News – Page 1346 – WKVI Information Center

The Starke County Commissioners at their meeting this week declared a local communication emergency in response to the radio communication issues caused by the crippled Starke County Sheriff’s Department radio tower. EMA Director Ted Bombagetti approached the commissioners and explained that before any radio system can be modified, the county must have it approved by the FCC.

To that end, Bombagetti explained to them the process to declare a local communication emergency, which would give the county the authority to do what needs to be done to restore full radio communications while getting the FCC licensing caught up at a later time. County Attorney Martin Lucas reviewed the information and gave it his approval.

Winter Moisture Will Pull Indiana Out of Drought

Tuesday’s snow event dropped an estimated ten inches of snow in various parts of our listening area and over 150 snow plows and trucks from the INDOT Northwest District were out in full force attempting to clear snow from roads to allow for safe travels.

The snow is expected to melt and WNDU meteorologist Frank Waugh insists that the ground is still dry enough to soak up the moisture.

Cold Case Being Revisited in LaPorte County

The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department is revisiting a cold case and is seeking your help.

The 1981 unsolved homicide of Juanita Boyd is being re-examined. She was last seen at Snyder’s Corner Tavern, which at the time was at 1st and J streets in LaPorte. She was reported missing on Feb. 23, 1981 and discovered five days later in the trunk of her 1970 Pontiac Catalina in a field just off Forrester Road, approximately one-half mile north of the Indiana Toll Road. She was dead, having been strangled and stabbed.

Culver School Board Listening to Ideas for Monterey School Building

Culver Community School Superintendent, Brad Schuldt

The Culver Community School Board this week met with individuals from the Monterey Christian Academy, which Superintendent Brad Schuldt explained is a group of people interested in using the old Monterey Elementary School building to house a Christian school. Schuldt said two school board members and the high school principal had previously met with the Monterey Christian Academy members and returned to update the rest of the board on what was going on.

Fields Trial Continued; Singleton to Be Sentenced Today

The bench trial for Christopher Fields, accused of being in possession of oxycodone, marijuana, and a hypodermic needle in November, has been continued after it was originally scheduled for Tuesday. He will reappear for a status hearing at a later date. Fields was arrested in November and charged with two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance as Class D felonies, as well as Resisting Law Enforcement, Possession of marijuana, and Possession of Paraphernalia as Class A misdemeanors.

Meanwhile, Robert Singleton, Jr. will appear for a sentencing hearing this morning in the Starke Circuit Court following his conviction of Dealing in Methamphetamine as a Class B felony, and Possession of Precursors, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Maintaining a Common Nuisance as Class D felonies. Singleton was found guilty of manufacturing methamphetamine in the presence of two young children.

Singleton will receive his sentence at 9:30 a.m.

No Reports of Pushy Door-to-Door Salesmen Lately; Police Still on Toes

It’s been just over a week since the Starke County Sheriff’s Department received any reports of suspicious door-to-door salespeople in the area, but police are still on notice to issue citations to any unpermitted transient merchants.

Starke County Deputy Brack Rowe previously told WKVI that police had located a white van that had been reportedly traveling around the area and stopping at various homes, where the occupants of the van would address the homeowners and attempt to sell vacuums or other items. Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and located two male subjects, who were told that in order to sell items door-to-door, they must obtain a permit from the auditor’s office. The men were sent to the auditor’s office to obtain the permits, but when they learned of the process and fees, they decided not to proceed with obtaining a permit.

Knox Community School Board to Soon Approve School Calendars, Board Policies

It’s never too early to start thinking about the next school year. Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the board has reviewed the the 2013-2014 school calendar and will approve it at their next meeting.

The board also received board policies for review.

“The board received a set of NEOLA policies and guideline recommendations for updates and revisions. The board will bring those back to discuss them at the next board meeting and we probably will adopt revisions and updates at the first board meeting in April,” stated Gappa.

March is Colorectal Cancer Month; Free Screening Kits Available

March 7, 2013March 8, 2013WKVI

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and IU Health is offering free colorectal cancer take-home screening kits at a variety of locations throughout Starke, Marshall, and LaPorte counties. Katie Sarver, manager of wellness outreach for IU Health Starke and LaPorte hospitals, said colorectal cancer can affect anyone, but it’s easy to detect early, allowing doctors to treat the condition effectively.

Sarver explained that the screening kit requires three consecutive bowel movements and will be sent to a laboratory to be analyzed.

LaPorte County DUI Task Force to Hold Sobriety Checkpoint

The LaPorte County DUI Task Force will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday, March 9. This will be part of the organization’s participation in Blitz #74 aimed to target aggressive and impaired driving.

The location of the checkpoint is determined based upon the analysis of available crash data, impaired driving arrests and officer safety. The location will not be revealed. When stopped, you will be asked to produce a driver’s license and vehicle registration. DUI Task Force members will then evaluate you for signs of alcohol or drug impairment. If you are not impaired, expect a short delay of two minutes or less. If you are deemed to be impaired, further action will be taken.

The LaPorte County DUI Task Force is a multi-agency group of police officers from the Michigan City and LaPorte Police Departments, along with deputies from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office.

AARP Driver Safety Program Offered in Marshall County

The Marshall County Council on Aging is hosting an AARP Driver Safety Program on Thursday, March 21. This is to help drivers over the age of 50 learn defensive driving techniques, new traffic laws and rules of the road. It will also refresh ways to deal with aggressive drivers and how to safely use anti-lock brakes, the purpose and use of air bags and safety belts.

Jackie Wright, the director of the Council on Aging, believes this is an important course for older drivers.

Food Finders Mobile Pantry to Give Away Food Friday

The Food Finders Food Bank is sponsoring a Food Give Away Day on Friday, March 8 in Winamac. The Food Finders Mobile Pantry will be stopping by Pulaski County Human Services at 115 W. Pearl St. at 11 a.m., and will be giving away food on a first-come, first-served basis.

Possible items to be distributed include frozen meat, baked goods, beverages, vegetables, snacks, and cereal, and the organization is requesting that participants bring a laundry basket or box in which to carry the food home.

INDOT Looking for Interns

The Indiana Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for governor’s public service interns through Sunday, March 10.

INDOT is looking for 74 interns across its six regional districts and its headquarters in downtown Indianapolis. The Governor’s Public Service Summer Intern Program offers work experience that enhances college-level skills and abilities and pays $11.30 an hour.

To be considered for the internship, you must be enrolled with an accredited post-secondary institution and have completed at least one year of undergraduate education. You may apply online at www.in.gov/spd/2335.htm.

Snow keeps state troopers busy

March 6, 2013WKVI

State troopers throughout the Lowell district, which includes most of the WKVI listening area, were out in force yesterday. Snow started falling around lunchtime and continued into the evening hours. During that time and until 8 this morning they worked 63 property damage crashes and seven personal injury wrecks, none of which were life-threatening. They also responded to 61 slide-offs and numerous assisting motorist calls. Those numbers are for the entire Lowell District, which includes areas north and west of here.

Knox Community School Board Accepts Boldry’s Resignation

In light of Todd Boldry’s permanent surrender of his teaching license, Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the Knox Community School Board Monday night approved his resignation as an educator at the Knox Middle School.

“Todd Boldry’s resignation had been submitted by his lawyer and the board did accept it,” said Gappa. “His position had been filled by a teacher on a temporary contract from the time he was suspended earlier this school year,” said Gappa.

Starke Commissioners Deny Additional Reimbursement for Dotliches

While the debate over an erroneously-permitted commercial structure has officially come to a close, some loose ends are still being wrapped up by Betty and George Dotlich. The pair had valiantly fought tooth-and-nail over a commercial structure that had been permitted as a single-family residence, ultimately winning the appeal in the Starke Circuit Court under Special Judge Patrick Blankenship ruled that the Board of Zoning Appeals failed to follow proper procedure and made a permitting decision unsupported by substantial evidence.

Culver Elementary School to Undergo $1.6M HVAC Project

The Culver School Board appointed two people to sit on the Wage Determination Committee, which Superintendent Brad Schuldt explained will meet in the Marshall County Courthouse to establish the prevailing wage for an upcoming elementary school project.

Schuldt said the corporation will soon be renovating the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system at the elementary school. Schuldt said he and Francis Ellert will serve on the committee, and the project is expected to start as soon as the school year comes to a close, with the work to be wrapped up before the beginning of the next school year.

Marshall County Commissioners Approve Request for GIS Data

The Marshall County Commissioners have approved a request by NIPSCO to acquire information needed for a 100-mile power transmission from Burr Oak to Topeka.

The representatives had asked for the names and address information for communications purposes in moving forward with the project. They reiterated that they want to keep the public informed about the project and how it will affect them in the construction process.

Former Winamac Resident Appears on new CNBC Show

A former Winamac student appeared in a new show last night on CNBC Prime called “Treasure Detectives.”

“Treasure Detectives” takes you inside the world of arts, antiques and collectibles and asks the question: is it a fake or is it worth a fortune? World-renowned art detective Curtis Dowling and his team of investigators, including former Winamac resident Catherine Knebel, research items to make sure they are authentic or if the owner is the victim of an elaborate hoax. Each week, the team meets collectors and verifies the authenticity of collectibles, artwork and antiquities using innovative technology and their own knowledge to determine if an item is the real deal or a real piece of junk.