Knox City Council Approves Bonds for Toll Brothers

Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox Economic Development Commission last night held a public hearing to discuss a proposed refunding of outstanding bonds of the city of Knox and the financing of economic development facilities for Toll Brothers. No members of the audience spoke out against the idea, and Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charles Weaver was present to explain the benefits of their proposal.

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Coats Would Like to See Humility in State of the Union Address

U.S. Sen. Dan Coats
U.S. Sen. Dan Coats
President Barack Obama gave his State of the Union address last night to Congress, giving the administration’s view of the state of the nation and plans for legislation. Among the topics expected to be addressed during the speech are income inequality, immigration, the Affordable Care Act, and the situation in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Indiana Senator Dan Coats is hopeful that he will address the economic policy as well.

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Exercise Caution When Utilizing Alternate Heat Sources

 
 

The lack of propane has forced residents to use alternate heating sources which may lead to more problems if those sources are not used properly.

If you are using woodstoves or fireplaces, use only dry, seasoned wood to avoid the build-up of creosote. Creosote is an oily deposit that can easily catch fire. Avoid using a flammable liquid to start the fire. A sturdy screen should be placed in front of the fireplace to avoid sparks from flying into the room.

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Double-Check Your Winter Preparedness

 
 
With subfreezing temperatures forecast for at least the next week, now is the perfect time to double-check your winter weather preparedness. Sherry Fagner with the Pulaski County Health Department said a good checklist includes a food backup plan, plenty of stocked water, and a number of other items in case disaster strikes.

Fagner recommends having enough food for at least three days and enough water for several days as well in case the electricity goes out or your pipes freeze. She said the amount of water should be sufficient to be used for sanitation purposes and for cooking. For food, she said it’s important to not only have nutritious items, but to stash some comfort food as well to prevent getting stir-crazy.

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Bill Would “Dismantle” Energy Efficiency In Indiana

  
 
Proposed legislation being reviewed at the Statehouse could dismantle Indiana’s energy-efficiency programs. The Demand Side Management program relies on both large and small users of electricity, but Senate Bill 340 would allow the large industrial users to opt out. The measure was written by Republican state Senator James Merritt and passed out of the Senate Utilities Committee last week.

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Starke County Cancels Travel Warning and Emergency Delaration

 

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse

Starke County’s travel warning and emergency declaration have been canceled. The county is now under a travel watch. This means essential travel, such as to and from work or in emergency situations is allowed. The Starke County Courthouse and Annex Building are still scheduled to open at 10 this morning. Pulaski and Marshall Counties are also under watches. Roads are still slippery, so allow yourself plenty of extra time to get to where you’re going. INDOT advises plow drivers are still fighting back against drifting on state roads in some of the rural areas around parts of Starke, Pulaski and Marshall Counties. Officials in Pulaski County advise highways have patches of ice, and county roads are slick and snow covered. If you do venture out, allow plenty of time to reach your destination. Roads are still slick under the snow, and salt is not effective to melt ice when temperatures are this cold.

Fires Destroy Homes in Knox and Francesville

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Toto Road Fire

A pair of house fires kept firefighters from five area departments busy last night. The Knox-Center Township and California Township Volunteer Fire Departments responded to a fire on Toto Road at Lart Lane near Fletcher’s Carpet and spent three hours battling that blaze. They were called out around 8:10 p.m., according to dispatchers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office.

In Pulaski County, the Francesville and Medaryville Fire Departments spent several hours fighting a fire at 6055 S. County Road 1100 W. The Buffalo Fire Department also provided manpower and water support, and Pulaski County REACT set up a warming station with coffee for the firefighters and EMS personnel on the scene. No injuries were reported at either fire scene. We’ll have more information about both later this morning.

 

Cold Weather Possible Culprit for Widespread Power Outage

Kankakee Valley REMCLast night’s sub-zero temperatures are likely to blame for a widespread power outage that left more than 1,300 Kankakee Valley REMC customers in the dark. The initial outage was reported around 6 p.m. in the Bass Lake and Monterey areas and affected more than 450 members. REMC crews identified the problem but had to cut power to additional customers in order to safely make repairs to the damaged source that was feeding an REMC metering point. Kankakee Valley REMC spokeswoman Amanda Steeb told WKVI news The cold makes the metal wire contract or shrink and break at a weak point or where a prior repair has been made. The Bass Lake Fire Station opened last night as a temporary warming shelter for affected residents. IU Health Starke Hospital is the county’s permanent warming center for the duration of this cold snap. The hospital lobby is available 24 hours to anyone who needs to get in out of the cold.

 

Temperatures Continue in the Negative; Wind Chill Warning in Effect

 
 
The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill warning for northern Indiana, predicting occasional snow, blowing and drifting snow, and bitterly cold temperatures. However, the Winter Weather Advisory has been allowed to expire for areas outside of lake effect snow showers. Steady or slowly falling temperatures will keep wind chills bitterly cold. A very slow improvement can be expected today and Wednesday.

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Starke County Highway Department Still Assessing Roads

Starke County Highway Superintendent Stephen "Rik" Ritzler
Starke County Highway Superintendent Stephen “Rik” Ritzler
The temperature is hovering right around 0 degrees but it feels like -19 degrees with the bitter wind chill, and the high winds are giving road cleanup crews a run for their money. Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told WKVI this afternoon that crews have been busy since 5 a.m. wrestling with the drifting snow, but it’s hard going.

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Starke County To Evaluate Emergency Declaration Later Today

Starke County Emergency Management Agency Director Ted Bombagetti says county highway crews are doing their best to clear the roads.

“They are having a heck of a time trying to get through the drifts from last night. The winds did not subside as early as anticipated. Once plows do go through, being that it is so cold, abrasives are not working all. All of the roads have ice packs underneath them. That’s why we’ve gone to a state of emergency,” said Bombagetti.

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Winter Weather, Wind Chill Advisories In Effect for Kankakee Valley

 
 

A winter weather advisory is in effect until noon Central today for the WKVI listening area. We’re also under a wind chill advisory until late Wednesday morning. Strong gusting winds of around 35 miles-per-hour will cause snow to blow and drift this morning. This in turn could make some roads impassable and cause localized white-out conditions in open areas. Please do not call county dispatch centers for updates on road conditions, as dispatchers are busy fielding emergency calls and sending help. Call 1- 800-261-7623 for road condition information or visit the Indiana Department of Transportation’s website at www.trafficwise.in.gov.
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Marshall County Issues Emergency Declaration, Upgrades to Travel Warning

 

  
 

An emergency declaration and warning level travel advisory are in effect for Marshall County. The City of Plymouth is also included, and the Marshall County Building and Courts are CLOSED as well. Strong winds are causing extensive blowing and drifting of roads making them hazardous to travel or, in some cases, impassable. If you drive in Marshall County with this warning in effect, you are subject to receiving a $500 ticket.

Fire Truck Crashes En Route to Call

Plow Truck 1
This INDOT plow truck was destroyed by fire Saturday morning on SR 39 north in Pulaski County.

Three Medaryville Volunteer Firefighters were taken to Pulaski Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries after their truck hit a patch of black ice Saturday morning on County Road 175 North just west of County Road 1400 West, struck a NIPSCO pole and came to a stop in a field. They were responding to a report of an INDOT snow plow truck that had caught fire on northbound State Road 39 just south of County Road 200 North. Plow driver Jimmy Collins, 26, of Winamac, came upon a large snow drift as he was heading north, and his plow got stuck. Collins got out of the truck to get a tow chain and saw that the rear tandems were on fire. The small fire extinguisher in the cab of the truck was no match for the high wind that was fanning the flames. The plow truck was a total loss, according to the accident report from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office. The fire truck sustained repairable damage.

Candidate Filings Guarantee Sheriff’s Races in May and November

  
 

Starke County voters will narrow the field of nominees to replace term-limited Sheriff Oscar Cowen in May and select his replacement in November. Deputy William “Bill” Dulin is the latest candidate to file his intention to seek that office, according to a list provided to WKVI news by the Starke County Clerk’s Office late Friday afternoon. He will face Democrat Harold Smith in the May 6 primary. Republicans Billy Bope and Greg Wireman have also filed their candidacy for Starke County Sheriff.

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