Starke County EMS Director Requests ALS Non-Transport Vehicle

Starke County EMS Director Travis Clary wants to turn his new-to-him department vehicle into an Advanced Life Support non-transport vehicle.

He explained to the Starke County Commissioners Monday night that he recently acquired a retired squad car from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office with less miles and less issues. He said he’d like to certify the vehicle through the state as an ALS non-transport vehicle. Continue reading

Starke County Police to Conduct Sobriety Checkpoints

Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office, Knox City Police Department and Walkerton Police Department are teaming up to combat aggressive driving and impaired driving.

These officers working under the Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership consortium will be setting up sobriety checkpoints around Starke County to deter, detect and arrest drivers who are driving under the influence. Police will man the checkpoints on Saturday, March 17 between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. at undisclosed locations.

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Starke County IT Director to Research New Jail Computer Program

The Starke County Sheriff’s Office may get a new dispatch program to better suit the needs of the department.

Starke County IT Director Mark Gourley told the commissioners this week that the CAD program, or Computer Aided Dispatch, offered an update in August where some promised features weren’t a part of the update. He said he’s talking more with the vendor about that.

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Starke County Commissioners Review Job Description for Jail Employee

Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin presented the county commissioners with a proposed job description for an employee at the Starke County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff previously explained that he hired Ron Lawson as a part-time jailer but he doesn’t necessarily do the duties of a jailer. He hired him in that position because the wage was at a higher rate. Lawson has 34 years of law enforcement experience and the sheriff believed that Lawson should be paid a higher wage because of his experience.

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Sentencing Hearing for Convicted Child Molester Postponed

Jerry Leonard

A sentencing hearing for a Knox man convicted of child molesting is postponed to Thursday, Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. in Starke Circuit Court.

On Jan. 11, a 12-member jury convicted 37-year-old Jerry Leonard of two counts of child molesting as a Class A Felony and two counts of performing a sexual act in front of a child as a Class D Felony. The jury deliberated for about one hour before returning guilty verdicts.

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Starke County Community Corrections, Probation, Sheriff Asks for Letter of Support

The Starke County Community Corrections, in partnership with the Starke County Probation Department and the Starke County Sheriff’s Office, are working to submit a grant request for programs and funding.

Community Corrections Director Robert Hinojosa said this is the ninth year of requesting funding for community corrections and the second year for jail treatment programs and pretrial funding.

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Five Arrested on Drug-Related Charges, after Police Reportedly Find Meth in North Judson Home

 

Five people were arrested on drug-related charges Tuesday afternoon, after police say they found methamphetamine while serving a warrant in North Judson. Shortly after 3:00, officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office and North Judson Police Department went to a home in the 300 block of High Street to serve a warrant for failure to appear, according to Sheriff Bill Dulin.

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Bass Lake Gas Station Sustains Structural Damage from Break-in Attempt, Prompts Starke County Sheriff’s Department Investigation

Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin reports that three male subjects wearing hoodies and masks covering their faces broke into the KP Corner gas station located at 7090 S State Road 10 in Bass Lake on December 21st. According to Sheriff Dulin, the incident occurred around 3:50 a.m. Thursday. Continue reading

Cold Weather Preparation Tips from Knox Water Department Superintendent Todd Gardner

Today is officially the first day of winter and as temperatures are expected to dip below freezing in the coming weeks, home owners need to take necessary precautions to avoid frozen pipes.

Knox Water Department Superintendent Todd Gardner has a few helpful tips to help protect homes this winter season. Superintendent Gardner reported that most incidents happen at the beginning of the season since people don’t take these simple steps before cold weather hits.

His first tip is to be sure that all hoses are disconnected and outdoor faucets are turned off. He said even “frost-free” faucets can freeze and break if they’re not disconnected and completely switched off. He also stressed the importance of making sure that crawlspace doors and other openings are securely shut to keep drafts from entering the home and cooling the water pipes. Continue reading

Progress Made in North Judson PD K-9 Fundraiser, Additional Donations Still Needed

The North Judson Police Department is already nearing their $20,000 goal for the purchase of a K-9 and subsequent training thanks to a decision made by town council members Monday evening.

Town Marshal Kelly Fisher requested for $15,000 to be encumbered from the general police insurance fund into the K-9 fund to help cover the cost of purchasing a K-9 from the Peru-based company Vohne Liche Kennels. The council members unanimously approved Fisher’s request.

Fisher also acknowledged some local businesses and organizations that are already offering assistance to the NJPD. San Pierre Veterinary Clinic offered to donate annual shots and physicals and Feed Barn is donating all food needed for the K-9. Continue reading

Trial Scheduled for North Judson Man Charged with Stalking

A trial for 45-year-old Clayton Conley, of North Judson, is scheduled in Starke Circuit Court today. Conley is reportedly charged with stalking, a level 6 felony.

According to the provided police report, Conley was arrested twice on March 29th for separate incidents involving his sister. Detective Sergeant Adam Gray with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department reports that Conley was first escorted off his sister’s property around 7:53 a.m. when he refused to leave after an argument. Continue reading