Residents of Koontz Lake and surrounding communities turned out Saturday afternoon to honor 50 year Koontz Lake firefighter Robert “Lynn” Fraine.
It all began for Lynn in August of 1960 when he made a commitment to help protect his community. Actually, it began a little earlier when the fire department would recruit high schoolers to help fight fires. Continue reading
Kimberly Hitchens and John Brooke, both reportedly involved in the event surrounding a shootout with police at Bass Lake in February 2010, will be tried in a joint trial beginning February 21st.
It was announced this week that Lisa Owens, who shot and killed her husband Jeff in 2001 and who plead guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter, could be released from the Rockville Correctional Facility as early as May of this year. She was sentenced to serve 40 years in prison. She is also scheduled to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Network program “Breaking down the Bars” to air sometime this year. Continue reading
The Pulaski County Sheriff Office arrested Kelly D. “Pete” Rowe on 1-12-11. He was arrested for Burglary a Class C Felony and Theft a Class D Felony. The arrest was the result of a month long investigation into a burglary in the area of C.R. 725 N. and 625 E. in Monterey. A utility trailer and four-wheel ATV have been recovered by Pulaski County Detectives Dave Walters and Scott Taylor.
The Pulaski County Sheriff Office is asking for help from anyone who may have knowledge of this burglary or anyone who might have purchased any items from “Pete” Rowe in the last couple of months. These items may be stolen. Several citizens in the Monterey area have already come forward to assist the Sheriff’s Office with returning the property to the elderly victims.
“Pete” Rowe is a male, white, 42 years old, 5’8”, and 178 Pounds. He has blondish brown hair and blue eyes.
Any individuals with information may call the Sheriff’s Office at 800-283-3341 and ask for Detective Scott Taylor. If individuals wish to remain anonymous they can also contact the WeTip hotline at 1-800-78CRIME.
Kelly D. “Pete” Rowe
WKVI’s Anita Goodan has reached the top of the leaderboard in the WKVI Bowling Standings after she bowled a 225 Thursday night, beating WKVI’s Tom Berg’s game of 224. The station “trophy” for the highest game bowled in a season by a WKVI bowler was moved into her office early Friday morning.
Several fire departments responded to a fire at Winamac Coil Spring at Kewanna Thursday.
According to Plant Manager, “Doc” Russell, the fire was significant. All of today’s shifts are canceled because of the blaze. Winamac Coil Spring employs 167 workers and is a $25 million a year concern. The plant covers 125,000 sq. ft. with another 12,500 on the drawing board to be added to the complex.
Three fire departments responded to a house fire in the 8100 block on State Road 23 in Koontz Lake Thursday night at approximately 7:30 p.m. CT.
The Koontz Lake, Hamlet and Walkerton Fire Departments were called to the Frye residence and Koontz Lake Fire Chief, Randy Collins, told WKVI’s Anita Goodan that a fire had started in the 2nd story of the home. The three occupants of the home, their pets and the firefighters were not injured. The Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office has been called into investigate the cause of the fire. Collins said the home was a total loss.
Starke County EMS assisted at the scene.
“Three months of news that has shocked the community.” Think of it, since the remains of Sam Hewitt were found in Vietnam, and the identification of the remains of Andy Howes from the same war were made, and now the scheduled release of Lisa Owens from prison.
All three have elicited extreme emotions. From shock, to joy, to bewilderment, and anger. We have probably never had a period of time like this in the history of WKVI Radio.
The Lisa Owens story this week has brought up an interesting question. How did the sentence modification occur?
On May 23rd of 2001, Lisa Owens killed her husband Jeff. On August 8th, Owens and the State entered into a plea agreement that provided that she plead guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter. The agreement called for the Starke Circuit Court to sentence her to 40 years in the Department of Corrections.
Those old enough to remember the early days of fluoridation of drinking water also remember the controversy it caused. In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, many people thought it was a communist plot to undermine public health.
Most public officials that added fluoride to the town or city’s drinking water claimed that it helped prevent tooth decay.
Whatever side you were on, fluoridation continued.
After much discussion at its recent meeting, the Pulaski County Council approved Sheriff Michael Gayer’s request to replace one departing deputy.
The Council approved the hiring of two deputies to fill vacant positions that are funded in this year’s budget, but Sheriff Gayer will hold off on one of the hires until the Council examines the legality of filling the position. Hiring two new deputies would give the County nine patrol deputies.
Deb Hansen is the newly elected President of the Starke County Health Board. Dr. Joe Bartush was elected Vice President and Brenda Stanojevic was elected as the Secretary.
Most of the meeting was devoted to a discussion of the Food Inspector’s position. David Kesvormas was in attendance. He was to begin duties soon as the Food Inspector, but the contract he produced for the Starke County Health official, Dr. Teresa Alexander, expired December 31st, 2010.
Retiring Volunteer Firefighter Robert L Fraine will be honored this Saturday at the Koontz Lake Association Clubhouse from 2:00-4:00 p.m. CT.
Fraine will be honored for 50 years of service to his community and surrounding townships. He has held every office within the Koontz Lake Volunteer Fire Department. He has devoted thousands of hours to training, responding to calls and fund raising activities.
We have an update on our Andy Howes story. Andy’s brother, Rob, has returned to India where he is employed as an Aeronautical Engineer. He will not return until Christmas of 2011 so no decision on services or burial site will be made until then. It’s felt the services will be held in 2012.
As earlier reported Andy’s great-nephew, Michael, is serving in Afghanistan and will accompany the remains home from Hawaii.
Ever feel like putting duct tape over a barking dog’s mouth or worse? In this monthly report, new Starke County Animal Control Officer, Tom Bazant, told of responding to a call that an individual duct taped his dog’s mouth shut.
After some discussion, the Starke County Commissioners decided that was not a call the Officer should be responding to. They decided this was inhumane treatment of the animal and should have been responded to by the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.
WKVI’s deluxe Cardinal motorcoach is headed for the Smoky Mountains June 13th for a 4-day, 3-night adventrue in eastern Tennessee. Host Ed Hasnerl says he has reserved seats for great shows such as the “Dixie Stampede” and “Country Tonight” and has scheduled escorted visits to Dollywood and to the Smoky Mountain National Park.
TWO CHARGED IN INJURING TROOPER
Porter County-Two men were charged today, by Porter County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Matthew Frost, in the hit and run of Trooper George Hornsby on the Indiana Toll Road on Monday, January 10, 2011. One of the men was charged with Attempted Murder.
At approximately 6:27 p.m. (Central Standard Time), January 10th, a driver called the State Police Toll Road and told them of a hit and run crash that had just occurred west bound on I-90 at the 51 mile marker (this is near the LaPorte State Road 39 exit). The driver was able to give a description of the vehicle that fled the scene. A trooper saw the vehicle west bound at the 42 mile marker (this is just east of the Michigan City U.S. 421 exit). The vehicle started to pull over, and then took off.
Education and local government reform were the two main topics presented by Governor Mitch Daniels at his State of the State address Tuesday night. The points he stressed were the expansion of charter schools, merit pay for teachers, and the elimination of township government. He chastised those who favor longevity over talent.
“Today’s teachers make more money not because their students learn more, but just by living longer and putting another certificate on the wall,” Daniels said. “We have seen Teachers of the Year laid off, just because they weren’t old enough. This must change.”
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels gave his State of the State Address Tuesday night and State Representative Nancy Dembowski was concerned that the Governor did not talk about job creation.
“The Governor, in my view, failed to speak about the one most important issue that faces our State right now because we have an unemployment rate that is still hovering around ten percent and I don’t believe I heard the Governor talk a great deal about jobs, other than to say that we were an ‘isle of prosperity’. I challenge him to come to District 17 and see whether or not it is such an ‘island of prosperity’.”
A deluge of posts came into the comment area on the WKVI Discussion Board about the story on Lisa Owens yesterday. Owens is the woman who is reportedly going to get an early release from prison after being convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter in the death of her husband in 2001. Owens was sentenced to 40 years by then Starke Circuit Court Judge David Matsey after being found guilty of shooting and killing her husband in the shower. Current Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall was the Prosecutor in the case.
