U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly says he supports an extension of a grant program that helps law enforcement.
The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Reauthorization Act was proposed for extension through 2020. It’s managed through the Department of Justice. The grant helps state and local police forces purchase the vests to improve safety.
A local utility provider is encouraging safety before individuals or businesses begin any spring and summer excavation projects.
NIPSCO says April marks National Safe Digging Month and is encouraging residents to call the national “call-before-you-dig” number 8-1-1 two days prior to starting work. The 48 hour suggestion allows work crews to properly mark utility lines to avoid problems.
The Indiana Department of Revenue has implemented programs to help deter tax refund fraud and identity theft. They have already stopped more than $5.3 million in attempted identity theft and refund fraud this year.
Increased security features confirm the identity of each Indiana resident before processing tax returns. As part of the program, more than 179,000 taxpayers have been asked to complete an Identity Confirmation Quiz that features four questions and takes three minutes to complete. Those required to complete the quiz receive a letter with directions from the Indiana Department of Revenue. It can be completed online or over the phone. Once the quiz is successfully done, his or her refund will be processed and delivered within 14 days if electronically filed and within 12 weeks if filed by paper.
An organization that works in conjunction with the Pulaski County government celebrated a milestone at the end of March.
Pulaski County Human Services has been in operation for the past 40 years. The non-profit organization provides assistance for elderly and low income residents.
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If you have business to conduct with a government body tomorrow, you may want to phone first. Starke, Pulaski and Marshall County government offices are all closed in observance of Good Friday. Indiana is one of 13 states that give employees the day off. BMV offices that are normally open on Fridays will be closed. Normal business hours will resume on Saturday. Mail will be delivered on Friday, and federal government offices will be open.
Temperatures are becoming more spring-like and it’s tempting to get out into the yard to get rid of leaves and brush left over from the winter months. The most common way to get rid of the debris is to burn it. On occasion, burn piles can get out of control, and the fire department is called to assist a homeowner in putting out the flames.
Firefighters have responded to several brush fires in the past few days.
Knox-Center Township Fire Chief Kenny Pfost urges you to choose a nice day to burn any of that debris.
A gravel road in Pulaski County is open again after county highway department crews made repairs to the surface. Continue reading
The American Heart Association’s National Walking Day is a chance for idle residents to get up and start moving to improve heart health.
National Walking Day will be observed tomorrow. Residents are becoming less active and the observance of walking and other activities allow young and old people alike to decrease the chance of heart disease, stroke and other diseases.
The last day of operations at the Pleasant View Rest Home in Winamac is tomorrow.
Operations are coming to an end after the Pulaski County Council made a decision in October of 2014 to not include funding for the assisted living facility in the 2015 budget. The decision was approved by a majority vote. The commissioners voted in December to close the operations at the county home because of the lack of funding.
Additional funds are now available in Pulaski County for those in need of energy assistance.
Dollars are released through the state of Indiana and passed down the levels until it reaches the Pulaski County Human Services department. Between now and May 14th, residents can apply to help offset their gas or electric utility bill.
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Kankakee Valley Broadcasting Travel Coordinator Ed Hasnerl has a few available slots for his upcoming trip to Holland, Mich. Enjoy the beauty of the annual Tulip Festival May 4-7. It’s just one of the adventures Ed has planned.
“Several people have talked to me about going to the Henry Ford Museum and eating dinner in an auto baron’s home – Edsel Ford, Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s home. It’s a wonderful home full of antiques and art, besides having dinner there,” Hasnerl said. Continue reading
Indiana’s Senate Democrats are taking a look at the minimum wage in Indiana.
According to information put forward by the caucus, data from the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis has Indiana making slow strides in income growth compared with other states.
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Multiple government agencies are partnering to give students scholarship opportunities.
The scholarships have been conducted in the past to help promote safe driving behind the wheel – especially when it comes to teens using their mobile devices. The “Drive Now. TXT L8R” campaign gives $5-thousand scholarships.
A video analysis of teen driving has shown evidence that distracted driving is more of a problem than previous thought.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reviewed video evidence and found that distraction was a factor in about 6 of 10 moderate-to-severe crashes when teens were the drivers. Information released by AAA suggests that’s four times higher than the data suggests based on police reports.
Sunday marks the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Palm Sunday tornadoes here in the Starke-Marshall area.
Shortly before 6 p.m. after massive thunderstorms passed through the area, the first tornado of many reported that day touched down in Starke County a few miles southwest of Hamlet. It crossed U.S. 30 and tore directly across Koontz Lake.
One-hundred vacation cottages were damaged. As one of the cottages was blown to pieces, the man inside was lifted into the air and thrown to his death 600 feet away.
A vehicle reported stolen on Thursday has been located in Pulaski County.
The Pulaski County Dispatch received a call about a suspicious vehicle on Friday morning in the area of country road 900 South and county road 1200 West. According to the caller, the 1997 Mercury van was sitting along the side of the roadway.
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A Starke County fugitive is in jail after Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an open-line 911 call in rural Medaryville last night. The call from a home in the 15000 block of West 160 North came in just before 9:30 p.m., according to a news release. Dispatchers called back and were told a child was playing with the telephone, and there was not an emergency. Continue reading
Injection drug use is pinpointed as a cause of a jump in HIV cases in Scott County. No new cases of HIV have been reported locally.
Governor Mike Pence declared a public health emergency in Scott County yesterday due to an outbreak of HIV cases. The Indiana State Department of Health has identified 79 cases of HIV originating in Scott County.
Just three weeks remain to file income taxes on time. The deadline to file is Wednesday, April 15.
Katie McLear Public Relations Specialist with the Indiana Department of Revenue says taxes can be filed for free with the Indiana Free File program. If eligibility requirements don’t allow that option, McLear says the best option is to file electronically.
“There are a number of benefits to filing electronically,” explained McLear. “First for foremost you’re going to get your refund much faster. You’ll get that refund in about 10 to 14 days. You could wait up to 12 weeks if you file by paper.”
