Civic Pride Shines in Hamlet

Hamlet Fall 3Work continues to revitalize downtown Hamlet. Lee Nagai has installed a street light at the downtown intersection of Davis and Starke Streets that is similar to those used there decades ago. The town board is considering installation of additional street lights, of the same style, in the downtown area sometime in the future. Nagai has also remodeled the south-east corner building to fit the theme of “old time” business buildings. Continue reading

Hamlet Council Talks Town Improvements

Hamlet Town HallThe improvement of the downtown area in Hamlet was discussed Wednesday night by the Town Board with business owner Lee Nagai.

Nagai is remodeling a downtown business building and is an advocate for the installation of conduit to serve new street lights in the area over the next several years. The lights may be financed by offering sponsorship to businesses and individuals. Continue reading

Oregon-Davis School Board Holds Public Hearing for 2015 Budget

 The Oregon-Davis School Board members held a public hearing for the 2015 budget during their meeting last night.

The General Fund budget was budgeted at $4.6 million. The General Fund takes care of the salaries for the staff, including coaches and extra-curricular coaches and more. Board member Lee Nagai stressed that the General Fund had a shortfall due to state budget cuts and the referendum money supplemented that fund to cover salaries.

Other funds discussed include the Capital Projects Fund, Transportation Fund, Debt Fund Plan, Retirement/Severance Bond, Debt Service Fund, Referendum/Exempt Operating, Rainy Day Fund.

Superintendent Greg Briles explained that the Average Daily Membership, or ADM, is 609 which is higher than the state-projected student count of 580. Briles added that the corporation is three students down from last year.

The tax rate will be 1.5702 which is less than 2014.

Briles said the budget will be sent to the state. The board approved a motion to authorize any cuts that are mandated by the state.

IDEM Inspectors Investigate Manure Odor Permeating Knox

Inspectors from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management made their way to the hog farm owned by Lee Nagai at 1755 E. 400 N. in Knox on Friday to investigate complaints of a potent manure smell emitting from the farm. Barry Sneed from IDEM said they received four complaints Friday. He explains why the odor from the farm was so strong and was experienced for miles away.

“Obviously, the manure has an odor to it to begin with and there are certain times of year that the farmers will apply the manure to the field and usually it’s when there’s no crops in the field,” said Sneed. “They have to keep their manure lagoons down to a certain level and so as a result, they’ll have to apply that to the field.”

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Starke County Commissioners Move Ahead with Bridge Repairs

County bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch

The Starke County Commissioners made a decision to move forward with repairs to Bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch at 400 North and Range Road. The heavily traveled bridge was recently closed by an emergency order.

The State had approved a plan to rebuild the bridge but that would have meant two years of the structure being down.

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Starke County Commissioners Discuss Bridge Repair

County bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch

The Starke County Commissioners held a lengthy discussion with all involved in the bridge #156 reconstruction or rehabilitation. The bridge, located at 400 North and Range Road, has been closed for approximately a month.

“It is an inconvenience with Range Road being closed, not only just for the farmers but for businesses as well as the Highway Department, schools, EMS, mail carriers, and any other emergency vehicle, ” said Starke County Highway Superintendent, Steve Siddall. “We really want to try and open that back up as soon as possible. The biggest thing is the permits from the DNR. The permits could hold us up for at least six months and hopefully the DNR wouldn’t do that, but you never know.”

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