Starke County Council To Resume Hospital Consultant Discussion

Posted on Author WKVI
David Pearman

Starke County Council members will resume discussion tonight concerning an amendment to an ordinance that, if approved, would allow the county to use up to $50,000 in Save the Hospital Funds to hire a consultant to evaluate the hospital’s real and personal property.

The Council had discussed the proposed amendment during a special meeting on May 14, but it was voted down. Council President Dave Pearman said the motion needed a five-member approval, but only gained four “yes” votes.

“The thing that I really want to reiterate about this is this is not necessarily saying that we are going to spend even one dollar to start with, but we need some enabling legislation to allow us to seek a consultant for this project to make sure that we make the wise decision for the public’s best interest,” said Pearman.

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Residential Entry Charge Filed Against Knox Man

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man was arrested on Wednesday, May 16th, after police received a residential entry call.

Patrick Dunn reportedly entered a home on 200 North, walked into the master bedroom of the residence and tapped a woman on the shoulder demanding that she return a cell phone. The woman woke her husband and the pair ordered Dunn out of their home.  He then left on foot.

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Starke County Jail Committee Learns From Jail Facilities

Posted on Author WKVI

Members of the Starke County Jail Committee toured a number of jail facilities throughout the state last week. Starke County Council President and Jail Committee member Dave Pearman was just one of the members who went to the Jasper County Jail, and he explained why the members went to that jail.

“One of the key reasons why we were taken to Jasper County Jail is their community, at the time of their jail planning, was about the size of ours. We have about 23,000 in our community and they have about 35,000 today. They have a 120-bed facility, it’s state of the art and it very much fits what we think our model possibly could be if we actually do decide to build a new facility,” said Pearman.

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Memorial Day Services To Be Held Sunday and Monday

Posted on Author WKVI

Memorial Day Services will be held Sunday and Monday in North Judson, San Pierre, and La Crosse. The services will be conducted by the Harry Keller Post #92 American Legion, Harry Keller Unit #92 American Legion Auxiliary, and Sons of American Legion Squad #92. The services will begin Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at Round Lake.

On Monday, May 28, services will begin with an 8:45 a.m. parade, followed by services at Pioneer Cemetery at 9 a.m. and the San Pierre Cemetery at 10 a.m. A wreath will be deposited in the river on State Road 421 at 11 a.m., and services will be held at Velmar Memorial Park in La Crosse at 11:15 a.m.

Taking part in the services will be the North Judson-San Pierre Band.

Judge Kim Hall Rejects Two Plea Agreements

Posted on Author WKVI
Jacob Hanselman

Two plea agreements were rejected in the Starke Circuit Court on Thursday.

A plea agreement was rejected for Jacob Hanselman, who would have pleaded guilty to Trafficking with an Inmate as a Class C felony and two counts of Theft as Class D felonies. The court would have sentenced Hanselman to two years in the Department of Corrections, and he would have been required to pay restitution for damages and items that were stolen and not returned.

Judge Kim Hall rejected the agreement and a jury trial will take place on August 1 at 9 a.m. A pretrial motions and instructions hearing is set for July 31 at 1 p.m., with a jury status hearing on July 20 at 9 a.m. Hanselman has until July 19 to file an acceptable plea agreement.

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Indiana State Police to Conduct Sobriety Checkpoint

Posted on Author WKVI

The Lowell District of the Indiana State Police has announced plans to conduct a sobriety checkpoint during the late evening hours in Jasper County on Wednesday, May 23. Drivers who encounter the checkpoint will be required to produce a valid license and registration, and if all information is correct and officers find no reason for detainment, they will be released. Motorists that are not impaired can expect short delays of two to three minutes while passing through the checkpoint.

Troopers encourage all motorists to call 911 or the closest Indiana State Police Post when they observe a driver that they feel maybe be impaired. Be prepared to give a description of the vehicle, location, and direction of travel.

The Indiana State Police is committed to traffic safety and they have announced they will continue saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints in an effort to apprehend impaired drivers and deter others from drinking and driving.

Student Insurance Rates Increase For West Central Schools

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board looked to the future at their meeting this week as they approved the student insurance renewal for the next school year. Superintendent Charles Mellon explained that the cost did increase, but the price is still worth it.

“That has gone up fifteen percent, but I think that’s probably the trend for insurance,” said Mellon. “The good thing is that parents can still have their child covered while at school for $16.00 which is still very worthwhile.”

Thousands Of IU Health Employees Build Framing For Homes

Posted on Author WKVI

Thousands of Indiana University Health employees helped build the framing for more than 20 homes yesterday. IU Health Starke County employees were building framing for Henryville while IU Health La Porte built framing for a home in Kingsford Heights.

The employees were assisted by volunteers and local Habitat for Humanity members. The work was done during the hospital’s Day of Service commitment.

Habitat for Humanity officials say this one day of work goes a long way toward improving the lives of more than two dozen Hoosier families in need of their own space.

IU Health was named among the “Best Hospitals in America” by U.S. News and World Report. The hospital system has received the award for 14 straight years.

NIPSCO Adds New Customer/Crew Tools In Preparation For Storm Season

Posted on Author WKVI

NIPSCO has announced plans to release new technologies in preparation for storm season. Nationwide, weather-related problems are the top cause of power outages, and the company plans to improve customer communication and field crew response time in hopes in increasing their response time to outages.

NIPSCO will utilize two new channels to enhance existing communications activities around power outages: mobile web and social media. Electric customers can quickly inform the company of outages and view the latest restoration updates with the added power outage tracking and reporting feature, and the company has also added a Twitter page which will be used to communicate major electric outage information.

They have also announced that NIPSCO crews will be put on alert when a major storm is in the forecast, and their new automated callout and scheduling tool will allow them to get Operations Teams working as quickly as possible to mobilize crews and equipment to restore power.

Max Frain Passes Away At Age Of 84

Posted on Author WKVI
Max Frain

A former President of the Indiana Funeral Director’s Association has passed away at the Pulaski Health Care Center in Winamac. Max Frain, 84, was the president of the association in 1978. His sons, Dan and Sam Frain, followed their dad as president, making them the first family to produce three presidents of the association.

Frain and his wife Jean purchased the Fry and Lange Funeral Home in 1969 and, in 1976, changed the name to Frain Mortuary.

During his lifetime, he was also a 12-year member of the Winamac Schools and Eastern Pulaski School Corporations. He was Pulaski County Coroner for several years and a proud member of the Republican political party.

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Weekend Events Planned In Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI

A new Mint Festival Queen will be crowned Sunday evening at 6 p.m. at the North Judson-San Pierre Cafetorium.

Kersting’s Cycle Center Train Adventure Ride will take place at noon today, with the group ride leaving the center followed by a one-hour scenic country motorcycle ride, followed by lunch and a 45-minute train ride. The cost is $15 per rider, and that includes the motorcycle ride, lunch, and the train ride.

There will also be a Relay for Life of Starke County Fishing Tournament from 6 a.m. until 12 p.m. CT at Bass Lake. There is an entry fee and prizes will be awarded. All proceeds will go to the Starke County Relay for Life on June 8 and 9.

City of Knox Could Face Increased Garbage Fees

Posted on Author WKVI

A lack of recycling could force the city of Knox to increase garbage fees. According to Knox Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, the recycling rate was down five percent last year.

This decrease in recycling efforts could impact garbage fees because the less that residents recycle, more garbage is collected. The garbage pick-up days are Monday and Thursday, and Houston said there is usually a full truck on both days. If it gets to the point that a second truck has to be sent out to finish a route, that would lead to increased fees.

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Hamlet Police Department Gets A Humvee

Posted on Author WKVI

The Hamlet Police Department has received a unique addition to its fleet of police vehicles.

A Humvee from the U.S. Government was recently acquired, free of charge, by the department and Hamlet Town Marshall, Frank Lonigro III, says the vehicle will be used for community events and to better serve the community in the winter months when regular police vehicles can not maneuver as well in the snow. Labor, paint and decals for this vehicle were donated by the generosity of the Hamlet police officers.

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Cleanup Weekend Scheduled For City of Knox

Posted on Author WKVI

It’s the big cleanup weekend in the City of Knox.

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers announced this week that two dumpsters will be in the parking lot at Knox City Hall and you may dispose of large, bulky items in these dumpsters and Waste Management will have a truck to collect electronics at no charge. Shred documents for free tomorrow from 9:00 a.m. To Noon.

Two yard sale events are scheduled for this weekend in the Starke County area. The Hamlet town-wide yard sale is today and tomorrow. Sales begin at 8:00 a.m. both days.

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Parts Of Bass Lake To Be Treated With Herbicide

Posted on Author WKVI

Selected areas of Bass Lake will be treated with an EPA-registered aquatic herbicide on or after May 21. The herbicide is being applied for the control of Invasive Eurasian Water Milfoil.

The treatment is being funded by the Bass Lake Conservancy District under an IDNR permit, and according to a news release, there are no restrictions on fish consumption or body contact.

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Spc. Robert Tauteris To Be Honored On Courthouse War Monument

Posted on Author WKVI
A stone mason adds Tauteris' name to the War Memorial

The first Starke County casualty of the war in Afghanistan will have his name enshrined on the courthouse war monument. A stone mason was working on the Afghanistan portion of the granite monument yesterday.

Specialist Robert Tauteris, Jr., 44, of Hamlet died in Afghanistan on January 5 after his truck was struck by a roadside bomb.

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Rosie Heise Promoted to VP Of Business Improvements at IU Health Starke, LaPorte

Posted on Author WKVI
Rosie Heise

“If it wasn’t that I had strep throat, I never would have gotten the job,” said Rosie Heise, who was recently promoted to the position of Vice President of Business Improvements for both IU Health La Porte and Starke hospitals.

In an interview with WKVI News, Heise said that while visiting her local physician, Dr. Walter Fritz, for strep throat four years ago, she learned that Starke Memorial Hospital was looking for a controller. She applied, was hired, and the rest is history.

Since being employed, Starke Memorial has become IU Health Starke Hospital, and Heise has been an integral part of the operation.

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Eastern Pulaski Schools Approve Several Retirements

Posted on Author WKVI
Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman

The Eastern Pulaski School Board members approved several retirements during their meeting this week. Elementary teacher, Brenda Roberts, will be retiring at the end of the school year after 37 years in the education field and Middle School Secretary, Dorothy Malchow, is retiring after 27 years at the corporation. Superintendent Dr. Klitzman also announced the retirement of the Middle School Principal.

“Mr. Stan Good, after 25 years in education – all at Eastern Pulaski Schools – and as our Middle School Principal for 18 years, is retiring,” said Klitzman. “He is going to stay in the education arena, but in a private sector helping different areas through a corporation that seems to find its niche on those students that are not functioning as well as they should in the traditional setting of a school. It’s more of an alternative selection.”

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NJSP Graduation To Take Place In June

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson-San Pierre High School graduation will be in June this year and Superintendent Lynn Johnson said it will come down to the wire as to who will be named the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the graduating class of 2012.

“It’s not been made official yet as far as those winners,” said Johnson. “Our graduation is Sunday, June 3 at 2 p.m. CT in the high school gymnasium and that is a change. We had it on a Friday night but we had some conflicts with some schedules with students, so we did move it to that Sunday.”