turn.
The North Judson Town Board approved spending $50,000 on street paving this year.
The Board discussed, at length, what streets to pave at what cost. The Board settled on paving the intersection at Ufkes and Campbell Drive, West Sycamore Street, Sycamore from Luken Street to the Railroad Museum, 1,100 yards at Highland Cemetery, and the railroad crossing at Arlington Avenue.
During their meeting this week, the Hamlet Town Board discussed entering into Phase II of the Wellhead Protection Program.
The Wellhead Protection Program is a strategy to protect ground water drinking supplies from pollution. The State of Indiana mandates that all communities implement this program and identify the area around the well that needs to be protected. The program consists of two phases. The first phase was done in Hamlet in 2002. The Wellhead Protection Area was identified around City Hall, potential sources of contamination were also identified and then management and contingency plans were made. The Phase II report is due in May of 2012 which will involve reporting on the implementation of the plan created in Phase I and updating it.
The Knox Community School Board approved the hire of a new Middle School Guidance Counselor.
“The Board appointed Sonia Hensley to take over the Middle School Counselor position,” said Superintendent A.J. Gappa. “She’s a 1990 graduate of Knox High School and has previous Counselor experience at the Mooresville School Corporation. We look forward to bringing her on board. She will begin on October 17th.
After serving his town for more than 15 years, Street Superintendent Bob Porter is receiving a promotion. Leaving his post of Street Superintendent, Porter will now be utility manager for the town of Culver.
Monday is Columbus Day and some bank branches will not be open and Post Offices will be closed in observance of the holiday. Knox City Hall will be closed on Monday.
License branches normally open on Monday will be closed on Monday, October 10th, and those branches will resume normal hours of operation on Wednesday, October 12th. Local customers needing to conduct business with the Knox, Demotte, or Monticello license branches can visit this website. Some transactions can also be completed by phone through the BMV Customer Service Center at 888-692-6841.
Starke County Mint Farmer, Mike Materna, was sentenced in U.S. District Court yesterday. The judge sentenced Materna to two years of probation, eight months in home detention and he was fined $20,000.
He avoided a 10-month jail sentence.
He plead guilty to one count of Discharge of Pollutants without a Permit in violation of the Clean Air Act. He reportedly admitted in court that he discharged hot water into a ditch without the proper permit.
Starke County officials are being faced with a philosophical dilemma. They are being asked to either reduce the sheriff’s road officers or keep the jail understaffed.
“I’m here to let you know that I’ll do whatever the Commissioners and Council ask me to do, but I do want them to understand is that in order for me to eliminate two road officers, I would have to lay them off,” said Sheriff Cowen. “I can’t just place them down in the jail and subtract their pay to jailer’s pay. I can put them in the jail, but I would have to pay them officer’s pay.”
Starke County officials were approached about the sale of IU Health Starke Hospital to IU Health LaPorte Hospital this week.
One point that hospital spokesman, David Hiatt, pointed out to the commissioners and council members was that IU Health LaPorte Hospital, if successful in purchasing the local hospital, would have no interest in receiving the Save the Hospital Fund that has grown over the years to almost $5 million. The fund, that captures lease payments, was originally set up when Principal leased then-Starke Memorial.
The Knox Community School Board has been meeting with members of a committee and the community about the possible construction project of the Palmer Wing of the Elementary School. The Palmer Wing is nearing 60 years in age and is in need of upgrades and repairs.
After several months of discussion, and a rejection of at least one draft ordinance, the Starke County Commissioners passed the Dog Kennel Ordinance with a unanimous vote.
A simplified explanation of the ordinance is that it will regulate dog kennels in the county and provides the language for creating and operating a kennel.
The ordinance was written after much work by Plan Commission President Butch Richie, Director Bruce Williams and a committee of dog enthusiasts. Commissioner Kathy Norem, who with her background of breeding show dogs, was also helpful in comments made from her position as a Commissioner.
“You never know how many friends you have until you really need them.” That was said by well known Starke County resident, Phil Banasiak, at a benefit.
Banasiak, who for many years fought fires as the Bass Lake Fire Chief, was hosted at the benefit at the Sandbar Saturday night. With almost 400 people in attendance, the popular figure was the center of attention, as many well wishers had fond memories that they shared with the honored guest.
In the African Lunyoro tribe, there is a proverb that whose translation is “A child does not grow up in a single home.”
More recently it has been used as “It takes a Village to Raise a Child”.
Charles Weaver has always lived by an African proverb and tonight, when he will be honored for his service to Ancilla College that proverb, will be on his mind as he steps to the podium. Since 1975, Weaver has worked tirelessly for Ancilla, a college he says is “near and dear to his heart.” Tonight, Charles Weaver will receive the Ancilla Award.
Accused of Battery, Confinement, and Domestic Violence, Richard Garrison, Jr. plead guilty to Battery as a Class C felony in Starke Circuit Court on Wednesday, Oct. 5. The state, as part of the accepted plea agreement, dismissed the charges of confinement and domestic violence. Garrison admitted that during an argument, he slammed a door closed on a woman’s arm.
George Mammarella from Economy Auto Sales in Knox presented Community Services of Starke County Executive Director, Joan Haugh, with a donation of $1,200 for the Food Bank. As part of Economy Auto’s September customer appreciation month, George and Della Mammarella pledged a $30 donation for each vehicle financed during the month. 40 vehicles qualified for the donation.
North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department Fire Chief, Joe Leszek, reports that the department only had five total fire runs last month. 3 were for medical assistance and 2 were for vehicle accidents. One of those calls came from the town of North Judson, three came from Wayne Township and one came from Rich Grove Township. There were a total of 12,000 gallons of water used in September.
Students from the North Judson-San Pierre Middle School recently held the 6th annual Walk for Wellness and they were able to raise $9,070. Middle School Principal, Kelly Shepherd, said that if the students raised $10,000, students could shave his head. Mr. Shepherd said that even though they didn’t raise the $10,000, the students did such a good job and he would let them shave his head. Mr. Wes Radtke and Mr. Phil Shabi allowed the students to color their hair. Mr. Shepherd was nice to send us the pictures of the fun the students had as part of this fundraiser. Continue reading
An Indiana State Police Trooper responded to a two vehicle crash, yesterday evening, that sent two people to the hospital when they decided to park their vehicle partially in the traveled portion of I-65 with no lights on.
The investigation revealed that Anthony Johnson of Chicago pulled his vehicle over to the shoulder near the 230 mile marker, just south of the Demotte exit, because his vehicle started to smoke. ]After Johnson stopped and parked his car partially in the left lane of I-65 he did not activate his hazard lights. He and his passenger, Roseanne T. Barron of West Lafayette, Indiana, then got out of the car to see what was wrong with it.
