Umbaugh and Assoc. to Relocate to Mishawaka

Posted on Author WKVI

Umbaugh and Associates will be the first company to relocate to the IronWorks riverfront project in downtown Mishawaka, with the assistance from companies such as same building movers, having recently signed a lease for the entire third floor of the building. It is the first confirmed contract for space at the building since it was first constructed in 2008. The agreement also allows Umbaugh and Associates the option of expanding onto the second floor in the future.

The vice president of Prime Development Corp., which built and owns IronWorks, says they hope that this is a sign that others will finally take the step to becoming part of the urban riverfront of Mishawaka.

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Absentee Voting Dates Released For Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI

Pulaski County Clerk Tasha Foerg has released absentee voting information for the General Election.

In-office absentee voting will be Oct. 8 through Nov. 5, Monday through Friday, from 8:30–11:30 a.m. and 12:30–3:30 p.m. ET in the Pulaski County Courthouse. One Saturday has been set aside for in-office absentee voting for Saturday, Nov. 3 from 8 a.m. to noon ET in the courthouse. Another date may be added to that schedule at the end of October.

For information on voter registration, traveling board applications and more, call Tasha Foerg at (574) 946-3313.

Pulaski County CASA To Hold Volunteer Training In October

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County CASA program will be holding training for volunteers in October.

This is a chance for you to help children in Pulaski County and be their voice in the court system. As a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer, you will be appointed by a judge to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children to make sure they don’t get lost in the social service system and help them to thrive in a group or foster home. CASA volunteers will remain with the child’s case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home.

In Pulaski County, there are 13 children waiting for an advocate. You can train to be a CASA volunteer from 6:30–8 p.m. ET on Thursdays, beginning Oct. 11 at the Pulaski County Building. If you are interested, contact Pulaski County CASA Program Coordinator Sara Kroft at (574) 225-2227.

SCILL Center To Rake Leaves For Community Project

Posted on Author WKVI
SCILL Center

The SCILL Center students will be participating in their annual community project on Saturday, Oct. 13.

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers said that the students will be raking leaves for those who are physically unable to do so. The students have raked yards for the elderly and the physically challenged in the past and will do so again on Oct. 13.

If you would like to have the students help you at your house, call Knox Mayor Rick Chambers at 772-4553 to put your name on the list. Fifteen households will be included in this project and it is conducted on a first come, first served basis.

DEA, State Police To Partner In Prescription Drug Take Back

Posted on Author WKVI

The DEA and the Indiana State Police are partnering in an effort to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft in a program entitled “Prescription Drug Take Back.”

This event allows everyone to drop off any expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs at an Indiana State Police Post on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. This is a free and anonymous service with no questions asked. This program is intended for liquid and pill medications only; no new or used needles will be accepted.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department is taking unwanted prescriptions this week through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prescription medication will also be taken Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the sheriff’s department. Sheriff Oscar Cowen asks that you be diligent in taking part in this program to help eradicate the abuse of prescription drugs.

Mini-Riot Occurs at LaPorte County Jail

Posted on Author WKVI
LaPorte County Sheriff's Department
La Porte County Sheriff's Office

A mini-riot broke out in the LaPorte County Jail Friday evening – this after the Sheriff’s announcement last week that the closure of a jail wing put the jail in an overcrowding situation.

The inmates refused to lock-down into their cells and deputies had to use tasers and pepper spray to bring order to the population. The inmates complied with orders prior to the arrival of road officers and a K9 unit to the cell block.

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Electrical Fire Closes Knox Taco Bell Temporarily

Posted on Author WKVI
A fire at the business caused the Knox Taco Bell to be closed for several hours.

A fire at the Knox Taco Bell yesterday brought the term “fiery hot” to the next level. An electrical fire occurred at the fast food chain at around 1 p.m. CT, but the fire had been extinguished by the time emergency crews had arrived.

Fire Chief Ken Pfost said the fire appeared to be caused by an electrical issue at an outlet near the drive-thru. He said the outlet had a poor quality extension cord plugged into it and may have overloaded the circuit, causing the fire, but did not trip the breakers. If you do not want such an incident happening to you, click on the following to find the Best extension cord reel.

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Starke County Officer Shoots, Kills Dog – Second Such Incident This Month

Posted on Author WKVI

The second killing of a dog by a police officer in Starke County has the community wondering why these incidents take place and what can be done to prevent them.

Jay Dollahan of Knox said his dog, which he described as an almost-two-year-old Old English Bulldogge, was killed by an officer yesterday when he had come to Dollahan’s home on 700 East to serve civil court papers. Dollahan said the officer pulled up to the home and noticed a “Beware of Dog” sign, but continued walking toward the home and identified himself as he approached.

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Indy Man Arrested in Plymouth On Warrant For Dealing Meth

Posted on Author WKVI

An Indianapolis man was arrested Friday after Plymouth police received a tip that he was at a local restaurant.

Derrick C. Crockett, 23 of Indianapolis, had two Starke County warrants for Dealing in Methamphetamine and Possession of Chemical Reagents. Police took him into custody without incident and booked him into the Marshall County Jail. He was later transported to the Starke County Jail for a court hearing to be held this week.

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Starke County Driver Crashes Into Concrete Drain; Charged with OVWI

Posted on Author WKVI
The concrete drain caused severe damage to the vehicle.

A Starke County man is being charged after a single-vehicle accident on Toto Road in Knox.

At approximately 4:45 p.m. on Sunday, the Starke County Sheriff’s Department received a report of a single-vehicle accident on Toto Road west of U.S. 35. When officers arrived on scene, they found a truck had run off the road and struck a concrete drain, causing serious damage to the vehicle. Fire department personnel were on scene as well, and the driver, Fred Koman, of Knox, had to be extricated from the severely damaged vehicle before being transported to IU Health Starke Hospital and later airlifted to a South Bend hospital after suffering a broken or fractured neck with an injury to his arm.

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Two Arrested For Possession in Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI

Pulaski County police arrested two people after police found them to be in possession of drugs.

A call had been placed to police about an alleged harassment in the area of Maple and National streets in Medaryville and a vehicle description was given of the suspects involved. Police found the vehicle at the Family Express parking lot. The officer approached the vehicle and immediately noticed the odor of burnt marijuana.

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Morocco Man Arrested For OVWI in Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI
police badge

A Morocco man was arrested in Pulaski County on Friday after a two-vehicle accident.

Charles Cranmer was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed when approaching the intersection of U.S. 421 and State Road 14. The officer who was in the area observed Cranmer hit a vehicle in front of him. As the officer pulled over to investigate the scene, he saw Cranmer leave his vehicle and stumble toward the officer. He told the officer that his brakes went out.

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Knox, Plymouth, John Glenn March To 40th Annual ISSMA Competition

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox, Plymouth and John Glenn marching bands will be participating in the 40th annual ISSMA Marching Band competition season beginning this Saturday, Sept. 29.

One hundred seventy-six high school bands will compete with over 16,000 students in the District competition. Winners will advance to the Regional competition on Oct. 13. The top ten scoring bands from each northern and southern Regional contests will move to the Semi-State level and then to the marching band finals on Nov. 3 in Indianapolis. The state competition will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium.

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NJSP Board Undergoes Superintendent Evaluation Training

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board recently underwent superintendent evaluation training with three other school corporations. New requirements were discussed with the new evaluation. Superintendents, teachers, and principals at all corporations are all now being evaluated under a new state requirement.

The school board will hold a safety meeting on Oct. 5 to allow officials to explain crisis procedures and update current policies. The state has required the school to update the procedures and coordinate them with law enforcement and the health department.

Military Display To Be Shown at Culver Library

Posted on Author WKVI

The Military Vehicle Preservation Club and the Starke County Military Vehicle Collectors Club will showcase several historic vehicles at the Culver-Union Township Public Library.

Several vehicles will be on display, plus more than 10 large tables of military artifacts and memorabilia from the Civil War through the current conflicts. This event will be featured for one day only on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET.

The library will also have the Military Veterans Honor Tree where hand-crafted photo display cards will be provided for service member photos and remembrances.

Train Accident In Knox Saturday Caused Four-Hour Road Closures

Posted on Author WKVI

A train accident in Knox over the weekend brought traffic to a halt, as U.S. 35 and other streets were closed for nearly four hours while the wreckage was cleared. Fortunately, no injuries were reported; the train crashed into an unmanned service truck on the rails at around 9:15 a.m.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department said a Norfolk Southern service truck was performing maintenance on the tracks Saturday morning when a train rolled through, and a miscommunication caused the train to crash into the truck. Luckily, the repairman was outside the vehicle making track repairs when the accident occurred.

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Armes to Plead Guilty to Dealing Meth, Theft

Posted on Author WKVI
Aaron Armes

Aaron Armes of Knox appeared in the Starke Circuit Court last week for a plea hearing. An agreement was reached between Armes and the state and has been filed in court. A plea and sentencing hearing for Armes has been set for Oct. 18 at 9:30 a.m.

Armes faces two cases in the court, including one case charging him with Theft as a Class D felony, Possession of Methamphetamine as a Class D felony, and Possession of Paraphernalia as a Class A misdemeanor. His second and latest case stems from his arrest in January when he turned himself in to police. Armes was wanted by police after authorities conducted a search at a camper on 200 South in Knox and found items associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine.

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Eastern Pulaski, Culver Schools Report Enrollment Drop; NJSP Shows Increase

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

Eastern Pulaski and Culver Community Schools reported a drop in enrollment after this year’s Average Daily Membership, or ADM, count.

North Judson-San Pierre School Superintendent Lynn Johnson reported an increase in enrollment. The preliminary ADM report indicates that the school corporation increased by 25 students. This is a $125,000 fund increase for the school.

Johnson said this is great positive move for the school as it has had problems with funding losses for the past few years.

State Representative Dermody Accepts Farm Bureau Endorsement

Posted on Author WKVI
State Rep. Tom Dermody accepts the Farm Bureau nomination from District One Director Larry Jernas.

State Representative Tom Dermody made an appearance in Starke County this week to accept his endorsement from Farm Bureau. Dermody accepted the endorsement at the farm of Larry Jernas, District One Director for Indiana Farm Bureau.

Jernas said the state board recently approved their recommendation, finalizing the endorsement.

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