Uniform Policy for Knox City Wastewater Workers to Change

Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox Wastewater Superintendent provided the city council with a proposed uniform change.

The workers at the wastewater treatment facility are among contaminants and a host of bacteria while on the job. Those materials get on their clothes and the workers proceed to wear those clothes home to their families and into stores when running errands which is not the healthiest option.

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Fundraiser for Christina Franks Tonight

Christina Franks
Christina Franks

A fish fry fundraiser is set for tonight at the Knox Moose Family Center to benefit the family of Knox Middle School student Christina Franks.

Christina, 13, is in need of a heart transplant. She was diagnosed with an enlarged heart two years ago and was hospitalized in July at Riley Hospital for Children as the left ventricle in her heart was failing. She did have surgery in August to install an exterior heart pump which has taken over the work of her heart until she receives a heart transplant.

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Food Donations are Accepted for Holiday Food Bags at PCHS

 Officials with the annual Coordinated Local Assistance Service Project, or CLASP, is asking for your help in assisting your neighbors in need this holiday season.

The collection of specific food items to place in holiday food bags is going on now. If you wish to donate food for the holiday food bags, you may drop off instant potatoes, stuffing, cake mix, pudding green beans, mushroom soup, rolls and hams at the Pulaski County Human Services (PCHS) building in Winamac. Food donations should be made by Dec. 10 so all food items are available for distribution the week of Dec. 10.

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Tippecanoe River State Park Prepares for Halloween Activities

Tippecanoe River State ParkGhouls and goblins will take over Tippecanoe River State Park tomorrow for the annual trick-or-treat celebration in the family campground. Each year the families who camp there decorate their campsites and hand out candy to area children. New this year is a costume contest at the park’s Nature Center at 6 p.m. EDT. The facility will also be decorated for Halloween, thanks to volunteers from the Friends of Tippecanoe River State Park nonprofit organization. The actual trick-or-treating starts at 6:30 in the campground and is scheduled to go on until 8:30. Parking for both the costume contest and trick-or-treat will be in the Nature Center parking lot, and entry fees into the park four miles north of Winamac on U.S. 35 still apply.

Nicholas Kasten Found Not Guilty

 A not guilty verdict was returned in a jury trial conducted in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday afternoon.

In just 10 minutes, a six-member jury found Nicholas Kasten not guilty on a charge of Possession of Cocaine, a Class D Felony. Two witnesses were called for the State of Indiana and Kasten, the defendant, was the only witness for the defense.

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Starke County Commissioners Approve Limited Golf Cart Ordinance

 
 

Starke County now has a golf cart ordinance on the books. The policy only applies to golf carts and not to other types of all-terrain vehicles. The commissioners plan to address the operation of Gators and other types of utility vehicles on county roads in a separate ordinance. The golf cart ordinance requires an operator to possess a county-issued small vehicle permit and carry liability insurance on the vehicle. Permits can be obtained for a cost of $25 each from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office after the vehicle is inspected. Starke County will also honor permits issued by Marshall County. The permit is unique to a single vehicle, which must have brakes in good working condition and an INDOT approved slow-moving vehicle sign. Additionally, golf carts must be equipped with a rear-view mirror, manufacturers serial number plate, front and rear reflectors and working rear brake lights visible from at least 500 feet. Continue reading

Pulaski County Surveyor Not in Favor of Move

 
 

Pulaski County Surveyor Jenny Keller appeared before the commissioners Monday night to discuss the move to the highway garage.

Keller told WKVI that she wanted the commissioners to know her feelings and the feelings of those in the office about the idea of moving from their space in the courthouse out to the county highway garage. She is not in favor of the move and had expressed that opinion to the commissioners in previous talks on the issue.

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Knox Community School Board Gets Update on Teacher Evaluation Model

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board discussed the Standard for Success model used for certified teacher evaluations.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the three building principals delivered the report to the board.

“With this modern technology, they can go into a classroom and do a walk-through and highlight things that are going on in a quick fashion – within five minutes or less. They can show how an extended observation can be hooked in with the RISE evaluation tool and objects can be marked as highly effective, effective or needs improvement at that time and then they can go back and critique that,” explained Gappa.

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Town of Hamlet to Celebrate 150 years

Hamlet 150 YearsThe Sesquicentennial celebration for the Town of Hamlet is tonight.

Clerk-Treasurer Kristina Pitts and the town board members invite all Hamlet residents to take part in the celebration which includes opening a time capsule. The time capsule had been buried at the site of the Hamlet Town Hall for decades. It will be interesting to see what has changed in the town and what officials thought should be remembered during that time period.

Another time capsule will be filled and buried.

The celebration begins at 5 p.m. CT at the Hamlet Town Hall.

Knox City Council Discusses Equipment Purchase

Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council received information on the possible purchase of a machine to help better clear the snow from the downtown area.

Mayor Rick Chambers explained to the council that it would be easier if a little John Deere tractor with a cab and heater be used to clear the snow on the sidewalks downtown. Chambers said the Knox Community School Corporation utilizes similar equipment and it works efficiently.

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Panhandle Pathway Peninsula Prairie Remnant Dedicated

 
 

A remnant of Indiana’s earliest settlers is now preserved along the Panhandle Pathway recreational trail south of Winamac along U.S. 35.

The 3.5 acre portion of the original Prairie Peninsula starts at County Road 400 South and goes north for 6/10 of a mile. The spot will serve as an informational and educational habitat along the trail, which sits in the bed of the former Pennsylvania Railroad. The spot was covered by railroad beds in the 1860s but has been reclaimed by nature in the decade since the railway has been vacated. The ability of the native vegetation to grow and tolerate harsh conditions, combined with their deep root system, have allowed them to thrive once again. The small area contains more than 38 species of native plants. They tend to protect the ecosystem by keeping soil from eroding and filtering water which flows into streams and rivers from silt deposits and pesticides. They also provide a habitat for birds, butterflies and wildlife.

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County Council Appoints Park and Recreation Board Committee

Bass Lake Beach
Bass Lake Beach

Bass Lake Beach is closed for the season, and overnight camping will not be allowed at the campground during the winter months. That’s the decision of the Starke County Commissioners. Richard Callahan will continue to manage the two attractions. The county council is in the process of establishing a park and recreation board to oversee the management of the beach and campground and other non-municipal parks. For now a study committee chaired by county councilman Tony Radkiewicz and comprised of councilman Marvin McLaughlin, commissioner Kathy Norem and county attorney Marty Lucas will decide how to proceed with setting up that panel.

Pulaski County Commissioners Approve Polling Place Changes

 
 

Polling places for voters in Pulaski County will be streamlined during the upcoming election following action by the county commissioners. They adopted the election commission’s recommendation to make the county highway garage on U.S. 35 north of downtown Winamac the polling place for all four Monroe Township precincts. The commissioners also combined the Indian Creek, Harrison and Van Buren Township precincts into one location. Residents of all three will vote in Star City at the community center. The voting machines purchased by the county several years ago will easily accommodate this consolidation, as they can be set for each individual voter. The consolidation also means the county will need fewer Election Day poll workers. Continue reading

Easement Paperwork for New Jail Water Lines Hits Snag

Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council discussed an easement agreement for the water project for the new Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center. The city is putting in water lines that will extend to the property from Henry Drive.

City Attorney David Matsey explained that one of the owners of the property would like to strike a sentence in the agreement which states, “Provided further, that if Owner makes any use of the easement that increases the city operation and maintenance and or restoration costs, then the Owner shall pay for the increase in costs.”

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Groundbreaking Scheduled for New Sheriff’s Department and Detention Center

This building on SR 8 at CR 550 E will soon house the new Starke County Jail.
This building on SR 8 at CR 550 E will soon house the new Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Detention Center.

Starke County officials will break ground for the Starke County Sheriffs Department and Detention Center east of Knox on State Road 8 on Thursday, Nov. 7. The public is welcome to attend the hour-long ceremony, which will begin at 10 a.m. The new 146 bed facility will more than double the capacity of the existing jail, which can hold up to 63 prisoners. The project was prompted by a federal lawsuit due to overcrowding at the jail.

“We’re housing an average of 15-20 prisoners a day in other jail facilities and have had up to 30 Starke County prisoners in the Pulaski County Jail. We are desperate to get this project done,” Sheriff Oscar Cowen said. His term as sheriff ends in 2014, and he’s not eligible to run for reelection due to term limits.

The project timeline calls for completion of the work in two stages. The sheriff’s department will be done by May of 2014, and the detention pods and 911 center will be finished by April of 2015. Bids for the project came in at $13.1 million.

State Superintendent Files Lawsuit Against State Board of Education

 
 

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz has filed a lawsuit against the members of the State Board of Education.

The lawsuit alleges that the members of the state board violated the state’s Open Door Law by taking action in secret by drafting, or directing the drafting of, a letter sent to President Pro Tempore Long and Speaker Brian Bosma on Oct. 16.

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