Eastern Pulaski School Board Approves Secondary Contract with The Crossing

Posted on Author WKVI

The CrossingThe Eastern Pulaski School Board signed a secondary contract for students to participate in The Crossing alternative school in Starke County. Superintendent Dan Foster said it’s a pay-as-you-go agreement.

“As we use it, we’ll pay for those students we’re sending,” said Foster. “We don’t have to commit a certain number and that’s simply right now because we’re in between locations. If they get the one going there in Starke County, and there’s one in White County, but there’s not one right here yet. It’s hard for us to commit because we may have a student that lives in the southern part of our district that could be 45 minutes to an hour to get up to Starke County. As things progress, that could certainly change.”

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Medaryville Council to Consider Bond Resolutions, Grant Application

Posted on Author WKVI

Medaryville Town HallThe Medaryville Town Council will meet in special session tonight to pass and sign resolutions for their wastewater system improvement project. They are looking to build a biodome structure into their current lagoons to meet Indiana Department of Environmental Management standards. Town Council President Derrick Stalbaum tells WKVI news the project will cost around $800,000. The town is applying for a $450,000 grant and hopes to fund the remaining $400,000 by selling bonds. Tonight’s agenda also includes a vote to submit that grant application to the Indiana Office of Rural and Community Affairs. Continue reading →

Winamac Council Approves Police Car Purchase

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Winamac Police Department plans to add another Dodge Charger to its fleet.

Chief Mike Buchanan told the town council the car will replace a 2008 Chevrolet Impala. He adds the Charger offers the best value for the money. He has $25,000 in his budget to purchase a new car. The Winamac Police Department qualifies for the state’s negotiated law enforcement fleet price but will still be able to take delivery of the car through Braun Chrysler in Winamac.

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Veterans Invited to Free Luncheon, Informational Program

Posted on Author WKVI

Veterans of all ages are invited to a free luncheon and informational session Friday, May 16 at Winamac VFW Post 1728 from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. EDT.

Northwest Community Action Agency, North Central Community Action and Pulaski County Human Services, Inc. are sponsoring the program. Information about assistance programs, transportation, employment, older American, veterans and nutrition services will be shared. The VFW Ladies Auxiliary is preparing lunch.

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TriAncilla Rescheduled Due to Weather

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

This weekend’s Sixth Annual TriAncilla race has been rescheduled due to weather concerns.

Saturday morning temperatures are supposed to be in the high 30s, and the water in Gilbert Lake is still a cool 62 degrees. The USAT Certified Sprint Distance Triathalon will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27 instead. It includes a 500 Yard Swim, 11.0 Mile Bike Ride, and 3.1 Mile Run through the grounds of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Ministry Center.

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Ryan Blaney is Looking Forward to Another Double-Duty Weekend

Posted on Author WKVI
Ryan Blaney
Ryan Blaney

NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney had a pretty good showing at Kansas Speedway in two different series last weekend and he’s going for the double again this weekend.

Blaney raced in his first Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday night where he had a strong finish in the No. 12 SKF Ford for Team Penske in the Sprint Cup Series. It wasn’t the finish he was looking for in the Cup car rolling in 27th at the line, but he brought the car back to the garage in one piece.

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Teenage Driver Injured in Single Vehicle Crash

Posted on Author WKVI

 

 
 

A 16-year-old from Plymouth was treated at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Marshall County after he rolled his sport-utility vehicle Monday morning. Michael Slitter was northbound on Pine Road north of 5th Road and lost control of his 2003 Chevrolet Blazer, according to a news release from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department. The SUV landed on its top. Slitter told the officer he swerved to avoid hitting a deer.

Pulaski White Acquires Zing/TV Cable of Winamac

Posted on Author WKVI

pwrtc_logo_mainPulaski/White Rural Telephone Cooperative is getting into the video business. The company announced plans to acquire TV Cable of Winamac, doing business as Zing.

“It’s always been in our strategic plan to introduce video, or a cable TV-type service, into our mix of services we offer out,” PWRTC President and CEO Mark Dickerson said after last night’s Winamac City Council meeting. “This keeps us local. The entity here, TV Cable of Winamac, was looking to sell, so we came to terms. It’s going to be a great thing for all of us here.” Continue reading →

New Water Line Benefits Both Starke County and City of Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The new water line installed for the Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center not only helped that county project, but it has helped the city in its firefighting capabilities.

According to Knox Water Superintendent Todd Gardner, 28 existing fire hydrants on East Culver Road were barely able to meet the minimum requirement of 500 gallons per minute for firefighting capabilities. With this project, water flows at a capacity of 1,000 gallons per minute while maintaining a good pressure on the water main.

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Suspected Car Thief Arrested in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI
A suspected car thief allegedly set this car on fire
A suspected car thief allegedly set this car on fire

A suspect in several burglaries, thefts and auto thefts in Marshall County and in St. Joseph County was taken into custody in Starke County Monday morning.

According to Hamlet police, officers were dispatched to 504 North Starke St. Lot 14 after receiving information about a stolen 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix. Upon arrival, a Hamlet officer noticed another vehicle in the area which wasn’t recognized as belonging to any residents in the neighborhood. After further investigation, it was identified as a stolen vehicle from Marshall County.

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Knox City Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council will meet in regular session tonight at Knox City Hall.

The council members are expected to discuss a burn permit for the purpose of ridding timber in the Knox Industrial Park. The approval was tabled at the last meeting as the council members wanted to hear about the project from the contractor, Thomas Excavating, and get more public input on the issue.

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Marshall County Council Approves Sheriff’s Additional Appropriation Advertisement Request

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Marshall County Council entertained a request from Sheriff Tom Chamberlin to advertise for an additional appropriation for inmate health care.

In October 2013, the county approved Chamberlin to enter into a contract with Quality Correctional Care and while Chamberlin said the services they have provided are excellent, more money needs to be appropriated for their services.

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Bridge to Be Named for Medal of Honor Recipient

Posted on Author WKVI
U.S. Army PFC Frank Ono
U.S. Army PFC Frank Ono

The new bridge on U.S. 35 just south of U.S. 30 will soon be named in honor of Starke County’s most decorated veteran. State Senator Jim Arnold sponsored a resolution to name the structure after PFC Frank Ono, who distinguished himself as a member of the U.S. Army’s Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. During a July 4, 1944 battle near Castellina, Italy, Ono advanced ahead of his unit and single-handedly defended his position against an enemy counter-attack. He then braved intense hostile fire to aide two wounded comrades and voluntarily covered his unit’s withdrawal when retreat became necessary. Ono was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions. During the 1990s, a review of service records for Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross led to Ono’s award being upgraded to the Medal of Honor. President Bill Clinton presented the award to his surviving family members during a White House ceremony on June 21, 2000. Continue reading →

Planting Season is Progressing on Schedule

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The planting season was only slightly delayed after all of the winter weather and cool, stormy spring seasons the Northern Indiana area has seen.

Chad Rushing, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator at Purdue Extension in Starke County and in Pulaski County, told WKVI that last week found a lot of farmers in the fields getting their seeds planted for the growing season. All of the corn has been planted and the soybean fields are next on the list. Specialty crops like seed corn and vegetables have not yet been planted.

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IU Health Welcomes VP of Finance

Posted on Author WKVI
Kevin Higdon
Kevin Higdon

IU Health LaPorte and Starke Hospitals have a new vice president of finance. Michigan City native Kevin Higdon brings more than 30 years of healthcare finance experience to the job. His resume includes positions at Hyde Park Hospital, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Elkhart Genral Healthcare System and Thorek Memorial Hospital.
Higdon will work closely with other members of the IU Health executive team, boards of directors and physicians to develop and fulfill key finance and growth strategies outlined in the strategic plan for the hospitals.
Higdon graduated from Michigan City Elston High School, where he won the IHSAA’s Charles F. Maas Mental Attitude Award 1976-77. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Indiana University and an Associate of Arts from Southwestern Michigan College and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Numerous Screenings Available at Community Health Fair

Posted on Author WKVI

Health FairIU Health Starke Hospital and Community Services of Starke County are hosting a free health fair this afternoon at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in downtown Knox. Hospital President Craig Felty encourages people to stop by and see what services are available locally.
“We will have several educational opportunities for people to come in. We’ll also be doing several different types of screenings, which is very important. It helps us to increase the wellness of patients and maybe prevent something or catch something before it gets out of hand. This is a great opportunity to come out, see what is offered at your local hospital, get some free screenings and get some good information about how to stay healthy,” Felty said. Continue reading →

Officers Bust Winamac Meth Lab, Two Arrested

Posted on Author WKVI

Meth BustA Winamac man who reportedly tried to flee from police Friday to avoid being arrested for making meth faces numerous drug charges after jail officers reportedly found more contraband in his pants. Officers from the Winamac Police Department and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office got a tip about drug activity and responded at 7:34 p.m. on Friday, May 9 to an apartment in the 400 block of West Main Street in Winamac. A deputy reportedly spotted David Wayne Gentry, 29, walking behind the apartment building and ordered him to stop. Gentry ran, according to the police report, and was apprehended after a brief foot chase. Both Gentry and his girlfriend, Shannon Lee Hardin, 30, were arrested after deputies reportedly found an active meth lab and other precursors inside the home. Continue reading →

Tornado Reported In Jasper County

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The storms that tore through the area last night did not cause any significant local damage. Dispatchers at the Starke and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Departments received no reports of weather-related problems. A tornado was reported near Rensselaer last night, but no information is available yet about damages or injuries. “The Times of Northwest Indiana” reports it hit near Interstate 65 and Indiana 114 at 8:10 p.m. Several areas to the north and west experienced flooding due to the torrential downpour. More thunderstorms are possible later this afternoon and tomorrow.

No Immediate Opening Date for 700 East Bridge in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI

The bridge on 700 East north of State Road 8 may be closed longer than originally thought, according to Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler.

The emergency design for the bridge that was damaged by a tree in the river is coming along. There is a slight hiccup in the process as permits are needed to make further repairs on the bridge and the approval of those permits could take some time. Ritzler explained that the bridge was damaged much more than once the area was surveyed a little closer. Three pillars and a spreading beam need to be replaced along with the removal of some asphalt on the bridge.

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