IU Health Starke Hospital, Moving Starke County Forward to Host Drug Symposium

moving starke county forward logo
 

In partnership with the Moving Starke County Forward Coalition, IU Health Starke Hospital is looking to address a community crisis through a Drug Abuse Symposium in downtown Knox. The problem of illegal drug abuse, including that of methamphetamine and prescription drugs, is a problem that affects numerous communities throughout Indiana and the nation, and these organizations are looking to make a difference.

Continue reading

DHS Campaign Urges Hoosiers to Report Suspicious Activity

  
 
It’s one of the best defenses against violent acts, and it’s something everyone is capable of doing. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is holding their “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign, encouraging Hoosiers to be vigilant in monitoring and reporting suspicious activities. According to a survey released earlier this week, 56 percent of Americans say they hadn’t heard of the campaign, but in light of the incident at the Boston Marathon and the data from the report, the Indiana DHS, state police, and city of Indianapolis Department of Public Safety are doing everything they can to bring forth this message and shed some light on this campaign.

Continue reading

Minimal Injuries in Three Vehicle Accident North of Knox

 
 

Starke County Sheriff’s Deputies and emergency personnel were called to a three vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon.

The driver of a vehicle was traveling north of Knox and attempted to turning left into a driveway on U.S. 35 just south of State Road 8 west. The car behind that vehicle slowed and waited for the vehicle to turn when a third vehicle and rear-ended the second vehicle. The second vehicle then hit the vehicle turning left.

Continue reading

LaPorte Man Arrested For Possession of Cocaine

 

Decarlo Knighten
Decarlo Knighten

A LaPorte man is jailed on a $100,000 bond accused of dealing in cocaine. Decarlo Knighten, 35, was taken into custody without incident at his State Street home Monday by officers from the La Porte County Metro Operations Unit and United States Drug Enforcement Administration. They obtained arrest and search warrants for his home following an ongoing investigation into the sale and distribution of narcotics in the LaPorte area.

Winamac Man Arrested on Possession Charges

A Winamac man was arrested after he was found to be in possession of drugs near the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation.

 
 

A Pulaski County deputy was patrolling just south of Winamac when he noticed that the vehicle in front of him did not have a properly working license plate light. The driver also failed to activate his turn signal when turning onto a Winamac street.

Continue reading

Apartment Fire Extinguished by LaPorte Fire Department

 
 

The LaPorte Fire Department battled a structure fire Sunday afternoon.

Around 2:09 p.m., LaPorte police were called to 810 Madison St. after a caller reported the fire. Officers observed black smoke from from the upstairs apartment windows and entered the apartment to check for residents. No one was inside and flames were seen on the door.

The residents returned home while the fire department was extinguishing the blaze. They told police and firefighters that they had left the home 20 minutes prior to the call and nothing was wrong at the time.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Marshall County EMA Director Still Concerned About Flooding

 
 
The Yellow River and the Tippecanoe River in Marshall County have crested and are receding, but Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery worries that may only be temporary.

Avery said with the three-quarters-to-an-inch of rain expected Tuesday, the rivers may rise above flood stage again. The ground is still saturated with the rain received last week and that will cause creeks, streams, ditches and rivers to swell.

Continue reading

Knox Council to Hold Public Hearing on Cumulative Capital Fund

Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council will be holding a public hearing tonight in regards to re-establishing the cumulative capital development fund for the city. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explained that the council would like to re-establish that fund because over time the levy – that is, the amount of money raised from taxes – goes up, while the percentage of funds going toward the cumulative capital fund goes down.

Continue reading

Tippecanoe River Crests in Monterey and Winamac

Tippecanoe River State Park
Tippecanoe River State Park
The Tippecanoe River is receding in Monterey and Winamac. Pulaski County Emergency Management Agency Director Larry Hoover says some low-lying areas were affected by flooding, but he’s not received any reports of water in homes or flood-related damages. Hoover encourages anyone who did sustain property damage to call his office at (574) 946-6391 to report it or to visit the Indiana Department of Homeland Security’s website at in.gov/dhs. Reporting damage helps state officials determine whether they should apply for federal assistance.

Hoover says the river in both Monterey and Winamac crested well short of the high-water mark set in 2009, when it hit 15.72 and 15.69 feet respectively. It topped out at 12.21 feet in Winamac over the weekend and reached 14.37 feet in Monterey. Additional rain is possible tomorrow, but Hoover hopes that the water level will have dropped enough by then that it won’t cause any significant problems.

Palmer Wing Tour Offered Tuesday Afternoon

 
 

Voters who reside within the Knox Community School Corporation limits can see for themselves the problems with the elementary school’s 60-year-old Palmer wing during an open house and tour this afternoon at 4 p.m. It’s sponsored by the “Whatever It Takes” Committee, who claims the original school lacks the electrical infrastructure necessary to support today’s high-tech classrooms, the heating and air conditioning systems are over-taxed, and foundation problems are causing cracks in the floor. Additionally, they say the kitchen is too cramped for cafeteria staff to prepare enough food for the entire building.

Continue reading

Distinguished Hoosier Award Given to Winamac Legend

Rep. Gutwein (far left) along with Governor Mike Pence and Melody Braun holding the Distinguished Hoosier Award.
Rep. Gutwein (far left) along with Governor Mike Pence and Melody Braun holding the Distinguished Hoosier Award.

Melody Braun was at the Indiana Statehouse recently to accept an award in her late husband’s honor.

Governor Mike Pence recently honored Ralph Braun with the Distinguished Hoosier Award. Representative Doug Gutwein attended the award ceremony and stated that there was no way to fully show appreciation for all that Ralph Braun accomplished, but hoped this could show how appreciative Indiana is for the major contributions he made to the state.

Continue reading

Criteria for New Superintendent to be Discussed by E. Pulaski School Board

Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman
The Eastern Pulaski School Board will be meeting in a work session tonight at 5:30 p.m. ET in the distance learning lab. The work session will involve the discussion of criteria to be used in the superintendent selection process.

After 26 years at the helm of the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation, Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman announced that he would be retiring when his contract ends on June 30. The Eastern Pulaski School Board met in special session on Monday, March 18 and approved Klitzman’s request for retirement.

The board’s split vote on renewing Klitzman’s contract for the 2013-2014 school year prompted his decision.

The board is now tasked in finding his replacement. That process will begin tonight during the board’s work session.

Plymouth Police Department Adds New Officers

 
 

The Plymouth Police Department’s ranks are growing, with the addition of three new academy-trained officers to the force. Jeremy Enyart previously worked for the Argos Police Department. Matt Emenhiser was an officer with the Marion P.D., and Ben McIntire received his training while he worked for the Bourbon Police Department. Plymouth Clerk-Treasurer Toni Hutchings administered their oaths of office Monday morning. All three were offered conditional employment in January by then-Chief Jim Cox, who noted the department received more than a dozen applications for the three openings. They have since completed the testing process and pension board approval. They will complete the department’s field training process by working with other officers before taking to the road on their own.

IU Health Starke Hospital, Community Services Partner for Heath Fair

 
 
IU Health Starke Hospital and Community Services of Starke County are teaming up to host a health fair Friday afternoon at the Knox Community Center at 55 E. Lake St. Members of the hospital staff will offer several free screenings, including blood pressure, blood sugar, osteoporosis, oral cancer and take-home screening kits to check for colorectal cancer. Attendees will also get a free gift, and refreshments will be available. The Community Health Fair will take place Friday from 2 until 7 p.m. CDT. WKVI will also be broadcasting live, so stop by and see us. If you would like more information about the fair, call 800-235-6204 ext. 2415.

DNR Encourages Participation in National Volunteer Week

 
 

Hoosiers are invited to participate in National Volunteer Week by helping Indiana’s State Parks & Reservoirs. Jody Heaston, volunteer coordinator for the DNR Division of State Parks & Reservoirs, says there are many opportunities from maintaining trails to entering computer data. Heaston hopes many volunteers from National Volunteer Week will “catch the giving-back spirit” and continue to volunteer throughout the year. The Tippecanoe River State Park north of Winamac is always in need of volunteers. Park management and the nonprofit Friends of Tippecanoe River State Park are teaming up on Saturday, May 4 to host a volunteer day and spring clean the nature center, work on the new scenic overlooks and get the horse campground ready for the park’s busy season. Give the park office a call at 574-946-3213 if you would like to help out or like the Friends of Tippecanoe River State Park page on Facebook for more information

.

Money Smart Week Comes to Indiana; Educate Yourself on Financial Matters

 
 
At a time when many Americans have more questions than answers regarding financial matters, a campaign called “Money Smart Week” comes to Indiana this week, spearheaded by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Martha Henn, Indiana’s Money Smart Week chair, said more than 100 events will take place across the state to cover a variety of topics from simple budgeting to having enough insurance, even understanding Social Security benefits.

“A lot of social services providers, neighborhood centers, youth groups, churches and so forth, will reach out to their populations to do some good financial education,” said Henn.

Continue reading

Winamac Church Offers A Hand Up for Families in Need

  
 
Members of a Winamac church have cleaned their closets out and want to give back to the community. Fellowship Baptist Church is hosting a Spring Cleaning Clothing Giveaway on Saturday, April 27 from 8 a.m. until noon EDT. Organizers want items to go to people who are having a hard time making ends meet and need a helping hand. They’ve got a variety of men’s women’s and children’s clothing and accessories for all seasons. Any items not given away will be donated to charity. Fellowship Baptist Church is located at the corner of State Road 119 and 100 South just south of Winamac.

HEA 1325 Signed into Law

Indiana Governor Mike Pence
Indiana Governor Mike Pence

Governor Michael Pence has signed a bill into law that addresses mobile disaster relief funding.

This bill helps pay overtime for the emergency personnel called out to statewide disasters. When the tornadoes hit Henryville in March 2012, firefighters from around the state responded to the scene. Local departments had to absorb the cost of paying the firefighters and their backups for their overtime work.

Continue reading