District Two Task Force On Alert For Possible Emergency Situation

Posted on Author WKVI
Ted Bombagetti

Starke County EMA Director Ted Bombagetti has announced that the District Two Task Force has been placed on “Alert” status for possible deployment in support of southern Indiana. Bombagetti says southern Indiana is expecting five to nine inches of rain over the weekend from Hurricane Isaac, and he says they are ready to deploy should flooding occur.

The task force has a swift water rescue and tactical rescue team within the unit, and Bombagetti says these teams are ready to be mobile when called. He says the teams can be on the road in a matter of hours, and they’ve been preparing for events such as this for several months.

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BP Says Off-Spec Fuel Situation Under Control

Posted on Author WKVI

The greater Indianapolis area recently had a BP gasoline recall as midgrade and premium gasoline were off specification. Some of that gasoline was sold in the Knox and Culver BP stations. The regular unleaded gasoline was not affected and meets quality standards after testing.

BP officials indicated that the source of the problem was identified and it has been fixed.

Drivers who suspect they may have purchased off-specification premium or midgrade fuel in the Indianapolis area or at the Knox or Culver BP gas stations are encouraged to call 1-800-599-9040 to make a claim.

The company stated that BP sells more than 50 million gallons of quality gasoline in the U.S. every day and they are committed to working with affected BP consumers to make good on that guarantee.

State Police To Increase Patrol Efforts This Weekend

Posted on Author WKVI

The Indiana State Police will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. this weekend.

The Combined Accident Reduction Effort will be patrolling and looking for motorists who are drinking and driving, speeding, following too closely and driving aggressively. Troopers will also be enforcing all seat belt and child restraint laws.

This patrol is in addition to the Operation Pull Over Blitz which continues until Monday, Sept. 3.

The Indiana Department of Transportation will be ceasing roadwork until the morning hours of Tuesday, Sept. 4 to allow you to travel safely and efficiently this weekend. Some closures and restrictions will remain on larger projects that cannot safely reopen to traffic.

Week in Review for August 27-31, 2012

Posted on Author WKVI

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

Special Prosecutor Michael Krebes filed 10 counts against former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller last week in Starke Circuit Court. Nine counts are for Theft and one is for Official Misconduct, all Class D Felonies. The charges stem from a special report by the State Board of Accounts from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011 which cites financial discrepancies of $74,408.67. The counts allege that Miller kept money from equipment purchases, employee reimbursements, police department receipts, ordinance violation payments, utility customer receipts, and a number of other receipts from the town of North Judson. St. Joseph County Superior Court Judge Jerome Frese will now be presiding over the criminal case involving former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller. Miller’s attorney, Todd E. Wallsmith, is related to the wife of Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall so by Indiana law, Judge Hall has to disqualify himself from the case. All court hearings will now be heard in St. Joseph County Superior Court. Continue reading →

Knox Teacher Accused of Sexual Misconduct To Appear For Initial Hearing Today

Posted on Author WKVI
Todd Boldry

Todd Boldry will appear in Starke Circuit Court this morning for his initial hearing.

Boldry was arrested Friday, Aug. 24 at the Knox Middle School on charges of Child Seduction and Official Misconduct as Class D Felonies. He was arrested amidst allegations of sexual misconduct with a student that occurred as early as 2007.

Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa confirmed that he has suspended Boldry with pay from his teaching position at the Knox Middle School pending further investigation. The suspension was initiated after police took him into custody last week. The school board will approve that action during the board’s next meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m.

Case Against Former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Will Be Heard By St. Joseph Court Judge

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

The criminal case against former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller will now be heard by the Judge of the St. Joseph Superior Court, Jerome Frese.

This announcement comes after attorney Todd E. Wallsmith has taken the defendant’s case and will appear as her counsel, which presents a problem as he is within the third degree of relationship to Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall’s wife. According to Indiana law, a judge must disqualify himself in any proceeding in which a person within the third degree of relationship to the judge’s spouse is acting as a lawyer in the proceeding.

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Buildings On North Main Street In Knox May Soon Be Demolished

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

Step by step, the demolition of two buildings on North Main Street in Knox is becoming a reality. Two buildings, 2 N. Main St. and 4 N. Main St., are dilapidated and many feel they pose maintenance and safety concerns for the city.

According to Mayor Rick Chambers, the Starke County Economic Development Foundation has been looking to have the buildings torn down. The foundation was previously located at 4 N. Main St., but later moved to 1915 S. Heaton St. in Knox. The building at 2 N. Main St. has been abandoned for nearly 15 years.

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SCILL Center Expands – Offers a Variety Of Classes

Posted on Author WKVI
Jerry Gurrado

The SCILL Center auto tech class is in full swing, with more than 50 kids taking the class split between morning and afternoon sessions. SCILL Center Director Jerry Gurrado says their enrollment is up this year from roughly 40 kids last year, but that’s not the only good news coming from the center.

Gurrado says they’ve also begun their welding vocational classes with a full enrollment. He says the class started on Aug. 14, and boasts a total of 16 students for its first year. On Sept. 10, the welding lab will host adult welding classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, which Gurrado says will ultimately end with a certification test for the students. Gurrado says this is a very important class, as there is an acute need for welders in this area, the immediate surrounding area, and nationally.

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Plymouth, Monterey Festivals Kick Off Today

Posted on Author WKVI

The Blueberry Festival in Plymouth and the Monterey Days Festival begin today!

In Monterey, the craft and food booths open at 6 p.m. ET, the pageant for Mister and Miss Monterey Days is set for 6 p.m. ET and the Jhonny and Sallie Show is at 8 p.m. ET.

The Plymouth Blueberry Festival starts up with the opening ceremony at 5 p.m. ET and the carnival opens at that time. The Little Miss and Mr. Blueberry Contest will be at 5:30 p.m. ET on the Michigan Street stage, softball games begin at 6:30 p.m. and the Blueberry Idol Karaoke competition is at 7 p.m.

Both festivals continue through Monday, Sept. 3. We’ll have more event details in tomorrow’s news.

DNR Offers New Hunting License Bundle

Posted on Author WKVI

The Department of Natural Resources is offering a new deer license bundle so hunters can have the right license for the right deer season.

This bundling option includes one license that can be used in multiple seasons. It can be used in youth, archery, firearms, muzzle-loader, and special antlerless seasons and for the harvest of one antlered and two antlerless deer total.

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September Is Hunger Action Month – Speak Out Against Hunger

Posted on Author WKVI

September is Hunger Action Month.

The Starke County Food Pantry and the Pulaski County Human Services Food Pantry have seen a steady increase in clients in recent years, and donations are always needed to help keep the pantries stocked.

Thursday, Sept. 6 is Wear Orange Day in support of food pantries all over the state and to speak out against hunger.

For information on how you can help the local food pantries, call Joan Haugh at Community Services of Starke County at (574) 772-7070 or Pulaski County Human Services at (574) 946-6500.

Wythogan Park Still Closed; Contractors To Begin Cleanup Next Week

Posted on Author WKVI

Wythogan Park in Knox is still closed as work remains underway to clear the debris and remove precariously-balanced branches dangerously dangling overhead. Park Superintendent George Byer told the city council this week that the contractor who has been hired to do a lot of the clearing will begin on Monday.

Despite Monday, Sept. 3 being a holiday, Byer says the contractor is anxious to get started on the cleanup. The walkway has been cleared and a very large amount of branches, limbs, logs, and other wood has already been hauled out, but they’ve got a long way to go.

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Knox City Council Discusses IDEM Controlled Brush Burn

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council discussed the controlled burn to dispose of the collected brush and debris from the June and July storms.

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers told the council that the burn was supposed to take place earlier this week but the community has voiced its concern, so Chambers says he wanted to bring it to the council for further discussion. Chambers says the Indiana Department of Environmental Management has given the city its approval for the burn.

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Plea Agreement Again Rejected For Robert Reed

Posted on Author WKVI
Robert Reed

Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall rejected a plea agreement for Robert Reed in a hearing yesterday.

Robert Reed and the state had come up with an agreement where Reed would plead guilty to charges of Receiving Stolen Property and Resisting Law Enforcement and would serve 36 months with no part of that sentence suspended. He would also enter into work release once his time was served.

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Two Arrested On Theft Charges At Walmart

Posted on Author WKVI

Two Hamlet residents were arrested Tuesday after an altercation in a parking lot by Walmart in Plymouth.

Plymouth police officers responded to the area after dispatchers learned that Jeffrey Gibson had pulled an alleged stolen item out of his pants. The woman with him, Kayla Thompson, reportedly returned the item.

The pair were taken to the Marshall County Jail for a preliminary charge of Theft and Gibson has an additional charge of Disorderly Conduct.

BP Releases List of Sites Affected By Tainted Fuel

Posted on Author WKVI

BP has released a searchable database containing a list of the gasoline retail sites that sold off-specification gasoline. BP says this gasoline has been associated with problems related to the alkylation unit at their refinery in Whiting.

BP officials say that once these locations were identified, each retail site was instructed to immediately stop selling the tainted fuel and to properly clean out their tanks and dispose of the material. They say the problem at the Whiting refinery has been fixed, and they are now only supplying terminals with gasoline that meet their “rigorous quality standards.”

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Plea Agreements Rejected For Two In Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Kristen Webb and Joshua Givens were in Starke Circuit Court yesterday for sentencing hearings.

The pair were arrested on November 23, 2011 after officers from the Knox City Police Department executed a search warrant at 605 South Portland Street after learning of possible drug activity at the residence. Police reportedly found methamphetamine, marijuana, controlled substances and paraphernalia at the residence. Five people were arrested as a result of the search warrant.

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