Jennifer Wallace Arrested on Theft Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Jennifer A. Wallace

Jennifer A. Wallace was recently arrested by police from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department on charges of Theft.

According to court documents, an investigation showed that Wallace allegedly stole tanning product inventory and cash from Ladybug Laundry and Tan in Winamac. She allegedly took cash from the moneychanger. She was an employee at the time of her arrest.

Pulaski County Prosecutor Stacey Mrak and the State of Indiana has filed two counts of Theft as a Class D Felony against Wallace. She has since bonded out of the Pulaski County Jail.

SCILL Center Students to Conduct Winter Car Checks

Posted on Author WKVI
SCILL Center

The SCILL Center is offering free winter car checks in exchange for a donation to the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry.

On Monday, November 21st, from 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. CT, the SCILL Center students will conduct a pre-winter inspection of your car or truck. Your car’s anti-freeze will be checked, along with the battery, belts, windshield wipers, lights, and tires. For every car that comes in, First Farmers Bank and Trust will make a cash donation to the food pantry. Your donation of a food item will ensure a check of your car by the students. You will also receive discount coupons from area auto supply stores for any replacement parts needed.

Retired Cell Phones Still Activate 9-1-1 Calls

Posted on Author WKVI

Dispatchers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department want to remind you that even if you retire a cell phone and cancel service, often times that phone can still call out to 9-1-1 centers.

Some parents give their retired cell phone to children to play with but if that phone still has a functioning battery and that child “pretends” to call 9-1-1, chances are that phone call will ring into the Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff’s Department often receives these types of 9-1-1 calls and dispatchers can hear children and other people talking on the other end of the phone, but the caller is often not aware that they have actually dialed an emergency center. Dispatchers can not call the person back to determine if there is a real emergency because the phone has been disconnected from service and the number is not registered.

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Starke County Historical Society’s Annual Meeting Scheduled for Thursday

Posted on Author WKVI
Susan Ruth Brown

The Starke County Historical Society’s annual meeting is this Thursday, November 17th at the Knox High School Cafeteria.

The carry-in meal begins at 6:00 p.m. You bring a covered dish, and the Historical Society will furnish the meat, beverage, cups, silverware and plates. A short business meeting will be held at 6:50 p.m. with the election of officers and various reports.

The entertainment for the evening will be from Susan Ruth Brown. Susan will bring back many songs from the era of the Civil War. As multi-instrumentalist and songstress, Susan often performs on fretted dulcimer, guitar, zither, autoharp, piano, penny whistle, recorder and various rhythm instruments. She is known for expressive vocals; from Celtic tunes to hard-hitting country songs.

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Veteran’s Day Service Held at Knox Schools

Posted on Author WKVI
Harvey Hatfield, Dan Siakowski and Tim Shepherd, members of the Knox VFW Post #748 participated in the presentation of the colors at the Veteran's Day programs

Veteran’s Day programs were held in communities and schools throughout the Kankakee Valley area today. At Knox, Travis Flora, a United States Marine veteran spoke to the assembled students at the high school and middle school using the theme, “Freedom Isn’t Free.” Following the presentation, Flora told what Veteran’s Day means to him.

“Veteran’s Day is a time where we pause and reflect and thank those millions of people who have come before us and those millions of people who are currently serving and defending our way of life,” said Flora. “I would like those students to realize that within every veteran there’s a story and that they should ask those veterans their story. They may not hear what they want to hear but in the end, if they listen, they’ll have a better understanding of what a veteran is. When you see that sign outside of the VFW that reads ‘Freedom is not Free’, they should realize that our freedom has been bought and paid for by people who have signed their name on the dotted line and sacrificed.”

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Insurance for Starke County Employees to go up Next Year

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

Miguel Salazar, from First Source Insurance, appeared before the Starke County Commissioners this week to bring them up-to-date on health insurance costs for 2012. Even though premiums are going up, Salazar pointed out how employees can reduce their co-pay by accumulating wellness points.

Salazar pointed out the importance for the employees maximizing their total points to reduce their premium.

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Knox City Council Votes Against a Raise for Council Members

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council #2
Back Row: Mayor Rick Chambers, Ed Blue, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, Greg Matt and Attorney David Matsey. Front Row: Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg and Ron Parker

In a surprise move, the Knox City Council voted against giving themselves a raise in 2012. Councilwoman Linda Berndt said, “We’re not in this for the money, and I think we have to draw the line somewhere!”

Berndt went on to say that the hours devoted to the job and the sleepless nights she agonized over votes would never be enough if salary was the sole consideration. The council members make $3,500.00 a year for serving on the board. The raise would have added $70.00 a year to their salary.

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IACT Representative Addresses Knox City Council

Posted on Author WKVI
This is the one of locations downtown that needs to be addressed in the downtown plan. This is at the corner of Lake and Main Streets

What’s ahead for downtown Knox? That was the question Candice Bernier, representing both the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, and Indiana Downtown, attempted to answer at the Knox City Council meeting Wednesday night.

Bernier told the building owners, city officials, and other interested persons who attended the meeting that a five year game plan is needed to correct the deficiencies in the downtown.

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Congressman Joe Donnelly Talks about his Focus on Veterans on this Veteran’s Day

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

Congressman Joe Donnelly works with Veterans Affairs and on this Veteran’s Day, he tells us what his focus is for our Veterans.

“My focus has been on trying to make sure in the District that we’ve been having sufficient Veteran oriented activities throughout the week,” said Donnelly. “When you look at it, our Veterans are the ones who gave us our freedom, who gave us our country and we’re extraordinarily indebted to them.”

Students Honored for Spotlight on Success Achievement Surprised by Guest at Knox School Board Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI
Tim Watts

The Knox Community School Board had a special Spotlight on Success agenda item this week. The students in Mrs. Kleinfehn’s high school class have been corresponding with Tim Watts, a 2004 graduate of Knox High School, and a member of the National Guard. He has a special email account so the students can email him and those letters are monitored by Mrs. Kleinfehn.

The students appeared before the School Board Monday night for the Spotlight on Success presentation and Superintendent A.J. Gappa said they got a surprise.

“It just so happens, Tim was home on leave this week so he was able to show up in person at the board meeting and the kids didn’t know he was coming,” said Gappa. “The Board thought that it was really special for a graduate of Knox High School to come back and take the time, especially when he’s got limited time left before he goes overseas, to talk to these kids and show some samples of emails they’ve already sent.”

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Parade to Honor Veterans Scheduled for Today

Posted on Author WKVI

A parade to honor armed forces veterans has been organized for Knox today. Terry Turner, one of the organizers tells us about it.

“They’re going to line up at 12:45 p.m. and there are a few more entries this year,” said Turner. “Hensler’s is coming with an antique car for Trees for Troops. We are going to honor the three men that died in Iraq Sergeant Joseph Ford, Corporal Nathaniel Baughman and Specialist Michael Weissman.”

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Henry F. Schricker Award Nominations Accepted until December 15th

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the Henry F. Schricker Award.

You may nominate individuals who have displayed Henry Schricker’s attitude of “service before self”. Submit a resume of the applicant, along with a cover letter, that outlines the qualities and deeds of the candidate which includes significant voluntary contributions and benefits to Starke County.

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IU Health Starke Hospital Contract Could Endanger County Ambulance Service

Posted on Author WKVI

IU Health Starke Hospital officials met yesterday with county officials to discuss a potential problem that could scuttle plans for upgraded EMS services in the county.

The potential problem is the hospital’s plan to contract with an outside ambulance service to provide transfers from here to other medical facilities for advanced care. As hospital CEO Linda Satkoski said, “We many times need ALS-equipped vehicles with paramedics to make those runs.” The problem is that any private company wants all transfers, advanced and basic.

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Pulaski County Commissioners to Collect on Invalid Homestead Deductions

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

The Pulaski County commissioners were told this week that they could possibly collect approximately $750,000 from invalid homestead deductions in the county. Dave Wishlinski from SRI told the commissioners that they’ve identified nearly 900 properties in the area that could be receiving a hefty tax deduction that they might not qualify for.

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Starke Circuit Court Judge Denies Plea Agreement for Rose Martin

Posted on Author WKVI
Rose Martin

Rose Martin, 47, of Medaryville made her appearance in Starke Circuit Court this week for charges of Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors.

There was some controversy in the courtroom when Martin told Judge Kim Hall that she submitted to a pre-sentence investigation over the phone and by mail rather than coming into the office, but there was no record of it being completed. Also, Martin said she had been accepted into the Community Corrections home detention program with electronic monitoring in LaPorte, but her case information indicated that she failed to make arrangements with Community Corrections.

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Dick Wagner Retires from Knox Community School Corporation after Teaching 40 Years

Posted on Author WKVI
Dick Wagner and this year's business class

The Knox Community School Board members accepted the retirement of a high school teacher at their meeting this week.

“Dick Wagner had submitted a letter of retirement. He had some personal issues that developed so he felt that it was in his best interest at this time to retire. Mr. Wagner was a business teacher at Knox. Over the years, he’s done other extra-curricular activities. I believe he, at some point, did the Yearbook at the High School, he’s also been a tennis coach, and he was involved with the Knox Federation of Teachers where he has been the past President, a position he held for the last number of years until this past May. He got in forty-and-a-half years. We want to thank him for all he’s done for the Corporation and the time he’s put in,” commented Superintendent, A.J. Gappa.

Photo provided.

Donations Needed for Pulaski County Toy Store; Food Pantry

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County Toy Store will be held December 10th from 9:00 a.m. to Noon ET.

Donations of toys, winter gear, food and other items are being accepted now for the Toy Store to help those in need this holiday season. Those donations can be taken to Pulaski County Human Services up until the event on December 10th. Those in need have registered and qualified at Pulaski Human Services and they will be able to “shop” for items for their children for the Christmas season.

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News from Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

After pleading guilty in September to Intimidation as a Class D felony, Carl Balaszek received his sentence before Judge Kim Hall in the Starke Circuit Court. Balaszek admitted to threatening the parents of his ex-girlfriend during what he describes as a “bad breakup” that has put his future in jeopardy. The victim submitted a letter to be read aloud in court, in which he stated that he was placed in fear of his life by Balaszek and was glad to see justice being served.

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Starke County Safety Traffic Partnership to Conduct Traffic Blitz

Posted on Author WKVI
police badge

The Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership will be conducting a Safe Family Travel patrol beginning this Friday and it will continue through November 27th.

This blitz is a grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and will focus on impaired drivers and seat belt enforcement. This grant will allow additional officers to enforce these laws and they will not be giving out warnings. They will be issuing tickets to those who are in violation of these laws.

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