Starke Commissioners Approve Imminent Domain Acquisition for Project

Posted on Author WKVI
Charles Weaver
Charles Weaver

After a lengthy discussion and with some hesitation, the Starke County Commissioners yesterday gave their unanimous approval to allow Lawson Fisher Associates, a civil engineering company from South Bend, to pursue land acquisition through imminent domain for a county project.

Charles Weaver, the executive director of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, approached the commissioners with an update on the County Road 300 East and State Road 8 project. Weaver explained the project, which is essentially a reconstruction project, began several years ago with a request to INDOT to help fund the work, which he said aims to accommodate a larger amount of trucks in that area. He said it became a safety issue because of the increased amount of traffic, and in order to allow for greater economic growth, that bottleneck needs to be rectified.

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Culver Still Working on Comprehensive Plan

Posted on Author WKVI

The town of Culver is still in the midst of finding a planning firm to handle the drafting of their new comprehensive plan, and Town Manager David Schoeff said it should just be a few weeks before the town board has chosen a firm to handle the work. He said he’s strongly looking forward to getting this matter taken of.

Schoeff said the town has been working on this plan for quite some time and there’s a bit of a buzz about it because it’s coming closer and closer to fruition. He said the town has been persistent and patient, and now the document is almost complete, giving the town a a guidebook on where the community would like the town to ultimately end up, or what it will become.

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Art Teacher Sells Artwork to Fund Art Scholarship for Students

Posted on Author WKVI

An art teacher at John Glenn High School is looking to leave behind a legacy before he ultimately retires, which he said is something he’s lately been thinking a little about. John Thomas has been an art teacher at the high school for 40 years, and he said he’s decided to build up some scholarship funds to give to art-focused students looking for a degree in visual arts.

Thomas explained he wanted to start the scholarship because of the high fees related to an arts course.

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LaPorte City Officers to Work Extra Patrols in Feb.

Posted on Author WKVI

Officers with the LaPorte City Police Department will be busy this month conducting seat belt patrols and impaired driving patrols.

30 hours this month will be devoted by officers to conduct Operation Pull Over funded patrols. The officers will be working with the DUI Taskforce Indiana funded impaired driving patrols on the weekends in conjunction with the other departments participating in the LaPorte County DUI Taskforce.

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Man Wanted by Marshall County Police for Alleged Stabbing

Posted on Author WKVI
Brian Tapia

An altercation in Marshall County led to one man being hospitalized for a knife wound and a suspect on the loose. Marshall County police were called to the Plymouth Hospital Emergency Room at around 7:53 p.m. in response to a male subject with a knife wound to the stomach, and an investigation led police to find the suspect, Brian Tapia, had left the residence before police could arrive.

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Pulaski County Commissioners, Council Change Venue for Tonight’s Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter

The Pulaski County Commissioners will meet tonight at 6 p.m. ET for their regularly scheduled meeting, but there has been a change of venue because officials expect a large crowd due to a controversial agenda item. Both the commissioners meeting and the meeting of the county council at 5 p.m. ET have been moved to the circuit courtroom, located on the second floor of the Pulaski County Courthouse.

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Knox Freshman Orientation Meeting Set for Feb. 20

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox High School officials are getting incoming Freshman students ready for the new school year.

Current 8th grade students and parents are invited to attend a Freshman Orientation meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium. This meeting will help students start thinking about the transition to high school. Topics will include course scheduling, attendance, discipline expectations and extra-curricular opportunities.

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Heart Health Takes Center Stage in February

Posted on Author WKVI

IU Health LaPorte Hospital and IU Health Starke Hospital are urging you to listen to your heart and educate yourself during American Heart Month.

The American Heart Association says many heart attacks occur suddenly and many of warning signs start slowly with mild pain or discomfort. Common symptoms include chest pain or discomfort lasting more than a few minutes; discomfort in other areas of the upper body such as one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach; shortness of breath and breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

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College Goal Sunday Offers Free FAFSA Help

Posted on Author WKVI

Financial aid professionals will make an appearance at the Plymouth High School and 40 other sites throughout the state to volunteer their time in helping college-bound students and their families with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid during College Goal Sunday. The free program will take place on Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. ET.

The program aims to assist Indiana students who are seeking undergraduate admission to a college or technical school this year in filing the FAFSA, which is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, loans, and scholarships. The FAFSA must be filed by March 10 in order for the student to be eligible for state aid.

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Culver Woman Loses Life in Marshall County Crash

Posted on Author WKVI

A Culver woman lost her life in a single vehicle accident on State Road 17 in Marshall County. Shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday, officers with the Indiana State Police and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department responded to the accident just west of the intersection of Quince Road near Plymouth.

According to state police, the driver of a 1992 Honda, Ralph Ward II, 44 of Culver, was headed east on State Road 17 when he lost control of his vehicle on the snow-covered road. Police say the vehicle spun out of control before sliding off the north side of the road and striking a utility pole on the passenger side.

Ralph Ward was not injured in the crash, but the front seat passenger, Caroline Ward, 70 of Culver, sustained injuries and was transported to St. Joseph Hospital in Plymouth. Another passenger in the rear seat, Linda Ward, 46 of Culver, was killed in the crash. She sustained a severe head injury in the accident and was transported to St. Joseph Hospital in Plymouth where she was pronounced dead.

Starke Election Board Receives DLGF Approval for Ballot Question

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski

The Starke County Election Board met Thursday morning to discuss a number of topics, including the Knox Community School Corporation’s request to hold a special election on May 7 in order to present a public question to its voters.

Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski said that the Department of Local Government Finance did not approve the referendum wording before the meeting, but the approval was received after the meeting was held. She said the DLGF approved everything with no changes, and the board also received certification from Auditor Kay Chaffins. Now, she said, the Election Board must vote on whether or not to put the question on the ballot.

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Knox Man Sentenced for Theft, Auto Theft

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man received his sentence in the Starke Circuit Court this week after he pleaded guilty to charges of Auto Theft as a Class D felony and Theft as a Class D felony following his arrest on March 8, 2012.

Zachary Tomerlin, 19, faced two cases in the Starke Circuit Court; the charges of Theft stemmed from an incident in March when police received a report of subjects stealing scrap metal from a barn in Starke County. An investigation into the matter led police to arrest Tomerlin and Daniel Bradley, 21, for the theft.

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Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Monday

Posted on Author WKVI

The Marshall County Commissioners will be meeting Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. ET in the Commissioners Room where they are expected to discuss several agenda items.

One item the Commissioners discussed during their last meeting was the contract with Great Lakes Laboratories. The company is contracted to process all drug submissions submitted when police take samples for evidence. The proposed contract for this year is $82,000 – double the amount of the previous contract.

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NJSP Elementary Honored for Exemplary Rating

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson

The North Judson-San Pierre Elementary School was recently recognized in honor of their “A” rating for the second consecutive year. The school has received exemplary ratings since 2010, and on Monday, Jan. 28, Superintendent Lynn Johnson surprised the staff at their monthly meeting with a plaque and refreshments to honor their hard work.

Principal Michael McBride accepted the plaque on behalf of the staff and students and attributed the spectacular effort done by the school since 2000, when Public Law 221 was passed in Indiana, requiring ongoing school improvement planning based on data.

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