Superintendent A.J. Gappa said some of the students were nationally certified in using the flexograph machine.
Starke County’s Issues to be Borne Away on a Cross Carried by Volunteers This Weekend
“We just want to bring awareness to our community, things going on in our community. I’m calling this ‘Take Up Our Community’s Cross.’ Different things we hear about; meth, we hear about different problems going on – unemployment, depression – just all kinds of things, and this is just an act of love to show people that we care,” Bacon explained.
More than $18 Million Recovered in Uncollected Hoosier Insurance Benefits
More than $18 million have been recovered in unclaimed property through agreements with some of the nation’s largest life insurance providers, giving beneficiaries of insurance policies that have long since been forgotten the chance to recover those proceeds. According to Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, the money is the result of unclaimed insurance proceeds that were previously held by American International Group, John Hancock (Manulife), MetLife, and Prudential Financial.
Mayors Against Illegal Guns Have Two Events in Indiana
Mayors Against Illegal Guns and other local groups are organizing events and petition drives concerning the action. The members will also make calls into Indiana Senate district offices to call for their representatives to support commonsense gun laws like comprehensive and enforceable background checks.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Jennie Carter Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
Theft from a local entity will not be tolerated as proven by Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall after he sentenced Jennie Carter on that charge in court Monday morning.
Carter was the defendant in a bench trial in February where, based on evidence and testimony, Judge Hall found her guilty of stealing $7,748.40 from the Starke County Tourism Commission.
LaPorte Police Searching for Armed Robbery Suspects
LaPorte Police are searching for two masked suspects who robbed a restaurant at gunpoint Friday night. Officers responded to the Little Caesar’s on Monroe Street at 11:17 p.m. Victims told police they were cleaning up for the night when two masked suspects wearing all black clothing came inside. They displayed a handgun, demanded money, forced the victims into a restroom and fled. One of the suspects was described as skinny and the other as heavy-set.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact LaPorte Police Detective Brian Phillips at 219-362-9446, Ext. 205, or at www.lpcitypd.com to submit a crime tip. You can remain anonymous while providing important information to help make your community safer. Please be as specific as you can about the activity you are reporting.
Snow Keeps State Troopers Busy
State troopers from the Indiana State Police Lowell Post are staying busy as a result of the snow that fell overnight into the early morning hours. They responded to 26 property damage crashes, 7 personal injury crashes, 30 slide off’s and 10 calls to assist motorists. The Lowell district includes Starke, Pulaski, LaPorte, Porter, Lake, Newton and Jasper Counties. Motorists are reminded to travel cautiously, as roads remain wet, snow-covered and slushy. Slow down and allow plenty of stopping distance.
Jennie Carter to be Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall found Jennie Carter guilty on a charge of theft after a bench trial. The prosecution called two witnesses: Chris Campione with the Indiana State Police, who was the lead investigator in the case, and Debbie Mix with the Starke County Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Commission. They testified of their knowledge of the event surrounding the incident. Defendant Jennie Carter testified on her own behalf.
The bench trial occurred over the course of two days in February.
New Plymouth PD Chief Appointed
A Plymouth police veteran is now at the helm of the department he has called home for 22 years.
Dave Bacon was just recently named the Plymouth police chief.
Henning, Nemeth Receive Suspended Sentences in Starke Circuit Court
March Madness Snowstorm Socks Kankakee Valley
It’s a whole different kind of March Madness across the Kankakee Valley this morning. Roads are slick and snow-covered after a late season overnight snowstorm. This is making for hazardous travel. If you do have to be out, allow yourself plenty of time to reach your destination, and remember, ice and snow, take it slow. Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, brake early and accelerate slowly. If you see a snow plow, stay back and give it plenty of room to operate. Don’t tailgate or try to pass a plow truck, as the roadway will be clearer behind the plow than in front of it.
You can check road conditions anywhere in the state by visiting www.trafficwise.in.gov or by dialing toll-free 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) for updated Indiana travel information, including road conditions, road closures, construction information and other traffic alerts.
Snow should taper off into flurries by midday, but additional snowfall is expected tonight and into tomorrow before temperatures warm up into the 40s by the middle of the week. Fortunately the snow will not be a factor for schools today, as most school systems within the WKVI listening area are on spring break this week. However, if we receive word of any other weather-related closings or delays we will pass it along on the closings and delays page at www.wkvi.com as well as on the air and on our Facebook page.
Changes Made to Handgun Permitting Process
Pulaski County Commissioners Discuss Defibrillator Purchases
“We’re looking at automatic external defibrillators – they get your heart going again,” Commissioner Larry Brady said. “We’d station these throughout the county buildings to use until the EMS system arrives. Most buildings have them laying around, and they are a wonderful asset when minutes count.”
Starke/Pulaski Habitat for Humanity Still Accepting Applications
Preschool Classes to begin April 2 at Knox Elementary School
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa brought the school board up to speed on the progress of the preschool class that will begin April 2.
“We have 23 students that have been tested and found to be eligible,” stated Gappa. “We have 12 signed up for the morning session and 11 in the afternoon session. We are providing transportation for the morning session. We will reevaluate that later to see if that could be added also for the afternoon session.”
New furniture will be installed this week during spring break.
“Supplies have been ordered and everybody’s been positive so far. The kids seem eager to go to school and the parents are all behind it 100 percent,” Gappa explained.
Severe Weather Preparedness Week March 24-30
Meth Suspect Remains in Starke County Jail
Detectives from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department were conducting a meth investigation at 3131 S. State Road 39 in North Judson and found Woods sitting in a vehicle with his dog. Officers were given consent to search the vehicle and found an inactive meth lab and other items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
He was taken into custody and booked into the Starke County Jail on a preliminary charge of Dealing Methamphetamine, a Class B felony. He has not yet been in Starke Circuit Court for his initial hearing.
Several People Receive Sentences in Starke Circuit Court
Priscilla Bodine pleaded guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance as a Class D felony, while Timothy Bodine entered a guilty plea for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Receiving Stolen Property as Class D felonies. Priscilla was sentenced to 13 months in the Department of Corrections with the entirety of her sentence suspended to be served on probation. Timothy received a sentence of 14 months for both counts, and seven months was suspended for both counts against him; the sentences will be served concurrently. He will serve those seven suspended months on probation, while the executed sentence will be served on home detention with electronic monitoring through Starke County Community Corrections.
Matthew Bradley pleaded guilty on Wednesday to Theft as a Class D felony and was sentenced to 18 months in the Department of Corrections. His 18-month sentence was suspended with the exception of the 106 days he served in Starke County Jail. He will serve 12 months on probation.
VanMeter to Retire from Plymouth Schools After 33 Years of Service
After serving the school for more than three decades, Sharon VanMeter has announced that she will be retiring from Plymouth Community Schools. VanMeter started at the Plymouth Community School Corporation in 1980 at Jefferson Elementary, where she served as a teacher’s aide. In 1994, she transferred to Plymouth High School as a secretary.
Throughout her 33 years at the corporation, VanMeter has become a well-known face to thousands of staff and community members, teachers, parents, and students, having worked under five different principals.
