Candidate Signs Displayed Several Months Before Primary Election

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Next year is looking to be a big election year and some candidates have already post campaign signs looking for your vote in the May 6, 2014 election.

Starke County Clerk stated that the campaign signs can be displayed as long as the proper paperwork has been filed in her office. She said the candidate may campaign using signs or any other kind of advertising use he or she may desire in using to collect favorable votes.

Some signs have been posted around the Starke County Fair for Bill Dulin, Harold Smith and Greg Wireman who have displayed their intentions to run for their party’s nominee for Starke County sheriff in the Primary Election in May.

Walkerton Fire Cause Under Investigation

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The cause of a Tuesday morning fire at a Walkerton home remains under investigation. It started in the garage of the residence at 2973 Redwood Road around 9:30 a.m. The family got out of the home safely, according to ABC 57, but three firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion. Lapaz-North Township Fire Chief Chris Oginsky tells the TV station they were treated with IV fluids and will be fine. Tanker trucks from multiple departments hauled water to the scene since there are not fire hydrants in the area. Oginsky says firefighters also had a tough time accessing the attic area to extinguish the flames.

 

INDOT Makes Another Announcement of Two-Day Road Closure

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Road construction season is in full swing as crews from the Indiana Department of Transportation have been making improvements to several area highways.

State Road 10, between U.S. 31 near Argos and State Road 117 near Culver, will be closed beginning today through the end of the day Thursday. Crews will perform a chip seal and fog seal operation. This project is dependent on dry weather and may be delayed if conditions aren’t right.

Westbound travelers on State Road 10 will be detoured south on U.S. 31, west on State Road 110, north on State Road 117, and back to State Road 10. Eastbound travelers will be directed to take State Road 10, south to State Road 117, east on State Road 110, north on U.S. 31 and back to State Road 10.

Stay Cool When Attending Events This Week

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

With a warm week ahead of us and a number of fair events planned, health departments are stepping up efforts to provide hydration and areas to cool off during local fairs. The Pulaski County Health Department will provide misting tents during the Northern Indiana Power from the Past show planned for this week, giving people a chance to cool off and relax out of the sweltering summer heat.

Terri Hansen, office manager at the Pulaski County Health Department, said the misting tents provide visitors with cool water and shade for those who feel overheated and need to cool down.

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Marshall County REMC Employee Starts Food Drive for Neighborhood Center

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A Marshall County REMC employee is making an effort to help those less fortunate through a partnership with the Marshall County Neighborhood Center and the Rural Electrical Leaders in Training Education program. Doug MacLain, journeyman lineman for MCREMC, said RELITE aims to encourage electric cooperative employees to improve their leadership qualities and provide services to their community.

MacLain said he was recommended to the RELITE program by MCREMC CEO Mark Bateman, and since he had done work previously with the Neighborhood Center through Crossroads Church, he felt it was the perfect chance to do something to benefit the Neighborhood Center. The Neighborhood Center is in need of a number of food items for the summer, when demand increases but supplies tend to dwindle.

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Plymouth Horse Ranch for Special Needs Children at Risk of Closure

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A horse therapy farm in Plymouth is at risk of closing because the owner is no longer able to afford the rent and liability insurance involved in her goal of helping children with special needs. Chris Engle told WKVI that she works with children who have been through traumatic experiences or suffer from disabilities, pairing them with horses and trying to get them to trust again.

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Scholarship for Women Available at Starke County Community Foundation

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Starke County Legacy of Women is offering a scholarship to women going back to school and looking for funds. Better hurry – the scholarship deadline is quickly approaching.

The Legacy of Women Scholarship supports non-traditional students and is designed to help Starke County Women who wish to further their education and/or training as a way of enhancing their employment skills.

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Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat to be Presented Next Week

Posted on Author WKVI
joseph and the technicolor dreamcoat
 

The Maxinkuckee Players production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will take to the stage in six performances beginning Friday, July 26 at the Culver Community High School Auditorium.

Maxinkuckee Players member, Becky Liechty, explained that Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is based on the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. He is sold to be a slave, but because of his ability to interpret dreams, he becomes the right hand man of Pharaoh and saves Egypt from famine.

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Indiana General Assembly Approves More Than 300 New Laws

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Indiana General Assembly has approved just under 300 new laws this year, many of which became effective July 1. The new state laws impact a variety of issues, including the budget, roads and infrastructure, education funding, Medicaid expansion, and several others.

Some of the laws passed regarding education include House Enrolled Act 1003, which extends vouchers to any student who lives in an attendance zone with a failing school or has a sibling already participating in the program. In addition, the legislation permanently lifts the cap on the number of vouchers and increases eligibility to those earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. HEA 1003 amends the definition of voucher to require an individual or sibling of the individual to receive a scholarship granting organization of at least $800 in a prior school year as well as meet 150 percent of free and reduced lunch program income requirement.

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Preliminary Autopsy Results Revealed in Lake Maxinkuckee Drowning Incident

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

An autopsy has found that 22-year-old Valentin Sirghi of Plymouth died as a result of asphyxiation due to drowning in an incident at Lake Maxinkuckee Sunday evening.

That preliminary result was confirmed by Marshall County Deputy Coroners Ann Leed and Brigette Hite. The autopsy was conducted by Dr. Joseph Prahlow, Board-Certified Pathologist in Mishawaka.

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LaPorte Man Acted in Self Defense When He Shot Burglar

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

No charges will be filed against a LaPorte man who shot and killed a burglar in his home on the morning of July 8.

Investigators from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office completed their investigation and submitted their reports to LaPorte County Prosecutor Robert Szilagyi who concluded that Stephen Penny acted in self defense when Jason Rabe broke into his home in the 6700 East block of County Road 1000 North.

Penny had awoken at the sound of breaking glass inside his home. He armed himself with a gun and found Rabe armed with a hatchet. The pair struggled and Penny shot Rabe once in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene from a single gunshot wound.

LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department investigators and the prosecuting attorney have closed this investigation.

Traffic Stop Leads to Felony Drug Arrest

Posted on Author WKVI
Travis Bates
Travis Bates

A LaPorte man’s lead foot landed him in jail for possession of heroin following a Sunday night traffic stop. Travis Bates, 26, was pulled over for speeding at Fox Park in LaPorte around 8:20 p.m., and his vehicle was searched. Officers reportedly found drug paraphernalia and a brown crystal substance that tested positive for heroin. He’s facing a felony charge.

 

Plea Agreement Proposed for Murder Suspect Kathleen Holt

Posted on Author WKVI

Kathleen Holt
Kathleen Holt
The Starke County prosecutor and the attorneys for Kathleen Holt have reached a proposed plea agreement.

Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff stated that the agreement has yet to be reduced to writing and to be heard in a formal court setting. The proposed agreement would have Holt pleading guilty to a charge of Murder with a minimum sentence of 45 years and the maximum sentence of 55 years. As part of the plea agreement, she would be giving up her right to appeal the sentence.

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Starke County Council Discusses Next Sheriff’s Compensation

Posted on Author WKVI

The pool of candidates interested in becoming Starke County’s next sheriff may shrink based on pending action by the county council to drastically reduce the pay for that position during the next term. Incumbent Sheriff Oscar Cowen earns $102,000 per year in salary plus proceeds from tax warrants, based on the terms of the contract he negotiated with the county. That can’t be changed, but state law does allow the county council to set the next sheriff’s compensation rate prior to the election. A law passed in 1993 requires the sheriff to earn at least 60-percent of what the prosecutor is paid, and that salary of roughly $125,000 is set by the state based on the county’s population. That means the next Starke County sheriff will be paid at least $75,000. Continue reading →

Marshall County “Shell” Building Project Groundbreaking Next Month

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Marshall County “shell” building project is moving right along with a groundbreaking ceremony planned for next month. The Plymouth Industrial Development Corporation yesterday signed the agreement to sell the land to the Marshall County Economic Development Commission to allow the project to move forward, and last week, the MCEDC board approved all the other documents necessary to proceed. According to MCEDC Executive Director Jay Bahr, there have been no recent snags and they expect to start construction soon.

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Pulaski County Recycling Transfer Station Needs Repairs

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

The Pulaski County Recycling Center Transfer Station is in need of some repairs, according to Director Ed Clark. He told the commissioners last night that a piece of equipment has a leaking cylinder that must be fixed, but he said it isn’t an emergency and he will soon approach the council for a transfer approval.

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INDOT Announces Temporary SR 23 Road Closure

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A highway east of Knox will be closed for the next couple of days for some preventive maintenance. INDOT crews will chip and fog seal State Road 23 between State Roads 8 and 10 today and tomorrow, weather permitting. INDOT’s marked detour will utilize State Road 8, U.S. 35 and State Road 10 to get around the work. The process consists of pouring liquid asphalt on the roadway and covering it with crushed stone to provide a new wearing surface. Chip-sealing extends the life of the roadway by protecting it from moisture, ultra-violet degradation and other possible damage. The fog seal is applied on top of the chip-seal work. It’s a light application of asphalt that helps to lock in loose stone and help with dust problems. It also makes the road black, which in turn makes pavement markings more visible. INDOT warns that loose gravel may be present on recently chip-sealed roads and can damage windshields and paint on vehicles that are following too closely. Motorists are urged to slow down and allow plenty of space between vehicles.

Power from the Past Begins Thursday, Preview Night Wednesday

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Northern Indiana Power from the Past event kicks off this week, with preview night scheduled for Wednesday beginning at 4:30 p.m. with the HAP’s Chicken Bash sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 229. Thursday marks the start of the daily events with entertainment including Jim Kersting and the Monday Nite Pickers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and square dancing with Ralph Hardy beginning at 7 p.m. Line Dancing with the Tri County Kickers will take place as well.

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New Requirements to 21st Century Scholars Program

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

There are new requirements for the state’s 21st Century Scholars program.

The 21st Century Scholars program provides funding to low-income students who plan on pursuing more educational opportunities after high school.

The Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education has implemented the Scholar Success Program, a series of 12 steps scholars must complete in high school to earn the scholarship. This is in addition to the previously set requirements.

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