Volunteers Needed to Coordinate Salvation Army Holiday Donation Effort in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI

The Salvation Army is looking for someone to help coordinate the Christmas donation effort in Starke County. Salvation Army Major, Gerald Smelser, encourages anyone who can, to volunteer:

“We need to get someone to coordinate and call the different groups and organizations and set that up for the bell ringing time and hopefully we can find someone who would be interested in helping us,” said Major Smelser. “It’s basically about six weeks. A couple of weeks will be needed to line it up and then having the bell ringing. Volunteers only ring here on Fridays and Saturdays.”

Continue reading →

Two Arrested in Pulaski County on Drug Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Paul Hudson
Kaley Deford

Two people were arrested in Pulaski County on drug charges after a short investigation on Thursday, October 20th.

Police were traveling on 60 West off of State Road 14 when police reportedly observed a vehicle traveling off the roadway, according to the police report. Police turned around to investigate and when they caught up to the vehicle the driver had stopped and pulled off to the side of the roadway. The passenger, Paul Hudson, of Logansport, was on his knees reportedly looking for an earring. Police were given permission to search the vehicle by the driver, Kaley Deford, of Kewanna, and police allegedly found marijuana, and prescription medication without a prescription in the vehicle. Kaley Deford allegedly admitted to police that a pipe found in a hat was hers as well as the pills. Hudson reportedly admitted that the marijuana found in the vehicle was his.

Continue reading →

Knox Community School Board Reviews PL221 Plans

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board reviewed the Public Law 221 plans that were submitted by all of the building principals.

“Public Law 221 is the basic education law that governs schools in improvement and professional development,” said Superintendent A.J. Gappa. “Schools need to have three year plans to designate what their goals are for those three years and how they plan to implement their improvement strategies.”

Bella Vita Pregnancy Resource Center Receives Operation Roundup Grant Money

Posted on Author WKVI
(L to R) Rhonda Adcock, Dave Bullock, Judy Davis, Tona Miller, Dianna Uphaus, Michelle Barnhart, Susanne Lange and Amanda Steeb

The Kankakee Valley REMC presented an Operation Roundup grant check to Bella Vita Pregnancy Resource Center in Knox yesterday for $3,500.00. Amanda Steeb of Kankakee Valley REMC was on hand to give the check to Susanne Lange, the center’s Executive Director.

“We’re really excited about what they’re going to be able to use the money for and that is baby items to assist individuals as they visit this organization,” said Amanda Steeb.

Continue reading →

Pulaski County United Fund Announces Participation in Matching Grant Opportunity

Posted on Author WKVI

Pulaski County United Fund, Inc. is pleased to announce participation in an Indiana Association of United Ways/Funds matching grant opportunity.

“Indiana United Ways/Funds have had a tough fund raising environment since 2008 and we wanted to provide an incentive program to attract new giving,” according to Roger L. Frick laUW President.

Support from Lilly Endowment created this opportunity for United Way and Funds in Indiana to rebuild and recover and find new donors. Donors who have decreased giving or had a temporary halt in giving can help their community claim the match by resuming support. New donors to the campaign will also qualify United Fund for the match. The grant will provide Pulaski County United Fund, Inc. with up to $3,122 in funding by matching any increase or new donation made towards this year’s Fall Campaign 2012. Grant funds received will be used to provide utility deposits for those seeking assistance through the Energy Assistance Program.

Continue reading →

Starke County Councilwoman Defends Treasurer in Audit

Posted on Author WKVI
Linda Belork

Starke County Councilwoman, Judy Benninghoff, still believes that the errors reported in the Treasurer’s office by the State Board of Accounts are actually errors in the Auditor’s office. In a release to WKVI, Benninghoff said that is backed up by an official in the State Board of Accounts.

“I called the State Board of Accounts and I spoke to Debbie Gibson, and she told me that the paragraph that was inserted in the Treasurer’s audit had nothing to do with the Treasurer,” said Benninghoff. “That pertained only to the Auditor. So, where it says that ‘beginning in March 2010 and continuing through 2011, there was a failure to post the entries pertaining to the remittance of various payroll withholdings’, that was true. That withholding fund is with the Auditor’s office, not in the Treasurer’s office.”

Continue reading →

Parents Give Input on Aging Palmer Wing at the Knox Elementary School

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Community Elementary School recently held parent/teacher conferences and during that time, parents were asked to go through the Palmer Wing.

“The administrators from the Elementary School invited members and parents in to look at Palmer Wing at the Elementary School just to show some of the needs that might be necessary,” said Superintendent A.J. Gappa. “Our maintenance people do a great job of maintaining things, but that building is nearing 60 years old so some things are going to need to be taken care of. Six or seven parents each night did take advantage and looked at the Palmer Wing and pretty much the comments were unanimous. There is going to have to be something done sometime in the near future.”

Continue reading →

Ladies Car Care Clinic Begins Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI
SCILL Center

A Ladies Car Care Clinic begins tonight at the SCILL Center in Knox.

“Rod Dawson and Mark Anderson had initiated that a number of years ago and we’re expanding it just a tad bit this year,” said SCILL Center Director Jerry Gurrado. “We’re going to be holding it evenings on October 25th and then a follow-up on November 8th, both from 6:00-8:00 p.m. There’s only a $5.00 donation for that.”

Continue reading →

Special Events Planned after Trick-or-Treat on Halloween

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson Town Board approved a request by the Cross-Town Collision band to host a concert and get-together at the North Judson Community Building after Trick-or-Treat.

The band will provide music to the kids and several door prizes will be awarded throughout the evening. Trick-or-Treat in North Judson is on Monday, October 31st from 5:00-6:30 p.m. CT.

In Knox, the Friends of the park will sponsor costume judging and refreshments at the Knox Community Center after Trick-or-Treat on Monday, October 31st. Trick-or-Treat in Knox is from 5:30-7:00 p.m. CT on Monday.

Continue reading →

Hunters are Gearing up for Hunting Season

Posted on Author WKVI
deer

We’re nearing the end of October and according to Conservation Officer, Keith Wildeman, that means hunters are gearing up for hunting season.

“Right now in mid-October, we’re already in to the deer archery season and it runs through November 27th,” said Wildeman. “Our fall gun season will start November 12th and run until November 27th and then muzzleloader season will pick up December 3rd through the 18th.”

Continue reading →

Shelby Thomas Appears for Initial Hearing in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Shelby Thomas

Shelby Thomas appeared in Starke Circuit Court on Friday where he plead not guilty to three counts of Attempted Murder, four counts of Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon and three counts of Resisting Law Enforcement with a Deadly Weapon.

Thomas, of North Judson, was arrested on Sunday, October 16th after he allegedly threatened to kill a Knox man in the 1400 block of west 400 S. in Knox as he held a knife up against his throat. The man got away and Thomas was later questioned about the incident. When officers from the Knox City Police Department and the Starke County Sheriff’s Department asked Thomas to place his hands behind his back, his demeanor reportedly turned to anger. He then reached behind his back to remove a knife from his pants line and threatened the lives of two of the officers trying to place him into custody. The blade on the knife was 10 to 12 inches in length and Thomas reportedly began swinging the knife at the three officers and telling them, “I’m not going back to prison. You’ll have to kill me first.” Thomas was then tasered and officers were able to free the knife from Thomas’ hands. Thomas was tasered twice before he released the knife that he reportedly swung at the officers.

Continue reading →

North Judson Town Board Approves Expenditure for Railroad Crossing Improvement

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board

The North Judson Town Board approved the expenditure of an additional $2,900 for repairs done to the Main Street railroad crossing. The Board approved the work to be done for $4,875 but the an error was made in the coverage area. Town and Country Paving found that more work needed to be done at that location and the Board agreed to pay the extra money for the repairs.

Continue reading →

Nathan VanDerAa Pleads in Federal Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Nathan VanDerAa

33-year-old Nathan VanDerAa, of Star City, plead guilty before a Federal Magistrate Judge on Thursday, October 20th.

VanDerAa plead guilty to the felony offense of being an Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm. Sentencing is set for January 27th, 2012. A charge of Manufacture of a Controlled Substance was dropped as part of his plea agreement.

Continue reading →

Knox Redskin Brigade’s Season Comes to a Close

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Redskin Brigade ended its season Saturday after placing 11th in the Semi-State Marching band competition at Decatur High School in Indianapolis. The top 10 bands went on to the State Finals.

Director Craige Phipps said it was tough, but the students did a great job and got a standing ovation for their performance.

Red Hat Society’s Bling my Bra Campaign Raises Money for Breast Cancer Research

Posted on Author WKVI
These are just a few of the bras decorated for the Bling my Bra campaign

The 2011 Bling my Bra promotion is nearing an end in Starke County. The Red Hat organization in Starke County has spearheaded a promotion where women bling their bras for auction. The bras were on display Sunday at the Washington Township Community Building Open House. Kathy Cooper talks about the promotion for breast cancer research.

Continue reading →