Starke County Jail Offers Green Thumb Gardening Class as a Part of F.A.R.M Program

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan
Instructor Phil Woolery Leads Gardening Class for Starke County Jail inmates

According to Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin, more than 30 jail inmates recently started a gardening class instructed by Starke County Purdue Extension Educator Phil Woolery.

Sheriff Dulin shared that a total of 32 inmates will be attending the month-long class where Woolery will teach lessons about agriculture, horticulture and other skills related to botany.

He said the “green thumb” gardening class is a part of a Starke County Jail program called F.A.R.M., which is an acronym that stands for Focusing A Recovery Mindset. Continue reading →

Legislation Would Allow Inmates E-mail Access

Posted on Author WKVI

DermodyLegislation sponsored by State Representative Tom Dermody will be signed into law.

According to a press release from the LaPorte Republican’s offices, the legislation would allow for additional options for prison inmates to correspond with their families. The Indiana Department of Corrections is required to provide necessary items to send mail through the postal service.

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Catastrophic Insurance Approved for Starke County Inmates

Posted on Author WKVI

Bridgett Markin of First Source Insurance and Sheriff Oscar Cowen came before the Starke County Commissioners yesterday to present an inmate catastrophic insurance proposal. By not having such a policy, the county was responsible for all catastrophic expenses incurred by inmates while incarcerated.

The policy selected came with $250,000 maximum coverage and $10,000 deductible. Sheriff Cowen said that many Indiana counties have this type of policy.

In the end, the commissioners voted unanimously to purchase the policy that costs $17,500 annually.

Zhart Requests Inmates’ Assistance in Planting Trees

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

The Pulaski County Commissioners were approached at their biweekly meeting on April 18 by Fred Zhart with the Winamac Tree Committee. Zhart requested approval of the use of inmates to help him dig holes to plant 28 trees this weekend.

Zhart told the commissioners that he has enlisted the assistance of inmates before, and he reminded them that he did not allow smoking or contact with other people while the inmates were assisting him. Zhart went on to say that inmates were not only grateful to get out and work, but when the returned to work they are much easier to manage.

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