From the WKVI Archives:
Edith Gurrado accepted a job at Starke Memorial Hospital on this date in 1952. She says her starting pay was 85 cents an hour. Beginning in the housekeeping department, Edith moved to Dietary after six months. Yesterday, she completed her 58th year on the job. Still going strong, Edith Gurrado of Starke Memorial Hospital.
Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:
Several bones that were returned to the Army in 1988 have been positively identified. They belong to Andy Howes, the young soldier from Knox who was MIA for over four decades after the helicopter he was in went down in Vietnam. Howes’ MIA bracelet is displayed in a case in the Knox Community School Board meeting room.
The new year brought new appointments to government boards. Dan Bridegroom was retained as President of the Starke County Commissioners, Mark Smith was retained as Starke County Council President, and Dan Anderson was retained as the President of the North Judson Town Board. Bob Howard was replaced as a member of the Starke County Health Board. Howard had served for 10 years on the board, 8 of them as President.
Amy Singleton of Knox gave birth to the first Starke County baby of 2011. Ireland Rose Furlong was born on Saturday, January 1st at 6:26 a.m. CT at the LaPorte Regional Health System, LaPorte Hospital. The first baby in Pulaski County, Katilyn Michelle Baker, arrived on Tuesday afternoon at Pulaski Memorial Hospital. Lisa Nicholson and Levi Baker of Star City are Katilyn’s parents.
The Indiana General Assembly began its legislative session this week. One of the issues that the legislators will focus on is the state’s rapidly increasing prison population.
The body of Robert L. Lemke, 82, of North Judson was found Wednesday morning in a wooded area by his home. Police believe he left home on foot sometime between the evening hours of Sunday, January 2nd and Tuesday, January 4th.
And that is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.
Two people were arrested by the Hamlet Police Department, Wednesday, after a police pursuit.
Hamlet Police Chief, Jeremiah Patrick, told WKVI that at 10:30 p.m. CT, Wednesday, Larry Catt, 21, of Hamlet, failed to stop after police initiated a traffic stop. A vehicle pursuit ensued and ended at Catt’s residence at 607 W. Davis Street in Hamlet. While police officers were taking Catt into custody, Lonzo Jackson came out of the residence with a large knife on his belt and in a rage, demanded that police leave his driveway and release Larry from custody. Jackson was told to go back inside the residence and he did not comply. When police attempted to take Jackson into custody, he ran into his residence and locked the door. Hamlet Police and Starke County Sheriff’s Department officers made their way into the house and Jackson was taken into custody after a struggle.
The Community Corrections program in Starke County is providing an alternative for jail time for some prisoners who qualify. Shawn Mattraw, Case Manager, talked with Ted Hayes recently about the programs available.
Ted asked about the number of clients Community Corrections has.
“We currently have 50 under our supervision,” Mattraw replied. “We have been the mid-60s and we were probably in the mid-60s for about two consecutive months.”
The Knox Center Township Fire Department received a grant for $44,650 from the Assistance to Firefighters grants awarded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Fire Chief Kenny Pfost told WKVI that the grant money will be used for a breathing air compressor, a cascade system and a truck-mounted air fill station. Continue reading
Even though the State Legislature is overwhelmingly Republican, there still aren’t some issues that can by worked on in a bipartisan manner, according to 17th District State Representative Nancy Dembowski (D-Knox). One of those issues focuses on the state’s rapidly increasing prison population. Both Dembowski and State Senator Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) have gone on record as saying this is an issue that needs attention.
Dembowski blamed the General Assembly for causing some of the problems.
Knox Community School Board members Gary Dulin, Mary Lynn Ritchie and Mike Yankauskas were sworn into office by Knox City Court Judge Charlie Hasnerl on Monday night. The three candidates were reelected into office in the November 2010 General Election.
During the Spotlight on Success portion School Board meeting, the Board commended 5th grade students, Haley Wilkinson and Cheyenne Arrendondo. They submitted Christmas ornaments and a story about their ornaments to Indiana’s First Lady, Cheri Daniels, and their submissions were selected to be hung on the Statehouse Christmas tree. Continue reading
It was 69 years ago today that the old Center Township School burned to the ground. The fire started in the afternoon and the Fire Department thought they had it completely extinguished, but it flared in the night, burning the structure to the ground.
A two vehicle accident occurred this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Starke County police responded to the accident at 250 South and US 35 and minor injuries were reported. The intersection was blocked during the time of the investigation and is open now. Again, only minor injuries were sustained by the parties involved.
Statement as of 10:59 am CST on January 6, 2011/
Special Weather Statement
Light snow will continue to affect far Southern Lower
Michigan… portions of northern Indiana and Northwest Ohio.
Accumulations will be light… on the order of a few tenths to
locally a half inch. However… the smaller flakes may melt on well
traveled roads and then refreeze… causing some slick spots.
Motorists should exercise caution when encountering snow covered
roads into this afternoon.
The body of an 82-year-old North Judson man was found Wednesday morning after a Silver Alert was issued by the North Judson Police Department. Robert L. Lemke was found after he was reported missing when a family member went to check on him on Tuesday evening. Lemke was believed to have left home on foot sometime between the evening hours Sunday, January 2nd and Tuesday evening.
The Starke County Council has re-organized for the new year. Mark Smith was retained as the President and Mitchell Semans was elected Vice President.
Marty Lucas was retained as Council Attorney, Dave Pearman was named to the Kankakee Iroquois Regional Planning Commission, Mark Smith will stay on the Starke County Economic Development Board, Judy Benninghoff is a hold-over on the Starke County Planning Commission Board, Tony Radkiewicz, Sr. was selected for the Starke County Environmental Management board. Judy Zerniak was retained on the P.T.A.B.O.A. Board and Katie Dedloff was again selected for the Starke County Library Board. Kenny Wallace was named to the Alcohol Beverage Commission Board.
The first baby in Pulaski County arrived Tuesday afternoon at Pulaski Memorial Hospital. Katilyn Michelle Baker arrived at 3:56 p.m. ET. Katilyn’s parents are Lisa Nicholson, and Levi Baker of Star City. There are plenty of relatives awaiting little Katilyn’s arrival home, including a “big” sister Madison Elizabeth who is 18 months old.
Sam Frain, of Frain Mortuary in Winamac, Francesville and Medaryville has committed to serve as a member of the National Funeral Directors Association’s Member Resources Advisory Group for the 2010-2011 term.
That group is called upon to assist the national organization in a number of ways, including recommending new programs, products and services, reviewing and providing feedback on new resources, and assisting with the recruitment and retention of members from around the world for the betterment of the profession and the families it serves.
The Knox Community School Board approved upcoming network and telecommunications projects at its meeting Monday night. The School Board and Technology Director, Jim Landrum, are hoping to secure federal funding for the projects approved.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has unveiled a new package of recommended changes to deer hunting rules that will be presented to the Natural Resources Commission at its January 11th meeting at Ft. Harrison State Park in Indianapolis.
The Natural Resources Commission withdrew its preliminary approval of an earlier plan because overwhelming public comment opposed shortening some segments of the deer hunting seasons.
The Pulaski County Community Foundation is participating in the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship program. The program provides scholarships for full college tuition for four years, required fees and book stipends. Applications are available now through the Foundation’s website. The deadline to submit an application is January 10th, 2011.
For more information, contact your local school guidance department or the Pulaski County Community Foundation at (574) 946-0906.
Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen has released the December 2010 statistics for the Sheriff’s Department.
There were 20 theft reports, 4 burglary reports, 12 Possession of a Controlled Substance reports, 4 DUI reports, 1 arson report, 25 domestic complaints and 160 accident reports.
The Starke County Ministerial Alliance met Wednesday and selected Reverend Charles Bachelder, of the First Christian Church in Knox, to be the President, and James Pradke, of Victory Christian Church, to be the Secretary. Retired Father Richard Zollinger has been selected to be the Treasurer.
Discussed at the meeting was the Right to Life Rally to be held in Starke County the end of the month.
The North Judson Town Board approved the reallocation of funds in the 2011 budget to allow a three percent increase for full-time Town employees for this year. The employees have not had a raise in three years. The reallocation did not effect the budget’s bottom line. The Town’s approved budget total is $767,964 for 2011.
The Board also approved a special event permit for the North Judson Mint Festival Committee. The Mint Festival will be held June 17th-19th, 2011.
