NJ-SP to Purchase Two New 72-Passenger Buses

Superintendent Lynn Johnson
Superintendent Lynn Johnson
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation will soon be toting kids around in style, after the approval for the purchase of two new 72-passenger buses. Superintendent Lynn Johnson told WKVI that the school board approved the bus bids to purchase the new buses after they received three bids, but only two of the bids came back with trade-ins.

Johnson said allowing the trade-ins was vital, as two buses were ready to be cycled out and the extra money would go a long way financially – especially since the buses will cost a total of $157,000.

Midwest Transit submitted the lowest bid, which the board accepted.

Amanda Barber to Discuss Publishing Pitfalls at SCPL Today

Henry F. Schricker Library
Henry F. Schricker Library
The Starke County Public Library will soon be hosting a discussion with a recently published author who will explain the headache-inducing process of getting a book published. Rachael Herbert-Varchetto, program coordinator at the library, said Amanda Barber, author of “The Pursuit of Elizabeth Millhouse,” will talk about some of the difficulties she had in getting her work published.

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Great American Smoke Out Urged Americans to Drop the Habit

 
 
The American Cancer Society’s 38th Great American Smoke Out was held yesterday, when Starke County residents were encouraged to drop the habit in celebration of the event. Brittany Ward, a respiratory therapist at IU Health Starke Hospital, said even though the event is over, now is still the perfect time to quit.

“According to the American Cancer Society, the Great American Smoke Out is held on the third Thursday in November. During this day, smokers across the nation make a plan to quit or plan in advance to quit smoking today. It challenges people to stop using tobacco and makes people aware of the many tools and resources they can use to quit for good,” Ward said.

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Overall Cost of a Thanksgiving Meal Lower in 2013

Thanksgiving Dinner
 
It looks like a Thanksgiving meal will cost a little less this year, according to an informal survey of grocery costs from Indiana Farm Bureau.

The average cost for this year’s Thanksgiving meal for 10 is $48.12 which is $3 less than last year’s average. The shopping list includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and both coffee and milk.

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Kewanna Man Faces Charges Stemming from Fatal 2012 Hunting Trip

 
 

A Kewanna man accused of fatally shooting a friend in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun during a 2012 hunting trip in rural Fulton County faces multiple felony charges. Indiana Conservation Officers and Fulton County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Matthew Carlson, 25, at his residence Wednesday night. He’s charged with reckless homicide and criminal recklessness as C felonies as well as a D felony offense of criminal recklessness. The charges stem from the Sept. 30, 2012 shooting death of Kenneth Moore, 28, of Rochester. Investigators say the men were hunting together on private property north of Rochester with another adult male and a 12-year-old boy. Information released shortly after the incident occurred indicates the hunting party split into two groups, and Moore and the boy walked into an adjacent cornfield. Shortly afterward, Carlson picked up the gun and shot Moore in the head. He was pronounced dead a short time later at Woodlawn Hospital in Rochester.

 

Freet Found Not Guilty

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse
A Knox man was found not guilty after a two-day trial in Starke Circuit Court.

Rodney Freet Jr. was charged with child solicitation after an incident reported in January. A six-member jury in Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall’s court took less than an hour to deliberate and found Freet not guilty of the charge.

Five witnesses for the state were called to the stand while two witnesses were called by the defense, including the defendant.

Starke County Commissioners Proceed Carefully With Utility Vehicle Ordinance

 
 
Starke County Commissioners are proceeding carefully with the drafting of an ordinance to allow utility vehicles on county roads. They chose to separate gasoline powered vehicles like John Deere Gators and Kawasaki Mules from the policy they recently passed to allow battery operated golf carts to be driven on county roads. County attorney Marty Lucas is researching policies from other jurisdictions and hopes to have a draft recommendation for the commissioners to consider when they meet on Monday, Dec. 2. The intent of the proposed ordinance, according to the commissioners, is to allow utility vehicles with steering wheels, roll bars and seatbelts that are properly insured to be operated on roads while still restricting all-terrain vehicles like 3- and 4-wheelers.

Pulaski Commissioners Hear Recycling Center Update

Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
The Pulaski County Commissioners heard a regular report from the director of the Recycling and Transfer Station, Ed Clark, who explained the center is once again suffering from equipment problems. Commissioner Larry Brady agreed with Clark, and said one of the tractors the center uses is in disrepair and will need replaced.

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Marshall County Officials Look to Reduce Road Repair Costs Caused by Horse and Buggy Units

  
 
The Marshall County Commissioners will be discussing what to do with horse and buggies and the damage they cause to the county’s roads in a future meeting.

Commissioner Jack Roose asked Highway Superintendent Neal Haeck Monday to see what Elkhart and LaGrange county highway departments do to reduce the cost on the wear and tear on roads.

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Construction of North Judson Salt Shed to Begin Dec. 3

  
 
The new salt shed in the town of North Judson is still under construction, but Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said they’re making progress and the concrete floor has been finished. Next up are the cement blocks to be placed on the concrete floor, and following that, ClearSpan will be constructing the structure for the shed.

Materials for the building are expected to be delivered on Nov. 27 with construction expected to begin on Dec. 3.

Henry also said the board held the first reading of the 2014 salary ordinance, and they will move on to the second and third readings on Dec. 2. Following that, the board will advertise the ordinance and put it into effect on Jan. 1.

Oregon-Davis School Board Discusses Transfer of Property

Greg Briles
Greg Briles
The Oregon-Davis School Board discussed the donation of a property back to the township in Hamlet.

Interim Superintendent Greg Briles stated that the property would be used for an upcoming project proposed by the Hamlet Fire Department.

“We’ve been working on the transfer of property in Hamlet, where the elementary school previously sat, back to the township so they would have the capabilities of potentially building a new fire station,” explained Briles.

This was one of the goals set forth the school board at the beginning of the year so this project could move along.

The paperwork for the transfer of property will be officially complete and that project should be wrapped up at the school board’s next meeting on Dec. 16.

NJ-SP Schools to Undergo Technology Upgrade This Weekend

Superintendent Lynn Johnson
Superintendent Lynn Johnson
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation is moving toward the future as they plan to undergo upgrades to their network infrastructure this weekend. Superintendent Lynn Johnson said that because of the increase in technology being used by students, teachers, administrators and everyone else on a daily basis, the networking infrastructure in place throughout the corporation is no longer able to suit their needs. Because of that, the corporation must undergo the upgrade in order to keep up with the demands of technology.

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Great American Smoke Out Approaching; Quit Smoking Now

 
 
The American Cancer Society’s 38th Great American Smoke Out is approaching, and on Nov. 21, Starke County residents are encouraged to drop the habit in celebration of the event. Linda Molenda, coordinator for Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County, said now is the perfect time to quit with the holidays just around the corner.

Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County chairperson Judy Jelinek said the goal is to give smokers the initial push they need in order to beat their nicotine addictions.

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Winter Wonderland Coming to Pulaski County Dec. 7

 
 

The Winter Wonderland event, sponsored by the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, is set for Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET in downtown Winamac.

But first, join the chamber in ushering in the holiday season in the lighting of the Christmas Tree on the Pulaski County Courthouse lawn on Friday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. ET followed by tours of three beautiful homes in Pulaski County. Tickets for the home tour can be purchased at the Pulaski County Chamber office, at Refined or from Winter Wonderland committee members. Tours will be given at Melody Braun’s home as well as at Bailey Hoover’s home and Patrick Shuttrow’s home.

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Donnelly Donates Pay to Ten Indiana Food Banks

Joe Donnelly
Senator Joe Donnelly
Ten food banks across Indiana received a monetary gift from Senator Joe Donnelly on Wednesday.

Donnelly donated his take-home pay for the 16 days of the federal government shutdown to the ten food banks in Indiana. The ten food banks each received a $500 gift from Donnelly.

Senator Donnelly refused to take the salary he received during the shutdown. This action by the federal government had a direct affect on families all over the state as well as businesses and the country’s economy.

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana in South Bend and the Food Finders Food Bank in Lafayette were two of the ten food banks that profited from this action.

LaCrosse-Wanatah Schools Open Late After Workers Hit Gas Line

LaCrosse SchoolSchool is open at LaCrosse following a two-hour delay this morning. Classes at LaCrosse High School were dismissed early yesterday when workers putting in a new parking lot hit an unmarked gas line. No injuries were reported. The line was capped, and the start of school was delayed this morning to allow ample time to make the necessary repairs. School officials tell WKVI news the heat is back on and the building is safe for occupancy. Yesterday’s incident also forced the cancellation of the girls JV and varsity basketball games between LaCrosse and West Central. Those games will be made up tomorrow evening.

 

LaPorte County Metro Operations Unit Announces Two Drug Arrests

 
 

A pair of LaPorte County residents are free on bond following their recent arrests on drug charges. Jason Kazen, 41, and Jenny Kazen, 38, both of Hudson Lake, surrendered themselves at the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office last Thursday after criminal arrest warrants were issued. Both are charged with possession of marijuana as a class D felony. Jenny is also charged with the felony offense of possession of hydrocodone, which is a Schedule II Controlled Substance. Both are free on bond. Their arrests are a result of an investigation by officers from the LaPorte County Metro Operations Unit. The public is encouraged to report potential drug activity to the La Porte County Metro Operations Unit by calling (219) 325-9022.