Indiana State Excise Police officers arrested 18 people on 20 charges during Saturday’s races and concerts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Most were charged with alcohol or drug-related offenses. Most of the arrests were for illegal possession or consumption of alcohol, with 16 people facing that charge. Other charges include furnishing alcohol to a minor and possession of false identification. Continue reading
The first lap of the race forced hearts to beat a little faster and the excitement built up even more when Jeff Gordon crossed the finish line first. It was the race that embodies the prestige of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the driver who won the inaugural race found himself back in Victory Lane 20 years later…on Jeff Gordon Day.
Richard Childress has seen a lot of his drivers win at the Brickyard including Dale Earnhardt, Sr., Paul Menard and Kevin Harvick. Saturday’s win for Richard Childress Racing was even more special – his grandson, Ty Dillon, and his RCR crew kissed the bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to celebrate Dillon’s first Nationwide Series race since moving into the division this season.
Justin Allgaier is in a large field of rookies this season and is doing well in 2014. In this Behind the Wheel interview, he talks about the way around Indianapolis Motor Speedway and what his expectations are for Pocono Raceway next weekend:
Justin Allgaier Behind the Wheel
Mitch Columbe was able to speak with Front Row Motor sports Driver David Gilliland. Gilliland has been very busy this weekend watching his son race and preparing for the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard. He talks about the greatness of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and how amazing it would be to win it all Sunday.
David Gilliland Behind the Wheel
Ryan Truex is ready to tackle the infamous track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He’s in his rookie season with a large field of contenders and has been able to hold his own. In this interview, he talks about his rookie season and how to get around the challenging 2.5 mile track that is home to the greatest spectacle in racing.
A Walkerton woman was sentenced in Marshall Superior Court after admitting to possessing heroin in her apartment located in Culver.
She pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of heroin within 1,000 feet of a housing complex. She was sentenced by Judge Robert O. Bowen to ten years in the Indiana Department of Corrections on that charge. Owens was additionally sentenced to a year-and-a-half in prison on a charge of neglect of a dependent in an unrelated case. The sentences will run concurrently, or at the same time, and she was ordered to undergo intensive drug treatment in the purposeful incarceration program.
A woman who is reportedly connected with a Monday night battery incident in Wythogan Park in Knox was in Starke Circuit Court for her initial hearing Friday morning.
Samantha Smith, 19, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assisting a criminal, a Level 6 felony. Smith was reportedly in a car that left the scene of a battery incident in Wythogan Park. Timothy Lemon was appointed as her attorney.
School starts in a few weeks, and that has many parents scrambling to make sure their children’s immunizations are up to date. IU Health Starke Hospital Director of Patient Services Janet Gillon encourages them to take advantage of the services HealthLink has to offer. Adult patients who need a primary care provider can visit Dr. Nabil Abdo at Dr. Browne’s office. He also has a nurse practitioner on staff who can assist patients of all ages with their health care needs. A nurse practitioner is also available at HealthLinc. Visit http://iuhealth.org/starke/ for more information.
A Starke County girl received a new award for outstanding gardening skills at the 4-H Fair. Knox resident Ashlie Fields was named the 4-H grand prize gardening winner. In addition, she was recognized by the fair as the Top Green Leaf 4-H Garden Award winner.
A Westville man was arrested on Tuesday after he fled police in a vehicle.
LaPorte Police Department officers initiated a traffic stop on Boston Street near the Norfolk Southern railroad crossing near Factory Street. The officers recognized James D. Brinsfield, 38, who was wanted on a charge of dealing in a schedule I controlled substance (heroin) as a Class A felony.
Take a slow ride around Bass Lake this weekend on a historic tram and learn about the colorful history of the popular Starke County attraction. Jim Nierman says the tours only take place during the Bass Lake Festival. He and the other guides point out 40 or so attractions on the 90 minute rides. Nierman has been studying the history of Bass Lake for the past 60 years. He says parts of “The Wizard of Oz” and the book “Ben Hur” were written at the lake. So was the song “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” It was composed at the Center View Hotel. Bass Lake was also a favorite vacation spot for Chicago mobster Diamond Joe Esposito in the 1920s. The Starke County Historical Society is a co-sponsor of this year’s tours.
They leave from the Bass Lake Property Owners Association building Saturday, July 26 at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday tours depart at 9 and 11 a.m. Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for children ages 12 and under.
Starke United Fund grants will be given to 13 Starke County charitable organizations this year.
Approximately $12,000 was available for this grant cycle. The Starke United Fund’s Grant Committee received 26 grant applications with requested amounts totaling $69,000.
Starke County Sheriff’s deputies have found Joshua Simpkins, 32, of Knox.
Simpkins went missing from a residence on 500 East and State Road 8 in Knox.
Community members and personnel from the sheriff’s department searched the area and he was safely located, according to officials from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.
Ashlie Fields – Blue Honor
Grand Champion – Ashlie Fields
Division 1
Madeline Hewlett – Blue Honor
Mckenzie McIntire – Blue Honor
Division Champion – Mackenzie McIntire
Division Reserve Champion – Madeline Hewlett
Grand Champion – Mackenzie McIntire
Reserve Grand Champion – Madeline Hewlett
A 22-year prison sentence was handed down to a Grovertown man in Starke Circuit Court on three serious charges.
Zachary Bastin, 21, was sentenced within an agreed recommendation filed with the court.
Bastin pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary as a Class B felony and was sentenced to 12 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Bastin also pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary as a Class C felony and was sentenced to five years in the DOC. He was sentenced to two years in the DOC on a charge of receiving stolen property as a Class D felony. No part of any sentence was suspended.
A co-defendant in a case involving Zachary Bastin was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court this week.
Cody Sobieck pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary as a Class B felony and was sentenced to six years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with three years suspended to be served on home detention. Sobieck also pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal mischief as a Class D felony. He was sentenced to 14 months in the DOC with seven months suspended to be served on home detention.
Another arrest has been made in the Monday night battery incident at Wythogan Park in Knox.
Samantha Smith, 19, was arrested Tuesday night for her alleged involvement in the incident. She was reportedly in a car during the altercation.
The battery occurred Monday night inside Wythogan Park. A juvenile boy was struck in the head by another juvenile. The force resulted in the victim falling to the ground where his head hit the cement walkway. Emergency personnel arrived at the scene and transported the boy to IU Health Starke Hospital. The victim was then airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital.
Starke County business owners who pay the inkeepers tax will now send their money to the county instead of to the state.
That’s one of the changes made recently by the county council. That new policy takes effect on Sept. 1, 2014. Notices will be mailed to affected taxpayers advising them of the changes.
The tax rate is not changing, but the penalties for non-compliance have been increased significantly. Failure to pay the tax timely will result in a 100-percent penalty.
