Alleged Vehicle Theft Suspect Flees Resulting in 4-Vehicle Crash in Warsaw

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Two fatalities and critical injuries have been reported after a vehicle allegedly fled from police and ran a red light Saturday night.

According to an ISP press release, around 9:20 p.m. on January 13th, an Indiana State Trooper was responding to a theft that apparently occurred at the Meijer located at 1200 Lake City Highway in Warsaw. The report indicates that the trooper saw a car that matched the description of the suspect vehicle, which was described as a white 2003 Pontiac Grand Am.

The suspect vehicle reportedly fled eastbound on US 30 and drove through a red light at the intersection of US 30 and Parker Street, crashing into three other vehicles. Continue reading →

Knox Mayor Reports that Community Center Renovations Should be Wrapping Up Soon

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

When the Knox City Council convened on Tuesday, Mayor Dennis Estok alerted members that the community center renovation project is nearing completion.With the roof portion finished and the new HVAC system installed there’s one remaining renovation to that will be addressed in the near future.

Estok told members that next week, contractors will start working on the floors. He added,  “So hopefully, we can get that project wrapped up.” In a past meeting, it was stated that the proposed floor work is estimated to cost around $42,425. Continue reading →

Questions Raised Over Particular Appointment at Winamac Town Council Meeting

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

During Monday Night’s Winamac Town Council meeting, while on the topic of appointments, the position of “Pulaski County Family Y Representative” was brought up. Councilwoman Judy Heater was previously appointed to this position. However, she said she had no absolutely no interest in serving on that board again.

Council President Tom Murray asked what they would need to do with this position since the organization now operates as the Community Wellness Center of Winamac and is no longer a Family YMCA. Continue reading →

Large Culver Sign to be Replaced

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The large-scale Culver sign at the Culver Town Park will be replaced by the time WinterFest begins on Friday, Feb. 9.

Park Superintendent Anna Campbell told the Culver Town Council members this week that the sign spelling out C-U-L-V-E-R will go in the same place where the plywood sign is now. A mock-up placard that describes the history of the name of the Lake Maxinkuckee town will be included next to the sign until a more concrete structure can be constructed.

Continue reading →

Two-Vehicle Accident on Indiana Toll Road Results in Fatality, Crash Remains Under Investigation

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

A crash between a semi and a passenger car on the Indiana Toll Road resulted in some life-threatening injuries and one fatality, according to an Indiana State Police report.

ISP Dispatch received a call of a collision between a semi and a passenger car around 7:13 a.m. on Friday,  January 12th. The accident occurred near the 50-mile marker in the westbound lanes of the Indiana Toll Road, approximately one mile east of the LaPorte exit. Continue reading →

Recent Narcan Training is Already Paying off in North Judson

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

North Judson Police Chief Kelly Fisher reported that merely two days after completing Narcan training, one officer with the North Judson Police department has already used the life-saving skills that he acquired.

Fisher said that earlier this week, the department received some Narcan kits and the training required to use them from Starke County Public Health Nurse Frank Lynch. They completed the training on Tuesday. Around 6 p.m. Thursday night, Officer Rico Simpson was dispatched on a call about non-responsive overdose victim. He utilized Narcan, also known as Naloxone, and the individual was resuscitated.  Continue reading →

Tri-County Winter Weather Advisory in Effect Until This Afternoon

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the counties of Pulaski, Starke and Marshall. It will be in effect until 1 p.m. ET/ noon CT.

Officials are anticipating mixed precipitation of sleet, freezing rain and snow to transition to all snow this morning. Snow and sleet accumulations of 1 to 3 inches and ice accumulations up to one tenth of an inch are expected.

Local spots such as Knox, North Judson, Bass Lake, Winamac, Francesville, Medaryville, Plymouth, Bremen and Culver are listed as areas that will be impacted by these conditions. Continue reading →

Starke County Highway Superintendent Gives Update on Winter Operations

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners on Monday that it was an eventful, snowy end to 2017.

“We had 14 plow events in December,” said Ritzler. “We’ve had 9.7 inches of show which is less than last year in November and December. Plow hours so far total 1,800. We’ve cleared 35,193 miles. That’s at 18.72 mph.”

Continue reading →

Pulaski County Health Department Faces Funding Challenges

Posted on Author Michael Gallenberger

Funding challenges are causing concerns for the Pulaski County Health Department. “In doing our year-end reports for our health board meeting, it’s come to our attention that we only received about $40,000 in settlement this year,” Department Office Manager Terri Hansen told the county council Monday. “We usually get at least double that.”

Continue reading →

Winamac Deputy Marshal Tyler Campbell Recognized for Heroic Act

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

At this week’s Winamac Town Council meeting, Deputy Marshal Tyler Campbell was recognized for a call that he responded to on Christmas day.

Town Marshal Mike Buchanan explained that Officer Campbell was dispatched around 2:30 a.m. on December 25th for a call about an unresponsive infant. Campbell performed CPR at the residence and continued providing assistance while in the ambulance. Buchanan said by the time they reached the hospital, the infant was breathing and then the doctors and emergency staff took over.

The mother of the child was at the meeting and presented Campbell with a token of her gratitude. Continue reading →

Knox City Council Members Approve Pay Raise for Dedicated Crossing Guard

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Knox City Council members approved a resolution to amend the salary ordinance when they met Tuesday night.

The proposed amendment specifically addressed the pay of Crossing Guard Cody Williams. Mayor Dennis Estok explained that Williams works 180 days out of the year. The salary ordinance initially lists his pay as $24.62 day or about $ 9.25 per hour. A raise of $5 was proposed and Estok said the funds would come from the police department budget. Continue reading →

Knox Man Found Guilty of Child Molesting

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

A Starke Circuit Court trial that began Monday morning has concluded with Starke County Prosecutor, Nicholas A. Bourff successfully prosecuting Jerry Leonard of child molesting.

According to a press release from the Starke County Prosecutor’s office, on Thursday, January 11th, a 12-person jury deliberated about one hour before returning guilty verdicts on two counts of child molesting as Class A Felonies and two counts of performing a sexual act in front of a child as Class D Felonies. Continue reading →