Kahne Wins at Atlanta

Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Oral-B USA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on August 31, 2014 in Hampton, Georgia.  Photo by Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images
Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Oral-B USA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on August 31, 2014 in Hampton, Georgia. Photo by Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images

You can’t always bet that the most dominant car is going to win any race. Kasey Kahne proved that Sunday night in the Oral-B USA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Kevin Harvick had the car to beat but Kahne got the better of him at the end.

A caution came out with about 30 laps to go when Brad Keselowski got into the back of Josh Wise. Denny Hamlin was about ready to pit and couldn’t get to pit lane as another car was slowing to let Hamlin go by which caused a bottleneck in that area. Wise slowed and Keselowski couldn’t avoid the collision.

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Blaney Picks up First Truck Series Win in Dramatic Fashion

Ryan Blaney, driver of the #29 Cooper Standard Ford, and German Quiroga, driver of the #77 OtterBox Toyota, take the checkered flag during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chevrolet Silverado 250 on August 31, 2014 in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/NASCAR via Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, driver of the #29 Cooper Standard Ford, and German Quiroga, driver of the #77 OtterBox Toyota, take the checkered flag during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chevrolet Silverado 250 on August 31, 2014 in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/NASCAR via Getty Images

It came down to the final three turns and the first place runner and the second place runner were swapping the lead. Ryan Blaney, who had been leading after the final caution and most of the race, was getting some pressure from German Quiroga in the closing laps of the 64-lap feature at the road course north of the border. As they entered into the final turns at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Quiroga was able to get by Blaney for the lead but Blaney performed a quick crossover move and was able to just inch in front of Quiroga as they crossed the finish line.

The margin of victory was 0.050 seconds.

This was Blaney’s first win in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this season and his 10th top 10 finish of the year. Blaney sits third in the points standings and is now 13 points behind Johnny Sauter in the hunt for the championship.

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Man Arrested in Homicide Investigation

 
 

LaPorte police are investigating a homicide that occurred after 2 a.m. CT Saturday.

Officers were called to the 1000 Block of Lincolnway and found a man who was bleeding profusely. The victim was immediately transported to IU Health LaPorte Hospital and later died.

A preliminary investigation and evidence collected at the scene led to the arrest of Justin M. Lower. Lower, 26, has been preliminarily charged with murder and is being held in the LaPorte County Jail.

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Man Arrested on Forgery, Counterfeiting Charges

Armen Sylvester
Armen Sylvester

A man suspected of presenting a counterfeit check to two businesses has been arrested.

The investigation began Wednesday, Aug. 27 where Plymouth police officers were notified of the incident. A man who identified himself as Jason Milton attempted to purchase a Polaris Ranger at Turn One Motorsports in the amount of $11,000 with a check. The suspect was to pick up the item the following day. Further examination found that the check and the man’s identity were counterfeit.

Other businesses that sell these off-road vehicles were notified of the incident.

The next day, North End Cycle Shop in Elkhart reported that the same man entered their store and attempted to buy a Polaris Ranger. An officer with the Elkhart Police Department took the check into evidence.

The suspect was later identified as Armen Jerome Sylvester and he was arrested and incarcerated in the Marshall County Jail.

Sylvester, 53, has preliminary charges of forgery, counterfeiting, attempted theft, and identity deception. His bond has been set at $10,000 cash.

Knox City Council Reschedules Budget Public Hearing

 The Knox City Council will have the public hearing on the 2015 budget on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston told the council members this week that the date was modified from its original calendar date due to an error in the publication. Houston said he notified the Department of Local Government Finance and they are aware of the change and approved it. The budget needed to be re-advertised for two weeks which has caused the delay in the public hearing.

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Knox Board of Public Works Affirms Demolition Orders on Two Properties

  
 

The Knox Board of Public Works heard from Building Administrator Bruce Williams on several properties that are under notice of condemnation.

One property is the old pool business on 10 S. Heaton Street that is just north of the railroad tracks. That building was ravaged by a fire several years ago and poses as a safety hazard. The roof and structure are damaged and it is recommended for demolition. Williams stated that he has not gotten a reply back from the owners concerning a certified letter that was sent. The board members approved a motion to affirm the condemnation order to demolish the building.

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Plymouth City Council Decides Property Issues

  
 

The Plymouth City Council discussed two property issues in Monday’s meeting. An affirmation of order to take action regarding an unsafe building at 414 West LaPorte Street in Plymouth was taken. The building was going to be sold but after damage was assessed the person interested in purchasing it did not want to follow through with the agreement. There has been a dispute over the money but the deeded owner will meet with his attorney to resolve the conflict with the transaction. The next step that needs to be taken is to get permission from the board to affirm a peace order to demolish the building. The motion was unanimously approved.

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Enjoy More of the Blueberry Festival Today

Blueberry-Logo-2012The 48th annual Marshall County Blueberry Festival continues today with many activities on the schedule for anyone to enjoy.

The Elks Blueberry Breakfast will start at 6:30 a.m. EDT while the Blueberry Bicycle Cruise starts at 7 a.m. The festival officially kicks off at 9 a.m. with tennis, volleyball and softball tournaments throughout the morning. A blood drive will start at 12 p.m. and run through 6 for anyone who would like to donate. Music all day will be provided by different artists from country to blues and Christian rock.

A hot air balloon launch will start at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by the K-9 dog trick show. The festival will continue through Monday. Click here for a complete schedule of events.

Monterey Days Festival Continues

  
 

The 17th annual Monterey Days Festival continues today with a full schedule of events. Enjoy the Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. EDT. Free carnival rides start at 10 and will run to 6 p.m. The Loehmer’s Hardware Pedal Tractor Pull will begin at 11 a.m. The karaoke contests will start at noon and go until 3 p.m. The Monterey Days Parade will start at 5 p.m. followed by Kiss the Pig Contest. The evening will finish up with live pro wrestling. For a schedule of events got to the Monterey Days Festival Facebook page.

Tippecanoe Arts Federation Seeking Visual Art Exhibition Applicants

TAF Logo (tagnextto) ColorThe Tippecanoe Arts Federation is looking for visual art exhibits to hang in the Wells Community Cultural Center galleries in 2016. All artists, art groups, arts organization and schools from the Region IV counties are eligible to submit an application and electronic portfolio for panel review. Artists in Pulaski, White, Jasper, Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fountain, Howard, , Montgomery, Newton, Tippecanoe, Tipton and Warren counties who are at least 18 are eligible to apply. Continue reading

Week 2 Football Predictions

Harold’s Picks (3-1)

Jimtown over John Glenn

South Central over Culver

West Central over Caston

North Judson over Knox

Winamac over Pioneer

Nathan’s Picks (3-1)

John Glenn over Jimtown

Culver over South Central

West Central over Caston

Knox over North Judson

Winamac over Pioneer

Tom’s Blind Picks (1-3)

John Glenn over Jimtown

South Central over Culver

Caston over West Central

North Judson over Knox

Winamac over Pioneer

Local Scores 8/29/14

Boys Cross Country

Triton-25  Knox-30 (Top Finisher: Knox-Seth Hernandez)

Girls Cross Country

Knox-15  Triton-No Score (Top Finisher: Knox-Sophie Flora)

Girls Golf

John Glenn-200  Triton-240  Knox-303 (Medalists: Glenn-Anna Schmeltz-46; Knox-Kindrick Joseph-60)

Boys Tennis

LaLumier-4  NJSP-1 (Winners: NJ- #1 DBLs Kaden Shepherd and Bane Stayrook)

Volleyball

John Glenn-3  Triton-0

Oregon-Davis-3  NJSP-1

Plymouth-3  Knox-1

 

Students Thriving at The Crossing

Starke County's Crossing campus is located next to Save a Lot on U.S. 35 south of Knox.
Starke County’s Crossing campus is located next to Save a Lot on U.S. 35 south of Knox.

The 29 students enrolled at Starke County’s newest school are thriving in the non-traditional learning environment. The Crossing alternative school opened recently and offers a second chance to students who have been expelled from or dropped out of public schools. Principal Quentin Bishop says the school is an extension of the students’ sending schools.

“This is like a classroom just down the road from their sending school. We have that type of relationship, that type of partnership to say we’re not only just The Crossing Education Center working as an independent school. We’re actually in partnership with our public schools,” Bishop said. Continue reading

Knox City Council to Move Forward with Refinancing Water Bonds

Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council will be considering refinancing the water bonds to save money over the life of the bonds.

Mayor Rick Chambers explained how much the city could save each year of the life of the bonds.

“We’re currently paying on two water bonds. The first one will be paid off in 2025 and we owe about $650,000 on that one. The second one will be paid off three years later in 2028 and we owe about $950,000 on that one – so, about $1.6 million. Right now we’re paying 4.75 percent interest on one and almost five on the other. Umbaugh believes we re-bond in the low threes. Over the life of 14 years, we could save about $150,000,” explained Chambers.

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More Police Patrols Planned Over The Weekend

 The Operation Pull Over safe driving campaign will be in effect this weekend for the State and local law enforcement agencies.

Additional patrols on the road in high traffic areas as well as sobriety checkpoints will be arranged. Troopers will be looking for aggressive drivers that are speeding, following too close, making unsafe lane changes and not wearing seatbelts.

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BMV Branches to Close for Labor Day

 
 

If you have business with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, you need to take care of it today or wait until Tuesday. BMV branches across the state are closing tomorrow and Monday in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday. More information about BMV branches and services offered is available online at www.MyBMV.com.