Pulaski County Drug Free Council Drafts Comprehensive Plan

The Pulaski County Drug Free Council has drafted and adopted a new three year comprehensive plan for combating the abuse of drugs and alcohol in the county.  The plan was created after data was collected from the community.

The plan will be funded through the collection of drug interdiction fees received through the criminal justice system from those convicted of substance abuse offenses. That money is then awarded as grants to people and agencies that can effectively achieve the goals of the comprehensive plan.

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Reminder: Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday Morning

Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 6th, at 2:00 a.m. You will need to set your clock back one hour before you go bed tonight (Saturday) or at 2:00 a.m. prevailing time Sunday morning.

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.

National EAS Test Scheduled for November 9th

The National Emergency Alert System will be tested across the nation on Wednesday, November 9th at 2:00 p.m. ET.

The National-level EAS is a national public alert and warning system that enables the President to address the American public during extreme emergencies. Warnings will be sent to radio and television stations, cable television, satellite radio and television services and wire line providers.

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Absentee Voting Count low in Pulaski County

Absentee voting in Pulaski County is slow but it is available to you if you need to utilize that way of voting.

Clerk Tasha Foerg told WKVI that about 12 people have voted absentee so far. Only a handful of contested races will appear on the ballot. Those races include the Winamac Clerk-Treasurer, Francesville Clerk-Treasurer, and Town Council races in Francesville and Medaryville.

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BMV Branches Open Monday and Tuesday for Photo IDs

Knox License Branch

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles will be open on Election Day to give you time to obtain a photo ID needed in order to vote.

Full-service branches will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. prevailing time on Monday, November 7th and from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8th. Branches will only process ID cards and drivers licenses on those two days.

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Three Star City Residents Arrested after Meth Lab is Found

Kaltrina Neely
Loralie Fritz
Billy Neely

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department officers arrested three after finding an active meth lab at a residence in Star City.

Officers were contacted by a representative of Child Protective Services who received a complaint of a possible meth lab in a residence with a child present. CPS and officers arrived at the home of Kaltrina Neely and Greg Tarr and they interviewed Neely. While officers were at the residence, drug paraphernalia was reportedly found in cabinets where police could see it in plain sight. The evidence was later gathered by the Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab team. Upon further questioning, police learned that Kaltrina Neely, Billy Neely and Loralie Fritz allegedly admitted to smoking methamphetamine shortly before the police arrived at the residence. Kaltrina Neely allegedly told the CPS representative that they had been cooking meth at her residence. Neely gave officers consent to search the property where an active meth lab was reportedly found in the detached garage and a burn barrel. The Indiana State Police processed the scene and removed evidence of a meth lab.

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Two Winamac Residents Arrested after Traffic Stop, Attempted Escape Incident

Adam Koske
James Penicaro

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department arrested two after a traffic stop and one tried to escape police custody after being admitted to the hospital after being tased.

Early Sunday morning, officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on State Road 119 in Winamac but the driver of the vehicle refused to stop and was traveling at a high rate of speed. The driver eventually drove into a driveway on Washington Street and the driver and the passenger were ordered out of the vehicle. When officers conducted a search, they allegedly found bath salts in Adam Koske’s possession. The driver, James Penicaro, was allegedly found to be intoxicated.

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Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday, November 6th

Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 6th at 2:00 a.m. This Saturday night, or Sunday morning at 2:00 a.m. prevailing time, you will need to set your clock back one hour.

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 end on the first Sunday in November.

Sandhill Cranes Return to Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area

Sandhill Crane

The Sandhill Cranes are back at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area. Jim Bergens, the Property Manager, was asked how many of the big birds have migrated to the property so far this season.

“We count on Tuesdays and the last two counts have been in the six to eight thousand range,” said Jim Bergens. “The average peak is 16-20,000 and it occurs in late November, early December.”

Bergens  talked about the cranes’ migratory pattern.

“The birds are coming from Wisconsin and going to Central Florida and Jasper-Pulaski is right underneath that route. We just have the right kind of habitat that they like and often times, some of the cranes may spend several weeks here which is why we build up such large numbers. Then they push on south and they winter from Kentucky and Tennessee all the way to Florida.”

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Absentee Voting Begins Saturday

Absentee voting begins this Saturday, October 29th in Starke County. Voting will be conducted on the voting machines for the races in the City of Knox and the towns of North Judson and Hamlet in the Starke County Courthouse.

Voting will be from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturday, and Monday through Saturday next week. Absentee voting will also be available from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Monday, November 7th and Thursday, November 3rd from 1:00-4:00 p.m. and from 5:00-9:00 p.m.

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Two Arrested in Pulaski County on Drug Charges

Paul Hudson
Kaley Deford

Two people were arrested in Pulaski County on drug charges after a short investigation on Thursday, October 20th.

Police were traveling on 60 West off of State Road 14 when police reportedly observed a vehicle traveling off the roadway, according to the police report. Police turned around to investigate and when they caught up to the vehicle the driver had stopped and pulled off to the side of the roadway. The passenger, Paul Hudson, of Logansport, was on his knees reportedly looking for an earring. Police were given permission to search the vehicle by the driver, Kaley Deford, of Kewanna, and police allegedly found marijuana, and prescription medication without a prescription in the vehicle. Kaley Deford allegedly admitted to police that a pipe found in a hat was hers as well as the pills. Hudson reportedly admitted that the marijuana found in the vehicle was his.

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Pulaski County United Fund Announces Participation in Matching Grant Opportunity

Pulaski County United Fund, Inc. is pleased to announce participation in an Indiana Association of United Ways/Funds matching grant opportunity.

“Indiana United Ways/Funds have had a tough fund raising environment since 2008 and we wanted to provide an incentive program to attract new giving,” according to Roger L. Frick laUW President.

Support from Lilly Endowment created this opportunity for United Way and Funds in Indiana to rebuild and recover and find new donors. Donors who have decreased giving or had a temporary halt in giving can help their community claim the match by resuming support. New donors to the campaign will also qualify United Fund for the match. The grant will provide Pulaski County United Fund, Inc. with up to $3,122 in funding by matching any increase or new donation made towards this year’s Fall Campaign 2012. Grant funds received will be used to provide utility deposits for those seeking assistance through the Energy Assistance Program.

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Hunters are Gearing up for Hunting Season

deer

We’re nearing the end of October and according to Conservation Officer, Keith Wildeman, that means hunters are gearing up for hunting season.

“Right now in mid-October, we’re already in to the deer archery season and it runs through November 27th,” said Wildeman. “Our fall gun season will start November 12th and run until November 27th and then muzzleloader season will pick up December 3rd through the 18th.”

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Nathan VanDerAa Pleads in Federal Court

Nathan VanDerAa

33-year-old Nathan VanDerAa, of Star City, plead guilty before a Federal Magistrate Judge on Thursday, October 20th.

VanDerAa plead guilty to the felony offense of being an Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm. Sentencing is set for January 27th, 2012. A charge of Manufacture of a Controlled Substance was dropped as part of his plea agreement.

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Medaryville Residents Arrested on Charges of Theft

Kurt Timberlake
Benjamin Fitch
Tyson Matthews

Three Medaryville residents were arrested Tuesday after an ongoing theft investigation by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.

Eight thefts were reported between the months of March and October in 2010 from rural farms in Rich Grove and Cass Townships on U.S. 421 in Pulaski County. Two operational semi-tractors, two inoperable cars and one pickup, tractor weights, and several other items and farm implements were stolen. Scrap steel was also reported stolen from the FTC business in Francesville.

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Winamac Man Arrested after Stolen Items Found in Residence

Jason Creque

Jason Creque, of Winamac, was arrested Tuesday in Pulaski County on Theft charges after a search warrant was executed by Pulaski County police.

An ATV, hunting clothing, household items, toys, and tools were reported stolen by a homeowner on 475 W., south of 900 S. in Pulaski County. When Pulaski County officers investigated the shooting incident between Creque and Josh Isom on October 5th, detectives observed the stolen items at Creque’s residence at 7948 S. 475 W. in Winamac. Detectives obtained a search warrant and some of the stolen items were recovered at the residence. The ATV was recovered in Carroll County and some of the hunting items were recovered in Monticello.

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