Wisconsin Man Fires Gun in Illinois Store, Captured in Indiana after Pursuit

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A Wisconsin man was taken into custody in LaPorte County from an incident stemming in Illinois Friday night.

Vincent J. Toliver, 34, reportedly fired shots inside a Walgreen’s store in Broadview, Illinois. Indiana State Police troopers continued a pursuit of his vehicle on I-294 and I-80 into Indiana. Stop sticks were deployed several times across I-80 onto I-94, but Toliver was able to avoid hitting them. LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department deputies attempted to deploy stop sticks, but Toliver was able to escape them as well. Troopers slowed eastbound traffic, and Toliver’s SUV slowed to a stop near the Michigan City exit. Toliver then began traveling slowly eastbound and turned around going west in the eastbound lanes on I-94 before coming to a stop.

Continue reading →

Neighboring Business Hope They’re Unaffected By Child Porn Arrest

Posted on Author WKVI
Robert Wisilinski
Robert Wisilinski

Neighboring businesses are commenting on an alleged incident that landed a Knox man in jail on Child Molesting and other counts.

According to police, 67-year-old Robert Wisilinski was arrested after a couple of missing juvenile calls led officers to his Heaton Street address. After refusing to answer the door, Wisilinski was spotted exiting the home with one of the missing juveniles.
Continue reading →

Knox Water Department Dealing with Frozen Water Meters

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox Water Department has been dealing with frozen water meters this winter, although the number of meters changed has not reached last year’s totals.

Superintendent Todd Gardner told the Board of Public Works this week that freeze plates break when temperatures are cold, and Gardner stocked up after last year’s cold winter. He said crews typically will repair 15 to 20 freeze plates, but last year the number shot up to 120.

“They’re plastic. They’re meant to break so they don’t break the brass meters. We take them apart and clean them up and put them back together,” said Gardner.

Continue reading →

$5,000 Scholarship Offered in Social Media Contest

Posted on Author WKVI

Drive now text laterA social media post about the dangers of texting and driving could land a student a scholarship toward post-secondary education.

Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann is encouraging high school and college students to put together a campaign on social media to drive now and text later. Texting while driving is illegal in the state, but it’s not preventing drivers to type a message. Cell phones are a constant in the world, but it’s best to wait to check or type text messages until after you reach your destination.

Continue reading →

Knox Police Seeking Public’s Help in Identifying Child Pornography Victims

Posted on Author WKVI
Robert Wisilinski
Robert Wisilinski

Additional charges could be filed against a Knox man accused of molesting a young boy at his Heaton Street home. Robert M. Wisilinski, 67, is charged with child molesting as a level 1 felony, child solicitation as a level 5 felony and child pornography as a level 6 felony. Detective Dave Combs with the Knox Police Department says officers traced a young boy reported missing on over the weekend to Wisilinski’s home Sunday evening. Continue reading →

Knox Man Arrested after Alleged Domestic, Intimidation Incident

Posted on Author WKVI
Giselbach Booking ohoto
Benny Giselbach

A Knox man is in the Starke County Jail after allegedly threatening harm to himself, his wife, and law enforcement.

The 911 Dispatch Center received an open 911 call from a woman Wednesday afternoon stating that her husband had a loaded weapon and made threats toward her and himself. He also threatened to harm law enforcement officers if they arrived at the home.

Dispatchers were able to use GPS from the 911 call to determine the caller’s location according to a press release. At one point, the call was disconnected, but the dispatchers utilized the TEXT 911 service to gather more information to relay to responding Starke County Sheriff’s Department officers.  Continue reading →

Starke County K9 Performs Routine Sweep at Local School

Posted on Author WKVI
K9 handler Rob Olejniczak and Terror perform a search
K9 handler Rob Olejniczak and Terror perform a search

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department K9 did a routine sweep at the Oregon-Davis School Corporation on Thursday morning.

Handler Rob Olejniczak took K9 Terror around the corporation to search for possible drugs in lockers and the parking lot. No evidence of any illegal drugs was found.

Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin and the officers are appreciative of the school’s effort to keep Starke County a safe environment. Principal Tim Pletcher and School Resource Officer Frank Lonigro were also recognized for their efforts.

Photo provided.

Hansen Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Jason Hansen was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Thursday morning.

Hansen was found guilty on a charge of Domestic Battery as a Class D felony in a trial held this week. He was sentenced to three years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with no part of the sentence suspended.

In April 2014, Hansen grabbed his wife by the hair and hit her head against the wall repeatedly in front of their juvenile children at the home they shared.

Continue reading →

Work Continues to Find Placement of County Home Residents

Posted on Author WKVI
Pleasant View Rest Home
Pleasant View Rest Home

Three residents remain at the Pleasant View Rest Home.

Attorney Jere Humphrey told WKVI News that one resident will be moving out of the facility next week while two others should be placed by the end of March. March 31 is forecast as the last day of operations at the county home.

Humphrey was hired by the commissioners to take care of finalizing plans and paperwork in order to close the county home. The Pulaski County Council voted last year by a majority to exclude funds for the Pleasant View Rest Home in this year’s budget. In December, the commissioners had no choice but to approve the closure of the facility due to lack of funding. It was learned that the county had to keep the county home open until the residents could find alternate housing. That deadline is March 31.

Continue reading →

Knox Water Superintendent Outlines Proposed Water Line Improvements

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The City of Knox is looking to get a grant to fix water lines in areas of Knox that don’t get enough pressure.

Water Superintendent Todd Gardner told the Board of Public Works members that the project would include replacing outdated galvanized lines that go under homes. The project should also repair pressure issues to fire hydrants.

“We’ll add a section of line that actually goes down and around brown circle on Delamatyr and ties back in on Fisher and Adam. It would make a loop and add two fire hydrants down there where we don’t have any fire protection now. The other would be to extend down Mound to Myrtle Court and then back to Washington Street down to Allen Drive. We’re looking to cut across and tie in at the end of Lake Street,” explained Gardner.

Continue reading →

Hamlet Residents Encouraged to Apply for Sidewalk Program

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Hamlet Town Board members renewed the annual 50/50 sidewalk improvement program when they met for a regular session meeting this week. Residents may register for the program or get additional information at the Town Hall. The application deadline is April 8.

A town-wide yard sale has been approved in Hamlet for the first week in May.

The melting snow is aggravating sewers and drains. The board continues to discuss and examine those issues.

The Hamlet Park Board met prior to the Town Board meeting with no news to report.

Community Services of Starke County Seeking Volunteer of the Year Nominees

Posted on Author WKVI

Community Services of Starke CountyNominations are now open for the 2015 Community Services of Starke County Volunteer of the Year. Nominees must be Starke County residents over the age of 60. They will be judged upon life achievements, volunteer work and civic contributions. The Community Services of Starke County board will review the nominations and decide the winner. The volunteer of the year will be named at the semi-annual volunteer luncheon on April 16. Continue reading →

Starke Circuit Court Jury Trial Ends

Posted on Author WKVI

A verdict was returned late yesterday afternoon in a jury trial in Starke Circuit Court.

Jason Hansen was found guilty on a charge of domestic battery as a Class D felony and not guilty on a charge of criminal mischief.

Six jurors and an alternate heard testimony from seven witnesses provided by the State. The defense did not have any witnesses, and Hansen did not testify.

Continue reading →

Knox Street Department Ready for Next Winter Storm

Posted on Author WKVI

The salt shed is full, and the Knox City Street Department is ready for the next snow event.

Street Superintendent Jeff Borg told the Board of Public Works members on Wednesday that they had used 80 percent of their contract for salt. Since January, 32 inches of movable snow has been recorded by the street superintendent. He said the department should be good for the rest of the season, and all equipment has been maintained and updated.

Continue reading →

Railroad Crossing Complaints Discussed by Knox City Council

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers has been getting several complaints from motorists about the U.S 35 railroad crossing in the city.

A resident recently came into City Hall with an estimate to replace a hubcap lost as a result of the rough crossing. Mayor Chambers told the resident that the City does not maintain that crossing. The railroad crossing is under the jurisdiction of Norfolk Southern and the Indiana Department of Transportation. Those experiencing damage need to contact those two entities to submit a claim or report a complaint.

Continue reading →