Medaryville Man Arrested On Burglary Charges

A Medaryville man has been arrested for his part in a series of alleged burglary incidents in Pulaski County.

James Lindahl, 20, was arrested on two counts of Burglary, four counts of Theft, and one count of Criminal Mischief and Conversion. According to a police investigation, Lindahl reportedly stole tools, jewelry, electronics, and household items from several different residences in June.

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Motorcycle Accident in Marshall County Results in Minor Injuries

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department investigated a motorcycle accident at Peach Road and 19th Road on Sunday.

The driver of the motorcycle, 44-year-old Terrance A. Robins of Plymouth, was traveling on Peach Road when a deer entered his path and he was unable to avoid the collision. During the course of the investigation, police learned Robbins did not have insurance on the motorcycle or a motorcycle endorsement.

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Knox City Council Tables Tax Phase-In for Reagent Chemical

Knox City Council

The Knox City Council last night tabled a motion to allow a ten-year tax phase-in for Reagent Chemical and Research.

Plant Manager Tim Gunter asked the council to approve the phase-in to allow him to expand the business to the tune of approximately $2.5 million in manufacturing equipment, building expansion, and new construction. In addition, Gunter said Reagent would be adding at least 11 jobs with nearly $300,000 in new wages.

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Knox School Board Approves Logging Request Near Washington Twp. School

Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board approved a request made by Washington Township Trustee Shelly Kemble. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says the request was to make some changes on the property where the old school is located.

“At a previous meeting, the trustee from Washington Township was in to ask the board’s permission and approval to do some logging out at the woods at the east end of the property and to use some of that money to help pay for the demolition of the old school in Washington Township. At this last meeting, the board did approve that request of the Washington Township trustee,” Gappa explained.

Starke County Food Pantry Gearing Up For Upcoming Events

Community Services of Starke County
Community Services of Starke County

The season of giving is on its way and the Starke County Food Pantry is once again receiving a decent amount of donations, but Community Services of Starke County Director Joan Haugh emphasized that their other programs are in need of help as well.

“People are so generous. They give to our food pantry, but they kinda forget we have these other needs too. In order for us to continue, we have to raise those dollars. I don’t know what we’d do without the generosity of individuals and agencies and businesses, and I can say the township trustees too; city of Knox, the county commissioners, they give us funds too which helps support our programs,” said Haugh.

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SCYC Looking for Youth Mentors

The Starke County Youth Club is in need of volunteers, and Executive Director Irene Szakonyi said it’s easy to make a different in the life of a young adult. Volunteer mentors – or coaches – play a vital role in reaching out to young adults, and the strong connection that forms helps to make a difference in their life.

Szakonyi explained that coaches can make a healthy connection by listening to their buddy’s concerns, doing activities that their buddy likes to do, and forming a relationship that is often more effective than interacting with teachers, parents, or other adults. The main goal is about starting a friendship and providing a level of guidance to allow each buddy to reach their full potential.

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Ancilla College Gives First-Time Students a Free Taste of College

First-time college students now have the opportunity to sample a taste of higher education, as Ancilla College is now offering a free college course as part of the “We Believe in You” program. The program, designed for adult learners ages 21 and up, allows a student to take a class with up to three credit hours at no cost whatsoever.

All students enrolled in the program will meet with an academic advisor who will assist them every step of the way in attending college for their first time, including assistance with the registration process, help with filing a financial aid application, choosing the right educational opportunities and much more.

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Rock the Belt and Red Ribbon Weeks Promote Student Safety

The past two weeks have been full of activities for Knox High School’s Students Against Destructive Decisions Program Director Carrie Stone. Last week was dedicated to the nationwide “Rock the Belt” campaign for raising seat belt awareness, and this week is the annual “Red Ribbon Week” to raise awareness on drug and alcohol abuse in high schools.

The main point that Stone brought forth about Red Ribbon Week was that teenagers are really ignorant to the fact that their brain is not yet fully developed. Therefore, they aren’t necessarily aware that they do not have the brain capacity to handle alcohol consumption. Red Ribbon Week is designed to bring that point to the attention of high school students. There will be a rock concert on Wednesday at the middle school for the students there and high school SADD members.

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Collision Sends Two to Hospital; Ambulance Involved

Two people were seriously wounded in an accident that occurred early Saturday morning in Pulaski County.

The accident occurred at the intersection of State Road 39 and State Road 14 around 5:30 a.m. ET.  Edward Brooke, of Knox, reportedly pulled out in front of an ambulance at the intersection.  Norman Bathke, 44, of Medaryville, the driver of the ambulance was not injured but Brooke was taken to Pulaski Memorial Hospital with injuries.  The ambulance was registered to United Mobile Care, Inc. of San Pierre.  It was foggy at the time of the accident

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Starke Co. Treasurer’s Office Closed Until Further Notice

Linda Belork (L), Commissioner Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom, Kasey Clark, and Auditor Kay Chaffins reconcile the cash balances

The Starke County Commissioners held an emergency meeting Monday morning where Commissioner Dan Bridegroom made a motion to acknowledge that Linda Belork is the Starke County Treasurer but she can not fully serve in that capacity because a surety bond is not in place at this time and they must close the Treasurer’s Office until further notice.

“The only option that would give us, I feel, to close the office at this time. Yes, she is Treasurer, but we cannot allow her to operate the office because of the liability issues,” stated Bridegroom.

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Man Arrested After Police Find Mobile Meth Lab In Vehicle

A Marshall County man was arrested after police found a meth lab in his car.

Marshall County police received a call that a man was asleep in his car in the parking lot at Lincoln Highway and Queen Road. Officers made contact with the driver, Mark Selner. Police reportedly searched Selner and found that he was in possession of a controlled substance. Upon further investigation, Selner also had an illegal drug lab in the car along with several stolen items.

Marshall County police took Selner into custody and he was booked into the Marshall County Jail on several drug related charges and he is facing Theft charges for the stolen property.

ADA Compliance Efforts Continue in North Judson

Doug Vessely
North Judson Town Marshal Doug Vessely

North Judson Town Marshal Doug Vessely is staying on top of efforts to bring the town up to ADA-compliance codes, and he said he just has a few intersections to look at as far as handicapped accessibility, but besides that, Vessely said everything else is just about up to snuff.

He said he has plans to install a few more handicapped ramps at a number of intersections, as well as permanent handicapped parking spaces at the civic center and community building. On top of that, he said there are plans to improve handicapped access to the parks for those in wheelchairs. Vessely said he has also already added some braille signage to restrooms in the community building.

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West Central Health Occupations Class to Shadow County EMTs

Several West Central students will be getting an up close and personal look at the inner workings of the Pulaski County EMS as they start job shadowing EMTs beginning next semester. At least ten students from the West Central Health Occupations class will begin shadowing at the EMS Department in January.

EMS Director Nikki Lowry explained that this is the second time since she became director in June 2011 that the Health Occupations class has shadowed EMTs, for a good reason: she said it exposes them to the reality of what EMTs do on a daily basis.

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Knox Man Sentenced To 45 Months in DOC For Receiving Stolen Property

Starke County Courthouse

Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall sentenced William Baugh, 21 of Knox, last week after he pleaded guilty to a charge of Receiving Stolen Property in a plea agreement with the state.

Baugh testified that his ex-girlfriend gave him some zippo lighters to pawn at the pawn shop in Knox. Baugh also said that his ex-girlfriend had gotten them from her grandmother and it was okay for him to pawn them. According to more testimony, it was learned that the lighters were not the woman’s grandmother’s but her stepfather’s. The victim made a statement in court that the items were taken without his consent and was extremely upset that the items were stolen and pawned. He asked the pawn shop to hold those items because they were stolen and he called the police to make a report. The victim told Judge Hall that the items were sold anyway. He indicated that the lighters were a collection of his mother’s and there were over 200 of them in the collection worth $1,500. There were also some Star Wars memorabilia items that were pawned.

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Knox Community School Adopts Superintendent Evaluation Process

Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members formally adopted a superintendent evaluation process at their recent meeting. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said that the adoption needed to be done per state law.

“I attended a meeting last summer with three of our board members to talk about the Indiana Superintendent Evaluation Process,” said Gappa. “The Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA), in conjunction with the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents (IAPSS), put together a process that’s very similar to the new RISE evaluation process that is used for teachers and principals in the schools. Our board, following that presentation, adopted the Indiana Superintendents evaluation process that was put together by the ISBA and the IAPSS.”

Medaryville Man Allegedly Batters Victim

police badge

A Medaryville man was questioned by Pulaski County Sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday after an alleged battery incident.

The suspect, Arnold Neely, 49, told police that he and the victim had been at the American Legion in Medaryville. When they returned home, the pair started arguing and Neely allegedly pushed the victim. The victim fell on the ground beside the wood stove and broke beer bottles and the glass table near the scene.

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Plymouth Man Arrested for Theft, Fleeing Police

A Plymouth man was arrested Saturday after a shoplifting incident.

Plymouth police officers were called to Martin’s Supermarket in reference to a theft incident. Officers arrived on scene and the suspect, 24-year-old Garrett Gilpin, fled from them in a vehicle. He was apprehended a short time later in the vicinity of Suter Road in Plymouth.

Gilpin was arrested on preliminary charges of Theft, Resisting Law Enforcement, and Driving While Suspended with a Prior Conviction.

Knox City Council To Discuss Tax Abatement for Reagent Chemical

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers

The Knox City Council will discuss a number of important topics at their meeting tonight, including a tax abatement request by Reagent Chemical and Research, LLC.

Mayor Rick Chambers explained that because he did not receive the paperwork for Reagent’s tax abatement until yesterday morning, it is unlikely that they will be able to approve the abatement at their meeting tonight. Chambers said that the city attorney, David Matsey, needs more time to go over the paperwork and ensure its accuracy.

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