The La Porte County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a scam that falsely uses a police officer’s identity to scam people out of money.
Petroleum Analysts Wait to See How Harvey Impacts National Gas Prices
As first responders attend to the devastation and destruction caused by Tropical Storm Harvey, fuel analysts wait to see how national gas prices will be impacted. Senior Petroleum Analyst for GasBuddy.com Partick DeHaan said that during Hurricane Katrina whole-sale gas prices shot up 40 cents a gallon. Though he expects a similar reaction, the current projections are still unknown. Continue reading
Starke County Council Creates Fund for Park Donations
You can now make a donation to the Starke County Park Board. While the park board oversees a few different facilities, including the Bass Lake Beach and Campground and the Starke County Forest, it does not have a dedicated funding source from the county government. However, the county council last week created a “special non-reverting park and recreation fund,” designed to let the park board accept “gifts, donations, and subsidies.”
Lower Speed Limit Requested on Pulaski County Road 600 West
A portion of Pulaski County Road 600 West may soon be getting a lower speed limit. Resident Karen Gourley requested the change during last week’s county commissioners meeting. Continue reading
Donations Still Needed for Taser Purchase
Knox Police Chief Harold Smith updated the Knox Board of Public Works last week on a fundraiser to aid in the purchases of tasers for the officers.
According to the GoFundMe page created for this crowdfunding effort, $1,700 has been raised toward the $6,000 goal. Chief Smith told the board of works members that a personal injury law firm in South Bend has offered to match donations to a certain denomination and has done so thus far.
Monterey Days Festival Labor Day Weekend
Mobile Health Units to Provide Information & Screenings in September
The Wellness Outreach Professionals with the Mobile Health Unit of the La Porte Hospital will be making stops around the community during national prostate cancer awareness month. La Porte County and Starke County will have Mobile Health Units set up in various places throughout the month of September in order to provide men’s health education and promote the importance of colorectal cancer screenings. Continue reading
Community Cantata Choir Call Outs Coming Soon
Although the Community Cantata Choir won’t have their final performance until Christmastime, rehearsals will be underway soon. Event coordinators and program directors Nan Folkers and Brian Liechty are still working out this year’s theme and the schedule for official try-out dates and subsequent rehearsals. Folkers said the start date should be announced in early September. Continue reading
BMV Announces Labor Day Closure
The Labor Day holiday will create a change in hours at all Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle branches. All branches will be closed Saturday, Sept. 2 through Monday, Sept. 4.
The La Porte, Plymouth, Walkerton, and Winamac branches will open on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 8:30 a.m. local time while the Knox branch will open again on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
For online assistance, visit mybmv.com.
Starke County Council Sets Hourly Pay Rate for EMA Director
The Starke County Council has set a pay rate for the county’s next Emergency Management Agency director. Former director Jacob Lippner was fired by the county commissioners back in May. They’ve since decided to make the position a part-time job going forward.
Future of Pulaski County Household Hazardous Waste Day in Doubt
Pulaski County’s annual Household Hazardous Waste Day may not be returning next year. That’s according to Pulaski County Recycling & Transfer Station Manager Brad Bonnell. He told the county commissioners Monday that last month’s event was “somewhat successful,” but changes at the Northwest Indiana Solid Waste District may put its future in jeopardy.
Trials Set in Starke Circuit Court
Trial dates were set for several defendants in Starke Circuit Court on Thursday morning.
Jerry Leonard, of Knox, is charged with four felony counts of child molesting. Two counts are Class A felonies and the remaining counts are Class C felonies. His trial with a 12-member jury is expected to start Jan. 8, 2018. There is a plea agreement deadline date in this case of Dec. 15.
North Judson Council Considers Changes to Bylaws, Schedules Budget Meeting
The Naegeli court reporting Council is looking to make some changes to the way it operates. Most significantly, members are considering the addition of a council vice-president, according to Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins. She says that currently, if the council president is absent, one member is chosen to take charge just for that one meeting.
Knox Board of Works Receives Update on Unsafe House
The Knox Board of Public Works and Safety heard from homeowner Lucia Valladares on the progress on renovation efforts on the home at 6 N. Pearl Street.
Valladares said she was involved in a motor vehicle accident and hasn’t been able to get any work done on the property. She plans to focus on the exterior part of the building yet this year. Her plan is to demolish two side additions and the back porch, reinforce the foundation, start up siding installation, replace the roof, and construct a new addition.
Pulaski County Election Board to Discuss Budget for 2018 Election
The Pulaski County Election Board is beginning the process of planning for next year’s election cycle. Several county and local government offices will be up for election in 2018.
LaPorte County Road Work Set for Next Week
Road work is planned in La Porte County next week to increase safety on U.S. 20.
Indiana Department of Transportation crews will install rumble strips on U.S. 20 between U.S. 35 and the U.S. 20 and State Road 2 intersection. Officials say engineers found a way to use equipment and resources from a nearby project on State Road 39 to install this safety enhancement on the heavily traveled highway.
Oregon-Davis Transfers Scholarship Funds to Community Foundation
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation is changing the way the Berg Scholarship is administered. Continue reading
Culver Town Council Approves Rezoning Ordinance
The Culver Town Council this week adopted an ordinance that rezones two parcels.
The ordinance proposes the rezoning of 1213 Hoosier Lane and 1201 West Shore Drive from Residential (R-1) to Lake District (L-1). This action would combine two lots into one lot and grant lake access.
Man Attempts to Lure Children into Car
Officers from the La Porte City Police Department are attempting to find a man who allegedly attempted to lure three children into his car in the 400 block of Fox Street Wednesday afternoon. The children are ages 12, 4 and 3.
The children’s mother reportedly told police that the trio was playing in a neighbor’s yard when a man called the children over to his silver-colored Honda Pilot. When he called their attention, he began taking off his seatbelt, according to police. The report indicates that the 12-year-old child told her mother and the mother approached the SUV yelling at the man. The man then fled the area.
Blackburn Case set for Status Hearing
Edward Blackburn will return to court for a status update in October.
Blackburn, 31, is facing a murder charge in Starke County. He is accused of killing Cord Colgrove in an incident in rural North Judson in March. Formal charges were filed on March 6 and he has been incarcerated in the Starke County Justice Center since his arrest.
