Grovertown Man Arrested in Armed Robbery Incident in Plymouth

Posted on Author WKVI

The suspect in an alleged armed robbery incident at Karma Records in Plymouth has been identified.

Cory Michael Sobieck, 17, was arrested on a preliminary charge of Armed Robbery with a Deadly Weapon, a Class B Felony after he allegedly brandished a knife and demanded money and threatened an employee at the business. He did get away with an undisclosed amount of cash and was taken into custody about 15 minutes later. Plymouth police did find a knife in his possession that was reportedly used in the armed robbery.

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Winamac Police make four methamphetamine arrests

Posted on Author WKVI
Sara Cox, Douglas Whiteman, Jayson Shaffer, Kelcie Miller
Sara Cox, Douglas Whiteman, Jayson Shaffer, Kelcie Miller

Formal charges are pending against four people arrested for possession of methamphetamine and syringes at a home in downtown Winamac Tuesday night. Jayson David Shaffer, 27, of Leiters Ford; Douglas Lane Whiteman, Jr., 27, of Winamac; Kelcie Miller, 21, of Winamac; and Sara Cox, 21, of Culver were all arrested by Winamac Police Officer Brian Gaillard. He received an anonymous tip of drug use at a residence on South Market Street residence and checked it out. The occupants gave him permission to search the house, and Gaillard said he found baggies of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Pulaski Council Approves Appropriation for Rail Study

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County Council Monday night approved a motion to advertise for a $52,000 appropriation to allow a design engineer firm to conduct studies to find suitable locations to improve rail access in the industrial park in Pulaski County. Nathan Origer, executive director of the Pulaski County Community Development Commission, told the council that the county’s strategic plan – which had been composed in 2010 – calls for development of the agricultural-technology alternative-energy industrial park on the west side of the county, which would be served by rail.

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Winamac Municipal Utility rates to increase

Posted on Author WKVI

Winamac Town Hall
Winamac Town Hall
Winamac Municipal Utility customers will soon notice a slight bump in their water and sewer bills. The town council approved a rate increase following a Monday public hearing. Town Council President John Plowman says rates will go up by about $1 per month on each side of the bill this year and again next year, for a total rate increase of about $4 for an average customer over the next two years. The rate increase was prompted by an Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission ruling.

Knox City Council Approves SCEDF Demolition, Conveyance Agreement

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council last night approved an agreement with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation in relation to the demolition and clearing of the buildings at 2 and 4 N. Main St. The SCEDF, in accordance with a grant from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, has committed itself to paying all local costs required of the city of Knox to demolish the buildings, costing the city nothing.

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Introduction of iPads to Eastern Pulaski Students Moving Along

Posted on Author WKVI

Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman
The students at the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation are going to be using iPads as part of their learning curriculum and Middle School Principal Ryan Dickinson reminded the school board Monday night that the process will be a phase-in process. Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman commented that it will be a great way to progressively introduce that supplement to a teacher’s instruction.

“We need to do this to understand that our teachers are the most important ingredient in student learning and the iPad and everything else supplements that teacher,” stated Dr. Klitzman. “We’re gradually infusing more of the technology into our programming. Mr. Dickinson reported on how we’re doing with that at the middle school.”

The iPads will be put into more students’ hands as the year goes forward.

West Central School Board Talks Textbook Adoption, Data Coach

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
Among the many items discussed during the West Central School Board’s meeting Thursday night, Superintendent Charles Mellon said the textbook adoption was approved which included reading textbooks for students in kindergarten through the sixth grade.

The board also discussed hiring a data coach and the corporation has received funding for that position.

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DeMotte State Bank Declares Mexico Lindo Give Back Night A Success

Posted on Author WKVI

Demotte State Bank Team Captain Candice Miller
Demotte State Bank Team Captain Candice Miller
The DeMotte State Bank Relay for Life team held a fundraiser over the weekend with the help of Mexico Lindo, and sources say the event was an overwhelming success, having raised more than $400 for Relay. DeMotte Team Captain Candice Miller said her team was out in force helping to serve customers, and while it was something she’s not used to, she had a blast.

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State Employees to Receive Pay Increase This Week

Posted on Author WKVI

Roughly 26,000 state employees will be getting a pay raise this week.

The distribution of the state’s pay for performance will appear on this week’s paycheck. Employees who were evaluated as outstanding will receive an eight percent increase, those who exceed expectations will earn a five percent raise, a three percent raise will be given to those who meet expectations, and employees who do not meet expectations will not get an increase.

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Plymouth airport may add hangars

Posted on Author WKVI

Mary Perren

Marshall County pilots may soon have a new place to park their planes. The Plymouth City Council recently approved an ordinance that clears the way for the Aviation Board of Commissioners (ABC) to lease ground and allow private individuals to build hangars at Plymouth Municipal Airport. There’s currently a lengthy waiting list for hangar space. The aviation board is looking at a spot on the south side of the airport. It will require an easement from the neighboring storage units for access to the property. The roadway that was placed in the Greenlee administration was in the airport clear zone and has never been used to access.The ABC’s engineering consultants will assist in determining the correct location for building. Approval from the Federal Aviation Administration is also required.

Marshall County meth suspects jailed without bond

Posted on Author WKVI

Mary Perren

A Marshall County man and woman are jailed without bond after police found multiple meth labs in their Argos home. Officers with the Undercover Narcotics Investigation Team, Indiana State Police and Marshall County Sheriff’s Office arrested 43-year-old David Howe and 35-year-old Kristi Messick-Eswick, also known as Kristi Miller following a Monday search of their residence on Hickory Road. Their initial hearing in Marshall Superior Court is set for March 12. Anyone with information about illegal drug activity in Marshall County is urged to call the anonymous tip line at1-800-899-0842.

Winamac woman pays it forward with a haircut

Posted on Author WKVI

Mary Perren
A Winamac hairstylist is sporting a new hairdo for a good cause. Emily Larkin agreed to shave her head once she raised $3,000 for Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. That’s where her sister, Christina, also a hairstylist, was treated as a teenager when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Larkin said her bold new haircut was inspired by the Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders who shaved their head in support of Coach Chuck Pagano’s leukemia diagnosis inspired Larkin to “take it off.” She nearly doubled her fundraising goal, thanks to generous support from the community. Her sister Christina did the honors during the halftime show of last night’s Winamac Community High School basketball game. Larkin said she “kind of likes” her new short locks, which she will be sporting for Christina’s wedding next month.

LaPorte Police foil shoplifting attempt

Posted on Author WKVI

Mary Perren

A 17-year-old faces theft and false informing charges after he reportedly stole a piece of aluminum foil from a LaPorte grocery store last night. Store employees at Al’s Supermarket on SR 2 W. saw the male suspect take a box of aluminum foil off the shelf and put it down in a different location. They checked the box and found it opened with a section of foil missing. When the employees approached the youngster, police say he admitted taking some of the foil to use as a television antenna. He then gave them his name and asked if he could be released to his parents. Attempts to contact his parents were unsuccessful, and police discovered he gave them a false identity. He also smelled of burnt marijuana, according to police. The teen was arrested and taken to the juvenile services center.

Attorney anticipates filing in Pulaski County Highway saga

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Terry Young, and Tracey Shorter
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Terry Young, and Tracey Shorter

The attorney for two Pulaski County Highway employees who were suspended last month by the commissioners pending an investigation into unspecified complaints anticipates taking legal action against the county within days.

Former highway superintendent Kenny Becker and administrative assistant Lin Morrison have both retained Valparaiso attorney Steven Bush. He’s preparing a tort claim notice to be filed against the commissioners, county attorney and auditor for defamation of character, among other things. County officials have yet to provide any specifics about the nature of the investigation or give Becker or Morrison a copy of their findings. Bush says their stonewalling is “offensive” to his clients and to the dozens of people who packed the commissioners room and spilled over into the hallway prior to the Feb. 4 commissioners meeting. Visit https://www.contant-law.com/ to get a lawyer.

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Pulaski Council Denies Commissioners’ iPad Request

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County Council last night denied a request from the county commissioners to purchase four 64GB iPads, activation, and insurance at a cost of approximately $5000 for the devices and one year of coverage.

The council discussed whether the commissioners had a sound plan or if they were “putting the cart before the horse,” after a council member presented a quote from AT&T that was right around the same price but provided two years of coverage. On top of that, the information from AT&T indicated that the company would provide training – something that the commissioners’ proposal from Venture Wireless did not provide.

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Juvenile Tries to Steal Beer; Detained in LaPorte

Posted on Author WKVI

Loss prevention officials at Al’s in LaPorte didn’t have a hard time noticing a shoplifter, as a juvenile tried to hide a 30-pack case of beer under his shirt and leave the store. Police detained the juvenile shoplifter in LaPorte on Saturday, after responding to the store at approximately 10:40 p.m.

According to the report, loss prevention personnel told police that they witnessed the 17-year-old male suspect place a 30-pack case of beer into a shopping cart before wheeling the cart to the store’s restroom. There, they say, he placed the beer under his shirt or jacket, but apparently hiding a case of beer isn’t as inconspicuous as he thought.

As the suspect passed the point of checkout, he was detained, taken into custody for theft and transported to the juvenile services center.

West Central School Board Reinstates Elementary Arts and Music Programs

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
In 2011, the West Central School Corporation was hit hard by funding cuts from the state and as a result, the school board had to make some staffing and course changes. Some of the programs cut included art and music at the elementary level. Superintendent Charles Mellon stated that the school board voted to reinstate those programs at the elementary school.

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Starke County Relay for Life Set for June, Meeting this Thursday

Posted on Author WKVI

Megan Hamand
Megan Hamand
Those involved in the Starke County Relay for Life event have already been busy fundraising and gathering ideas to make this year’s event the best yet.

Megan Hamand, promotions chair for the Starke County Relay for Life, announced that this year’s event will be Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8, at the Starke County Fairgrounds in Hamlet. The soft-opening is at 3 p.m. CT and the opening ceremonies are set for 6 p.m. CT.

She said this year’s theme is, “Colors of Cancer.”

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