Week in Review for December 6th-10th, 2010

Posted on Author WKVI

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.

Diana Jedynak, 67, died of fire related injuries after her home caught fire early Monday morning in Washington Township. Indiana State Fire Marshal, Fred Sumpter, said the investigation into the cause of the fire was postponed due to the weather conditions and the integrity of the structure.

Northwest Indiana Forum, Inc.

The Northwest Indiana Forum’s Board of Directors have voted to acknowldge the organization’s service territory to extend beyond Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Starke Counties to include Newton, Jasper and Pulaski Counties.

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Starke County Development Foundation Celebrates 25th Anniversary Today

Posted on Author WKVI
Charles Weaver
Charles Weaver

Today, a gala will be held at the Knox Community Center to celebrate the formation of the Starke County Development Foundation. The program will begin at 12:30 p.m. CT and is open to the public.

Supporting the Development Foundation over the course of 25 years have been our U.S. Representatives who have represented Starke County. They include Republicans John Hiler, Chris Chocola, and Steve Buyer and Democrats Tim Roemer and Joe Donnelly.

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North Judson Town Board Approves First Reading of Synthetic Marijuana Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board
North Judson Town Board: (L to R) Dan Anderson, Jane Ellen Felchuk, Wendy Hoppe, Connie Miller (Clerk-Treasurer)

The North Judson Town Board approved the first reading of an ordinance that prohibits the sale of synthetic marijuana within the incorporated town of North Judson. The ordinance mirrors the same guidelines as passed by the Starke County Commissioners. The Knox City Council has approved a similar ordinance on second reading and the final reading will be discussed at its meeting on Tuesday, December 14th.

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1982 North Judson-San Pierre Graduate Killed in Car Accident

Posted on Author WKVI

A 1982 graduate of North Judson-San Pierre High School was killed in a traffic accident Wednesday morning. Leon Wera, of New Buffalo, Michigan, died when the SUV he was driving landed upside down in a creek in New Buffalo Township. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police surmise he hit an ice patch and lost control of the SUV.

Wera was off work from the Four Winds Casino running errands at the time of the accident. He was reportedly 5 minutes from his home when he lost control of his SUV. Locally, he is the brother of Mary Rowe of North Judson and his brother-in-law is Ken Rowe.

Photos provided.

Congressman Joe Donnelly to Vote in Favor of the President’s Tax Cut Compromise

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

Second District Congressman Joe Donnelly said Thursday that he will be voting for the President’s tax cut compromise. Democrat opponents are poised to attempt to sink the measure that came after a compromise with Republicans.

The Obama plan, agreed to in principal by the Republican side, would prevent the December expiration of all the Bush tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003. Obama had originally balked at cutting taxes for the highest earners.

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SCILL Center Coat Drive a Success

Posted on Author WKVI
(L to R) Instructor Rod Dawson, Lincoln Whisman, Hayden Redlin, Cody Wilson, Jon Duell, Nick McIntosh, Jeffrey Sayer, Brock Bent and Instructor Mark Anderson

The instructors and students at the SCILL Center in Knox recently held a coat drive for those in need this winter season. The coats were delivered Thursday to the Community Services of Starke County building where they will be distributed.

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Knox Students and Volunteers Assemble Kiwanis Food Baskets for Friday Delivery

Posted on Author WKVI
Members of the Knox Student Council, National Honor Society and dedicated volunteers separate the donated food into groups before assembling baskets

Members of the Knox Student Council, National Honor Society and dedicated volunteers assembled food baskets, Thursday, at the Community Services of Starke County building for the less fortunate families in Knox. Students and members of the Knox Kiwanis Club will distribute food to those families in Knox.

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Knox Middle and High School Bands Present Holiday Concerts

Posted on Author WKVI
Santa Claus surprises children with a impromptu visit! Also pictured, Band Booster, Linda Binkowski

Knox Middle School and High School bands presented their holiday concert on Wednesday, December 8th.  The bleachers were filled with parents, friends, and loved ones as the 6th, 7th and 8th graders students, along with the the Knox Tomahawk Jazz Band and the High School bands, played Christmas favorites.  Mr. Craige Phipps and Mr. David Elliott directed the bands.  The Band Boosters held a raffle for several items including a Wii game console.  Santa Claus stopped at Weinberg Gymnasium to visit with children at the end of the concert.

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Boil Water Order Lifted

Posted on Author WKVI

The boil water order for the Town of Walkerton has been lifted.  The order had been in effect since Tuesday after a water main broke in town.  The water main was quickly repaired, but residents were ordered to boil water before consumption.

Starke Circuit Court Judge Sentences Shawn Centers, Dana Boyd

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke Circuit Court Judge, Kim Hall, recently sentenced two offenders to the Indiana Department of Corrections.

Shawn Centers

Shawn Centers, 35, of Knox, plead guilty to a charge of Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Class B Felony. In August, police executed a search warrant on a shed at 508 S. Shield St. where they recovered several items used to manufacture methamphetamine. Judge Hall sentenced Centers to 12 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. None of the sentence was suspended. The Judge recommended that Centers be placed into the DOC’s treatment program for methamphetamine.

Dana Boyd

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Knox School Board Gets Report on AYP, PL 221

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 School Board heard the Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, and the Public Law 221 results at its meeting Monday night. Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Peggy Shidaker, and the three building principals, Glenn Barnes, Steve Cronk and Dr. Elizabeth Ratliff, explained the results to the Board.

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17th District State Representative Receives Committee Assignments

Posted on Author WKVI
State Representative Nancy Denbowski

17th District State Representative, Nancy Dembowski (D-Knox), has received her committee assignments for the 2011 and 2012 sessions of the Indiana General Assembly. House Democratic Leader, B. Patrick Bauer (D-South Bend) recommended Dembowski for the following committees: Local Government, Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development, and Natural Resources. In addition, Dembowski will be the ranking Democrat on the Roads and Transportation Committee.

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Knox Mayor Addresses Snow Removal during Snow Events

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers

Snow plow workers on the state and local level have been working around the clock to make sure highways and local streets are cleared for safe travel.

Knox Mayor, Rick Chambers, has this request for residents when a snow event is forecast, “It would be a big help if you parked your car in one of the parking lots in the downtown area until the crews are done with street.”

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Knox Elementary Programs Scheduled this Week

Posted on Author WKVI
Pam Pavey and granddaughter Kaiya Wagoner after the 4th grade program Tuesday night. Kaiya is a 4th grade student in Mrs. Davis' class.

Hundreds of proud parents and grandparents are attending the school Christmas programs in our area. In Knox, elementary students from the grades have their special night to perform before an appreciative audience. The elementary music directors are Gary Kuechenberg and Lisa Guzman. Providing art work for the programs are students under the direction of Art Director, Derek Eveland.

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WKVI’s Tom Berg Bowls 224 Game

Posted on Author WKVI
Tom Berg is now the owner of the WKVI high game patch

WKVI’s “Airwaves Rollers” took 2 out of three this week during Tuesday night action at Bowlaway Lanes. With Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall subbing, Lenny Dessauer absent, and Pat Dunn in a two week slump, Tom Berg came to the rescue.  Taking the “Rollers” high game patch away from Dunn with a 224 game, Berg paced the victors in game two. The WKVI Morning Man attributed his sterling performance to a wrist brace given to him by Dessauer and a pep talk from his mother Judy Collins of Indianapolis.

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