83 Year Old Shoots Masked Pulaski County Female Burglar In Head

Posted on Author WKVI

On 2-28-11 at approximately 2:00A.M. Carl Williams age 83 called
911. He reported that he had just shot someone in his home who had
just broken in. The Pulaski County Sherffi’s Office and Winamac
Police responded. It was determined later that a suspect had been
shot but was able to flee the scene in a car.

Pulaski County Detectives were called out to the scene also. It was
determined that force was used to enter the locked rear door.
Williams heard the suspects breaking in. He grabbed his handgun and
went to investigate. When he turned on the light he was confronted
by an intruder dressed in dark clothing wearing a ski mask. Continue reading →

Police Nab 21 In Drug Raid

Posted on Author WKVI

Early Monday morning dozens of officer’s from area police agencies in Marshall County worked in collaboration to roundup 21 individuals that were wanted on drug related arrest warrants. The Indiana State Police, in cooperation with the Plymouth Police Department, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and the Bremen Police Department, spent the better part of the early morning hours going door to door in search of the wanted individuals.

The arrest warrants stemmed from numerous drug investigations that were recently conducted by the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section and the Meth Suppression Unit. This proactive drug enforcement effort sends a clear message to the community that the scourge of drugs that has polluted many larger cities and has been migrating to smaller towns, will not be tolerated, commented Drug Enforcement Section First Sergeant Thomas Ferguson.

All of the individuals arrested were taken to the Marshall County Jail unless it was otherwise noted. Continue reading →

Boil Water Order Continues for Town of Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI

The boil water order continues for the Town of Hamlet.  The order is in effect until Wednesday, March 2nd.

The advisory was initially put into effect on Friday, February 25th after Hamlet Water Superintendent, John Goble, notified WKVI that some unknown suspect(s) opened two fire hydrants on 500 East and left them open.  The act, that occurred between 9:00-9:30 p.m. CT, drained the water tower for the Town of Hamlet.  A third hydrant was partially opened.  In two-and-a-half hours, 300,000 gallons of water was drained from the water tower.  The fire hydrants are located out by the Sysco property on 500 East.

Hamlet Police Chief, Jeremiah Patrick, told WKVI that there are no suspects at this time, but his Department is continuing to investigate the incident.

Police Arrest 76 Involved in Cock Fighting

Posted on Author WKVI
Two of the 145 fighting cocks are rounded up to be euthanized

It was a scene reminiscent of an old time western movie. Police from throughout the County and State rounded up 76 individuals involved in “cock fighting”. The arrests were made on Saturday morning at 0480 North 100 West in Starke County.

Law enforcement officers were responding to an anonymous tip.

“The Sheriff’s Department received an anonymous tip of animal fighting contests out at a residence on 100 West,” stated Starke County Chief Deputy, Bill Dulin. “Along with the Sheriff’s Department, we responded with the Indiana Conservation Units, State Police, Knox City Police, and North Judson units. When we got there, we noticed 10 or 15 vehicles and when we approached, 50 to 60 people took off running toward a river in an open field.”

Continue reading →

Knox City Council Agrees to Move Forward in Acquiring Building Across from City Hall

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

The deal that the City of Knox has with Beverly and Carl Wells for a building that they own across from Knox City Hall might be on again. Wells had offered the building to the City at the February 8th City Council meeting, and on a 3-2 vote the Council members agreed to purchase it for $120,000 with $20,000 down and 5 year annual payments of $20,000 a year.

Because they needed two appraisals to purchase the property, the deal could not be consummated in the time line given by Wells. He told Mayor Rick Chambers that he was going to start remodeling the building for offices if the City didn’t take agreement that week. That seemed to end the negotiations.

Continue reading →

Starke County Officials Hold Successful Tax Sale

Posted on Author WKVI

Totals are in from last week’s tax sale held in the Starke County Annex. Two separate sales were conducted. One was a certificate sale and the other was a deed sale. The certificate sale is one in which the original owners might redeem the property by paying the back taxes. A deed sale is one in which the deed is held by the County where the County is attempting to get the property back on the tax rolls.

38 parcels were sold in the certificate sale for $11,400 and 24 parcels were sold on the deed sale for $2,400.

Continue reading →

Julie Dessauer Named Director of Starke United

Posted on Author WKVI
Julie Dessauer

Starke United welcomes one of its own into the position of executive director. Julie Dessauer, who has been a part of the Starke United Executive Board since 2007, will begin as director for the organization on March 7th.

Mike Charbonneau, Vice Chair of Leadership for Starke United, said he thinks Dessauer will be a great asset to the organization.

“I and Todd Zeltwanger (Starke United Chairperson) both feel that Julie is a very qualified candidate,” he said. “She has tremendous support and respect in the community and can help us bring this organization to where we want it to be.”

Continue reading →

Animal Fighting Contest Raided, 76 People Arrested 145 Birds Euthanized

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department with assistance from the Indiana State, Knox, No. Judson police departments and the Indiana Conservation Officers arrested 76 people Saturday morning after officers raided an animal fighting contest in Knox, police say. Just before 11 a.m., police responded to an anonymous tip that 50 people were participating in an animal fighting contest in the North Judson area, at 100 W, south of State Road 8. A search warrant was issued and the site was raided.

When police arrived, multiple people fled on foot and abandoned fighting cock paraphernalia and several vehicles parked in the area.

Police apprehended over 70 suspects after running through muddy fields, ice-covered ditches and wooded areas. Officers found other suspects hiding in ditches and hollowed-out trees. One juvenile that was harbored by an adult was found without shoes. The juvenile was taken to Starke Memorial Hospital and treated for frostbite. Due to the large number of people arrested a bus had to be secured for transportation.

Police say they arrested a person who was described as a Hispanic male for organizing the event, and many others were arrested for promoting animal fighting and attending. Police observed dead birds in buckets, a cock fighting ring and obvious scoring boards of some type. It is a class A misdemeanor to attend an animal fighting contest and it is a Class D felony to promote the use of animals or attendance at an animal fighting contest.

145 fighting cocks were seized and transported to the Starke County Humane Society for euthanizing. Employees and volunteers of the Starke County Humane Society worked all night Saturday into the early morning hours Sunday completing their work. The birds had been transported to the Humane Society in crates tightly packed together and required two trips with a dump truck filled to the top due to the large quantity of birds involved.

Officers also obtained and served a search warrant seizing 13 firearms, 29 vehicles, drug paraphernalia, and cock fighting paraphernalia.

Those arrested traveled from various states including Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. Large numbers of people were seen Sunday morning crowding the Starke County Police Department lobby and were lined up outside the building apparently attempting to arrange for bonds for the offenders.

The incident is under investigation.

Dr. Tony Bennett to Speak at Lincoln Day Dinner in Star City Today

Posted on Author WKVI
Dr. Tony Bennett

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Tony Bennett, will be the featured speaker at this year’s Lincoln Day Dinner, sponsored by the Pulaski County Republican Party. The dinner is scheduled for today at the Star City Community Building. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. ET and the program begins at 6:00 p.m. ET. Tickets are $25 at the door.

Dr. Bennett will be discussing the four bills associated with the education reform agenda during tonight’s event. One bill allows charter schools sponsorship opportunity and accountability. Another seeks approval for teacher evaluations and licensing and collective bargaining for teachers. A fourth bill being discussed in this year’s legislature provides scholarships to low income students to pay the costs of tuition and fees at a public or private elementary school or high school that charges tuition.

Dr. Bennett has been involved in Indiana education for over 20 years and has served as the State’s Education Superintendent since January 12th, 2009.

Unknown Suspects Drain Hamlet Fire Hydrants; Water Tower

Posted on Author WKVI

The Town of Hamlet is under a boil water order until further notice.

According to John Goble, Hamlet Water Superintendent, a unknown suspect or suspect(s) drained all six fire hydrants on 500 East, which has also drained the water tower. No flooding was reported as it was contained in the fields. Goble said this is a big concern as fire protection as been hindered with the loss of water.

The incident has been turned over to the Hamlet Police Department for further investigation.

Starke Circuit Court Judge Accepts Plea Agreement for Rodney Craft; Sentences Carl Daugherty

Posted on Author WKVI
Rodney Craft

Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall accepted a plea agreement Thursday morning for Rodney Craft, of Knox.

Craft agreed to plead guilty to Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with a Prior Conviction, Possession of Methamphetamine, Failure to Appear, Escape, and Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors with the Intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine. All charges stem from several different open cases in Starke County. Judge Hall has not yet set the sentencing hearing, but according to the Plea Agreement filed in Circuit Court, Craft could see a total of 10 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections on the charges in which he plead guilty.

Continue reading →

State Representative Nancy Dembowkski Discusses Democrat Walk-out

Posted on Author WKVI
State Representative Nancy Dembowski

Indiana House Speaker, Brian Bosma, said Thursday that he would not call Republicans back until Monday after the Democrats make clear they will not return from an Illinois hotel before then.

17th District State Representative, Nancy Dembowski (D-Knox) talked with WKVI news about the party members walk-out that has caused many in the district to question the maneuver.

“It’s not easy,” said Dembowski. “We’re all sick about it too and it’s pretty stressful, let me tell you. I guess maybe it’s because I’m getting to be a certain age, but if I don’t stand up for what I believe, I can’t live with myself. At some point in time, you have to stand up for what’s right and I think we’re standing up for the people and to be a voice is what’s right.”

Continue reading →

Turkey Trax Fundraiser Next Friday

Posted on Author WKVI
Eric Corey

In a few short weeks, the Turkey Trax event will be held in Starke County. This will be the third annual event that began when Eric Corey, who is confined to a wheelchair, asked his parents to organize a wild turkey hunt for other young people with similar disabilities.

Since that first hunt, the Turkey Trax weekend has grown into a huge event and this year, 25 young people will go out with local guides hoping to bag a turkey. The event will be held April 29th through May 1st.

Continue reading →

Glen Kay to be Featured on the ‘Ted Hayes Remembers’ Show Today

Posted on Author WKVI
Glen Kay

Ted Hayes Remembers Glen Kay

Back in 1976, residents in Knox got to see their first New Orleans style funeral procession. The Jerry Fuller Jazz Band provided music as they carried Glen Kay’s casket from the funeral coach to the burial site at Crown Hill Cemetery. They played a dirge going up the hill, but coming down, they broke into the old New Orleans song, “Eight Men Going To This Funeral, But Only Seven Of Us Coming Back.” The mourners then
reassembled at Glen Kay Clothing and Shoes for a rousing Dixieland concert and refreshments.

Continue reading →

Starke County Economic Development Director Discusses EDIT Funds with County Council

Posted on Author WKVI
Charles Weaver
Charles Weaver

Starke County Economic Development Foundation Director, Charles Weaver, came before the County Council this week. He asked the members to appropriate the money received from the County economic income tax collections and use the funds appropriately.

Over $1.2 million dollars is appropriated for County bridges. Weaver explained why the bridge funds come from economic income taxes.

“One-half of the economic development income tax monies collected goes into bridges,” explained Weaver. This is an agreement that was reached some number of years ago when it was realized that the cumulative rate, which the County had always adopted to maintain bridges, was insufficient to maintain the bridges.”

The amount of collections received for the County’s use in 2011 is $200,000 less than what was received in 2010. Those County Commissioner’s economic funds can be used in conjunction with the Economic Development Foundation. Weaver was asked how the $200,000 revenue reduction would impact things he has on the drawing board.

“The amount that goes to the Economic Development Foundation would be less than what it was last year. We’re stretching it. We’ve got some projects in mind that we need to do and we’re trying to prioritize those as the most fruit comes to bear. When we have a project that is going to create jobs, we’re going to put the money there.”

The County Economic Income Tax is divided one-half for bridges, three-eighths for Starke County Economic Foundation work, and one-eighth for Starke County government.

Senate Approves Meth Bill

Posted on Author WKVI
Indiana Statehouse

In the wake of year-end reports that law enforcement seized nearly 1,400 meth labs in 2010, Senate legislators vote 46-3 Tuesday in support of a bill co-authored by Senator Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) providing a new weapon in the fight against the narcotic.

Senate Bill 503 works to curb the manufacturing of methamphetamines by tracking the statewide sales of cold and allergy medications containing precursors to the illegal drug and preventing purchases exceeding certain limits.

Continue reading →

Knox and Winamac License Branches Change Hours

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox License Branch

Officials at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles announced that the Knox and Winamac license branches will have new hours of operation beginning Monday, February 28th.

The Knox License Branch will be open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT. The Winamac License Branch will be open on Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.

Continue reading →

Video and Audio Communication for Starke County Jail and Courts Approved by Council

Posted on Author WKVI
I.T. Director Bob Smith

Financing for video and audio communication between the Starke County Jail and County and City courts was approved this week by the Starke County Council.

The County’s share of the $6,000 cost is one-third. The other two-thirds will come out of the Knox City Court, and the Prosecutor’s Pre-Trial Diversion fund.

Starke County I.T. Director, Bob Smith, came before the Council members to explain the set up of the equipment that will be provided by Vermillion Systems of Walkerton.

Continue reading →