Super Bowl Sunday continually ranks as one of the most dangerous times of the year for drunk driving deaths. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 43 percent of all traffic fatalities on Super Bowl Sunday and the early hours of the following morning in 2012 were caused by drunk driving, compared to an average of 31 percent for the year as a whole.
The cause of a house fire on Toto Road near Fletcher’s Carpet will be investigated by a representative of the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office today.
Firefighters from the Knox-Center Township Fire Department and Bass Lake Fire Department were called to the scene Monday night and extinguished the fire after three hours of battling sub-zero temperatures and frozen water valves. Crews were called back to the scene at 3:45 a.m. Tuesday for a rekindle. Fire Chief Kenny Pfost told WKVI that heavy fire was visible in both instances.
No injuries were reported.
LaPorte police were notified on Wednesday morning that a man had left the Speedway Mart on Lincolnway without paying for gasoline.
All of the counties in the WKVI listening area are under an “orange level” travel watch this morning. That means only essential travel, such as trips to work and school, is recommended. More snow is set to move into the area this afternoon. Tomorrow’s forecast calls for a mixture of snow and sleet. As always, we’ll bring you the very latest on the air and online at WKVI.com. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to bookmark our closings and delays page. That’s where you’ll find a link to the Indiana county travel advisory map and more.
A Knox resident is spearheading a movement to bring the late Drew Shearin’s music to life in a unique concert at the Culver Academies.
Kemble Manning, a senior at Culver Military Academy, and his classmate Denver Blackson from Washington, have presented the music to the Culver Academies Theater and Music Departments to prepare a concert featuring Shearin’s music.
Historically low temperatures gave way to a 50 degree swing in less than 24 hours.
“As far as individuals are concerned, there are not a lot of changes on the tax laws. Some of our credits have been extended, such as the energy credits, the child tax credit, charitable distribution credit – some of those have been extended through 2017. They were originally set to expire for this year, but they’ve extended those on,” said Bachtel.
According the Indiana Workforce Development, Indiana’s unemployment rate is declining as people return to the work force. The labor force has increased by nearly 6,000 in December and has grown by over 21,000 in three months.
Starke County ranks tenth in the state in terms of unemployment at 7.7 percent, which is higher than the state percentage. Starke County dropped a half of a percentage point in the rate in December from November. Pulaski County ranks 74th at 5.4 percent, Marshall County is ranked 32nd at 6.8 percent, LaPorte County is fourth with 8.3 percent, and Porter County ranks 30th with 6.9 percent unemployment.
Today is the deadline to sign up for 4-H for the upcoming year. It’s a youth enrichment program for youngsters in grade school through high school. The traditional 4-H program starts in 3rd grade and goes until a member is in 12th grade or 10 years. Younger children can take part in “Exploring 4-H.” It’s open to youth in kindergarten through 2nd grade. 4-H is open to all rural and urban youth who fall into the program’s age parameters. Exploring 4-H members are limited to one project per year, but traditional 4-H members can take as many projects as they are comfortable juggling. Starke County Extension Director and 4-H Youth Development Educator Elisabeth Smith says the program offers something for everyone. Continue reading
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NASCAR is listening to the fans and its Chairman and CEO Brian France announced changes to the Chase format that he says is “simpler” and will emphasize the importance of winning. Continue reading
The Town of North Judson reminds residents and business owners to let water run constantly in a stream about the diameter of a pencil whenever temperatures are below 32 degrees. This helps keep water meters and pipes from freezing. Town utility crews have responded to several frozen pipe and meter calls, and in most cases water had not been left running. Town officials say the first call is a courtesy, but there is a charge of $100 for the second call. Fees are even higher for third and subsequent calls.
David Heineman, Sr. was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday morning.
Heineman, Sr. pleaded guilty to a a Class B felony charge of Possession of Methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school. Heineman, Sr. admitted in open court that on Apr. 7, 2012, he did possess the drug while at his residence on Lake Street, which is less than 1,000 feet from the Marshall/Starke Head Start school.
Judge Hall rejected a plea agreement for 18-year-old Martin Noble because he didn’t pay his $100 public defender fee and he didn’t have the paperwork filed for his evaluation into community corrections in time for his hearing. His case was set for a status hearing for Friday, Feb. 7 at 9 a.m.
A search warrant executed by police Wednesday resulted in the arrest of a Knox man.
Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department went to a home in the 9700 East block of County Road 50 South in Knox where they reportedly found two one-pot methamphetamine labs, an HCL generator, precursors, drug paraphernalia, other items used in the manufacture of meth, and the finished product.
Glenn Joseph was arrested on preliminary charges of Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors, Possession of Methamphetamine, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, and Possession of Paraphernalia. He has an additional charge of Possession of Marijuana under 30 grams.
Knox City Police Department officers assisted the Starke County Sheriff’s Department in this case as well as the Indiana State Police Clandestine Team.
