The Indiana University Health Hospital in La Porte is offering the Grief to Healing support program for those who would like to work through the grief of losing a loved one. Continue reading
Plymouth City Council to Meet Tonight
The Plymouth City Council will meet tonight to discuss several items on a full agenda.
Two public hearings will be held for tax abatement requests from AK Industries, Inc. and for Composite Technology Assemblies, LLC. Reports will be given by the council members, Mayor Mark Senter and City Attorney Sean Surrisi on previous business and on new business.
Free Mortgage Help is Available for Those Struggling
Murder Defendant Out of Hospital, Jailed Without Bond
The rural Knox man accused of beating his wife to death, kidnapping a man from a business parking lot, stealing a Jeep at gunpoint in English Lake and leading authorities on a high-speed chase through three counties before shooting himself is back in Starke County. Detective Rob Olejniczak from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Jailer Joshua Kazee picked Gary Chavez up from the Cook County, Ill. jail today. Continue reading
Cause of Friday Fire Under Investigation
Volunteer firefighters from four local departments spent the better part of Friday battling a blaze at a Knox business. The Knox-Center Township Volunteer Fire Department was called to Standard Pallet on County Road 300 East around 2 a.m. Continue reading
One Arrested after Leaving the Scene of an Accident
A man was arrested in Marshall County Thursday night after leaving the scene of an accident.
Marshall County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene at U.S. 30 and King Road where a two-vehicle accident occurred. The driver of the car who reportedly caused the accident fled the scene.
Officers found the suspect’s vehicle traveling on the new U.S. 31 highway and attempted a traffic stop. The suspect didn’t not stop and a pursuit began. The vehicle came to a stop at the intersection of U.S. 6 and the driver, John Vogt, was arrested without incident.
Starke County Council Approves Transfers
Starke County officials have funds available to shred government documents a committee has decided no longer need to be stored after action this week by the county council. They approved a transfer of up to $10,000 from the commissioners budget for that purpose. They stress that entire amount of money may not need to be spent for document disposal. Continue reading
Artifacts Found in Old Pulaski County Building during Demolition
A demolition order has been moving forward on a property next to the old hotel in Medaryville and Brian Capouch told the Pulaski County Commissioners this week that they found some historic items in the old floors in the building.
“Underneath the floors, which they had put in in 1910, we found big, thick stacks of newspapers,” told Capuch. “I have a story here, from a Chicago paper, is the notice that Mr. Comiskey is about to build a new ballpark for the Sox. This, for me, was way more valuable, it’s a letter. The old man who had the hotel was ill and this was a letter that he got from a drugist from Royal Center – which was spelled C-e-n-t-r-e at the time, as a receipt for 50 bushels of corn he bought for 46 cents a bushel.
Starke County Commissioners to Repair Vehicle for EMS Director
Interim Starke County EMS Director Keith Emigh will continue to drive a county-issued four-wheel-drive until a recently retired patrol car is road ready. The vehicle Emigh is currently using to travel between the EMS bases in North Judson, Knox and Grovertown will be transferred to plan commission director Terry Stephenson.
The patrol car was serviced locally by our talented auto mechanics in the area. Preventive maintenance on all types of vehicles is a huge responsibility for operators and drivers. A lot of information on this link: https://www.grandprixtimes.com/best-head-gasket-sealer
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Celebrate the Grand Opening of the Winamac Skatepark Today
Winamac teenager Clark Gudas’ dream of building a stake park as an Eagle Scout project has come true. The community is invited to celebrate that accomplishment today at the grand opening of the Winamac Skatepark. It’s located in Rinehart Park next to the Pulaski County Family YMCA. Gudas oversaw all aspects of design, fundraising and construction.
“After years and years of work and not being sure if this was actually going to come together, being able to actually see the concrete being poured and see the final product – It’s just amazing to see that I did this,” Gudas said. He’s completed the necessary paperwork for his Eagle Scout project and is waiting for his board of review.
OD Elementary Receives Donation
Tiffany Nagai, a representative of Farm Bureau was present at the Oregon-Davis School Board meeting to donate $500 to the elementary school. The money will go toward a field trip to Fair Oaks Farms. Continue reading
Flooding Possible This Morning Across Kankakee Valley
Flash flood warnings are in effect this morning for parts of the WKVI listening area. The National Weather Service has issued warnings for Starke, Pulaski, Fulton and LaPorte Counties. Additional rain is expected until about 8 a.m. Central and could cause problems in low-lying areas. Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall may also lead to flooding of small creeks, streams, highways and overpasses. Should water start to rise, move to higher ground immediately.
United Steelworkers to Represent MPI Employees
Employees at MPI in Knox are now represented by the United Steelworkers of America. Michael O’Brien is the District 7 Subdistrict 4 director for the union. He tells WKVI News the National Labor Relations Board ratified the recent vote by MPI employees and notified both the union and the company. Continue reading
Starke County Highway Department Waiting on Bridge Inspector
Repairs to the bridge over the Yellow River on Starke County Road 700 East are finished, but it’s not open to traffic yet. County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler tells WKVI News the bridge needs to be inspected first. Continue reading
Taylor to be Tried Again in Starke Circuit Court
Eric Taylor will be on trial again to face the four counts in which resulted in a hung jury.
Eric Taylor was on trial for two days in Starke Circuit Court which ended with not guilty verdicts on charges of dealing in methamphetamine and possession of chemical reagents or precursors with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. The jury was deadlocked on counts of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a syringe, maintaining a common nuisance and possession of paraphernalia. The jury deliberated for five hours.
Unemployment Numbers Drop in Starke County
The unemployment numbers for Starke County continue to decrease.
Ron Gifford from the Starke County Economic Development Foundation said the numbers have been quite encouraging.
“Since January of this year, we’ve seen our labor force grow by almost three hundred more people out there actively seeking a position,” said Gifford. “There’s almost five hundred more people employed than there were in January and the ranks of our unemployed have depleted down by about 180. They’re actually finding jobs and the people that had been out of the job market for some period of time apparently are coming back to it.”
Knox School Board Updates Firearms Policy
School board members in the area have been implementing a new policy that pertains to firearms on school property.
The Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the school board on Monday night approved a policy that reflects state law.
Richie Sentenced to Home Detention
Steven Richie was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Thursday morning.
Judge Kim Hall accepted a plea agreement between Richie and the State of Indiana in which Richie pleaded guilty to a possession of marijuana charge plus a charge of possession of marijuana with a previous conviction to merge into one Class D felony charge. Richie was sentenced to serve 20 months with no part of the sentence suspended.
Nominations Open for Starke County Business of the Year
The Starke County Chamber of Commerce is accepting Business of the Year nominations through Sept. 1. In order to be considered, a business must be a chamber member that has been in businesses for at least three years. Continue reading
Tippecanoe River State Park River Overlook Dedication Scheduled
The second of two new overlooks at Tippecanoe River State Park will be formally dedicated during a brief ceremony tomorrow. Jenise Barnhouse donated money to the project in memory of her father, Floyd.
Several businesses contributed too, including DeSabatine Brothers Excavating, Good Oil Company, Galfab Inc., Two Guys Mechanical, Plymouth Tube, Gabe Wheeler and Wheeler Construction and Jason Keller and Keller Construction. State park employees and friends of Tippecanoe River State Park volunteers also assisted. Last year volunteers tore out the old overlooks to build the new structures. The first overlook was dedicated earlier this year. Through the generosity of many groups of individuals the overhaul of two river overlooks is complete and ready for visitors to enjoy nature at the park. Tomorrow’s dedication begins at 11 a.m. EDT behind the park’s nature center.
