Secretary of Career Connections and Talent Highlights State’s Job Training Initiatives

Indiana’s Secretary of Career Connections and Talent is touting the state’s workforce training initiatives. During a visit to Knox Wednesday, Secretary Blair Milo discussed the Workforce Ready Grant that’s part of the Next Level Jobs program. “For anybody that’s over the age of 18, you can go and get a hundred-percent-tuition-free career certificate at Ivy Tech or Vincennes or the other providers through Next Level Jobs,” she explained. “The only thing that would disqualify someone from being able to utilize that is if you have a degree already, so it’s not means-tested or anything else.”

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Campaign Signs, Asset Management Plan to be Discussed during Pulaski Commissioners Meeting

Pulaski County Commissioners: Mike McClure, Jerry Locke, Kenny Becker

A proposal to repeal Pulaski County’s regulations on campaign signs will be brought to the county commissioners tonight. The Pulaski County Election Board has been leading efforts to remove the section of the county’s Unified Development Ordinance dealing with “special signs.” Election board members feel there are already enough rules at the state and federal levels to regulate campaign signs, without additional zoning restrictions.

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Judge Rejects Jason Cooke’s Second Plea Agreement

Another plea agreement from Jason Cooke has been rejected in Starke Circuit Court. He’s charged with the October 2015 robbery of Sescoe Wireman. Cooke is accused of hitting Wireman in the head, and taking money, prescription medication, an Indiana ID card, and multiple credit cards from him. Wireman died a few days later, but a murder count against Cooke was dropped last February.

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Judge Requests More Time Before Accepting Jason Cooke’s Plea Agreement

The man accused of the October 2015 robbery of a Knox man will have to wait until at least Monday to learn his fate. Jason Cooke is charged with hitting Sescoe Wireman in the head, and taking money, prescription medication, an Indiana ID card, and multiple credit cards from him. Wireman died a few days later, but a murder count against Cooke was dropped last February.

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Pulaski County Commissioners Seeking Members for Community Corrections Advisory Board

Pulaski County Commissioners: Mike McClure, Jerry Locke, Kenny Becker

Cass-Pulaski Community Corrections needs some Pulaski County residents to serve on its advisory board. Pulaski Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn told the county commissioners last week there are several openings to be filled, in order to reach equal representation from both counties.

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Starke County F.A.R.M. Nominated for Award

An inmate works in the garden at the Starke County F.A.R.M.
An inmate works in the garden at the Starke County F.A.R.M.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Office is in the running for an award from the Indiana Department of Correction for an innovative new program. The inaugural jail garden, known as the Starke County F.A.R.M. is nominated for a People’s Choice Award from the Cultivating Community Gardens with the I.D.O.C. program. Continue reading

Starke County Officials Struggle With Jail Budget

Starke County Justice CenterStarke County officials are looking at short and long-term ways to shore up operating expenses at the new jail. It has been open for about a year, and budgeted operating costs were based on an actuarial study done for the county. Information shared during last night’s joint meeting of the council and commissioners indicates those recommendations may have been based on flawed information. Continue reading

Starke County Jail Prepares for D.O.C. Inmates

Starke County Justice CenterOfficials at the Starke County Jail are preparing for an influx of inmates this week. They are Department of Correction prisoners who have been sentenced to an extensive drug treatment program. Starke County was approved late last year for the state’s first non-prison-based therapeutic community, thanks to the efforts of State Sen. Jim Arnold, Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall and others. Sheriff Bill Dulin says there’s plenty of room in the jail for up to 48 D.O.C. inmates without displacing any local prisoners. Continue reading

State Approves Drug Treatment Pilot Program at Starke County Jail

Starke County Justice CenterThe Starke County Jail will soon be home to the state’s first non-prison-based intensive drug treatment program. During a recent drug task force meeting, Gov. Mike Pence directed the Department of Correction to work with Starke County to adopt and pilot the Regional Therapeutic Communities (RTC) program. It gives local officials more treatment options to address drug addiction. Continue reading

Starke County Receives Community Corrections Grants

starke-county-courthouseStarke County has gotten over $103,000 in grant funding from the Indiana Department of Correction. A grant for over $80,000 has been awarded to Starke County Community Corrections to increase case management services and surveillance of those taking part in its programs, while another grant for nearly $23,000 is going to the Starke County Circuit Court Probation Department. Continue reading