A house fire in Knox on Thursday turned out to be the act of arson and a suspect is in custody.
Firefighters from the Knox-Center Township Fire Department were called to a house fire in the 2000 East block of County Road 200 South at 8 p.m. on July 24. When they arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames.
Candidates looking to sign up to run in the November 4th General Election for seats on the Knox Community School Board, Culver Community School Board or the Oregon-Davis School Board can do so now in the Starke County Clerk’s office.
Three seats are open on all of the school boards. Each candidate must file a petition with Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski by noon on Aug. 22 to be considered for placement on the ballot.
Officials in Pulaski County remain hopeful of landing a hotel. Wisconsin-based Cobblestone Development is looking for local investors to help construct a 44-bed, businesses friendly hotel comparable to a Holiday Inn or Hampton Inn. Continue reading
The mayor of Knox is attempting to gather as many groups as possible to talk about the solutions to curb the ongoing vandalism issue in Wythogan Park.
Mayor Rick Chambers has organized a meeting for Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m. CT at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center to gather opinions from several groups to look at the problem from all angles.
Riding on golf carts has become a summer activity enjoyed by all outside of the golf course, especially those that live along the shores of Bass Lake and Koontz Lake.
Golf cart operators are advised to remember the rules of the road. Per the county statute, no person may operate a golf cart on any county road unless the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.
Golf carts are prohibited from operation on state highways. The vehicle cannot be driven on a state highway or across a state highway as cited in state law. Operators must be 16 years of age and older.
Starting today, parts of Pacific Avenue east of 300 East will be closed to accommodate the infrastructure improvements in the Knox Industrial Park. The contractor in charge of the project advises WKVI News work in that area will continue through Thursday, July 31. Continue reading
Unfortunately those struggling financially can be the most vulnerable to scams. The federal government as well as Indiana general attorney,Greg Zoeller, took action against schemers who have taken more than $14,000 from unsuspecting homeowners. On Thursday, Zoeller filed lawsuits against seven companies running fraudulent mortgage rescue or relief schemes.
A Texas man who was visiting residents at a home in the 100 block of Franklin Street in Plymouth was arrested on a preliminary charge of child molesting.
Plymouth Police Department officers were called to the home on Friday afternoon after receiving a report that an 11-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted. After further investigation, including the questioning of the suspect, 67-year-old Jonas Olvera, Olvera was arrested and booked into the Marshall County Jail on the charge of child molesting. Olvera was also wanted a warrant issued in 2009 in connection with another report of child molesting.
The Blueberry Festival Committee members are looking at new locations to hold the festival and according to Festival Coordinator Sherrie Martin it’s something that’s been discussed for years.
Martin told WKVI News that the committee has always been planning for “what if”. With that in mind, the members have been pursuing their options in moving the festival out of Centennial Park in Plymouth for more than 10 years.
A Kewanna man was sentenced last week in U.S. District Court to two years and three months in prison and two years of supervised release after a jury found him guilty of making false statements during firearm acquisition. Continue reading
A Bremen man was sentenced last week in U.S. District Court to two years probation and ordered to pay $34,126.25 in restitution for 18 months worth of unemployment benefits. Court documents indicate Timothy Heckaman, 53, previously pleaded guilty to the felony offense of theft of government property. Continue reading
Starke County Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff recently purchased new interviewing equipment for the North Judson Police Department.
The recording equipment was purchased with Pretrial Diversion funds which are used at the discretion of the prosecutor to help local law enforcement.
North Judson Town Marshal Doug Vessely said the equipment was desperately needed and everything is running smoothly.
Marshall County Prosecutor David R. Holmes has purchased highly sensitive weight measuring scales with money from the Pretrial Diversion Fund.
Holmes stated in a press release that the new changes in the drug laws make it essential to have accurate readings on the weight of any drugs seized in a case. That weight needs to be proven in court.
The Kindergarten Countdown program held at the Knox Elementary School in June was a success this year.
Twenty children received an early education before they enter Kindergarten this fall. Students who attend preschool often obtain better scores on tests, have better social skills and are more understanding of routines than those who do not attend a preschool program.
The Starke County Highway Department recently finished chip sealing 47 miles of roadway, which ties 2013 as the most miles of roads done in the last 15 years. They did set a record by completing the work in nine days, compared to 16 last year. They credit good weather and minimal equipment delays with getting the work done quickly and say they have also developed a good system which allows them to be more efficient. Continue reading
Access from multiple side roads to U.S. 31 in St. Joseph County will be limited through the end of the year. Indiana Department of transportation officials say the closures are necessary as the new U.S. 31 construction is tied in to the existing U.S. 31. Motorists can still access U.S. 31 by way of Main Street, Kern Road and Ireland Road. However, crews will shut down access to U.S. 31 from Jewell Avenue, Hildebrand Street, Yoder Street, Dice Street, Pulling Street, Gilmer Street, Pasadena Avenue Detroit Avenue, and Lucinda Street.
Indiana State Excise Police officers arrested 18 people on 20 charges during Saturday’s races and concerts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Most were charged with alcohol or drug-related offenses. Most of the arrests were for illegal possession or consumption of alcohol, with 16 people facing that charge. Other charges include furnishing alcohol to a minor and possession of false identification. Continue reading
A Walkerton woman was sentenced in Marshall Superior Court after admitting to possessing heroin in her apartment located in Culver.
She pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of heroin within 1,000 feet of a housing complex. She was sentenced by Judge Robert O. Bowen to ten years in the Indiana Department of Corrections on that charge. Owens was additionally sentenced to a year-and-a-half in prison on a charge of neglect of a dependent in an unrelated case. The sentences will run concurrently, or at the same time, and she was ordered to undergo intensive drug treatment in the purposeful incarceration program.
A woman who is reportedly connected with a Monday night battery incident in Wythogan Park in Knox was in Starke Circuit Court for her initial hearing Friday morning.
Samantha Smith, 19, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assisting a criminal, a Level 6 felony. Smith was reportedly in a car that left the scene of a battery incident in Wythogan Park. Timothy Lemon was appointed as her attorney.
