Plymouth Municipal Airport Changes Course

Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter

Plymouth Municipal Airport had found itself in dismal condition after 30 years of neglect. Run-down and overgrown, the 45-year-old airport hadn’t seen any kind of improvements in the last three decades, but Mayor Mark Senter sought to change that.

Senter was elected in 2008 and immediately took an interest in the airfield. He appointed new members to the Board of Aviation Commissioners, including its new president, Tom Flynn. Flynn explained that everything about the airport had been redone, including a new tile floor, fresh paint, and even a mural by college student Kailee Shearin. Shearin had painted a mural for the lobby in exchange for the promise of an airplane ride.

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Unclaimed Property Workshop Scheduled For Wednesday

A workshop is scheduled to help you search for money in unclaimed properties and protect your credit.

Amanda Meyer from the Attorney General’s Office will help you perform unclaimed property searches. There are over $300 million in the state’s lost and found properties. Legally, places of business, banks and any other institution that is holding a person’s money has to turn it into the state, where it is kept for 25 years and, if not claimed, it goes into the state’s General Fund. This is an opportunity to see if you have any money coming to you.

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Culver EMS Steps Up Volunteer Recruiting Efforts

Culver EMS Director Chuck Dilts told the town board this week that his department has been working through various means to get more volunteers, and their efforts have paid off. He says they’ve had several inquiries as a result of their increased effort, and an EMT course began Monday with a dozen students.

Culver EMS has sponsored several of the students, but Dilts requested permission to spend $4000 to sponsor the eight remaining EMTs enrolled in the class. He says that, in return, the students would sign a one-year agreement to serve as a volunteer. Funds for the sponsorship would come from his budget.

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La Porte Man Arrested For Dealing Schedule 1 Controlled Substance

A search of a La Porte residence ended in the arrest of a man for Dealing in a Schedule I Controlled Substance as a Class A felony.

Thirty-year-old Marcus Bluitt, a La Porte resident, was arrested after police searched a home at 1003 Indiana Ave. and found prescription medications, marijuana, and a large sum of cash. He is currently held on a $150,000 bond through La Porte Circuit Court.

The operation was a cooperative effort between the La Porte Metro Operations Unit, La Porte Police Department Patrol and Detective Bureau, and the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau. Police say that this operation is an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking, dealing, and distribution in La Porte County, and they expect further arrests as a result of the operation.

Funeral Services Planned For Winamac Drowning Victim

Cynthia Jackson

Funeral services have been finalized for a Winamac woman who reportedly drowned in a pond on a property in Winamac. The body of fifty-four-year-old Cynthia L. Jackson was found by her son, Andrew Jackson, after she had gone swimming in a pond at 4242 W. 400 N. in Winamac.

Funeral services will be held at the Frain Mortuary in Winamac at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 27. Andrew Jackson will officiate the ceremony, and visitation will take place after 2 p.m. ET on the day of services at the funeral home. Contributions may be given to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Jackson was a resident of Winamac for 14 years and a former resident of Chesterton.

Pulaski County Coroner Steve VanDerAa says the incident remains under investigation, but no foul play is suspected.

Plymouth Police Make Several Theft Arrests

A Grovertown woman was arrested Thursday after a shoplifting incident in Plymouth.

Plymouth police were called to Martins Supermarket on a report of theft. During a search of 35-year-old Sara Hopkins, she was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. She was arrested and booked into the Marshall County Jail on preliminary charges of Theft and Possession of a Controlled Substance. She was given a $1,500 bond.

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Karen Salzer To Run For House of Representatives

Karen Salzer

Karen Salzer has announced her candidacy for the Indiana House of Representatives in District 20.

Salzer, a lifelong LaPorte resident, says she will focus her candidacy on protecting middle class families and working Hoosiers who have faced a series of attacks, including the recent passage of Right to Work.

Salzer added that incumbent State Representative Tom Dermody has repeatedly left middle class families behind and that his failed leadership allowed Republicans to spend the money from the sale of the toll road in only five years, leaving 70 years left for the tolls to increase and jeopardizing Indiana’s future.

House District 20 includes parts of LaPorte and Starke counties. It includes the communities of Knox, Hamlet, LaPorte, Walkerton, Union Mills and Rolling Prairie.

Police Trace Bookbag Containing Precursors Back To Hamlet Man

On Wednesday, June 13, officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department traveled to a residence near 1000 East and 500 North in regards to a book bag that was reportedly thrown from a vehicle.

When the officers arrived, they discovered methamphetamine precursors inside the bag, along with identification belonging ato a Travis O. Davis. After an investigation, police located Davis on June 19 at a residence on Railroad Street in Hamlet.

Davis was arrested and faces preliminary charges of Possession of Precursors.

Student Loan Interest Rates Could Soon Spike

Interest rates for student loans are expected to double if Congress doesn’t act to keep them low.

U.S. Representative Joe Donnelly has called on Congress to act quickly so the more than 260,000 students in Indiana with loans can save an average of nearly $1,000 over the life of their loans.

Donnelly previously supported cutting student loan interest rates in half – lowering them from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent in 2007. If Congress doesn’t act by June 30, these rates will increase back to their original rate.

Indiana Farm Bureau Approves of Bipartisan Farm Bill

Thursday’s passage of the bipartisan farm bill by the U.S. Senate has the approval of the Indiana Farm Bureau.

The bill includes many provisions that are good for Indiana farmers and provides a valuable safety net.

American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman says the bill includes important provisions to enhance crop insurance, maintain a viable marketing loan program, and minimize the potential for farm program provisions to drive producer decisions.

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Week in Review for June 18th-22nd, 2012

Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

A burn ban was enacted Monday in Pulaski County. The Commissioners are prohibiting open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood or other combustible material, with the exception of grills. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation and recreational campfires, unless enclosed, is prohibited. You are also asked to not discharge any fireworks. This ban is in effect until Noon ET on Monday, June 25th when conditions will be reevaluated. The Starke County Commissioners have enacted a burn ban in the county which is in effect until July 2nd. Continue reading

Three Arrested on Meth Charges

Three Starke County residents were arrested Thursday on drug charges after a search warrant was executed by the officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.

Officers went to 6135 E. 100 N. in Knox and found one pot meth labs, generators, items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, the finished meth product and drug paraphernalia.

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Smoke-Free Information Session Clears The Air

Starke County Health Nurse Frank Lynch, Pulaski County Environmental Health Specialist Sherry Fagner, Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Commission Regional Director Rachelle Back, and Officer Patrick.

An information session regarding the new statewide smoking ban was held last night at the Bass Lake Community Center, and the more than fifty people that attended learned not just what the law covers, but what procedures need to be followed in order for businesses that qualify for an exemption to receive one.

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Starke County Fireworks Are Still A Go

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers has confirmed that the Starke County fireworks celebration on Wednesday, July 4 will take place at the Starke County Airport. Get to the airport early so you can enjoy demonstrations from the Starke County Amateur Radio Club as well as a remote control plane club. Food and souvenirs will be available from several vendors. The gate opens at 6 p.m. and the firework show begins at dusk.

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Public Hearing Scheduled For Marshall County Golf Cart Ordinance

A public hearing on the proposed golf cart ordinance in Marshall County has been set for Monday, July 2.

The Marshall County Commissioners called for the hearing after a number complaints were filed when the first reading of the golf cart ordinance was passed earlier this month, restricting the carts to certain areas of the county.

Marshall County Commissioner Jack Roose said that the ordinance allows golf carts on roads around the county’s lakes, including Lake Maxinkuckee, Koontz Lake, Pretty Lake, Lake of the Woods, Lawrence Lake, Lake Myers, Cook/Holm Lakes and Kreighbaum/Millpond Lakes. The ordinance also allows golf cart use around Culver Military Academy, although residents are reminded that golf carts cannot be used on a state highway at any time.

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North Judson Town Board Discusses Audit Report

North Judson Town Board

The North Judson Town Board this week discussed an audit report from the State Board of Accounts for the audit that had been performed for the town in January and February. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the report is available online at www.in.gov/sboa, and an official record is available in her office.

Henry says the meeting included some discussion over the audit, which identified financial discrepancies totaling $74,408.67 with the majority of discrepancies in the cemetery lot sales category. Based on the information posted in the cemetery book, and the confirmations that were returned with receipts, the examiners determined that $40,350 was collected for cemetery lots sales but that amount was not receipted to the records. Former Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller was requested to reimburse the town for this amount, but in a letter to the state board of accounts, Miller wrote that she “strenuously objected to any allegations or suggestions” that she had “done any wrong for personal gain.”

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Starke County Council Considers Purchase Of New Tax Software

David Pearman

The Starke County Council discussed the purchase of new software for the Sheriff’s Department to help automate tax warrants and the cash books.

Starke County Council President David Pearman said the biggest concern is the cost for both components which were explained in the proposal given by Rick Culiver from Lieberman Technologies.

“The biggest issue is that it has a pretty substantial cost behind it and it has a pretty substantial maintenance cost,” said Pearman.

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Pulaski County Highway Department To Sell Old Items

Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

Pulaski County Highway Superintendent Kenny Becker told the county commissioners this week that since the department has received a new trailer, they would like to sell some other items they have gathering dust.

Becker said they would like to sell an old dump truck, the old trailer that they had replaced, a Dodge pickup truck with transmission problems, and a 1975 T500 that they have been unable to find parts for. He said he feels selling the items would be best, since there is no sense in the items just taking up space.

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New Culver Town Manager Gets Right To It

Culver Town Council Members Ed Pinder, Ralph Winters, Ginny Bess, Sally Ricciardi
Culver Town Council Members (from left to right) Ed Pinder, Ralph Winters, Ginny Bess, Sally Ricciardi

After newly-hired Culver Town Manager David Schoeff introduced himself to the community this week at the meeting of the town council, and thanked the community for its warm welcome, he got right to business.

Schoeff told the council that he had a meeting scheduled with the local OCRA representative, Gerry White, at 1 p.m. on Wednesday this week to discuss any outstanding projects, and to get an idea of what areas can be improved by future projects. Utilities Superintendent Bob Porter and Clerk-Treasurer Karen also attended this meeting.

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Early Transfer Of Funds Approved By West Central School Board

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Corporation approved an early transfer of funds. Superintendent Charles Mellon said the action is just to make sure there is money in the transportation fund until the end of the year.

“If we don’t get our county draw by June 30, then our transportation account would be in the red instead of the black. The auditors don’t like to see that, so we moved money from the Capital Projects Fund to Transportation. We’ll move it back before the end of December,” stated Mellon.