The Kankakee Valley REMC Operation Roundup Trust grant program has awarded $7,050 to area nonprofit organizations, showing their support for such organizations as they have for the past 14 years.
Amanda Steeb, communications director for KVREMC, said they’ve been able to give more than $850,000 since their start in 2000 because of their members and generous contributions by those who round up their electric bills each month.
The FAFSA form can be a little intimidating and the representatives will provide help with every aspect of getting grants, scholarship and other financial resources for college.
Super Bowl Sunday continually ranks as one of the most dangerous times of the year for drunk driving deaths. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 43 percent of all traffic fatalities on Super Bowl Sunday and the early hours of the following morning in 2012 were caused by drunk driving, compared to an average of 31 percent for the year as a whole.
All of the counties in the WKVI listening area are under an “orange level” travel watch this morning. That means only essential travel, such as trips to work and school, is recommended. More snow is set to move into the area this afternoon. Tomorrow’s forecast calls for a mixture of snow and sleet. As always, we’ll bring you the very latest on the air and online at WKVI.com. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to bookmark our closings and delays page. That’s where you’ll find a link to the Indiana county travel advisory map and more.
Today is the deadline to sign up for 4-H for the upcoming year. It’s a youth enrichment program for youngsters in grade school through high school. The traditional 4-H program starts in 3rd grade and goes until a member is in 12th grade or 10 years. Younger children can take part in “Exploring 4-H.” It’s open to youth in kindergarten through 2nd grade. 4-H is open to all rural and urban youth who fall into the program’s age parameters. Exploring 4-H members are limited to one project per year, but traditional 4-H members can take as many projects as they are comfortable juggling. Starke County Extension Director and 4-H Youth Development Educator Elisabeth Smith says the program offers something for everyone. Continue reading
A plea agreement for Hanley “Warren” Chapman was rejected by Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall Wednesday morning.
Judge Hall told those assembled in court that he had questions about the factual basis regarding his charge of Resisting Law Enforcement. According to court documents, Chapman was situated in a basement room when police were outside the home verbally attempting to get him out of the residence in North Judson. No physical force was used to take him into custody.
State troopers say snow and white-out conditions are to blame for the multiple-vehicle pile-up on I-94 eastbound near Michigan City that killed a 65-year-old Marilyn Wolma and 67-year-old Thomas Wolma of Grand Rapids, Mich. and 65-year-old Jerry Dalrymple of Chicago. All three died of blunt-force trauma, according to the LaPorte County Coroner. One person with life-threatening injuries was flown from the scene by medical helicopter. A state police spokeswoman says the accident investigation will take weeks to complete. More than 40 vehicles were involved.
The town of Monterey in Pulaski County will continue being served by Culver EMS after the county commissioners this week decided to stay with the agreement in place with Culver EMS that renews annually. Brandon Cooper with Culver EMS approached the commissioners and explained that the contract between his department and the county had lapsed, and he proposed a three-year contract at $6000 per year to ensure they keep the same rate.
A LaPorte woman who recently purchased a new computer was the victim of a scam Saturday night, according to LaPorte Police. She told the officer she got a call on her cell phone Saturday night from a man with a foreign accent who identified himself as “Mark Williams” from Dell. The caller told her that her new computer had been hacked and said he was going to help her fix it. He reportedly told her to go to SHOWMYPC.com, which she did. The suspect confirmed the victim’s name and email address, which he already knew. Once he did this, he then had remote access over her computer and she was not longer controlling it.
The suspect brought up an 8-digit number which he had the victim read back. He advised her that 80 percent of her computer had been hacked, but he was able to fix it for the next 15 years. He then told her she now had to pay him $99 for the service. The victim became suspicious and told him she was not paying him any money at this time and would call him back. The suspect was reportedly insistent that the victim pay him immediately. His name, ID number and telephone number were listed in a message box on the computer screen. The victim confirmed this information with him before she hung up, but when she called the number back she reached a sex hotline. Continue reading
Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer has notified WKVI that police are now unsure of the whereabouts of a Monterey man who was convicted in Florida of child molestation and lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 16.
Mark Griffin, 51, whose last known address was 7934 Lake Street in Monterey, is ordered to register as a sex offender for the remainder of this lifetime and has recently failed to do so.
He is considered dangerous to the safety of the public. He is 6’1”, 235 pounds with blue eyes and short brown hair. He has facial hair in the style of a goatee.
If you know of Griffin’s whereabouts, call the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department at (574) 946-6655 or local law enforcement immediately.
Two sentence hearings were held in Starke Circuit Court on Thursday.
Judge Kim Hall sentenced a man to the maximum prison term allowed for a charge with a Class B felony classification.
Jerrod Hammond pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to amended criminal information and a charge of Child Molestation as a Class B felony. Judge Hall sentenced Hammond to 20 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with no part of the sentence suspended. A second count of Child Molestation as a Class D felony was dropped.
A Walkerton man is being held in the Starke County Jail after deputies executed a search warrant at a home in the 10000 E block of State Road 23 in Walkerton on Thursday.
Starke County deputies reportedly discovered an active one pot methamphetamine lab in the residence, along with the product and items used in the manufacture of the drug.
An arrest warrant was served at a home in the 1500 S. block of 300 E. in Knox where police reportedly found an active meth lab.
Starke County deputies arrived at the residence and found Kane Wilson, 29, of Knox at the home along with an alleged one pot methamphetamine lab and precursors to manufacture the drug. Deputies also reportedly found meth and drug paraphernalia at the home.
The Pulaski County Maintenance Department has been staying busy, according to Maintenance Director Jeff Johnston. He told the county commissioners at their regular meeting that the office relocation has been completed, annex repair work is done, and they’ve also repaired some equipment at the county highway garage.
Superintendent Charles Mellon said the policy controls the nutrition value of the food and beverages that are sold to students at school.
A Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect for the entire WKVI listening area through mid-morning Wednesday. Deadly wind chills of between 15 and 20 below zero can be expected this evening and tonight. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur quickly when very cold air and strong winds combine like this. If you do have to be outdoors, be sure to wear a hat, gloves and protect any exposed skin.
The entire WKVI listening area is covered by a gubernatorial disaster declaration. Gov. Mike Pence issued the declaration for 29 Indiana counties. State law allows him to do so by executive order if he determines that a disaster involving widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property has occurred or that the occurrence or threat of a disaster is imminent. Pence’s declaration covers the storm system that set up across the state on Sunday and allows the executive director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to coordinate all necessary assistance with appropriate federal, state and local agencies.
Click below to view a copy of Gov. Mike Pence’s Executive Order
