Starke County Commissioner, Kathy Norem, was questioned by the County Council Monday on funding the defense in a Class Action Lawsuit filed against the County by Starke County Jail inmate, Jack Haut.
The Council asked Norem if she had any idea what range of funding would be needed for this lawsuit.
Scot Imus, Executive Director of the Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, and Maureen Hellman Ferguson, Executive Director of the Indiana Petroleum Council, will attend a forum in LaPorte tonight that has been arranged by Senator Jim Arnold (D-LaPorte) and State Representative Tom Dermody (R-LaPorte) to discuss gas prices.
The Knox Community School Board members approved student handbook changes at all building levels at their meeting Monday night.
Elementary Principal, Glenn Barnes, requested that the handbook reflect changes for telephone use by the students. Beginning in August, students may have cell phones with the restriction that they are kept in backpacks during class time and on bus rides.
Also, students who ride the bus on longer bus routes will now be able to use electronic devices while riding to and from school.
The annual Starke United Golf Tournament is Friday, and you can still reserve a space. Executive Director, Julie Dessauer, said yesterday that Kersting’s Cycle Center is the hole-in-one sponsor. Hit that hole-in-one and ride off on a motorcycle. Also win a $500 VISA Card, golf clubs, or T.V.
Call 772-7506 for more information. The tournament is at the Chesapeake Run Golf Course in North Judson.
A Child Passenger Safety Certification Course at IU Health Starke Hospital begins today at 1:00 p.m. CT. The class is approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Riley Hospital for Children. Police officers, firefighters, healthcare providers and other interested individuals from the area are invited to participate in this 32 hour course.
The classes go through Saturday June 25th. Upon completion of the course, newly certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will assist with a free car seat check up event Saturday in the I.U. Health Starke Hospital parking area.
The Starke County Council last night approved the Starke County Commissioners’ request to transfer $100,000 into the Legal Fund from the Health Fund to defend the County in the Jack Haut Class Action Lawsuit. Haut, as previously reported, is suing the County claiming the jail does not meet humane conditions because of overcrowding.
Ed Clark of the Pulaski County Recycling Center approached the county commissioners yesterday, seeking approval of a $20,000 grant for the recycling center. The grant, which is actually the second installment of a $40,000 grant that is received each year, can be transferred to the recycling center at the discretion of the commissioners and the recycling center manager. The other half goes to fuel, tire repairs and other expenses. Clark said that there are several problems that the recycling center needs to fix, and the $20,000 would go to repairing these issues.
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was called to an accidental shooting on Sunday, June 19th.
Robert Avery, of Winamac, told police that he saw a chipmunk on a woodpile they have by the house and decided he was going to shoot at it. According to police, his girlfriend, Dawn Vanaman, knew he was going to shoot at it but she was trying to keep her kitten from running into the line of fire and instead, Dawn got into the line of fire. Avery reportedly told police that parts of the projectile shot from a rifle hit Dawn in the neck area. Vanaman was airlifted to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. Vanaman told police that the shooting was an accident. Avery was reportedly drinking the day of the incident.
The reporting officer forwarded the case to the Detective’s Division for further review.
Since the closing of the Monterey Elementary School, there have been rumors that some of the students will go to the Eastern Pulaski School system, instead of going into Culver Community.
Culver Community School Superintendent Brad Schuldt was asked if he anticipates losing students because of the closure.
“We expected this to be an issue, and in fact, when we did some financial planning, the numbers that we used did include a reduction of students over the next two years,” said Schuldt. “Of course the big question is going to be how many students will be moving. That is a number that is changing rather regularly. I know that some of the families have requested transcripts to be sent to a new school corporation. That’s pretty much how we can keep track of people who have actually made the move.”
Mike Materna is facing a possible prison sentence because he reportedly released hot water discharge into a ditch near his mint distillery, and that has many people “hopping mad.”
State Representative Tom Dermody (R-LaPorte) is one of the people who is outspoken in his feelings about this possibility. Dermody said, (and I quote),
“To be honest with you this scares me to death. This is nothing more than a rampaging federal government.”
Although it has not become a huge problem so far, the Knox City Council members did discuss horseback riding in the city and parks at their most recent meeting.
Besides the problem of manure on the streets, there is a problem of riding in the parks. Horses can do a lot of damage if being ridden on a baseball field. In the discussion, Park Superintendent, George Byer, said there is evidence in the form of manure on the walking path, which makes it unpleasant for the walkers.
The Washington Township Fire Department will be the location of a two-day training session for current fire officers and is open to firefighters. Topics of discussion include leadership, decision-making, risk management, strategy and tactics, root cause problem solving, customer service, training, and more. The sessions will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 25th and 26th, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT.
Talk of a new Starke County Jail has surfaced again. The three Starke County Commissioners talked about visiting other county jails in Marshall, Fulton and Brown Counties to look at the configuration of the buildings.
The announcement of the fact that they would be touring these buildings was made during the June 16th meeting to discuss the Class Action Law Suit brought against the County by Jack Haut, a Starke County Inmate.
Starke County will be rolling out a new welfare application process today. Starke is one of 13 counties that will begin automating part of the process. This means it will be expanding into areas still operating only with paper intensive, face-to-face contact between case workers and clients receiving food stamps, Medicaid and other benefits.
The 2011 North Judson Mint Festival is history, but before we close the book on this years exciting three day event, Ted Hayes visited with all of the dignitaries in this year’s festival.
Bino Bau was the Grand Marshall of this Year’s Parade. Continue reading
A resounding “no” was given to Knox Mayor Rick Chambers when he asked the City Council members last week if they would be interested in selling the Sandy Acres Park. Chambers said that he had been approached about selling the property. Although not announcing who had approached him, it was assumed to be a business person wanting to locate, or re-locate on Heaton Street.
It was noted that in the Five Year Park Plan that there is not have enough park space. Recently, the Park Board has spruced up Sandy Acres and it has been used more according to Park Superintendent, George Byer.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation will participate in the USDA Summer Food Service program. Meals will be provided to all children without charge who are 18 and younger.
Meals will be served in the North Judson-San Pierre Elementary School. Breakfast will be served from 7:45-8:15 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT. Adults may eat lunch at the Elementary School for a charge of $2.00.
The North Judson Town Board members discussed pool fills at their recent meeting. The Board approved the action of pool fills but an ordinance will be constructed to outline the fees. The Board approved the fee of $.03 a gallon for water and $.80 a mile for fuel. A credit card will also need to be provided to ensure payment. A bill will not be sent.
Taylor Quella, a Knox High School incoming Senior, is in Zionsville this week participating in the Miss Indiana Outstanding Teen competition. Taylor is the daughter of Kathy and Pete Quella.
Ted Hayes talked with Taylor before she leaves for the competition. He asked her what she has been doing to get ready since early November when she was selected Queen of the local pageant.
“I’ve had mock interviews, I have gotten my wardrobe all ready and I have gotten my nails done and I’m just preparing every day,” said Quella. “Wednesday, we go down there for good until around Saturday. We have rehearsals every day until the final competition on Friday.”
The Knox Community Elementary School is still collecting box tops and Campbell’s UPC labels and PTO President, Shelly Kemble, says if you have any labels to turn in, you need to get them in this week.
“The collection of Box Tops from the 2010-2011 school year totals a little over $4,000,” said Kemble. “You may drop off any box tops at the Knox Community Elementary School Main Office at door number 1 until June 22nd. We will start back up with the drop off after the 2011 school year begins in August.”
