LaPorte County Teen Killed In Wreck

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A LaPorte County teenager is dead after the car he was driving hit a semi on State Road 2 near the St. Joseph County line in New Carlisle. The crash occurred around 1 yesterday afternoon, according to WSBT-TV, when a Volkswagen Jetta driven by Skyler Kleine, 17, of LaPorte, reportedly ran a stop sign on northbound County Line Road and pulled onto State Road 2 into the path of an oncoming semi. Witnesses tell the TV station the car was traveling at a high rate of speed and went underneath the trailer, causing it to go up and come back down. Kleine was pronounced dead at the scene. A 19-year-old passenger in his car was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The semi driver was not injured.

Starke County Commissioners Schedule Jail Bid Opening Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI

This building on SR 8 at CR 550 E will soon house the new Starke County Jail.
This building on SR 8 at CR 550 E will soon house the new Starke County Jail.
The Starke County Commissioners are set to open bids for construction of the new jail this week. They’ve scheduled a special meeting for that purpose Thursday at 10 a.m. in the commissioners room at the county annex building. The estimated cost for the project is $10.2 million. The bids will likely be taken under advisement so they can be reviewed to make sure they conform to the project specifications. A previously announced timeline for the project calls for the bid to be awarded on Monday, Oct. 21 and a groundbreaking ceremony to be held on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. at the project site east of Knox on State Road 8. Construction is slated to start on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Work on the project can continue through the winter since an existing building is being modified.

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Two Arrested After Search Warrant Executed

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Two people were arrested in Winamac on Sunday as Pulaski County deputies were executing an arrest warrant.

Police arrived at a fifth-wheel camper on 250 North and saw children playing outside but no adults. Officers attempted to get someone to answer the door, but no one came to the door. The officers thought it would be in the best interest to see if anyone was in the camper so they announced their presence and entered the camper.

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Starke Commissioners to Discuss Fate of Bass Lake Campground in Executive Session

Posted on Author WKVI

Bass Lake Beach
Bass Lake Beach
The Starke County Commissioners will soon meet in an executive session to discuss the Bass Lake Beach and Campground, specifically the question of whether or not the attraction’s current managers are maintaining and operating it appropriately. Richard Callahan and his attorney, Dave Wallsmith, approached the commissioners at their meeting this week to give them a report on how the beach has been doing but the discussion soon led into the question of whether or not the lease should be invalidated.

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Knox Council May Soon Raise Ordinance Fines

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council at their meeting last night discussed the possibility of modifying their schedule of ordinance violation fines after City Police Chief Clint Norem advised them that some of the fees, particularly those associated with parking, are very low. He said the cost involved doesn’t come close to the expense of filing the fine, sending notices and sending an officer out to write the fine up.

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North Judson Town Board Adopts Budget After Public Hearing

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The North Judson Town Board this week held their budget adoption hearing, and according to Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry, only one member of the public was present and no comments were made. The board adopted the budget and signed a resolution to that effect, allowing the board to proceed with the next step: submitting the budget to the Department of Local Government Finance for review.

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Plymouth Clerk-Treasurer Recognized for Financial Management

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Plymouth Clerk-Treasurer Toni Hutchings was recognized for her outstanding achievements in fiscal management, financial recording and public service leadership during a state conference in Indianapolis. Hutchings received the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns’ Financial Management Award. She’s served as clerk-treasurer for the city of Plymouth for 18 years and has worked to modernize the office and make it run more efficiently while saving the city money. Hutchings has also obtained the credentials of Indiana Accredited Municipal Clerk, Certified Municipal Clerk and Certified Public Finance Administrator. She also volunteers with several organizations, including the United Way.

Monterey Bridge Project Relocation Expense Deadline Now Expired

Posted on Author WKVI

Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
The deadline for relocation expenses stemming from the Monterey Bridge construction project has come and gone, according to United Consulting’s Jeff Larrison. He told the county commissioners that he received a notice explaining the the deadline has passed and some expenses still had not been turned in, raising the question of whether or not the commissioners would like to still allow those expenses to be filed.

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Marshall County Commissioners Approve Motion Regarding Property Sale

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Marshall County Commissioners approved a motion to help speed up an already year-long process in the sale of property.

Brenda Hoffer and her attorney Jim Easterday appeared before the commissioners to discuss the release of the revisionary interest on a piece of property that sits on the New Wine Church property. Hoffer is willing to buy the piece of property and even keep up the adjacent cemetery, but the property is owned by the county and the county needs to release its revisionary interest on the parcel so the sale can be completed. The sale has been ongoing for a year.

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West Central School Board Receives ISTEP+, ADM Report

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central middle school and elementary principals went over the ISTEP+ test results with the board and Superintendent Charles Mellon said there is room for improvement.

“We had very good results in the elementary school but the middle school wasn’t quite what we wanted,” explained Mellon. “We will be spending some time and looking at that, searching to see what we need to do to kind of produce better student performance in those areas.”

Mellon also shared the Average Daily Membership (ADM) count with the board.

“We went from 833 students to 806. Our vocational numbers were up so we got a little bit of extra funding in the vocational line. That will help.”

Indiana House Accepting Intern Applications

Posted on Author WKVI

State Representative Douglas Gutwein
State Representative Douglas Gutwein
The Indiana House of Representatives is now accepting applications to intern during the 2014 legislative session.

This is a paid internship and it is an opportunity for college graduates and recent graduates to be part of the legislative process. Interns will issue press releases, handle constituent work or work in the IT department.

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Fire Prevention Week: Kitchen Safety

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Lapaz-North Township Fire Department is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association during this Fire Prevention Week to bring you fire safety tips.

Lapaz-North Township Fire Chief Chris Oginsky highlights kitchen safety. He urges you to stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling or boiling food. If you are baking or roasting food, check it regularly and stay in the home. Set a timer to remind you of your cooking process. Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels, away from your stovetop.

Fire Prevention Week is the longest-running public health and safety observance on record.

Pulaski County Assessor’s, Surveyor’s Offices to Relocate

Posted on Author WKVI

 

Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter

A visit from the state fire marshal has spurred the move of the Pulaski County Assessor’s Office, as the county commissioners last night passed a motion to move the assessor into the office in the courthouse currently held by the county surveyor, who would be relocated to the county highway garage. The commissioners also approved a motion to seek estimates on constructing an office in the highway garage, which currently has a lot of space but no unoccupied offices. 

Assessor Holly VanDerAa told the commissioners that the fire marshal visited her office and advised her that the tables located in the hallway were unacceptable and that the office’s counter is also infringing on the distance to the hallway. Because the office is so cramped, VanDerAa said they have had to use the tables in the hallway in order to deal with taxpayers. Continue reading →

Two Arrested After 68.4 Grams of Heroin Found in Car

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A traffic stop resulted in the arrest of two people in Marshall County on Friday.

An officer with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department initiated a traffic stop on U.S. 31 near the intersection of 12B Road he found the vehicle to have an equipment violation. K9 Arras was deployed and searched around the vehicle where the dog indicated the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle.

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Starke Commissioners Approve Second Reading of Golf Cart Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Starke County Commissioners yesterday morning held the second public hearing regarding a proposed golf cart ordinance regulating the use of the vehicles on county roads. The commissioners opened the public hearing and heard comments and suggestions from the public, including a concern regarding the use of golf carts on County Road 625 E between Toto Road and Bass Lake.

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Pulaski County Assessor’s, Surveyor’s Offices to Relocate

Posted on Author WKVI

Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
A visit from the fire marshal has spurred the move of the Pulaski County Assessor’s Office, as the county commissioners last night passed a motion to move the assessor into the office currently held by the county surveyor, who would be relocated to the county highway garage. The commissioners also approved a motion to seek estimates on constructing an office in the highway garage, which currently has a lot of space but no unoccupied offices.

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