Bridge to Be Named for Medal of Honor Recipient

Posted on Author WKVI
U.S. Army PFC Frank Ono
U.S. Army PFC Frank Ono

The new bridge on U.S. 35 just south of U.S. 30 will soon be named in honor of Starke County’s most decorated veteran. State Senator Jim Arnold sponsored a resolution to name the structure after PFC Frank Ono, who distinguished himself as a member of the U.S. Army’s Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. During a July 4, 1944 battle near Castellina, Italy, Ono advanced ahead of his unit and single-handedly defended his position against an enemy counter-attack. He then braved intense hostile fire to aide two wounded comrades and voluntarily covered his unit’s withdrawal when retreat became necessary. Ono was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions. During the 1990s, a review of service records for Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross led to Ono’s award being upgraded to the Medal of Honor. President Bill Clinton presented the award to his surviving family members during a White House ceremony on June 21, 2000. Continue reading →

Planting Season is Progressing on Schedule

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The planting season was only slightly delayed after all of the winter weather and cool, stormy spring seasons the Northern Indiana area has seen.

Chad Rushing, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator at Purdue Extension in Starke County and in Pulaski County, told WKVI that last week found a lot of farmers in the fields getting their seeds planted for the growing season. All of the corn has been planted and the soybean fields are next on the list. Specialty crops like seed corn and vegetables have not yet been planted.

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IU Health Welcomes VP of Finance

Posted on Author WKVI
Kevin Higdon
Kevin Higdon

IU Health LaPorte and Starke Hospitals have a new vice president of finance. Michigan City native Kevin Higdon brings more than 30 years of healthcare finance experience to the job. His resume includes positions at Hyde Park Hospital, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Elkhart Genral Healthcare System and Thorek Memorial Hospital.
Higdon will work closely with other members of the IU Health executive team, boards of directors and physicians to develop and fulfill key finance and growth strategies outlined in the strategic plan for the hospitals.
Higdon graduated from Michigan City Elston High School, where he won the IHSAA’s Charles F. Maas Mental Attitude Award 1976-77. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Indiana University and an Associate of Arts from Southwestern Michigan College and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Numerous Screenings Available at Community Health Fair

Posted on Author WKVI

Health FairIU Health Starke Hospital and Community Services of Starke County are hosting a free health fair this afternoon at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in downtown Knox. Hospital President Craig Felty encourages people to stop by and see what services are available locally.
“We will have several educational opportunities for people to come in. We’ll also be doing several different types of screenings, which is very important. It helps us to increase the wellness of patients and maybe prevent something or catch something before it gets out of hand. This is a great opportunity to come out, see what is offered at your local hospital, get some free screenings and get some good information about how to stay healthy,” Felty said. Continue reading →

Officers Bust Winamac Meth Lab, Two Arrested

Posted on Author WKVI

Meth BustA Winamac man who reportedly tried to flee from police Friday to avoid being arrested for making meth faces numerous drug charges after jail officers reportedly found more contraband in his pants. Officers from the Winamac Police Department and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office got a tip about drug activity and responded at 7:34 p.m. on Friday, May 9 to an apartment in the 400 block of West Main Street in Winamac. A deputy reportedly spotted David Wayne Gentry, 29, walking behind the apartment building and ordered him to stop. Gentry ran, according to the police report, and was apprehended after a brief foot chase. Both Gentry and his girlfriend, Shannon Lee Hardin, 30, were arrested after deputies reportedly found an active meth lab and other precursors inside the home. Continue reading →

Tornado Reported In Jasper County

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The storms that tore through the area last night did not cause any significant local damage. Dispatchers at the Starke and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Departments received no reports of weather-related problems. A tornado was reported near Rensselaer last night, but no information is available yet about damages or injuries. “The Times of Northwest Indiana” reports it hit near Interstate 65 and Indiana 114 at 8:10 p.m. Several areas to the north and west experienced flooding due to the torrential downpour. More thunderstorms are possible later this afternoon and tomorrow.

No Immediate Opening Date for 700 East Bridge in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI

The bridge on 700 East north of State Road 8 may be closed longer than originally thought, according to Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler.

The emergency design for the bridge that was damaged by a tree in the river is coming along. There is a slight hiccup in the process as permits are needed to make further repairs on the bridge and the approval of those permits could take some time. Ritzler explained that the bridge was damaged much more than once the area was surveyed a little closer. Three pillars and a spreading beam need to be replaced along with the removal of some asphalt on the bridge.

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Starke County Residents Urged to Take “Another Step Forward”

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Last year Starke County residents logged enough miles from Memorial Day to Labor Day to lap the globe three times as part of the Moving Starke County Forward Walking Challenge. This year they are encouraged to take “Another Step Forward.” Ryan Greer is heading up this year’s effort and has set a goal of walking a collective 50,000 miles as a county during the same time period. Last year’s original goal was 3,000 collective miles, which is the equivalent of a trek from the Statue of Liberty to the Golden Gate Bridge. That goal was quickly met and exceeded nine times over, with 27,000 total miles walked. Continue reading →

Books Needed for Knox Kindergarten Countdown

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Students who take part in the Kindergarten Countdown program at Knox Elementary School this summer will each get a book of their own to take home every day of the three-week enrichment experience. IU Health Starke Hospital and the Knox Community School Corporation are joining forces for a community book drive. Knox Curriculum Director Peggy Shidaker says books should be appropriate for youngsters in the 4 to 5 years old age range. She says books like “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle, books from “Pete the Cat” series by Kimberly and James Dean and favorite like “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff are extremely popular. They all teach children sequencing and predicting, which are fundamental to brain development. Continue reading →

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Memorial Set for May 27

Posted on Author WKVI

pulaski county sheriff memorial 2The employees of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department will be remembering three fallen comrades in a Sheriff’s Memorial service on Tuesday, May 27 at noon ET at the Sheriff’s Department.

Remembered will be Sheriff Charles Henry Oglesby who was shot and killed on October 5th, 1907 while attempting to arrest three men stealing a ride on a Pennsylvania Railroad freight train. The men were a gang of safecrackers who just burglarized the Marsh store in Burnettsville. The suspects were captured in the Winamac area.

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The North Judson Mint Festival to Begin in Less Than a Month

Posted on Author WKVI
Joan Ludwig of CenturyLink presents a check to Mint Festival President Donna Henry in the amount of $500 for the Mint Queen sponsorship
Joan Ludwig of CenturyLink presents a check to Mint Festival President Donna Henry in the amount of $500 for the Mint Queen sponsorship

The North Judson Mint Festival is June 13-15 and the theme this year is “Mint is Supreme in 2014”.

All of your favorite events are coming back this year: Father/Grandfather of the Year Contest, magic and puppet shows, bingo, lots of vendors, a frog jumping contest, pork chop dinner, car show and swap meet, Pet Fun Walk and Parade, music and the parade.

The Mint Queen pageant will be sponsored by CenturyLink and the last scheduled sign-up is this Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT at the North Judson-Wayne Township Public Library. For information on the Mint Festival Queen pageant, call Teresa at (219) 205-2440.

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Eastern Pulaski School Board has Full Agenda for Tonight’s Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI

The Eastern Pulaski School Board members will have a full meeting tonight at 5:30 p.m. ET.

The board members will recognize Valedictorian Eric Newman and Salutatorian Courtney Boos. The members will also hold public hearing on additional appropriations and discuss recommendations to continue with Title 1 and high ability grant programs, approve handbooks, and technology network infrastructure upgrades.

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Winamac Town Council, Pulaski County Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Two Pulaski County government agencies will meet tonight.

The Winamac Town Council will meet at 7 p.m. ET in the Municipal Utility Complex. Winamac Fire Chief Bill Weaver will have an update and Chris Smith will have a garbage collection update. Eric Galbreath will have information on the TV Cable and John Julian from Umbaugh and Associates will give the council water and waste water ordinances plus information on the pool.

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Marshall County Council to Meet Today

Posted on Author WKVI
 

The Marshall Council Council will meet in regular session this morning at 9 a.m. ET.

Wes Burden with the Marshall County Health Department will request a personnel replacement and Sheriff Tom Chamberlin will discuss prisoner care. Additional appropriations for the auditor’s office, court services, WIC and EMA grants will be considered.

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Railroad Crossings in Knox to Close for Repairs

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A few railroad crossings in the City of Knox will be closed beginning Monday, May 12 for approximately two weeks.

The Norfolk Southern crossings on Shield, Pearl and Portland Streets will be closed for repair. Commuters will need to find alternate routes while these crossings are improved.

 

 

INDOT Seeks ADA Advisory Group Members

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Indiana Department of Transportation is seeking applicants for its Americans with Disabilities Act Community Advisory Working Group.

Inaugural members whose two-year terms expire at the end of June are encouraged to reapply. Potential new members also have a chance to apply. Membership is open to any individual, as INDOT wants representatives from a broad cross-section of the state. Individuals with disabilities, disability advocates or individuals who provide services to persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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Local Cops to Wait Tables for Charity

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

If you’ve ever wanted to give orders to a cop, you’ll have a chance Monday night.

Several members of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 128 will be waiting tables at the Knox Pizza Hut from 4 until 8 p.m.

Be sure to tip generously, though. Proceeds from the Tip A Cop Fundraiser will be used to help local youngsters in need buy school supplies as part of the Shop With a Cop program before school starts in August.