Overtime costs continue to add up for Pulaski Circuit Court. The Pulaski County Council voted Monday to transfer $5,000 into the court’s overtime budget from the law books line item, at the request of Judge Michael Shurn. “Last week, a two-day jury trial morphed into a four-day one,” he explained. “And I was working 16-hour days, and my staff was real close to that.”
Starke County and Pulaski County Health Rankings for 2018
The annual County Health Rankings Reports have been released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute.
While Pulaski County Ranked higher than Starke County in health factors and outcomes, their rank fell compared to last year while Starke County saw an improvement in each category. Continue reading
Starke County Police to Conduct Sobriety Checkpoints
Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office, Knox City Police Department and Walkerton Police Department are teaming up to combat aggressive driving and impaired driving.
These officers working under the Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership consortium will be setting up sobriety checkpoints around Starke County to deter, detect and arrest drivers who are driving under the influence. Police will man the checkpoints on Saturday, March 17 between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. at undisclosed locations.
Winamac Town Council Approves Fire Department Contracts
Three township fire department contracts were approved during the Winamac Town Council meeting Monday night.
Town Council president Tom Murray asked if the contracts were the same as last year. Clerk-Treasurer Melanie Berger confirmed that the contracts remained the same with Franklin Township paying $9,283.92 as an annual service fee, Rich Grove Township has a yearly contract fee of $3,664.38 and the contract for Tippecanoe Township lists a $2,174.42 yearly charge. Continue reading
Culver Town Council Reviews Salary Ordinance Amendment
The Culver Town Council members considered an amendment to the salary ordinance this week.
A proposed change was made where the EMS Vice Director position would be eliminated and replaced with a full-time ALS-EMT2 position with an hourly range of $11.75-$17.50.
Winamac High School Art Department Gets $1,000 Donation from Psi Iota Xi
The Winamac High School Art Department has gotten a $1,000 financial boost, thanks to the local chapter of Psi Iota Xi. The philanthropic sorority says the donation is meant to benefit or enhance students’ art experience, under the direction of teacher Natalie Dickinson.
Kankakee River Basin Commission Votes to Fund Preliminary Repair Costs
When Kankakee River Basin Commission members met Thursday morning, they permitted a total of $254,000 to be paid to three counties in order to assist with immediate repair needs resulting from the recent flooding.
Initially, members considered having all funding requests submitted at a meeting that would be held within the next 30 days but a few members said there were some issues with that idea. Continue reading
Gary Poppins Starts Production
Gary Poppins’ Starke County facility is up and running, according to Starke County Economic Development Foundation Special Projects Coordinator Ron Gifford. He briefly mentioned the startup during his report to the Hamlet Town Council Wednesday. Continue reading
Pulaski Council Updated on Courthouse Elevator Replacement, Lawn Care and Snow Removal Costs
Preparations continue for the replacement of the Pulaski County Courthouse elevator. Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston told the county council Monday the project is going well. “All the material has been ordered,” he said. “The demolition is going to actually begin the end of this month, the last week of this month.”
Check-In Procedure to Be Added to Knox Spring Clean-Up Days
Mayor Dennis Estok alerted Knox City Council members of some changes that will be made to procedures for Spring Clean-Up Days this year.
During Tuesday night’s city council meeting, Mayor Estok said there were some issues with last year’s event.
“Basically we are changing the format on that,” Estok explained, “last year, we went through a record-high 8 dumpsters at a cost of four thousand some dollars. Probably fifty or sixty percent of the stuff coming in was from out of town residents.” Continue reading
Winamac Police Officer Takes Course to Become a Certified Firearms Instructor
Winamac’s Police Department will soon have an officer certified in firearms training once Officer Tyler Campbell completes his training.
A Monday’s Winamac Town Council meeting, Town Marshal Mike Buchanan shared that Campbell is attending a week-long firearms class. He said Campbell’s certification will assist the Winamac PD with future training. Continue reading
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum May Consider Leasing Erie Trail to Starke County
Bringing the North Judson Erie Trail under Starke County’s control is something the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum might be willing to consider. The museum owns the trail, but Starke County’s five-year park plan suggests that the county lease it and operate it as a park facility. Starke County Park Board President Roger Chaffins said Tuesday that he spoke with the museum’s president, Cory Bennett, and Bennett seemed open to resuming discussions.
Eastern Pulaski School Board Considers Removal or Renovation of High School Awning
Whether the awning in front of Winamac High School should be torn down or refurbished was a topic of debate during Monday’s Eastern Pulaski School Board meeting.
Culver Police, Park Department Seeking Employees
The Culver Town Council members were notified this week of several job opportunities for several town positions.
Oregon-Davis Superintendent Discusses Upcoming Referendum with Hamlet Town Council
Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Dr. Don Harman went to the Hamlet Town Council Wednesday to spread the word about the upcoming school referendum. If approved, the measure would add a property tax of up to 29 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for an eight-year period. It would replace a 19-cent tax that’s set to expire in 2019.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Appoints Larry Wickert As Executive Director
The Starke County Economic Development Foundation has decided to keep Larry Wickert as its executive director. Wickert has been serving as interim executive director since the beginning of the year. Now, the foundation’s board of directors has decided to make his appointment permenant, according to a press release issued Wednesday.
Two Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
Two people were sentenced Wednesday morning in Starke Circuit Court.
Dallas Sheets, 19, of Knox pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a charge of residential entry as a Level 6 felony. He admitted to entering his father and step mother’s house without permission and took a futon. The incident occurred on Sept. 19, 2017. Sheets was sentenced to 12 months in the Starke County Justice Center. That sentence was suspended to be served on probation. Sheets will have to complete all programs recommended by the Starke County Probation officers. If he violates his terms of probation, he will have to serve the remainder of his term in the Starke County Justice Center.
Pulaski County Council Approves Salary Ordinance Revisions
The Pulaski County Council has finalized some corrections to the county’s salary ordinance. That will mean raises for Sheriff Jeff Richwine, as well as the two full-time employees in the Community Development Commission.
Starke County Park Board Gets Two More Proposals for Bass Lake Beach Operations
The Starke County Park Board continues to hear from people interested in operating the Bass Lake Beach. The entire beach and campground is currently run by Callahan Development, LLC, which leases it from Starke County. But the company said it may be willing to give up control of the beach itself, to allow it to focus on the profitable campground and pier slots.
Culver Town Council Holds Rezoning Public Hearings
The Culver Town Council members conducted two public hearings to consider rezoning requests for two properties.
If approved, the BP Good Oil gas station on 203 and 213 Main Street will undergo a renovation project. According to Developer Kevin Berger, the plan is to demolish the house at 213 N. Main Street and extend the convenience store into that area. The current building may be partially demolished in the process to make way for an improved store front. The store front will face southeast as opposed to the current eastern facing.
