The Knox School Board has approved the list of contractors working on the school corporation’s facility improvement project. During Tuesday’s meeting, Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart presented a list of projects totaling about $4.5 million.
North Judson Town Council Considers Request From Building Inspector
North Judson Building Inspector Jeff Abrams appeared before the town council requesting to establish a permit for gas line inspections when members met Monday.
“When there is a house vacated and the gas has been shut off, Nipsco wants an inspection done so I think that we should be able to charge for that because I have to go out and look at it.” He explained, “They have to do a pressure test it and it has to hold pressure for a day.” Continue reading
Starke County Surveyor Thanks Local Farmers For Stepping Up to Help Out With Flood Response
According to Starke County Surveyor Bill Crase, four breached levees in the Starke County and La Porte County areas have recently been fixed, while work on one site is being postponed due to the current levels of the Kankakee River.
Surveyor Crase explained that while working on the final section of a levee, workers realized that the river wasn’t dropping. He said if they sealed it up, the pressure would have caused the water to burst out elsewhere so they weren’t able to fix it just yet. While they have slowed the breach down a bit, Crase said crews continue to monitor the spot and are waiting for the river to drop before patching it up any further. Continue reading
NIPSCO Lowers Requested Gas Rate Increase, Citing Federal Tax Reform
NIPSCO gas bills would still go up but not by quite as much, under an updated request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. The company says residential gas customers now paying $50 per month could expect to see their monthly bill increase to $58.10, rather than $59.80, as originally proposed.
Residents Notify Officials of Fraudulent NIPSCO Calls
NIPSCO officials are warning customers that calls are being made by unknown callers claiming to be affiliated with NIPSCO.
According to officials, the callers are contacting customers demanding payment through a prepaid card. The calls are fraudulent.
Save Money on Heating This Winter
Cold temperatures drive heating costs. With the cold snap experienced over the past couple of weeks, heating bills will be high.
NIPSCO suggests setting the thermostat two to four degrees below what you’re used to in order to cut down the heat bill. Change air filters often throughout the season as dirty filters block air causing the furnace to work harder. If you are still unsure about the whole process, you can easily find a reliable services near you, if you are wondering how to find a Michigan furnace installation company, do not worry, we have you covered. With the right furnace installations (like the Furnace installation in Clarks Summit) you can save a lot of money on your energy bills. An expert from a heat repair company, can help you understand the structure of your room and ensure right measures are taken for your comfort.
Culver-Union Township Fire Department to Upgrade Lighting
New lighting will be installed at the Culver-Union Township Fire Department.
Fire Chief Terry Wakefield told Culver Town Council members this week that he’s been working for a long time to update the lighting to include LED lights. He said the cost for the 51 lights needed for the project is $7,896.30. NIPSCO will review the work and reimburse the town $80 per light. He said it works with the lighting package they have through NIPSCO.
Starke County Council, Commissioners to Meet Tonight
The Starke County Council members will consider several fund requests this evening.
They will have a presentation of a refund from NIPSCO and consider transfer requests from the auditor’s office and the clerk’s office. Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler will present transfer and additional appropriation requests and the sheriff’s budget will be discussed along with Sheriff Bill Dulin’s requests for fund transfers. The council members will also consider the 2018 salary ordinance and receive information from Starke County Economic Development Foundation Director Charlie Weaver. Continue reading
Knox City Council Votes to Shed Some Light on Reported Darkness Downtown
The downtown area in Knox will be getting a little bit brighter thanks to a decision made by the Knox City Council last night. The council members voted unanimously to approve Mayor Dennis Estok’s request to replace 10 bulbs in the downtown area with new LED bulbs.
Mayor Estok started looking into new lighting options after receiving continuous complaints about the darkness downtown. He has been working with a representative from Herrman and Goetz, discussing the best route to take.
Estok started by installing one bulb on Main Street to have council members weigh in with their opinions. They all agreed that there was a noticeable difference. Estok said now that they know the bulbs are brighter, he wants to test out more in order to see how multiple bulbs would illuminate the area. Continue reading
NIPSCO Projects Winter Heating Costs to Stay Close to Last Year’s Levels
NIPSCO’s home heating bills are expected to stay about the same as they were last year. Projections released by the company Wednesday say an average residential customer can expect to pay about $390 on gas bills between November 1 and March 31. Continue reading
NIPSCO to Seek Increase in Natural Gas Bills
More than 25 years have gone by since NIPSCO has increased natural gas base rates, but that may change.
NIPSCO along with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission are looking to increase natural gas base rates as the cost to comply with state and federal safety standards has increased. According to a NIPSCO press release, the company has made additional investments in its aging gas system to improve service to 820,000 customers while maintaining more than 17,800 miles of pipelines.
NIPSCO Employees Assist Veterans Through Summer Fundraisers & Activities
To help fund Veteran support programs throughout Northern Indiana, NIPSCO is awarding 31 local Veteran organizations with donations totaling approximately $125,000. Combined with a NiSource Charitable Foundation contribution presented by NIPSCO of $25,000, the campaign raised more than $150,000. Continue reading
Free Trees Available to NIPSCO Customers
Did you know strategic tree planting can help conserve energy and reduce energy bills? The Arbor Day Foundation program Energy-Saving Trees is offering 375 free trees to NIPSCO customers to simultaneously assist clients and the environment.
An online tool helps customers estimate the annual energy savings that will result from planting trees in the most strategic location near businesses or residences. The Energy-Saving Trees tool uses peer-reviewed scientific research from the USDA Forest Service’s i-Tree software to calculate estimated energy savings. Additionally, the tool estimates other benefits including cleaner air and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Continue reading
Lake Maxinkuckee, Tippecanoe River Projects Receive LARE Grants
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.”
Work Continues on Knox Habitat for Humanity Project, Volunteers Sought
Starke County Officials Tabulating Road Damage Caused by NIPSCO
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler is keeping close tabs on the damage the NIPSCO transmission line project in California and North Bend Townships is doing to local roads.
He says the utility company previously agreed to reimburse the county for damages caused by their equipment. Continue reading
“Boss Baby” to Be Shown Tonight in North Judson, As Part of Movies in the Park Series
NIPSCO Officials Stress Severe Weather Preparedness
Now that summer appears to be here to stay, NIPSCO officials remind customers to prepare for possible severe weather.
Get a storm preparedness kit together before inclement weather strikes. It should include essential medicines, nonperishable food, water, flashlights, a fully-charged cell phone, portable radio and extra batteries. Make prior arrangements for a backup power supply if someone in your family requires life support equipment. Continue reading
Markovitz to Celebrate 20 Years of South Shore Line Posters with Gallery Talk in Hammond
Art and train enthusiasts will have a chance to learn more about the popular South Shore Line posters this weekend. Knox resident Mitch Markovitz is the artist behind the “Just Around the Corner” poster series. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, he’ll host a gallery talk Saturday morning at 10:30 at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond. Continue reading
