Week in Review for January 23rd-27th, 2012

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

Eric Corey

Funeral services for the creator of the popular Turkey Tracks hunt for disabled hunters, Eric Corey, were held Sunday at the Knox Community Center. Hundreds attended the service.

Welding classes could be offered soon at the Knox Middle School. Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa is discussing the project with representatives from the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, SCILL Center, and the North Central Area Vocational program.

The wind turbine at the West Central School Corporation is constructed, but the blades are not yet turning. NIPSCO will be completing the electrical connections this week to get the turbine ready for testing.

House Bill 1213 was introduced in the House Ways and Means Committee this week. The bill, if passed, would help the Starke County Council fund a new jail.

Ryan Schroeder

26-year-old Ryan Schroeder, of Valparaiso, was arrested yesterday on charges of Aiding in Child Molestation, Aiding in Child Exploitation, Possession of Child Pornography, Aiding in Voyeurism and Aiding in Theft. He was arrested in connection with the arrest of Tara Tryon, of Wanatah, who was arrested October 27th, 2011 on 20 counts of Child Molestation.

The West Central School Board members discussed the budget during their meeting last week. Superintendent Charles Mellon notified the board that in their first draw,there was a shortfall of $310,000 from last year. $323,000 was lost last year due to enrollment changes and the changes in the state’s funding formula.

Jim Ortman

The owner of Ortman’s Meat Processing in Winamac died on Monday. James Ortman and his wife, Mary, have owned the business for 23 years.

A bill that would eliminate township advisory boards and required referendums in each county to determine the future of township government was thrown out in the statehouse this week.

The Indiana House passed the right to work bill this week with a vote of 54-44.

The Medaryville Fire Department and Indiana State Fire Marshal’s officials are investigating a house fire that occurred at 210 W. Main Street in Medaryville on Sunday.

The unemployment report for December showed little change. Indiana remained at 9% while Starke County’s rate went up slightly to 10.7%.

Julius Novitzke
Heather VanDusen

Julius Novitzke and Heather VanDusen were arrested Wednesday morning after a search warrant was executed at their Grovertown residence. Starke County Police, Indiana State Police and a Plymouth K9 unit arrested them on several methamphetamine charges.

State Representative Nancy Dembowski said now that the right to work bill has passed out of the House, other bills can be moved through including the smoking ban.

Six Republican candidates filed for office Thursday in the Starke County Clerk’s Office. Five filed for Precinct Committeeman positions and Kathy Norem filed for County Commissioner District 1.

Cheryl Paschen pleaded guilty in a plea agreement to charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Syringe. She was sentenced to serve 18 months in the Indiana Department of Corrections with six months suspended on both charges. The sentences will run concurrently and will be served on home detention.

Waylon Anderson

Waylon Anderson, of Knox, was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court yesterday to serve six years on a count of burglary and four years on a previously suspended sentence.

And that is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.