2/15/2018 Mobile Health Unit @ Bailey's Discount Center

From Starke Hospital: 

La Porte, Starke counties, Ind. – The Mobile Health Unit of La Porte Hospital will be out in the community throughout February to provide free blood pressure screenings, as well as education on the importance of dental health as it relates to heart disease. February is Heart Month, so stop by to check your blood pressure and jump start your way to a healthy heart.

1 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. - Bailey’s Discounts Center, 5900 S Range Rd., North Judson

2/16-19/2018 Great Backyard Bird Count

In this year of the bird, take part in the great backyard bird count February 16-19 at
www.audubon.org/conservation/about-great-backyard-bird-count  

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a free, fun, and easy event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the four-day event and report their sightings online at birdcount.org. Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can participate from your backyard, or anywhere in the world. 

Today is Safer Internet Day in the USA

Posted on February 6, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

Nowadays, internet usage is so common and some may not realize the dangers that could be lurking behind the screen. Today is recognized as Safer Internet Day.

According to organization representatives, the initiative aims to create an internet environment that empowers everyone to use technology responsibly, respectfully critically and creatively. It is geared toward children and young people as well as parents, caregivers and educators to make the most of out the internet’s potential to bring people together.

On Safer Internet Day, consider some of these tips from Indiana’s Attorney General’s Office.

First off, realize the web is a lot more public and permanent than it seems, be smart about what you post and what you say to others while online. Also, understand that sharing pictures of a sexual nature can land you in serious trouble as an underage minor. Those pictures, even when shared with other minors, are considered child pornography, a very serious crime.

Lastly, if you end up feeling uncomfortable with something that takes place online, don’t be afraid to report it. Depending on the case you can contact site management, the CyberTipLine, which serves to protect children from sexual exploitation, or even the local police if the incident is severe enough.

These tips are for young people to use and guardians and educators to encourage in order to help create a safer “cyber-space” for all.

North Judson Residents Wish Officer Beishuizen and K9 Gunner a Happy Retirement

Posted on February 6, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

At Monday night’s North Judson Town Council meeting, members of the community and the council wished Reserve Officer Scott Beishuizen and his K-9 Gunner farewell.

Town Marshal Kelly Fisher presented the team with a plaque and thanked them both for their service with the department and their commitment to the community. The town council shook hands with Officer Beishuizen and he issued a statement expressing his gratitude.

“I really enjoyed my down time here and I know my dog did. You know, he’s at his age and I’m at my volunteering capacity.” Beishuizen said, “We had a really good run, got a lot of drugs off the street, got a lot of bad guys off the street. I worked with a really good crew of guys and I appreciate it.”

Beishuizen said he will spend his retirement from the force focusing on coaching and playing hockey, which he joked is much safer than being in the line of duty. He also mentioned how he is thankful to Town Marshal Kelly Fisher for letting him know that the door is always open for him to come back.

Scott Beishuizen and Gunner

Photo Credit: NJ Town Photographer Peggy Bohac

Starke County Commissioners Review Job Description for Jail Employee

Posted on February 6, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin presented the county commissioners with a proposed job description for an employee at the Starke County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff previously explained that he hired Ron Lawson as a part-time jailer but he doesn’t necessarily do the duties of a jailer. He hired him in that position because the wage was at a higher rate. Lawson has 34 years of law enforcement experience and the sheriff believed that Lawson should be paid a higher wage because of his experience.

The Starke County Council members urged Sheriff Dulin to make a job description for the duties that Lawson would be conducting for review by the commissioners.

The commissioners Monday night reviewed the job description of a jail analyst at a rate of pay of no more than $14 an hour. A summary of the duties entail providing the sheriff, administrative staff, detectives, and county executives with information for decision making purposes; develop statistical data and assist in proactive and targeted investigations; interact and communicate with the sheriff and the community on crime analysis and research issues; collect and organize criminal information from all available sources and collect intel to determine crime patterns; and case support.

The jail analyst will not be out on patrol.

The commissioners unanimously approved the job description.

3/8/2018 Food Presentation @ NJWTPL

Starke County Highway Department Making Intersection Safety Improvements

Posted on February 5, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

For the past several months, the Starke County Highway Department workers have been installing reflective strips to the poles that hold traffic signs to enhance safety at all intersections in the county. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said the safety devices have been installed first on highly traveled roads.

“The state has given us permission to put the reflective strips on all of the signs. That’s what we’re focusing on now. We’re just about done with all of the state roads. I think we have part of State Road 8 left to do and maybe a little section on State Road 23. Once we’re done with that we’re going to start going on the non-main roads and getting them on there. Eventually, we’d like those strips on every sign in the county. We have about 7,000 signs so that’s going to take a while,” said Ritzler.

He commented that it may take a year to complete that task. The county has already seen a reduction in crashes as a result of the reflective strips.

Ritzler added that they are also in the process of making all signs highly reflective.

“Right now we’re at 30 percent of our signs. We’re actually having one of our people redoing our sign inventory this spring to get the exact count and exact locations of the signs we need to replace.”

Ritzler explained that these improvements are an inexpensive way to increase safety.

Stellar Communities Designation Program Widens Scope to Encourage Regional Collaboration

Posted on February 5, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

Once geared toward individual towns and cities, the Stellar Community Designation Program will now be asking communities to come together to propose regional development plans.

The Stellar Community program, which is offered through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, will now focus on encouraging towns, cities and counties to form partnerships to develop comprehensive solutions to regional and local challenges throughout rural Indiana.

“We believe that it is extremely important that communities work together and that we utilize and combine resources.” Crouch explained, “So we’re looking at a lot of our programs and looking at encouraging that collaborative effort.”

Only communities that participate in the state Community Development Block grant program are eligible. Qualified communities include local units of government that are a county, city or an incorporated town that is not currently considered a Housing and Urban Development recognized entitlement community.

All participants are required to commit at least four years to the project. Crouch said with this shift, they’re hoping to encourage neighbors to work together to help attract, retain and develop talent in and around Indiana.

The Lieutenant Governor said, “If we can break down the barriers between communities, everybody benefits”

Although all municipalities are eligible, Crouch said regional mentorship with past Stellar Designees and finalists is highly encouraged.

Candidate Filings Continue as Deadline Approaches

Posted on February 5, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

The deadline is approaching for candidates to file to run in the May primary. Candidates have until Friday at noon to file their paperwork with the county clerk’s office.

The list of candidates continues to grow in Starke County. Republican Leslie Baker has filed to run for county prosecutor, joining incumbent Democrat Nick Bourff. The Starke County Clerk’s race is now up to three candidates: incumbent Democrat Vicki Cooley, Democrat Kay Chaffins, and Republican Bernadette Welter-Manuel.

The race for County Council District 2 also has its third candidate. Democrat Chuck Estok joins Republican Howard A. Bailey Jr. and Democrat Dale Conley.

Recent filings in Pulaski County include Democrat Jessye Gilley for the District 2 County Council seat and Republican Dan Vanaman for reelection to the Winamac Town Council.


Candidate Filings As of February 2:

Starke County

Assessor: Michelle Snowdon (D)

Auditor: Kasey Bula Clark (D), Rachel Milner Oesterreich (D)

Clerk: Katherine (Kay) Dolezal Chaffins (D), Vicki Cooley (D), Bernadette Welter-Manuel (R)

Coroner: Dannie Ray Hoffer Jr. (D)

Prosecutor: Leslie A. Baker (R), Nicholas Allen Bourff (D)

Recorder: Rebekah Sponaugle Wagner (D)

Sheriff: Thomas Decola (R), Bill Dulin (D)

Commissioner District 2: Don Binkley (D), Bryan Harold Cavender (R)

County Council District 1: Bradley J. Hazelton (D)

County Council District 2: Howard A. Bailey Jr. (R), Dale Conley (D), Chuck Estok (D)

County Council District 3: David Pearman (R)

County Council District 4: Karen Tibbs (D)

California Township Board Member: Michele Albon (R), Richard Anderson (R), Matthew McGowen Sr. (R)

Center Township Trustee: Julie Manns (D)

Center Township Board Member: Ben Warren (D)

Davis Township Trustee: Robin Latimer (D)

Davis Township Board Member: Robert Ferch (R), Rebecca (Becky) Pflugshaupt-Davis (R)

Jackson Township Trustee: Robert Schmidt (D)

Jackson Township Board Member: Michelle R. Hounshell (R)

North Bend Township Trustee: Rutherford Byron Walters (R)

Oregon Township Trustee: Mark Allen (D)

Oregon Township Board Member: Corey Louzon (D), Carole Noble (D), Joseph I Reed Jr. (R)

Railroad Township Trustee: Roger Chaffins Sr. (D), John Harris (R), Mandy Thomason (R)

Railroad Township Board Member: Bart D. Egolf (R), Joe Krzyzanowski (D), Mike Lawecki (R), Clayton (Clay) Redlin (D)

Washington Township Trustee: Cathy Ewing Benko (D)

Washington Township Board Member: Kimberly Temple (R)

Wayne Township Trustee: Shirley A. Kots (D)

Wayne Township Board Member: Joe Griffo (D)

California 2 Democrat Precinct Committeeman: Shirley Fields

Center 1 Democrat Precinct Committeeman and State Convention Delegate: Jeffery J. Houston

Center 1 Democrat Precinct Committeeman: Rick Chambers

Center 3 Democrat Precinct Committeeman and State Convention Delegate: Jeff V. Berg

Center 5 Democrat Precinct Committeeman and State Convention Delegate: Kenneth Wallace

Railroad Township Democrat Precinct Committeeman: August (Gus) Eckert II

Washington 2 Convention Delegate “At-Large”: Bernadette Welter-Manuel (R)

Wayne 2 Convention Delegate “At Large”: Brenda Stanojevic

Wayne 4 Convention Delegate “At Large”: Christopher Lee (R)



Pulaski County

Assessor: Lorena H. (Holly) VanDerAa (R)

Clerk: Christina L. Hoffa (R)

Coroner: John Behny (R), Alan S. Mitchell (R)

Sheriff: Jeffery K. Richwine (R)

Surveyor: Jenny Weaver-Keller (D)

Commissioner District 3: Tyler Campbell (R), John Michael “Mike” McClure (R)

County Council District 2: Douglas Roth (R)

County Council District 3: Jessye Gilley (D)

Francesville Town Clerk: Cathy Lynn Elston (R)

Winamac Town Council: Alvin R. Parish (R), Dan Vanaman (R)

Cass Township Trustee: Christopher Hudson (D)

Harrison Township Trustee: Betty Stinemetz (R)

Harrison Township Board: Christopher A. Graves (R)

Jefferson Township Trustee: Betty L. Kruger (R)

Jefferson Township Board: Roscoe “Bud” Cummins (R), Carl G. Kopka (D), Steven Sommers (D)

Monroe Township Trustee: Michelle Schmicker (R)

Monroe Township Board: Timothy F. Hoffa Jr. (R), Jeremy L. Beckner (R)

Rich Grove Township Trustee: Deloris Locke (R)

Salem Township Trustee: Kay Beasey (R)

Salem Township Board: Maurice Kopka (D), Charles R. Yeoman (R)

Tippecanoe Township Trustee: Martie White (D)

Tippecanoe Township Board: Tedmund R. Bauer (R), William E. Bauer (Bill) (D), Kelli Denton (D)

VanBuren Township Trustee: Lenora K. Hoover (R)

VanBuren Township Board: David W. Bailey (R), Kathleen (Kathi) Thompson (D), Tom Wallace (R)

White Post Township Trustee: Karen S. Wagner (R)

White Post Township Board: Richard Lee Brick (R), Patricia L. Tiede (R),

State Convention Delegate: Doug Gutwein (R), Daniel P. Murphy (R)

Frankenstein Friday - Chapter 2

It's #FrankensteinFriday! Join us to read, think and talk as we dive into Chapter 2 of Frankenstein.