All posts by WKVI

Marshall County Habitual Traffic Violator Arrested in Griffith

Posted on Author WKVI

An Habitual Traffic Violator from Marshall County has been picked up in Griffith. Jamie Lee Nitcher, 36, who now lists his address as Gary, was found to be a Habitual Traffic Offender in Marshall County in 2003. He lost his driving privileges for life, but when picked up early Friday morning police said he had three open beers inside his Dodge truck and admitted he’d been smoking marijuana. Charges of Operating a Vehicle after a Lifetime Suspension is a Class C Felony, punishable by a maximum of eight years in prison.

Eastern Pulaski Elementary School to Bridge Gap Between Preschool and Kindergarten

Posted on Author WKVI
Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman

Eastern Pulaski Elementary Principal, Mrs. Jill Collins, reported a new plan to the Eastern Pulaski School Board that would help students bridge the gap between Preschool and Kindergarten.

“We’re setting up a series of meetings where we are going to invite Preschool teachers and students into our building during the day and evening at different times and we’ll put them in a classroom and we’ll bring some teachers in to talk with them about some of the things they’ll be doing in Kindergarten,” explained Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent, Dr. Robert Klitzman. “The students will be able to see the teachers now with the comfort of their Preschool teacher and the other students right there and the next year it won’t be such a traumatic situation.”

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Ice Fishing Safety Reminders

Posted on Author WKVI
Keith Wildeman

Conservation Officer, Keith Wildeman, is in today to discuss ice fishing safety.

“Ice is never safe just because it can always change depending on weather conditions,” said Wildeman. “If we have a heavy snow like we did a few weeks back, the snow acts as an insulator and the ice will not form as quickly or as hard.”

What is the rule of thumb about the thickness of the ice?

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Phil Potempa’s Monday Soup Recipe

Posted on Author WKVI
Phil Potempa
Phil Potempa

Cheeseburger Soup:
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 chopped celery
1 carrot, shredded
1 large (33oz) can of 99% fat free chicken broth
2 (14 oz) cans of low-fat Cheddar-Broccoli soup
2 cups milk
2 cups cooked rice, brown or white
1 cup sour cream

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Sunday Morning Mixed League 1/16/11

Posted on Author WKVI

Sunday Morning Mixed League 1/16/11
Team Standings:
1. The Unknown 87.0-32.0
2. The Quest 72.0-54.0
3. WRJN 70.0-56.0
4. Split Heads 69.0-60.0
5. The Smelly Cats 66.0-57.0
6. Lucky #7 57.0-69.0
7. S*** Happens 55.0-71.0
8. Odd Balls 54.0-72.0
9. Strange Brew 53.0-73.0
10. Snowdon’s Lawncare 47.0-79.0
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Starke County Health Board to Consider Combining Envrionmentalist and Food Inspector Duties

Posted on Author WKVI
Deb Hansen, Brenda Stanojevic, Dr. Bartush, Jennifer Davis, Dr. Lochner, Donna Bailey and Bev Fraine

The Starke County Health Board is considering combining the Environmentalist position with the Food Inspector’s duties. Health Nurse Frank Lynch brought the suggestion to the Board last week.

David Kesvormas, who had been selected to do food inspections on a contract basis, was in attendance and said he would not be willing to be considered for the expanded position. The Board made no decision, but would be willing to look at the job description before deciding. Until that time, the Board is willing to consider Kesvormas for the Food Inspector’s position on a contractual basis.

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Candidates May Begin Filing for Primary Election on Wednesday

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

The first day to sign up for the spring primary has been put back until January 19th. The delay is because of the Martin Luther King holiday on January 17th. The final day for sign up is February 18th.

It will be interesting to see if the Republican success in the fall election will carry over to the Town and Municipal election in 2011 in Starke County.

Elections will be held in Knox, Hamlet, and North Judson.

2011 Maxinkuckee Players Summer Production Chosen

Posted on Author WKVI

The Maxinkuckee Players have announced that its 2011 summer production will be Crazy for You.  It ran for 1.622 performances on Broadway and won the 1992 Tony Award for Best Musical.  Crazy for You is a high energy  comedy which includes mistaken identity, plot twists and classic Gershwin music such as “I Got Rhythm”, “Embraceable You” and “Someone to Watch Over Me”.

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Redistricting Could Mean A Different Political Option for Donnelly

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

In November, Second District U.S. Representative Joe Donnelly won a razor-thin victory to return to Congress. The moderate Democrat was locked in a close race with conservative Republican Jackie Walorski.

With redistricting coming up during this session of the legislature, the second district might not be a competitive district. It might have a distinct Republican flavor.

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Robert L. Fraine Honored for 50 Years of Service with the Koontz Lake Fire Department

Posted on Author WKVI
Jenny Fraine, Robert "Lynn" Fraine, Bev Fraine and Katie Fraine

Residents of Koontz Lake and surrounding communities turned out Saturday afternoon to honor 50 year Koontz Lake firefighter Robert “Lynn” Fraine.

It all began for Lynn in August of 1960 when he made a commitment to help protect his community. Actually, it began a little earlier when the fire department would recruit high schoolers to help fight fires. Continue reading →

Week in Review for January 10th-14th, 2011

Posted on Author WKVI
Kimberly Hitchens
John Brooke

Kimberly Hitchens and John Brooke, both reportedly involved in the event surrounding a shootout with police at Bass Lake in February 2010, will be tried in a joint trial beginning February 21st.

Lisa Owens

It was announced this week that Lisa Owens, who shot and killed her husband Jeff in 2001 and who plead guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter, could be released from the Rockville Correctional Facility as early as May of this year. She was sentenced to serve 40 years in prison. She is also scheduled to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Network program “Breaking down the Bars” to air sometime this year. Continue reading →

Burglary Suspect Arrested In Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI

          The Pulaski County Sheriff Office arrested Kelly D. “Pete” Rowe on 1-12-11. He was arrested for Burglary a Class C Felony and Theft a Class D Felony.  The arrest was the result of a month long investigation into a burglary in the area of C.R. 725 N. and 625 E. in Monterey. A utility trailer and four-wheel ATV have been recovered by Pulaski County Detectives Dave Walters and Scott Taylor.

          The Pulaski County Sheriff Office is asking for help from anyone who may have knowledge of this burglary or anyone who might have purchased any items from “Pete” Rowe in the last couple of months. These items may be stolen. Several citizens in the Monterey area have already come forward to assist the Sheriff’s Office with returning the property to the elderly victims.

          “Pete” Rowe is a male, white, 42 years old, 5’8”, and 178 Pounds. He has blondish brown hair and blue eyes.  

Any individuals with information may call the Sheriff’s Office at 800-283-3341 and ask for Detective Scott Taylor. If individuals wish to remain anonymous they can also contact the WeTip hotline at 1-800-78CRIME.

                                         Kelly D. “Pete” Rowe

WKVI’s Anita Goodan Bowls 225 Game

Posted on Author WKVI
Tom Berg reluctantly gives up his top bowler "trophy" to Anita Goodan.

WKVI’s Anita Goodan has reached the top of the leaderboard in the WKVI Bowling Standings after she bowled a 225 Thursday night, beating WKVI’s Tom Berg’s game of 224. The station “trophy” for the highest game bowled in a season by a WKVI bowler was moved into her office early Friday morning.

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Winamac Coil Spring Suffers Significant Fire

Posted on Author WKVI

Several fire departments responded to a fire at Winamac Coil Spring at Kewanna Thursday.

According to Plant Manager, “Doc” Russell, the fire was significant. All of today’s shifts are canceled because of the blaze. Winamac Coil Spring employs 167 workers and is a $25 million a year concern. The plant covers 125,000 sq. ft. with another 12,500 on the drawing board to be added to the complex.

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Three Fire Departments Battle House Fire in Koontz Lake

Posted on Author WKVI
Fire crews assess the damage done to the Frye residence in Koontz Lake

Three fire departments responded to a house fire in the 8100 block on State Road 23 in Koontz Lake Thursday night at approximately 7:30 p.m. CT.

The Koontz Lake, Hamlet and Walkerton Fire Departments were called to the Frye residence and Koontz Lake Fire Chief, Randy Collins, told WKVI’s Anita Goodan that a fire had started in the 2nd story of the home. The three occupants of the home, their pets and the firefighters were not injured. The Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office has been called into investigate the cause of the fire. Collins said the home was a total loss.

Starke County EMS assisted at the scene.

Shocking News Reported in the Three Months

Posted on Author WKVI
Samuel Hewitt
Andy Howes

“Three months of news that has shocked the community.” Think of it, since the remains of Sam Hewitt were found in Vietnam, and the identification of the remains of Andy Howes from the same war were made, and now the scheduled release of Lisa Owens from prison.

All three have elicited extreme emotions. From shock, to joy, to bewilderment, and anger. We have probably never had a period of time like this in the history of WKVI Radio.

Lisa Owens

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How Did Lisa Owens’ Sentence Modification Occur?

Posted on Author WKVI
Lisa Owens

The Lisa Owens story this week has brought up an interesting question. How did the sentence modification occur?

On May 23rd of 2001, Lisa Owens killed her husband Jeff. On August 8th, Owens and the State entered into a plea agreement that provided that she plead guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter. The agreement called for the Starke Circuit Court to sentence her to 40 years in the Department of Corrections.

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Fluoride Levels Could Dilute in Knox’s Water Supply

Posted on Author WKVI

Those old enough to remember the early days of fluoridation of drinking water also remember the controversy it caused. In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, many people thought it was a communist plot to undermine public health.
Most public officials that added fluoride to the town or city’s drinking water claimed that it helped prevent tooth decay.

Whatever side you were on, fluoridation continued.

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