NJSP Board Undergoes Superintendent Evaluation Training

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board recently underwent superintendent evaluation training with three other school corporations. New requirements were discussed with the new evaluation. Superintendents, teachers, and principals at all corporations are all now being evaluated under a new state requirement.

The school board will hold a safety meeting on Oct. 5 to allow officials to explain crisis procedures and update current policies. The state has required the school to update the procedures and coordinate them with law enforcement and the health department.

Military Display To Be Shown at Culver Library

Posted on Author WKVI

The Military Vehicle Preservation Club and the Starke County Military Vehicle Collectors Club will showcase several historic vehicles at the Culver-Union Township Public Library.

Several vehicles will be on display, plus more than 10 large tables of military artifacts and memorabilia from the Civil War through the current conflicts. This event will be featured for one day only on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET.

The library will also have the Military Veterans Honor Tree where hand-crafted photo display cards will be provided for service member photos and remembrances.

Train Accident In Knox Saturday Caused Four-Hour Road Closures

Posted on Author WKVI

A train accident in Knox over the weekend brought traffic to a halt, as U.S. 35 and other streets were closed for nearly four hours while the wreckage was cleared. Fortunately, no injuries were reported; the train crashed into an unmanned service truck on the rails at around 9:15 a.m.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department said a Norfolk Southern service truck was performing maintenance on the tracks Saturday morning when a train rolled through, and a miscommunication caused the train to crash into the truck. Luckily, the repairman was outside the vehicle making track repairs when the accident occurred.

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Armes to Plead Guilty to Dealing Meth, Theft

Posted on Author WKVI
Aaron Armes

Aaron Armes of Knox appeared in the Starke Circuit Court last week for a plea hearing. An agreement was reached between Armes and the state and has been filed in court. A plea and sentencing hearing for Armes has been set for Oct. 18 at 9:30 a.m.

Armes faces two cases in the court, including one case charging him with Theft as a Class D felony, Possession of Methamphetamine as a Class D felony, and Possession of Paraphernalia as a Class A misdemeanor. His second and latest case stems from his arrest in January when he turned himself in to police. Armes was wanted by police after authorities conducted a search at a camper on 200 South in Knox and found items associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine.

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Eastern Pulaski, Culver Schools Report Enrollment Drop; NJSP Shows Increase

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson

Eastern Pulaski and Culver Community Schools reported a drop in enrollment after this year’s Average Daily Membership, or ADM, count.

North Judson-San Pierre School Superintendent Lynn Johnson reported an increase in enrollment. The preliminary ADM report indicates that the school corporation increased by 25 students. This is a $125,000 fund increase for the school.

Johnson said this is great positive move for the school as it has had problems with funding losses for the past few years.

State Representative Dermody Accepts Farm Bureau Endorsement

Posted on Author WKVI
State Rep. Tom Dermody accepts the Farm Bureau nomination from District One Director Larry Jernas.

State Representative Tom Dermody made an appearance in Starke County this week to accept his endorsement from Farm Bureau. Dermody accepted the endorsement at the farm of Larry Jernas, District One Director for Indiana Farm Bureau.

Jernas said the state board recently approved their recommendation, finalizing the endorsement.

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Walking/Biking to School a Healthy Choice; Oct. 3 is Walk to School Day

Posted on Author WKVI

Wednesday, Oct. 3 is Walk to School Day.

Studies show that fewer children walk or bike than 40 years ago.

With today’s children, experts recommend that children do 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day. Walking or bicycling to school offers an opportunity for you to get physical activity in for the day. Exposure to nature and time for free outdoor play can have multiple health benefits including stress reduction, relief of ADHD symptoms in children and increased cognitive and motor functioning.

Participating schools are encouraged to register their events at www.walktoschool.org.

Train Accident Causes Major Headaches in Knox

Posted on Author WKVI

A train accident in Knox has caused some community concern, but officials say the accident resulted in no injuries and they are working on getting the area cleaned up.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department told WKVI that a Norfolk Southern service truck was performing maintenance on the tracks when a train rolled through town. The conductor reportedly thought the service truck was out of his way but miscalculated, striking the service truck.

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Missing LaPorte Girl Found Safe in Florida

Posted on Author WKVI

A missing 17-year-old LaPorte girl has been reportedly found safe and sound in Florida, having been reported missing on Wednesday.

The family of Emily Sue Snyder had been asking for the public’s help in locating their daughter who was reported missing on Wednesday. She was last seen at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday when she was presumed to be heading to classes at South Central High School, but her parents soon learned she didn’t make it to school.

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Knox Man Arrested For Allegedly Driving Drunk

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly driving drunk.

Jack Stoddard, Jr. was reportedly driving his vehicle around 1:30 a.m. when he lost control of his vehicle at the intersection of County Road 25 North and County Road 600 East. Officers arrived on scene and found Stoddard and a female passenger out of the vehicle. Stoddard told police that he lost control of the vehicle during an argument with his girlfriend.

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Knox Man Faces Two Cases In Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

A Knox man appeared in the Starke Circuit Court this week for his sentencing hearing, but the state withdrew the plea agreement after he racked up a number of new charges.

Fifty-one-year-old Lolus Johnson was arrested in March for allegedly stealing a pair of sandals from Dollar General. When police found him and patted him down, they allegedly found a marijuana cigarette and other controlled substances. He was arrested and faces charges of Theft, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Marijuana.

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Skillman Honors Recipients of Affordable Housing Awards

Posted on Author WKVI

Lt. Governor Becky Skillman recently honored recipients of the 2012 Excellence in Affordable Housing awards, which honor Hoosiers for their impact on communities throughout the state. The recipients were announced at the Annual Statewide Conference on Housing and Community Economic Development, sponsored by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development.

Skillman said she is reminded every year of the caliber of partners throughout Indiana who are working on innovative projects that strive to improve communities. She said the recipients deserve praise for their community and economic development efforts.

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Employment Grows In Indiana; DWD Says Federal Numbers Don’t Add Up

Posted on Author WKVI

Hoosier employers have continued to grow their workforces for the tenth month in a row, once again adding jobs in Indiana to the tune of 7200 private sector jobs. The rate of job growth in Indiana triped the national average of 0.1 percent, and since July 2009, the low point of employment, Indiana has added more than 150,000 private sector jobs.

The areas with the most significant gains for the month of August were Private Educational and Health Services with 5200 jobs added and Construction with 2200 jobs added.

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Week in Review for Sept. 17-21, 2012

Posted on Author WKVI

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

Wythogan Park in Knox opened this week. There are some areas still blocked off due to the amount of debris yet to be cleared. The walking trail is accessible. Contractors will continue working in the park, but the majority of the larger logs and branches have been removed. The park has been closed since July 24 when a fierce storm reeled through the Knox area, causing thousands of dollars in damage within the park.  Continue reading →

Bell Faces Death Penalty If Convicted of Murder

Posted on Author WKVI
Roy Bell

A man accused of killing an elderly woman formerly from Knox could face the death penalty if he is convicted. Roy Bell of Rochester will appear in Fulton Superior Court on Tuesday, where he faces charges including Murder as he is the suspected gunman in the death of 81-year-old Wilma Upsall during a bungled home invasion in November 2011.

Two other men, William Scroggs of Delong and Jason Miller of Plymouth, face similar charges but prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty in either of those cases. The state filed a request for the death sentence for Bell in March and the initial hearing for that request was held on April 3.

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