All posts by WKVI

Pulaski County Community Foundation Announces 2013 Lilly Endowment Scholar

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Pulaski County Community Foundation has announced the recipient of their full-tuition, four-year Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for 2013. David Putt, a Pulaski County student, will receive full tuition to his choice of Indiana college as well as a $900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment.

The son of Michael and Donna Putt from Francesville, Putt will graduate from West Central High School in June. Putt has been very involved in school activities such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes, FFA, Student Council, Business Professionals of America, Band, and Drama, and has enjoyed working as a farmhand assistant and volunteering at church, park clean-ups, landscaping projects, food pantries, and singing at the local nursing home. He has also received several honors and awards including the George Eastman Young Leaders award, the Mathematics Outstanding Achievement for Excellence award, and three Highest Class GPA awards.

Continue reading →

State Dept. of Health Offers Tips to Stay Healthy While on the Move

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
In light of National Public Health Week highlighting the contributions of public health systems with the aim of educating the nation about what public health is and does, today’s theme focuses on how public health efforts protect you while you’re on the move. State Health Commissioner Dr. William VanNess said the increased use of seatbelts is a perfect example of a public health victory, citing the increase of more than 74 percentage points in the regular use of seatbelts from 1981 to 2010.

Continue reading →

Man Who Threatened to Kill Woman Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall
Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall
An Elkhart man was sentenced yesterday in Starke Circuit Court on a Class C felony charge of Intimidation and a misdemeanor count of Interference with Reporting a Crime.

Brent Komon, 25, pleaded guilty to those charges in a plea agreement with the State. Komon admitted to Judge Kim Hall that he and a Starke County woman had a disagreement on Oct. 31 and he threatened to take the life of the woman while armed with a loaded rifle. When she attempted to call the sheriff’s department, he admitted to the judge that he threw the phone at the TV and it broke, thus making it impossible for her to seek help from law enforcement.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Treasurer’s Office Extends Hours for Tax Collection

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Marshall County Commissioners approved Treasurer Deb VanDeMark’s request to extend hours to accommodate the retrieval of tax payments.

VanDeMark requested that the Marshall County Treasurer’s office be open on May 9 and 10 and on Nov. 8 and 12 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. The county building will remain open on those days so you can make an effort to pay your property taxes on time.

The spring property tax collection day is Friday, May 10 and the fall installment is due on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

Plymouth Man Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse
A man who admitted to threatening two North Judson police officers in an October incident was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning.

Timothy Howard, 37 of Plymouth, told Judge Kim Hall that he had indeed threatened to physically harm two North Judson officers while the officers were doing their duty to investigate the incident in which he was involved. During the course of the incident, Howard threatened to damage a residence if the owner did not let him in the home. He proceeded to kicked dents into a door after his order was not carried out.

Continue reading →

Pulaski County Commissioners Change Highway Department Hours Again

Posted on Author WKVI

Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
Pulaski County Commissioners unanimously agreed to let county highway department employees work four 10-hour days from April through October. Commission President Tracey Shorter and Commissioner Terry Young voted last month to change the department to a traditional eight-hour-a-day, five-day-a-week schedule. New superintendent Mark Fox says his employees were still working four 10 hour days on March 25 when they were called in to plow snow.

“Working our 4 to 10 work schedule, we only came in an hour early, which works out to $422 in overtime that was paid out that morning. If we were working 8 to 4 like our current schedule is, it would have been $1,265 in overtime that morning. By working four 10’s just in one morning we saved $843,” Fox explained.

Continue reading →

Plymouth Man Arrested after Scuffle with Police

Posted on Author WKVI

Allen Biggers
Allen Biggers
A simple arrest warrant procedure turned into a complicated situation for officers from the Plymouth Police Department on Monday.

Plymouth Police Department Detective Sgt. Leo Mangus was in the process of serving an arrest warrant for Theft on 19-year-old Allen Biggers at his home in the 300 block of Kingston Road when Biggers became agitated and refused to comply with instructions given to him by the officers.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Car Dealerships Form Partnership

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Marshall County is now home to one of the largest car dealerships in the area thanks to a partnership between Auto Park and the Tim Martin automobile dealerships. The new business venture brings 75 years of combined experience into one cohesive business strategy. Tim Martin Buick-GMC, Tim Martin Bremen Ford and U.S. 31 Auto Sales are joining forces with Auto Park’s five used car lots, two service facilities and Sturgis, Mich.-based Ford dealership. The new dealership boasts an inventory of more than 600 vehicles and five service locations. Owners say this increases the likelihood they will have the vehicle in stock that the customer wants at a price they can afford. Additional expansions of the service department are possible, and more jobs may be added soon.

Plymouth Man Sentenced to 15 Years on Meth Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Terry A. Kovacs Jr.
Terry A. Kovacs Jr.

A Plymouth man was sentenced in Marshall Superior Court I Wednesday to consecutive sentences of 10 years each for dealing in and manufacturing methamphetamine.

Terry A. Kovacs Jr. admitted in open court that on Jan. 10, 2012, he delivered methamphetamine to an individual at a gas station in Plymouth who was working with the Undercover Narcotics Investigation Team. That individual also conducted a sale at Kovacs’ home. Kovacs even tried to convince the undercover individual to start a business operation of manufacturing and selling methamphetamine.

Continue reading →

Winamac Resident Seeks Support for Chicken Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A Winamac resident is leading the charge to allow chickens within the town limits. Arwen Fair says lots of large cities, including Fort Wayne, South Bend and Chicago, allow backyard chickens. She and her husband, Gene, didn’t realize chickens were prohibited in downtown Winamac when they first moved here. The town only allows residents to keep dogs and cats as outdoor pets. Fair has spearheaded a petition drive to gauge support for her plan before approaching the Winamac Town Council. She says she favors reasonable limits on the number of chickens that can be kept and thinks they need to be appropriately fenced and contained.

Three Arrested in Marshall County on Meth Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Shannon Polley
Shannon Polley
Justin Felix
Justin Felix
Kyle Stiles
Kyle Stiles

Three people were arrested Tuesday after a traffic stop conducted by officers from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department.

A traffic stop was conducted at Skylane Drive and Michigan Road at about 11:49 p.m. ET and an investigation found methamphetamine-related material within the vehicle.

Eighteen-year-old Shayna Polley, 29-year-old Kyle Stiles and 29-year-old Justin Felix, all of Plymouth, were arrested on meth-related charges. The three were booked into the Marshall County Jail.

Ritzler Working Hard as New Starke County Highway Superintendent

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Highway Superintendent Stephen "Rik" Ritzler
Starke County Highway Superintendent Stephen “Rik” Ritzler

Newly appointed Starke County Highway Superintendent Stephen “Rik” Ritzler has been staying busy in his new position, having gotten right down to work improving the county and planning for the future. Ritzler spoke with the county commissioners at their regular meeting this week and presented them with a list of projects, at both the state level and local, for the next three years. Ritzler said that some of the projects will require road closures, and said the list includes bid letting dates as well.

Continue reading →

Town of Culver Soon to Install New Fishing Pier

Posted on Author WKVI

Lake Maxinkuckee beach in Culver
Lake Maxinkuckee beach in Culver
The town of Culver will soon be sporting a new fishing pier at their park that will not only be handicap-accessible but will also offer a great view of the lake and a wonderful place to sit, relax, and even do some fishing. Town Manager David Schoeff explained that the town has always had a fishing pier at that location, but because of its age, the town decided it was time to buy a new one.

Continue reading →

Oregon-Davis to Upgrade Camera Security System

Posted on Author WKVI

Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney
Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney
The Oregon-Davis School Board is looking to update its camera security system.

Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney noted that the current system is 11 years old and with the growing age of technology and the need to provide the best security available for the staff and students, the board will be upgrading its system. Quotes will be received and the system will be installed once a bid is accepted.

Continue reading →

North Judson Highland Cemetery Rules and Regulations Signs Installed

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The North Judson Highland Cemetery now has two new aluminum signs in replacement of the older wooden sign that Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said had become dilapidated and disintegrated over the years. The town board had previously signed off on a quote of $860 for two new signs, one of which was posted at the main entrance while the smaller sign has been posted at the secondary entrance on the east side.

Continue reading →

Hamlet Town Board Receives Police Update from Marshal Lonigro

Posted on Author WKVI
Hamlet Town Marshal Frank Lonigro III
Hamlet Town Marshal Frank Lonigro III

The Hamlet Town Board this week received a report from Town Marshal Frank Lonigro III, who informed the board that his department in March made 51 traffic stops, responded to 50 calls, and made six arrests. He said the department is also working on getting a car repaired because the car battery regularly goes dead, and he said they suspect the accessory cables were to blame. The department will return the car to the business where the lights were installed and have them rectify the problem, and Lonigro said they will also fix the siren box.

Continue reading →

Starke County Health Nurse Encourages Getting Active This Week

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
It’s National Public Health Week, and with this relatively nice weather bringing us out of the frigid winter, it’s the perfect time to get some exercise and shake off that cooped-up feeling. Starke County Health Nurse Frank Lynch said National Public Health Week is all about public awareness in an effort to get people out of the house and get moving.

“More than anything it’s just a public awareness type of deal,” Lynch said. “You know, to get out and start becoming more active – spring’s here, people should be able to get out and do a little bit more activity outside as opposed to being cooped up in the winter like we have been this winter.”

Continue reading →

San Pierre Fire Department Search for Serial Arsonist

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The San Pierre Fire Department is on the hunt for a person intentionally setting fires alongside the road in the San Pierre area for the past four nights.

San Pierre Fire Chief Mike Korous said that beginning Friday night and each night through Tuesday morning, an hour later each time, an unknown person(s) has started a fire on 900 West south of 700 South, 900 West north of 500 South, and on 800 West and 500 South. No homes or other buildings have been threatened by the fires, but a grass and brush fire is started every night on the side of the roads mentioned.

Continue reading →

Whatever it Takes Committee Holds Open House at KCES

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
You have to see it to believe it.

The Whatever it Takes Committee held an Open House Tuesday night at the Knox Community Elementary School in order to inform those attending of the proposed construction project on the May 7 ballot. Superintendent A.J. Gappa went over the specific problem areas in the 60-year-old Palmer Wing and how the project would be funded.

“I showed them the highlights of the problems with the HVAC units and the electrical system that’s maxed out,” said Gappa. “Door number seven fell in last year into a tunnel beneath it and we had to have that fixed. We also talked about wall separation in certain areas where the foundation is separating from the walls and the boiler system is outdated and in constant need of repair.”

Continue reading →