Pulaski White Acquires Zing/TV Cable of Winamac

Posted on Author WKVI

pwrtc_logo_mainPulaski/White Rural Telephone Cooperative is getting into the video business. The company announced plans to acquire TV Cable of Winamac, doing business as Zing.

“It’s always been in our strategic plan to introduce video, or a cable TV-type service, into our mix of services we offer out,” PWRTC President and CEO Mark Dickerson said after last night’s Winamac City Council meeting. “This keeps us local. The entity here, TV Cable of Winamac, was looking to sell, so we came to terms. It’s going to be a great thing for all of us here.” Continue reading →

Bridge to Be Named for Medal of Honor Recipient

Posted on Author WKVI
U.S. Army PFC Frank Ono
U.S. Army PFC Frank Ono

The new bridge on U.S. 35 just south of U.S. 30 will soon be named in honor of Starke County’s most decorated veteran. State Senator Jim Arnold sponsored a resolution to name the structure after PFC Frank Ono, who distinguished himself as a member of the U.S. Army’s Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. During a July 4, 1944 battle near Castellina, Italy, Ono advanced ahead of his unit and single-handedly defended his position against an enemy counter-attack. He then braved intense hostile fire to aide two wounded comrades and voluntarily covered his unit’s withdrawal when retreat became necessary. Ono was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions. During the 1990s, a review of service records for Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross led to Ono’s award being upgraded to the Medal of Honor. President Bill Clinton presented the award to his surviving family members during a White House ceremony on June 21, 2000. Continue reading →

IU Health Welcomes VP of Finance

Posted on Author WKVI
Kevin Higdon
Kevin Higdon

IU Health LaPorte and Starke Hospitals have a new vice president of finance. Michigan City native Kevin Higdon brings more than 30 years of healthcare finance experience to the job. His resume includes positions at Hyde Park Hospital, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Elkhart Genral Healthcare System and Thorek Memorial Hospital.
Higdon will work closely with other members of the IU Health executive team, boards of directors and physicians to develop and fulfill key finance and growth strategies outlined in the strategic plan for the hospitals.
Higdon graduated from Michigan City Elston High School, where he won the IHSAA’s Charles F. Maas Mental Attitude Award 1976-77. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Indiana University and an Associate of Arts from Southwestern Michigan College and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Numerous Screenings Available at Community Health Fair

Posted on Author WKVI

Health FairIU Health Starke Hospital and Community Services of Starke County are hosting a free health fair this afternoon at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in downtown Knox. Hospital President Craig Felty encourages people to stop by and see what services are available locally.
“We will have several educational opportunities for people to come in. We’ll also be doing several different types of screenings, which is very important. It helps us to increase the wellness of patients and maybe prevent something or catch something before it gets out of hand. This is a great opportunity to come out, see what is offered at your local hospital, get some free screenings and get some good information about how to stay healthy,” Felty said. Continue reading →

Officers Bust Winamac Meth Lab, Two Arrested

Posted on Author WKVI

Meth BustA Winamac man who reportedly tried to flee from police Friday to avoid being arrested for making meth faces numerous drug charges after jail officers reportedly found more contraband in his pants. Officers from the Winamac Police Department and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office got a tip about drug activity and responded at 7:34 p.m. on Friday, May 9 to an apartment in the 400 block of West Main Street in Winamac. A deputy reportedly spotted David Wayne Gentry, 29, walking behind the apartment building and ordered him to stop. Gentry ran, according to the police report, and was apprehended after a brief foot chase. Both Gentry and his girlfriend, Shannon Lee Hardin, 30, were arrested after deputies reportedly found an active meth lab and other precursors inside the home. Continue reading →

Tornado Reported In Jasper County

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The storms that tore through the area last night did not cause any significant local damage. Dispatchers at the Starke and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Departments received no reports of weather-related problems. A tornado was reported near Rensselaer last night, but no information is available yet about damages or injuries. “The Times of Northwest Indiana” reports it hit near Interstate 65 and Indiana 114 at 8:10 p.m. Several areas to the north and west experienced flooding due to the torrential downpour. More thunderstorms are possible later this afternoon and tomorrow.

Starke County Residents Urged to Take “Another Step Forward”

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Last year Starke County residents logged enough miles from Memorial Day to Labor Day to lap the globe three times as part of the Moving Starke County Forward Walking Challenge. This year they are encouraged to take “Another Step Forward.” Ryan Greer is heading up this year’s effort and has set a goal of walking a collective 50,000 miles as a county during the same time period. Last year’s original goal was 3,000 collective miles, which is the equivalent of a trek from the Statue of Liberty to the Golden Gate Bridge. That goal was quickly met and exceeded nine times over, with 27,000 total miles walked. Continue reading →

Books Needed for Knox Kindergarten Countdown

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Students who take part in the Kindergarten Countdown program at Knox Elementary School this summer will each get a book of their own to take home every day of the three-week enrichment experience. IU Health Starke Hospital and the Knox Community School Corporation are joining forces for a community book drive. Knox Curriculum Director Peggy Shidaker says books should be appropriate for youngsters in the 4 to 5 years old age range. She says books like “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle, books from “Pete the Cat” series by Kimberly and James Dean and favorite like “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff are extremely popular. They all teach children sequencing and predicting, which are fundamental to brain development. Continue reading →

Local Rock Band Hits the Road With Saving Abel

Posted on Author WKVI

Seldom ToldMembers of a local rock band will be living the dream for the

next two weeks. North Judson-based Seldom Told formed in 2006 and has developed a solid regional fan base. That support earned them a slot on tour as an opening act for Saving Abel. That band’s first single “Addicted” reached number one on several charts, and their debut album sold more than 750,000 copies. Saving Abel toured with rock bands Buckcherry, Avenged Sevenfold and Nickelback.

Continue reading →

IU Health Adds Nurse Practitioners

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

IU Health LaPorte Physicians recently added two new nurse practitioners.

Maureen Panares and Alissa Whittaker are seeing patients in several northern Indiana communities. Nurse practitioners have extensive training and work under the direction of a physician. Maureen Panares, DNP, is an Advanced Practice Nurse with a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Family and Community Health from Rush University. She sees patients at the Sagamore location in LaPorte.

Whittaker recently received a Master of Science in nursing from Indiana University South Bend. She sees patients in Plymouth at Lifeplex and in Walkerton.

 

IU Health Offers Discounted Mammograms in May

Posted on Author WKVI

Breast Cancer Pink RibbonGive Mom, or any special woman in your life the gift of peace of mind this Mother’s Day. Encourage them to take advantage of the discounted mammograms IU Health Starke Hospital is offering this month. Josephine Klicek is the director of diagnostic imaging. She says women can get their mammogram and reading for $95, and mo doctor’s order is needed if it’s just a screening test.

Women should get their first mammogram when they turn 40, unless they develop problems like a lump, redness or inflammation sooner. Also, if there is a family history of breast cancer, women are urged to get a mammogram 10 years before that woman was diagnosed. For instance, if the diagnosis was made at age 44, get a mammogram when you are 34.  Continue reading →

First Farmers Announces Plans to Acquire BMO Harris Branches

Posted on Author WKVI

FFBT LogoThe parent company of First Farmers Bank & Trust has announced plans to expand.

First Farmers Financial Corporation has entered into an agreement to acquire deposit relationships of nine central Indiana BMO Harris Bank branches. The purchase includes locations in Marion, Logansport, Terre Haute, Farmersburg, Sullivan, Clay City, Brazil, Carlisle and Shelburn. First Farmers Bank and Trust will acquire seven of the nine branches and retain employees from all nine locations.

Continue reading →

Pregnant Smokers Urged to Quit on Mother’s Day

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County urges expectant mothers who smoke to quit on Mother’s Day.

Coordinator Linda Molenda says 17 percent of pregnant women in Indiana smoke. That’s nearly double the national average. Experts say quitting smoking can reduce the risks of respiratory illness, miscarriages, stillbirths and infant deaths.  Additionally children from families who smoke are twice as likely to pick up the habit.

Continue reading →

Police Cite Drunk Girlfriend Who Torched Boyfriend’s Clothes

Posted on Author WKVI

 

 
 

LaPorte Police cited a woman for an open burning ordinance violation Wednesday night after she reportedly torched clothes belonging to her boyfriend on the front lawn of a Division Street home. Officers were called to 905 ½ Division Street around 10:30 p.m. and found the boyfriend sitting on the porch. He told the officers his girlfriend got mad, threw his clothes out and set them on fire. The officers let him gather his things and leave. The police report indicates the woman appeared intoxicated, started yelling about her boyfriend and told them she burned his clothes. In addition to the citation, officers ordered her to put the fire out.

 

Senator Discouraged by Voter Turnout

Posted on Author WKVI
Senator Jim Arnold
Senator Jim Arnold

A state senator who represents parts of the Kankakee Valley is discouraged by Tuesday’s anemic voter turnout. Democrat Jim Arnold’s district includes parts of LaPorte, Starke and St. Joseph Counties. Starke County saw 22-percent of registered voters cast ballots. Even in the General Election, 30 to 35 percent is considered a good turnout. Arnold says that means 60 to 65 percent of residents will be governed by their decisions. He also finds the most vocal critics of state government are the ones who don’t bother to vote. Arnold spoke yesterday to the Starke County Chamber of Commerce. He encourages local party and business leaders to recruit qualified, professional individuals who understand the office they are running for and not just the position in government.

 

IU Health and Community Services of Starke County Hosting Annual Health Fair

Posted on Author WKVI

Health FairIU Health Starke Hospital and Community Services of Starke County are teaming up once again to host an annual health fair. This year’s event will take place Tuesday, May 13 from 2 until 7 p.m. Central at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in downtown Knox. Community Services of Starke County Executive Director Joan Haugh says it grew out of the Governor’s Council on Aging in Indianapolis and the thought that they could share the same type of educational information with more people by teaming up with the hospital and offering a local event. This is the 13th year of the partnership.

Haugh says May is an ideal time for the health fair, as it is Older Americans Month. She adds it’s open to all ages, including children. This year a free children’s coloring area will be set up to keep youngsters occupied while their parents or other caregivers browse the booths and take part in the various screenings.  Continue reading →

North Judson Town Council Finalizing Social Media Policy

Posted on Author WKVI

North Judson Water TowerThe North Judson Town Council is expected to vote on a social media policy for employees when they meet on Monday, May 19. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry tells WKVI News it’s a new addition to the employee handbook. Councilman Tim Cummins has been working to revise and update it. The changes are mostly clarifications of things like how vacation time is earned. Once the policy is adopted, the handbook will be reprinted and given to town employees.

The council is also revising the contractors permit ordinance, with a first reading set for their mid-month meeting. They also acknowledged the park board’s recent hiring of Bill Hemphill as the seasonal caretaker for the town park. Town council members also set Aug. 9 as the date for this year’s town-wide yard sale. Henry says more information about permits and other requirements will be provided closer to that date. The exterior of the new maintenance building is finished, and the interior should be complete by the end of the month.