Five people were arrested Saturday, Jan. 24 after Winamac police received a complaint of high traffic and a smell at one of the Franklin Street apartment complex around 11:30 p.m. ET.
A search warrant was obtained for 214 S. Franklin Apt. B. and where an active meth lab was allegedly found along with marijuana, prescription medication, packaging materials, meth, and syringes, according to Winamac officer Mark Hoffman.
The state’s unemployment rate went up a tenth of a percent to 5.8 percent. Since December 2013, Indiana’s labor force has grown by over 83,000 people that is nearly twice of any neighboring state, according to Indiana Workforce Development. December was the first month where Indiana’s unemployment rate has exceeded the U.S. rate. The U.S. rate has declined by two-tenths of a percent to 5.6 percent, mainly due to a decrease of 273,000 in the national labor force.
Members of the United States Senate debated 18 amendments yesterday on a bill that would approve construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.
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Pulaski County Community Development Commission Director Nathan Origer told the commissioners last week that appraisals will be done on some land in the industrial park for possible development.
Origer said there are two potential projects coming to the area that would allow the land to go up for sale or lease. Indiana code mandates that two separate appraisals will be done in order for that to move forward.
A bill has been filed in Indianapolis that could affect local businesses.
Senate Bill 41 looks to increase Indiana’s minimum wage from its current rate of $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour. If signed into law, the increase would put Indiana in line with other states implementing similar pieces of legislation.
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The Indiana Department of Revenue is promoting an option that some Indiana residents may qualify for when filing their taxes.
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In conjunction with national efforts, Indiana Governor Mike Pence has issued a proclamation recognizing this week as Indiana School Choice Week.
The movement organizes events that look to inform parents about the K-12 education options available, and to point out a few of the benefits for choice in education policy.
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The clerk’s offices in Starke County and Marshall County were busy tending to more candidates who wish to file for office for this year’s Municipal Election.
In Starke County, Republican Anthony Radkiewicz filed for Knox City Council District 4 while Democrat Tim Manns filed for Knox City Council District 4. Republican Wendy Hoppe filed for another term on the North Judson Town Council in Ward 2, and Democrat Tamara Brantley is seeking a seat on the Hamlet Town Council. Republican Charles Hasnerl is seeking another term as Knox City Court Judge.
Pulaski County Sheriff Jeff Richwine has been busy since taking office. He’s been before the county council straightening out budgeting issues, and he appeared before the commissioners last week where he answered questions about his department.
The commissioners brought up the idea of ridding the county of some of the acquired military vehicles.
“I’m not going to sit and wholesale vehicles,” stated Richwine. “If we have a specific need in the county – if the county highway department wants a truck, I’m more than willing to go on there and look for that and get them that truck. It’s the same way with volunteer fire departments. That all makes sense to me. We’ve already returned some tactical equipment.”
Pulaski County Sheriff Jeff Richwine discussed foreclosure/sheriff sales with the commissioners this week.
The sheriff suggested hiring a company to help with the sales which, he said, would save the county money. The county is allowed to charge up to $200 per sale, but the county has only charged $113 for the sale. Sheriff Richwine said the company will take care of most of the sale details.
Before more cold weather sets in, the Better Business Bureau wants you to be sure you be careful in hiring plumbers to help you in any repairs you may need to make due to freezing pipes.
BBB officials say that a professional service needs to be licensed and display their license number on their website, vehicles and marketing pieces. Ask for three estimates from different plumbing services contractors to ensure you’re getting the best deal. Be sure to understand if a plumber charges by the hour or a flat rate for work to be completed and get that agreement in writing. Keep a copy of that contract. It’s also good to break up the payments and offer the last payment when the work is done to your satisfaction. You can also check emergency plumbing services available in San Diego County or other local services.
The labor force participation rate changed little at 61.5 percent in March. This measure is 1.8 percentage points lower than in February 2020. The employment-population ratio, at 57.8 percent, was up by 0.2 percentage point over the month but is 3.3 percentage points lower than in February 2020.
Not only is the federal government the largest employer in the U.S., its workforce of more than 2 million is getting older. The percentage of federal workers age 55 or older grew from 15 percent in 1998 to 25 percent in 2010. And the percentage of workers older than 55 in the federal government is higher than in the private sector. Older workers are protected by federal law from hiring discrimination and bias while on the job. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act forbids age discrimination against people who are age 40 or older.
Residents may now apply for the Experience Works Senior Community Service Employment Program which runs pre employment checks to all using this service.
The program is a chance for older aged Hoosiers to be a part of paid community service assignments at local organizations and also training to go back into the workforce.
The Pleasant View Rest Home in Pulaski County has received the nomination to be in the National Register of Historic Places.
Letters of support were sought by the Division of State Historic Preservation and Archaeology in October to place the structure on the register. In a public meeting held at the Pulaski County Courthouse in November, Paul Diebold, a member of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Historical Preservation and Archaeology Committee, said he had never seen so much support for a effort such as this.
The American Lung Association says the state of Indiana needs to do more to enact tobacco control policies.
The “State of Tobacco Control 2015” report evaluates tobacco control policies at the state and federal level. It says Indiana failed to enact any policies that the American Lung Association believes will save lives. That led the state to receive a failing grade in tobacco prevention, taxes, and access to tobacco cessation services.
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Pulaski County EMS Director Nikki Lowry is still in need of paramedics for her department.
She told the commissioners this week that she is currently in the hiring process for staff. While she gets plenty of applications for basic life service, she needs to have advanced life service staff, which is required.
A pilot program started in 2012 has been granted long term approval according to NIPSCO.
The company’s Green Power Rate program is offered to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Currently there are 940 homes and businesses enrolled in the Green Power Program.
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Changes to be made at the Pulaski County Highway Garage will be handed down by the commissioners, according to Superintendent Mark Fox.
Fox told WKVI News that some changes were made from suggestions made by Commissioner Bud Krohn, Jr. during Tuesday night’s commissioners meeting. One of those changes included putting a pad lock on a fence to the department’s outdoor equipment and covering up animal carcasses at the site.
Congresswoman Jackie Walorski had a few goals in mind prior to Tuesday night’s State of the Union Address.
Indiana’s 2nd District U.S. Representative has made a point of discussing what she considers an overreach of power through the President’s recent executive orders.
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Indiana U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly says he wants to make sure all of the country’s foreign partners are standing together.
Senator Donnelly sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee that was part of a bi-partisan Senate delegation to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Israel. The trip was described as important due to ongoing instability in the Middle East.
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Starting this fall, Indiana will have a limited river otter trapping season after action this week by the Indiana Natural Resources Commission. In the early 20th century river otters were near extension in Indiana due to a loss of habitat and unregulated trapping. In 1921 the state Department of Conservation banned their taking. They were believed gone from the state by the 1940s.
The DNR began reintroducing otters to state waterways in 1995. Over a five-year period, 303 river otters were captured in Louisiana and released in northern and southern Indiana. Their populations increased enough through natural reproduction that river otters were removed from the state endangered species list in 2005. Presently, river otters have expanded their range to include over 80 percent of Indiana’s counties and their numbers continue to increase. Continue reading
