North Judson Considering Golf Cart Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI

The town of North Judson is considering the idea of joining several counties, cities, and towns throughout Indiana that have adopted ordinances regulating where golf carts can and cannot be driven. According to Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry, the town board is reviewing a sample ordinance governing golf carts to determine whether or not they want to draft an ordinance based around those recommendations.

Henry says the council is unsure as to whether or not an ordinance is currently in effect regulating golf carts, but she says it’s more likely that the board has mentioned something in the meeting minutes prohibiting golf carts from operating on town roads. However, if that is the case, the board would like to have something more concrete on record specifying requirements for golf cart operation – such as an operator’s license, insurance on the vehicle, registration, or other necessities.

The board also discussed their no-tobacco ordinance, and have sent it to be publicized. Henry says once it has been advertised in the paper, the board can move forward with the first reading of the ordinance and proceed with its enactment.

Knox Schools Budget Cut, Says Gappa

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board approved the advertisement of the 2013 budget. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says the budget has decreased.

“Our budget advertisement this year is a little bit less than less year; it’s about $500,000 less than we advertised last year in the general fund, and it’s a little over $900,000 less than we advertised last year for the total budget,” Gappa explained.

Gappa reports the total of the school’s proposed budget for 2013.

“All funds would be $23,254,000, and our general fund advertised budget for this year would be $14,966,000, which almost $500,000 last than we advertised last year,” said Gappa. “Once we have a public hearing on Aug. 20, the plan will be to adopt the budget at the Sept. 5 board meeting.”

Changes Made to Hamlet Trash Can Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI

A number of changes have been made to the rules regarding trash and recycling containers, effective immediately.

Hamlet police say trash and recycling containers must be placed at the roadside no earlier than one day before trash pickup day and must be removed from the roadside no later than one day after pickup day, and they must be stored in a place that is not visible from the roadway if possible, such as the back side of a house or within a fence.

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Shidaker Spotlighted During Knox School Board Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the Knox Community School Corporation, Peggy Shidaker, was spotlighted during the school board’s recent meeting for taking part in HealthLinc’s Back to School Health and Wellness Fair. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said Miss Shidaker and a teacher represented the school in highest regards.

“Miss Shidaker attended the Health Fair along with third grade teacher, Shannon Pitts,” explained Gappa. “They represented the school and passed out information to families who were in attendance that would help them improve their wellness and health of not only their student, but their whole family.”

The pair handed out bus safety information, as well as information on peer pressure. Coloring books and activity books were distributed to the younger students. Approximately 80 students came through the school’s booth.

Yellowstone Trail Festival Preserves Historical Value of Trail

Posted on Author WKVI

The first transcontinental roadway in America is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year! The Yellowstone Trail, a designated roadway going from Plymouth Rock, Mass., to Peugeot Sound, Wash., was a no-cost idea to help travelers of the newest mode of transportation – the automobile. Large rocks were painted yellow to mark the way for vehicles to follow, and it wasn’t so much a road that was built, but rather a designated route to follow in an effort to cut down on the cost to towns and counties.

Starke County holds the Yellowstone Trail as a central part of its history in the town of Hamlet, and the Yellowstone Trail Festival was started three years ago to help keep the historical trail a part of the town’s living history.

Festival President Audrey Wood says the most important aspect of the festival is the embodiment of history, and the festival makes an effort to not only preserve history, but to remind visitors of the importance of the trail.

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Yellowstone Trail Fest Quickly Approaching

Posted on Author WKVI

In celebration of 100 years of a great road that ran from Plymouth Rock to Puget Sound, the Yellowstone Trail Fest is on its way to Starke County.

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Aug. 17–19, the fest will take place at the Starke County Fairgrounds in Hamlet, featuring a classic car cruise-in, a fun cruise down the Yellowstone Trail, a parade, flea market, and other events.

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School Year Approaching – Drive Safe!

Posted on Author WKVI

The school year begins for most students in our area on Tuesday, so be aware that student traffic will be picking up as they begin walking or biking to school.

The afternoon hours are particularly dangerous for children who walk from school. Drivers are asked to slow down around schools and watch carefully for kids who may emerge suddenly from between two parked cars. Children riding bicycles are often inexperienced, unsteady, and unpredictable, so be sure to slow down and allow at least three feet of passing distance between your vehicle and the bicycle.

If your child drives to school, remind them of these safety tips as they navigate to school. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S. and more than one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur during the after school hours of 3–7 p.m.

Three People Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

Several people received their sentences in the Starke Circuit Court this week.

Rose Martin pleaded guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine as a Class D felony, as well as a D felony charge of Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors with Intent to Manufacture. The remaining counts against her were dismissed, and she will serve 18 months for the charge of Possession of Methamphetamine, and 12 months for the charge of Possession of Precursors. The sentences will be served consecutively, and none was suspended; however, she can serve her executed sentence on home detention through Community Corrections. Martin must also pay a drug interdiction fee of $250, submit to an evaluation at Porter-Starke Services, and complete any recommended treatment. She was credited with 12 days served.

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Global Bioscience Company to Move to North Judson

Posted on Author WKVI

The town of North Judson will be home to another new business.

Kemin, a global bioscience company, will process a variety of spearmint with both flavoring and preservation properties for use in the health, food, companion animal and personal care industries.

Robert Stomp, Kemin’s Director of Operations, said they chose to house this facility in North Judson as farmers in the area have the most knowledge of mint farming. Kemin will be working with the Lambert family to grow and harvest Kemin spearmint on the Lambert family farm.

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Pulaski County Instrumental In Keeping Starke County Jail Population Down

Posted on Author WKVI
David Pearman

With the Starke County Jail construction project pending, Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen and the county officials are still dealing with overcrowding issues in the jail. Some inmates are being housed in the Pulaski County Jail, per an agreement, to help in the overcrowding situation.

Starke County Council President David Pearman said that he hopes that agreement will continue until the new jail is built.

“The state has certified our jail for 62 beds and as we approach that number, we will continue to house inmates outside our jail in another facility. Hopefully, Pulaski County will want to continue working with us.”

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North Judson Town Council Discusses “Urban Chicken” Issue

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson Town Council this week discussed what some council members are referring to as the “urban chicken” issue. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained that because the town does not have an ordinance regulating farm animals within town limits, the council will be reviewing information concerning domestic and farm animals in the town. The town currently has an ordinance for domestic animals, and Henry said they may revise the ordinance to regulate urban farm animals as well.

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Knox Football Players Commended For Storm Clean-up Efforts

Posted on Author WKVI

Dave Bullock from the Knox Park Board appeared before the Knox Community School Board Monday night to thank high school football coach Chris McGowan and the entire football team for helping to pick up debris at Sandy Acres Park after the July 24 storm.

Bullock said 45 members of the team took their time out of practice to help the park members who were swamped with all the wreckage after the storm. The team spent several hours picking up branches and limbs and tiding up the park for regular patrons. He added that some of players remarked that it was some of the hardest work they’d done so far this season.

The board thanked Bullock for his comments and also commended the team for showing great community spirit in a time of need.

Knox School Officials Disappointed In ISTEP Scores

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The three principals and the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the Knox Community School Corporation gave the school board members an overview of the corporation’s ISTEP scores.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa said all of the administrators and the board were disappointed in this year’s scores.

“They dropped in most categories at both the elementary school and a the middle school,” stated Gappa. “Everybody’s gathering together and making action plans on how their going to move forward and turn that around. We’re confident that the plans are going to be successful and do a reversal on the scores.”

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C&C Salvage Shut Down For Permitting, IDEM Violations

Posted on Author WKVI

An injunction order has been filed in the Starke Circuit Court against C&C Salvage and Auto Sales, Inc. in Knox prohibiting them from conducting business until they have applied for and received the proper permits.

According to the injunction, C&C Salvage did not have the proper permits from the Planning Commission to expand its operations, but James Campbell had expanded the salvage and junk yard to the south, nearly doubling its size. Further, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management conducted an inspection in May and found several violations of both state and federal laws.

As a result, the injunction requires Campbell to cease all business operations until every violation of county, state, and federal law is corrected. A fine of $300 per day will be issued to Campbell for every day he is still in violation of the laws since July 30, and he is also required to pay the court costs for the matter as well.

Starke County Commissioners, Council Discuss Jail Project

Posted on Author WKVI
David Pearman

The Starke County Commissioners and the Starke County Council met in a joint session Monday night to discuss the proposed jail project.

Council President David Pearman talked about the overall objective of the meeting.

“The overall goal of the meeting was to finally end up with getting the first look at the proposed ordinance that would enable us to utilize the 0.65 percent tax rate,” said Pearman. “However, what we did for the benefit of the rest of council, was basically go through the jail presentation but also, during each slide, kind of give a feel and some flavor of what the public had during our presentations.”

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Starke Co. Sheriff’s Department’s Tower Irreparable – Must Be Replaced

Posted on Author WKVI
IT Director Joe Short

The Starke County Commissioners this week heard from IT Director Joe Short, who gave them a bit of bad news. The Sheriff’s Department’s radio tower was damaged by last month’s storms, and Short told the commissioners that no tower companies will make repairs to the tower. Once it’s damaged, Short says, the entire tower must be replaced.

This is a huge undertaking, as the tower would have to not only be completely rebuilt, but it would also have to be expanded. When the tower was originally built, regulations weren’t quite so strict, but now regulations require heavier-duty towers. The base would have to be expanded from its previous five-foot base to a 16-foot base. Short says they’ve received a few proposals and they’re still waiting to learn how much of the expense will be covered by insurance.

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Knox Kindergarten Teachers Meet With Incoming Kindergartners

Posted on Author WKVI

The kindergarten teachers from the Knox Community School Corporation and Peggy Shidaker, the director of curriculum and instruction, recently visited all of the incoming kindergarten students and their families to welcome them into the school corporation.

Shidaker discusses those visits.

“During those visits, we met the child, we met the parents, we also took materials and distributed some activity books, an activity calendar, a book and a t-shirt donated by IU Health Starke Hospital. All of our kindergarteners are going to show up on that first day of school with a brand-new t-shirt,” said Shidaker.

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Work Session Tonight Regarding Knox Elementary Palmer Wing

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board will hold a work session tonight to discuss the possible Palmer Wing Elementary School construction project.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa says tonight’s meeting is to gather more public opinion on the condition of the Palmer Wing.

“Part of the elementary school is coming up on 60 years old and there’s some work that needs to be done,” said Gappa. “The board feels that it’s time for them to make a decision. They want to go with one more public meeting to get input from the patrons of the community. So, the board has scheduled an open meeting workshop at 6 p.m. and that will be held in the Palmer Wing All-Purpose Room which is at the east end of the elementary school.”

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Knox Man Arrested For Residential Entry, Stalking

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man was arrested Friday after allegedly entering a woman’s home in Pulaski County without permission.

The victim called police to say that David Mattes had come to her house without her permission and she wanted him off her property. When she called police, she was in her back yard with her dog and a wooden stick while he was inside her home. Police arrived on scene, found Mattes and ordered him to the ground. He was then taken into custody.

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Starke County Bridge 51 Replacement Underway

Posted on Author WKVI
Steve Siddall

Starke County Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall presented the county commissioners this week with an update on the progress of repairs on Bridge 51, located on County Road 700 South in North Bend Township. The commissioners had accepted a bid in July from LaPorte Construction to perform the replacement of the bridge at a cost of $224,328.25 – the lowest bid submitted.

According to Siddall, the bridge needed replaced because the wooden caps that had been installed on the bridge in the 1950s have crushed and failed, and he says this bridge was scheduled to be replaced in 2011.

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