Demolition Date May Soon Be Set For Old Knox Theater

Posted on Author WKVI
Greg Matt

A demolition date has not yet been set for the former home of the Knox theater and the offices of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation.

City Planning Administrator Greg Matt said the city of Knox is in the midst of applying for a grant to take down the building at the corner of Main and Lake streets. The grant’s matching funds will be paid by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation. If the grant is obtained, a date will be set for the demolition of the building in downtown Knox.

An archiving company has been inside the building to take out the antique theater chairs, the limestone from the outside of the building, and the tin ceilings.

Kentucky Colonel Walter Allen of Knox Passes Away at 99

Posted on Author WKVI

The original owner and operator of the Zingo Service Station in Knox has died.

Walter Allen, 99 of Knox, was also bestowed the title of Kentucky Colonel by two different Kentucky governors. Kentucky Colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Commissions for Kentucky Colonels are given by the governor and the secretary of state to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation.

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North Judson Town Council Approves End-Of-Year Transfers

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson Town Council met Monday morning for a very short agenda. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained the council met to review two resolutions concerning fund transfers that needed to be addressed before the end of the year.

Henry said some of the funds transferred within the general fund totaled $7900.32, and $2348.21 within the Motor Vehicle Highway fund. The council also made a number of transfers within the Parks Fund totaling $2662.97.

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Alcohol-Related Accidents Cause Half Of Trauma Deaths

Posted on Author WKVI

According to a study of the IU/Wishard Trauma Center, figures show that nearly half of all trauma deaths and non-fatal injuries nationwide are due to alcohol-related accidents.

More than three million people are hospitalized and 37 million seek out emergency treatment due to accidents. Dr. Charles Miramonti, who is in charge of Indianapolis EMS, says public awareness campaigns remain crucial.

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Gun Permit Requests Skyrocket in Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer

The number of gun permits has risen in Pulaski County since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on Dec. 14.

Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer said the staff had been processing five gun permits a week and now five permits a day are being processed. Lifetime permits are being issued more frequently since the right to bear arms has come into the news since the school shooting.

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Snowfall Results in Several Accidents; No Serious Injuries Reported

Posted on Author WKVI
Emergency crews work to remove the passenger door of the minivan to extricate a female victim from the accident on Toto Road.

The first significant snowfall hit the Kankakee Valley last week, and dozens of slide-offs, collisions, and property damage accidents were reported through the area.

While no life-threatening injuries have been reported from any of the accidents around Starke County, two people were injured and transported to the hospital following a two-vehicle accident on Dec. 26 around 11:23 a.m. According to the crash report, John Stimach, Jr. of Dyer was traveling westbound on Toto Road when his vehicle struck that of Michael A. Nichols of La Porte.

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Engineering Firm Hired For Starke County Bridge 43

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners

After tabling a bid for bridge repairs at their meeting on Dec. 3, the Starke County Commissioners last week hired engineering firm Jones Petrie Rafinksi to replace Bridge 43 in Oregon Township. Bridge 43 is the next bridge to be replaced in the county.

In addition, the commissioners addressed the Marshall-Starke County Cooperative Agreement, which Commissioner Kathy Norem said is an agreement between the two counties’ highway departments regarding equipment and man-hours shared in 2012. She said that has been taken care of as well.

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New Fire Chief Elected To Culver-Union Township Fire Dept.

Posted on Author WKVI

The first of the new year means a number of changes will be coming to local government, including a new fire chief for the Culver-Union Township Fire Department. Current chief Mike Grover made the announcement at the Dec. 11 meeting of Culver’s town council, explaining that his department recently held its officer election recently and decided veteran fireman Terry Wakefield will admirably fill the position.

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Starke County Republicans to be Sworn in Today

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

Three Starke County Republicans will be sworn into office today by Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall.

Kathy Norem and Kent Danford will take the oath of office of Starke County Commissioner and Bryan Cavender will be sworn in as a Starke County Councilman.

The ceremony will take place in the Starke Circuit Courtroom on the third floor of the courthouse at 3 p.m. CT.

Marshall County Commissioners To Meet This Morning

Posted on Author WKVI

The Marshall County Commissioners are expected to meet this morning at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss year-end items. The commissioners will also be giving notice of the Department Head appointments for 2013.

The commissioners will approve the minutes from the last meeting which included the prepayment of a claim for EMA Director Clyde Avery. Avery explained to the commissioners that there was a delay in receiving a fully executed agreement notice from the State for the Comprehensive EMA Grant for $4,054 for expenditures by the deadline. He asked the commissioners to approve a prepayment of the funds to cover the cost of a camera, weather station and educational materials for the EMA program. The funds must be spent and reimbursed by Feb. 28.

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Plymouth Schools Receive $15,000 Grant for e-Learning

Posted on Author WKVI

The Plymouth School Corporation proudly announced that it will soon receive an e-Learning grant from the Indiana Department of Education – one of only 17 schools in the state to earn the competitive $15,000 grant.

The grant will be used to allow several Plymouth teachers and administrators to attend the 2013 Summer e-Learning Regional Conference, which Senior e-Learning Strategist Jason Bailey said will ensure that all educators are provided technology-rich professional development. Details of the conference offerings will be released in the spring of 2013.

Plymouth School Assistant Superintendent Dan Funston and Technology Curriculum Director Brooke Busse wrote the application for the grant, along with the assistance of Allison Holland. Busse and Holland also serve as e-Learning coaches at the Plymouth schools for not just students, but teachers as well.

Knox Man Arrested Following Apartment Burglary

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man was arrested following the execution of a search warrant in the wake of a burglary at the Ruthie Drive apartments.

Alysia and Kevin Bowman left their apartment around 11 a.m. on Christmas Eve to spend time with family, and later that night, Alysia received a message from a friend who informed her that her apartment door had been kicked open. Her neighbor confirmed the door had been kicked in, and the pair rushed home to see what had taken place.

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Plymouth City Council Approves New Plan Director Appointment

Posted on Author WKVI

The Plymouth City Council approved the appointment of Ralph Booker as the City’s Plan Director – a position he will have with the city and Marshall County.

Under the terms of the agreement, the city would pay $7,000 per year to the county as compensation for performing city business on county time using county resources. Under a separate agreement, the city will pay Booker an additional $6,879 as a contract employee for 2013.

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Knox Man Arrested Following Battery Incident

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man was arrested Wednesday after an alleged domestic battery incident.

Police were called to a home in Giles Court after a call came in about a woman who had been battered by her husband. The victim told police that her husband, Bernard Breese, told her about an infidelity and she got upset. She told police that an argument ensued and he tried to hug her but she reportedly told him to not touch her. She said Breese allegedly picked her up and threw her down on the ground. Her head hit the ground which caused an eye and forehead injury. The victim then ran across the street to call the authorities.

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Starke County Health Department Receives Used Jeep From Community Corrections

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners

It may be a hand-me-down, but the Starke County Health Department doesn’t care; they’ll soon be putting to use an old Jeep from Community Corrections to allow the sanitarian to use it for business travels.

Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem explained the Health Department has been looking around for a vehicle to be used by the sanitarian, but they haven’t had much luck; that is, until now, when Community Corrections acquired some new vehicles with their own funds and offered to give their old Jeep to the Health Department.

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Week in Review for Dec. 24-28, 2012

Posted on Author WKVI

Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

William Newman

Fugitive William Newman has been captured. Marshall County officers learned that he was at a home in Argos and Wednesday night, police gained consent to enter the property and took Newman into custody. He was wanted on a Marshall County warrant after fleeing a traffic stop on December 11th and he was also wanted on several felony drug warrants in Fulton County.  Continue reading →

LaPorte Man Arrested after Robbery Incident

Posted on Author WKVI

A bank robbery suspect was arrested quickly after a robbery incident occurred at a Fifth Third Bank branch in LaPorte Thursday morning.

Detectives from the LaPorte City Police Department and officers from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department were given a description of the suspect and through a collaborative effort with bank employees, the suspect, 32-year-old Ryan S. Mounts, of LaPorte, was quickly apprehended.

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Starke County Council Transfers Nearly $200,000 to Rainy Day Fund

Posted on Author WKVI
David Pearman

After failing to reach a quorum at their last meeting, the Starke County Council last night met once again before the end of the year to wrap up end-of-year business. Council President David Pearman passed out a spreadsheet detailing county budgets and line items with what the council expected to be leftover funds at the end of the year – funds which, if nothing is done with, would disappear.

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La Porte County Police Still Searching For Sex Offender

Posted on Author WKVI
Maurice Ward

LaPorte County officers continue to look for 28-year-old Maurice Ward who is wanted for failing to register as a sex offender. He is also wanted by the Indiana Department of Corrections Parole Board for a parole violation.

Ward is a sexually violent predator and he failed to notify law enforcement of his residence change in Michigan City. Police are now searching for him as warrants have been issued for his arrest.

Ward is described as a black male, 6’3”, and 215 pounds with a tear drop tattoo under his right eye.

He is considered dangerous. If you know of his location, call your local law enforcement agency.