A trial date has been set in the case of a man who is accused of murdering his estranged wife.
Gary Chavez appeared for a status hearing in Starke Circuit Court on Monday afternoon with his attorneys, Leslie Baker and Dave Welter. Starke County Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff indicated that there were some discovery issues with several pieces of evidence. Dave Welter told the judge that some medical reports are also needed and Chavez may require another surgery.
The intersection of Culver Road and Klockner Drive will not reopen this week as originally scheduled. The contractor advises WKVI News paving has been delayed due to weather and is now scheduled for early next week. The intersection is now set to reopen on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Continue reading
Curtis DeVries was sentenced Monday afternoon in Starke Circuit Court.
A 12-member jury found Curtis DeVries not guilty on a charge of burglary, but he was found guilty on a lesser included offense of residential entry, a Class D felony. The jury also found DeVries guilty on a charge of criminal mischief as a Class A misdemeanor. The verdicts came in on Friday, Oct. 24.
Judge Kim Hall told DeVries Monday that he has a large drinking problem that he needs to get under control. Judge Hall stated that if he hadn’t have consumed such a large amount of alcohol on the night of this event, he wouldn’t be in court facing a sentence.
A good employment record and a commitment to help his mother with Alzheimers were just a couple of factors in Russell Hendron’s favor when it came to his sentencing hearing in Starke Circuit Court.
Hendron was charged with maintaining a common nuisance and possession of methamphetamine. Hendron took the stand where he explained that he had held at position at a North Judson business for three decades. He left his long-time employment to care for his mother who moved into his home after being diagnosed with Alzheimers. He said that he’s been working out of his home attempting to make ends meet. He accepted that fact that what he did was wrong and is ready to put this behind him.
Construction for Starke/Pulaski Habitat for Humanity’s fifth home is projected to be finished next month. Starke/Pulaski Habitat for Humanity President Steve Morrison says this house was built in record time compared to the other four. Continue reading
A second bomb threat in as many weeks was reported today at the Culver Community Middle and High School building. Superintendent Dr. Vicki McGuire tells WKVI News a message was left on the restroom wall stating there was a bomb in the building. Continue reading
The Knox City Council will meet tonight where more discussion will be held regarding a dumpster ordinance.
When the council members last met, City Attorney David Matsey issued policy copies from other municipalities and to choose specific options that would pertain to city. He noted that the main goal is to restrict the time in which dumpsters can be placed at a site where a project is in progress. More information will be sorted out during tonight’s meeting.
Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer gave the commissioners an update on his discussions surrounding the changes in the CAGIT tax with the local legislators.
Origer had approached the commissioners at their earlier November meeting for support in overturning legislation to free up money for the CEDIT fund for economic development. He believes that the special CAGIT tax should be used to help pay the jail lease instead of the CEDIT fund. Origer argued that the CEDIT fund should be used for economic development projects and not just the jail lease. To do this, Origer needs to approach local legislators to change legislation allowing language to change the law to reflect his request.
The Marshall County Commissioners recently discussed a Memorandum of Understanding to continue the Meals on Wheels program at the Marshall County Council on Aging.
County Attorney Jim Clevenger stated that the current agreement expires Dec. 31 of this year and it needed to be renewed. The agreement allows the meals to be cooked at the Marshall County Jail at a cost of $3.25 per person. The personnel at the Marshall County Council on Aging pick up the meals at the jail and deliver them to those in need.
A pair of robot enthusiasts at Plymouth High School continues to trounce the competition. Josh Kuhn and Kennedy Schneiders, seniors at Plymouth High School traveled to Crown Point Saturday, Nov. 8 to compete in their first VEX Robotics competition for the 2014-15 season. Continue reading
A LaPorte County man is jailed on a $1 million cash bond in connection with yesterday’s stabbing death at a Trail Creek residence. Bradley M. Arndt, 47, of Trail Creek is charged with murder as a Level 1 felony in connection with his brother’s death. Thomas Arndt, 54, of Michigan City, was stabbed multiple times with a 40 to 45 inch Samuri sword, according to an Indiana State Police news release. It was found stuck in the ground near the body. Continue reading
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department investigated an accident on Thursday involving a semi-tractor trailer and a 14-year-old pedestrian on U.S. 421 just south of Gordon Street in Francesville.
The truck driver, 57-year-old Jerry E. Dehaven of Rossville, Indiana, was southbound on U.S. 421 when he observed a pedestrian walking along the road, according to a news release. Dehaven stated that the pedestrian turned and walked into the southbound lane and he attempted to miss the pedestrian. He reportedly told police that he was unable to miss the pedestrian and she was struck by the center of the tractor-trailer knocking her to the ground.
Formal charges are pending against a homicide suspect in LaPorte County. The Indiana State Police Criminal Investigation Division is investigating a fatal stabbing that occurred Sunday afternoon in Trail Creek. Police there got a 911 call just before 1 p.m. about an argument at a home in the 100 block of Hummingbird Drive. During the telephone conversation, authorities say someone yelled into the phone that it had turned into a stabbing. Continue reading
A murder defendant is scheduled to appear in Starke Circuit Court this afternoon for a status hearing. Gary Chavez is charged with murder, kidnapping and carjacking. Authorities say he killed his estranged wife, Kimberly Chavez, at their rural Knox home on June 6, drove to Mark Bailey’s Discount Center, left his car and kidnapped a store employee at gunpoint. Continue reading
Batten down the hatches, we’re in for a blustery day. The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for the WKVI listening area until 7 p.m. EST/6 p.m. CST this evening. Southwest winds will increase to 25 to 35 miles-per-hour by mid to late morning, with gusts reaching 45 mph during the day. Continue reading
WKVI’s Fifth Annual Food Drive on Saturday was a rousing success. Tom Berg and Tony Ross collected items and donations at Five Star for the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry, while Nathan Welter, Mitch Columbe and Mary Perren did the same at Sanders in the Winamac Plaza. Items collected there went to the Pulaski County Human Services Food Pantry. They include 5,200 pounds of food and $1,392.49. Galbreath employees brought two vehicles full of food, weighing 3,000 pounds, and the Winamac Community High School Football Team also gave generously. After the drive was over, the WKVI staff helped unload the items at Pulaski County Human Services, where they will be sorted and distributed to families in need. Continue reading
The principal of a local high school is the 2014 District High School Principal of the Year. Plymouth High School Principal James Condon was honored by the Indiana Association of School Principals during their weekend celebration dinner. Continue reading
Enrollment in health plans offered through the Affordable Care Act is under way. Informational meetings are scheduled at IU Health Starke Hospital in the coming weeks to help navigate plan options. Participants can find out if insurance rates will be lower based on income and compare different options side-by-side. Several certified navigators will be on hand to answer questions and help prospective enrollees pick plans. On-site enrollment will also be available. Continue reading
River otters are thriving a little too well in Indiana nearly 20 years after their successful reintroduction into the state. Last year biologists with the division of fish and wildlife received 86 complaints of river otters eating fish from private ponds and commercial hatcheries or destroying private property. That’s up from 69 complaints in 2012. Also the number of control permits issued or renewed nearly doubled from 11 in 2012 to 21 in 2013. Continue reading
Continuing road work on Interstate 94 in Porter County will reduce the roadway to one lane for the next few nights, weather permitting. Indiana Department of Transportation contractors will be restriping the highway between State Road 249 and State Road 49 tonight and tomorrow night. That work will take place between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Continue reading
