WKVI Information Center

U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski visited Starke County to listen to the concerns of local farmers.

In an effort to learn more about what issues and concerns area farmers have, U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski visited Lawrence Farms in Starke County and addressed a roomful of concerned farmers looking to speak their mind and be heard by their representative. Walorski said that she wanted to make sure as a representative that she has a good idea of what’s going on in the counties she represents, and in order to do that, she needed to hear from those in the agricultural field what their primary issues and concerns are.

Knox Council Agrees Toll Brothers is in Compliance With Tax Abatement

The Knox City Council this week reviewed the efforts made by Toll Brothers in keeping with their tax abatement and approved a motion stating that the company is in substantial compliance or has made reasonable effort to keep with the terms of the abatement. Charlie Weaver, the executive director of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, and Toll Brothers owner Brian Trapp approached the council requesting the compliance statement.

Indiana Supreme Court Upholds Constitutionality of School Vouchers

Indiana’s comprehensive, and controversial, school choice program is constitutional. The Indiana Supreme Court unanimously upheld the sweeping program. It allows public tax dollars to be used to pay for private education. A group of teachers and other public school advocates filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of funding a religious activity with public tax dollars. Indiana State Teachers Association Vice President Teresa Meredith is disappointed by the decision. She says the plaintiffs have not yet discussed their appeal options. The Supreme Court previously ruled that a similar law in Ohio was constitutional. Governor Mike Pence is pleased with today’s ruling. He says in a statement that Indiana must continue to find ways to expand educational opportunities for all Indiana families.

Starke County Safety Partnership OPO Nets 18 Arrests

Officers from the Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership participated in an Operation Pullover effort between March 8 and March 24.

Law enforcement from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and North Judson, Hamlet and Knox City Police Departments stopped a total of 221 vehicles and issued a total of 74 citations related to aggressive driving. A total of 12 Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated arrests were made and six others were arrested on non-alcohol related charges.

Knox Community School Board Approves Purchase of Mini-Bus

The Knox Community School Board approved the purchase of a mini-bus that came from the recommendation of the transportation director.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa said a 14-passenger mini-bus will be purchased.

“This bus will be wheelchair-equipped,” explained Gappa. “The reason we wanted to move now was because the price of mini-buses will increase next month so we did beat the price increase. The recommendation was for a Collins mini-bus.”

The bus will be delivered this summer.

LaPorte City OPO Results in 13 Arrests

The LaPorte City Police Department completed its two-week Operation Pullover Blitz #74 Sunday.

The target was aggressive and impaired drivers. Officers worked 70.5 hours of impaired driving patrols and 85 hours of aggressive driving patrols. Six misdemeanor arrests and one felony arrest for Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated were made. Six criminal arrests were made including Possession of Marijuana and Possession of a Legend Drug. Police made 234 citations and gave 186 warnings during the blitz.

Operation Pullover is a federally funded enforcement initiative administered by the Traffic Safety Division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

Rural Health Bill Could Help Local Hospitals

The Rural Health Bill recently passed the House which aims at improving healthcare access and requires the Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning to reimburse healthcare providers for telehealth and telemedicine services offered to Medicaid recipients.

Telehealth and telemedicine services use telecommunications and information technology to provide remote access to health assessment, diagnosis, intervention, consultation, supervision and information. Using this technology reduces re-admissions to hospitals and saves lives as well as health care costs.

Nominations Open for Governor’s Service Awards

March 27, 2013March 27, 2013WKVI

Nominations are currently being accepted for the Governor’s Service Awards – Indiana’s most prestigious awards that seek to celebrate the accomplishments of servant leaders and dedicated volunteers across the Hoosier state. Nominations for individuals who display exemplary service through volunteering in the categories of corporate service, youth service, national service, service-learning, faith-based service, volunteerism, lifetime achievement, and communities of service are currently being accepted, and the awards are presented each year as part of the Governor’s Conference on Service and Nonprofit Capacity Building.

DNR Announces Becoming an Outdoors Woman Workshop

Hoosier women ranging in age from 18 to 80 are invited to take a walk on the wild side the first weekend in May. Registration is now open for the annual Indiana’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop. It gives women a chance to learn outdoor skills in a relaxed, low-pressure environment. Participants can design their own weekend experience based on their interests. Activities include learning to shoot clay targets, canoeing, fishing for trophy bass, campfire gourmet cooking, turkey calling and more. This year’s workshop takes place May 3-5 at Ross Camp in West Lafayette. Find more information and an online registration form at http://www.indianabow.com/.

Moms-To-Be Would Be Best Buckled Up, Says Study

With the ever-prevalent worry of expectant mothers that being buckled up in their car could potentially cause damage to their unborn child in the event of a car accident, a new study has found that not wearing a seat belt actually serves to increase the chances of losing the pregnancy more than if the mother is properly restrained.

Brandy Thompson with the group “Safe Kids USA” says buckling up is the best way to protect both the unborn child and the mother, but she emphasized that there is a right way and a wrong way to put on a seat belt when pregnant.

DNR Offering Youth Turkey Hunting Tips in LaPorte April 4

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is hosting a seminar and workshop on turkey hunting tips for Hoosier youths. The event, which will take place at the Kingsbury Fish and Wildlife Area, will focus on biology, calling, and hunting, with a field demonstration of calling and decoy set up.

Marshall County Police Looking for Forgery Suspect

A suspect has been arrested in Marshall County after a resident reported his checks stolen and forged.

Marshall County police conducted several interviews, reviewed video and other information and found that Ralph Howard and Lacy Holzwart were allegedly responsible for the action.

Police Arrest Two After Drugs Found in Home

A search warrant conducted by Marshall County police resulted in the discovery of drugs.

On Friday, two Marshall County deputies arrived at a home on Walnut Street in Lapaz to serve an arrest warrant to Bradley Vest on a charge of Battery. Vest was at the home along with two others in the home. During a search of the home, police reportedly found methamphetamine and various forms of paraphernalia.

Vest was arrested on the valid warrant and Deanne Sheppard was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Paraphernalia.

They are being held in the Marshall County Jail.

Firearm Permitting Process Not Sitting Well with Indiana Sheriff’s Association

The way the permitting process is done for firearm permits is changing and Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer says it will inconvenience the residents.

In an effort to go paperless, beginning in May the Indiana State Police is requiring fingerprinting to be done at a specific location that has a live scan machine to electronically scan fingerprints. These locations are set up throughout the state where a sheriff’s department is not involved in that part of the process. When complete, the fingerprints will electronically be sent to the state via the internet.

Marshall County Building to Undergo Improvements

With more than 32 years gone by since its construction, County Maintenance Supervisor Doug Masterson said the Marshall County Building is in need of some renovations. Fortunately, he said that some improvements to the building have been budgeted for this year, and with many offices retaining the original carpet and wallpaper since the building’s construction in 1981, several Marshall County Building employees are looking forward to the improvements.

House Passes Bill to Limit Pseudoephedrine Sales

March 26, 2013March 26, 2013WKVI

Hoosier allergy sufferers could soon face tougher limits on how much over-the-counter cold medication they can purchase. A bill to set an annual cap on pseudoephedrine purchases passed the House by a vote of 91-1. The goal of the legislation is to curb the manufacture of methamphetamine by crimping the supply of one of the drug’s main ingredients. Plymouth Mayor and former Indiana State Police Trooper Mark Senter testified in support of the limits during a House hearing on the bill. Cold medications containing pseudoephedrine are already sold behind the counter in pharmacies in limited quantities, and purchasers must show a photo identification to buy them. The 61 gram per person limit is about an eight-month supply of the current law’s monthly limit. The bill now goes back to the Senate for consideration of a few minor changes before it can be sent to Governor Mike Pence for consideration.

Federally Extended Unemployment Benefits to Suffer Reduction April 8

Some more side effects of sequestration – that is, automatic federal spending cuts – have been announced. With the cuts beginning Monday, April 8, weekly payments of Federally Extended Unemployment Insurance benefits, also known as EEUC or weeks 27-63 of benefits, will be reduced by 10.7 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.