Former Owner of Gutwein Seed Company Dies at the Age of 92

Harvey F. Gutwein

The former owner of Gutwein Seed Company in Francesville has passed away at the age of 92. Harvey Gutwein passed away Sunday in the Jasper County Hospital in Rensselaer. Mr. Gutwein said before he passed that his pleasures were simple: flying his plane, picking citrus in Florida, and spending time with his family.

Spending time with his family could have been a full time job as Mr. Gutwein had 5 living sons, 5 living daughters, his wife, 4 living sisters, 1 living brother, 31 grandchildren, 55 great grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren.

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Assistance for Employees Affected by La Porte Hospital Reducation in Staffing

There will be a special information session today for Indiana University Health LaPorte Hospital employees affected by the recent reduction in force at the WorkOne office in LaPorte. The session will introduce you to the many transition services available through the WorkOne system.

WorkOne services, including assessment such as Work Keys; free workshops; e-learning and training opportunities; labor market information and job search assistance through Indiana Career Connect; and information on unemployment insurance will be featured. Today’s information session will be offered at four different times at the LaPorte WorkOne office from 8:30-10:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. to Noon, 1:00-2:30 p.m. and 2:30-4:00 p.m. CT.

If you are interested in attending one of these sessions and would like to reserve a spot, call Shelley Cottrell at (219) 362-2175 ext. 258.

Fifth Grade Choir Spotlighted during Knox Community School Board Meeting

Maria Hasnerl, Chastity Reed and Riley Hart were only three members of the choir who appeared at the School Board meeting to receive certificates

Elementary Principal, Glenn Barnes, brought in members of the fifth grade choir to be recognized during last week’s Knox Community School Board meeting.

“He brought in some of the the fifth grade choir to receive certificates and the Board got to see a video that Miss Guzman and the choir students put together where they sang three of the songs that they have been practicing,” said Superintendent A.J. Gappa.  “Keep in mind that the fifth grade choir is not a requirement and it’s not all the fifth graders. It’s a volunteer group that came in early in the morning one day a week for the last semester on their own time to practice and pick out songs. They did a nice job singing on the video they presented to the Board.”

Graduation Services Scheduled for June 3rd for Three Starke County Schools

Top Ten (L to R) Darienne Griffith, Hayley Windbigler, Katelyn Peters, Kaitlyn Betz, Tiffany Friedlund, Tabitha Tepes, Elisabeth Caudill, Brittany Shannon, Carole Surfus and Heather Rogers

The Knox Community High School Seniors will graduate on Friday, June 3rd, at 7:00 p.m. CT in the Weinberg Gymnasium. The Valedictorian for this graduating class is Darienne Griffith. The Salutatorian is Hayley Windbigler. The rest of the top ten students in the class include: Katelyn Peters, Kaitlyn Betz, Tiffany Friedlund, Tabitha Tepes, Elisabeth Caudill, Brittany Shannon, Carole Surfus, and Heather Rogers. Continue reading

Week in Review for May 16th-20th, 2011

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

The Knox-Center Township Fire Department responded to a fire at Sibo’s Grill shortly after 2:00 a.m. Monday. Fire Chief, Kenny Pfost, said that an electrical issue caused the fire.

The Starke County Commissioners are moving forward with repairs on bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch. They leaned toward the selection of a concrete box beam bridge with an estimated cost of $116,000. A DNR permit will be the only one needed for this project. Continue reading

Airport Association Board Public Hearing Not Quite What Was Expected

Many of the individuals who attended last night’s public hearing regarding the Pulaski County Airport Expansion Project were a bit surprised. Most of the people expected a more direct form of a question and answer session, but were instead greeted with a court stenographer to whom they could address their questions, or a “question box” in which to drop their query. Various information displays on whiteboards were propped up throughout the snow removal building for people to glean information from, along with several tables with plans, layouts, and other displays set out. Individuals were free to roam the snow removal building to examine all the information.

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Starke County Sheriff’s Department Receives Transfer for Pension Fund

Sheriff Oscar Cowen
Sheriff Oscar Cowen

The pension fund for the Starke County Sheriff’s Department has received its necessary fund transfer, thanks to Sheriff Oscar Cowen and the County Council. At their joint meeting with the Commissioners, Cowen asked for $108,514.32 to be transferred to the Sheriff’s Pension Fund. This transfer has been requested annually for several years.

“We call it the riverboat money. It comes in, it goes into an account. The only way it can come out of that account is the sheriff has to ask for it. And if the sheriff doesn’t ask for it, it can’t be taken out,” said Commissioner Dan Bridegroom.

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Pulaski County EMS Requests Funds for New Ambulance

A new ambulance may be en route to the Pulaski County EMS. Jason Rogers of the EMS told the Commissioners that they’ve been having a large amount of ambulance problems: One of their trucks has broken down and needs a new fuel injection system for the third time, another truck also needs repaired, and a third truck is unable to be used because the state no longer commissions it.

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Man Arrested after Threatening Starke County Woman with Knife

Tony A. Glover

Tony A. Glover, of Nappanee, Indiana, was arrested by officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday, May 17th after he allegedly placed a knife against the throat of a Knox woman and threatened to harm her.

According to the police report, three witnesses told police that Glover had placed a knife against the victim’s throat and threatened her. Glover was in possession of knife at the time police questioned him about the incident. He told police that he never threatened the victim or the witnesses.

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North Judson Town Board Approves Bid Ordinance, Sewer Separation Bid Deadline Extended

North Judson Town Board: Dan Anderson, Wendy Hoppe, Jane Ellen Felchuk, Attorney Cassie Hine and Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller

The North Judson Town Board approved the final reading on an ordinance that establishes the requirements for responsible and responsive bidders that bid on a town project. The Board is required to accept the lowest bid received. Under this ordinance, if the Town Board members receive a low bid on a project and the lowest bidder is found to not be the best company for the job and it can be documented, the Town would have the right to accept the next lowest bid.

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Starke County Election Board Reviews Spring Primary Election

Starke County Election Board: Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski, Brenda Stanojevic and Kenny Wallace (sitting) Pat Mitchell and Jim Henriott

The Starke County Election Board met yesterday in its first meeting since the Spring Primary Election where the Board members discussed the election.

Board President, Pat Mitchell, was asked if he thought the first election with the consolidation of the four Center Township precincts was a success.

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Starke County Law Enforcement to Participate in Operation Pull Over Blitz

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Hamlet Police Department, Knox City Police Department and the North Judson Police Department will be participating in an Operation Pull Over Blitz that begins today and goes through June 5th. Officers will be on extra patrols to conduct a campaign on seat belt safety.

This enforcement period is designed to save lives and the officers encourage all occupants in a vehicle to wear their seat belts. Anyone not wearing their seat belt when stopped by police will receive a ticket. 250 other police agencies throughout the state will be focusing on this seat belt enforcement. Officers will also be watching for drivers who follow too closely, make unsafe lane changes, drive aggressively, fail to properly restrain children in child seats, and operate a vehicle while impaired.

IU Health Starke Hospital to Help Knox Elementary PTO with Playground Project

This pile of mulch is just one that IU Health Starke Hospital volunteers will be helping the PTO with today

IU Health Starke Hospital employees will be participating in the third annual Day of Community Service event today at the Knox Elementary School. The staff members will work with the Knox Elementary PTO to assist with landscape upgrades to the playground facilities at the school.

The project will begin at 7:00 a.m. today. The Hospital gave the PTO $3,000 to buy mulch and two semi loads of mulch was delivered to the school this week for the project. The PTO purchased an additional $1,000 worth of mulch to fully complete upgrading the playground facilities.

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Bella Vita Fundraising Event a Success

Susanne Lange

250 interested people turned out for the Bella Vita Pregnancy Resource Center’s fundraising reception last night at the Knox Community Center. Pledge Chairman, Dr. Thomas Browne, urged all in attendance to provide the funding to help sustain this worthwhile and needed service. Following the evening, Executive Director, Susanne Lange, told WKVI’s Ted Hayes about the first two months of operation and how many are using the services.

“We’ve seen over twenty clients and have enrolled many, many girls, ages 14-34, in our Earn While You Learn program who are actually showing up consistently.”

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