About 200 chairs at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox will be sold.
Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston told the Knox Board of Public Works members this week that new chairs are coming as part of the renovation project.
Nine Inmates Complete Chemical Dependency and Addictions Program
Nine Starke County Justice Center inmates recently graduated from a Chemical Dependency and Addictions Program.
The program focuses on addiction thought processes and criminal behavior. The inmates learn how to overcome their addiction while restructuring thoughts and behavior.
Porter-Starke Services therapists dedicate time to help the inmates conquer the program. Inmates focus on self awareness and self improvement in treatment sessions over a period of 14 weeks. Inmates develop skills to manage stress, anger, cravings and appropriate ways to respond to triggers. Critical reasoning and decision making skills are also taught in these courses. Continue reading
Two Sentenced on Battery Charges
Two offenders were sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning on battery charges in two separate cases.
Scott Tharpe, 35, of Plymouth, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a felony charge of battery of a person less than the age of 14. Tharpe admitted to Judge Kim Hall that on July 12, 2016, at a residence in Knox he threw his nephew on the ground and pushed his face in the dirt. He also pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a misdemeanor charge of resisting law enforcement. Tharpe admitted to resisting arrest from Officer Clint Norem in the same incident. Continue reading
Two Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Drug Charges
Two people were sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning on drug charges in two separate incidents.
Joshua Muzik, 20, of Monon, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a felony charge of possession of methamphetamine and was sentenced on that charge to 13 months in the Starke County Justice Center with seven months suspended to be served on probation. He also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving while suspended and was sentenced to six months in the Starke County Justice Center. Those two sentences will be served concurrently, or at the same time. Continue reading
Starke County Sheriff’s Office to Host Prescription Drug Take-Back
Gray Family to Deliver Supplies to Hurricane Harvey Victims
Garden Preparations Continue at Starke County Jail
Starke County Jail inmates continue preparing this year’s garden, they are looking for pest control companies in cincinnati oh to make sure the area is free of plagues. Warden Phil Cherry says they were able to save the Sheriff’s Department some money this year by growing the plants from seed, rather than buying starter plants. Continue reading
Seeds Started for Starke County Inmate Garden
Inmates at the Starke County Jail are getting a jump on this year’s garden. Warden Phil Cherry says they planted 15 flats of flower and vegetable seeds this week. Right now they’re in a hallway at the jail and will be moved into the greehouses behind the facility once they get a little bit bigger. Continue reading
Justice Center Receives Heartland Award for Therapeutic Garden Program
The Starke County Justice Center’s community garden received The People’s Choice Heartland Award from the Indiana Department of Correction. The award was chosen by residents of Indiana for their successful 2016 harvest. To win the award, the program had to attain the most votes on Facebook and Starke County won by a landslide. Continue reading
Coleman: Lack of Televised Debate ‘Disrespectful’ to Voters
U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski’s challenger Lynn Coleman continues to complain about the lack of a televised debate during the campaign. Continue reading
Congressional Campaign Means New Territory for Coleman
Lynn Coleman’s campaign to unseat U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski has him venturing into some new territory. Continue reading
U.S. Congressional Candidate Visits Starke County Therapeutic Community
Last month, U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski visited the Starke County Justice Center’s Therapeutic Community program. On Tuesday, it was her Democratic Party challenger’s turn. Continue reading
Commissioners to Consider CAFO Ordinance, Jail Screen and Building Bids Tonight
The Starke County Commissioners hope to wrap up quite a bit of unfinished business when they meet this evening. Normally their second meeting of the month takes place on the third Monday. However, it was moved to tonight instead. Continue reading
New Pumps Ordered for Lift Station That Services Jail
New pumps have been ordered to replace the two that failed earlier this month at the east Highway 8 lift station. Knox Wastewater Superintendent Kelly Clemons blames commissary trash from the jail that inmates flush down the toilets for the problems they’ve been having since the facility opened last summer. Continue reading
Starke County Gets Grant to Expand Inmate Drug Treatment Offerings
Inmates at the Starke County Jail who are arrested for drug-related offenses will soon be able to seek treatment while they are locked up. The county is already home to the Indiana Department of Correction’s first non-prison based therapeutic community intensive inpatient drug treatment program. Continue reading
Starke County Officials Struggle With Jail Budget
Starke County officials are looking at short and long-term ways to shore up operating expenses at the new jail. It has been open for about a year, and budgeted operating costs were based on an actuarial study done for the county. Information shared during last night’s joint meeting of the council and commissioners indicates those recommendations may have been based on flawed information. Continue reading
Starke County Officials to Discuss Jail Operating Costs
The Starke County Council and Commissioners will meet in special session this evening to discuss the sheriff department budget. Last month the council deferred Sheriff Bill Dulin’s request for an additional appropriation until they can get a handle on expenses at the justice center. The new jail has been open for about a year, and budgeted operating costs were based on an actuarial study done for the county. Continue reading
Council Wrestles With Jail Expenses
The Starke County Council has scheduled a special meeting to try to get a handle on expenses related to jail operations. They deferred Sheriff Bill Dulin’s request for an additional appropriation until they can take a closer look at things like utility costs for the building. It’s been open for a year, and extensive studies were done beforehand to project costs. The council should have findings from an energy audit in time for their scheduled June 13th meeting. It will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the annex building. Continue reading
Council Questions Proposed Jail Addition
Nearly six months after the first inmates moved into the new Starke County Jail east of Knox the architect and builder are recommending a $525,000 addition to the facility. Architect and project manager Scott Carnegie with DLZ told the council and commissioners an automatic auger would catch small items like cellophane and plastic wrappers inmates flush down the toilets and keep them out of the city’s sanitary sewer system. Continue reading
Starke County Commissioners Recommend Additional Jail Hires
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin has the blessing of the Starke County Commissioners to hire two additional full-time jail officers. First the county council must appropriate the money to do so. Indications are it will come from the tax money collected to pay for the jail project. Continue reading
