Elisabeth Smith began work yesterday as the new 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator. Elisabeth is from Rush County in Indiana, a graduate of Butler University, and has spent the last few years teaching elementary students in Maryland. She has moved home to be closer to her family and to reclaim her Hoosier roots. We found out yesterday that Elisabeth was an active 4-H member in her county when she was young.
The Energy Assistance Program for LaPorte, Pulaski, and Starke County residents is in full swing, as the North Central Community Action Agencies, Inc. and Community Services of Starke County have begun taking applications.
Don’t forget the Starke United Auction today at the CenturyLink warehouse. The auction begins at 10:00 a.m. when WKVI comes on the air with its remote broadcast. The auction will last at least until 4:00 p.m. and there are scores of items for sale.
It’s the perfect time to do a little Christmas shopping and to help Starke United.
There will be a Democrat Caucus tonight to select a replacement for Linda Belork, but the replacement will not be called the Treasurer of Starke County. Linda Belork, with counsel, appeared before Judge Kim Hall yesterday seeking an injunction against a Democrat caucus being held to fill her position by the precinct committeemen.
Judge Hall ruled that because State Statute does not guide him in this motion he would fashion a ruling on the testimony. The judge interviewed Attorney Ethan Lowe as well as Democrat Chairman Ken Wallace. When completed, Judge Hall ruled that a caucus could proceed tonight, but that the person selected would be referred to as the Interim Treasurer. As the Interim Treasurer, the candidate would have the full authority of the Treasurer’s position to make decisions and sign documents.
Two candidates are seeking the opportunity to fill the Starke County Interim Treasurer’s position in tonight’s Democrat Caucus. The appointed person will fill the term of Linda Belork until a Jasper County Court settles a suit between her and the Starke County Commissioners. If Belork wins the court case, she will reclaim the office and the caucus winner will vacate the position. If Belork loses the suit, the caucus winner will automatically have the Interim designation removed from her title, and the candidate will become the Treasurer.
An arson incident is being investigated in Knox.
Knox-Center Township Fire Department firefighters were called to a garage fire at 0020 N. 500 E. in Knox on Thursday, November 22nd. Firefighters discovered a fire along the back wall of the garage and it was quickly extinguished. The fire was ruled electrical/accidental. Firefighters were called to the same residence the next day and extinguished another fire that was located on the back wall of the garage near the location of the previous fire.
Following their arrest on November 23rd at a residence in Knox, the five individuals arrested in relation to drug activity at 605 South Portland Street made their initial appearances in the Starke Circuit Court yesterday.
Joseph Givens and Kristin Webb face charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, and Possession of Marijuana, while Brooke Webb is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, four counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana, and Visiting a Common Nuisance. Nikki Givens faces charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, and Possession of Marijuana, and Zachariah Whitfield faces a charge of Maintaining a Common Nuisance.
As part of a company-wide initiative spanning all of their territory, NIPSCO has marked the completion of a very successful employee giving campaign, including a monetary donation to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. NIPSCO’s donation will provide up to 12,000 meals to Elkhart, Kosciusko, La Porte, Marshall, Starke, and St. Joseph County homes.
Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski said that January 11th will be first day that you can file candidacy for office in the 2012 election.
The office of Starke County Surveyor will be up for election in 2012, as well as Starke County Treasurer, Commissioner District 1 and District 3 and three at-large County Council seats.
Don’t forget the Starke United Auction tomorrow. It’s a great way to purchase some of those Christmas gifts, and help a very worthwhile organization.
Starke United Executive Director, Julie Dessauer, announced that you will be able to bid on signed sports memorabilia, Chicago Bears tickets, jewelery, $100.00 NIPSCO gift certificates, a 16 gig I-Pod 2 and a 1993 Cadillac. Those are just a few of the items that have come in over the past few days.
There will be a Democrat Caucus tomorrow night to select a replacement for Linda Belork, but the replacement will not be called the Treasurer of Starke County. Linda Belork, with counsel, appeared before Judge Kim Hall in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning seeking an injunction against a Democrat caucus being held to fill her position by the precinct committeemen.
Judge Hall ruled that because State Statute does not guide him in this motion he would fashion a ruling on the testimony. The judge interviewed Belork’s Attorney, Ethan Lowe, as well as Democrat Chairman Ken Wallace. When completed, Judge Hall ruled that a caucus could proceed tomorrow night, but that the person selected would be referred to as the Interim Treasurer. As the Interim Treasurer, the candidate would have the full authority of the Treasurer’s position to make decisions and sign documents.
The question now is who pulled the trigger in the slaying of Wilma Upsall of Leiters Ford? That’s a question investigators are trying to determine and according to some news sources, the finger is pointing at Roy Bell of Rochester.
WSBT-TV reported yesterday that court documents point to Bell as the shooter of Wilma Upsall when she was tied to a chair. She was shot multiple times. The court documents, according to the WSBT report, said one of the accused, Jason Miller, of Plymouth, told investigators that he and William Scroggs, of Delong, were outside when they heard the shots and that Bell told them later that Upsall had seen his face.
The Starke County Commissioners were brought up to date on the activities of the Starke County Jail Committee last week. Commissioner Kathy Norem, who heads up the committee, introduced Scott Cherry, Account Executive with the Skillman Corporation, a construction management firm with headquarters in Indianapolis and a regional office in Merrillville.
Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen asked the Starke County Commissioners for a second new police car this year. Cowen told the Commissioners that an insurance check for a wrecked vehicle has been received.
“I don’t know the exact number but it was over $8,000,” said Cowen. “I had asked once to buy a used car to replace but then I said just hang on to money and hopefully with that we have enough money to look toward our second new car this year.”
Michael Allen, of Winamac, was arrested on Friday, November 25th after he allegedly threatened a female victim and a police officer over the phone.
The victim was at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department making a complaint against Allen saying that he keeps calling her phone and harassing her. While she was talking to the Jail Deputy, the phone rang and the victim said it was Allen calling. The Jail Deputy answered the phone and identified himself as an employee of the Sheriff’s Department and Allen continued to speak to the jail deputy using vulgar language and threatening the life of the jail deputy. The victim then spoke with a police officer who explained the situation. The phone rang again and the officer answered, identified himself and Allen allegedly swore and threatened the life of the victim and her family. He threatened the officer when he called her phone again. The officer called him from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and asked if he could speak with Michael Allen and he said that he wasn’t there, but he sounded just like the suspect. The officer asked for his address and he gave it to him, but when police arrived at the residence, he was gone.
SCILL Center Director Jerry Gurrado said that over 500 coats have been collected in their coat drive this year.
Do you need a coat? Is your family in need of coats? Gurrado said that the coats will be distributed at the Knox United Methodist Church from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT this Saturday, on December 10th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT at the Knox Christian Church, and on December 17th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT at the Knox United Methodist Church. If you need more information, call Jerry Gurrado at 772-8001.
36 years ago today, the Knox Mall officially opened. Ribordy Drugs entered the new building first. Five Star, which was located across the street where Smith Farm Store is now, moved in a couple of days later.
The three men suspected of killing Wilma Upsall of Leiters Ford were in Fulton Superior Court this (Tuesday) morning. Judge Wayne Steele conducted the initial hearing and set a pre-trial hearing for January 10th and a Jury Trial for April 3rd. The three had not guilty pleas entered for them.
The attorney for Linda Belork has notified Starke County Democrat Chairman, Kenny Wallace, that he, on behalf of his client, is challenging the right of the party to hold a caucus Thursday night, December 1st to name a new Starke County Treasurer.
Belork was removed from office by county officials in August when a State Board of Accounts report noted funding discrepancies totaling thousands of dollars. Those discrepancies eventually were resolved, but Belork was never reinstated to the office.
Dewey Smith, Jr., 40, a 1989 Knox High School graduate, was found dead inside a burning mobile home just south of New Paris, in Elkhart County on Friday, November 25th. The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department was able to identify Smith’s body today. An autopsy was scheduled for today to determine the cause of death.
