Work will start next week on the new Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Detention Center. County officials turned ceremonial shovels of dirt yesterday during the official groundbreaking for the $14 million project. The 146 bed jail will replace the existing 63 bed facility across from the courthouse. It opened in 1976, and Sheriff Oscar Cowen says a lot has changed since he joined the department in May of 1980.
A Plymouth man was sentenced to the maximum allowable sentence after pleading guilty in a plea agreement with the State to a charge of Child Molesting, a Class B felony.
Christopher Detrick, 38, pleaded guilty to the offense on Aug. 30 in Marshall County Superior Court 1, just four days before his trial by jury was to begin. During that hearing, Detrick admitted to molesting a 7-year-old girl. The victim, her mother and her sister were living with Detrick at the time. The acts occurred between February 2011 through March 2012.
After being closed for three days this week, the Henry F. Schricker Public Library in Knox is once again open, though work is still being done. Library Director Sheila Urwiler told WKVI that the children’s department has been moved to the newly constructed wing and the young adult department has been relocated from upstairs to its new area. On top of that, all the books have been put away, some bulletin boards have been put up, and some old furniture that won’t be reused has been disposed of.
A Westville Correctional Center employee was arrested on an outstanding warrant for Dealing a Schedule II Controlled Substance (Hydrocodone) as a Class B felony. Officers with the LaPorte City Police Department arrested 26-year-old Joseph Altemus of LaPorte on Wednesday, Nov. 6 and transported him to the LaPorte County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
The warrant had been issued as a result of an LaPorte County Metro Operations Unit investigation with the assistance of the Indiana Department of Corrections.
The public is encouraged to report potential drug activity to the LaPorte County Metro Operations Unit by calling (219) 325-9022.
An investigation into an alleged battery incident between a LaVille Elementary School bus driver and a student is being conducted by the Bremen Post of the Indiana State Police.
The alleged incident was reported on Oct. 24. The driver reportedly slapped the child shortly before letting him off the bus in the LaVille Elementary School parking lot. The student then immediately reported it to school officials.
School officials have reported the incident to the Indiana Department of Child Services who referred the case to the Indiana State Police who continue to investigate this case.
Dish Network is closing the doors on about 300 of its Blockbuster locations in the country and that will occur in January. Fifty franchised stores will remain open including the Knox store.
As part of the process, Blockbuster’s DVD-by-mail service is also shutting down next month.
About 2,800 people who work in Blockbuster’s stores and DVD distribution centers will lose their jobs.
Several members of the WKVI staff are heading to Indianapolis tomorrow for the 26th Annual Indiana Broadcasters Association Spectrum Awards. General Manager Jerry Curtis said WKVI is a finalist in two prestigious categories.
“Every year the association recruits entries, audio projects from stations in cities, towns and markets across the state. This year we’re fortunate enough to be a finalist in the Station of the Year category, and also we’ve been recognized as a finalist in the public affairs program for our Sunday program, Kankakee Valley Viewpoints. It’s on Sunday at noon. We won’t find out until the dinner Saturday night, but we’re looking forward to being there and celebrating in whatever fashion,” Curtis said.
If you picked up a Powerball ticket for Wednesday night’s drawing at a Marshall County convenience store, you may be a millionaire. Hoosier Lottery officials say a ticket worth $1 million was purchased at the Speedway on West Plymouth Street in Bremen. It matches the first five numbers, but not the Powerball. Those numbers are: 1, 5, 10, 15, 49, and the Powerball is 22.
A Boa Shores resident approached the Starke County Commissioners at their meeting this week with a complaint against a fellow resident of Boa Shores. Guy Tardi told the commissioners that another resident has been claiming the “Boa Shores park,” an area technically part of the county right-of-way, as his own private property, preventing residents from using it for picnics and other events.
The town of North Judson may soon have a document to help guide its development for years to come, as Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry told WKVI that the town is working on its strategic plan.
While there have been no specific details released yet about the upcoming plan development, Henry said the town is getting information from the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission and it’s likely that officials will work with KIRPC to develop the document. However, nothing has been finalized.
Henry also noted that utility crews started Monday on the first fall leaf pickup for the community, and they will continue with that this week until they’ve made their rounds of the town. Henry said the town will likely have another round of leaf pickups after the leaves have finished falling.
Starke County Treasurer Kasey Clark said property tax payments will be accepted today during normal business hours and on Tuesday during normal business hours.
Veterans Day is Monday, Nov. 11, and while many offices will be closed including government buildings, banks and others, some offices will remain open to conduct business. In Starke County, all government offices will be closed on Veterans Day. In Pulaski County, however, the building department will remain open from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. while other county offices are closed for the day.
This been a memorable Chase for Matt Kenseth, the newest driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and for Hendrick Motorsports driver, Jimmie Johnson.
Kenseth won a Championship in 2003 after dominating that year and it’s been an interesting back-and-forth battle in the Chase with Johnson. Only seven points separate Kenseth and Johnson as they go to Phoenix International Raceway this Sunday, Nov. 10.
For the second consecutive year the Knox 7th grade football team completed an undefeated season going a perfect 9-0 and winning the Northern State Conference Championship. The Redskins outscored their opponents 178-25 while having a +10 turnover margin. Dawson Patrick was the team’s offensive leader rushing for 761 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns. The Redskins had 11 different players record rushing attempts this season while 18 different players recorded at least one tackle. Congratulations to the Knox 7th grade football team on their championship season!
After years of planning and development, the time has finally come for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Starke County Sheriffs Department and Detention Center. The county commissioners announced that the groundbreaking will be held today from 10 to 11 a.m. and is open to the public. The ceremony will be held at the 24-acre construction site at the corner of State Road 8 and County Road 550 East in Knox. The proposed 146-bed facility will replace the 63-bed facility currently in use, a necessity according to Sheriff Oscar Cowen. He said the county is currently housing between 15 and 20 prisoners per day in other facilities and officials are desperate to get the facility finished. Continue reading →