Multiple fire departments responded to a house fire on Pretty Lake Road in Marshall County this morning. Dispatchers with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office say they were called to a home at 16598 Pretty Lake Road. A check of property tax records confirms the home belongs to Dr. Jeffrey Starr, who is a dentist in Plymouth. The property carries an assessed value of $602,000. The state fire marshal’s office has been contacted, and an investigator will be in Marshall County tomorrow.

 

State Representative Douglas Gutwein visited Pulaski County this week to speak to the county commissioners and council during a joint session held Monday night regarding a revenue bill vetoed by Governor Mike Pence that could affect the county’s CAGIT moneys. Gutwein explained that a clerical error at the state level could force the county to pay taxpayers back millions of dollars that had been collected by the County Adjusted Gross Income Tax – money that had originally been collected to cover the cost of the jail – because the state claims that the county overcharged its taxpayers. The county still owes roughly $5 million on the jail facility.

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A dispute over a land contract and who has to pay for meth clean-up on the property has forced the city of Plymouth to take action.

Plymouth Building Commissioner Keith Hammonds said this is the first instance in which the city has given notice to a land owner to clean up a dwelling due to a meth lab. The property in question is on West Washington Street in Plymouth. The property was sold under a land contract and the city notified those involved that clean-up has to occur.

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The Marshall County Commissioners like the stop signs at all railroad crossings in the county and they have no plans of amending that decision.

Highway Superintendent Neal Haeck told the commissioners Monday that if they would like to change the stop signs to yield signs, they will need to have a review and traffic study completed by the Indiana Department of Transportation-LaPorte District. Commission President Kevin Overmyer told Haeck that they don’t intend on taking out the stop signs and would like to make sure INDOT receives a letter stating that intention.

Every railroad crossing has a stop sign with the exception of the crossings that have gates.

Gov. Mike Pence has set an ambitious goal of creating more jobs than ever in Indiana by 2016. Lt. Gov. Sue Ellsperman says her personal goal is to bring jobs to rural communities during that time. Speaking last night at the Marshall County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner, Ellsperman acknowledged not all young people are four-year college material and encouraged students to pursue two-year technical degrees. She says employers are also looking for qualified technical school graduates and adds that many of those jobs pay really well.

Ellsperman also notes the legislature and administration passed a couple of key pieces of legislation aimed at job creation during the recent session. These include the Indiana Regional Works Councils, which will regionally allow us to bring business and education together regionally to look at the needs of the workforce.

“The Speaker of the House and Minority Leader of the House sponsored legislation for Indiana Careers Council, which will put the governor at the chair, I’ll be vice chair, the superintendent of public instruction, the commissioner of higher education, the department of workforce development all coming around the table to say ‘where are the gaps in education and preparing that workforce for the future?’,” Ellsperman added. She grew up in a small town in southern Indiana and says she’s sensitive to the “brain drain” issue that occurs when young people go away to college and don’t return. She adds she wants to make sure all of Indiana thrives.

 

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The Starke County Council has taken a first step toward approving the purchase of three new Freightliner trucks for the highway department. Superintendent Rik Ritzler says that eight of the trucks in the county’s fleet are more than 15 years old, and many have more than 300,000 miles. He says they are becoming more costly to maintain than to replace. Even though the initial replacement cost is $439,672 for three new vehicles, Ritzler says they would last the county several years. Money for the purchase is in the county highway fund; however, the state requires the appropriation be advertised before it can be spent. Council members approved the advertisement and expect to give final approval to the purchase when they meet in June. Ritzler also told the council he plans to implement a fleet management plan and replace a vehicle each year after this.

A LaPorte construction company will replace a bridge in Koontz Lake after submitting the lowest of six bids for the work. JCI Bridge Group bid $177,367.06 to replace the bridge on County Road 1000 East. Commissioners opened the bids during their Monday meeting. JCI’s price for the work was the lowest, and Gariup Construction Company from Gary submitted the highest bid at $327,700. Mark Wilson of JPR reviewed the six bids to make sure they were in order and recommended the commissioners award the project to JCI Bridge Group. The project is scheduled to begin on June 1 and continue for 90 days.

The Eastern Pulaski Elementary School welcomed a special guest Tuesday morning. Indiana’s First Lady, Karen Pence, visited the school which recently received the honor of being named a Four Star School.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman and Elementary Principal Jill Collins escorted Pence around the elementary school where she visited with a handful of teachers. Pence, who has taught for many years, stopped to talk to a couple of classes and took questions from the students.

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The Winamac Town Board last week tabled discussion regarding the new employee handbook and addressed a number of issues brought forward by Clerk-Treasurer Melanie Berger during their regular meeting on May 13.

Berger asked the council to consider requiring that property owners be responsible for any unpaid water and electric bills after a renter moves out, leaving the town with an outstanding bill. Following a discussion, the council voted to raise the water and electric deposits as a solution to the matter and an ordinance will need to be written for these changes to take effect.

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The end of the school year is approaching quickly and High School Principal Dr. Elizabeth Ratliff gave the Knox Community School Board an update on senior activities for the next few days.

A meeting was scheduled earlier this week to discuss dress codes for graduation and laptops will be turned in later this week. The computers will be inspected by the technology staff to note any damage for insurance claims. Students are accountable for the equipment.

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The North Judson-San Pierre School Board met Monday night and approved a number of action items, including the adoption of a textbook series for the corporation’s new Business Math class. Superintendent Lynn Johnson explained the board adopted Pearson Scott Foresman for kindergarten through fifth grade as well.

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The life of Lance Cpl. Michael DeLancey, a native of Pinellas Park, Fla., changed entirely in 2006 when he was injured in Iraq. A sniper’s bullet pierced DeLancey’s spinal cord, paralyzing him from the waist down and damaging his lung. Today, however, this very deserving disabled veteran will be presented with an accessible Honda Entervan modified by BraunAbility, a Winamac manufacturer of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

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Monetary assistance is the best way to help victims of the Oklahoma tornado. That’s the advice of officials with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters are advising Hoosiers about how to help Oklahoma citizens in need. The destruction in Oklahoma City has left communities in need of hands-on help and donations. Volunteers play a vital part in disaster recovery. However, Indiana VOAD President Chris Gilbert says, “Well-meaning individuals who simply show up to help without coordinating with disaster management personnel can complicate or even hinder response and recovery operations already underway. Become part of a coordinated effort.”

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The law is once again being tightened regarding dangerous synthetic drugs, this time closing a critical loophole in the state’s previous ban by illegalizing the possession of or dealing in “look-alike” synthetic drugs. State Senator Jim Merritt’s legislation, Senate Enrolled Act 536, was signed into law this month by Governor Mike Pence and Merritt said he is glad to see the legislation passed as it was one of his top priorities this session.

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