An 18-year-old San Pierre man was arrested Wednesday night on preliminary charges of Armed Robbery and Felony Intimidation.
North Judson Police Chief, Doug Vessely, said that just after 8:30 p.m. CT, Johnathan Chambers, wearing a rubber mask and a camouflage jacket, entered the Carpenter’s Marathon Oil Station in North Judson with a knife and demanded cash from the gas station clerk. After he was unsuccessful in getting cash, Chambers was scared off and fled the area on foot.
A North Judson farmer was selected as a winner in the America’s Farmers Grow program. The America’s Farmers Grow Communities Program is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund that supports farming communities by offering farmers the opportunity to register to win $2,500 for their favorite community charity. Recipients could include FFA, 4-H, school or other civic organization. The program covers 1,204 counties across 38 states and winners are selected at random.
The death of Bill Lemke Friday afternoon brought back memories to many North Judson Bluejay fans. Lemke was a member of one of the greatest basketball teams ever at the school. Coached by the legendary Guy Ingwell, Lemke played with two Bluejay greats Walt Zakostelsky, and Dick Hargrave. Some others on that team were Austin Gobdell, Tex De Armond and Al May.
The Starke County Sheriff’s Department investigated a fatal accident late Friday afternoon.
According to the accident report, Edward O’Boyle was traveling eastbound on State Road 10 when 93-year-old William Lemke pulled into the roadway from the Highland Cemetery, attempting to go westbound on State Road 10. O’Boyle told police he was unable to avoid striking Lemke’s vehicle on the driver’s side. Lemke was pronounced dead at the scene. O’Boyle sustained minor injuries. Both O’Boyle and Lemke are from North Judson.
A witness told police that she saw Lemke stopped at the stop sign at the entrance of Highland Cemetery. She said that the sun was about to set and that it was hard to see oncoming traffic.
North Judson Fire Chief, Joe Leszek submitted the Fire Department’s statistics for January to the North Judson Town Board during the Board’s recent meeting.
The Department had two smoke investigations, one search and rescue call, two medical assist calls, and one burn complaint. Four of the calls were in North Judson, one call was in Wayne Township and two calls were in Jackson Township.
The North Judson Town Board is considering a parking ordinance in case of a snow emergency. The recent snow event proved problematic for the Street Department to push snow off the town streets around parked cars. The Board commended the Street Department on their efforts and thanked Doug O’Donnell and Jim Menis for offering their personal vehicles to assist in snow removal for the town.
The North Judson Town Board approved a request by the Railroad Committee to increase the Town’s match for grants for railroad improvements. The extra money will come out of the railroad fund. The IRSF grant match was previously approved for $48,175 and the Railroad Committee needed an additional $13,423. The request was approved for a total grant match of $61,598. With the Town’s grant match, the total IRSF grant will be approximately $233,000. The Railroad Committee is also applying for a T-Grant and the town’s match will be $20,540 which will also come out of the railroad fund.
The grant money will be used to rebuild railroad crossings, install drainage pipes, railroad ties, switches, and many other improvements.
North Judson Town Marshal, Doug Vessely, reports that in the month of January, the Department received 17 citizen assist calls, conducted 35 traffic stops, responded to 6 theft-conversion calls, 3 accidents, 11 juvenile-family disturbance calls and 2 assault calls.
Officers completed 3 battery reports, 4 theft-conversion reports, and 1 alcohol-drug report. In addition, the officers gave 13 ordinance tickets, 11 traffic warnings and made 6 adult arrests.
The North Judson Building Authority has met with the owner of the Blue Bird Hotel, 523 Lane Street. Nies Engineering did a study on the building and pronounced it unsafe and has recommended the structure be demolished.
North Judson Town Marshal, Doug Vessely, reported to the North Judson Town Board that the Police Department is short one full-time police officer. The position will need to be filled soon, however the Department is not taking applications at this time.
Vessely reported that the new 2011 Crown Victoria car has been delivered to the Department. The light package and other equipment has not yet been installed in the car so it won’t be in service until next week.
The body of an 82-year-old North Judson man was found Wednesday morning after a Silver Alert was issued by the North Judson Police Department. Robert L. Lemke was found after he was reported missing when a family member went to check on him on Tuesday evening. Lemke was believed to have left home on foot sometime between the evening hours Sunday, January 2nd and Tuesday evening.
The North Judson Town Board approved the reallocation of funds in the 2011 budget to allow a three percent increase for full-time Town employees for this year. The employees have not had a raise in three years. The reallocation did not effect the budget’s bottom line. The Town’s approved budget total is $767,964 for 2011.
The Board also approved a special event permit for the North Judson Mint Festival Committee. The Mint Festival will be held June 17th-19th, 2011.
The North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department presented its December 2010 monthly report to the North Judson Town Board members Monday night.
The Department had three smoke investigations, three structure fires, one vehicle fire, five medical assists and four vehicle accident assists. Four of the calls occurred within the Town limits of North Judson, eight within Wayne Township, one in Jackson Township, one in Rich Grove Township, and two mutual aid calls in San Pierre. 21,650 gallons of water was used in December.
The North Judson Police Department had issued a Silver Alert earlier Wednesday for a missing 82-year-old North Judson man. North Judson Town Marshal, Doug Vessely canceled the Alert at 7:40 a.m. CT when Robert L. Lemke was found deceased about a half mile from his home in a lightly wooded area. Robert Lemke was last known to be in the vicinity of Vine Street in North Judson at 4:00 p.m. CT Sunday, January 2nd.
The North Judson Town Board reorganized at its meeting on Monday night. Dan Anderson was retained as the Town Board President and Utility Superintendent, Cassandra Hines was appointed as the Town Attorney, Doug Vessely was retained as Town Marshal, and Steve Ransom was retained as the Building Inspector.
North Judson Town Marshal, Doug Vessely, reports that in the month of December 2010, there were 134 police calls, 25 traffic stops, 3 thefts-conversion, 5 accidents, and 4 family disturbance calls. 2 Battery reports, 2 Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated reports, 2 thefts-conversion reports and 2 alcohol-drug reports were filed. 14 traffic/ordinance tickets were written, 11 traffic warnings were given, and 6 adults arrests were made.
North Judson Clerk-Treasurer, Connie Miller, informed WKVI that a water leak has been detected off Sheridan Street between Laurel and Cherry Streets. The Street Department is currently working on correcting the issue. If any residents experience discolored water, let the water run for a little while until it clears up.
The new year brings new appointments to government Boards. Today, the Starke County Commissioners will appoint officers to the Starke Regular Drainage Board, Planning Commission, Kankakee Iroquois Regional Plan Commission, Health Board, Hospital Community Board, Alcoholic Beverage Board, City Plan Commission, Regional Workforce Board, Wage Commission, P.T.A.B.O.A. Board, Innkeepers Tax/Visitors Association Board, and Community Corrections Board. The Commissioners are likely to reorganize as well.
The North Judson Town Board received its 2011 budget order from the State. The Board had to cut $5,242 out of the Town’s Cumulative Capital Improvement Fund. The Town requested $9,000 and the State approved $3,758. The Fund is used for street repair and maintenance. The Town’s approved budget total is $767,964 for 2011.
At its Monday meeting, the North Judson Town Board approved the CKIN railroad’s request to purchase new railroad ties at a cost of $7,000. The volunteers plan to replace several ties in need of repair.
