Local Emergency Responders Providing Aide in the Wake of Hurricane Sandy

Posted on Author WKVI

Several local emergency responders are in various parts of the East Coast to tend to situations due to Hurricane Sandy.

The District 2 Emergency Management Team left Winamac Sunday around midnight and arrived in Baltimore, Maryland at Noon. The responders, which include those from Starke, Pulaski, Marshall and St. Joseph Counties, participated in several briefings with local emergency staff, on-site FEMA representatives and the Mayor of Baltimore. Starke County Emergency Management Director Ted Bombagetti is one of those emergency responders in the City of Baltimore and he indicated that District 2 will be conducting emergency operation planning and providing the city with damage assessment and debris management support starting this morning.

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Indiana District 2 Task Force Called to Duty

Posted on Author WKVI
Ted Bombagetti

Members of the District 2 Task Force in Indiana have been called to duty to provide aide to those in New Jersey as Hurricane Sandy could wreak havoc on the East Coast.

Starke County EMA Director Ted Bombagetti, who is a member of the District 2 Task Force, said ambulance support deployed out of Indianapolis yesterday. A total of 50 ambulances are making their way to New Jersey and five of those ambulances are coming out of the District 2 Task Force which encompasses Starke, Pulaski, Fulton, Marshall, and St. Joseph Counties.

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DNR Modifies Hunting Regulations

Posted on Author WKVI

The Department of Natural Resources has changed some regulations in this year’s hunting season. Conservation Officer, Keith Wildeman, said this year will be the first year for a late firearms anterless deer season.

“There used to be a split between early archery and late archery,” said Wildeman. “Now, our archery season is continuous all the way through. It starts statewide Oct. 1 and runs to Jan. 6. There used to be a five-day split and now that’s continuous so archery hunters have that option.”

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Pharmacy Linked to Fungal Meningitis Outbreak May Suffer License Suspension

Posted on Author WKVI

Attorney General Greg Zoeller is looking to have the license of a questionable Massachusetts pharmacy suspended. Zoeller said the pharmacy is linked to the fungal meningitis outbreak that has affected 43 Hoosiers and killed three, and he is urging the Indiana Pharmacy Board to suspend their license, effectively banning them from operating in Indiana for 90 days.

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No Smoking Violations Reported in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Health Nurse Frank Lynch

Since the smoking ban took effect July 1, Starke County Health Nurse Frank Lynch has received no complaints of any businesses not complying with the law.

Lynch suggested that the information received by all businesses before the law took effect and the public meetings held to inform the businesses and public about the impending law change helped everyone come together to work to be compliant with the law. He has given out packs to all businesses that contained signage and information regarding the change and all seems to be working so far.

Lynch said that if you need to complain about a business that is not complying with the no smoking law, call his office at 772-9137.

Giant Pumpkin Drop Held Saturday at Hensler Nursery in Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI

The Giant Pumpkin Drop was held Saturday at Hensler Nursery in Hamlet where over 2,000 pounds of pumpkin were obliterated when dropped on a junk car.  WKVI was there broadcasting live and everyone who attended got a chance to see the carnage.

A great crowd was on hand for the event.  Two giant pumpkins were dropped as well as several smaller pumpkins.  The smaller pumpkins were dropped for a donation toward the American Cancer Society.  Donations were also taken for the Starke County Food Pantry.

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1st Source Bank Warns Against Recent Scam

Posted on Author WKVI

1st Source Bank officials hope the most recent scam that was reported over a two-day period is just an isolated incident.

A representative from the marketing department of 1st Source Bank told WKVI that the calls received by some customers that their debit card showed unusual activity were just incidents that stemmed from the major scam that was reported earlier this summer.

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Remotes Keep WKVI Staff Busy in this Fall Season

Posted on Author WKVI
Live from Good to Go in North Judson!

The WKVI staff has been on location this week broadcasting from great businesses here in the Kankakee Valley.  Today, Jerry Curtis, Lenny Dessauer, Kay Gudeman, Tom Berg and Pat Dunn were at Good to Go in North Judson to help celebrate their grand re-opening after a remodel project.  Free hot dogs and hamburgers were served along with a discount in gasoline!

Live from Christos!

Thursday, the staff was at Christos Family Restaurant in Knox and helped give away several gift certificates and the Twist and Smiles Balloon Lady made all sorts of balloon creations for those who attended.

Saturday, we’re on the road again!  This time, we’ll be at Hensler Nursery for the Third Annual Giant Pumpkin Drop.  Two pumpkins that weigh over 1,000 will be dropped on a vehicle and several other “normal” sized pumpkins will be shot out of a canon thanks to the Fahrfunflinger organization.  We will broadcast live from Hensler Nursery from Noon to 2:00 p.m.  We hope to see you there!

Starke County Treasurer’s Office Open; Commissioners To Defend Actions in Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Treasurer Linda Belork assists a customer over the phone

The Starke County Commissioners are in a bit of hot water following their order to close the treasurer’s office in light of Judge John Potter’s order to reinstate Linda Belork as the county treasurer. The commissioners voted to close the office because Belork did not have a surety bond in place as required by state law, but a telephonic case management conference held earlier this week at the order of Judge Potter found that the commissioners had disobeyed his order.

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Community Project Aims to Keep Senior Toes Warm This Winter

Posted on Author WKVI

An annual community service project aiming to keep seniors warm kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 27. The Socks for Seniors Campaign looks to organize collecting new socks to be distributed to the elderly in local area nursing homes around the holidays.

The program begins with Make A Difference Day on Saturday, the official kickoff of the campaign which runs through Christmas. The event is looking for local area coordinators near Knox to help with collecting socks this year.

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Starke County Treasurer’s Office Reopens; Court Hearing Scheduled

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Treasurer Linda Belork assists a customer over the phone

By order of the Jasper Circuit Court Judge John Potter, a telephonic case management conference was held Wednesday, October 24 concerning Judge Potter’s ruling regarding the reinstatement of Starke County Treasurer Linda Belork.

Starke County Attorney Martin Lucas and Belork’s counsel, Ethan Lowe, were part of the hearing where the Court found that disobedience of process or order, and interference with execution of process or order was conducted when the Starke County Commissioners met and voted to close the Office of the Starke County Treasurer, thus nullifying the Judge’s order to reinstate Belork to the office.

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Accident in Marshall County Injures Two

Posted on Author WKVI

One person was air-lifted to the hospital and another taken by ambulance after a crash in Marshall County this morning.

According to our reporting partners at WNDU, a pick-up truck carrying a large, heavy semi-engine in its truck bed rear-ended a white box truck at the intersection of U.S. 30 and Pioneer Road. Both were headed eastbound on U.S. 30 at the time. The crash caused the engine to come forward and slam into the pick-up truck’s cab.

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Medaryville Man Arrested On Burglary Charges

Posted on Author WKVI

A Medaryville man has been arrested for his part in a series of alleged burglary incidents in Pulaski County.

James Lindahl, 20, was arrested on two counts of Burglary, four counts of Theft, and one count of Criminal Mischief and Conversion. According to a police investigation, Lindahl reportedly stole tools, jewelry, electronics, and household items from several different residences in June.

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Collision Sends Two to Hospital; Ambulance Involved

Posted on Author WKVI

Two people were seriously wounded in an accident that occurred early Saturday morning in Pulaski County.

The accident occurred at the intersection of State Road 39 and State Road 14 around 5:30 a.m. ET.  Edward Brooke, of Knox, reportedly pulled out in front of an ambulance at the intersection.  Norman Bathke, 44, of Medaryville, the driver of the ambulance was not injured but Brooke was taken to Pulaski Memorial Hospital with injuries.  The ambulance was registered to United Mobile Care, Inc. of San Pierre.  It was foggy at the time of the accident

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Bass Lake Fire Department Called to Two House Fires

Posted on Author WKVI

The Bass Lake Fire Department battled a house fire at 8745 S. Sycamore Street in Monterey yesterday morning. Fire Chief Les Jensen said the fire department was called to the residence around 10:00 a.m. The fire was ruled accidental and was caused from common combustibles stored too closely to a hot water heater.

The home was a total loss. The Monterey Fire Department assisted at the scene.

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Starke County Treasurer’s Office Closed Until Further Notice

Posted on Author WKVI
Commissioners Kathy Norem (C) and Dan Bridegroom discuss the issues pertaining to the Treasurer's office. Also pictured: Auditor Kay Chaffins

The Starke County Commissioners held an emergency meeting this morning where Commissioner Dan Bridegroom made a motion to acknowledge that Linda Belork is the Starke County Treasurer but she can not fully serve in that capacity because a surety bond is not in place at this time and they must close the Treasurer’s Office until further notice.

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Halloween Is Next Week; Stay Safe While Trick-Or-Treating

Posted on Author WKVI

Halloween is next Wednesday, Oct. 31. For a complete list of trick-or-treat hours, click here.

Keep in mind that kids will be out in costumes next week and you are asked to be careful driving along city streets during trick-or-treat hours. Don’t talk on your cell phone to subtract distractions while on the road and watch for children who may dart into the street.

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Former South Central Teacher Arrested on Charges of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor

Posted on Author WKVI
LaPorte County Sheriff's Department
La Porte County Sheriff's Office

A former teacher from the South Central School Corporation has been arrested after officers from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department investigated a claim that he allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with a former student.

40-year-old Brian L. Strauss was arrested at his home in Michigan City yesterday afternoon and has been charged with two counts of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, as a Class B Felony and a Class C Felony, Child Solicitation as a Class C Felony and Vicarious Sexual Gratification, a Class D Felony.

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