The Starke County Commissioners made a decision to move forward with repairs to Bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch at 400 North and Range Road. The heavily traveled bridge was recently closed by an emergency order.
The State had approved a plan to rebuild the bridge but that would have meant two years of the structure being down.
The Culver Town Council has received several letters from residents of the town notifying them of water issues, and they plan to attach these letters to a grant application to get these problems fixed. Recently, the review committee met with three different engineers in regards to a grant to conduct a water study. Commonwealth Engineers, DLZ, and GAI Consultants were reviewed, and Commonwealth was approved as the engineer if the water study grant is received.
Schools are facing tough times with the changes in the state’s funding formula, including Eastern Pulaski Schools.
“From the funding we got in 2011, we are going to be cut the restoration grant of $618,000, a small school grant of $107,000, a primetime grant of $80,000, allowances to help with our special needs program $28,000, vocational allowance to help with that program $11,000, and we’re anticipating our Title One program to be cut about $8,000,” said Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent, Dr. Robert Klitzman.
Three World War II Starke County Veterans were flown to Washington, D.C. Tuesday as part of the Honor Flight Network’s program to honor the surviving members of that generation who fought in that bloody war.
Traveling to Washington were Jack Milner, Chuck Johnson and Floyd Brown. All are members of VFW Post #748 in Knox.
The Winamac Town Board heard from Park Superintendent, Don Thompson, about damage done to the park due to flooding and vandalism.
He reported that the park was under water again this year when the Tippecanoe River swelled and drifted into the park. The Pulaski County Extension Office had removed items from the 4-H buildings to avoid further water damage. Beaver damage was also reported during the flood. Thompson also told the Board that several unknown person(s) caused damage to the playground equipment during a so-called party at the park. Glass was broken around the equipment and clean-up was extensive.
The staff at the Henry F. Schricker Public Library in Knox is celebrating 100 years of the Indy 500.
Nancy Pimm, who worked in the pits at the Indy 500 from 1984-1989, will be at the Library on Thursday, May 12th to discuss her book Indy 500: The Inside Track, and show racing gear that she and her husband have collected. They will show fire suits, visors, racing shoes and gloves, plus a front wing and rear wing mount from Danica Patrick’s car, a custom driver seat from Kenny Brack, racing tires, and more.
What a difference 10 years makes. On May 15th, 2001, Dr. Suellen Reed kicked off the construction of three schools in the Culver Community District. Sod was turned at Culver Community Junior-Senior. High School to mark the beginning of construction. In the $18 million dollar project, Monterey Elementary was remodeled, 16 classrooms were added to Culver Elementary and classrooms and a gymnasium were added at Culver Community Junior-Senior High School.
A tough and controversial decision was made last night by the Culver Community School Board, as they ultimately voted 5-2 to discontinue operation of Monterey Elementary School. The closure of the school was due to a need to meet budget cuts in the amount of $855,928 over two years from the state. While this decision may not have been the most popular one, the Board felt it was the best decision for the school, as well as the teachers, the students, and even the parents.
“The vote ended up being five members voted for the motion, two members voted against the motion, and the motion was to discontinue operation of Monterey Elementary school effective at the end of this current school year,” said Superintendent Brad Schuldt, “and that the students beginning next year would be a part of the Culver Elementary School body.”
The Winamac Lady Warriors emerged victorious over MWC rival West Central on Friday 15-6. The Lady Trojans jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the 3rd inning before the Warriors got their bats going en route to a big conference win. Rachael Tetzloff jump started Winamac by hitting a 2-run homer in the bottom of the third inning to cut the Trojans lead to three. Bethany Brogdon got the win for Winamac.
In a devastating blow to LaPorte County, 112 people were laid off in a cost saving measure at IU Health LaPorte Hospital. It is not known at this time how many were Starke County residents. The LaPorte facility employs 1,700 people. Continue reading
At the most recent Starke County Commissioner’s meeting, Highway Superintendent, Steve Siddall, was quizzed on the situation with rising fuel prices. Commission President, Dan Bridegroom, made the observation that some counties were cutting back on their mowing of county roadways to conserve fuel. He said that he understood that at least two counties were going to only be mowing the intersections.
Siddall talked with Ted Hayes after the meeting about the plans here.
Second District Representative, Joe Donnelly, made it official yesterday. In a video announcement, Donnelly said he wanted to take the fight for American jobs to the U.S. Senate.
The Democrat narrowly defeated challenger Jackie Walorski in the 2010 general election, but since then the District has become much more Republican with redistricting.
Today is the property tax deadline in Starke County. All payments are due to the Treasurer’s office today by the end of the day. A drop off box is located outside the Treasurer’s Office if you can not make it to the office by the time the doors close to the office today. If you are mailing your taxes, they must be postmarked today in order to be counted on time.
Property taxes are also due into the Pulaski County Treasurer’s Office today.
“There’s more to come.” That was the word from Knox Park Board member, Rodger Weigel, who was at Wythogan Park when Ted Hayes took a tour last week. New dugouts were recently constructed, and a new curly slide was installed at the park. Improvements are now being made at the skate park.
Weigel said that more improvements are coming.
A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 12th, at 9:00 a.m. CT at Bella Vita Pregnancy Resource Center in Knox. An open house will follow until about Noon. Bella Vita is at 206 S. Heaton St. in Knox.
All services at Bella Vita are free and confidential. Services include: pregnancy tests, peer counseling by trained advocates about pregnancy options, referrals to community resources, and education classes that empower women to make healthy choices as well as earn needed material items. Call (574) 772-2877 for more information.
The Culver Community School Board will discuss, and possibly vote on the future of the Monterey Elementary School tonight during their regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. ET in the Administration Building. The Board needs to reduce expenses in order to meet budget cuts from the state level in the amount of $855,928 over two years.
The Culver Community School Corporation has a number of options to explore in order to meet this new budget. Some of the options include increasing revenue through a referenda, in which the school tax rate would be raised $0.11 per $100; the use of the Rainy Day Fund, and decreasing expenses through budget reductions, such as closing Monterey Elementary.
The Board will also look at reducing certified staff, non-certified staff, and administration, and reducing the following programs: business, music, art, athletic, extra curricular, Industrial Technology, Physical Education, Foreign Language, Building Trades, and Vocational.
A Goshen attorney is expected to run for the Second District Congressional seat in Indiana. Andrew Straw, 42, is a Northridge High School graduate and he holds a bachelor’s, masters, and law degree from Indiana University. If he gets the nomination, he would be running as a Democrat. Republican Jackie Walorski has also announced that she will be running for the seat that is expected to be abandoned by current Representative, Joe Donnelly.
Donnelly is expected to abandon the seat after three terms to run for the U.S. Senate against either Senator Richard Lugar or State Treasurer Richard Mourdock. Mourdock is trying to unseat Lugar in the 2012 Republican Primary.
The North Judson Town Board heard from concerned citizens about the gas prices in North Judson. It was reported to WKVI that the gas prices in North Judson are generally $.10 higher than the surrounding communities.
The Board was expected to write a letter to the gas stations and ask why this is occurring and how it can be fixed. The residents are especially concerned about prices in this economy.
The Marshall County Community Foundation has provided Ancilla College a grant in the amount of $20,300 to help launch the Assistive Developmentally-Enhanced Program and Technology Initiative, or ADEPT.
The Pulaski County United Fund recently awarded 10 non-profit organizations financial support.
Pulaski County YMCA, Pulaski County REACT, West Central Educational Foundation, North Central IN Rural Crisis Center, Pulaski County Human Services, Salvation Army-Pulaski County Service Extension, Girl Scouts of Northern IN-Michiana-Pulaski County Scouts, and Sagamore Council Boy Scouts-Pulaski County Scouts received funds from the Pulaski County United Fund.
