IU Health LaPorte Hospital Birthing Suites Open

Posted on Author WKVI
The baby is placed in this unit and doesn't leave the mother's room after its born.

It’s official. The new IU Health LaPorte Hospital’s Birthing Suites are open for patients as of March 31st. IU Health LaPorte Physicians offer local maternal care to Starke County area women. OB/GYN physicians Lyjia Strachan, MD, and John Taylor, MD, offer routine office appointments in Knox. They work in conjunction with IU Health Starke Hospital to ensure expectant mothers receive their laboratory and diagnostic imaging needs close to home. Patients of Strachan and Taylor may conveniently deliver their babies at IU Health LaPorte Hospital Family Birthing Suites. Continue reading →

Knox-Center Township Fire Department Responds to Call at St. Thomas Acquinas School

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox fire crews were called to a fire at the St. Thomas Acquinas school

The Knox-Center Township Fire Department responded to a call at the St. Thomas Acquinas School Tuesday morning.

“One the ballasts in the fluorescent lights went bad in one of the classrooms,” explained Fire Chief, Kenny Pfost.

The school houses the Head Start program and the students were removed.

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Lisa Owens Appears on ‘Breaking Down the Bars’ Program; Starke County Prosecutor Details Her Early Release

Posted on Author WKVI
Lisa Owens

America got it’s first extensive look at Lisa Owens last night on the OWN Network show, “Breaking Down the Bars.” Owens, who is serving a Voluntary Manslaughter sentence at the Rockville Correctional Facility, is due to be released in May under a sentence modification.

Owens was convicted of killing her husband Jeff in their Knox home in 2001. She was sentenced to 40 years.

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Representative Dembowski Talks about Return to the Statehouse after Standoff

Posted on Author WKVI
State Representative Nancy Dembowski

The Indiana Democrats are back in their seats this week after a walkout that began on February 21st. Both sides are claiming victory in the standoff. Republicans said the Democrats returned after hearing from Hoosiers that they were unhappy with their walkout.  Democrats said the Republicans were forced to make changes to bills because the public hadn’t understood Governor Daniels’ radical agenda until the slowdown.

17th District State Representative Nancy Dembowski was asked if she was happy the standoff was over.

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Jessica Jachim is the Recipient of This Year’s Lilly Endowment Scholarship

Posted on Author WKVI
Jessica Jachim

A North Judson-San Pierre High School student has been named the recipient of a full four year scholarship as the Starke County Community Foundation 2011 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. Jessica Jachim will receive full tuition to the Indiana college of her choice and an $800 yearly stipend for required books and equipment. Jessica is the daughter of Michael and Sherri Jachim and she plans to study English Literature or Journalism.

She is a member of the National Honor Society and is President of SADD. A representative of Hoosier Girls State, Jessica has shown her leadership skills in community and church fund raising activities and on the field as a four year member of the Blue Jay Girls Softball team.

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Knox High School Freshman Sponsors Service Project

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox High School Freshman, Taylor Kemble, is sponsoring another service project.

“I’m having my fourth annual rummage sale,” Taylor announced. “It will be at the Knox United Methodist Church and it will be this Saturday, April 2nd fro 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. All proceeds will be used to buy backpacks for school children in Knox, and Oregon-Davis and North Judson elementary schools. All items will be $.50 unless otherwise marked and I will also be taking donations this year and they will be accepted March 31st and April 1st at the Knox United Methodist Church from 3:30-5:30 p.m.”

Taylor is asking that items be taken to the Knox United Methodist Church from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.

“I will take any item,” she said. “I have a loft bed that I’m hopefully going to be able to sell. I will accept any items. I actually had an exercise bike donated one year.”

Taylor has sponsored projects that have had national recognition. She was honored by then-First Lady Laura Bush. For more information on Taylor’s annual service project, call 772-7746.

House Fire at Bass Lake Destroys One Home; Damages Another

Posted on Author WKVI

The Bass Lake Fire Department responded to a house fire on County Road 210 on Saturday night at about 10:10 p.m.

According to Bass Lake Fire Chief Les Jensen, a summer home, located south of Maple Drive, that was owned by Patrick Botica from Illinois was completely destroyed. A neighboring home owned by James Tolone also of Illinois was moderately damaged due to the fire. While no foul play is suspected, the incident remains under investigation.

The Knox Center Township Fire Department was called to assist at the scene. Continue reading →

IU Health Starke Hospital to Celebrate National Doctor’s Day Today

Posted on Author WKVI

Tomorrow is National Doctor’s Day, but the staff at IU Health Starke Hospital is getting a jump on the festivities by celebrating today.

“We take one day, in this case March 29th, to celebrate what the physicians do for us and our relationship and partnership is very important with the medical staff,” said CEO Linda Satkoski. “We may take one day to celebrate but obviously it’s all year long. We work together to build the future of health care here at Starke Hospital and the community.”

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Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Moving to Mishawaka School System

Posted on Author WKVI
Dr. Steve Disney

Sources in the South Bend media are reporting that Dr. Steve Disney will be the new Superintendent of the Mishawaka Community School System.

Dr. Disney has been the Superintendent at Oregon-Davis since 2007, replacing Bill Rentschler who resigned to move to Ft. Wayne.

Dr. Disney had been mentioned in the past for other Superintendent positions. He will reportedly be announced at tonight’s Mishawaka School Board meeting.

West Central School Corporation Looking at Deep Cuts in the 2012 Budget

Posted on Author WKVI
Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board members discussed the budget at their recent meeting.

“It’s just kind of frustrating when all we’re getting is estimates and we can’t really do a solid projection and yet we should be working on our 2012 budget at this time,” said Superintendent Charles Mellon. “When they talk about flatlining the budget, I think that flatline means that the State may be spending the same amount of money for the next three years in the K-12 education area, but that doesn’t mean that the schools are going to get the same. When I project ours, what we are getting cut this year, $322,000, it almost adds up to $1.3 million over a three year period.”

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February Unemployment Report Shows Little Change

Posted on Author WKVI
Indiana Workforce Development

Starke County is number 8 out of the 92 Indiana counties in high unemployment. The most recent figures cover the February figures.  Starke County was up .1% to 12.2 %. The state rate is 8.8%.

Pulaski County came in as the lowest surrounding county with an 8.3% for 74th place. Marshall is 10.5% for 31st place, LaPorte County is 11.2% for 22nd place, Fulton County is 10.3% for number 36, St. Joseph County is at 10.1% for number 42, and Porter County is at 8.5% for 71st place.

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Two Directors Appointed to Pulaski County United Fund Board

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County United Fund

Pulaski County United Fund, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of two community leaders to the Board of Directors. Becky Ballard of Francesville and Bonnie Reinhold of Winamac were appointed and they will serve as Directors on the 2011-2012 United Fund Board along with Marita Grisel, Karen Fritz, Daniel Murphy, Michael O’Connor, Kathie Scott, Brenda Walters, and Fr. Herbert Woolson.

The Pulaski County United Fund supports 10 local non-profit agencies serving the human service needs of Pulaski County. The 2011-2012 campaign, “Sharing with United Fund”, will be going strong in communities across Pulaski County. For more information about the Pulaski County United Fund, call (574) 946-7320.

Lisa Owens Story to Continue Tonight on Oprah Winfrey Network

Posted on Author WKVI
Lisa Owens

“Breaking Down the Bars” continues tonight on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Now in work release, Amanda gets busted for spending time with her new boyfriend, Tiffany buckles under the pressures of motherhood after coming home and Lisa Owens has a dramatic face-to-face meeting with her slain husband’s step mother. All of those elements will be featured during tonight’s program which will air at 8:00 p.m. CT/9:00 p.m. ET on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Two Knox Residents Arrested after Children Found at Home with No Adult Supervision

Posted on Author WKVI
Daniel Pastorcik

Two Knox residents were arrested Friday after police found that two children were left in their apartment with no adult supervision.

Tiffany Pastorcik

According to the Knox City Police report, a small five year old child was found by Roosevelt Road in Knox by a neighbor. She called police where she said she found the boy crying looking for his mother. The child led police to the apartment where he lives on Ruthie Drive. Police found the home to be a mess and another small child was in the residence with no adult supervision. Police called CPS and left the premises after they arrived. Police found Daniel Pastorcik, the children’s father, driving in his vehicle that began traveling at a high rate of speed. Police conducted a traffic stop and called in the K9 unit to assist. The K9 indicated on the presence of narcotics in the passenger seat.

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JW Hicks Presents Expansion Plans to Knox City Council

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

James Hicks, accompanied by his son Brian, Josh Deal and Starke County Economic Development Foundation Director, Charles Weaver, attended the Knox City Council meeting Tuesday night. Hicks, the owner of JW Hicks, Inc., which includes a plant in Knox, came before the Council to announce plans for a 110,000 square foot addition to the Knox facility. Continue reading →

North Judson Town Board News

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 the first reading of an ordinance that establishes bidder requirements when the Board seeks bids on a project. The ordinance sets guidelines and wording on companies bidding on projects. Normally the Board accepts the lowest bid for a project. This ordinance lets the Board accept the second lowest bid if the lowest bid does not meet bid specifications of the project and if the bidder is not a responsible bidder.

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Public Testing of Voting Machines Scheduled for Tuesday

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Election Board is gearing up for its first election with the consolidation of four precincts into one this spring.  Center one, two, three and four precincts will all vote in the Knox Community Center.

Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. CT, the public will be able to test the voting machines.  The testing will be done on the first floor of the Courthouse.

Following the testing, the Election Board will meet.  The Board will discuss the amendment of a resolution regarding the relocation of the precincts and the number of poll workers.