Nathan VanDerAa to be Sentenced Friday

Nathan VanDerAa

Nathan VanDerAa, of Star City, is expected to be sentenced in U.S. District Court in South Bend on Friday, March 23rd.

He was arrested on two separate occasions in 2011 on various drug charges and police found that he illegally possessed firearms. The Pulaski County Prosecutor filed charges but the ATF took over the investigation. On July 14th, 2011, a Federal Grand Jury in South Bend indicted VanDerAa with two counts of Unlawful User of Controlled Substances in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition and one count of Manufacture of a Controlled Substance.

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Sentencing Hearing Continued for Nathan VanDerAa

Nathan VanDerAa

Nathan VanDerAa’s sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court has been continued to March. His sentencing hearing was scheduled for Friday, January 27th.

On June 3rd, 2011, VanDerAa was arrested on a charge of Possession of Methamphetamine after a traffic stop and a few days later, Starke County officers arrived at his home in Star City and found that he was in the presence of a meth lab, firearms and ammunition. Pulaski County Prosecutor Stacey Mrak filed methamphetamine related charges against him and the ATF was expected to file a federal charge for a firearm possession. Mrak recently dismissed the County’s charges against VanDerAa and they were transferred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Bend.

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Pulaski County Commissioners Approve Request for Four-Way Stop in Star City

The Pulaski County Commissioners approved Cathy Fritz’s request for a four-way stop at the corner of Main Street and Warrick Street in Star City.

Fritz explained to the Commissioners that this is located by the First United Methodist Church in Star City. The church provides tutoring services for children after school once a week and the area is always busy with children playing and it’s also by the park. She presented the Commissioners with a petition signed by more than 100 residents, church members, police officers and other concerned citizens to create a four-way stop at that intersection. The Commissioners agreed and voted to erect a four-way stop.

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Culver Woman Arrested after Star City Couple Finds her Sleeping on Couch

Kelly Patterson

A Culver woman was arrested on Thursday, May 26th after a Star City couple found an her sleeping on their couch without any pants.

According to the police report, Kelly Patterson told police that she was involved in an accident and started walking until she found a residence. She found that the residence on S. Judson Street in Star City was unlocked so she walked in and went to sleep. Patterson’s pants were found on the back porch of the residence where police found drug paraphernalia and several blister packs containing pseudoephedrine tablets which is a key ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Police also reportedly found a small plastic bag containing methamphetamine in the couch where she was reportedly sleeping. She was arrested on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia and Residential Entry.

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First Baby of 2011 Arrives at Pulaski Memorial Hospital

Pulaski Memorial Hospital

The first baby in Pulaski County arrived Tuesday afternoon at Pulaski Memorial Hospital. Katilyn Michelle Baker arrived at 3:56 p.m. ET. Katilyn’s parents are Lisa Nicholson, and Levi Baker of Star City. There are plenty of relatives awaiting little Katilyn’s arrival home, including a “big” sister Madison Elizabeth who is 18 months old.

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