Starke County Council Approves Cardiac Monitor Funding

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Starke County Council members approved funding for two Lifepak 15 cardiac monitors during their meeting Monday night.

The commissioners deemed the purchase as an emergency during their March 5 meeting after EMS Director Travis Clary reported that two decades-old devices recently quit working. That left the county with no backup devices. To ensure that each ambulance had a working device with spares, the emergency purchase was made. Clary told the county council members Monday night that the devices arrived earlier in the day.

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Starke County Council, Commissioners to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Starke County Council members will consider the approval of a job description for a shift supervisor for the Starke County EMS Department when they meet tonight. EMS Director Travis Clary requested support from the commissioners for the four paramedics to oversee operations while he is unable to do so. A $.25 or a $.50 increase for those assuming those duties will also be considered. The council will also determine how to fund two cardiac monitors that were deemed an emergency purchase by commissioners earlier this month. The cost is just over $42,000.

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Starke County EMS Trying New Dispatch Program, Researching Grants

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Starke County EMS staff is trying out a new program that acts as a live radio streaming device, according to EMS Director Travis Clary.

“Basically, this turns your smartphone or any other thing into a live radio streaming device,” said Clary. “It’s great for off-duty members, especially with a size like ours with mainly part-time people. They can hear the call live. It’s pretty neat and again it’s just a trial thing. We’re just seeing how it works with our IT Department.”

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Starke County Commissioners to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Starke County Commissioners will meet tonight where Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin will discuss a job description for a part-time employee and request approval of a third K9 for the department. The job description was discussed with the Starke County Council members in January after they learned an employee was doing duties outside of the position for which he was hired. The job description should resolve the issue.

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Starke County Commissioners and Council Discuss Hiring Two Full-Time Paramedics

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Starke County may soon have two more paramedics on staff.

EMS Director Travis Clary and Clerk Mary Lynn Ritchie discussed the need for two full-time paramedics with both the Starke County Council and Starke County Commission members Tuesday night. They explained that it is difficult to find part-time paramedics to work for the county and it’s even harder to get part-time people to work shifts when a full-time paramedic is not able to work a shift. Clary said he’s been picking up extra shifts to fill the void.

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Starke County EMS Department Working on Heating Issue at Ambulance Base

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Starke County EMS Department is working to get the heat installed at the Grovertown EMS base.

EMS Director Travis Clary told the Starke County Commissioners last week that some parts were needed to install a ceiling-mounted heater at the base. The heater was purchased as an emergency need at the end of 2017 as medications were freezing while the ambulance was parked in the unheated garage. Clary noted that the heater was to be installed last week.

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Starke County Commissioners to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Starke County Commissioners will meet tonight after last week’s regular meeting was postponed. The commissioners still plan to hold public discussion tonight on the proposed move of the Dollar General Store to the eastern corner of 200 South and U.S. 35 just south of Knox.

During their December 18th meeting, the commissioners discussed the amended plans for the driveway into the store off of 200 South which presents potential safety concerns, according to Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler. He told the board that it’s a heavily traveled area and he’d like to see a stop light or some safety enhancement at that intersection. The commissioners agreed to gather public comment on the matter during tonight’s regular session meeting.

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Public Input Sought on Proposed Dollar General Store Project in Knox

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Update: Tonight’s Starke County Commissioners meeting has been rescheduled due to cold weather. Auditor Kay Chaffins says it will now be held Monday, January 8 at 6:00 p.m.

 

The Starke County Commissioners will hold public discussion on the proposed move of the Dollar General Store to the eastern corner of 200 South and U.S. 35 just south of Knox.

During their December 18th meeting, the commissioners discussed the amended plans for the driveway into the store off of 200 South which presents potential safety concerns, according to Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler. He told the board that it’s a heavily traveled area and he’d like to see a stop light or some safety enhancement at that intersection. The commissioners agreed to gather public comment on the matter during tonight’s regular session meeting.

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Ambulance Transfers Gain in Numbers

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Starke County EMS Clerk Mary Lynn Ritchie informed the commissioners Monday night that the number of ambulance transfers is increasing.

She said the number of transfers in November was at 16 percent which is up from seven percent the month before, but not where they were earlier this year. Basic Life Service transfers from the area nursing homes have increased where the EMS department had not been getting those calls.

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Starke County Commissioners to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Starke County Commissioners will meet tonight where a public hearing is set for the UTV Ordinance. The county’s ordinance authorizes and regulates the use of Recreational Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs or side-by-sides) and Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) on certain county roads. A copy of the ordinance is available in the Starke County Auditor’s office in the Starke County Annex Building No. 1 on 53 E. Mound Street in Knox.

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Starke County Commissioners Concerned about Drop in Ambulance Transfers

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Starke County EMS Director Travis Clary presented ambulance transfer figures to the county commissioners Monday night and the numbers caused concern.

The percentage of transfers dropped from 35 or 25 percent to 10 percent last month. Clary explained that Porter Regional brought in a full-time ambulance that is available at Starke Hospital 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The Porter ambulance service is getting a majority of the Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support and nursing home transfer calls while Starke County EMS is not getting as many.

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