The trial against a Knox man who was arrested in January on allegations of attempted rape continues today in the Starke Circuit Court. Ryan Povilaitis is charged with numerous felonies and a misdemeanor after he allegedly attacked a woman at a residence they shared and tried to force himself upon her.
An investigation was conducted by the Indiana Department of Child Services and on Aug. 15, officers from the Knox and Hamlet Police Departments executed a search warrant at 408 W. Davis St. in Hamlet.
Lonzo Jackson Jr., 21, was taken into custody at that time in a cooperative effort between the Knox and Hamlet Police Department. Jackson is being held on preliminary charges of Child Molesting, a Class C felony and Child Solicitation, a Class D felony.
Judge Robert O. Bowen approved a plea agreement between the prosecutor and the defense attorney for defendant Toni Cassandra Schutz, 27, who pleaded guilty in the agreement to the charges. On the Manufacturing Methamphetamine charge, Schutz was sentenced to 18 years in the Department of Corrections in which three years were suspended. On the robbery charge, Schutz was sentenced to six years. Continue reading
The Pulaski County EMS Department may soon be taking advantage of a free smartphone app to help lessen the burden on dispatchers in incidents requiring medical airlift support. Nikki Lowry, EMS director for the county, told the commissioners that there is a new app available to allow responders at the scene to call for a helicopter based on dispatch information. The app only requires a written agreement between the county and a medical helicopter provider such as Samaritan or LifeLine.
In this latest scam, the “NIPSCO representative” will threaten disconnection of the customer’s electric service if an immediate payment is not made in order to settle an overdue balance. The scammer directs the victim to purchase a prepaid debit card, specifically a “Green Dot Debit Card” and call back with a receipt and PIN. This allows the scammer to access the card’s funds.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the halls have been decorated in a jungle theme to get the kids “wild about reading.”
The Marshall County Commissioners heard a report from Older Adult Services Director Jackie Wright about the transportation grant.
Wright explained that they are applying for a transportation grant which will be the same amount they received in 2012. The grant will cover the costs in the transportation department.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board this week adopted their 2014 budget for capital projects and bus replacement, and Superintendent Lynn Johnson said the other budgets were approved by the county council at their meeting earlier this week, including the Debt Service, General Fund and Pension budgets.
“Our bus drivers have been great in mornings in getting our kids to school, our buildings look great – they’re nice and clean for our students,” reported Briles. “We also passed out our computers this week. So far the start of our school year has just been fantastic.”
The North Judson utility crew will be out and about next week picking up brush from alongside the roads. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said brush pick-up begins next week on Monday, Aug. 26, and she said any residents who has brush that needs to be disposed of should leave the brush laying alongside their alley before 7 a.m. Monday.
A block party is scheduled on Main Street in Knox early next month for a worthy cause as a number of downtown businesses have stepped up to play a part in raising funds for the Eric Corey Foundation, sponsoring the Turkey Tracks event planned for April. The Turkey Tracks hunt, designed for handicapped and terminally-ill hunters, gives them a chance to do something they love that they might not otherwise be able to do.
Congresswoman Jackie Walorski will be teaming up with Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s office in hosting a fraud prevention workshop next week at the office of Community Services of Starke County in Knox. During the workshop, presentations will be given on the latest scams and what seniors can do to protect themselves from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft.
Labor Day weekend is approaching, marking the end to the summer boating season for Hoosiers and the beginning of hunting seasons in the state. With that in mind, Indiana conservation officers are encouraging boaters and hunters to stay safe and revisit safety plans as we transition from one season to the next.
While on the water, the best way to stay safe is to wear your lifejacket, according to Indiana Boating Law Administrator Lt. Kenton Turner. He said lifejackets continue to be the best way to keep drowning statistics low and state waterways safe. According to the United States Coast Guard, 85 percent of drowning victims in recreational boating accidents died because they were not wearing life preservers.
LaPorte police officers received numerous complaints from residents about unlawful entry into their vehicles. One victim gave police a description of a suspect and the suspect was located with a case in his hand that matched the description of one of the stolen items. The suspect reportedly told police that he found the case lying abandoned and did not know what was inside it. The case contained various cell phones, iPods and car chargers.
Owner Jim Gould stated that during the night of Aug. 8, some unknown person(s) broke the door and lock and entered the business. The suspect then took a crow bar and pried open the lock on a safe in the office and took cash and coins.
If you know anything about this incident, call the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department at (574) 946-6655. You may leave an anonymous tip and if your tip leads to the arrest and conviction of a suspect, you will receive a cash reward.
Plan Commission Director Ralph Booker explained that with the new U.S. 31 project, it was time to update a chapter in the town’s plan to include an upgrade in several aspects of the town. The proposed changes include an upgrade in sidewalks so residents and visitors can safely walk about town; enhance the downtown corridor by creating an attractive and safe community; incorporate welcome signs, decorative lighting and other landscaping to create a friendlier atmosphere, develop a land use plan; and be proactive in the development in the new U.S. 31 realignment.
