Parents Give Input on Aging Palmer Wing at the Knox Elementary School

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Community Elementary School recently held parent/teacher conferences and during that time, parents were asked to go through the Palmer Wing.

“The administrators from the Elementary School invited members and parents in to look at Palmer Wing at the Elementary School just to show some of the needs that might be necessary,” said Superintendent A.J. Gappa. “Our maintenance people do a great job of maintaining things, but that building is nearing 60 years old so some things are going to need to be taken care of. Six or seven parents each night did take advantage and looked at the Palmer Wing and pretty much the comments were unanimous. There is going to have to be something done sometime in the near future.”

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Ladies Car Care Clinic Begins Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI
SCILL Center

A Ladies Car Care Clinic begins tonight at the SCILL Center in Knox.

“Rod Dawson and Mark Anderson had initiated that a number of years ago and we’re expanding it just a tad bit this year,” said SCILL Center Director Jerry Gurrado. “We’re going to be holding it evenings on October 25th and then a follow-up on November 8th, both from 6:00-8:00 p.m. There’s only a $5.00 donation for that.”

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Special Events Planned after Trick-or-Treat on Halloween

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson Town Board approved a request by the Cross-Town Collision band to host a concert and get-together at the North Judson Community Building after Trick-or-Treat.

The band will provide music to the kids and several door prizes will be awarded throughout the evening. Trick-or-Treat in North Judson is on Monday, October 31st from 5:00-6:30 p.m. CT.

In Knox, the Friends of the park will sponsor costume judging and refreshments at the Knox Community Center after Trick-or-Treat on Monday, October 31st. Trick-or-Treat in Knox is from 5:30-7:00 p.m. CT on Monday.

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Hunters are Gearing up for Hunting Season

Posted on Author WKVI
deer

We’re nearing the end of October and according to Conservation Officer, Keith Wildeman, that means hunters are gearing up for hunting season.

“Right now in mid-October, we’re already in to the deer archery season and it runs through November 27th,” said Wildeman. “Our fall gun season will start November 12th and run until November 27th and then muzzleloader season will pick up December 3rd through the 18th.”

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Shelby Thomas Appears for Initial Hearing in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Shelby Thomas

Shelby Thomas appeared in Starke Circuit Court on Friday where he plead not guilty to three counts of Attempted Murder, four counts of Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon and three counts of Resisting Law Enforcement with a Deadly Weapon.

Thomas, of North Judson, was arrested on Sunday, October 16th after he allegedly threatened to kill a Knox man in the 1400 block of west 400 S. in Knox as he held a knife up against his throat. The man got away and Thomas was later questioned about the incident. When officers from the Knox City Police Department and the Starke County Sheriff’s Department asked Thomas to place his hands behind his back, his demeanor reportedly turned to anger. He then reached behind his back to remove a knife from his pants line and threatened the lives of two of the officers trying to place him into custody. The blade on the knife was 10 to 12 inches in length and Thomas reportedly began swinging the knife at the three officers and telling them, “I’m not going back to prison. You’ll have to kill me first.” Thomas was then tasered and officers were able to free the knife from Thomas’ hands. Thomas was tasered twice before he released the knife that he reportedly swung at the officers.

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North Judson Town Board Approves Expenditure for Railroad Crossing Improvement

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board

The North Judson Town Board approved the expenditure of an additional $2,900 for repairs done to the Main Street railroad crossing. The Board approved the work to be done for $4,875 but the an error was made in the coverage area. Town and Country Paving found that more work needed to be done at that location and the Board agreed to pay the extra money for the repairs.

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Nathan VanDerAa Pleads in Federal Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Nathan VanDerAa

33-year-old Nathan VanDerAa, of Star City, plead guilty before a Federal Magistrate Judge on Thursday, October 20th.

VanDerAa plead guilty to the felony offense of being an Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm. Sentencing is set for January 27th, 2012. A charge of Manufacture of a Controlled Substance was dropped as part of his plea agreement.

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Knox Redskin Brigade’s Season Comes to a Close

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Redskin Brigade ended its season Saturday after placing 11th in the Semi-State Marching band competition at Decatur High School in Indianapolis. The top 10 bands went on to the State Finals.

Director Craige Phipps said it was tough, but the students did a great job and got a standing ovation for their performance.

Red Hat Society’s Bling my Bra Campaign Raises Money for Breast Cancer Research

Posted on Author WKVI
These are just a few of the bras decorated for the Bling my Bra campaign

The 2011 Bling my Bra promotion is nearing an end in Starke County. The Red Hat organization in Starke County has spearheaded a promotion where women bling their bras for auction. The bras were on display Sunday at the Washington Township Community Building Open House. Kathy Cooper talks about the promotion for breast cancer research.

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John Hensler Speaks to M.O.P.S. Group

Posted on Author WKVI
John Hensler speaks to the M.O.P.S. group

The Mothers of Pre-Schoolers, known as M.O.P.S., was honored to have John Hensler from Hensler’s Nursery as their guest speaker this month. John Hensler told the M.O.P.S. group about each of the Christmas tree varieties and what it takes to grow a Christmas tree from seed to harvest. John also talked about the upcoming events, including the Pumpkin Drop, Fall Festival, and Christmas activities.

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Week in Review for October 17th-21st, 2011

Posted on Author WKVI

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

Shelby Thomas, of North Judson, was arrested Sunday after police found he allegedly held a knife up to a person’s throat and threatened death. Thomas has preliminary charges of Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon, Attempted Murder and Resisting with a Deadly Weapon.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you are needing help in an abusive situation, call the Starke County Coalition Against Domestic Abuse at 772-3331 or The Caring Place at 772-2222. Continue reading →

Registered Sex Offender Arrested for Multiple Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
LaPorte County Sheriff's Department
LaPorte County Sheriff's Department

LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department officers arrested a 25-year-old LaPorte man on Thursday in conjunction with several counts of dealing in narcotics.

Indiana Department of Corrections Parole Officers and investigators from the Michigan City Police Street Crimes unit arrested Virgil Marshall for two outstanding warrants for Class B Felony Dealing in Schedule II Controlled Substances as well as a parole violation. LaPorte County Metro Operations Unit had conducted an investigation and Marshall was identified as distributing narcotics in the City of LaPorte.

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Starke County Council Approves Money for Special Legislation in Funding Jail Project

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Jail

The Starke County Council approved a $25,000 request from the Commissioners that would be used to secure the assistance of Umbaugh and Associates and Ice Miller, LLC in pursuing special legislation that would help in the funding of a jail project once the scope of that project is determined.

The committee selected to study how to correct problems at the jail was brought up to date this week on what would happen if a Federal Court judge was to mandate that a new jail be built. Starke County already has a class action suit against it, and with the condition of the jail it is not out of the realm of possibility that other law suits could be forthcoming in the future.

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Medaryville Residents Arrested on Charges of Theft

Posted on Author WKVI
Kurt Timberlake
Benjamin Fitch
Tyson Matthews

Three Medaryville residents were arrested Tuesday after an ongoing theft investigation by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.

Eight thefts were reported between the months of March and October in 2010 from rural farms in Rich Grove and Cass Townships on U.S. 421 in Pulaski County. Two operational semi-tractors, two inoperable cars and one pickup, tractor weights, and several other items and farm implements were stolen. Scrap steel was also reported stolen from the FTC business in Francesville.

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North Judson Town Board Discusses 2012 Budget, Trash Removal Services

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

The North Judson Town Board members approved the 2012 budget this week. All funds, including the general fund, local roads and streets, motor vehicle highway, parks, cumulative capital improvements, and cumulative capital development funds total $785,360.

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Starke County Commissioners to Decide on Snow Emergency Policy for County Employees

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners: Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis

The Starke County Commissioners are trying to decide on a snow emergency policy involving employee pay if the county is under a no travel order due to snowy conditions. The Courthouse had to close once in December of 2010 and again in January of this year because the county roads were closed due to snow. A funding mechanism was in place through the state and federal governments where the county could get funding to make the roads passable if an emergency is declared in the county.

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Winamac Man Arrested after Stolen Items Found in Residence

Posted on Author WKVI
Jason Creque

Jason Creque, of Winamac, was arrested Tuesday in Pulaski County on Theft charges after a search warrant was executed by Pulaski County police.

An ATV, hunting clothing, household items, toys, and tools were reported stolen by a homeowner on 475 W., south of 900 S. in Pulaski County. When Pulaski County officers investigated the shooting incident between Creque and Josh Isom on October 5th, detectives observed the stolen items at Creque’s residence at 7948 S. 475 W. in Winamac. Detectives obtained a search warrant and some of the stolen items were recovered at the residence. The ATV was recovered in Carroll County and some of the hunting items were recovered in Monticello.

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