Joey Logano Wins Rain-Delayed Race at Texas Motor Speedway

Joey Logano
Joey Logano

He’s the seventh different winner and seventh different driver in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

It took a long time to find out who would win the Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway after Mother Nature once again played her hand in delaying a NASCAR event, but it was Joey Logano who was victorious in a green-white-checkered finish in Monday’s race.

Joey Logano ran in the top ten for the entire race and took the lead on lap 227. He would not give up that lead until a late-race caution flew as Kurt Busch was slow on the track. Jeff Gordon and Brian Vickers’ teams decided to take two tires for track position. Gordon had a good restart and had the lead on the first lap. The four tires Logano took proved to be a stronger choice as the powered past Gordon just after the white flag flew. Logano was able to secure the win.

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Cause and Manner of Death of Isaiah Grounds Released by Starke County Coroner

Isaiah Lincoln Grounds
Isaiah Lincoln Grounds

Starke County Coroner Kris Rannells has released the cause and manner of death in the case of Isaiah Grounds.

A forensic autopsy was conducted at the Northeast Indiana Forensic Center in Fort Wayne by Forensic Pathologist Dr. Scott Wagner. Dr. Wagner determined that Grounds’ cause of death was a combined effect of acute blood loss from injuries consistent with a motor vehicle crash and cold exposure. The manner of death was accidental.

Grounds was reported missing on Dec. 12. He was last seen alive at the Grovertown Truckstop entering a vehicle in the early morning hours on Dec. 10. That vehicle was found abandoned following an accident at 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 10. A resident searching for Isaiah Grounds on horseback found his body a half mile from the accident scene on Dec. 23.

Rannells stated that no further details are being released at this time. An investigation is ongoing with the Indiana State Police along with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.

Single-Vehicle Crash in Plymouth Sends South Bend Woman to Hospital

 

 
 

A South Bend woman who lost control of her vehicle while merging onto U.S. 31 northbound from U.S. 30 westbound late Friday morning was taken to St. Joseph Hospital. Sarah K. Thrasher, 22, hit a light post before her vehicle rolled over and came to rest on its roof, according to a news release from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office. She sustained a head injury and complained of pain.

Flood Warnings Extended for Local Rivers

 
 

The National Weather Service has extended flood warnings for two local rivers. Minor Kanakee River flooding is occurring at Davis Route 30. The river was holding steady at 10.4 feet last night. Flood stage there is 10 feet, at which low-lying agricultural areas start to flood. The river is expected to fall below 10 feet Friday morning. The flood warning has also been extended for the Tippecanoe River near Ora. Last night the there was just below the 12-foot flood stage. It’s expected to rise above that tomorrow afternoon, crest near 12.1 feet Wednesday morning and fall below flood stage around mid-afternoon. Significant lowland and rural flooding begins when the river reaches the 12 foot mark.

Starke County Building Corporation, Commissioners Meeting This Morning

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse

The Starke County Building Corporation plans to appoint a committee to discuss future uses for the current jail. They are meeting this morning at 8:30 at the county annex building, prior to the commissioners meeting at 9. Skillman Corporation will also provide an update on how construction of the new jail east of Knox on State Road 8 is going. It’s scheduled for completion in the spring of 2015. The commissioners agenda includes consideration of a proposal from Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski to relocate some precincts. Officials from IU Health Starke Hospital will also discuss the physicians recruitment program. EMA Director Ted Bombagetti and James Coad are on the agenda regarding the county’s emergency preparedness plan. Wendy Elam from CADA has a proclamation for the county to declare April Child Abuse Prevention Month. CADA, CASA and the Indiana Department of Child Services are kicking off the awareness campaign tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Nancy J. Dembowski Convention Center in downtown Knox with a Pinwheels for Prevention candle lighting ceremony. Members of the public are invited to come show their support for children in the community. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place inside.

Fire Officials to Meet to Discuss Efforts to Streamline Dispatch Calls

 
 

Some changes have been made in the way fire departments are being dispatched in Starke County with the way medical calls are being handled and a meeting is scheduled for tonight to explain some of those changes.

Dave Pearman from the Washington Township Fire Department said the process is being streamlined.

“There were Post-it notes that were covering the monitors in our 911 dispatch office and we looked within the fire service and within emergency services altogether and asked ourselves what could we change about that?” stated Pearman.

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Voter Registration Ends Today, Public Test of Voting Machines Today

  
 

Today is the last day to register to vote in the May 6 Primary Election.

One way to register is to go online and visit www.IndianaVoters.com. If you go online to register, you need to have a valid Indiana Driver’s License Number or Indiana State Identification number handy in order to complete the online registration.

If you are registered to vote but you need to update your name, address or other pertinent information, you may also do that online.

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Starke County Tax Bills to be Mailed Next Week

 
 

Starke County property tax bills will be mailed on Friday, April 18.

Treasurer Kasey Clark told WKVI News that solid waste bills will be billed along with your taxes this year. Solid waste bills were billed separately but it will now be included in your property tax statement. If the bill is delinquent, you will receive a notice from the Starke County Environmental Management Office.

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Annual Community Health Fair Scheduled May 13

 
 

The annual IU Health and Community Services of Starke County Health Fair will take place Tuesday, May 13 from 2 until 7 p.m. at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in downtown Knox. IU Health Starke Hospital President Craig Felty says both organizations are dedicated to improving the health of local residents. He says the health fair will feature a number of educational exhibits and several types of screenings. Blood pressure and blood sugar checks, breast exams, oral cancer screenings and osteoporosis checks will all be offered. Also  take-home colorectal cancer screening kits will be available. Felty says checking for these types of conditions is critical in order to catch and treat problems before they become significant. IU Health Starke Hospital is also licensed to inspect child safety seats. Technicians will be available at the health fair to make sure car seats are properly installed and sized for the child. This year’s health fair will also feature a coloring area for youngsters so parents and other adults can more easily browse the exhibits and take part in the screenings.

Work Zone Awaress Week begins Today

 
 

With the start of spring, road construction projects are ready to begin.

This week is Work Zone Awareness Week in Indiana. The Indiana Department of Transportation is dedicated to continuously improving work zone safety and crews and motorists need to make highway work zones as safe as possible.

This year’s national theme is “Work Zone Speeding: A Costly Mistake”. Motorists can face fines up to $1,000 for speeding and up to $5,000 for driving recklessly through work zones. Fines are used to fund additional Indiana State Police work zone patrols and promote public safety.

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Final Knox Water Customers Thawed Out, Pipes Fixed

 
 

All of the Knox Water Department customers whose pipes froze over the winter have been thawed out.  Water Superintendent Todd Gardner also tells WKVI news that the last of the leaks have been repaired.

The bitterly cold temperatures and frozen ground took their toll on residents in Parkview Heights and elsewhere around the city due to shallow water lines that were put in the ground before the current code standard of five feet was adopted.

Gardner suggested at the last Knox Board of Works meeting that the city send reminder postcards to residents of the affected areas prior to the onset of cold weather next year advising them to let faucets run to prevent pipes from freezing. The city did adjust bills for customers whose use was excessive due to leaving their water turned on.

Remember Laws When Posting Political Signs

 
 

Candidates seeking office in the May Primary Election and who are posting campaign signs should be reminded that the signs can not be placed in a right-of-way space.

Political signs should be within private property. Signs shall be permitted to be displayed no more than 90 days prior to the scheduled election and shall be removed within 14 days after the Primary Election.

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Seat Belt and Impaired Driving Patrols Scheduled in April in LaPorte

 
 

Officers with the LaPorte City Police Department will be working 40 hours of Operation Pull Over funded seat belt patrols in April. Impaired driving patrols will be held every weekend in April that are organized through the LaPorte County DUI Taskforce.

LaPorte City Police Department officers have investigated several accidents so far this year. Severe weather and alcohol contributed to most of the accidents.

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Motorists Urged to Be Aware of Motorcycles

  
 

This weekend’s expected break from rain will likely have motorcycle riders revving their engines for a ride after a dreary winter.

Motorists need to be extra vigilant as bikers take to the roads. That means double-checking at intersections before pulling out. Motorcycle riders should also turn their headlights on during the day to make their bikes more visible.

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Ancilla College SGA Donates Penny Wars Proceeds to Charity

Joel Thomas proudly wears his “winner’s costume”
Joel Thomas proudly wears his “winner’s costume”

The Ancilla College Student Government Association recently concluded campus-wide “Penny Wars” to raise money for the organization and area charities.

Faculty, staff and students volunteered to have their face on a tea jug in order to raise money for a group or charity of their choice. In all, 10 volunteers took part, including: Dr. Tom Buchanan (faculty) for the Marshall County Historical Society, Chelsea Chalk (faculty and PTK rep) for Culver Boys & Girls Club, Jacob Cross (student) for Military Family Association, John Gough (faculty) for the Neighborhood Center, Kristin Korcha (faculty) for Relay for Life Starke County, Jill Neidlinger (faculty and SGA rep) for Ancilla College Emergency Fund, Allen Renz (student and Dance Club rep) for Ancilla College Emergency Fund, Joel Thomas (faculty) for Marshall County Humane Society, Steve VanDerAa (faculty) for Relay for Life Marshall County, and Sr. Carleen Wrasman (staff) for Sojourner Truth house.

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