North Judson-San Pierre High School students and their dates are putting the “prom” in promenade on Saturday. For the first time, the school is hosting a grand march in the high school gym from 6 until 7 p.m. The community is invited to come see the prom goers in their formal finery before they head off to the main event at Chesapeake Run Golf Course east of town.
Traffic Stop Ends With Drug Bust
A Logansport woman faces numerous drug charges in Starke County following a traffic stop late last week by a LaPorte County Deputy and Indiana State Trooper on U.S. 35 near Hamlet. The deputy pulled Kelly A. Koranda, 36, of Logansport, over just south of Starke County Road 500 North on Thursday, April 24 for an unspecified traffic infraction. According to a news release sent this afternoon by the Indiana State Police, Koranda appeared to be under the influence of drugs and was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital for blood and urine tests.A nurse there reportedly found several packets of heroin in Koranda’s underwear. Officers say she admitted eating 10 packets of the drug before being pulled over and hiding more in her underwear. They recovered 172 baggies of heroin weighing about 36 grams from Koranda. She was admitted to the hospital for observation. Officers arrested her there Sunday when she was released. She’s charged with felony dealing a narcotic drug, felony possession of a narcotic drug over 3 grams, felony maintaining a common nuisance and misdemeanor operating while intoxicated on a controlled substance. Koranda was taken to the Starke County Jail.
DNR Arrests Knox Woman on Drug Trafficking Charge at State Park
A Knox woman is jailed in Porter County after reportedly trying to slip drugs to a work release inmate at Indiana Dunes State Park. Indiana Department of Corrections Police noticed a suspicious vehicle yesterday near where their crew from the Westville Correctional Facility was working. They detained Christy Chavez, 38, of Knox, who was arrested by Indiana Conservation Officers. She was booked into the Porter County Jail on charges of trafficking a controlled substance to a prisoner. Chavez was trying to drop off synthetic marijuana and cigarettes, according to a news release from the DNR Division of Law Enforcement.
Medaryville Biodome Project Clears Procedural Hoops
The Town of Medaryville is a few steps closer to applying for a grant to offset the cost of a major project. They are looking to build a biodome structure into their current lagoons to meet Indiana Department of Environmental Management standards. Town Council President Derrick Stalbaum tells WKVI news the project will cost around $800,000. The town is applying for a $450,000 grant and hopes to fund the remaining $400,000 by selling bonds. As part of the grant process, an outside agency is completing an income survey of Medaryville residents. Stalbaum says they have already been contacting residents and asking the following questions:
- How many members are in your household?
- Do you have a total income of $38,000 or less?
Stalbaum stresses this information is necessary, as the town is applying for a need-based grant and needs to prove it qualifies. He encourages all Medaryville residents to cooperate and answer the questions honestly. Stalbaum adds door-to-door surveys will be conducted in a few weeks. Continue reading
Be Prepared for Possible Severe Weather
The tornadoes that have ravaged the the plains and southeastern states this week serve as a grim reminder of Mother Nature’s wrath. Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery reminds families to develop an emergency plan. He says it should include contact numbers for work, school and a relative outside the area for everyone to check in. Also establish a designated meeting location. Avery says you should also review and practice your plan to make sure everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency.
He also recommends putting together an emergency preparedness kit. It should include flashlights, batteries, water, a first-aid kit, canned or dried food, prescription and over-the-counter medications, personal hygiene items, an extra pair of glasses, clothes and any items you may need for your pets. Homeowners may also take this chance to prepare their homes by hiring roofing contractors to inspect and reinforce their roofs. Local roofers can also help if you need to completely replace your roof. In addition, conducting a through gutter cleaning is also recommended to protect your gutters from accumulating debris.
Monitor the forecast, and be prepared to take shelter in a basement or interior room if a tornado watch is issued. Avery suggests residents of mobile or modular homes find a more sturdy structure. A watch means conditions are favorable for a tornado. A warning means one has been sited, and you should take shelter immediately. Take a portable radio along so you can monitor conditions. Continue reading
Share the Road With Farm Machinery
Planting season means it’s time for motorists and farm machinery to share the road. Motorists are reminded to be alert for slow moving farm implements that can turn unexpectedly from a field or driveway onto a public road. Tractors and other farm machinery travels slower than other traffic, often at speeds of 25 miles-per-hour or less. These vehicles are required to display a slow-moving vehicle emblem on the back and make sure all lights are in working order. Whenever possible, slow moving vehicles are required to pull off to the right when three or more vehicles are blocked and can’t pass on the left. Some farm machinery may take up more than half of the road in order to avoid road signs and other obstacles. Continue reading
Starke County Youth Club Stresses Health and Wellness
The Starke County Youth Club provides more than homework help for the 600 students it serves at four after-school sites. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says health and wellness is a critical component of the Starke County Youth Club’s mission.
“When we survey our kids about how much time they would be watching television or how much time they’d be playing on their game systems or video gaming, we know that’s significant, and it’s way more time than is healthy for them,” Szakonyi says.
She adds the Starke County Youth Club is constantly looking for ways to help the students they serve be more active. Instructors try to balance technology-based learning with physical activity, nutrition classes and life skills that help them to be healthier in all aspects. Continue reading
LaPorte County Officials Report Successful Pill Take Back Day
Nearly 29 pounds of unused and unwanted medications were collected in LaPorte County on Saturday as part of National Pill Take Back Day. Medications were received personally by officials from the sheriff’s office and placed in the pill drop box in the lobby. This includes 7.2 pounds of liquid medicine and 21.6 pounds of pills. The liquids will be disposed of in cat litter and taken by a licensed waste hauler. The pills will be incinerated at a licensed facility. Department officials are pleased with the results of Saturday’s effort and the public’s willingness to safely dispose of unwanted and expired medications. This keeps them from falling into the hands of children or others who may wish to abuse them. The pill drop program also prevents medications from contaminating groundwater and is an environmentally safe and responsible way to get rid of them.
Get Your Yard Sale on The Map
Attention bargain hunters, the annual City of Knox yard sale is next week. Organizers have expanded the popular event from one to four days. They are Thursday, May 8 through Sunday, May 11 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Residents can host sales on any or all of those days without paying for a permit. Sale signs are limited to the ones available for purchase at city hall for 50-cents each. Maps will be available each morning of the sale at 7 a.m. at the Knox Moose Lodge. If you are hosting a sale and would like to have your information included on the map, the deadline to do so is Tuesday, May 6. Call Danna at 574-772-5712 for more information. Spaces are also available for residents outside the city limits who would like to participate. Environmental Days will once again be held in conjunction with the sales. This is done so unsold and unwanted items can easily be thrown away.
Pulaski County Commissioners Set to Interview Job Applicants
The Pulaski County Commissioners will meet tomorrow in executive session to interview five candidates for the assistant EMS director job. The meeting will take place at 3 p.m. EDT at the courthouse. EMS Director Nikki Lowry asked the commissioners to conduct the interviews so she can avoid the appearance of favoritism, since she knows each of the five applicants personally. If the commissioners do the hiring, they must do so during a public meeting.
Services Scheduled for Winamac Soldier Killed In Germany
Funeral services for a local soldier killed last week in Germany are this weekend in his home town. Army Spc. Ryan P. Grandstaff of Winamac, died in a single-vehicle accident in Ansbach, Germany last Wednesday morning at 4:45 a.m. He was 24. Grandstaff graduated from Winamac Community High School in 2009, where he ran track and was a co-record holder on the four by 100 relay team. He loved playing football and continued his career at Anderson University. Grandstaff then attended Vincennes University and studied aviation technology. He worked for Plymouth Tube and the Braun Corporation before joining the Army on Oct. 2, 2012. Grandstaff became a crew chief on a Blackhawk Medivac Helicopter. He was stationed to Ansbach, Germany on April 27, 2013. Continue reading
Knox Park Board Faces Significant Budget Cuts
The circuit breaker, which caps the percentage of property taxes local governments can collect, has resulted in a significant cut to the Knox Park Board’s budget. President Ray Stevenson says the state slashed it by $12,473.18, which is a cut of 10 to 12 percent. Sevenson says the park board cannot cut money from maintenance to make up the difference. He says they will need to look closely at the equipment budget and possibly reduce the amount of playground equipment they were planning to purchase this year.
Preschool Helps Children Develop Social Skills
The Starke County Early Education Advisory Council invites families with young children to a preschool fair this evening from 5 until 7 at the community center in downtown Knox. More than 25 preschools and community organizations will have booths, and several will offer activities for children. Porter-Starke Director of Children’s Services Todd Willis says preschool is a good opportunity for children and parents to get used to being away from one another. He says one of the main causes of stress for young children is separating from their family, so getting them into an environment where they can learn to take turns and make peer relationships outside the family is extremely important.
“When I don’t learn as a young child how to resolve conflict with my peer, and I need to resort to throwing a temper tantrum or aggression, if those basic skills are not learned early, they follow the kid into adulthood. Really, the opportunity for a child in that 3 to 4 age learning that early is crucial,” Willis says. Continue reading
Starke United Fund Grant Applications Due Friday
Nonprofit organizations interested in applying for Starke United Fund grants have just a few more days to finish their applications. They are due Friday, May 2. The Starke United Fund Committee will review applications and award the grants to the chosen organizations. Last year 12 grants totaling $11,000 were given to Starke County organizations including: The Caring Place, Community Services of Starke County, HealthLinc, Junior Achievement, Marshall-Starke Development Center, Moving Starke County Forward, Love INC., North Judson-San Pierre School JumpStart, Psi Iota Xi, A.B.A.T.E. Toys 4 Tots, Starke County WIC Program and the Starke County Youth Club. Continue reading
Starke County Youth Club Helps Schools Help Students
The Starke County Youth Club aims to be a support system for children, families and the three county school corporations.
“We know that schools are under tremendous pressure to have kids succeed academically, and that a lot of funding for schools is tied to how kids perform on standardized tests. That’s really a lot to ask of a school community. It is part of our job to ensure we are supporting what the schools need to accomplish.”
Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says the Starke County Youth Club does that by providing after school enrichment programs for 600 youngsters at four sites across the county. All of the programs are based in local schools, so Szakonyi says the staff is in constant contact with teachers, administrators and others to make sure students are getting what they need. She says children who succeed academically have a greater likelihood of being successful adults. Continue reading
Volunteers Needed to Spruce Up Tippecanoe River State Park
If the brutal winter has you itching to get outdoors, head to Tippecanoe River State Park this weekend for the third annual volunteer day. Assistant manager Jason Hickman says gate fees will be waived for anyone who comes out to lend a hand. Volunteer activities will start at 10 a.m. EDT at the Nature Center. The big goal is to build a second scenic overlook. The Friends of Tippecanoe River State Park nonprofit organization replaced one last year after securing donations and volunteers to do so. Hickman says they’ve secured money for the other one. Weather permitting he says the goal is to get it framed and decked out. That’s the main project for the weekend, but Hickman says it’s not the only one. Volunteers are also needed to clean and spruce up the Nature Center and remove invasive plants and some small trees from the waterfowl dam. Bird feeders also need to be hung up. Volunteers are asked to bring gloves and cordless drills, if possible, and wear long pants and sturdy shoes.
LaPorte Man Faces Multiple Charges After Early Morning Break-In
A LaPorte man who reportedly entered an apartment behind a liquor store after banging on the doors of several nearby businesses early Friday morning faces two felony charges. Officers responded to the Bottle Shop Too at 1212 Lincolnway around 12:30 Friday morning to investigate a report of a drunk man knocking on the door of the closed store. They found a rear door leading to an upstairs apartment standing open. When they stepped inside the door, a 15-year-old boy ran down the stairs yelling that there was a man in his apartment. The officers reportedly found Wade A. Fletcher, 21, wandering around in the kitchen. The boy told the police he was home alone asleep and was awakened by the sound of somebody talking. He turned and saw Fletcher walking toward him. According to the arrest report, Fletcher grabbed him by his shirt and threatened to knock him out then let go of him and walked toward the kitchen. Police say Fletcher was seen causing problems at Lucky’s Bar earlier and was also banging on the doors of the nearby Wendy’s. He faces residential entry and possession of a schedule II controlled substance charges.
LaPorte Police Investigating Arson
A fire last Thursday in LaPorte was deliberately set, according to investigators. LaPorte Police and Fire were called to 325 Rockwood Street at 4:38 p.m. on April 24. No injuries were reported, but the exterior of the home was damaged and the interior was filled with smoke. Investigators determined two large trash cans outside the house had been set on fire. The investigation is continuing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the La Porte Police Department at 362-9446, or at www.lpcitypd.com. You can remain anonymous.
Severe Thunderstorms Possible This Evening
Parts of the WKVI listening area may be in for severe thunderstorms this evening. The National Weather Service reports a slight risk of severe storms south of U.S. 30. The main threats are large hail and damaging winds, and an isolated tornado may form. Listen to WKVI for the latest on any severe weather that may develop. Should the National Weather Service issue a watch, it just means conditions are favorable for a weather outbreak. A warning means that weather is here, and you should take shelter immediately. If you don’t have a basement, go to an interior room in your house that does not have windows until the storm passes. Check your flashlights and make sure the batteries work, charge your cell phone and keep a battery-operated radio handy just in case. More thunderstorms are possible tomorrow, including an isolated severe thunderstorm tomorrow evening. The threat of severe weather lessens as the week goes on, but rain is in the forecast through early next week.
Four Departments Respond to Knox House Fire
An investigator from the state fire marshal’s office is in Starke County to determine the origin and cause of a house fire yesterday north of Knox. The home on 175 North just east of U.S. 35 was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived, according to Knox-Center Township Fire Chief Kenny Pfost. He says they were notified at 2:16 p.m. but were responding to a woods fire at the time. Pfost immediately requested assistance from Hamlet and Washington Township due to their extended arrival time. The Koontz Lake Volunteer Fire Department also provided water and manpower support. No injuries were reported, and the home was believed to be unoccupied. Firefighters were on the scene for three hours.
