County attorney Martin Lucas will present a proposed mediation agreement regarding overcrowding conditions at the county jail to the Starke County Council when they meet this evening. Jack Haut and several other inmates sued the county in April of 2011. Their lawsuit claims the cramped conditions violate their civil rights. The Starke County Sheriff’s Office has been sending prisoners to Pulaski County for the past year to alleviate the overcrowding, and the county is moving forward with plans to build a new jail east of Knox on State Road 8 and County Road 550 East.

The Knox Community School Board will be meeting tonight for the first time after the school’s proposed referendum failed in a special election held May 7.

Plans as to how the board will move forward are not on tonight’s agenda, but the board members will be discussing the employment of summer school paraprofessionals, make a library board appointment and get an update on graduation activities.

A representative was present at the last board meeting to discuss a Roth 403(B) ING retirement option and the board will delve more into that discussion during tonight’s meeting. The board will also discuss a payment for special education.

The meeting begins tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the administrative office.

A North Judson man set off this weekend on a soul-searching journey across the country with the hopes of raising funds for the American Cancer Society in the process. Wes Carter, 22, began a 2079-mile walk Saturday evening around 7 p.m., heading toward San Diego – an on-foot journey that he expects to take roughly two months.

His journey soon turned into more than just a very long walk as he decided to contact ACS, turning the adventure into something more. Carter’s family had been touched by cancer, and he decided that raising awareness and encouraging donations to ACS along their trip was something he needed to do.

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The Eastern Pulaski School Board approved summer school programs at their recent meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman stated that one class will be P.E. for high school students.

“They can have that credit completed during the summer in a fashion where they have three and four hour blocked time,” explained Klitzman. “With just a little imagination and creativity, you can see how much more things that opens up and that you can do with that block of time.”

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It’s been a busy few weeks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as drivers and teams prepare for one of the greatest races in the world – the Indianapolis 500.

The groundskeepers and staff at the speedway are especially busy during this time of year. The crews are prepping the track for optimal racing and making sure the facility is just right for the thousands of fans from all over the world who flock to the racetrack to see this race.

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The Heart Cart will make a stop in Plymouth on Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET at IU Health Primary Care at Lifeplex.

Those wishing to be tested for abnormal heart rhythm, abdominal aortic aneurysm, blood pressure, fasting cholesterol and glucose levels, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, poor leg circulation, stroke and weight should pre-register for these screenings by calling 1-800-235-6204 ext. 2626. The screenings are provided in part by the Starke Health Fund of the IU Health Foundation.

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The 14th Annual Peace Officers Memorial Service hosted by the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department is today at 11 a.m. CT.

This year’s keynote speaker is the superintendent of the Indiana State Police, Doug Carter. Carter was raised in LaPorte and graduated from LaPorte High School in 1980. He served 18 years with the Indiana State Police prior to being elected Sheriff of Hamilton County where he served two terms.

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Memorial Day is just seven days away and a number of area VFWs and American Legions are preparing for ceremonies and other events to commemorate the holiday dedicating to remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

In Starke County, the Knox VFW will be holding their parade march on Memorial Day, May 27, at 9 a.m. beginning at the county courthouse where a short ceremony will be held. Following that, the group will march to Oak Hill Cemetery where they will hold another short ceremony to reflect on the fallen soldiers who fought to uphold our way of life.

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The unemployment report for April 2013 has been released and some boasting is in order, as no county in Indiana suffered from a rise in unemployment since March. Every county in the state improved their unemployment rate as well as the state as a whole, which dropped 0.2 percentage points to 8.5 percent.

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A Bourbon woman was sentenced in Marshall County Superior Court 1 on Thursday on a charge of Manufacturing Methamphetamine.

Amy Dawn Banks, 37 pleaded guilty to the charge in a plea agreement with the state. Judge Robert O. Bowen sentenced Banks to 10 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with no part of the sentence suspended.

Banks admitted that she was manufacturing methamphetamine in a home she shared with others on Main Street in Bourbon. An Indiana State Police officer arrived at the residence with a search warrant and found an active methamphetamine lab in the home, plus a loaded handgun, meth, drug paraphernalia and precursors.

One adult and one juvenile were taken into custody after Pulaski County police allegedly found drugs in a car after a traffic stop Friday morning.

A Pulaski County deputy was patrolling on U.S. 421 when he saw a vehicle operating without a working passenger side headlight or a license plate light. The officer pulled over the vehicle just south of Medaryville and found a 17-year-old male operating the vehicle. As the driver was attempting to locate the requested license and registration, the officer reportedly saw a marijuana cigarette in the vehicle.

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It was a Day of Community Service for employees from IU Health Starke Hospital Friday at Wythogan Park in Knox.

Approximately 50 volunteers from the hospital took four hours to install exercise equipment at the park as a way to help residents get moving and improve wellness.

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The Eastern Pulaski School Board members did agree to apply for two routine grants.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman explained that the corporation will be applying for Title One and Higher Ability federal grants.

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Knox Mayor Rick Chambers has gotten several complaints from residents about the early annoyance of mosquitoes.

This wet, warm spring has allowed the mosquito population to get busy early and the Knox Street Department will be spraying for mosquitoes at 6 a.m. today.

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