Five Arrested in Burglary and Robbery Investigation

Posted on Author WKVI
Shawn Sobolewski
Shawn Sobolewski
Jeremy Montano
Jeremy Montano
Bryan Parish
Bryan Parish

Brandon Montano
Brandon Montano
A police investigation by the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau into two separate robbery and burglary incidents in LaPorte County in May and July has resulted in five arrests.

A burglary and robbery incident was reported in May at a residence in the 5600 West block of County Road 300 North. During this event, a victim was confined and robbed. 34-year-old Shawn Sobolewski, 20-year-old Brandon Montano, 18-year-old Jonathan Surber and 16-year-old Bryan Parish, all of the Michigan City area, were arrested in this incident. According to police, due to the nature of the charge and age of Bryan Parish, he has been charged in LaPorte Circuit Court as juvenile court no longer has jurisdiction over him.

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West Central School Board Approves Boiler Purchase

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central School Board approved the purchase of a new boiler as one of three boilers stopped working at the corporation.

Superintendent Charles Mellon said the board discussed purchasing either a high efficiency boiler or an 85 percent efficiency boiler.

“We approved going with the 85 percent efficiency boiler rather than the more expensive high efficiency boiler,” said Mellon. “Since there are three boilers tied together, tying one high efficiency boiler in with two that are not we weren’t gaining that much. We didn’t want to replace all three at this time.”

The board hopes that the purchase can be made soon so the boiler can be replaced.

Avoid Becoming a Victim of Theft Rowe Offers Advice

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A chief deputy at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department has released a statement advising residents of a rash of daytime break-ins throughout the county and offered tips on how to avoid becoming a victim. Chief Deputy Brack Rowe said that while local law enforcement agencies in the county and the surrounding area have been making every attempt to stop and catch these thieves, there are still a number of steps residents can take to keep their belongings safe.

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State Trooper Offers Winter Driving Tips

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Ice and snow, take it slow. Trooper Brian Harshman with the Indiana State Police says it’s important to adjust your driving for the weather conditions. This includes slowing down and leaving plenty of space between vehicles.

“Action is always faster than reaction. On a perfectly sunny day at 60 miles-per-hour the normal person doesn’t realize how far it takes to stop a car on a sunny day on dry pavement. A lot of times you see them following at even a closer distance when the weather’s bad. A lot of times they don’t realize the distance it takes, especially on a slick roadway, to stop,” Harsman said.

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Keep Home Heating Bills Low This Winter

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
With winter weather at our doorstep, many Hoosiers are cranking up the thermostat and, consequently, their electric and natural gas bills as well. Anthony Swinger with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor said a home energy audit can go a long way toward helping residents reduce their energy use and better manage their heating bills.

According to Swinger, many consumers are eligible for a free assessment from Energizing Indiana.

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First Responders Rescue Motorist from Submerged Vehicle

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The female driver of a vehicle involved in a rollover wreck last night at the intersection of State Roads 8 and 39 was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital for treatment. Dispatchers at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call around 9:30 last night. The caller advised the vehicle had rolled over and was submerged in a ditch. Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Knox City Police Department were able to pull her from the vehicle. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital. The crash is still under investigation, and the woman’s name has not been released. There’s also no word yet on her condition. Members of the Knox Fire Department and Starke County Medics also responded.

U.S. 35 Bridge Project Nearing Completion

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Work on the U.S. 35 bridge is coming to a close.

Indiana Department of Transportation spokesman Matt Deitchley stated that it could be next week before the bridge is open to traffic. The final surface of the roadway, lane striping and median work is left. If the weather cooperates, the opening could occur a little sooner than anticipated.

The weather was the reason why the project was pushed back from its original completion date in November.

Deitchley will notify WKVI when the crews are nearing the time when the bridge will be open. The bridge has been closed since June.

Knox Council to Discuss Possible Increase in Insurance Coverage Tomorrow

Posted on Author WKVI

With the approval of the city council, Mayor Rick Chambers signed the proclamation, declaring 2013 a "Year of Health" for Knox.
With the approval of the city council, Mayor Rick Chambers signed the proclamation, declaring 2013 a “Year of Health” for Knox.
The Knox City Council is expected to continue discussion regarding insurance benefits for an injured fireman after tabling the discussion at their previous meeting. Mayor Rick Chambers asked Fire Chief Kenny Pfost to figure out the average pay received by firefighters to allow the council to decide whether to increase the insurance benefits to $600, $800, or $1000 weekly at an additional expense.

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Winamac Town Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI

Winamac Town Hall
Winamac Town Hall
The Winamac Town Council will meet tonight at 7 p.m. ET in the Winamac Town Complex.

An update on the Pulaski County Family YMCA will be given by Mike Banta, Mark Kolish will discuss town board tile and AECom will have information on the water project.

The town superintendents will have a monthly update for the board while Town Manager Jim Conner will have a few discussion items as well as Clerk-Treasurer Melanie Berger.

This meeting is open to the public.

Marshall County Commissioners Discuss Buggy and Trailer Plates

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Marshall County Highway Superintendent Neal Haeck gave the commissioners an update on costs of buggy plates and trailers in area counties.

The commissioners are attempting to find a way to repair roads that have a lot of horse and buggy traffic. Horse hooves and the buggy wheels create damage to the roads that aren’t made to sustain that type of traffic and Marshall County absorbs a lot of the cost of repairs.

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County Commission of Public Records of Starke County Discusses Document Disposal

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski
Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski
The County Commission of Public Records of Starke County members met last week and discussed several items during their annual meeting.

Clerk Evelyn Skronski said the commission meets once a year to review requests to destroy certain county government documents. Documents such as old unused election ballots and other outdated documents were reviewed for disposal. The recommendation to destroy that paperwork will be sent to the state commission who will then approve or disapprove the request. If the request is approved, the county can then review vendor bids to properly destroy the papers.

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SCILL Center Winter Clothing Drive Needs Distribution Sites

Posted on Author WKVI

SCILL Center
 
The SCILL Center is once again holding their winter clothing drive after collecting hundreds of coats, gloves, scarves and other winter clothing last year to be distributed to those in need of warm clothes last year. Jerry Gurrado, the coordinator of student services and programs at the SCILL Center, told WKVI that they are currently collecting articles but what they are most in need of are distribution sites.

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West Central School Board Approves School Improvement Plans

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central School Board members heard the school improvement plans for the school buildings at their meeting last week.

Superintendent Charles Mellon said these plans are required by the state. The principals gave a comprehensive report which the board approved.

“This is a little bit later this year,” said Mellon. “Normally that is to be done in September, but with the scoring errors and the lateness in getting the I-STEP results back to us, they extended that to January. The board approved the school improvement plans for each of the buildings.”

IU Health Starke Hospital Names New Interim Director

Posted on Author WKVI

Craig Felty
Craig Felty
IU Health Starke Hospital has a new interim administrator. Craig Felty will take over for fellow executive Linda Satoski, who is retiring. He’s served as the executive director of patient care services at the Knox facility since January of 2011. IU Health executives said in a statement that the search for a permanent president of IU Health Starke Hospital is ongoing and should be finished this spring. Felty brings more than 25 years of patient care and healthcare management experience to the position. He has worked as Patient Care Manager of the Mitchell Emergency Department at the University of Chicago Medical Center, Critical Care Transport Nurse for an ambulance service in Illinois and Director of Emergency Services for Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, Ill.

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