Starke County Community Corrections Offers Special Program for Offenders

John Littman

One of the programs offered by the Starke County Community Corrections is presented by John Littman, of John Littman and Associates of Portage.  Littman talked about the program yesterday to employees of Community Corrections, the Starke County Prosecutor, and part of the probation staff.

“The participants, as a result of a criminal offense, are assigned as part of their sentencing or a plea agreement they may be assigned the ‘Thinking for a Change’ program,” said Littman. “One of the guiding principles in ‘Thinking for a Change’ is that thinking, our thinking, controls our behavior. There’s a quote in the program literature that says that we are the authority of our behavior. What we do is we emphasize those principles in terms of the teaching and the practice of the cognitive restructuring which is about taking control, taking charge, being the authority of yourself and your thinking, your behavior and the consequences that come along as the result of the thinking and behavior.”

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Pretrial Motion and Instruction Hearings Held in Starke Circuit Court

Several pretrial motions and instructions hearings were held in the Starke Circuit Court yesterday. Jeannie Brewer, charged with Battery as a Class D Felony and Attempted Violation of a Custody Order, made her appearance in court with her attorney Richard Ballard. The state requested a continuance in this case, because the responding officer, Dave Combs, would be unavailable for the trial. The state said that they would like to have Combs take the stand and testify as to the statement he originally received from the victim because the victim has changed his story several times. Judge Kim Hall granted this continuation, and the trial has been scheduled for August 10th at 9:00 a.m. with a pretrial motions and instructions hearing on August 9th at 9:00 a.m.

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Eastern Pulaski School Corporation to Retain Tuition Policy

Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman

The State has changed the way schools are funded whereas a school’s General Fund is funded by the State. The Eastern Pulaski School Board agreed last year that because of the change, the Corporation will not charge a tuition fee if the student was in the Corporation on the State Count Day. Superintendent, Dr. Robert Klitzman, says they hope to continue that practice.

“Nothing has changed at the state level so I asked the Board to extend that beyond this year until something changes,” he said. “The Board did agree to keep that at status quo so we will not be charging tuition for those students that are officially enrolled in our School Corporation on the official count date.”

USDA Summer Food Program in Place until July 28th at Knox Middle School

The USDA Summer Food Program is still available at the Knox Middle School. Free breakfast and lunch is available to children ages 18 and younger. Breakfast is served from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the Knox Middle School.

Kit Ream, Food Services Director at the Knox Community School Corporation, says the Cafeteria staff has been serving between 100 to 170 students for lunch and a few less for breakfast. You are encouraged to take advantage of this free service weekdays from now until July 28th.

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Sewer Separation Project Continues in Winamc after Union Crews Return to Work

Winamac Town Hall

The sewer separation project in the Town of Winamac has resumed after Local 150 Union workers returned to the job. Contract issues had sidelined the project. Workers were off the job three weeks, and they are currently on Madison Street. The crews are trying to complete the Burson Street part of the project.

During their meeting Monday, the Winamac Town Board members heard from a group of concerned citizens about the extension of the runway at Arens Field in Winamac. The citizens are against the project and informed the members of why they are against the project. The biggest concern is the acquisition of land from farmers to extend the runway.

The Board learned that the Town was denied a Recreational Trails Grant to be used to finish the Panhandle Pathway project. The Town will apply for the grant again next year.

New Swing Set Installed at Sandy Acres Park

George Byer, Matt Whiles, Patrick Jesuit, and Clarence Marshall install the new swing set at Sandy Acres Park

Many people driving by the Sandy Acres Park on the south side of Knox have wondered what was going in the playground area.

“What we’ve got going here is a new swing set for Sandy Acres Park,” said Park Superintendent George Byer. “It was one that we purchased last Fall, we really didn’t have a chance to get it installed. This swing set will consist of two full swings on it and then we’ll have a toddler’s swing and a baby chair swing. At the very end, we will have a handicap swing. Everybody will get a chance to be able to play on this one. Along with that, we’ll have a six foot bench that will be between the little kids kingdom area and the swing set. This will make a very nice addition to Sandy Acres Park.”

The base will be filled in with playground mulch.

Pulaski County Officers Arrest Winamac Woman on a Heroin Charge

Marla Freeman

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Winamac woman on Sunday after police reportedly found heroin in her vehicle on a routine traffic stop on State Road 39 near 600 North.

Pulaski County Prosecutor Stacey Mrak told WKVI that when officers questioned 39-year-old Marla Freeman she said she had allegedly bought the drug while she was in Merrillville. She is facing a preliminary charge of Possession of Heroin. Police initially pulled her over after observing a headlight out on the vehicle.

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Starke County 4-H Royalty Crowned

Lauren Jernas (L) and Megan Hinds. Photo by Jayme Goetz

Royalty was crowned at the Starke County 4-H Fair last night. The two winners are 10 year 4-H members.

“I’m 18 and this is my sixth year as a Junior Leader,” said Lauren Jernas. “I went to Oregon-Davis High School and in the Fall I will be attending Purdue University. I will be studying Animal Science.”

“I’m 18 years old and I go to Oregon-Davis High School,” said Megan Hinds. “Next Fall I am going to Ivy Tech in Valparaiso to study Early Childhood.”

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Medaryville, Francesville Fire Departments Battle House Fires

The Medaryville Fire Department was called to a house fire just before midnight on Saturday at the Justin Shepperd residence at 311 N. George Street in Medaryville.

Fire Chief Keith Hauptli told WKVI that a fire originated in the master bedroom and caused damage to part of the house. The fire rekindled at 3:30 a.m. and did extensive damage to the residence which put it at a total loss. The State Fire Marshal will be investigating the scene later today (Tuesday). Nobody was in the home when it caught fire and there were no injuries reported at the scene.

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Knox Man Arrested after Police Find Meth Lab in Car

Fred Boggess II

Fred Boggess II, 30, of Knox was arrested Friday, July 8th after Starke County Police found a meth lab in his vehicle.

Boggess was pulled over on a routine traffic stop on Toto Road and 100 East in Starke County and officers found an active meth lab. The Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team was called to the scene to clean up the scene. Boggess II was arrested on preliminary charges of Illegal Drug Lab, Manufacturing Meth, False Informing, Possession of Meth, Possession of Precursors, Driving While Suspended-Prior and Habitual Offender. He is in the Starke County Jail on a $25,000 surety bond.

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Starke County Youth Club to Raise Money for Food Pantry

Help fill these shelves at the Starke County Food Pantry

The Starke County Youth Club is coming to the aide of the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry. Last week we announced that the food pantry was in dire need of food, and the Youth Club is stepping up.

Today from 12:10 until 1:10 p.m., twelve Knox Middle School students will be at Five Star to bag groceries. Donations will be spent at the store and donated to the food pantry.

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Services Scheduled for Andy Howes

Andy Howes

Forty-one years after being listed as Missing in Action in Vietnam, funeral services for CW 3 George A. (Andy) Howes will be held Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Knox Community Center, 55 East Lake Street, Knox Indiana. Burial will follow on August 5th, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. ET in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. A service at the Chapel at Fort Myer will be held at 9:00 a.m. prior to his burial in Arlington National Cemetery.

Robert Howes, brother of CW 3 Howes, said, “We are bringing Andy home to Knox, the community that nurtured him as he grew up and never forgot him while he was Missing in Action. We were honored by the outpouring of affection when it was announced that he had been identified. The service is open to the community and to everyone who kept him in their hearts.” Howes added: “Anyone having a POW/MIA bracelet for Andy and who would like their bracelet to be interred with him at Arlington National Cemetery is welcome to bring it to the service.” Continue reading

Starke County Community Foundation Offers Scholarships

The Starke County Community Foundation is offering three unique scholarships this summer.

The Back Home Again in Indiana scholarship is for non-traditional students including those who want to advance in their current field or re-enter the job market. Applicants must live in Starke County.

The Legacy of Women Scholarship is also for non-traditional students and is exclusively for Starke County women who are invested in their communities as well as working towards a college degree.

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Hazel M. Parker Skinner, 104, Dies

The year was 1907. The Chicago Cubs swept the Detroit Tigers in four games to win the World Series. Taxis first began running in New York City. Houdini escaped from chains underwater in :57 seconds, the Ball at Times Square dropped to signal the New Year, and John Wayne and Gene Autry were born. Yes, 1907 was quite a year.

Also born in 1907 was Hazel M. Parker Skinner of Plymouth. On Saturday July 9th, Hazel died at her home at the age of 104. Funeral services will be Friday at the Tyner United Methodist Church.

Starke County Commissioners Tour Jail Facilities in Marshall, Miami Counties

Starke County Jail

Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem described the jail tour made by the Commissioners last week as worthwhile. The Commissioners and Sheriff Oscar Cowen toured the Marshall and Miami County jails and although both used the same “footprint”, Marshall County rolled more equipment into their bond issue.

Norem wanted it known that the trip was not made because of the Jack Haut class action suit against the County, claiming deplorable conditions in the Starke County Jail.

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Four New Directors Elected to BLPOA

Four new directors for the Bass Lake Property Owners’ Association (BLPOA) will be learning the ropes after they were elected Saturday. Joe Ippolito, Chris Nawaczyk, and Jack Stvan will be serving two year terms as directors for the BLPOA, and Ron Vendel will be serving a one year term as director.

A total of seven directors control BLPOA, along with four officers: Gene Novello, President; Larry Collura, Vice President; Pat Von Bampus, Secretary; and Earl McGuire, Treasurer. These individuals are in charge of handling the affairs of BLPOA, as well as sponsoring the Neighborhood Watch organization. Seven volunteers patrol the area, and members make donations that help support this program.

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Starke County 4-H Fair Continues Today

The Starke County 4-H Fair continues today. Lenny Dessauer will be broadcasting live from the Fair today from 2:00-6:00 p.m.

This is a big day at the Fair! The 4-H Club Parade is at 6:00 p.m. Opening ceremonies are at 6:15 p.m. where the 4-H Club and Leader Recognitions, Fairboard scholarships and the Jr. Leader Achievement Royalty will be announced. The Starke County Ministerial Association music is at 7:00 p.m. and the Pig Scramble is at 7:30 p.m. Celebrity Fun Night, sponsored by the Starke County Fairboard and WKVI, begins at 8:00 p.m. Other events today include judging for cake decorating, flowers gardening and crops; the 4-H Poultry, Waterfowl and Pigeon Show at 12:30 p.m.; the Open Class Bake Sale at 5:00 p.m., and the Fairboard’s Ham and Bean and Chicken and Noodle Dinner at 5:00 p.m.

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