North Judson Town Board Passes Two Resolutions

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board

The North Judson Town Board passed two resolutions at its meeting this week. The first resolution concerned modifications to the grant received by the board from the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission for the State Road 39 project. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says she received an email from a KIRPC representative who informed her that the board needed to pass a resolution concerning modifications to the grant.

The board also passed a resolution concerning the town’s anti-nepotism policy, which Henry says is included in the handbook, but a revision was required. She says although their current policy is more stringent than the state-mandated policy, the state requires that the policy address step-relatives. The handbook was revised to include the required content.

A surveyor gave the board an estimate on the cost to plot, measure, and place markers in the Highland Cemetery’s 13th section, which was never properly surveyed. She says the estimate came in at $2200, but it is a very rough estimate and will likely change. The board voted to go ahead with the plotting.

Winamac Men Arrested For Tool Theft

Posted on Author WKVI

Two Winamac men were arrested after an alleged theft incident early Sunday morning.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department was notified of a possible theft case, and the caller stated that three people were getting into his vehicle. When the officer arrived on scene, 25-year-old Robert Howard, of Winamac, was detained and asked what he was doing on the property. He stated that he was picking up scrap with two other people. He said he had permission from the previous owner to take scrap from the property, but police soon learned that they were not allowed to take any items from the residence.

The victim identified several tools and other parts in Howard’s vehicle that were his. Howard was arrested on preliminary charges of Theft and Trespassing. Another person with Howard, Alton Allen, 28, was arrested on a preliminary charge of Trespassing. A juvenile was also taken into custody, and all three were taken to the Starke County Jail.

Culver School Corporation Seeking To Fill Four Vacant Positions

Posted on Author WKVI
Culver Community School Superintendent Brad Schuldt

The Culver School Board has switched to their summer meeting schedule, having met last on June 4 with no meetings scheduled until July 16. Superintendent Brad Schuldt says the board is currently working on filling a number of open positions including the assistant principal position at the elementary school. Two teachers have retired from the corporation, and two other employees have moved on to other projects.

Schuldt says Assistant Principal Craig Hopple has left the corporation to take a job in Plymouth at Lincoln Jr. High.

Three other positions are also vacant: the social studies and English positions at the high school are currently open, as well as an IT assistant position for the corporation. Schuldt says the board will likely discuss filling the positions at the July 16 meeting.

Starke County Officials Discuss Housing Prisoners in Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis

Starke County government officials this week discussed finances as they apply to county jail inmates being housed at the Pulaski County Jail.

With the Starke County Jail being rated for only 62 prisoners and the population approaching 80 at times, Commissioner Kathy Norem and Sheriff Oscar Cowen have been looking at ways to solve the problem – but that takes extra funds to pay Pulaski County and transport the prisoners back and forth.

Council President David Pearman explained that this is the most cost-effective solution they have found so far.

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Town of Culver Begins Safe Routes to School Construction

Posted on Author WKVI

Construction has started in the town of Culver for the Safe Routes to School project, with new sidewalks being installed down School, Ohio, and Main streets. Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim says the construction, which started last week, is a great thing for the town.

The town was awarded the grant last year through the Indiana Department of Transportation, and Heim says they’ve applied for the grant’s second round. If the town receives the second grant, sidewalks would likely be installed down Academy Road, College Road, and Lakeshore Drive.

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West Central School Board Renews Certified Contracts

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board approved the certified contracts which included Superintendent Charles Mellon, Middle and High School Principal Don Street, Athletic Director and Administrative Assistant Chuck Evans, and Guidance Counselor Marci Kennedy. Those staff members were on 12-month contracts which were renewed.

Mellon was quick to note that there was a change in one staff position.

“We had a change in Mr. Brose’s position,” explained Mellon. “He is now becoming an administrative assistant and we will be interviewing soon for an elementary principal.”

Starke County Election Board Seeks To Reduce Per-Voter Cost of Elections

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski

According to Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski, the Election Board has been looking at a number of ways to reduce the expense of elections per voter. Skronski says that the May Primary was relatively expensive in terms of cost per voter in some precincts, such as Center 3, where the cost per voter came out to $10.79. This was the highest average cost per voter for any Starke County precinct, but Skronski says other townships with a higher voter turnout were significantly less expensive per voter, such as Oregon 1, where the average cost came out to $2.32 per voter.

Skronski says that some methods that were discussed to reduce the cost per precinct included reducing the number of poll workers in precincts with less than 700 registered voters. She says they could cut down on the cost by eliminating the presence of a sheriff at those locations, but the salaries of the poll workers would have to be increased because of their additional duties. Oregon 3, Jackson, and Center 6 precincts would be affected by the resolution.

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Starke County Commissioners Discuss Insurance Increase

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Commissioners discussed briefly the commissioners’ budget that is currently being prepared. Commission President Kathy Norem says there are some expected increases.

“The thing that we did take a look at Monday night, and we have difficulty predicting because we don’t get those numbers until five or six months after the budget process, is the employee health insurance. I’m aware that we’ve had some large claims this year so we elected to put in for a 15 percent increase in that,” Norem said.

Although the budget increase is 15 percent, Norem said the county’s First Source Insurance representative thinks it may be lower.

Burn Ban Issued in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County is the latest county to enact a burn ban. The action was taken last night by the County Commissioners and will be in effect through July 2nd.

The ban does not include fireworks, although the commissioners ask that you set off fireworks with extreme caution.

The Pulaski County Commissioners have declared a county-wide burn ban effective until June 25th.

Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood or other combustible material, with the exception of grills, is prohibited. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation and recreational campfires, unless enclosed, is also prohibited.

The Pulaski County Commissioners ask that you NOT discharge any fireworks.

This ban is in effect until Noon ET on Monday, June 25th when conditions will be reevaluated.

Marshall County also remains under a burn ban.

Special Prosecutor Appointed To Case Against Connie Miller

Posted on Author WKVI
Nicholas Bourff

A special prosecutor has been appointed in the case between the State of Indiana and Connie Miller, the former clerk-treasurer for the town of North Judson.

Starke County Prosecutor Nick Bourff requested a special prosecutor be appointed to the case because he felt it would be difficult to avoid the appearance of impropriety if the charging decision in the case was up to him, because he was the acting legal counsel for the town of North Judson during the year 2010. He said that due to the attorney-client relationship that existed between him and Miller during that time, the decision on whether or not to prosecute based on the Indiana State Board of Accounts Special Report causes a conflict.

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Rachel Berdine Arrested, Charged With Helping Hunnicutt Escape

Posted on Author WKVI
Rachel Berdine

The woman suspected of aiding Joshua Hunnicutt in his escape from the Starke County Jail was arrested Sunday evening.

Officials say Rachel Berdine arrived at the Starke County Jail to visit Hunnicutt and police arrested her on an active arrest warrant for Escape and Conspiracy to Commit Escape, both Class C Felony charges.

She is being held in the Starke County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

Police believe that Hunnicutt escaped from the jail on May 23 by climbing an outside recreation wall topped with razor wire, and allegedly got into a car driven by his girlfriend, Berdine, who then drove away from the scene. Hunnicutt turned himself in five days later and has pleaded not guilty in Starke Circuit Court to charges of Escape and Conspiracy to Commit Escape.

Plymouth Man Arrested Following Hit And Run

Posted on Author WKVI

A Plymouth man was arrested after an accident Saturday night.

Plymouth police officers responded to a call in the area of Madison and Broadway Streets in Plymouth and spoke to Sara Johnson, 22 of Plymouth, who told police that she had been struck by a vehicle and the vehicle left the scene. She sustained an injury to her right side, but refused medical treatment at the scene.

Police found the vehicle suspected of leaving the scene of an accident on Harrison Street. The driver, Billy Bates, 54 of Plymouth, was arrested on preliminary charges of Criminal Recklessness and Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident.

West Central Schools To Take Funding Hit, Says Mellon

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board reviewed the estimated state tuition support for the 2013 budget and according to Superintendent Charles Mellon, it appears the corporation is going to take another funding hit.

“We find ourselves down another $155,000, which is a little over 2.5 percent,” said Mellon. “Again, these are just based on projections. You have to plug in your own numbers with enrollment projections and that type of thing.”

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Jury Trial To Be Held Wednesday In Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

A jury trial will be held Wednesday in the Starke Circuit Court – but the question is, who will go to trial?

Two pretrial motions and instructions hearings are set for this morning in the court; Jerrold Minix and Angela May will appear for their hearings, at which point it will be decided who will go to trial on Wednesday.

Minix faces two cases in the Starke Circuit Court. In the first case, he is charged with two counts of Burglary as a Class C felony, two counts of Theft, and two counts of Possession of Stolen Property. In the second case, he is charged with Receiving Stolen Property as a Class D felony.

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November Election Deadline Approaching For Starke County Chairpersons

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Democrat and Republican Chairpersons have until Tuesday, July 3 to fill empty slots on the November Election ballot.

The Republicans need to fill the positions of Surveyor and Treasurer, while the Democrats need to find a candidate for County Commissioner in District 1, which includes the townships of Oregon, Washington and North Bend. Anyone from these townships are eligible.

The Starke County Clerk’s Office also indicated that any candidate wishing to file for a school board position can file a petition in the clerk’s office beginning July 25 through August 24.

More Than 100 Indiana Democrats To Attend National Convention In September

Posted on Author WKVI
State Representative Nancy Dembowski

Indiana State Democrats Saturday picked 106 delegates to go to the National Convention, scheduled for Sept. 4 – 6 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

One of those delegates is State Representative Nancy Dembowski of Knox. Dembowski said yesterday that she was asked to run, and after giving it some thought, decided to “throw her hat into the ring” for a district spot. Not only did Dembowski win, but she was the top vote-getter.

“I am very humbled by the opportunity to go to the convention where I will get to cast a vote for President Obama,” Dembowski said.

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Dry, Hot Conditions Require Special Lawn Care

Posted on Author WKVI

Even though we received some rain over the weekend, most lawns in the area still look brown and burned. Eugene Matzat from the La Porte County Extension Office explained a few tips for watering lawns and gardens in this weather.

“For watering lawns and gardens, basically the guideline would be to water in the morning so that the air temperature and wind has a chance to dry off the surface. This prevents any potential for any fungal diseases to infest your lawn,” said Matzat.

Matzat said it has been quite an unusual spring, and summer doesn’t arrive yet for a couple of days.

Starke County Environment Days Event Made Starke County A Little Cleaner

Posted on Author WKVI
A trailer load of tires was collected during last year's event.

The Starke County Environment Days event was a success.

Starke County Environment Management Director Carrie Trent said that one-and-a-half semi loads of electronic equipment, three trailer loads of tires and one trailer of household hazardous waste were collected, along with two large shipping boxes packed with bottles of prescription medication.

A total of 467 vehicles came through the Collection Day that took place Friday and Saturday at the Starke County Highway Garage.

Wendy McIntire Wins “Original Boyz From The Hood” Contest At SCPL

Posted on Author WKVI
Henry F. Schricker Library

Local attorney and WKVI board member Leroy Gudeman and Ed Hasnerl, WKVI’s Talking of Many Things host, were two of the 30 pencil drawing subjects in the recent “Original Boyz from the Hood” contest held at the Henry F. Schricker Library. Patrons were invited to look at the pictures and try to figure out who the pictures depicted.

The library announced the winners yesterday, and they included Wendy McIntire who correctly identified 19 of the subjects and won first place. Carla Stoll identified 14 for second place, and Iva Griffith was the third place prize winner with 11 named correctly.

Diantha Upham invites everyone to watch for women in the community in the next few months.

Starke County Unemployment Rate Improves

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County dropped out of the top five Indiana unemployment counties in May. The county’s 9.6 percent rate for unemployment placed it in eighth place, tying La Porte County for the position.

Other rates for nearby counties include Pulaski at 6.2 percent, Marshall at 8.1 percent, Fulton at 7.8 percent, St. Joseph with a rate of 8.9 percent, and Porter at 7.3 percent.

Every county in the state had a lower rate than that of March, and the US rate was 8.2 percent while Indiana’s rate was 7.9 percent.

DuBois County at 5.4 percent and Hamilton at 5.5 percent were the lowest in the state.