After much discussion at its recent meeting, the Pulaski County Council approved Sheriff Michael Gayer’s request to replace one departing deputy.
The Council approved the hiring of two deputies to fill vacant positions that are funded in this year’s budget, but Sheriff Gayer will hold off on one of the hires until the Council examines the legality of filling the position. Hiring two new deputies would give the County nine patrol deputies.
Deb Hansen is the newly elected President of the Starke County Health Board. Dr. Joe Bartush was elected Vice President and Brenda Stanojevic was elected as the Secretary.
Most of the meeting was devoted to a discussion of the Food Inspector’s position. David Kesvormas was in attendance. He was to begin duties soon as the Food Inspector, but the contract he produced for the Starke County Health official, Dr. Teresa Alexander, expired December 31st, 2010.
Retiring Volunteer Firefighter Robert L Fraine will be honored this Saturday at the Koontz Lake Association Clubhouse from 2:00-4:00 p.m. CT.
Fraine will be honored for 50 years of service to his community and surrounding townships. He has held every office within the Koontz Lake Volunteer Fire Department. He has devoted thousands of hours to training, responding to calls and fund raising activities.
We have an update on our Andy Howes story. Andy’s brother, Rob, has returned to India where he is employed as an Aeronautical Engineer. He will not return until Christmas of 2011 so no decision on services or burial site will be made until then. It’s felt the services will be held in 2012.
As earlier reported Andy’s great-nephew, Michael, is serving in Afghanistan and will accompany the remains home from Hawaii.
Ever feel like putting duct tape over a barking dog’s mouth or worse? In this monthly report, new Starke County Animal Control Officer, Tom Bazant, told of responding to a call that an individual duct taped his dog’s mouth shut.
After some discussion, the Starke County Commissioners decided that was not a call the Officer should be responding to. They decided this was inhumane treatment of the animal and should have been responded to by the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.
WKVI’s deluxe Cardinal motorcoach is headed for the Smoky Mountains June 13th for a 4-day, 3-night adventrue in eastern Tennessee. Host Ed Hasnerl says he has reserved seats for great shows such as the “Dixie Stampede” and “Country Tonight” and has scheduled escorted visits to Dollywood and to the Smoky Mountain National Park.
TWO CHARGED IN INJURING TROOPER
Porter County-Two men were charged today, by Porter County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Matthew Frost, in the hit and run of Trooper George Hornsby on the Indiana Toll Road on Monday, January 10, 2011. One of the men was charged with Attempted Murder.
At approximately 6:27 p.m. (Central Standard Time), January 10th, a driver called the State Police Toll Road and told them of a hit and run crash that had just occurred west bound on I-90 at the 51 mile marker (this is near the LaPorte State Road 39 exit). The driver was able to give a description of the vehicle that fled the scene. A trooper saw the vehicle west bound at the 42 mile marker (this is just east of the Michigan City U.S. 421 exit). The vehicle started to pull over, and then took off.
Tuesday Night Men’s League 01/11/11
Team Standings:
1. Quarter’s 100.0-26.0
2. Konrad Cabinets 77.0-49.0
3. 1st Choice Pawn 71.0-55.0
4. Marks Body Shop 69.0-57.0
5. Hensleys 69.0-57.0
6. Sandbar 62.0-64.0
7. WKVI 62.0-64.0
8. Bowlaway Lanes 59.0-67.0
9. Time Out 50.0-76.0
10. Half Track 48.0-78.0
11. Fishers 45.0-81.0
12. Simonis 44.0-82.0
Continue reading
Education and local government reform were the two main topics presented by Governor Mitch Daniels at his State of the State address Tuesday night. The points he stressed were the expansion of charter schools, merit pay for teachers, and the elimination of township government. He chastised those who favor longevity over talent.
“Today’s teachers make more money not because their students learn more, but just by living longer and putting another certificate on the wall,” Daniels said. “We have seen Teachers of the Year laid off, just because they weren’t old enough. This must change.”
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels gave his State of the State Address Tuesday night and State Representative Nancy Dembowski was concerned that the Governor did not talk about job creation.
“The Governor, in my view, failed to speak about the one most important issue that faces our State right now because we have an unemployment rate that is still hovering around ten percent and I don’t believe I heard the Governor talk a great deal about jobs, other than to say that we were an ‘isle of prosperity’. I challenge him to come to District 17 and see whether or not it is such an ‘island of prosperity’.”
A deluge of posts came into the comment area on the WKVI Discussion Board about the story on Lisa Owens yesterday. Owens is the woman who is reportedly going to get an early release from prison after being convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter in the death of her husband in 2001. Owens was sentenced to 40 years by then Starke Circuit Court Judge David Matsey after being found guilty of shooting and killing her husband in the shower. Current Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall was the Prosecutor in the case.
In the wake of the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Saturday, government officials seem to be taking a second look at their safety. Congressman Joe Donnelly was in Elkhart on Tuesday to talk to a middle school class. Four uniformed policemen were on hand, too.
Donnelly said he was not particularly worried about his own safety, but wanted people coming out to events where he is to feel safe.
Starke United announced this week of a $5,000 grant from NIPSCO to provide funds to cover 2012 campaign marketing expenses. Starke United Executive Director, Edie Hall, said this gift is “thrilling” and indicated that without the funds Starke United would have a much more difficult time paying for the advertising and marketing materials.
The Starke County Health Board will meet tonight in their first meeting of the new year. This will be the first meeting for new members Bev Fraine and Jennifer Davis. There will be election of officers for the year and a discussion of the retirement of Environmentalist David Singleton.
The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. in the Health Office in the Starke County Courthouse.
After a recent food drive, George Mammarella of Economy Auto Sales presented Community Services of Starke County Diector, Joan Haugh, with a cash and food donations of over $1,200 for the Starke County Food Pantry.
Crawfordsville-
January 11th, at approximately 7:29 p.m., a trooper with the Indiana State Police was assisting with traffic control on I-74 westbound near the 36 mile marker when a semi rear ended his patrol car.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Kyle Wentland has revealed that Sergeant Randy Gritten was sitting in his fully marked patrol car with emergency lights and flares partially in the left hand lane. Sergeant Gritten was attempting to move traffic into the right lane so a wrecker could pull out an ambulance. The lights and flares were visible for over a mile. A Maroon 2001 International semi pulling a trailer driven by John E. Brandle, 59 years old from Rock Island, IL was westbound following another semi running 52 miles an hour. Brandle decided to pass the semi and pulled out into the left lane. While passing the other semi, Brandle’s se Continue reading
Friday Night Mixed League 01/07/11
Team Standings:
1. Alley Acres 50.0-26.0
2. 4-Alarm Fire 48.0-28.0
3. Dolezal Family 44.5-31.5
4. Mariah’s Hill 41.5-34.5
5. Good Friends 41.0-35.0
6. Hard Times 38.0-38.0
7. Rollin’ Thunder 37.0-39.0
8. Undecided 33.5-42.5
9. Raiders 33.0-43.0
10. Baugh Construction 31.5-44.5
11. Feel the Power 29.0-47.0
12. O’s Tap 29.0-47.0
Continue reading
Thursday Night Ladies Sandburr League 01/06/11
Team Standings:
1. Sew What Embroidery 47.0-17.0
2. Area Services 41.0-23.0
3. WKVI Radio 35.0-29.0
4. Mirror Images 35.0-29.0
5. Mark’s Body Shop 34.0-30.0
6. Smith’s 30.0-34.0
7. Norton’s Packaging 30.0-34.0
Continue reading
A story that shocked the listening area almost 10 years ago is being updated this week. On May 21st, 2001, Lisa Owens shot and killed her husband Jeff, leaving his body in the shower for several days. In a trial, she was found guilty of an amended charge of Voluntary Manslaughter and sentenced to 40 years in prison.
WKVI News has found out this week that Lisa Owens could be released from the Rockville Correctional Facility as early as May 23rd of this year.
