Thursday, August 4, 2016
North Judson Taking Steps to Improve Unsafe Buildings
Posted on August 4, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Town of North Judson is continuing with its efforts to try to bring buildings in the town up to a good state of repair. Two potentially unsafe buildings were discussed during Monday’s town council meeting.
Following a hearing, the council gave the owner of one property two weeks to bring it into compliance. Meanwhile, the town’s unsafe hearing board has decided to meet with another property owner, after it was reported that no progress has been seen since the owner was given a verbal notice a month ago.
Town officials have also been looking for grant opportunities to help demolish uninhabitable buildings.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Town of North Judson is continuing with its efforts to try to bring buildings in the town up to a good state of repair. Two potentially unsafe buildings were discussed during Monday’s town council meeting.
Following a hearing, the council gave the owner of one property two weeks to bring it into compliance. Meanwhile, the town’s unsafe hearing board has decided to meet with another property owner, after it was reported that no progress has been seen since the owner was given a verbal notice a month ago.
Town officials have also been looking for grant opportunities to help demolish uninhabitable buildings.
Natural Look Planned for ‘Bison-tennial’ Sculpture
Posted on August 4, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Starke County is planning a more realistic look when it comes to decorating its “bison-tennial” sculpture. Many of the state’s 92 counties are having local artists or students decorate a five-foot-tall fiberglass bison with a design that represents that particular county.
While the design for Starke County’s bison hasn’t been finalized and a painter hasn’t officially been chosen, the county’s Bicentennial Committee has decided the sculpture should have the appearance of a natural buffalo. Loretta Kosloske serves as the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum’s representative on the committee and has been coordinating the county’s bison installation. She says the choice of decoration will hearken back to when the area’s first explorers traveled down the Kankakee River through Starke County and buffalo were a familiar sight.
The fiberglass bison sculpture was recently delivered to Starke County as part of the Bison-tennial Public Art Project, coordinated by the Indiana Association of United Ways. The goal is for each of the state’s 92 counties to have at least one bison on display along the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay route.
As part of that effort, Kosloske says Starke County’s bison will make an appearance at Wythogan Park in Knox when the Bicentennial Torch passes through the county on Friday, October 7. She adds her group is working with the Starke County Historical Society to find a permanent home for the bison, once the bicentennial celebration comes to an end.
The Starke County Community Foundation teamed up with the United Way to purchase the sculpture.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Starke County is planning a more realistic look when it comes to decorating its “bison-tennial” sculpture. Many of the state’s 92 counties are having local artists or students decorate a five-foot-tall fiberglass bison with a design that represents that particular county.
While the design for Starke County’s bison hasn’t been finalized and a painter hasn’t officially been chosen, the county’s Bicentennial Committee has decided the sculpture should have the appearance of a natural buffalo. Loretta Kosloske serves as the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum’s representative on the committee and has been coordinating the county’s bison installation. She says the choice of decoration will hearken back to when the area’s first explorers traveled down the Kankakee River through Starke County and buffalo were a familiar sight.
The fiberglass bison sculpture was recently delivered to Starke County as part of the Bison-tennial Public Art Project, coordinated by the Indiana Association of United Ways. The goal is for each of the state’s 92 counties to have at least one bison on display along the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay route.
As part of that effort, Kosloske says Starke County’s bison will make an appearance at Wythogan Park in Knox when the Bicentennial Torch passes through the county on Friday, October 7. She adds her group is working with the Starke County Historical Society to find a permanent home for the bison, once the bicentennial celebration comes to an end.
The Starke County Community Foundation teamed up with the United Way to purchase the sculpture.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Starke Commissioners Authorize Renovation Bid Process
Posted on August 3, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The contractor in charge of the Starke County Courthouse and old jail renovation project is ready to issue construction documents for bid in hopes of wrapping that process up within the month. The commissioners Monday night authorized DLZ to proceed with that process after reviewing the proposed scope of work.
It includes electrical and HVAC upgrades at the courthouse, a streamlined entry, tuckpointing, weather stripping and window maintenance, in addition to reconfiguring the building’s interior. The prosecutor’s office will be relocated from the basement of the old jail to the first floor, and the clerk’s office space on the second floor will be reconfigured.
The old jail will be updated to house Starke County Community Corrections, the probation department and Purdue Extension. Commissioner Kathy Norem says these plans were discussed during the planning process for the current jail east of Knox. At that time county officials made clear their intention to use money from the special county economic development income tax, known as the Jail CEDIT, to reconfigure the old jail.
That money can be used to pay for justice-related renovations and upgrades. Norem says money from the regular county economic development income tax fund will also be used. Additionally Starke County Community Corrections has pledged $100,000 toward the project. The county gave architectural firm Skillman Corporation a $3.5 million budget. Norem says that reflects at least a 15 percent discount over what the county has available to pay for the work and notes the county council unanimously appropriated the money last July.
The project carries an estimated cost of just under $3.4 million.
Bid packets will be finalized by the end of the week. The commissioners expressed a desire to use local contractors wherever possible to complete the work.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The contractor in charge of the Starke County Courthouse and old jail renovation project is ready to issue construction documents for bid in hopes of wrapping that process up within the month. The commissioners Monday night authorized DLZ to proceed with that process after reviewing the proposed scope of work.
It includes electrical and HVAC upgrades at the courthouse, a streamlined entry, tuckpointing, weather stripping and window maintenance, in addition to reconfiguring the building’s interior. The prosecutor’s office will be relocated from the basement of the old jail to the first floor, and the clerk’s office space on the second floor will be reconfigured.
The old jail will be updated to house Starke County Community Corrections, the probation department and Purdue Extension. Commissioner Kathy Norem says these plans were discussed during the planning process for the current jail east of Knox. At that time county officials made clear their intention to use money from the special county economic development income tax, known as the Jail CEDIT, to reconfigure the old jail.
That money can be used to pay for justice-related renovations and upgrades. Norem says money from the regular county economic development income tax fund will also be used. Additionally Starke County Community Corrections has pledged $100,000 toward the project. The county gave architectural firm Skillman Corporation a $3.5 million budget. Norem says that reflects at least a 15 percent discount over what the county has available to pay for the work and notes the county council unanimously appropriated the money last July.
The project carries an estimated cost of just under $3.4 million.
Bid packets will be finalized by the end of the week. The commissioners expressed a desire to use local contractors wherever possible to complete the work.
North Judson Considers Nighttime Golf Cart Operation
Posted on August 3, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
North Judson residents are one step closer to being allowed to ride their golf carts at night. A revised golf cart ordinance was approved on second reading by the town council Monday.
The update adds lighting requirements for those who wish to use their golf carts at night. Golf cart users who register their carts with the town have been allowed to ride them on town streets since 2012, but nighttime operation has been prohibited until now. Council members will likely decide whether to give their final approval to the amended ordinance at their next meeting.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
North Judson residents are one step closer to being allowed to ride their golf carts at night. A revised golf cart ordinance was approved on second reading by the town council Monday.
The update adds lighting requirements for those who wish to use their golf carts at night. Golf cart users who register their carts with the town have been allowed to ride them on town streets since 2012, but nighttime operation has been prohibited until now. Council members will likely decide whether to give their final approval to the amended ordinance at their next meeting.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
County Officials Finalizing Starke Hospital Lease Negotiations
Posted on August 2, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The Starke County Commissioners are close to finalizing an agreement with the new owners of Starke Hospital to clear the way for construction of a new building. The county owns the current structure at the corner of Heaton Street and Culver Road in Knox and the land on which is sits, but the hospital is operated by Tennessee-based Community Health Systems.
Last night the commissioners approved another 30 day lease extension to wrap up the process. They also set a special joint meeting with the county council and hospital board on Monday, Aug. 29 to formally approve the agreement.
First though Commissioner Kathy Norem intends to schedule three public meetings to discuss the deal and what it will mean for Starke County residents and taxpayers. Her plans are to have evening sessions in Knox, North Judson and the Hamlet/Grovertown area the week of Aug. 22nd. Norem says she’s contacted the three schools to inquire about the availability of facilities and will have dates, times and locations at the next commissioners meeting on Monday, Aug. 15.
Once a new agreement is finalized, Starke Hospital officials intend to proceed with plans to build a new hospital on the existing land. Past discussions indicate it will be constructed between the current building and the medical offices to the south. The current structure will eventually be torn down and turned into a parking lot.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The Starke County Commissioners are close to finalizing an agreement with the new owners of Starke Hospital to clear the way for construction of a new building. The county owns the current structure at the corner of Heaton Street and Culver Road in Knox and the land on which is sits, but the hospital is operated by Tennessee-based Community Health Systems.
Last night the commissioners approved another 30 day lease extension to wrap up the process. They also set a special joint meeting with the county council and hospital board on Monday, Aug. 29 to formally approve the agreement.
First though Commissioner Kathy Norem intends to schedule three public meetings to discuss the deal and what it will mean for Starke County residents and taxpayers. Her plans are to have evening sessions in Knox, North Judson and the Hamlet/Grovertown area the week of Aug. 22nd. Norem says she’s contacted the three schools to inquire about the availability of facilities and will have dates, times and locations at the next commissioners meeting on Monday, Aug. 15.
Once a new agreement is finalized, Starke Hospital officials intend to proceed with plans to build a new hospital on the existing land. Past discussions indicate it will be constructed between the current building and the medical offices to the south. The current structure will eventually be torn down and turned into a parking lot.
Ramos Takes Over As North Judson Town Marshal
Posted on August 2, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
After a week on the job, North Judson Town Marshal John Ramos says he’s settling into the position.
“The transition’s going smoothly,” he told the town council Monday. “I’ve been meeting a lot of the townspeople and I’ve been going through and meeting most of the business owners, and everything’s going really, really well there.”
Ramos says he’s already been dealing with some vandalism at the town’s park facilities, “At Norwayne Field, I guess they broke into the small building over there, and they broke the Christmas lights that were in there. And then in the park, they stole the speed bump. I talked to [Town Superintendent] Marshall [Horstmann], and he said it’s not the first time.”
Meanwhile, Ramos says he’s begun some cleanup efforts at the police department. “There’s a lot of old, damaged, and broken pieces of equipment there,” he says. “There was like old boxes and there’s old Ford car parts from, I guess, the old Crown Vics that they used to have, and I mean, the stuff is broken. And so we just started cleaning it up and basically filling up that dumpster to clean out the entire department.”
Similarly, Ramos says there’s a lot of old evidence sitting in the police station, some of which dates back to the 1980s. He says police departments are allowed to destroy evidence after seven years, and he plans to work with Town Attorney Rachel Arndt to begin the process of getting rid of evidence that’s no longer needed.
However, he also plans to create a dedicated storage area for pieces of evidence that need to be kept. “There’s a room next to the garage at the police department, and what we’re going to do is we’re going to build a cage, an evidence cage, because sometimes you get very large pieces of evidence and there’s no place to put those, like there’s actually a mattress that’s actually a piece of evidence, and so we need someplace to store that stuff.” He says he’s working with Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann to install a chain-link fence or a similar solution to create the storage area.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
After a week on the job, North Judson Town Marshal John Ramos says he’s settling into the position.
“The transition’s going smoothly,” he told the town council Monday. “I’ve been meeting a lot of the townspeople and I’ve been going through and meeting most of the business owners, and everything’s going really, really well there.”
Ramos says he’s already been dealing with some vandalism at the town’s park facilities, “At Norwayne Field, I guess they broke into the small building over there, and they broke the Christmas lights that were in there. And then in the park, they stole the speed bump. I talked to [Town Superintendent] Marshall [Horstmann], and he said it’s not the first time.”
Meanwhile, Ramos says he’s begun some cleanup efforts at the police department. “There’s a lot of old, damaged, and broken pieces of equipment there,” he says. “There was like old boxes and there’s old Ford car parts from, I guess, the old Crown Vics that they used to have, and I mean, the stuff is broken. And so we just started cleaning it up and basically filling up that dumpster to clean out the entire department.”
Similarly, Ramos says there’s a lot of old evidence sitting in the police station, some of which dates back to the 1980s. He says police departments are allowed to destroy evidence after seven years, and he plans to work with Town Attorney Rachel Arndt to begin the process of getting rid of evidence that’s no longer needed.
However, he also plans to create a dedicated storage area for pieces of evidence that need to be kept. “There’s a room next to the garage at the police department, and what we’re going to do is we’re going to build a cage, an evidence cage, because sometimes you get very large pieces of evidence and there’s no place to put those, like there’s actually a mattress that’s actually a piece of evidence, and so we need someplace to store that stuff.” He says he’s working with Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann to install a chain-link fence or a similar solution to create the storage area.
N.J.-S.P. Business Teacher Waiting on Emergency License Approval
Posted on August 2, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board recently voted to recall a teacher from the reduction in force list approved in the spring. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says Chris Newbauer will cover a few different classroom needs created by the recent resignation of the business teacher.
Zupin is a former business teacher, and says it’s a dying field as far as the high school curriculum is concerned. She’s opted for what she calls a “hodgepodge of some math and some business together.” That combination is difficult to incorporate into a posting, according to Zupin, so they opted to recall Newbauer from the reduction in force list.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in business and is enrolled in the transition to teaching program at the University of St. Francis.
Zupin says Newbauer will teach four sections of high school business and one section of junior high exploratory business, all of which are electives. He will also be assigned one section of junior high learning center. That’s homework help, mainly in math and English. Eventually she says he will teach math after he obtains his license.
She says the job was not a fit for the other teacher who was let go through the reduction in force process, as that individual is licensed to teach special education.
Zupin says the Indiana Department of Education is in the final stages of processing Newbauer’s emergency license so he will be able to teach business classes this year. The University of St. Francis requires students in the transition to teaching program to have a mentor. Zupin says she will personally oversee Newbauer since she is a former business teacher.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board recently voted to recall a teacher from the reduction in force list approved in the spring. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says Chris Newbauer will cover a few different classroom needs created by the recent resignation of the business teacher.
Zupin is a former business teacher, and says it’s a dying field as far as the high school curriculum is concerned. She’s opted for what she calls a “hodgepodge of some math and some business together.” That combination is difficult to incorporate into a posting, according to Zupin, so they opted to recall Newbauer from the reduction in force list.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in business and is enrolled in the transition to teaching program at the University of St. Francis.
Zupin says Newbauer will teach four sections of high school business and one section of junior high exploratory business, all of which are electives. He will also be assigned one section of junior high learning center. That’s homework help, mainly in math and English. Eventually she says he will teach math after he obtains his license.
She says the job was not a fit for the other teacher who was let go through the reduction in force process, as that individual is licensed to teach special education.
Zupin says the Indiana Department of Education is in the final stages of processing Newbauer’s emergency license so he will be able to teach business classes this year. The University of St. Francis requires students in the transition to teaching program to have a mentor. Zupin says she will personally oversee Newbauer since she is a former business teacher.
Monday, August 1, 2016
Overdose Deaths See Big Reduction in Starke County
Posted on August 1, 2016
Author Tyler Maffitt, WKVI
Starke County is reporting some positive news in the battle against drug overdose.
According to data from the Starke County Health Department, an average of nine drug-related deaths were reported between 2008 and 2013 – ranging between seven and 12 deaths each year. Figures from 2014 and 2015 show four overdoses: a significant drop from previous reporting periods.
Jordan Morris serves on the board of Moving Starke County Forward – which aims to improve the health and quality of life of local residents. She says the goal is to get to a point where Starke County reports zero overdoses.
“Educating the public, educating the community on the dangers associated with the opiate pain medications, I think, is huge,” says Morris.
Each year, Moving Starke County Forward displays ribbons on the hospital lawn in Knox as part of its awareness campaign. That includes an event on August 28th – which will invite residents affected by overdose to share their experiences in Wythogan Park.
Legislation signed into law since 2014 has provided better infrastructure for those fighting substance abuse problems in Indiana, according to Morris. House Enrolled Act 1006 allocates funding for mental health and addiction treatment programs. INSPECT tracks opioid prescriptions through an online database. Further, Senate Enrolled Act 227 gives immunity to first responders using naloxone on possible drug overdose victims.
Morris says the product has even been used in Starke County.
“After its use, the individual is always taken to the hospital for follow-up care and that’s important,” says Morris. “Because it does have a time frame at which point the life of the opiate could be longer.”
Some of the overdoses reported in Starke County are considered accidental overdoses, according to Morris. Two overdose deaths have been counted in 2016.
Despite the recent changes, the annual County Health Rankings study conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation listed Starke County 90th out of 92 Indiana counties in Health Outcomes and 87th in health factors this year. That’s still considered a modest improvement from the previous year.
Morris says drug use trends in Starke County, and a reduction in overdose statistics, could have an impact on the factors included in the study.
“Economic development is largely impacted by health statistics,” says Morris. “Crime rates: there have been studies that show the link between poor health and crime. I think it goes beyond what we even understand as far as the impact that improving the health statistics would have on our community.”
Non-fatal emergency department visits are also considered important to understand broader drug-use trends. Between 2010 and 2014, Starke County rank 18th out of the 90 Indiana counties that reported data in the state per 100,000 residents. Pulaski County ranked 5th for non-fatal ER visits.
International Overdose Awareness Day is recognized on August 31st.
Author Tyler Maffitt, WKVI
Starke County is reporting some positive news in the battle against drug overdose.
According to data from the Starke County Health Department, an average of nine drug-related deaths were reported between 2008 and 2013 – ranging between seven and 12 deaths each year. Figures from 2014 and 2015 show four overdoses: a significant drop from previous reporting periods.
Jordan Morris serves on the board of Moving Starke County Forward – which aims to improve the health and quality of life of local residents. She says the goal is to get to a point where Starke County reports zero overdoses.
“Educating the public, educating the community on the dangers associated with the opiate pain medications, I think, is huge,” says Morris.
Each year, Moving Starke County Forward displays ribbons on the hospital lawn in Knox as part of its awareness campaign. That includes an event on August 28th – which will invite residents affected by overdose to share their experiences in Wythogan Park.
Legislation signed into law since 2014 has provided better infrastructure for those fighting substance abuse problems in Indiana, according to Morris. House Enrolled Act 1006 allocates funding for mental health and addiction treatment programs. INSPECT tracks opioid prescriptions through an online database. Further, Senate Enrolled Act 227 gives immunity to first responders using naloxone on possible drug overdose victims.
Morris says the product has even been used in Starke County.
“After its use, the individual is always taken to the hospital for follow-up care and that’s important,” says Morris. “Because it does have a time frame at which point the life of the opiate could be longer.”
Some of the overdoses reported in Starke County are considered accidental overdoses, according to Morris. Two overdose deaths have been counted in 2016.
Despite the recent changes, the annual County Health Rankings study conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation listed Starke County 90th out of 92 Indiana counties in Health Outcomes and 87th in health factors this year. That’s still considered a modest improvement from the previous year.
Morris says drug use trends in Starke County, and a reduction in overdose statistics, could have an impact on the factors included in the study.
“Economic development is largely impacted by health statistics,” says Morris. “Crime rates: there have been studies that show the link between poor health and crime. I think it goes beyond what we even understand as far as the impact that improving the health statistics would have on our community.”
Non-fatal emergency department visits are also considered important to understand broader drug-use trends. Between 2010 and 2014, Starke County rank 18th out of the 90 Indiana counties that reported data in the state per 100,000 residents. Pulaski County ranked 5th for non-fatal ER visits.
International Overdose Awareness Day is recognized on August 31st.
Construction Project to Close LaPorte County Intersection
Posted on August 1, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
Starting today, motorists traveling to Westville and beyond on U.S. 421 will need to find a new route. INDOT is shutting down the intersection of 421 and State Road 2 through the end of October, with no traffic allowed to pass through in either direction.
Additionally, 421 between 2 and U.S. 6 will be one lane in each direction until the project is completed. Crews will remove old asphalt and resurface and completely restore U.S. 421, between State Road 2 and U.S. 6. They will also rehabilitate the concrete at the intersection of U.S. 421 and State Road 2.
INDOT advises state road detours must be along state-maintained roadways only. Drivers traveling north on U.S. 421 will be detoured west on U.S. 6, north on State Road 49, east on I-94 and back to U.S. 421. Drivers traveling south on U.S. 421 will be detoured west on I-94, south on State Road 49, east on U.S. 6 and back to U.S. 421.
Drivers traveling east on State Road 2 will be detoured south on State Road 39, west on U.S. 6, north on U.S. 421, west on U.S. 6 and back to State Road 2. Drivers traveling west on State Road 2 will be detoured east on U.S. 6, south on U.S. 421, east on U.S. 6, north on State Road 39 and back to State Road 2.
Drivers can monitor road closures and traffic alerts at any time via the INDOT Northwest District social media channels: www.Facebook.com/INDOTNorthwest or Twitter @INDOTNorthwest. Or visit http://www.trafficwise.in.gov for INDOT’s TrafficWise Traveler Information Service.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
Starting today, motorists traveling to Westville and beyond on U.S. 421 will need to find a new route. INDOT is shutting down the intersection of 421 and State Road 2 through the end of October, with no traffic allowed to pass through in either direction.
Additionally, 421 between 2 and U.S. 6 will be one lane in each direction until the project is completed. Crews will remove old asphalt and resurface and completely restore U.S. 421, between State Road 2 and U.S. 6. They will also rehabilitate the concrete at the intersection of U.S. 421 and State Road 2.
INDOT advises state road detours must be along state-maintained roadways only. Drivers traveling north on U.S. 421 will be detoured west on U.S. 6, north on State Road 49, east on I-94 and back to U.S. 421. Drivers traveling south on U.S. 421 will be detoured west on I-94, south on State Road 49, east on U.S. 6 and back to U.S. 421.
Drivers traveling east on State Road 2 will be detoured south on State Road 39, west on U.S. 6, north on U.S. 421, west on U.S. 6 and back to State Road 2. Drivers traveling west on State Road 2 will be detoured east on U.S. 6, south on U.S. 421, east on U.S. 6, north on State Road 39 and back to State Road 2.
Drivers can monitor road closures and traffic alerts at any time via the INDOT Northwest District social media channels: www.Facebook.com/INDOTNorthwest or Twitter @INDOTNorthwest. Or visit http://www.trafficwise.in.gov for INDOT’s TrafficWise Traveler Information Service.
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