Fireworks Season Approaching; Know Your Laws

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The time for fireworks will soon be upon us, though some area residents are already lighting up the skies. The state has its own fireworks laws that specify when fireworks can be discharged, though a number of communities such as Winamac, Knox, and Plymouth have adopted their own ordinances that limit when and where fireworks can be used.

According to the state laws, fireworks can only be discharged at special discharge locations, the person’s property, or the property of another who has given permission to do so. Anyone under the age of 18 who wishes to use fireworks must be accompanied by an adult, and fireworks can only be lit before 11 p.m. and after 9 a.m. However, on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day and New Year’s Eve, fireworks may be discharged until midnight.

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Kid’s Closet Ministry Aims to Provide Assistance to Starke County Children

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A ministry serving children in Starke County is looking for donations of clothes to help in their mission of providing children with clothes, school supplies, shoes and personal hygiene items. Linda Lewandowski, director of Kid’s Closet Ministry, said they are currently holding collections at a number of sites in local communities.

“We’re running collections for gently used and new children’s and used clothes, and we have drop-off sites at the North Judson United Methodist Church, Route 10 Bar and Grill, Max Effex Fitness are accepting them for us,” said Lewandowski.

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Knox High School Pool Open Tuesdays

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Knox High School Principal Dr. Elizabeth Ratliff told the school board this week that the lifeguarding classes conducted at the high school pool went well.

Twenty-five residents have been certified as lifeguards in the classes that were offered earlier this month. Amy Nimetz said the five day classes that were held June 3–7 and June 10–14 were a success and they may be offered again.

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Indiana DNR Reminds Boaters to Be Safe

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources reminds you to stay safe and in compliance this boating season.

All motorboat operators must have a valid driver’s license to operate on all Indiana public waters. Any person who is at least 15 years old may operate a motorboat if a boater education course is successfully completed and approved by the DNR.

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Sheriff’s Candidate Faces Charge of Impersonating a Public Servant

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A North Judson man who hopes to become Starke County’s next sheriff faces a felony charge of impersonation of a public servant. The charge against Gregory R. Wireman, 38, stems from a Feb. 15 incident on CR 200 S. east of SR 39. Court documents indicate Wireman detained a woman and two men in a white van with a Michigan registration who were going door to door in the area claiming to be selling vacuum cleaners and other cleaning supplies. Wireman says several residents called 911 but officers were unable to respond, so his aunt, Donna Wheeler, phoned him for help. Wireman reportedly blocked the van in the driveway at the Wheeler’s home, took the three salespeople’s driver’s licenses and refused to let them leave. They claim Wireman told them he was a corrections officer but did not have his badge with him. Court documents indicate he admitted searching the two male salesmen prior to the arrival of Deputy James Upsall from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office. According to the incident report, Upsall turned the case over to Starke County Deputy Kelly Fisher due to a conflict of interest stemming from his plans to also run for sheriff. He also gave the salespeople the address of the Starke County Sheriff’s Office so they could file a formal complaint against Wireman.

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Walkerton-Lincoln Township Library Opens on Limited Schedule

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Walkerton-Lincoln Township Public Library is open, but with limited hours just a few days after the IRS put a lien on the library for failure to pay back federal withholding taxes.

St. Joesph County Auditor Peter Mullen told WKVI that the library was in arrears approximately $48,000 and the IRS contacted his office to file the necessary paperwork to put a lien on the library. The library closed in mid-May and just reopened on a limited schedule.

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Starke County Council Amends Payment for Jail Suit Legal Fees

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Starke County officials have agreed to pay the fees stemming from the jail overcrowding lawsuit from a different fund than previously announced. Last month the council announced plans to pay the $90,000 from the County Adjusted Gross Income Tax, or CAGIT, fund. Instead the commissioners revisited their action and opted to use money in the CEDIT, or County Economic Development Income Tax, rainy day fund. Council President Dave Perman notes the money in the CEDIT fund was set aside for a purpose such as that, and using it will allow the CAGIT money to be used to cover other expenses in the county’s general fund.

The public will get a first look at plans for a new jail east of Knox on State Road 8 during the July 22 council and commissioners meeting. That presentation is scheduled to take place at 5:30 p.m. at the county annex building.

Kirby Dealer Confirms Vacuum Cleaner Salespeople Were Independent Contractors

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A representative of a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Kirby Vacuum Cleaner dealer confirms that the three people in the white van who were attempting to sell products door-to-door in Starke County back in February all worked for his company at the time. Alexandria Marie Cortese, 23, and Collin Joel Paul, 23, are still employed by Cezo, Inc. in Grand Rapids. Craig F. Randle, 27, worked for the company at the time but left a few months ago. The three filed complaints against Greg Wireman of North Judson, who is running for Starke County Sheriff, claiming that he told them he was a corrections officer. Wireman now faces a D felony charge and has been summoned to appear in court next month.

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Underage, Unpermitted Driver Sent to Hospital in Car Accident

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A 15-year-old driver and his 45-year-old passenger were taken to the hospital Monday evening after their vehicle was rear-ended on State Road 331 near 4C Road in Bremen. According to a news release by the Indiana State Police, state police officers and rescue personnel were called to the scene shortly before 5 p.m. for a personal injury accident.

Officials arrived on scene and found a 2000 Plymouth Neon had collided with the rear end of a 1967 Austin Mini Cooper. The purported driver of the northbound Mini Cooper, Theodore Hochstetler, 15 of Bremen, had slowed to make a left-hand turn into a private driveway when the Neon struck the rear of his vehicle.

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Bridge Replacement Project to begin Thursday on U.S. 35

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The bridge on U.S. 35 west of Hamlet will be closed beginning Thursday, June 20.

Indiana Department of Transportation officials will be replacing the bridge that goes over the CSX railway just south of U.S. 30. The construction is expected to end in November.

If you are traveling north on U.S. 35, the official detour takes you west on State Road 8, north on State Road 39, east on U.S. 30 and back to U.S. 35. If you are traveling south on U.S. 35, you will be detoured west on U.S. 30, south on State Road 39, east on State Road 8 and back to U.S. 35.

Pulaski County Highway Department to Purchase New Software

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 Pulaski County Highway Department will soon have a much easier time tracking resources, as the county commissioners this week passed a motion to purchase a county highway resource tracking system at a cost of $6000 for the first year, $1500 for the second. Mark Fox, highway superintendent, told the commissioners that the first year’s cost would include the purchase and licensing fee, software training and support as well as enhancements and future updates.

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Marshall County Commissioners Approve Contract with Collection Agency

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Marshall County Commissioners approved a contract with Eagle Associates Group to help the clerk’s office collect fees.

Clerk Julie Fox explained to the commissioners that her office is busy with so many cases that it’s hard to focus on collecting court fees for judgments. With Eagle Associates Group, Fox would be able to hand over approximately 3,612 cases to be pursued. The collection agency would take over the case and with any money recovered, they would receive 28 percent.

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VIN Check Procedure Changes at Starke County Sheriff’s Department

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Sheriff's Department
Starke County Sheriff’s Department
A new policy is in place for Vehicle Identification Number checks at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.

VIN checks will now be conducted at the sheriff’s department from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. You’ll need a police officer inspection form from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and you can take that form, along with your car, to the sheriff’s department for the check to be performed. No fee will be charged.

Indiana state law requires that you obtain a certificate for all vehicles owned within 60 days of becoming an Indiana resident. Indiana residents must title newly acquired vehicles no later than 31 days from the date of purchase. Police officer inspections, or VIN checks, are required if the vehicle was not previously titled in Indiana.

If you need more information, visit www.in.gov and search VIN inspections.

Starke County Public Library Welcomes New Children’s Librarian

Posted on Author WKVI

Henry F. Schricker Library
Henry F. Schricker Library
The Henry F. Schricker Public Library in Knox welcomed a new face this month in the children’s department. Janine Tuttle-Gassere has been working at libraries for more than 15 years and recently moved back to the area, where she was welcomed as the new children’s librarian. Tuttle-Gassere said she’s been getting used to her new position but everyone has been very friendly and welcoming.

She said that right now she’s focused on the summer reading program.

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Summer School in Progress at Knox Community Schools

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox Community School Board members received an update on summer school Monday night.

The three building principals reported that summer school is going well in each school. The second summer school session at the high school will begin in July. The middle school is not in charge of summer school as the Starke County Youth Club is working to aide children with activities and academics this summer. Principal Dave Miller said it is going very smoothly.

High School Principal Dr. Elizabeth Ratliff informed the board that the USDA Summer Food program is going well with many families and students taking the opportunity to eat free meals at the high school. Many athletes participating in summer scrimmages are finding the meals handy as they end activities. Breakfast and lunch are served for free Monday through Friday.

Winamac Town-Wide Yard Sale Set for July 20

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Winamac town-wide yard sale is scheduled for Saturday, July 20 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET.

Yard sale maps will be available at the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce office and other businesses in town from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Donuts and beverages will be offered at the chamber office at the same time.

If you would like to register your yard sale and get on the map for $10, call (574) 270-0016 or (574) 946-6123. You may call those same numbers if you are from outside city limits and would like to reserve a spot at an in-town location to sell your wares.

Pulaski County Fairgrounds Will Be Ready for Upcoming Fair

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Pulaski County Fairgrounds will be ready for the upcoming 4-H Fair. It officially gets under way Saturday, June 29 and continues through July 5. The fairgrounds is located at the back of the Winamac Town Park, which was flooded when recent rains forced the Tippecanoe River from its banks.

Natalie Federer with Purdue Extension Pulaski County says fair board members are busy cleaning up. “Some of the water has receded. It’s still kind of wet down there, but the water is out of the buildings. We’re going to be working very hard in the next couple of days to get the buildings cleaned out again and pressure washed and sanitized, but we are on schedule again, and the fair will be down at the fairgrounds.”

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LaPorte Police Investigating Early Morning Stabbing

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Police in LaPorte are investigating an early morning stabbing that sent a 20-year-old man to the hospital. It happened in the 600 Block of Maple Avenue. Police responded at 2:43 a.m. and found the victim lying on the ground holding his abdomen. He told the police he had been stabbed several times by someone he knew. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The investigation is continuing.