Scalding Injury Risk Increases in Winter

Burn injuries are serious, which is why burn pit compensation is important. State health officials warn scalding risks increase significantly during the winter months, especially among young children and the elderly. Scalds occur when contact with hot liquid or steam damages one or more layers of skin. Injuries are painful and require prolonged treatment. They can result in lifelong scarring and possibly death. Frequent sources of scald burns include hot tap water, hot food and beverages and steam. Health officials say most burns occur in the kitchen or bathroom. Continue reading

Local Schools on Soft Lockdown

Eastern Pulaski Schools and the Culver Community School Corporation are under a soft lockdown.

Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent Dan Foster told Max 98.3 News that an individual in the community had threatened to harm himself. Foster said that the school is simply taking a precaution where all of the doors have been locked at all of the buildings. Students will not be leaving the buildings for recess or any student aid projects.

It was a general threat and not a specific threat to the school or any students or staff at the school, according to Foster. Foster stated that it was a safety precaution.

Monterey Man Arrested on Warrant for Felony Child Molesting

A Monterey man was arrested by Pulaski County Sheriff’s deputies this week on six counts of child molesting.

According to court documents, Stanley W. Myers, 70, is accused of committing child molesting on six different occasions with six-year-old and seven-year-old children. The acts were allegedly committed over a period of time. Each incident reportedly occurred at a home on 750 North in Monterey.

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Donnelly Votes In Favor of Keystone XL, Supports Iran Sanctions

Indiana State Senator Joe Donnelly has voted to approve legislation that authorizes the Keystone XL Pipeline.

In a 62-36 vote, Donnelly says he’s pleased with the result. The move brings the legislation one step closer to the White House. The Senate bill will either need to be approved by the House of Representatives, or merged with a similar bill previously voted on.
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Marshall County Safety Commission Discusses Blocked Railroad Crossings

The Marshall County Safety Commission heard concerns about trains stopped at crossings which creates an issue when buses are transporting students to and from school.

Cindy King from the John Glenn School Corporation said there are at least three instances a week where a train blocks a bus route for buses transporting students to school. She said a new route will have to be constructed for next year.

Indiana State Police officers and Marshall County Sheriff Tom Chamberlin both indicated that they have talked with Norfolk Southern and CSX officials and the issues are getting better. Several tickets have been written to the engineers to help curb the issue.

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State Coalition to Attempt to Close Skills Gap, Programs Already in Place Locally

A skills gap is being blamed for the lack of progress in Indiana’s economic recovery. According to the Indiana Skills2Compete Coalition, career and technical education for youth and the lack of credential attainment among the state’s adult workforce, are needing attention.

The Starke County Initiative for Lifelong Learning Center or SCILL Center, is ahead of the curve with providing opportunities for adults and students to gather skills needed to be a productive member of the adult workforce. Marshall County students make up a part of the enrollment in the vocational programs.  Ron Gifford from the Starke County Economic Development Foundation said officials recognized one gap about three years ago.

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Indiana State Police Polygraph Unit Receives Acceditation

The Indiana State Police Polygraph Unit is now accredited. The unit was accredited by the Polygraph Law Enforcement Accreditation (PLEA).

A polygraph unit monitors and records readings of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems when a person is asked a series of carefully designed questions while attached to the unit. The person taking the test is asked questions where they only answer yes or no. The examiner can determine if the person is giving a true statement by reviewing the readings.

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No Injuries Reported in Vehicle Versus Train Collision

An Argos man walked away from a Tuesday morning vehicle versus train crash in Marshall County. Joshua Ramer, 33, was crossing the tracks on 18B and Dewberry Roads just before 11 a.m. in a 2005 Dodge pickup truck when the trailer he was pulling got stuck on the tracks. An eastbound Norfolk Southern train hit the truck and trailer, causing extensive damage to both and to the railroad crossing signal. Continue reading

Five Arrested in Winamac Meth Lab Bust

Five people were arrested Saturday, Jan. 24 after Winamac police received a complaint of high traffic and a smell at one of the Franklin Street apartment complex around 11:30 p.m. ET.

A search warrant was obtained for 214 S. Franklin Apt. B. and where an active meth lab was allegedly found along with marijuana, prescription medication, packaging materials, meth, and syringes, according to Winamac officer Mark Hoffman.

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Marshall County Safety Commission Sub-Committee to Formulate Crisis Communication

The Marshall County Safety Commission held a discussion on many key issues of emergency planning when they met Tuesday morning.

Troy Heckaman from Culver Military Academy and Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery noted that they were trying to put together a crisis communication plan for each school. Avery said they would like to have representatives from each of the schools to designate a safety person to be a part of a sub-committee that will work on a plan that’s specific to the school.

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State Unemployment Rate Rises Slightly

The state’s unemployment rate went up a tenth of a percent to 5.8 percent. Since December 2013, Indiana’s labor force has grown by over 83,000 people that is nearly twice of any neighboring state, according to Indiana Workforce Development. December was the first month where Indiana’s unemployment rate has exceeded the U.S. rate. The U.S. rate has declined by two-tenths of a percent to 5.6 percent, mainly due to a decrease of 273,000 in the national labor force.

The lowest point of employment in the state was July of 2009 and Indiana has grown to a total of 267,000 private sector jobs today.

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Marshall County Safety Commission to Meet Today

The Marshall County Safety Commission will meet for the first of its two meetings of the year this morning.

The commission members will develop strategies in emergency planning for schools, highways, emergency management, police, and health department.

During the fall meeting, programs were suggested to better gather information about how to handle bomb threats at school corporations and how to prepare for winter weather. A system for responding to emergencies was also discussed where communication plans were laid out. Those plans will be reviewed, and other thoughts given to help ensure all entities are on the same page when emergencies occur.

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