Kyle Busch Tames Monster Mile in Two Races

Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Buckle Up 200 Presented By Click It Or Ticket at Dover International Speedway on May 31, 2014 in Dover, Delaware. Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Buckle Up 200 Presented By Click It Or Ticket at Dover International Speedway on May 31, 2014 in Dover, Delaware.Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Buckle Up 200 Presented By Click It Or Ticket at Dover International Speedway on May 31, 2014 in Dover, Delaware.Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Buckle Up 200 Presented By Click It Or Ticket at Dover International Speedway on May 31, 2014 in Dover, Delaware. Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images
Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Buckle Up 200 Presented By Click It Or Ticket at Dover International Speedway on May 31, 2014 in Dover, Delaware. Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images

Miles the Monster should be afraid of Kyle Busch as he won the Buckle Up 200 presented by Click it or Ticket Saturday afternoon in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway. He also won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Friday night. Can he win all three races this weekend?

Busch had to work in the beginning to get to the lead. Pole-sitter Joey Logano had a strong lead and Busch made his way to the second spot by lap 49. By lap 63, Busch gained on Logano and after a debris caution on lap 73, Busch was able to power his way to clean air. Trevor Bayne and Matt Kenseth attempted to get the lead from Busch on a couple of tries but the No. 54 was too strong to take any opposition.

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IU Health Starke Employees Spruce Up Sandy Acres Park

IMG_9915The pavilion and picnic benches at Sandy Acres Park got a fresh coat of paint, thanks to IU Health Starke Hospital associates and their families. President Craig Felty says they chose the site for their annual day of service. They worked with Knox Park Superintendent George Byer to figure out how to best use their time and talents. Associates tackled several projects. They painted picnic tables and the park pavilion, installed exercise equipment and spread mulch in the play areas. Felty says all of the IU Health associates enjoy getting out and giving time back to the community.

Kick Off Summer Reading With an Ice Cream Party

Culver-Union Township Public LibraryThe Culver-Union Township Public Library is getting the summer started with an ice cream party. The Monday afternoon event marks the start of their summer reading program for children, teens and adults. The hourlong event starts at 2 p.m. EDT Monday afternoon in the library’s large meeting room. Local author Jack Johnson will read from his children’s book “The Ice Cream Hotel” and sign copies. Registration is open to library patrons of all ages. The free summer reading program continues through Thursday, July 31. Call the Culver-Union Township Public Library at 574-842-2941 or visit http://www.culver.lib.in.us/ for more information.

Oregon-Davis Students Surpass Mini-Relay Goal

20140530_134900Each year the Oregon-Davis School Corporation does their part for cancer research by collecting donations for the American Cancer Society.

Elementary school special education teacher Roberta Salyer is responsible for starting the program and for keeping it running for ten years now. Last year the school raised $1,200 for ACS. This year their goal was $1500. Classrooms had donation jars in them over the last few weeks and people could make donations at yesterday’s mini relay for life.

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SCILL Center Students Graduate

20140529_182649“The choices you make today will follow you tomorrow” was the message that guest speaker Janice Hernandez wanted the students to take away from the SCILL graduation ceremony Thursday evening.

Hernandez is in charge over at Integrity Trade Services and advised the students gradating from the program to include their work with the SCILL Center on their resumes.

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Knox Community Schools Participate in Summer Nutrition Program

 The Knox Community Schools are participating in the U.S.D.A. Summer Feeding Program this year. This is an opportunity for members of the community to receive meals Monday through Thursday throughout the summer. Breakfast will be served at the Knox High School at 7:15 a.m. until 8:15 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. The program lasts from June 9 until July 3. Any questions may be directed to Knox Community Schools Director of Food Services Sandra Landry at 574-772-1632.

Kyle Busch Continues His Winning Ways, Ryan Blaney Bounces Back

Kyle Busch, driver of the #51 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Lucas Oil 200 at Dover International Speedway on May 30, 2014 in Dover, Delaware. Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images
Kyle Busch, driver of the #51 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Lucas Oil 200 at Dover International Speedway on May 30, 2014 in Dover, Delaware. Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images

Kyle Busch seems to know his way around a race track in a truck. He’s started in four truck races this season and has won in every entry.

He started on the pole and Busch won the Lucas Oil 200 at Dover International Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on Friday night.

Matt Crafton gave Busch some good competition in the middle of the race. Prior to a caution that was brought out by a spin by Brennan Newberry, Busch came down pit road for service. He didn’t get the service as his crew chief pushed him on through as the yellow flag was displayed. He would get service when the other trucks came down pit road for tires and fuel. After that round of pit stops on lap 76, Matt Crafton took the lead.

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Drug Offenders Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

 Several sentencing hearings were held in Starke Circuit Court this week where some heavy sentences were handed down to drug offenders.

Joseph Lippner pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a charge of Dealing in a Controlled Substance (heroin) as a Class B felony. Judge Kim Hall accepted the plea agreement and sentenced Lippner to ten years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with no part of the sentence suspended. As part of the plea agreement, he waived his right to appeal his sentence. He will be able to participate a therapeutic community while incarcerated.

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Summer Jobs May Carry Tax Consequences

IRS logoYoung people who plan to work this summer need to be aware of the tax consequences of doing so. For instance, an employer is required to withhold federal and state taxes from your check. The amount is determined after you complete a W-4 Employee Withholding Allowance Certificate, which your employer will submit to the IRS. Tip income is also taxable and should be reported to your employer and the IRS. Money earned doing work for others is also taxable. This includes jobs like babysitting and mowing lawns. Keep good records of expenses incurred, like gas for your lawn mower. You may be able to subtract them from the amount of taxes you owe and lower your taxes. Active duty pay for students enrolled in ROTC is taxable, but the subsistence allowance you get while in advanced training is not.

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Food Finders Mobile Food Pantry Schedules Medaryville Stop

 
 

The mobile food pantry is on a roll! Pulaski County residents who meet income guidelines can receive assistance from the Food Finders Food Bank Mobile Pantry at the Medaryville Town Park on Friday, June 6 from 11 a.m until 1 p.m Eastern Standard Time. The provided food will include fresh produce, essential non-perishable items, breads, and assortment of frozen foods. In 2012 Food Finders provided over 6 million pounds of food across the Mid-Northern area of Indiana. Hoosier families in need can benefit greatly from what mobile food pantries have to offer. Anyone in need of emergency food assistance is invited to attend the free event. For questions regarding income guidelines, any other information or in order to make a donation you can contact Food Finders at 765-471-0062 or http://food-finders.org/.
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Knox High School Graphics Department Earns National Award

 
 

After competing only one year prior, the Knox Community High School graphics department was noted in the Phoenix Challenge National Magazine for taking home a silver award for Flexo Press printing. Flexography is used for producing labels on packages. It utilizes a raised rubber plate to imprint on products. Candy wrappers, bottles of pop, anything you see in the store with a label on it was most likely produced with Flexo Press printing. This is the second year that Knox has sent students and their graphics teacher, Mr. Sullivan, to Charlotte, NC for the Phoenix Challenge. Schools from all over the nation and Canada compete in the program. The Knox team ranked third in the nation. The students who participated this year were Sarah Horstman, Elizabeth Radelja, Mario Rodriguez and Nathan Lynch. Thanks to their success this year, the Phoenix Challenge program will continue to be funded through the Knox School Corporation in years to come.

Officials Break Ground on $100 Million Expansion Project in LaPorte

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Governor Mike Pence addresses the crowd on the grounds at Alcoa’s manufacturing facility

Governor Mike Pence helped Alcoa dignitaries break ground Thursday morning on a $100 million expansion project next to its current facility in LaPorte.

The 320,000 square foot addition will enable 329 new workers to produce nickel-based superalloy jet engine parts. It will allow Alcoa to go beyond the structural engine component assembly for business and regional jets to large commercial aircraft. The plant will also increase the company’s capacity to supply engines for narrow-body aircraft, which are the top-selling jet engines in the world.

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Father and Son Face Meth Charges in Marshall County

 

Marshall Smith, Sr.
Marshall Smith, Sr.
JPG Marshall Smith Jr.
Marshall Smith, Jr.

A father and son face drug charges in Marshall County following a traffic stop late Tuesday night on U.S. 31 near U.S. 6. The driver, Marshall Smith Sr., 52, of Mishawaka was believed to be under the influence of a controlled substance, according to a news release from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department. The passenger, Marshall Smith Jr., 28, was reportedly found to be in possession of synthetic marijuana. Officers detained both men and searched the vehicle. That’s when they reportedly found more than three grams of what appeared to be methamphetamine packaged for resale. Both men were arrested. Marshall Smith, Sr. faces charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, operating a vehicle while intoxicated controlled substance, dealing and possession of more than three grams of methamphetamine. Marshall Smith, Jr. was charged with possession of marijuana with a prior charge, dealing and possession of more than three grams of methamphetamine. Bond was set at $20,000 cash. Formal charges are pending with the Marshall County Prosecutors Office.

 

Starke County Environmental Management District Collection Event Planned for June

 
 

The Starke County Environmental Management District will hold its two-day collection event in June.

The purpose of this event is to help residents get rid of unwanted and recyclable material from their households.

On Friday, June 13 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. CT, Starke County residents may discard tires, appliances, computers and televisions. Five tires will be accepted for free. One of those tires may be a farm-type tire.

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Knox City Council Tables Mutual Aid Agreement

 The Knox City Council tabled a discussion on a mutual aid agreement between the city and the Bass Lake Fire Department.

Knox-Center Township Fire Chief Kenny Pfost told the council members that he doesn’t approve of the agreement presented and will talk with Bass Lake Fire Chief Les Jensen about an agreement that would be acceptable between both parties.

Chief Pfost stated that the departments are operating under a mutual aid agreement provided by the state, but he would like to see it tailored to fit the needs of both departments.

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IU Health Starke Hospital Associates Plan Day of Service

 
 

IU Health Starke Hospital associates will be getting out of the medical setting tomorrow to spruce up the community. President Craig Felty says all hospitals in the IU Health system take part in a community day of service. This year the local staff is installing fitness equipment and painting the pavilion at Sandy Acres Park on South Heaton Street in Knox. ”

“We want to be good neighbors. We want to engage the community, and we want to do what is best in order to help achieve our mission, which is to improve the health of our patients and our communities we are in,” Felty says.

Last year IU Health Starke Hospital associates did work at Wythogen Park in downtown Knox. Felty encourages community members to stop by and visit the IU Health Starke Hospital administrators and staff members at the park tomorrow.