Police Search for Suspect in Attempted Child Abduction Incident

 

La Porte County Police are looking for a suspect who attempted to abduct a child in the Fish Lake area Thursday night.

Police say a man stopped at the residence in the 7400 East block of State Road 4 at Fish Lake. The homeowner was working outside of the home and his one-year-old son was also outdoors. The suspect told the homeowner that he was in need of assistance as his car broke down. The man asked the homeowner for some water. As the homeowner went inside to get the suspect some water, the man attempted to put the child into a duffle bag.

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Culver Community School Interim Superintendent Attends Last Board Meeting

Chuck Kitchell

Culver Community School Interim Superintendent Chuck Kitchell attended his last school board meeting Monday night.

Kitchell served the corporation in several different capacities from teacher to coach and from assistant principal to interim superintendent. He ended the school board meeting with just a few words.

“I’d like to thank the board members for your courage and your support especially for the last year-and-a-half ,” said Kitchell. “More importantly I’d like to thank the administration, the staff and the community for allowing to work with the students of this community for 28 years. That was never my plan when I came to town (laughs). Exactly 31 years ago I was a basketball coach at the time and I was going to coach three or four years and then I was moving on. As so many of you know, something happens when you come to Culver. You have a tendency to want to stay here.”

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Culver-Union Township Fire Chief Looking for Firefighters

Culver-Union Township Fire Chief Terry Wakefield is in need of firefighters.

He told the Culver Town Council last week that one more volunteer firefighter has left so the department is down to 17 firefighters. The department used to see around 23 to 25 firefighters on staff.

Wakefield is nearly set to hire one firefighter after the applicant passes drug testing and other requirements before hire. He previously served as a firefighter with Culver, but all of the procedures need to be followed before he is officially hired. The town council unanimously approved Wakefield’s request to move forward with testing.

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Opening on Culver Redevelopment Commission

Culver Town Council President Ginny Bess Munroe is looking to fill a seat on the Culver Redevelopment Commission.

CRC President Brandon Cooper will be leaving the organization after five years of service on that board. He will be moving out of the Culver area. He was also a member of the Culver-Union Township Fire Department and worked as an EMT.

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Monterey Deaths Under Investigation with Sheriff’s Department

 

Detectives and officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the deaths of two Monterey residents.

According to Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin, a caller notified police around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 17 that there was a cause for concern when a co-worker did not check in for work that day. The responding officer arrived at the home and talked to a family member who told the officer that two people were deceased inside the residence. The responding officer entered victim’s residence at 8893 S. Elm Street in Monterey where two people were found dead.

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One Arrested after Standoff in Starke County

One man is in custody after a standoff in Starke County.

Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin said police responded to a residence around 5:30 p.m. CT at 700 E. and 400 N. in Grovertown where a subject had barricaded himself inside the house.

Police reportedly could not get him to exit the house and the Indiana State Police Swat Team was called to the scene. After a few hours, Sheriff Dulin said the subject was taken into custody without incident.

WKVI News will release more information about this incident when it becomes available.

Two People Found Dead in Monterey

 

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department and the Starke County Coroner’s Office are investigating the death of two people in Monterey.

According to Sheriff Bill Dulin, police were conducting a welfare check Friday night at a home in the 800 block of Elm Street when the pair were found. Autopsies are scheduled for Monday.

The incident remains under investigation and more information is expected to be released on Sunday.

Culver Town Council Approves Culver Lake Fest Event

The Culver Town Council received an official permit request for the annual Culver Lake Fest event.

The annual celebration is scheduled for July 14-16 at the Culver Town Park. Town Manager Jonathan Leist explained to the council that a trolley will be taking visitors to and from the event which is a new feature this year. Residents will park at the Culver Community High School and be transported to the location of the festivities.

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Culver Town Council Approves Beach Lodge Renovation Plan Resolution

The Culver Town Council this week reviewed a resolution for renovations to the Culver Beach Lodge.

A Community Development Block Grant of $15,000 was awarded to the town with a local match of $3,500 for the renovations. Officials with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs have reviewed the plans and are satisfied with how the grant money will be utilized.

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Students Take Advantage of Free Breakfast and Lunch at Culver Sites

The staff at the Culver School Corporation and staff at locations throughout the Culver area are offering free breakfast and lunch as part of the federal Summer Food Service Program.

Culver’s efforts began on June 5 and just a few students have accepted meals at the Culver High School, 30 students for breakfast and 60 students for lunch at the Culver Elementary School, 15 students for lunch only at the Monterey Public Library, 20-25 students for lunch at the Leiters Ford Community Building, 15-20 children at the Ora Gospel Church and 15-20 kids for lunch only at the Culver-Union Township Public Library.

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OWI Arrests Increase in Culver

 

The start of the summer vacation season in Culver has led to a few drunk driving arrests during the last two weeks.

Culver Police Chief Wayne Bean told the town council Tuesday night that in the past 10 days, six operating while intoxicated (OWI) arrests were executed by the Culver Police Department.

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Stellar Fest this Saturday in Culver

The Town of Culver is hosting a Stellar Fest this Saturday at the Culver Town Park from 10 a.m. to noon ET.

A lot of activities are packed into this two-hour event. Town Manager Jonathan Leist said Main Street designation recognition is right at the beginning of the event. Kids crafts will be offered as well as a “Choose Culver” board where residents can write down what they love about Culver. Leist added that a mock-up of a new Culver sign will be revealed and a new town logo. Stop by the Culver Farmer’s Market during the event and shop for locally grown products.

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Culver Town Council Adopts Financial Resolution to Purchase New Ambulance

The Culver Town Council Tuesday night reviewed a resolution outlining the terms of a financial plan to purchase a new ambulance for Culver Emergency Medical Services.

The lowest bid for a 2017 ambulance came from Medix in the amount of $127,865. The Union Township Trustee and the Town of Culver will equally split the cost of the vehicle. The township will provide $63,932.50 while $20,000 will come from this year’s EMS budget. The town will complete the funding with $43,932.50 from the General Fund.

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Culver Town Council to Meet Tonight

The Culver Town Council will be discussing their next steps in the path to be awarded the Stellar Communities designee during their regular business meeting tonight. The town was named a finalist in Division 2 at the end of May. The name of the winning community will be announced at the end of this summer. Culver was placed in Division 2 that recognizes towns with a population less than 5,999. The Town of Culver will be competing with the Town of Churubusco in Whitley County and the City of Union City in Randolph County.

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Culver Town Council and CRC Forming Mobile Home District Committee

Even though the Sand Hill Farms project is moving forward, the Town of Culver and the Culver Redevelopment Commission (CRC) are keeping housing options open.

The Sand Hill Farms project is a workforce housing development project that will include a proposed 24-unit apartment building on Jefferson Street. The town council and the CRC are funding the infrastructure to the property. If the town wins the Stellar Communities designation, more funding could be available for a low-income based housing development.

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Taste of Culver to Showcase Community’s Culinary Cuisine

An opportunity to taste Culver’s finest cuisine will be offered in an elite setting on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET.

Over 10 restaurants will present their best in what the Culver Chamber of Commerce calls a “festival atmosphere” tomorrow afternoon. In addition to the many varieties of food, enjoy live music from a local musician and a wide range of spirits and other refreshments.

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Knox School Board Discusses Mini Bus Purchase

Preschool children attending Knox schools will have a safer bus ride.

The Knox Community School Board approved the purchase of two mini buses that have seats with lap belts and shoulder harnesses. The state will require this proper safety equipment in buses transporting preschool children beginning in January 2018, according to Transportation Director Mark Jensen.

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