A wheel tax has been recommended for further consideration in Pulaski County.
The fee – assessed annually against motorists during their license plate renewal – has been discussed for a few weeks in area counties to improve and maintain roads. The Pulaski County Commissioners considered the item prior to a joint meeting with the County Council next week.
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The Pulaski County Commissioners will be assessing a fine for a building that collapsed in Monterey.
The Commissioners acted as the “hearing authority” for the Town of Monterey – which is required under state statute before additional steps can be taken – for the former Sportsman’s Bar and Grill. The building collapsed in April of this year, but ensuring proper clean-up has proven a laborious task.
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Farmland owners will enjoy significant tax relief in 2016 thanks to action by the Indiana General Assembly. Senate Bill 436 freezes the base rate for farm ground at $2,050 per acre. That’s 15-percent less than the rate announced last December by the state Department of Local Government Finance. Continue reading
NIPSCO customers can get information about power outages in the palms of their hands by signing up for NIPSCO Alerts. Information about estimated restoration time will be sent via text, email or automated telephone message. The utility does not charge for the service, but individual wireless carriers may charge for text and data usage. Customers with an online account can visit NIPSCO.com/Alerts or call 1-800-4NIPSCO (1-800-464-7726) to sign up. Continue reading
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is encouraging hiking, riding, and other activities next weekend.
Saturday June 6th is National Trails Day and the DNR is celebrating by offering clean-ups, hikes, and other events at several state parks. The state is largely using the event to open several trails at a park in Indianapolis, but events are still being offered around Indiana.
Starke County’s April unemployment rate hits a seven-year low. The local jobless rate tumbled from 7-point-6 percent in March to 5-point-8 percent in April. That’s the lowest it’s been since November of 2007. All 92 counties saw drops in unemployment, according to figures released by the state. Continue reading
The Pulaski County Hometown Collaboration Initiative Team has chosen one of three “building blocks” as part of the ongoing partnership between the state, Purdue and Ball State Universities. The program seeks to help small communities expand their pipeline of local leaders, strengthen and expand jobs by building on existing economic assets and improve attractiveness and quality of life of their hometowns. Pulaski County is one of seven communities chosen by the state to participate. Continue reading
The Starke County Initiative for Lifelong Learning is hosting an award ceremony to recognize the accomplishments of their 2015 class. The program takes place tonight at 1300 Kloeckner Drive in the Knox Industrial Park and will commence at 6 pm (CST) .
The Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay is accepting nominations from the public for torchbearers in each of the state’s 92 counties. Nominations recognize Hoosiers who demonstrate exceptional public service, excellence in their profession, acts of heroism or volunteer service to their neighborhood, community, region or state, according to a news release from the Indiana Office of Tourism Development. Continue reading
The second annual Healthcare Careers Camp is set for June. High school juniors and seniors interested in a career in healthcare are encouraged to attend. You can also check out sites like UTMB Health for more job listings.
Students will be able to immerse themselves in real-life experiences of health professionals at Indiana University Health LaPorte Hospital. Topics include nursing, becoming a physician, professionalism in the workplace, diagnostic imaging, pharmacy, physical therapy, CPR certification, heart and vascular care, and sports medicine. Participants will have an opportunity to interact with physicians, healthcare providers and executives, and will have direct access to observing patient care.
Officials with the AAA Hoosier Motor Club predicts a busy travel holiday this Memorial Day weekend. They predict Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the travel period which is defined as Thursday, May 21 to Monday, May 25.
Most drivers will likely pay the lowest Memorial Day gas prices in at least five years.
This week marks educational opportunity for conservationists, especially when it comes to handling firewood.
EAB Awareness week was declared by Indiana Governor Mike Pence to help bring more attention to the issue, changing the state’s forest landscape. EAB, otherwise known as the Emerald Ash Borer, is a microscopic beetle that feeds off Ash Trees. Continue reading
The extended weekend provides an opportunity for families to get their boats on the water.
This week, however, Indiana Conservation Officers will be joining in observing National Safe Boating week. The state of Indiana says Memorial Day weekend is considered the unofficial kickoff to boating season. Continue reading
U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly is providing insight into a few issues facing congress.
Indiana’s Democratic Senator spoke with reporters on Wednesday afternoon during a conference call to address expanded mental healthcare for former and active military service members.
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The Pulaski County Sheriff plans to upgrade radios for the dispatchers and emergency personnel in the next few years.
Sheriff Jeff Richwine told the commissioners this week that the radios in the dispatch center haven’t been replaced since 1998.. He said he’s beginning to gather quotes to replace that aged equipment.
The Sheriff is also looking to replace 200, 800 MHz Motorola radios for the police, EMS, EMA, and fire departments. The company will cease making parts for the current models used by the county and town emergency services in the next four years. Sheriff Richwine is working with EMA Director Larry Hoover to put together a plan to replace all of the radios in the next four years.
Fewer construction projects will be ongoing on Monday due to the Memorial Day holiday.
The Indiana Department of Transportation says that with major federal holidays such as July 4th and Memorial Day, they cease work.
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Memorial Day is being recognized on Monday, meaning several services normally in operation will be closed.
Government services, absent law enforcement will cease operations in honor of the celebration. The City of Knox’s Town Hall will be closed during Memorial Day, as will the Starke County Courthouse.
The Winamac man accused of fatally stabbing his wife Sunday night at their home is jailed without bond in Pulaski County. Michael Kasten Sr., 59, was released from a hospital in Fort Wayne Wednesday afternoon, where he was being treated for an apparent self-inflicted stab wound. He made an initial appearance this morning in Pulaski Circuit Court, where he’s charged with murder in connection with the death of Tina Kasten, 54. Continue reading
The Winamac man accused of fatally stabbing his wife at their home Sunday night is out of the hospital and in jail. Officials in Pulaski County say Michael Kasten Sr., 59, was booked into the Pulaski County Jail at 4:45 p.m. yesterday. Continue reading
A tabletop exercise was held yesterday in Pulaski County to gather emergency personnel together to determine how to handle a mass disaster.
Pulaski County Preparedness Coordinator Sherry Fagner said the scenario put together information from entities from the hospital, health department, schools, police, EMS, EMA, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana State Department of Health, and media.
“We did a lot of collaboration on if it was a true event that a public health emergency was declared,” said Fagner.
