Ancilla Nursing Students Celebrate With Symbolic Pinning Ceremony

Posted on Author WKVI
Graduates of the Ancilla College ASN program after their recent pinning ceremony.
Graduates of the Ancilla College ASN program after their recent pinning ceremony.

The 17 most recent graduates of the Ancilla College nursing program were honored recently at a pinning ceremony on the Donaldson campus. Division of Nursing and Health Sciences Director Ann Fitzgerald says it’s a special and very symbolic celebration.

“You will receive as a student who is going to graduate a nursing pin that is exclusive to that nursing school. So Ancilla College Nursing has its own exclusive pin. Those are not given until the students graduate and complete all the requisites for their area of study. In this case it’s the Associate of Science in Nursing.”

Continue reading →

Starke County Commissioners Give to Community Services

Posted on Author WKVI

Community Services of Starke CountyThe Starke County Commissioners this week approved a $10,000 appropriation to Community Services of Starke County. Executive Director Joan Haugh says the money the nonprofit agency gets from the county each year helps meet the matching requirements for various federal government grants they receive. This year the agency is using the county money for the homemaker and meal programs. Continue reading →

Marshall County Council to Meet Today

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Marshall County Council will meet in regular session this morning.

The recorder and the clerk will be before the council to request personnel replacements and budget considerations will be taken from several departments.

Sheriff Tom Chamberlin will discuss an additional appropriation for $50,000 for prisoner care. The proposal was made at the council’s previous meeting where the members agreed to advertise for the money and a final decision will be made today.

Continue reading →

Expert Offers Advice to Maximize Fuel Economy

Posted on Author WKVI

Taking the lead out of your foot when you drive will put more pennies in your pocket. GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan says slowing down is one of the best ways to avoid having to fill up as often.

“Driving behavior is probably the number one potential for savings when it comes to the pump. You can certainly get your car to go longer more on a tank of gas if you’re just driving less aggressively,” DeHaan said.

He admits that’s easier said than done but says it’s best to maintain a steady speed whenever possible. Continue reading →

Watch for Children at Play

Posted on Author WKVI

06-09-14 Indiana State Police Summer Safety Tips picDon’t let summer turn tragic in your own front yard. More than 2,400 driveway accidents involving young children happen each year in the United States. Remember, young children are short, and they like to play. If they are very close to your vehicle, you won’t be able to see them. The Indiana State Police offer the following tips to help keep summer as safe as possible:
Set rules with your children. No matter what their age, designate unwavering rules without options. Teach your children to watch for the white rear lights that illuminate when a car is in reverse. Tell your children when they see a car approaching the driveway or when a car is moving in the driveway, they all have to meet up in the yard or on the porch.

Continue reading →

Keep Your Pets Cool and Safe This Summer

Posted on Author WKVI

06-09-14 Humane Society Summer Safety picAs the temperatures continue to rise, it’s important to keep pet safety in mind. If you’re hot, they’re hot. The Starke County Humane Society offers a few tips to protect your pets. For starters, temperatures within a vehicle can reach dangerously high levels so never leave your pet inside a parked car. Even with windows slightly open, on an 85 degree day within 10 minutes temperatures inside a car can exceed 100 degrees. Continue reading →

Starke County Sheriff’s Department Releases Accused Carjacker’s Name

Posted on Author WKVI
Officers from the Crown Point Police Department used stop sticks to end a four-county high-speed chase.
Officers from the Crown Point Police Department used stop sticks to end a four-county high-speed chase.

Officials with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department have released the name of the man accused of stealing three vehicles and leading police from multiple agencies on a high-speed chase through Starke, LaPorte, Porter and Lake Counties Friday afternoon. Continue reading →

Coroner Scheduling Autopsy for Apparent Homicide Victim

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Starke County Coroner Kris Rannells is scheduling a forensic autopsy for the victim of an apparent homicide at a California Township home. Investigators from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department found the woman late Friday afternoon after a high-speed chase that began with a carjacking at Mark Bailey’s Discount Center on State Road 10at 3:41 p.m.  and ended on Interstate 65 in Lake County when the suspect apparently shot himself after police deployed stop sticks to end the pursuit. He is in critical condition at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill. Authorities have not released his name and will not do so until proper next of kin notifications are made. Continue reading →

Music to Our Ears – Knox High School Students Pay it Forward

Posted on Author WKVI

06-07-14 Music Recycled picKnox High School had a total of 15 band students participating in the 2013-14 school year Music Recycled program. It provides music lessons to students who demonstrate a desire for higher learning in music education. It is funded by the Drew’s Gift Foundation and maintained by Knox High School Assistant Band Director Darren Day. The program allows high school band students to take lessons from a professional on their particular instrument. In order to receive the lessons the high school students must pay it forward and provide lessons to middle school band students. Music Recycled is an opportunity for young band enthusiasts to obtain cadet teaching credit on their report cards and valuable teaching experience.

Plenty of Summer Projects Planned at West Central School Corporation

Posted on Author WKVI

west central logoThe maintenance staff at the West Central School Corporation will have their hands full with several projects this summer.

Superintendent Charles Mellon said a new telephone system is one of the larger, more expensive projects this summer. The old system is too antiquated to gather parts to fix so a new system will be installed. He added that the last phase of the football field lighting system will be complete this summer. Other smaller projects are also planned.

Continue reading →

Carjacker Critical at Chicagoland Hospital, Homicide Under Investigation

Posted on Author WKVI
Officers from the Crown Point Police Department used stop sticks to end a four-county high-speed chase.
Officers from the Crown Point Police Department used stop sticks to end a four-county high-speed chase.

The Starke County man police say carjacked three vehicles and led police from multiple agencies on a four-county high-speed chase this afternoon is in critical condition at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill. after shooting himself while trying to flee. Information released by the Indiana State Police, Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Starke County Prosecutor’s Office indicates the 57-year-old man was involved in a homicide at a home in Knox. Afterward, he drove his personal vehicle to Mark Bailey’s Discount Center and carjacked a motorist at gunpoint at 3:41 p.m. He then drove to English Lake, dumped his passenger and stole a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Continue reading →

Carjackings End With Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Sheriff's Deputy Bill Dulin and Prosecutor Nick Bourff speak to the media about the June 8, 2014 carjacking and ensuing pursuit.
Starke County Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Dulin and Prosecutor Nick Bourff speak to the media about the June 6, 2014 carjacking and ensuing pursuit.

A Starke County man police say carjacked a motorist at gunpoint at Mark Bailey’s Discount Center Friday afternoon led officers from multiple agencies on a high-speed chase through four counties before turning his gun on himself. Officials from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department will only say the man is 57-years-old. He took the car from the store at 3:41 p.m., according to authorities, and drove it to English Lake, where he left the owner of the first vehicle, stole a second car and fled. Continue reading →

September Trial Date Set for James Campbell

Posted on Author WKVI
James Campbell
James Campbell

An amended date has been set for a trial for James Campbell. A full week will be dedicated for the jury trial beginning Monday, Sept. 22 at 9 a.m. in Starke Circuit Court.

Campbell is charged with arson, a Class A felony, to which he has pleaded not guilty. He is accused of intentionally setting a fire at C&C Salvage at the corner of Toto Road and U.S. 35 south of Knox on Thursday, March 20. Eight fire departments were called to the business to put out the extensive fire.

Continue reading →

Suspected Homemade Explosives Manufacturer Remains at Large

Posted on Author WKVI
Robert L. Ofcky
Robert L. Ofcky

Detectives from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department remain on the lookout for 54-year-old Robert L. Ofcky. He is wanted for possession of an explosive device, a Class C felony.

He fled his home after officers responded to his residence on Monday night regarding a domestic disturbance. Officers reportedly found numerous explosive devices inside the home in the 7200 West block of County Road 125 North in LaPorte County.

Continue reading →

Argos Man Sentenced on Meth Charge

Posted on Author WKVI
John Bobby
John Bobby

An Argos man’s criminal case wrapped up in Marshall County Superior Court 1 after he was sentenced Thursday morning.

John Bobby, 49, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the State to a charge of possession of methamphetamine within a public housing complex. The terms of the agreement called for a ten year sentence in the Indiana Department of Corrections on the charge which Judge Robert O. Bowen accepted. Bobby was sentenced to that term with no part of the sentence suspended and he will be able to participate in purposeful incarceration while imprisoned.

Continue reading →

Officers Continue to Search for a Former Knox High School Graduate

Posted on Author WKVI
Crews are searching for Ron Wood, Jr.
Crews are searching for Ron Wood, Jr.

Indiana Conservation officers have not been able to locate Ron Wood, Jr. who went missing in Lake Michigan Saturday night.

Sgt. Shawn D. Brown from the DNR Law Enforcement Division said the United States Coast Guard and DNR officers responded to the an a mile off the shore of Mount Baldy in the Valparaiso area after a report came in of struggling swimmers. Knox High School graduate, Ron Wood, Jr., 29, jumped into Lake Michigan after some swimmers became separated from the boat and were struggling to stay afloat. A nearby boat came to help as well as members of the Coast Guard who were able to save all swimmers with the exception of Wood, Jr.

Continue reading →

Starke County Sheriff’s Office Warns of Scams

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Telephone scammers are at it again. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department has received numerous reports from local residents of a variety of suspicious calls from people seeking to have money wired to them for various reasons. These include winning a Publisher’s Clearinghouse sweepstakes or other prize and having a grandchild in jail. Most of the calls seem to be targeting elderly people. Sheriff’s department officials urge anyone who gets such a call not to send money, no matter how persuasive the person on the other end of the phone is. Continue reading →

Starke County Commissioners Increase Election Meal Allowance

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Starke County Commissioners voted unanimously to increase the meal allowance for Election Day vendors from $25 to $35 per poll worker. That cost covers breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., and workers cannot leave during that time. Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski says she will need an additional $582.14 to cover the expense for the Nov. 4 General Election. She can transfer that money from her postage account. Skronski notes the council will need to consider the added cost when they craft future budgets. Municipal elections will take place next year, and 2016 is a presidential election year.