“It’s better than nothing.” That’s how authors of a smoking ban bill described their feelings after the measure passed the legislature this year. Even though it was passed, the measure was so watered down at the end that legislators were hard pressed to think of a place that will be affected. 17th District Democrat Representative Nancy Dembowski talks about the bill.
Four people were arrested after an alleged stabbing incident in Medaryville.
On March 6th, Pulaski County police were called to the Marathon Gas Station where Lori Schultz told police that Clifford Cole reportedly “went crazy”. While in the driveway outside her house, Cole pulled a knife out and threatened her, Edward Schroeder, Jessica Sturgell and Curtis Luedtke. At some point, Cole and Schroeder got into a struggle over the knife and both were injured in the mishap.
Twelve days after a devastating tornado hit Salyersville, Kentucky, construction crews are rebuilding roofs and stabilizing structures. County Judge Charles Hardin said the tornado destroyed more than 190 houses and about 80 buildings in the community with 1,900 residents.
Debbie Mix, the Executive Director-Coordinator of the Starke County Chamber of Commerce-Tourism Commission has announced that a Gospel Music Jam will be held on Saturday, March 24th at 3:00 p.m. at Grand Central Station in North Judson. This will be a fundraiser for the Tornado victims of Magoffin County, Kentucky. The event will feature local music groups and singers. If you plan on attending, bring a covered dish, if possible.
While some in Congress are beating the drums to get involved in Syria, Congressman Joe Donnelly is urging caution.
“It’s a very unstable situation and I don’t see how us getting into the middle of it would help,” Donnelly said.
It’s estimated over 8,000 people have been killed as the Syrian government attempts to put down the popular revolt. Sen. John McCain is one who has advocated doing something, if only using air power.
The talk about gasoline prices and what’s driving the market has overshadowed the fact that huge oil finds have been discovered in the United States. According to Don Good, of Good Oil in Winamac, we are able to get to the product with new technology.
Don talked to us recently about the Bakken Shale Oil Field which stretches from Canada into Montana and North Dakota. This field could hold over four billion barrels of oil reserves, and the Arctic Natural Wildlife Refuge in Alaska could potentially hold up to 10 billion barrels of oil. They are looking at oilfield wireline services for the number of things these can do.
The General Assembly, which began with a month-long battle over right to work, ended with a flurry as legislators passed a smoking ban, abolished the inheritance tax and set aside more money for full day kindergarten and state fair stage collapse victims.
Republican Senate President Pro Tem David Long, of Ft. Wayne, boasts legislators again held the line on spending with taxpayers scheduled to receive a $40-$50 rebate as a result.
Governor Mitch Daniels issued a statement thanking legislators for an extraordinarily productive session.
Agriculture Educator Alan Kurtz will be leaving his position tomorrow. Kurtz has worked in both Starke and Pulaski Counties over the past year and a half.
Kurtz talked about his time here.
“Well, it’s been kind of a whirlwind tour for me. I’ve been involved in a lot of different things. I came in as an Agriculture Educator, I did a lot of 4-H work, and ended up being an Agriculture County Extension Director,” he said.
There’s a new face at the Pulaski County YMCA: Mike Banta has assumed the role of center director. Banta says he was drawn to Pulaski County because it was close to his home outside of Fort Wayne, and he’s excited to have the opportunity to help people and work with the kids.
Banta says he practically grew up in a Y and had a lot of support from staff and volunteers, so he wants to give that experience back to the community. The YMCA was helpful to him, and he says he wants to be able to make the same difference in Pulaski County.
No big changes are in the works, according to Banta, but he’s looking forward to establishing himself in the community and making everyone in the area aware of what the center is trying to do, and make a difference and have a positive impact on the community.
And with the YMCA’s soccer program starting on April 28, Banta has his hands full. Registrations are now open for program, and will be accepted until April 8. The program, which lasts six weeks, carries a $25 cost for YMCA members and a $35 cost for non-members. Anyone interested can fill out a registration form at the YMCA or call in.
The Pulaski County Auditor’s Office may soon find itself painfully understaffed, according to Auditor Sheila Garling. Garling says that a vital deputy has announced her resignation, and she will need to find a replacement as soon as possible. Garling says it will cost $1500 for a new employee to receive training on their software systems, and on top of that, the office expects to have a difficult time getting by while that training is conducted.
Ed Clark of the Pulaski County Recycling Center has announced his intent to approach the county council to request funding for repairs on the transfer station. According to Clark, a number of emergency repairs were recently performed at the transfer station, including repairs on cylinders that had been leaking oil since October.
Commissioner Ken Boswell told Clark that because they had known the equipment was in need of repair since October, regular maintenance should have been performed and the equipment should have been repaired prior to becoming an emergency situation.
Retired State Trooper Cathy Fritz approached the Pulaski County Commissioners this week with a proposal to handle the county’s drug testing. Currently, the CDL-licensed drivers are required by the state of to be tested for drug use, and Fritz says she is willing to handle this testing at a lower cost than the county’s current provider, Indiana Testing.
With the price of gas slowly increasing, there could be a chance that desperate people could be siphoning fuel out of your gas tank. Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer said there have been isolated siphoning incidents in the area.
“I know, in particular, a mobile saw mill had several hundred gallons of diesel fuel stolen from their tank over a weekend and that was probably a direct consequence of the rising gas prices,” said Sheriff Gayer.
Pulaski County is right on the heels of Starke County in approving an agreement with the state to share its GIS information in return for $2000 to fund the GIS agreement with WTH Technology. According to Starke County IT Director Joe Short, the GIS information to be shared with the state contains no personal information, only geographic data.
The cost of the GIS agreement is only $1500, leaving $500 left over to be spent on the GIS system however the counties see fit. Currently, 86 counties throughout Indiana participate in the program, and Starke and Pulaski Counties are now a part of the program.
Two Monon residents were arrested after a traffic stop on U.S. 421 and County Road 300 South.
Pulaski County police say they asked Tammy Mason to exit her vehicle and she was unsteady on her feet. She had to brace herself on the vehicle to walk and talk to police. She agreed to participate in several sobriety tests which she reportedly failed. She also reportedly submitted to a Portable Breath Test which registered .194 BAC. She was arrested on preliminary charges of Operating While Intoxicated with a BAC of .15% or greater, and Operating While Intoxicated-Endangering, both misdemeanor charges.
A Francesville man was arrested on Saturday, March 3rd, after he drove a car into a house
Police were called to the accident site and the caller said the driver was trying to walk away from the vehicle. Police found the vehicle to have heavy front-end damage and rear damage. The windshield had a spider web crack which indicated the driver was not restrained and hit the windshield. The house also sustained damage.
State Representative Douglas Gutwein (R-Francesville) has co-authored a resolution that urges the Indiana General Assembly to fly the POW/MIA flag in both the House and Senate chambers. The resolution passed unanimously in the House and now moves to the Senate for consideration.
The black and white POW/MIA flag is a symbol of efforts to fully resolve the fates of Americans held prisoner or missing in action. The design features a silhouette of a soldier before an implied prison camp and the words “you are not forgotten” underneath.
In his presentation, Gutwein recalled the story of Chief Warrant Officer George Andrew (Andy) Howes, a helicopter pilot from Starke County stationed in South Vietnam in 1970. After a mission over mountainous terrain and dense jungles, Howes and the other personnel on board did not return. With the advancements of technology, Howes’ partial remains were identified by DNA samples taken from his siblings.
Another slight hiccup in the Monterey Bridge project was brought before the Pulaski County Commissioners yesterday, as Jeff Larrison from United Consulting announced a small slip of land would cost the county $329 more than previously expected.
The commissioners previously agreed to offer the landowners $900 for a small, previously overlooked sliver of land near the riverbank, but the landowners have countered with a request for $1229. Larrison explained that the increased cost comes from the landowners’ desire to sell the entire parcel of land, rather than a significant chunk.
As the Republican Presidential Primaries drag on, many Republicans are fearful it only plays into the Democrat’s hands. Second District GOP Congressional candidate, Jackie Walorski, was asked about the primaries.
“I don’t think it’s a good thing,” she said. “I don’t think it’s productive and I know there’s been opinions out there of Republicans who say let’s just continue to run this Primary, but I disagree. I think it’s a bad idea. I think we, as adults and conservatives, should come together and decide who in the world is going to lead this party. As these guys continue to cannibalize each other and as time keeps ticking, all they’re doing is allowing Barack Obama to pick and choose between issues he’s going to take them out with.”
Salyersville, Kentucky residents have had a strong relationship with Starke County over the past 70 years with many people from there migrating here to work in the Ordinance Plant at Kingsbury during the Second World War.
Many of the transplants from Salyersville stayed after the war, making Starke County their home.
It was with sorrow that many of those heard of the news Saturday that a tornado ripped through the town Friday night destroying 15 businesses and numerous homes.
Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 11th, at 2:00 a.m. prevailing time. You will need to set your clock ahead one hour before you go bed Saturday night or at 2:00 a.m. prevailing time Sunday morning.
Everyone in the Kankakee Valley changes clocks. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 marks the change in the observance of Daylight Saving Time. It officially begins on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday in November.
