Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer told the commissioners this week that there are several businesses looking to expand their operations. Origer said it’s time to look for more funding in the Revolving Loan Fund. Continue reading
The Food Finders Food Bank and the Pulaski County Human Services have partnered to bring the Mobile Food Pantry to Winamac every month. The Mobile Food Pantry will be this Friday, Dec. 5 at 11 a.m. ET at the Pulaski County Highway Garage, 1131 N. US 35. Continue reading
Suspended drivers have until Dec. 31 to take advantage of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ Reinstatement Relief Program. The Reinstatement Relief Program allows suspended drivers to pay temporarily reduced reinstatement fees and earn reinstatement, as long as all other legal requirements are met.
Don Snemis, Commissioner of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, said the program offers a 50 percent discount on reinstatement fees before July 1, 2013 for operating without insurance. Customers may be responsible for providing proof of insurance, completing a driver safety program, paying court fees, or successfully passing a driver’s license written knowledge exam, driving skills exam or vision screening.
The Pulaski County Commissioners denied a request from Auditor Shelia Garling to withdraw a former appeal to close offices early on Christmas Eve.
Garling had made the request in an earlier meeting as she had gotten some feedback from fellow department heads asking to close the office early to accommodate plans for Christmas. The commissioners approved the request with the understanding that the workers who leave early use remaining PTO time or forego those hours.
The flu season is underway and health officials urge you to take steps now to prevent the flu.
Influenza is a viral infection of the respiratory tract and is spread by droplets from close contact with infected people or contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. Symptoms of the flu include fever, headache, fatigue, cough, muscle aches and sore throat.
Some people are at higher risk of complications related to the flu including pregnant women, young children, those with chronic illnesses and/or compromised immune systems and the elderly.
Unemployment slipped a little in October for Starke County, but still remains low compared to previous reports. In all, 77 counties saw a slide in unemployment in October.
Starke County had an October unemployment rate of 6.1 percent. The percentage fell two points in October. Starke County is ranked 15th in the state.
The employees in the government offices in Pulaski County are collecting food for the Pulaski County Human Services Food Pantry.
Auditor Shelia Garling asked the commissioners for permission to place boxes in the courthouse to collect food for those who are less fortunate this holiday season. A box is located in the courthouse and in the Pulaski County Justice Center.
If you have a donation you’d like to drop off, get those in today by the end of the day to help someone in need at either location. Non-perishable food items are welcome, as well as soaps, deodorant, shampoos, and diapers.
Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer brought forth the idea of a redevelopment commission to the county commissioners during their recent meeting.
Origer explained that there are opportunities the county could be missing out on without a redevelopment commission.
“It allows basically two important things that we cannot do right now,” said Origer. “If ever a town or the county wanted to buy real estate for a downtown revitalization effort because they have absentee owners who are not making buildings usable for potential tenants, the RDC could much more easily purchase that and put any work into it as necessary. They can sell it or lease it to tenants than a municipal entity on its own could. The other thing is setting up TIF Districts.”
Federal, state and local government offices are all closed tomorrow in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Many are also closed on Friday, so keep that in mind if you’ve got business to tend. Your best bet is to call first. In Knox, Thursday’s trash pickup route will be run on Friday instead this week. Also, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles branches that are normally open on Fridays will be closed this week in observance of the holiday. Mail will not be delivered tomorrow, but normal delivery schedules will resume Friday.
Construction for Starke/Pulaski Habitat for Humanity’s fifth home is projected to be finished next month. Starke/Pulaski Habitat for Humanity President Steve Morrison says this house was built in record time compared to the other four. Continue reading
Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer gave the commissioners an update on his discussions surrounding the changes in the CAGIT tax with the local legislators.
Origer had approached the commissioners at their earlier November meeting for support in overturning legislation to free up money for the CEDIT fund for economic development. He believes that the special CAGIT tax should be used to help pay the jail lease instead of the CEDIT fund. Origer argued that the CEDIT fund should be used for economic development projects and not just the jail lease. To do this, Origer needs to approach local legislators to change legislation allowing language to change the law to reflect his request.
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department investigated an accident on Thursday involving a semi-tractor trailer and a 14-year-old pedestrian on U.S. 421 just south of Gordon Street in Francesville.
The truck driver, 57-year-old Jerry E. Dehaven of Rossville, Indiana, was southbound on U.S. 421 when he observed a pedestrian walking along the road, according to a news release. Dehaven stated that the pedestrian turned and walked into the southbound lane and he attempted to miss the pedestrian. He reportedly told police that he was unable to miss the pedestrian and she was struck by the center of the tractor-trailer knocking her to the ground.
Batten down the hatches, we’re in for a blustery day. The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for the WKVI listening area until 7 p.m. EST/6 p.m. CST this evening. Southwest winds will increase to 25 to 35 miles-per-hour by mid to late morning, with gusts reaching 45 mph during the day. Continue reading
WKVI’s Fifth Annual Food Drive on Saturday was a rousing success. Tom Berg and Tony Ross collected items and donations at Five Star for the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry, while Nathan Welter, Mitch Columbe and Mary Perren did the same at Sanders in the Winamac Plaza. Items collected there went to the Pulaski County Human Services Food Pantry. They include 5,200 pounds of food and $1,392.49. Galbreath employees brought two vehicles full of food, weighing 3,000 pounds, and the Winamac Community High School Football Team also gave generously. After the drive was over, the WKVI staff helped unload the items at Pulaski County Human Services, where they will be sorted and distributed to families in need. Continue reading
River otters are thriving a little too well in Indiana nearly 20 years after their successful reintroduction into the state. Last year biologists with the division of fish and wildlife received 86 complaints of river otters eating fish from private ponds and commercial hatcheries or destroying private property. That’s up from 69 complaints in 2012. Also the number of control permits issued or renewed nearly doubled from 11 in 2012 to 21 in 2013. Continue reading
If you have business to take care of at the BMV, you may want to do it during the first part of the week. Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles branches will be closed Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28 in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday. All license branches with Saturday hours will return to their regular schedules on Saturday, Nov. 29. Visit myBMV.com for more information.
If you’re out grocery shopping today, stop and see members of the WKVI staff. The station’s fifth annual food drive will take place from 10 a.m. until noon Central today at Five Star in the Knox Mall and Sanders in the Winamac Plaza. Shoppers can donate non-perishable food or cash to help local families in need. Continue reading
A representative from U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski’s office will be in Starke and Pulaski Counties next week to help local constituents who need to access federal government services. A member of her staff will be at the Starke County Courthouse in the commissioner’s office on the first floor of the courthouse on Monday, Nov. 24 from 8 until 11 a.m. CST. Continue reading
Freezing rain is possible late tonight into tomorrow morning across much of northwest Indiana. The National Weather Service advises rain will start to fall around midnight and continue through the early morning hours. Continue reading
