Lake Schafer Boating Accident Claims a Life

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Indiana Conservation Officers believe alcohol and speed may have been factors in a fatal Saturday boating accident on Lake Shafer. Anne L. Wittsock, 43, of Burbank, Ill. drove a personal water craft into NIPSCO utility cables stretched across the lake to keep boaters away from Norway Dam, according to a DNR news release. Nearby boaters rescued her and performed CPR. Wittsock was initially taken to IU Health White Hospital and flown to IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where she was pronounced dead. A male passenger, Joseph P. Allen, also of Illinois, was not hurt in the crash.

Railroad Crossing Work Scheduled in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Norfolk Southern Railroad is closing four railroad crossings in Starke County for repairs. Company officials advised Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler the crossings would not all be shut down at once and say the work will take between one and two weeks to complete. They could not provide exact dates for the closings. Crossings scheduled for repairs are: 700 East just north of 150 South, 150 South East of 700 East, 200 South west of State Road 23 and 225 South East of State Road 23.

Eastern Pulaski School Board to Tackle Several Topics

Posted on Author WKVI

The Eastern Pulaski School Board will consider a policy concerning the possession firearms on school property.

In a previous meeting, the school board members discussed this because a change in Indiana law allowed concealed weapons with a permit to be in locked cars on school property. The change allowed school boards to consider whether weapons should be allowed within the schools. The policy wouldn’t apply to students, just a designated group of faculty members who have gone through proper training.

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Gasoline Prices on a Downward Trend

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Prices for a gallon of unleaded gasoline have taken a plunge and Don Good from the Good Oil Company in Winamac said the trend could continue.

“It looks like we could even see some really good drops coming up here through August,” said Good. “One of the top analysts suggested we could see a 20 percent drop in prices if everything lines up as it is. It came a little later than anticipated. We thought it would come a little earlier in the season, but it looks like it’s going to be pretty significant. That’s good news.”
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Starke County Commissioners Name Interim EMS Director

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

An interim director is running Starke County EMS until the county commissioners can hire a full-time replacement for Paul Matthewson, who recently resigned from the job. The Starke County Commissioners this week unanimously ratified Keith Emigh’s  appointment to that position. They’re accepting applications for the vacancy and hope to have a permanent EMS director hired by the end of September. Continue reading →

Fireworks Show a Success in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI

The fireworks show at the Starke County Airport held one week ago today was well attended, according to Knox Mayor Rick Chambers.

Chambers told the Knox City Council members this week that with the fireworks committee’s fundraisers, gate collections, donations from the three county commissioners, several monetary donations from businesses and individuals, the town of Hamlet and a generous donation from the town of North Judson, the only loss the city of Knox will realize is $767. The show was $8,550 and $7,783 was collected.

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Scholarships Still Available Through Starke County Community Foundation

Posted on Author WKVI

Scholarships totaling nearly $30,000 have been given to 24 students through the Starke County Community Foundation and more scholarships are up for grabs.

Five additional scholarships are currently available to high school graduates and to non-traditional students.

The Back Home Again in Indiana Scholarship is specifically for non-traditional students and gives college scholarships as well as supporting those who wish to further their education and/or training as a way of enhancing their employment skills.

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Knox Man Receives 15 Year Prison Sentence

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man was sentenced to 15 years in the Department of Corrections in a sentencing hearing in Starke Circuit Court on Thursday morning.

Clinton Wilcox, 21 of Knox, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a charge of burglary as a Class B felony, receiving stolen property as a Class D felony and theft as a Class D felony. He also admitted in open court that he violated probation of which he had three counts.

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Starke County Highway Department Stretches Road Repair Dollars

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Highway Department employees recently made asphalt and patch material for seasonal road repairs.
Starke County Highway Department employees recently made asphalt and patch material for seasonal road repairs.

Starke County Highway Department crews are ready to begin chip sealing roads. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners they will start in the Koontz Lake. He says they’ve made more than 6,000 tons of asphalt and more than 445 tons of patching material. Continue reading →

Knox City Council Concerned over Vandalism at Wythogan Park

Posted on Author WKVI
Wythogan Park
Wythogan Park

The Knox City Council learned this week of ongoing vandalism at Wythogan Park.

Park Superintendent George Byer has informed authorities that there is some form of vandalism at the park on a constant basis. Recently a picnic table was thrown into the river, a toilet was blown up by a firecracker, two fountains were destroyed and the cannon in the park has also suffered damage from vandals.

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Defendants Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall sentenced defendants in court Thursday after conducting several hearings.

Joshua Hansen, of Hamlet, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to charges of dealing in methamphetamine as a Class B felony and maintaining a common nuisance as a Class D felony. Judge Kim Hall accepted the plea agreement and Hansen was sentenced per the terms of that agreement. Hansen will serve eight years in the department of corrections with two years of the sentence suspended on the charge of dealing in methamphetamine and 18 months with no part of the sentence suspended on the charge of maintaining a common nuisance. He will serve two years on probation. If he successfully completes the CLIFF or GRIP program or other purposeful incarceration, he may petition the court for a modification of his sentence.

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Help Prevent West Nile Virus

Posted on Author WKVI

6-16-14 mosquito picThe West Nile virus has been confirmed in mosquitoes in Marshall County but no human cases have been reported. The best way to protect yourself from mosquitoes is to avoid being outdoors during peak biting times which occur from the evening to early morning hours. If you need to be outside, apply mosquito repellent with DEET or wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants while outdoors. Continue reading →