Starke County Commissioners Decide Against Polling Location Consolidation

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Commissioners decided this week to not allow the number of polling places to be reduced from 17 to 10 in this year’s May Primary election. The Election Board members were told that the reduction would be too much of a change, and that the Commissioners would rather have it phased in during another election year. Commissioner Dan Bridegroom said they asked the Board to sit down with Democrat Chairman Ken Wallace and Republican Chairman Brenda Stanojevich and they opposed the proposal.

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West Central Middle School Principal Announces Retirement

Posted on Author WKVI
Kay Beasey

The West Central School Board approved the retirement of Middle School Principal, Kay Beasey at their meeting last week.

“She’s been with the corporation for 24 years I believe and she’s done an outstanding job,” said Superintendent Charles Mellon. “There were just some health issues that she is dealing with so she felt it best to take an early retirement.”

Knox Man Charged after Driving under the Influence

Posted on Author WKVI
John Lenig

A Knox man was arrested Sunday, January 29th after he reportedly hit a patch of ice and hit a tree while driving under the influence.

John Lenig told a Starke County Sheriff’s Department officer that he hit a patch of ice on Toto Road near State Road 23 and he hit a tree. After the vehicle hit the tree, it burst into flames. Josh Workman said that he drove upon the accident and saw that the car had hit the tree and was on fire. He saw Lenig out of the car and a female passenger, Amber Sheperd, still trapped in the car. Workman removed her from the wreckage and took her to IU Health Starke Hospital. She was later airlifted to a South Bend hospital for treatment of a broken neck and an internal injury.

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LaPorte Man Arrested on Warrant for Dealing Cocaine

Posted on Author WKVI
Anthony Flores

A LaPorte man was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for Dealing Cocaine, a Class A Felony.

26-year-old Anthony Flores, of 605 Fremont Street in LaPorte was taken into custody at his home without incident and is currently in the LaPorte County Jail. His initial hearing in LaPorte Circuit Court is scheduled for Friday, February 10th.

This arrest was the result of a four week investigation into the distribution of cocaine in the City of LaPorte as well as LaPorte County. Sheriff Michael Mollenhauer credits this arrest on a team effort between the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department and the LaPorte and Michigan City Police Departments. If you suspect drug activity in your neighborhood, call the Metro Operations Unit at (219) 325-9022.

North Judson Town Board Reviews Paperwork for Trash Bids

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson Town Board reviewed the paperwork that will be published concerning the trash bids. The Board will be accepting bids in the next couple of months.

The Board tabled a resolution from the U.S. Bicycle Route #35 organization. The resolution asks that the town maintain a route for bicycles that will be connected to the Erie Trail in North Judson. The resolution was tabled because the Board thought the proposed route was unclear. The project would not cost the Town of North Judson anything.

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Debbie Mix of Tourism Commission Issues Statement

Posted on Author WKVI

The Tourism Commission is dedicated to promote Starke County in the most positive manner and it is with great regret that there was a misappropriation of funds. Tourism has put new and formal procedures in place to prevent this from ever happening again.

In 2011, some checks were issued in which proper documentation was questioned by the Board of Tourism. Jennie Carter repeatedly told the board she had the supporting documentation and her explanation was believable.

Through a series of events more concern over the checks came into question. Confirming documentation from Indiana Department of Revenue was received in late December. At that time, fact finding meetings were scheduled with Jennie on three occasions, however she was unresponsive. A time line of events was established to verify misappropriation of funds.

On January 10, 2012 the full tourism board met and was informed of the chain of events implicating Jennie Carter in the misuse of funds. Later that same day the board drafted a letter of demand asking Jennie for the funds, confirming responsibility, and her immediate removal from the board. That letter was signed by Jennie and notarized that same day. Also on the 10th, a call was made to Martin Lucas the County’s Attorney to inform him and a January 13th meeting was scheduled.

On January 16th the Tourism Board met again and agreed the President would contact the Auditor’s office to schedule a meeting with the County Commissioners. On January 26th the Auditor’s office responded with a February 6th executive meeting with the County Commissioners.

It has never been the board’s intention to hide anything. It is unfortunate but it takes time to do a thorough investigation. No one was willing to make false accusations. Tourism took the appropriate steps to make sure the admission of guilt was made, a return of funds scheduled, and contacts made to take further action. The board is willing to release the time line and/or minutes to anyone who is interested.

The accusation that the Tourism Board knew ahead of time and took no action was unfounded and was a personal comment unsupported by facts. Tourism has worked methodically and with due diligence to be sure it acted responsibly.
Sincerely,
-Debbie
Deborah J. Mix
Starke County Chamber of Commerce/Tourism Commission
Executive Director/Coordinator
P.O. Box 5
Knox, IN 46534
574-772-5548 (p)
574-772-0867 (f)

North Judson Man Escapes Serious Harm after Head-on Collision; Michigan City Man Dies

Posted on Author WKVI

A North Judson man sustained minor injuries in an accident that claimed the life of a Michigan City man on Saturday.

Michael Kieszkowski, 45, of Michigan City, was reportedly highly intoxicated when he crossed into oncoming traffic on U.S. 421 near County Road 1000 South. Keith Belcher, 20, of North Judson told LaPorte County police that he was southbound on U.S. 421 when Kieszkowski began flashing his high-beam headlights as he approached in the opposing lane. Belcher said he did not have his high-bream headlights on and flashed his to signal that he was not using them. Kieszkowski then reportedly veered into Belcher’s lane and Belcher told police could not avoid a head-on collision.

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Financial Improprieties Found Involving Starke County Taxpayer Money

Posted on Author WKVI
Jennie Carter

The Starke County Commissioners emerged from an Executive Session yesterday to announce financial improprieties involving taxpayer money by Jennie Carter. Carter is the Coalition Coordinator for Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County.

According to County Attorney Martin Lucas, the commissioners came to the conclusion that Carter committed financial improprieties by transferring funds from the Convention and Visitors Board to the Tourism Board.

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United Consulting Foots the Bill for Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

A slight hiccup in the Monterey Bridge project has brought with it some extra cost—but not to Pulaski County. Jeff Larrison of United Consulting told the county commissioners this week that a small sliver of land along the riverbank slipped under their radar and must be acquired before the project to continue. However, because the parcel wasn’t appraised along with the other properties or included in the right-of-way engineering, an additional cost would be incurred.

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Two Arrested after Tearing up a Yard in Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI
Chelsey Adam
Robert Allen

Two North Judson residents were arrested Sunday after they were reportedly tearing up a resident’s yard on 750 North in Pulaski County.

An officer with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department responded to the residence. The owners reportedly had a run-in with Allen before and had buried 2X4 boards with nails sticking out of them in the front yard. Allen had allegedly showed up at the house, revved his engine and started doing donuts in the yard. The owners ran outside with a baseball bat and Allen exited his vehicle and they all exchanged words. Allen then reportedly got back into his truck and drove the truck toward the residents. They then called police.

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Recycling Center Receives $20,000 for Repairs

Posted on Author WKVI

The use of $20,000 for fuel, oil, and repairs was approved for the Recycling Transfer Station by the Pulaski County Commissioners this week. Ed Clark of the recycling center approached the commissioners requesting to use that amount from a grant they had received, because of the $28,000 the center had requested from the county council, they had only received $8,000—a steep cut.

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Winamac Man Arrested on an OVWI Charge

Posted on Author WKVI
David Reid

A Winamac man was arrested Saturday on drunk driving charges after he showed signs of driving under the influence.

An officer from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department saw a suspicious vehicle and followed it for a while. The vehicle then turned into a driveway on Adams Street in Winamac but no one exited the vehicle. The officer watched the vehicle and it left two minutes later. The driver then approached the intersection of State Road 119 and Boyles Street and failed to come to a complete stop at the intersection. The officer conducted a traffic stop and after interviewing the driver, asked him to step out of the vehicle and began to conduct tests to see if the driver was impaired.

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From the WKVI Archives

Posted on Author WKVI

It was on this date in 1928 that it was announced that Bass Lake would be the home of the largest and most beautiful Fish Hatchery in Indiana. The Indiana Department of Conservation purchased five acres of land surrounding the present hatchery. The hatchery would then cover ten acres of land.

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Two Arrested after Police Investigation

Posted on Author WKVI
Phillip Mullins
Angela McDougal

Two Knox residents were arrested this weekend as a result of a police investigation into a possible methamphetamine lab.

On Friday, February 3rd, officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Hamlet Police Department served an arrest warrant on Phillip Mullins in the 3000 block of 400 North in Knox, and found him, as well as a female and child, inside the residence. After Mullins was arrested, police also located an inactive methamphetamine lab, a hydrochloric acid generator, and several items associated with manufacturing methamphetamine, in addition to marijuana and other paraphernalia.

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More Races Develop in May Primary Election

Posted on Author WKVI

Another race has developed for the May Primary in Pulaski County.

Incumbent Republican County Commissioner, Michael Troy “Big Mike” Tiede will face Republican challenger, Larry L. Brady for the District 2 seat.

This is not the only Commissioner race on the ballot. Republican Incumbent Kenneth R. Boswell will have competition with Republican challenger, Terry L. Young in District 1.

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Marshall County to Host Weather Outreach Program

Posted on Author WKVI

Although January has only just come and gone, Indiana has already felt the impact of severe weather in 2012. Three tornadoes recently struck in southern Indiana, causing over $1 million in damages. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.

With severe weather already occurring this year, the National Weather Service in cooperation with the Marshall County EMA and the SKYWARN group will be hosting the annual Weather Outreach Program. Previously coined “Storm Spotter Training,” this program will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in room 203 of the Marshall County Building at 112 W. Jefferson St. in Plymouth.

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Lawmakers to Review Senate Bill that would end the Sale, Manufacturing of Synthetic Drugs

Posted on Author WKVI

Lawmakers are looking to end the manufacturing, distributing and use of synthetic drugs.

State Senator Jim Merritt has authored a proposal that would add more than 60 chemical compounds found in synthetic drugs like Spice and bath salts to the state’s list of illegal substances. He says his bill would also ban molecules similar in structure to those illegal compounds to prevent drug manfacturers from slightly changing ingredients and skirting laws in the future.

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