Local Detour Available to Bypass U.S. 35 Construction

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Motorists traveling between Knox and Winamac on U.S. 35 can avoid taking the long way around during the next few weeks of road work. INDOT has closed the highway from 850 S. to the Starke/Pulaski County line in order to replace a culvert. The state’s marked detour sends drivers west on 10, south on 39 and back east on 14 because INDOT can only use roads maintained by the state to divert traffic. Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler says drivers heading south on 35 can turn left on 800 S., right on 600 East and right on 900 S. to get past the construction and back to U.S. 35. Northbound motorists can follow that route in reverse. Ritzler says those roads are paved and are more suited to heavy traffic. He says several drivers have used 850 S. and 400 E. to get around the construction. Those roads are gravel and are becoming rutted. The project should wrap up by the end of the month, weather permitting.

LaPorte Police Respond to Overdose in Restaurant Parking Lot

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A LaPorte man may face criminal charges after reportedly passing out in the front seat of his car in a restaurant parking lot after apparently overdosing. The police report indicates he had a metal spoon in his lap when first responders arrived at the Buffalo Wild Wings on Pine Lake Avenue. When officers from the LaPorte Police Department got there, he was reportedly conscious but unable to walk without assistance and was sweating heavily. The police report indicates he admitted to ingesting heroin before emergency personnel arrived. Police reportedly found several items of drug paraphernalia inside his car, which was seized as evidence. He was taking by ambulance to IU Health LaPorte Hospital. The LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office is considering charges.

Construction Complete on New Municipal Building in Walkerton

Posted on Author WKVI
The new Walkerton Municipal Building
The new Walkerton Municipal Building

The new Municipal Building in Walkerton is complete.

According to Walkerton Building Commissioner Phil Buckmaster, the building is situated at 301 Michigan Street and is twice the size of the old office building on Roosevelt Road. The building holds the offices of the clerk-treasurer and the economic development director as well as the town courtroom/city council meeting room and the police department.

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Unemployment Numbers Down in the State

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Unemployment numbers went down in March, according to statistics released by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

Over the past year, the state’s unemployment rate declined two percent which is the third largest decrease in the nation.

Starke County’s unemployment rate fell one point to 8.2 percent from February’s rate, while the state’s rate fell .2 percent to 5.9 percent.

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Victims Airlifted After Marshall County Crash, Investigation Continues

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Authorities in Marshall County believe speed and possibly alcohol were factors in a Saturday afternoon wreck that sent the driver and a front seat passenger to South Bend Memorial Hospital via helicopter. A 1995 Mercury driven by Nicholas Walker, 22, of Plymouth was northbound on Tulip Road from 9C road in Plymouth, lost control and hit a tree, according to a crash report from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office. Walker was pinned in the car but conscious when sheriff’s deputies arrived. A passenger, Matthew Gaines, was also in the vehicle and was in and out of consciousness, according to authorities. Both had to be cut from the wreckage. A young girl in the back seat was not hurt. A formal criminal case is being prepared and will be sent to the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

Eastern Pulaski School Board Holds Discussion on Calendar Year Budget

Posted on Author WKVI

The Eastern Pulaski School Board held discussion on the calendar year budget during their meeting last week.

Superintendent Dan Foster explained that only two school corporations in the state operate on a fiscal year budget and Eastern Pulaski is one of those two schools. The board recently approved a measure to move the school from a fiscal year budget to calendar year budget to come in line with state software and other advantages. He said the switch may get a little tricky.

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Oregon-Davis Schools to Serve Free Lunch This Summer

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Oregon-Davis School Corporation will participate in the Summer Food Service Program again this year.

Free meals will be available to all children 18 years of age and under and to anyone over the age of 18 who is enrolled in a state-approved educational program for the mentally or physically disabled. There will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

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Starke County Council, Commissioners to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Starke County Council and the Starke County Commissioners will meet tonight.

The Starke County Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. where they will hear from Dennis Estok from the planning commission with an appropriation request of the County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) fund and Starke County Economic Development Foundation Director will have a CEDIT appropriation request. The council members will discuss the creation of a park board, a wheel tax overview, and an EMS update.

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A Colonoscopy Could Save You from Colon Cancer

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Staff members from IU Health Starke Hospital visited the WKVI studios on Friday morning and one topic that General Surgeon Dr. Mangalore J. Subbarao discussed was the importance of the colonoscopy.

Dr. Subbarao said you can prevent colon cancer by getting this procedure.

“Colonoscopies are very important to prevent the cancer of the colon,” said Dr. Subbarao. “Colon cancer develops with the little growth called a polyp. If you remove the polyp, you have no colon cancer. If you don’t remove the polyp, it grows into a big cancer and it spreads. Then only do you have some symptoms.”

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Preschool Fair Scheduled for April 29

Posted on Author WKVI

A Preschool Fair is set for Tuesday, April 29 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT at the Community Center in Knox.

Sarah Origer, Director of Development at the Starke County Community Foundation encourages all residents to attend for this information session.

“We hope that all Starke County preschools will be present,” said Origer. “It will also be an opportunity for parents and grandparents and children to come out and learn about a lot of the other enriching opportunities that exist in Starke County. Libraries will be present, Community Services of Starke County will also be there along with Healthlinc. Your child’s health is also incredibly important. It’ll just be a great opportunity.”

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Meth Offender Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison

Posted on Author WKVI
Thomas Howell
Thomas Howell

A Plymouth man was sentenced to 12 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine and theft.

Thomas Howell, 50, was arrested in March after police arrived at the Red Rock Inn in Plymouth looking for him. The owner of Quality Setters, Inc. called to report that Howell was stripping wires from buildings. When they arrived at the room at the motel, officers could see people inside the room through a curtain even though they weren’t answering the door. After the occupants reportedly moved items around in the room, the door was opened and officers asked for Howell.

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Gas Prices Should Start to Lower Soon

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Gas prices spiked this week but according to Don Good from the Good Oil Company, we should be seeing lower prices for a gallon of gasoline soon.

Good said the recent spike has to do with the continuation of the fuel turnaround.

“Every time this time of the year rolls around they deplete the tanks to meet the new standards and that always creates – I’ll call it a ‘pricey opportunity’ for the speculators to buy product and then sell it at an increased cost so we always have some upward pressure this time when they go into turnaround, commented Good.”

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Buyer Beware When Hiring a Lawn Care Service

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

With warmer temperatures finally entering the area and the itch to get your yard looking good for the season, you’ll want to be careful when hiring a contractor to take care of your lawn and garden.

The Better Business Bureau recommends that you make sure to shop around and get written estimates from three different companies before you settle on one price. The cheapest price isn’t always the best deal. Request a lawn inspection and get a free estimate.

It is also wise to obtain a written agreement once you’ve decided to move forward with a contractor. Document the duration and expected results of the lawn care service. Ask if the service is automatically renewed annually. If you choose a long-term contract, be sure to obtain information about cancellation rights.

Take time to understand the pricing, frequency of services and any guarantees. If the lawn contractor is not producing expected results, know what kind of recourse you can take.