Holcomb Appears for Court Hearing

Kevin Eugene Holcomb
Kevin Holcomb

Kevin Holcomb appeared for a hearing in Pulaski Circuit Court this week. He is facing charges in a December battery incident.

Holcomb, 45, of Star City has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery. He was allegedly involved in a battery incident in which Todd E. Schultz, 41, received extensive head and face injuries at a home in the area of 900 South and 440 East in Star City. Schultz was taken to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne for treatment.

Continue reading →

Grant Will Help Students with Industrial Maintenance Skills

Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer told the county commissioners last night that the county is the recipient of an $82,355 Region 1 Works Council for a Career and Technical Education (CTE) innovative-curriculum grant.

Origer said the grant will fund a Pulaski County Repair and Maintenance Technology (RAM-Tech) program at West Central High School to give students the skills they need to be successful in an industrial setting.

Continue reading →

College Goal Sunday Event This Weekend

 Those needing assistance filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form can get assistance in this weekend’s College Goal Sunday event.

The form is due March 10 to be eligible for federal student aid. The FAFSA form is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships and student loans at most post-secondary schools. The FAFSA form can be perceived as time-consuming, but students can get the FAFSA form filed online during Sunday’s event.

College Goal Sunday has helped more than 90,000 Indiana students and families complete the FAFSA properly and on time. According to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s Division of Student Financial Aid, more single parents have filed for financial aid proving that the program is reaching high-risk students and families.

Continue reading →

Walorski Touts Benefits of Bill to Assist Veterans

Congresswoman Jackie Walorski
Congresswoman Jackie Walorski

Legislation championed by U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski to help veterans get access to mental health services is now law. She attended a signing ceremony last week at the White House for The Clay Hunt SAV Act. Walorski says it sets up a website to serve as a one-stop shop for veterans who are struggling with mental health problems. It also bridges the VA healthcare bureaucracy by offering more community-based services. Continue reading →

Amid Major Data Breaches, BBB Advocates for Protections

BBBThe Better Business Bureau is reminding Americans to protect themselves from having personal and sensitive information stolen.

The message is in response to a major data breach at Anthem Insurance. According to a press release, hackers stole personal identifying information from both current and former customers. Items taken include names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth.
Continue reading →

Presidents’ Day May Affect Government Operations

  
 

Today is Presidents’ Day. Presidents’ Day is set aside to honor George Washington. The holiday was celebrated on Washington’s actual birthday on Feb. 22, but the federal holiday was shifted to the third Monday in February on Jan. 1, 1971 by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

The United States Postal Service will not be processing or delivering mail today. The Pulaski County Courthouse and government offices will be closed to observe the federal holiday. Starke County and Marshall County government offices will be open.

Continue reading →

Hazardous Weather Snarls Traffic

 
 

Lake effect snow had a bad effect on travel this weekend.

Emergency personnel responded to several slide-offs and many couldn’t get to their targets due to heavy blowing and drifting snow. Many deputies responding to accidents had zero visibility as they attempted to help motorists. Starke and Marshall County Emergency Management Agencies had to confer with county officials to enact travel status advisories.

Continue reading →

Marijuana Dealing Suspects Appear in Court

Bobby Joe Warren
Bobby Joe Warren, Sr.
Karen Warren
Karen Warren
Bobby-Joe-Warren-II
Bobby Joe Warren, Jr.

 

Bobby Warren, Sr. Bobby Warren, Jr. and Karen Warren appeared in Pulaski Superior Court on Thursday where a not guilty plea was entered for the trio.

They were arrested this week after Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department officers and the Indiana State Police Emergency Team executed a search warrant at 15706 E. County Road 200 North in Medaryville. During the search of the residence, officers found items commonly used in the manufacturing and cultivating of marijuana, according to a news release. Illegal narcotics, paraphernalia, and firearms were also recovered.

Continue reading →

Pulaski County Council Approves Advertisement for Surveyor Budget Appropriation

 The Pulaski County Council added a line item in the surveyor’s budget in order to finance attorney services and engineering costs.

In a joint session with the commissioners, it was explained that the attorney is doing extra litigation work that would need additional compensation to complete. Tim Murray is the attorney for the surveyor’s office.

Continue reading →

IDEM Offers Free Earth Day Presentations For Schools

IDEM-logo_rgbresizeHoosier schools can celebrate Earth Day by scheduling a presenter from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to visit with their students. They will talk about their careers and share lessons about air, land and water quality. The interactive presentations are between 30 and 50 minutes long and include interactive activities like building an edible landfill or “Environmental Jeopardy.” They will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis from April 6-17. Each school may request up to four presentations. Continue reading →

State Revenue Sources Fall Short, Wagering Beats Estimates

  
 

The state of Indiana has gained a bit of revenue for January compared to the previous year, but fell short of revised estimates.

According to the monthly revenue report from the State Budget Agency, General Fund revenues were $1.3-billion in January. That’s 2.4-percentage points above revenue collected for the same period last year. Those figures are still below estimates for the 2015 fiscal year published in December.
Continue reading →

Prosecuting Attorneys Support Amendment to Meth Bill

 
 

There is support for an amendment to a bill that would help prosecutors attack the epidemic of methamphetamine labs and the dangers that meth production impose on residents.

The amendment to Senate Bill 536 sponsored by Senator Brent Steele targets meth production by making ephedrine and pseudoephedrine schedule IV controlled substances. The pills would only be available by a doctor’s prescription.

Continue reading →

Miscalculated Funds in Contract Results in Additional Appropriation

 Pulaski County Attorney Kevin Tankersley explained a unique contract situation to the county council this week and requested an additional appropriation to cover the contract.

Four County Counseling informed the commissioners in the last part of 2014 that the county owes the company for ten years of miscalculated funds. The contract is mandated by the state. Even though Tankersley pointed out to their attorney the fact that the county signed an agreement with Four County Counseling for a specific annual amount for the past ten years, the company claims that the county owes them $16,117.38.

Continue reading →

Winamac Exploring Well Options

Winamac Town Hall
Winamac Town Hall

The Town of Winamac is in the process of finding additional water resources.

The Town’s current water well was accessed in the 1920’s at two different points. During Monday night’s Town Council meeting, members discussed the possibility of applying for a grant to explore for a new well.

Water Department Superintendent Jeremy Beckner says the well would help ensure safety.

Continue reading →

Pleasant View Rest Home Residents Relocating

Pleasant View Rest Home
Pleasant View Rest Home

Half of the residents at Pleasant View Rest Home have found placement in other facilities.

Pulaski County Auditor Shelia Garling asked the county council this week how to handle funds coming into the county from residents who self-pay. They are paying for the month but leaving before the month is over. The council members agreed that the residents will get a refund that will be distributed when notification is received of their new placement.

Continue reading →