Michael Salita Trial Begins Today in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Michael Salita
Michael Salita

A jury trial is set to begin today in the case of Michael Salita.

Salita, 28, was arrested on Aug. 14, 2014 on a charge of rape as a Level 3 felony. Jury selection of 12 jurors and one alternate will be held beginning at 9 a.m. followed by opening statements by both Deputy Prosecutor Autumn Ferch and defense attorney Richard Ballard.

The state is anticipated to call up to four witnesses while the defense will have five witnesses to testify in the case. The only motion that Ballard made to the court was that all witnesses be separated during the trial.

The trial is expected to take two days in Starke Circuit Court. The jury will deliberate after all testimony and closing statements are given.

Pulaski County Prosecutor Discusses Budget with County Council

Posted on Author WKVI

Pulaski County CourthousePulaski County Prosecutor Daniel Murphy approached the county council this week to ask the council members to accept his full-time employment and wages as he begins his four-year term in the office. That request was unanimously approved.

Crystal Sanders was appointed as deputy prosecutor.

He also asked for a transfer of $6,000 to satisfy the installation of money to the pre-trial diversion line item in the budget. The prosecutor requested that the money be moved from the pre-trial diversion user fees.

Continue reading →

Additional Appropriation Requests Approved for Sheriff’s Budget

Posted on Author WKVI

The Marshall County Council members approved some money movement within the sheriff’s budget Monday morning.

Sheriff Tom Chamberlin requested an additional appropriation for $30,000 for prisoner care. Council President Matt Hassel commented that the money was “inadvertently overlooked” from the 2015 budget. The request was approved by a vote of 6-1 with Judy Stone opposed. She said the certified shares line item would be healthy enough to afford to pay that expense by the third or fourth quarter.

Continue reading →

Starke County Veterans Service Officer Can Help Navigate VA Health Care System

Posted on Author WKVI

Veterans AffairsA program rolled out late last year by the Veterans Administration in an attempt to ensure timely access to health care services is creating confusion locally. The Veterans Choice Program gives veterans the option to seek non-VA health care rather than waiting for a VA appointment or traveling a long distance to the nearest facility. Starke County Veterans Service Officer Terry Turner says Starke County is geographically situated between the facilities in Crown Point and in Knox. Both places are more than 45 miles away by car, but Turner says the VA looks at distance as the crow flies. Continue reading →

Winamac Town Board Leaves Park Decisions Up To Managers

Posted on Author WKVI
Entrance to the Winamac Town Park
Entrance to the Winamac Town Park

The Winamac Town Board says it won’t be making the decisions when it comes to opening and closing the Town Park in winter.

During Monday night’s Board meeting, it was suggested the back portion of the park be closed during the colder months. The change could potentially save money, reduce hassle, and protect residents from dangerous or icy conditions.
Continue reading →

Enroll Now for Freedom from Smoking Classes

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

If you made a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking, you will soon have a program to help you stay smoke-free, presented by IU Health Starke Hospital, Moving Starke County Forward and Porter-Starke Services.

Cindy Reister, who is an American Lung Association-trained facilitator, will lead eight small group sessions to help participants get personalized attention to quit smoking. Evaluation studies show that individuals, who participate in small group sessions like this Freedom from Smoking Clinic, are more likely to stay smoke-free one year later than those who try to quit on their own.

Continue reading →

Eastern Pulaski School Board Reorganizes

Posted on Author WKVI
Eastern Pulaski School Board Members Tim Rausch, Joe Cunningham and Mike Tetzloff are sworn in during Monday's school board meeting.
Eastern Pulaski School Board Members Tim Rausch, Joe Cunningham and Mike Tetzloff are sworn in during Monday’s school board meeting.

Longtime Eastern Pulaski School Board member Joe Cunningham will continue serving as the president of that body after the board reorganized for the year. Deke Demarco was elected vice-president, and Terri Johnston was chosen secretary of the board. Continue reading →

Plans Nearly Finished for Eastern Pulaski Renovations

Posted on Author WKVI

Plans for the $14 million renovation project at Eastern Pulaski Schools are nearly finished. Superintendent Dan Foster says the architect is putting the final touches on things. Plans include securing the main entrances to the schools, upgrading the restrooms and replacing the floors in both gyms. Once the design is finalized, the project will be let for bid. Foster says they want to do a full 30-day process since it is so extensive. Continue reading →

Area Schools Could Benefit From Community College Proposal

Posted on Author WKVI

Ivy Tech Community College says they may become more accessible if one of President Barack Obama’s proposals makes it through Congress.

The President announced last week his intent to significantly reduce the cost of attending community college. The multi-billion dollar program intends to largely pay for the cost of the first two years of tuition for students maintaining a certain grade point average. This could have implications locally.
Continue reading →

Pulaski County Council Approves Funds to Keep County Home Open Three Months

Posted on Author WKVI
Pleasant View Rest Home
Pleasant View Rest Home

The Pulaski County Council members last night approved three months of funding for the Pleasant View Rest Home.

The council previously approved, by majority vote, to not include funding for the county home in the 2015 budget. However, by law, they have to keep the county home open for 90 days so the residents have time to find alternate housing. The council approved an additional appropriation in the amount of $52,596 to honor wages and operations until the Pleasant View Rest Home is closed for good on March 31.

Continue reading →

Starke County Commissioners Exploring Vehicle Options for Coroner

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County CommissionersStarke County Coroner Adam Gray will either have the old sheriff’s department prisoner transport van or former Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen’s Dodge Durango for use as a body transport vehicle. He broached the subject to the Starke County Commissioners last week. President Kent Danford is checking into whether the van is road-worthy before a decision is made. Continue reading →

Marshall County Council Approves Salary Increases for Court Services

Posted on Author WKVI
Marshall County Council
Marshall County Council

The Marshall County Council discussed an additional appropriation for Superior Court where Judge Dean Colvin asked for money to add to the court services director’s salary and to the substance abuse counselor’s salary.

Judge Colvin explained that the salaries were reduced in 2011 to accommodate cuts that needed to be done due to a lack of revenue and income the programs were receiving. According to Judge Colvin, the programs were turned around, thanks to the addition of Ward Byers to the office in 2013 and personnel in the office.

Continue reading →

Culver Town Board to Reorganize, Update Town Manager Search

Posted on Author WKVI
culver town hall
 

The Culver Town Council will be following suit and reorganizing itself during a regularly scheduled meeting, Tuesday.

Boards around the area have been reorganizing in accordance with state statute. The selection of a new board President and the reappointment of department positions are being carried out now that the November elections are over and board members have been seated for the New Year. Terms for the newly appointed positions can vary.
 Continue reading →

Knox City Council to Discuss Dumpster Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council will tackle the dumpster ordinance when they meet to work toward the second reading of the document tonight.

The council members wanted the opinion of the members of the plan commission before they approved the second reading of the ordinance. When the plan commission members met last week, they came up with several issues. Among the comments included the definition of dumpsters which they felt is too broad. They also thought the original purpose of the ordinance may have been for roll-off containers on public property and not all dumpsters. Location restrictions and time limits were additional concerns. The council will go through the plan commission’s comments when that agenda item comes up for discussion.

Continue reading →

West Central School Board Approves Driver’s Education Fee

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The West Central School Board approved driver’s education fees for this year’s round of classes. Superintendent Don Street said the summer classes were approved as presented to the school board members.

“Driver’s education for West Central students will be $200 and for non-corporation students it will be $300,” explained Street. “Our students also take an online portion of the course and that’s an additional $25. That do that test on their own.”

Continue reading →

Marshall County Initiates Travel Advisory

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Marshall County officials have initiated an advisory level travel restriction due to blowing and drifting snow.

Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery said that roads remain snow covered and slick. North winds are causing drifting issues on east/west roads in the county. Temperatures are expected to be below zero tonight which will turn slush into ice. This will create a hazardous travel condition. Wind chills are also expected to be below zero.

Continue reading →