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The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that a trial should be held for a former LaPorte High School volleyball coach on charges that she failed to report a relationship between a 15-year-old player and a 48-year-old coach.

MaryBeth Lebo faces two misdemeanor charges of Failing to Report Child Abuse or Neglect, and the Court of Appeals ruled that a trial should be held to determine whether Lebo knowingly and intentionally failed to inform the relationship between the girl and coach Robert Ashcroft, who had been sentenced to 21 years in prison for sexual misconduct and child seduction last year.

Marshall County Plan Director Interested in City Planner Position

The Marshall County Commissioners held more discussion on the request from Plan Director Ralph Booker, who is asking for their support in seeking the position of part-time planner for the city of Plymouth. Booker said he feels the position would enhance cooperation between the city and county, but the commissioners have their concerns about a possible conflict of interest.

Two Arrested after Theft of Prescription Medication

A pair of Knox residents were arrested Thursday after they allegedly stole prescription medication.

A Knox resident called the Knox City Police Department to say that she dropped a bottle of prescription medication outside her home and Timothy and Priscilla Bodine picked it up and stole it. The Bodines were over at the residence and to pick up coats and when the victim handed the coats to them, she told police it was then that she probably dropped the medication that she had in her hand. She later noticed it missing and believed that’s when she lost the bottle.

Open House Held for Nancy Dembowski

With family, governmental officials and friends in attendance, former State Representative Nancy Dembowski was honored for her years of service at an open house yesterday. The celebration was held in the building that now bears her name, the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center.

Emcee Ted Hayes brought up several people to speak including Starke County Economic Development Director Charles Weaver; Councilmen Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg and Greg Matt; plus County Democrat Chairman Kenny Wallace. Knox City Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston and his wife Michaelene also thanked Dembowski for representing Starke County so well.

Winamac Town Board Approves Several Ordinances

November 19, 2012November 18, 2012WKVI

The Winamac Town Board approved several ordinances during their meeting last week, including an ordinance establishing the regulation of the opening of the fire hydrants owned by the Winamac Municipal Waterworks Utility.

The Town Board also approved ordinances that establish the salaries and wages for the position of town mechanic, Town Manager, clerical personnel for the Town of Winamac, the seasonal position of Park Manager Assistant, the Winamac Police Department and the crossing guard.

One board member opposed the salary ordinances stating that the federal government gave a 1.7 percent standard of living increase and did not agree with the $.50 raise. The ordinances did pass with four out of the five members approving the vote.

Thanksgiving Weekend Travel Expected Up This Year

November 19, 2012November 18, 2012WKVI

More than 43 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving holiday weekend which is an increase from last year.

Wednesday is the busiest travel day of the year with 90 percent of travelers traveling by automobile to visit with family and friends during the holiday. The next most popular mode of travel for the holiday is airplane and followed by train and bus.

Gas prices may stay around the current price, but with the oil rig fire off the Gulf Coast on Friday may affect prices. The explosion came a day after oil giant BP reached an agreement to pay penalties of $4.5 billion for its role in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster which also occurred in the Gulf of Mexico.

Black Friday Approaching; Stay Safe

November 19, 2012November 18, 2012WKVI

The biggest shopping day of the year is coming up on Friday and the Indiana Department of Labor is encouraging retailers to make is a safe holiday shopping season.

Crowd management preparation is recommended. Train employees to handle the crowds and provide them with the knowledge of how to address any emergency situation that may arise. Emergency training may include the proper use of Automated External Defibrillators.

Shoppers are encouraged to treat others with kindness and not engage in physical force to obtain the items you wish to purchase.

Wellness Center Open at IU Health Starke Hospital

IU Health Starke Hospital has announced an expansion of services in the Wellness Center. Heather Skelly, head of the program, said it’s a great way for the public to stay healthy by getting shape that is available to everyone.

The public is invited to tour the facility where Skelly, an athletic trainer for the Knox High School for 11 years, will offer an assessment of each individual’s physical capabilities before introducing them to the equipment. Former physical therapy patients are also invited to use the facility.

Winamac vs. Manchester

November 17, 2012Anita Goodan

11-17-12

Winamac-53 Manchester-46

Jessica Schramm (Winamac): 18 points, 4 3-pointers, 4-4 free throws, 4 rebounds

WKVI/Five Star Food Drive a Success!

November 17, 2012November 19, 2012WKVI

Joan Haugh and Jack from Five Star — Jack from Five Star gives Joan Haugh a check for $500 for the food pantry

The WKVI/Five Star food drive for the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry was held Saturday at Five Star and it was a success. The boy and girl scouts in North Judson also helped get donations for the food drive.

Several carts were loaded with food items and several cash donations were made. Community Services of Starke County Director Joan Haugh said it greatly helps the food pantry. Continue reading →

IDEM Inspectors Investigate Manure Odor Permeating Knox

Inspectors from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management made their way to the hog farm owned by Lee Nagai at 1755 E. 400 N. in Knox on Friday to investigate complaints of a potent manure smell emitting from the farm. Barry Sneed from IDEM said they received four complaints Friday. He explains why the odor from the farm was so strong and was experienced for miles away.

“Obviously, the manure has an odor to it to begin with and there are certain times of year that the farmers will apply the manure to the field and usually it’s when there’s no crops in the field,” said Sneed. “They have to keep their manure lagoons down to a certain level and so as a result, they’ll have to apply that to the field.”

Adoptions Are Historic Emotional Moments in Starke Circuit Court

P1050223 — The Earnest family went through the adoption hearing before the public and the media on Friday.

It was an emotional day in the Starke Circuit Court yesterday as Judge Kim Hall finalized four adoptions in an historical moment before the public and the media. For the first time in the history of the Starke County Courthouse, Chief Justice Brent Dickson signed a rare order authorizing the adoption proceedings to not only be open to the public, but also to be televised and recorded by the media. Only three counties in Indiana were given this order.

In honor of National Adoption Awareness Month and the increasing need for adoptive families, the four adoption hearings were held before a packed courtroom with several guest speakers, including Rhonda Adcock, the director of Starke County CASA, who spoke about how important adoption is.

WKVI/Five Star Food Drive Today

Today is the day to help your neighbors in need.

Members of the WKVI staff will be ready to take your non-perishable food donation for the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry today at Five Star in Knox from 9 a.m. to Noon. When you get to the store to pick up your groceries, put a few other items in the cart for the pantry and that donation will go to help the over 290 families that utilize the food pantry each month.

Thefts Under Investigation Near Plymouth

Detectives from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a theft incident in the Plymouth area.

James and Kathy Bottorff reported that unknown suspects entered their two unlocked cars parked at their residence and stole two digital trunking hand-held scanner, two GPS units, a DVD player with dual monitor and one back-up camera with a 2.5’ color LCD monitor.

If you know anything about this incident, call the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department at (574) 936-3187.

Nancy Dembowski Honored Today At Community Center

Nancy Dembowski will be honored for her many efforts on the state and local level in an Open House tomorrow from 2-4 p.m. CT at the newly renamed Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox.

One of the first community activities Nancy was involved in was the introduction of the peppermint candy canes as Christmas decorations for the City of Knox. She reminisces about that time.

Knox 5-Year-Old’s Wish Granted During Indianapolis Radiothon

A five-year-old Knox boy’s wish to the Make-A-Wish Foundation was granted yesterday during a 36-hour radiothon in Indianapolis.

The annual radiothon was held on WZPL on the Dave Smiley’s show and the goal was to raise $6,000 for each child’s wish and over $120,000 was needed to fulfill all of the wishes for children who suffer from life threatening illnesses.

Vance Flagg of Knox made a wish to go to San Diego and Sea World to visit all of the animals as he loves them so much. The wish was granted during the radiothon yesterday morning.

Knox Drama Department Gearing Up For Today’s Production

The Knox High School Drama Department is switching things up as they prepare for their musical production which, instead of being presented in the spring as they usually do, will be performed today at 7 p.m.

This year, the cast will be performing “The Seussical,” which is based on 21 different Dr. Seuss stories. The musical features Horton as the main character with narration by the Cat in the Hat. Director Terril Hahn said this is going to be a great show, thanks to the productiveness of their larger-than-usual cast.

Eastern Pulaski Schools Will Soon Welcome New Baseball Coach

November 17, 2012February 24, 2021WKVI

Eastern Pulaski Schools will soon be welcoming a new member to the coaching staff. Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman explained that baseball coach Mark Hendricks will soon be leaving the corporation, and they’ve found his replacement in Tony Carroll.

Klitzman said Carroll brings a lot to the table with years of experience in baseball, though they are sad to see Hendricks go.