November Election to Offer Only Contested Races on Ballot

Posted on Author WKVI

The November General Election is now less than one month away. Voters will be selecting a Clerk-Treasurer, Town Council members and Mayors, in some cases in this Municipal Election.

For the City of Knox, only one race is contested and that is the City Council District One race with candidates Don Kring, a Democrat and Republican Thom Morin. That will be the only race that will appear on the ballot. This year’s legislature approved the printing of only contested races on this year’s ballot. Starke County Clerk, Evelyn Skronski, said that may cause some confusion for voters.

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Sewer Separation Project in North Judson on Schedule

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board: Dan Anderson, Wendy Hoppe, Jane Ellen Felchuk, Attorney Cassie Hine and Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller

The North Judson Town Board discussed the State Road 39 project and its progress last week.

The project is going smoothly and paving on State Road 39 should begin this week. Another half block has been added to this project as leftover funds allowed for the completion of additional work. This will take care of the sewer separation issue on that part of town. Only a small section of town needs to be done before all of the storm water and sewer drains are separated throughout the town.

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Starke County Health Nurse Schedules Flu Shot Clinics

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Health Nurse, Frank Lynch, has released information about upcoming flu shot clinics.

Adult flu shots will be given on Thursday, October 13th from 4:30-7:00 p.m. CT at the Health Department in the Starke County Courthouse. A children’s flu shot clinic will be held on Thursday, October 20th from 4:30-7:00 p.m. CT. Some nasal mists will be available for children.

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National Fire Prevention Week

Posted on Author WKVI

This week is National Fire Prevention week.

“Fire Prevention Week lasts all week through the 15th,” said Knox-Center Township Fire Chief, Kenny Pfost. “We try to educate not only children, but adults as well on fire prevention tips and techniques and how to be safer.”

“October is always a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Make sure that you have at least two exit plans. If you live in a two story house, you need to have some sort of escape devise if you should have a fire so you can escape the second floor. You should have something like a collapseable ladder. You need to have a meeting place outside to where everyone can meet up when they’re outside of the house.”

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North Judson Police Chief Hires New Officer

Posted on Author WKVI
Frank Thomas and North Judson Police Chief Doug Vessely

North Judson Police Chief, Doug Vessely, announced the hire of a new officer at the recent Town Board meeting where he was introduced to the Board members.

Officer Frank Thomas attended the 193rd class at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield and graduated on Friday, September 30th. The course is 600 hours and includes academics, emergency vehicle operations, physical tactics, vehicle S.T.O.P.S. crash investigation, criminal investigations, patrol techniques, report writing, and standardized field sobriety training. Vessely stated that Officer Thomas passed every aspect of the training including firearms training where he qualified as an “expert”. He finished training with a 93.3 academic average.

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WKVI Takes the Morning Show Outdoors

Posted on Author WKVI
Jayme Goetz, Nathan Welter, Anita Goodan, Tom Berg, and Ed Hasnerl enjoy taking part in the first "Fresh Air Friday"

WKVI morning man, Tom Berg, plus Anita Goodan, Nathan Welter and Ed Hasnerl greeted people driving by the radio station this morning as the morning show went outside for the day. The staff enjoyed a beautiful sunrise and continue to enjoy the traffic driving by the station. Stop by and enjoy donuts from Fingerhut Bakery (Anita is in a sharing mood today) and look at an electric car from the Cambe dealership in Knox. Thank you to Five Star and Schwan’s for food today!  A bouncy house is set up so you can take advantage of some stress release, thanks to Jumps “R” Us.  Thanks to Lenny Dessauer for helping to set up everything today! Continue reading →

Pulaski County Commissioners Deny Request for Occupancy at Pleasant View Rest Home

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

The “No Vacancy” sign at the Pleasant View Rest Home in Pulaski County is officially lit. With their capacity of 15 residents completely full, the county commissioners this week denied a request from an individual who wanted to stay at the home.

The state ombudsman asked if the county would be willing to take someone in with an income of only $700– a little under the $1148 the home normally charges. Previously, the ARCH program offered by the state would make up that difference, but that program has been frozen for two years, offering elderly people with low income fewer places to turn.

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North Judson Town Board Approves Paving Bid

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board: Dan Anderson, Wendy Hoppe, Jane Ellen Felchuk, Attorney Cassie Hine and Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller

The North Judson Town Board approved spending $50,000 on street paving this year.

The Board discussed, at length, what streets to pave at what cost. The Board settled on paving the intersection at Ufkes and Campbell Drive, West Sycamore Street, Sycamore from Luken Street to the Railroad Museum, 1,100 yards at Highland Cemetery, and the railroad crossing at Arlington Avenue.

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Hamlet Town Board Looks into Phase II of Wellhead Protection Program

Posted on Author WKVI
Hamlet Town Board: Curtis Simpkins, Kerry Stone and Bob Yung

During their meeting this week, the Hamlet Town Board discussed entering into Phase II of the Wellhead Protection Program.

The Wellhead Protection Program is a strategy to protect ground water drinking supplies from pollution. The State of Indiana mandates that all communities implement this program and identify the area around the well that needs to be protected. The program consists of two phases. The first phase was done in Hamlet in 2002. The Wellhead Protection Area was identified around City Hall, potential sources of contamination were also identified and then management and contingency plans were made. The Phase II report is due in May of 2012 which will involve reporting on the implementation of the plan created in Phase I and updating it.

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Knox Community School Board Approves Employment Changes

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 approved the hire of a new Middle School Guidance Counselor.

“The Board appointed Sonia Hensley to take over the Middle School Counselor position,” said Superintendent A.J. Gappa. “She’s a 1990 graduate of Knox High School and has previous Counselor experience at the Mooresville School Corporation. We look forward to bringing her on board. She will begin on October 17th.

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Columbus Day Prompts Office Closures

Posted on Author WKVI

Monday is Columbus Day and some bank branches will not be open and Post Offices will be closed in observance of the holiday. Knox City Hall will be closed on Monday.

License branches normally open on Monday will be closed on Monday, October 10th, and those branches will resume normal hours of operation on Wednesday, October 12th. Local customers needing to conduct business with the Knox, Demotte, or Monticello license branches can visit this website. Some transactions can also be completed by phone through the BMV Customer Service Center at 888-692-6841.

Starke County Mint Farmer Sentenced in U.S. District Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Mint Farmer, Mike Materna, was sentenced in U.S. District Court yesterday. The judge sentenced Materna to two years of probation, eight months in home detention and he was fined $20,000.

He avoided a 10-month jail sentence.

He plead guilty to one count of Discharge of Pollutants without a Permit in violation of the Clean Air Act. He reportedly admitted in court that he discharged hot water into a ditch without the proper permit.

Starke County Officials: Jailers or Road Officers?

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County officials are being faced with a philosophical dilemma. They are being asked to either reduce the sheriff’s road officers or keep the jail understaffed.

“I’m here to let you know that I’ll do whatever the Commissioners and Council ask me to do, but I do want them to understand is that in order for me to eliminate two road officers, I would have to lay them off,” said Sheriff Cowen. “I can’t just place them down in the jail and subtract their pay to jailer’s pay. I can put them in the jail, but I would have to pay them officer’s pay.”

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IU Health Starke Hospital to Give up Hospital Fund if Sale is Complete

Posted on Author WKVI
IU Health Starke Hospital

Starke County officials were approached about the sale of IU Health Starke Hospital to IU Health LaPorte Hospital this week.

One point that hospital spokesman, David Hiatt, pointed out to the commissioners and council members was that IU Health LaPorte Hospital, if successful in purchasing the local hospital, would have no interest in receiving the Save the Hospital Fund that has grown over the years to almost $5 million. The fund, that captures lease payments, was originally set up when Principal leased then-Starke Memorial.

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Starke County Commissioners Approve Dog Kennel Ordinance

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

After several months of discussion, and a rejection of at least one draft ordinance, the Starke County Commissioners passed the Dog Kennel Ordinance with a unanimous vote.

A simplified explanation of the ordinance is that it will regulate dog kennels in the county and provides the language for creating and operating a kennel.

The ordinance was written after much work by Plan Commission President Butch Richie, Director Bruce Williams and a committee of dog enthusiasts. Commissioner Kathy Norem, who with her background of breeding show dogs, was also helpful in comments made from her position as a Commissioner.

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Benefit Held for Phil Banasiak

Posted on Author WKVI
Banasiak receives a big kiss on the cheek from his friend David Lawandowski

“You never know how many friends you have until you really need them.” That was said by well known Starke County resident, Phil Banasiak, at a benefit.

Banasiak, who for many years fought fires as the Bass Lake Fire Chief, was hosted at the benefit at the Sandbar Saturday night. With almost 400 people in attendance, the popular figure was the center of attention, as many well wishers had fond memories that they shared with the honored guest.

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