Informational Open House Set for Prospective Foster Parents

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

An informational open house for prospective foster parents is planned for Wednesday, Oct. 8 at the Starke County office of the Department of Child Services at 318 E. Culver Road in Knox.

Regional foster care specialist Renee Woodworth will be available to discuss foster parent responsibilities as well as the licensing process, including the home study.

There are 132 abused or neglected children in the region currently living in non-relative foster homes because it is not safe for them to live in their own homes. There are 5,046 kids statewide living in non-relative foster homes.

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Lighthouse Autism Center Still Considering Marshall County Expansion

Posted on Author WKVI

Lighthouse Autism CenterOfficials with a Mishawaka-based Autism treatment center say there is definitely a need for a facility like theirs in Marshall County. Lighthouse Autism Center co-founder and Controller Sandy Maggioli says their open house last week drew a lot of people who are passionate about the issue.

A physician who sees children with autism, community leaders, parents and grandparents were among the 50 or so people in attendance. Maggioli says she wants to hear from families in Marshall and surrounding counties whose youngsters could benefit from the intensive, one-on-one Applied Behavior Analysis treatment Lighthouse Autism Center offers. Continue reading →

Another Vocational Program in the Works

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Starke County Economic Development Foundation (SCEDF) is looking to bring life back into the vocational building on the Oregon-Davis school campus to begin an automation robotics and equipment maintenance program as an extension of vocational programs through the SCILL Center.

According to Ron Gifford, the SCEDF will assist in seeking a way to fund the program full-time and to acquire equipment. A pilot program started this year with several students in the eighth grade through the tenth grade enrolled in the program.

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Lighthouse Autism Center Schedules Plymouth Community Interest Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI

Lighthouse Autism CenterParents of youngsters with autism are encouraged to attend a community meeting this evening in Plymouth to gauge interest in the establishment of an Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy center in Marshall County. Lighthouse Autism Center currently has facilities in Warsaw and Mishawaka. Co-founder and Controller Sandy Maggioli says they offer intensive, one-on-one therapy for children with autism.

“Typically a child will receive between 20 and 40 hours of therapy per week. There is no age requirement, but typically we try to get to children who are in the preschool age of three to four years old to prepare them for school, but we also see clients that are in school as well,” Maggioli said. “We may pull them out of school for a period of time to get intensive therapy and then transition them back into the school environment.”

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Unemployment Rate Continues to Decrease

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The unemployment rate in Starke County dropped another two-tenths of a percent in August to 6.3 percent which ranks the county 16th in the state.

Pulaski County reported the same type of drop. The county stands at 4.2 percent in terms of unemployment which ranks the county 87th in the state. Marshall County reported a rate of 5.2 percent, LaPorte County had 7.0 percent, Fulton County had 5.4 percent , St. Joseph County had 6.4 percent while Porter County had 5.9 percent.

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Food Finders Mobile Food Pantry to Visit Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI

food-findersThe Food Finders Mobile Pantry is headed to Francesville for the first time.

The food giveaway day is Friday, Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. ET at 229 S. Bill Street, behind the Von Tobel building.

Those eligible will be able to take home frozen meat, beverages, snacks, baked goods, vegetables, and cereal. Residents are encouraged to take a laundry basket or box in order to carry the food home.

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Statewide Budget Website Created for Public Awareness

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A new statewide website is available so all residents can look at government budget notices in one location.

All residents will have the ability to view budget notices for all local government units in their county by entering their address on www.BudgetNotices.IN.Gov. The website is designed to promote the importance of budget notices.

House Enrolled Act 1266 was passed to allow for this website to exist. Taxpayers can learn about the budget process for the local taxing units and access information about hearings scheduled for the next year’s proposed budgets.

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Ed Clark Announces Retirement

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Pulaski County Commissioners learned from the director of the recycling and transfer station that he hopes to retire at the end of the year.

Ed Clark told the commissioners that he will be retiring Dec. 31 and asked them to advertise for the opening. He said he’d stay on as long as the new person would need to be trained. They approved the request.

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Braun Mansion For Sale

Posted on Author WKVI
The 15,945 square foot Braun mansion south of Winamac is for sale. Image courtesy of Encore Sotheby's International Realty
The 15,945 square foot Braun mansion south of Winamac is for sale. Image courtesy of Encore Sotheby’s International Realty

Pulaski County’s largest and most expensive home is on the market. It was built in 1998 for Braun Corporation founder Ralph Braun, who died in February of 2013. The home sits on a 40 acre property just south of Winamac and features nearly 16,000 feet of living space. Indianapolis-based Encore Sotheby’s International is handling the listing. Continue reading →

New Generator for Health Department to be Installed Soon

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The new generator for the Pulaski County Health Department was to be delivered this week.

Maintenance Director Jeff Johnston told the commissioners Monday night that it will be stored until a company can properly install it. The Pulaski County council members approved the money for the generator at their meeting last week.

The commissioners previously approved the purchase of a similar self-starting generator for the county home in the amount of $3,500, but the council members did not bring the purchase request to a motion last week. Commissioner Terry Young expressed his frustration in that lack of action by the council.

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BMV to Issue Refund in Excise Tax

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Officials with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Indiana Department of Revenue will be working together to issue excise tax refunds to affected customers.

Indiana BMV Commissioner Don Snemis stated that some vehicles were classified in error for excise tax purposes. These misclassifications stretch back to 2004 when the BMV’s System Tracking and Record Support system was implemented on a limited basis.

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