Mediation Session Resolves Issue between Starke County Sheriff, Merit Board

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen

The issue between Sheriff Oscar Cowen and Starke County Merit Board President Ken Arnett seems to have been resolved, they were using mediation in court last Friday. Former Starke County Circuit Court Judge Marvin McLaughlin conducted the session and reported back to the county council Monday night.

“All the parties showed up and brought their common sense,” McLaughlin said. “We got an agreement that took care of the whole lawsuit. We also established a procedure for settling all the disputes and the council and courts should not be bothered again.”

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Five-Year-Old Falls in Pond, Air-Lifted to South Bend

Posted on Author WKVI
The five-year-old was airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend. Photo provided by Jes Laughlin.

A five-year-old child was transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend earlier this afternoon after he was reportedly found unresponsive after falling into a small pond in the North 600 Block of Ind. 23. A witness called 911 and told police that the child had fallen into the pond, and Starke County EMS rushed to the scene where they found the unresponsive child partially in the water.

The Hamlet Fire Department set up a landing zone near the intersection of 600 E and U.S. 30 for Memorial Hospital’s Med-Flight helicopter to land and transport the child to the hospital, where he was being held at last report.

No more information is available at this time, but the incident is still under investigation and WKVI will keep you informed as more information becomes available.

Hamlet Man Arrested after Battery Incident

Posted on Author WKVI
Don Paulson

A Hamlet man was arrested Monday night after a domestic complaint.

An officer with the Hamlet Police Department arrived at 409 Pearl Street and found 54-year-old David Paulson on the front porch and he reportedly began yelling at the officers. Officers learned that Paulson had allegedly held a 15-year-old girl down on the couch and threw a beer can at her. The can hit the teenager in the face. Paulson was reportedly highly intoxicated at the time of the incident, according to police.

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Starke County Tourism Board President Requests Release of Funds

Posted on Author WKVI
Julie Dessauer asks the Commissioners for the release of tourism funds

Starke County Tourism Board President Julie Dessauer appeared before the county council and commissioners this week seeking release of funds for the organization to function. Funding from the Innkeeper’s Tax has been frozen in the auditor’s office until an investigation into financial irregularities is completed. The financial issue stems from actions conducted by Jennie Carter.

Commissioner Kathy Norem said that the funding did not come directly to the Tourism Board.

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Winamac Town Board Names New Park Superintendent

Posted on Author WKVI
Entrance to the Winamac Town Park

The Winamac Town Board appointed a new Park Superintendent at their recent meeting. Rick Dilts was appointed and he will assume the duties from Don Thompson on April 1st. Don Thompson is retiring after 20 years as the Winamac Town Park Superintendent. The Board thanked him for this dedication to the town and Thompson thanked everyone for the last 20 years and he said he hoped he leaves the park in better shape than when he got it.

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Church of the Heartland Still Accepting Donations for Tornado Victims

Posted on Author WKVI

The members of the Church of the Heartland will be taking a trailer full of supplies to tornado victims in southern Indiana this weekend, but items are still needed.

You may donate non-perishable food items, detergent, hair care products, cleaning supplies, paper products, diapers, baby food and bottled water. You may take your donation to the Church of the Heartland at 6020 S. 300 E. in Knox from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT everyday this week.

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Culver School Board Discusses Monterey Elementary Display Items

Posted on Author WKVI
Monterey Elementary School

The decision as to what to do about the items on display in the closed Monterey Elementary School building is still being discussed, as Monterey Town Board President Jim Fleury approached the Culver School Board this week requesting an update on the situation.

Fleury asked the board whether or not they would allow him to make arrangements to have a number of items removed from the building that hold sentimental value to the community. Superintendent Brad Schuldt said the board would ultimately have to decide what items can be removed, and requested that Fleury make a list of items to be removed from the building and where they would be taken.

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Knox City Council Discusses the Addition of Security Cameras

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Hall
Knox City Hall

It might just be a sign of the times but more and more municipalities are installing surveillance cameras. Knox Mayor Rick Chambers brought the idea of installing cameras in City Hall to the City Council meeting recently. In his presentation, Chambers said there are irate customers from time to time at the Clerk-Treasurer’s office and the Knox City Court. The court has the potential for incidents to happen in the heat of testimony and decisions being made from the bench.

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Winamac Man Arrested on Warrant after being Beaten

Posted on Author WKVI
Dennis Howard

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Winamac man on Friday on an active arrest warrant after he was severely beaten by two suspects.

Dennis Howard was at Pulaski Memorial Hospital when officials notified the police that he was wanted on an active arrest warrant. When questioned, police learned that Howard was at a home on 550 N. and two North Judson men allegedly beat him with their fists and shovels and he was kicked. He had fled from officers earlier in the day and ended up at 6735 W. 550 N. It was then he was reportedly beaten. He had sustained injuries all over his body.

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Medaryville Man Arrested on Drug Charges after Traffic Stop

Posted on Author WKVI
Shane Born

A Medaryville man was arrested Saturday after a traffic stop.

The Pulaski County deputy saw the Shane Born leave a Medaryville gas station and followed his vehicle for a while. The officer noticed that Born’s actions were suspicious and it appeared that Born was trying to avoid him. He had driven into two different driveways as the officer was following him.  The officer initiated a traffic stop and when the officer approached the vehicle, Born reportedly told him that he didn’t have a license and he was an habitual traffic violator. When Born’s information was run through dispatch, the officer learned that he was an habitual traffic violator for life.

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Star City Man Arrested for Reckless Driving

Posted on Author WKVI
Rusty Steele

A 19-year-old Star City man was arrested Saturday after he drove his car erratically around a block party.

Rusty J. Steele was reportedly revving his car’s engine and squealing the tires around Market and Pearl Streets in Winamac where a block party was scheduled. Police reportedly saw Steele travel south on Logan Street towards Main Street. When Steele got to Main Street, he reportedly revved his engine again, squealed the tires and turned toward U.S. 35.

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West Central Wind Turbine Testing to Begin March 26th

Posted on Author WKVI

The wind turbine at the West Central School campus has been built, but is it operational? Superintendent Charles Mellon was asked to give an update on the progress of the turbine.

“I think our utility company has finished their work and it looks like March 26th is when it could be started up. The people scheduled for us fly over from Germany and March 26th is when they would arrive to begin the commissioning process, which is 120 hours of documentation of things and making sure everything is running properly.”

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Indiana State Police Posts to Accept Synthetic Drugs for Disposal

Posted on Author WKVI

The Indiana State Police is making it easier for retailers to dispose of synthetic drugs.

Retailers and private citizens can dispose of K2, Spice or bath salts at any Indiana State Police post. Any quantity can be disposed until Sunday, March 25th. You will not be arrested if you take the illegal substance in your possession to your nearest police post for proper disposal. The closest headquarters in our listening area are Bremen, Lowell and Lafayette.

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City of Knox to Cut Lightning Claims

Posted on Author WKVI

The City of Knox is attempting to cut down on lightning damage. City Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston has notified the City Council that he is trying to work with the insurance company to eliminate the claims.

“I want to mention that we were contacted by the insurance carrier about our loses because of lightning. So I’m coming up with a list of the steps the City is taking to try to alleviate the problems. We have cut down some trees and put in arresters to try to make the insurance company happy. We don’t want them to raise our rates any more. The last time it was not just a matter of raising rates, they actually raised the deductible for lightning claims,” Houston said.

From the WKVI Archives

Posted on Author WKVI

It was on this date in 1979 that the Starke County Council gave approval to the County Commissioners to pursue the matter of constructing a County Highway Garage. The approval followed a presentation by Commissioner Robert Ferch in which preliminary plans were outlined. Earlier in the day, the commissioners approved the purchase of 10 acres of land for the new garage. A purchase agreement has been drawn up for the land, which is located on County Road 250 North and 375 East off of U.S. 35. The land is near the Arrowhead property which was under consideration as a site for a time last year.

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