LaPorte Man Sentenced in Federal Court

 A LaPorte man is heading to federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. David Diederich, 58, was sentenced last week to 3 years and 5 months in prison, one year of supervised release and fined $1,000. Court documents indicate Diederich possessed an Empire Ejector shotgun while in LaPorte County. He was convicted of a felony in 1976 in St. Joseph Superior Court.

 

 

Welcome Home Heroes Parade

 

Women and men from all across our nation have been putting their lives on the line to defend the United States of America for centuries. The city of Knox is teaming up with the St. Joe Valley Blue Star Mothers of Indiana #6 to honor those heroes with a welcome home parade. It will take place on Sept. 13th. Continue reading

Follow Ordinances Pertaining to Fireworks

 There are laws governing when fireworks can be ignited in cities and towns in Indiana.

For instance, in the city of Knox, the use, discharge or ignition of consumer fireworks by any person or other entity is prohibited in the corporate limits except between the hours of 5 p.m. and two hours after sunset from June 29 to July 3 and from July 5 to July 9. On July 4, fireworks may be discharged from 10 a.m. to midnight.

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Results of the 2014 Miss Pulaski Pageant Are In

photo courtesy of the Pulaski Post
photo courtesy of the Pulaski Post

The Miss Pulaski County Pageant was on Sunday at the 4-H fair. Even though all the girls displayed excellent poise and elegance there could only be one crowned queen.
This year’s winner of the Miss Pulaski Pageant was Justine Kruger. She also walked away with the People’s Choice Award. First runner-up and winner of Miss Congeniality was Emerald Blankenship. The second runner-up was Jessica Wagner and the third runner-up was Olivea Gorby.

Suspect Arrested in Grovertown Break-In

police badge
 

A Grovertown man faces multiple charges after detectives from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department served a warrant at his home late last week. Detective Rob Olejniczak says items reported stolen from the Grovertown home of Hope Grounds on June 15 were recovered at Stephen Danti’s residence in the 4000 North block of 1100 East. Continue reading

Starke County Deputy Arrests Habitual Traffic Violator

 
 

A habitual traffic violator faces new charges in Starke County after his arrest on Friday by a Starke County Sheriff’s Deputy. A vehicle driven by Steven Gott was pulled over on 350 East after running a stop sign, according to information from the sheriff’s department. Gott’s license is suspended, and he was also consuming alcohol while driving, according to the arrest report.

Sunday Morning Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Arrest

Jihad Muhammad
Jihad Muhammad

A traffic stop just before 1 a.m. Sunday on U.S. 31 north of 4A Road in Marshall County ended with the arrest of a man police say was driving under the influence with two children in the vehicle. Jihad A. Muhammad failed several field sobriety tests, according to a news release from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department. It notes officers could smell burnt marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and found a baggie of possible pot inside the car. Muhammad refused a certified chemical test. He faces charges of operating while intoxicated – endangering, which is a class D felony, as well as possession of marijuana under 30 grams and driving while suspended-prior. The children were released at the scene to their mother.

Intoxicated Driver Arrested After Posting Bond for a Friend

 
 

A woman police say came to the Marshall County Jail early Sunday morning to post bond for a prisoner wound up back there as an inmate a short time later. According to a news release from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, several people came to the jail at 4:15 a.m. As they were leaving about 20 minutes later, a jail staffer noticed one or more of them was possibly drunk. Continue reading

Starke County Economic Development Director Discusses Industrial Park Road Work

 
 

Preparation is the driving force behind road projects on Starke County 300 East through the Knox Industrial Park. Work will start next week on the reconstruction of the State Road 8 and 300 East intersection as well as on the widening of 300 East between Pacific Avenue and Culver Road.

“We’re making it attractive and possible for companies to come into Starke County to invest and to hire people. To do that we have to have the site ready,” Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charles Weaver tells WKVI News. “We have to have a place where they can build, hence the tree project. We have to have a place that they can get access to – the road projects. We have to make it safe, because we have on these same roads school buses going down them, we’ve got tractor-trailer rigs, we’ve got personal cars, we’ve got grain trucks. It’s not safe now.” Continue reading

Ancilla College President Reflects on Tenure

Dr. Ron May
Dr. Ron May

Ancilla College will soon have a new president. This is Dr. Ron May’s last day. He’s retiring after eight years at the private, two-year school. He says Ancilla fills an important niche for students by giving them the foundation to either continue their education at a four-year institution like IU or Purdue or succeed in the workforce after they graduate.  Continue reading

Longtime West Central Superintendent Retires

West Central Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central Superintendent Charles Mellon

A local school corporation will have a new superintendent when classes start in the fall. This is Charles Mellon’s last day at West Central. He’s retiring after 34 years with the corporation. Mellon started there as an assistant principal in 1980 and worked his way into the front office.

“It is a great place to raise a family. Most things are centered around school and church in this community. That’s what we enjoyed. A lot of our staff that come in new stay. That’s a good sign that’s a good place to live and a good, strong school corporation,” Mellon told WKVI News. Continue reading

Take a bow

Ted Hayes
Ted Hayes

Today, we say a fond farewell to our mentor, colleague and friend, Ted Hayes. Over the years, Ted has served in many capacities at WKVI: general manager, news director, commercial producer and longtime on-air personality, forging many friendships throughout the Kankakee Valley and our listening area.

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Brad Keselowski Gets Win at Kentucky Speedway

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway on June 28, 2014 in Sparta, Kentucky. Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images
Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway on June 28, 2014 in Sparta, Kentucky. Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

Brad Keselowski had a car that was unbeatable. It started out of the gate on the pole and finished in the winning position Saturday night in the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He led 199 out of the 267 laps in the race.

As he celebrated in Victory Lane with his crew, a champagne bottle exploded in Keselowski’s right hand which required a trip to the infield care center. That wasn’t about to cork his night. He returned to Victory Lane four stitches later to continue the celebration.

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