Relay for Life Already Gearing Up For Next Year’s Event

Posted on Author WKVI

Fundraising is already underway for next year’s Relay for Life event with this year’s theme of “Colors of Cancer.”

Meghan Hamand of Relay for Life said each team will display a different color representing a form of cancer – pink, for example, to represent breast cancer – in all different shapes, sizes and forms, and each will also provide information about their particular type of cancer. Hamand said her team chose gold to represent childhood cancer, and they will be taking it “to the extreme,” with plans to embellish their team like the Olympics with gold medals and other decorations.

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New Indiana Laws Aim to Help Ex-Offenders Find Work

Posted on Author WKVI

In an effort to make it easier for ex-offenders to find employment, two significant changes were made to state laws last July allowing non-violent offenders to have their criminal records sealed. On top of that, the changes give the courts the power to convert a Class D felony conviction to a Class A misdemeanor upon petition.

Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission Jamal L. Smith said it’s important to share information on newly-passed laws to ensure everyone has a clear understanding of their rights. He said they are emphasizing these laws specifically because they have gone relatively unnoticed.

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North Judson Working To Become ADA Compliant

Posted on Author WKVI
Doug Vessely
North Judson Town Marshal Doug Vessely

North Judson is continuing its efforts to become compliant with regulations from the Americans with Disabilities Act. Town Marshal and ADA Coordinator Doug Vessely said he has been looking at city-owned buildings and has identified a few that are in need of additional handicapped parking spots and sidewalk ramps.

Vessely explained that he is currently drafting the ADA compliance plan which he will then put into writing and submit to the state with a timeline and financial information, such as how to pay for the changes laid out over a two to three year period. Fortunately, the town shouldn’t have too many buildings that need modified as Vessely said many of them are already up to ADA code.

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Culver School Board Updates Policies to Comply With State

Posted on Author WKVI
Culver Community School Superintendent, Brad Schuldt

The Culver Community School Board made a number of changes to its board policies with the help of Neola, the board’s policy company.

Superintendent Brad Schuldt said they changed approximately 25 policies, and many of them were minor typographical changes. However, he said a number of changes the board made to their policies were done to reflect new laws passed last year to ensure they are still in compliance with state law.

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West Central School Board Approves 2013 Budget

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board approved the 2013 budget during their meeting this week, according to Superintendent Charles Mellon.

“This is the time of year we have to approve the 2013 budget as well as the Capital Projects and Bus Replacement Plan,” stated Mellon. “We also approved our Technology Plan which has to go along with the Capital Projects Plan as far as the state is concerned.”

The board also took another look at the ADM count which showed an enrollment loss and the board looked at the numbers coming in from the wind turbine. The turbine has been in operation for nearly six months and the operation seems to be working to the benefit of the corporation.

Pulaski County Junior Achievement Brings Professionals to Class

Posted on Author WKVI

With summer closed and fall just beginning, kids are back in school throughout Indiana, but they’re not alone in their return as businessmen and women are volunteering their time to present Junior Achievement of Pulaski County programs to local students. JA volunteers are instrumental in bringing Junior Achievement to life through sharing their personal and professional experiences with students. Combined with Junior Achievement’s age-appropriate curricula, students are able to connect what they learn in school with what they will need to succeed in both work and life.

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Week in Review for Oct. 1-5, 2012

Posted on Author WKVI

Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

Pulaski County Sheriff's Department

If you would like to see the jail list at the Pulaski County Jail, you will be able to access that on the jail’s website in the next couple of weeks. Jail Commander Phil Cherry said it will be easier for you to see bond amounts if you need to bond someone out of the jail and if a person has been arrested in a criminal case you have filed with the Sheriff’s Department. Check pulaskisheriff.net for that feature to be uploaded soon. Cherry also said new visitation video equipment has been installed which will allow those unable to get to get the jail a chance to visit with inmates. Continue reading →

Knox Police Dept. Reports September Activity

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox City Police department had yet another busy month during September. There were a total of 384 calls for the month, which included 11 crash reports and 47 incident reports. The Knox City Police Department helped the Starke County police with five investigations.

There were a total of three counts of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and only one Public Intoxication charge reported. No cases of minor consumption were reported last month; however, there were eight different juvenile arrests.

A total of 22 traffic arrest charges were pressed on 17 people, 90 criminal arrest charges pressed on 45 people, eight charges pressed on seven juveniles, and one ordinance violation reported. There were a total of 10 battery arrests, eight warranted arrests, and 38 drug charges.

LaPorte Woman Arrested on Class A Felony Charge

Posted on Author WKVI

A LaPorte woman was arrested Tuesday after officers from the LaPorte County Metro Operations Unit served an arrest warrant.

Thirty-year-old Rachel M. Heaphy was wanted on a Class A Felony charge of Dealing in a Schedule II Controlled Substance. She was arrested without incident at her home in the 700 block of Maple Avenue in LaPorte. She is being held in the LaPorte County Jail with no bond.

This arrest is the result of an ongoing investigation into the sale and distribution of illegal drugs in the City of LaPorte. Additional arrests are anticipated.

Autopsy Inconclusive for Holbrook

Posted on Author WKVI

The autopsy results on Devin M. Holbrook are not conclusive at this time. Pulaski County Coroner Steven VanDerAa told WKVI that Holbrook’s death is being ruled accidental at this time pending the results of a toxicology test.

Holbrook and Anthony Gentry were working outside a residence in Francesville on Saturday and Holbrook said he didn’t feel well. They went inside to watch television and Holbrook fell asleep. Gentry went to wake up Holbrook and he wasn’t breathing. Gentry performed CPR until emergency crews arrived at the scene. EMS found that Holbrook couldn’t be revived and the coroner was called to the scene. Police did reportedly find drugs in the area where Holbrook was found and they field-tested positive for methamphetamine and heroin.

Toxicology results may determine Holbrook’s cause of death.

IDEM Proposes Order Against C&C Salvage Violations

Posted on Author WKVI

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management conducted an investigation into Starke County Recycling, Inc., C&C Salvage and a number of other businesses in Knox owned by James L. Campbell. As a result of the investigation, IDEM has made a preliminary determination that violations were made of environmental management laws and rules, and the department has proposed an Agreed Order constituting a settlement.

The order proposed requires Campbell to submit to a site assessment plan to allow them to assess potential contamination of soil, ground, water, and vapors from the areas in question. Within 15 days of receiving notice from IDEM of approval of the site assessment plan, Campbell would be required to implement the plan, and submit within 45 days a remediation work plan identifying potential contaminates, receptors, and exposure pathways to allow IDEM to identify all contamination. He would then implement the remedial actions within 15 days after the work plan’s approval. Finally, within 30 days after implementation, Campbell would have to submit to an IDEM certification to ensure the actions have been completed.

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Medaryville Library Hours Cut Due to Decreased Circulation

Posted on Author WKVI

A beautiful wealth of information is in jeopardy due to a lack of patrons. Pulaski County Library Director MacKenzie Ledley said the Medaryville branch is suffering from a lack of circulation, and she said they aren’t sure what’s causing it.

“Annual circulation at the Medaryville branch dropped from 25,780 in 2007 to a year-to-date of 11,651 – that’s through the end of August,” said Ledley. “We’re really not too sure what’s changed to decrease the circulation; it could be the availability of information online and that patrons are able to access it at home.”

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Starke Co. Sheriff’s Department Antennas to be Replaced

Posted on Author WKVI
IT Director Joe Short

As a temporary solution, the Starke County Commissioners last month gave IT Director Joe Short the go-ahead to replace two antennas atop the sheriff’s department. Short said this will cost approximately $2200 per antenna, and said they can be moved later when a new tower is established.

The replacement will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 10, and Short said it should take only half the day. He explained that the engineers will check out the coax cable before performing the replacement to ensure that they are in good condition to prevent further problems.

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Pulaski Commissioners Approve Designating Employee Reps for Drug Testing

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

A few changes have been made to the drug testing policy currently in place for Pulaski County employees. Cathy Fritz Consulting is the business authorized by the county to conduct drug testing for employees who operate county vehicles.

Cathy Fritz told the commissioners that she wanted to clear up a few things in an effort to make the drug testing process smoother, which she said includes designating county department heads as “designated employee representatives.” Fritz said these representatives are responsible for sending the employees that have been chosen at random to undergo a drug screen.

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Water Shortage Warning Lifted Monday; Water Conservation Still Encouraged

Posted on Author WKVI

The statewide water shortage warning was lifted Monday. The warning had been in place since July. The multi-agency water shortage committee is still holding onto a water shortage watch level.

Historic drought conditions were reported all through the state with the driest conditions in July. Most of the state received normal or above normal rainfall in August and September.

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Knox School Board Discusses Work Session With Referendum Expert

Posted on Author WKVI
Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board recently held a work session with Dr. Mike Trego, a professor at Indiana-Wesleyan University and who is also an expert in school referendums.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa reviewed that work session during the school board meeting Monday night.

“We had Dr. Trego come in and give a report to the board and the board felt very positive about the information that Dr. Trego presented and they anticipate bringing him back to have a meeting with community members who are interested on being on an action committee, moving forward with an elementary project,” stated Gappa.

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SCILL Center “Food for Friends” Car Check Announced

Posted on Author WKVI
Community Services of Starke County
Community Services of Starke County

The SCILL Center will be partnering with WKVI and First Farmer’s Bank on Oct. 16 and 18 to present the “Food for Friends” Car Check.

All proceeds from this event will benefit the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry. Bring in one can or package of food to the SCILL Center and receive a free pre-winter inspection from SCILL Center students. This inspection will include an anti-freeze, battery, belt, and tire wear check. Attendees will also receive coupons from local auto supply stores.

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Lincoln History Traveling Exhibit To Visit CMA

Posted on Author WKVI

A traveling exhibit entitled “Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War” will start its five-week stay at Culver Military Academies on Oct. 14. The grand opening will be held on Oct. 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. ET. The exhibit will run through Nov. 16 with hours of Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sundays, noon to 7 p.m. There is no admission charge for the exhibit.

The exhibit will be at Huffington Library. Culver Military Academy students will be there in civil war dress to guide guests through the exhibit. The students will also give guests interesting details about all of Lincoln’s constitutional changes, civil war, and Lincoln’s presidency.

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LaPorte County Drug Bust Leads to Two Arrests

Posted on Author WKVI

Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the seizure of a significant amount of drugs, guns and cash from a home in the 5600 East block of Nappanee Trail in the community of Saugany Lake in LaPorte County.

More than 100 pounds of marijuana, approximately 5.5 grams of suspected cocaine, and 1.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine were found Sept. 21 after a search warrant was conducted by the LaPorte County Metro Operations Units, the DEA, and Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement team. Three handguns were confiscated along with $144,628 in cash. One of the handguns was reported stolen in Michigan.

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