Crane To Be Employed For Repairs At Starke County Courthouse

Posted on Author WKVI
The courthouse tower was damaged by Tuesday morning’s storms.

Trees blew down around the Starke County Courthouse Tuesday morning and according to Maintenance Director Carl Goodrich, there was damage to the courthouse tower.

“This outfit from Wabash, Atlas Engineering, they came and checked out the structural parts of the tower and that seemed to be okay,” explained Goodrich. “The only thing that really sustained damage was the tile and the capping up there [on the tower]. They’re going to give me an estimate, by Monday hopefully, and see what the repairs are going to cost.”

The repairs need to be done at the very top of the courthouse, which stands over 150 feet tall. That work will be done by crane and a reliable crane operator.

Continue reading →

Starke County Cleanup Efforts Continue In Wake Of Storm

Posted on Author WKVI
Crews work on the tower at the Starke County Sheriff's Department

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department’s radio tower suffered quite a bit of damage from this week’s storm. Sheriff Oscar Cowen says a maintenance crew has come in and removed the portion of the tower that was damaged, and the department has had to re-adapt the antenna to allow them to stay in operation until they can have the tower replaced.

Currently, Cowen says they are waiting for the insurance company to come out and look at the damage to determine what they will replace it with, or what kind of antenna they will be putting up in its place. Cowen says they are not sure how long it will take before the damage is repaired, but he has heard the tower itself could cost anywhere from $35,000 and up – but they won’t have a certain figure until the insurance adjustor gives them the OK to have a company repair the damage.

Continue reading →

North Judson Man Arrested On Charges Including Strangulation

Posted on Author WKVI

A North Judson man was arrested Tuesday on an arrest warrant after he reportedly failed to appear in Starke Circuit Court for a court date.

Bradley White’s charges stem from a battery incident involving his live-in girlfriend and a person who had visited his home on February 27.

During the course of the investigation, police learned that he might be harboring stolen property. A search warrant was obtained by North Judson police and White’s Franklin Street apartment was searched and stolen property was reportedly recovered.

White faces charges of Strangulation, Theft, Possession of Stolen Property, and two counts of Battery.

Starke County Jail Committee Public Meeting Today

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Jail

The first of three public meetings to address the findings of the DLZ Corporation and Umbaugh and Associates concerning the Starke County Jail project will be held tonight at 6 p.m. in the Knox Middle School Cafeteria.

Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem says different options for a jail will be discussed by the DLZ Corporation.

“One is doing nothing – which of course really is not an option at all – or building an entirely new jail on a green site, retrofitting an existing building to meet the needs of a jail, or remodeling or expanding the current jail,” Norem explained. “They do have some dollars and cents figures attached to each of those options and those are the things that we will be sharing.”

Continue reading →

Be On The Lookout For Unregistered Contractors

Posted on Author WKVI

If you have damage at your residence from Tuesday morning’s storms, be careful who you hire to make repairs on your property.

Knox City Building Administrator Greg Matt asks you to exercise caution and make sure the contractor has registered with the City of Knox before you agree to any contract. Matt explains that when the registration is complete, the contractor will receive proof that he is registered with the city.

“They get a card to carry in their wallet that shows that they’re registered with the City of Knox,” said Matt. “Their vehicles also get hang-tags that have a registration number and says ‘City of Knox’. If someone comes to your door, you have every right to ask to see this identification.”

Continue reading →

Maxinkuckee Players Gearing Up For Opening Night

Posted on Author WKVI

The Maxinkuckee Players will be taking on one of their biggest challenges yet as they prepare for their opening night of Crazy For You at Culver High School. Three of the Players were in the WKVI studios yesterday to talk about the musical play, and Gregg Underwood – who will be playing Bobby Child and Bela Zangler in the play – says it’s a tough show, but they’re ready.

“This is probably one of the biggest challenges that the Players have taken on,” said Underwood. “Lot of choreography, lot of dancing, and we were able to recruit some really talented younger individuals this year that have just stepped up to the plate and are just knocking it out of the park.”

Continue reading →

Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Starke Counties in Need of High School Career Advisors

Posted on Author WKVI

The Center of Workforce Innovations is in search of qualified individuals willing to serve as advisors for the AmeriCorps Career Advisor initiative. This initiative, which covers seven counties and is going on its second year, will provide Northwest Indiana high school students with career information to assist them in their decision-making process and planning for their future after graduation. United Way of Porter County and AmeriCorps are partnering with the center for this initiative.

Career Advisors will work with teachers and counselors to prepare youth and their families for college, the idea of high wage and high demand careers, as well as lifelong learning. They will also mobilize businesses and community organizations to assist students through the school year and, hopefully, beyond.

Continue reading →

Crews Work on Tower at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department

Posted on Author WKVI
Crews work on the tower at the Starke County Sheriff's Department

The tower at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department sustained damage in yesterday’s storms and crews are on the scene repairing that damage.

“The wind took out the first 60 or 80 feet of the tower, it totally bent it over,” said Starke County Commissioner Dan Bridegroom. “What we’re going to do today (Wednesday) is try to remove the antennas that were on the tower and then take about a 60 foot section off the tower and see if we can replace the antennas to get the coverage throughout the county. This will be the remedy until we get a new tower.”

Continue reading →

Cleanup and Repair Still Underway In Wake Of Yesterday’s Storm

Posted on Author WKVI

Cleanup and repairs are still underway in Starke County following yesterday morning’s storms. More than 80,000 Hoosiers were without power for a period of time, and Kankakee Valley REMC reports that roughly 3000 people are still without power, while NIPSCO says they still have more than 12,000 people out of service.  412 Knox residents remain without power today.

NIPSCO is reportedly bringing in additional crews from Missouri, Wisconsin, and Ohio, and KVREMC says they are working day and night along with neighboring co-ops to get power restored as soon as possible. Lake and Porter counties were reportedly hit the hardest by the damaging winds and rain, which crossed northern Indiana early yesterday morning, leaving downed trees, snapped electric poles and wires in their wake.

Continue reading →

High Winds Not Affecting West Central Wind Turbine

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

One might think with yesterday morning’s extremely high winds West Central High School’s wind turbine would have been cranking out quite a bit of electricity. However, contrary to popular belief, Superintendent Charles Mellon explained that while strong winds do allow the wind turbine to produce more energy, winds that are any higher than 25 mph actually don’t produce that much more energy than 25 mph winds.

“People think when you get 40 mph winds we’re really turning it up, but that’s not the case. The meter is set to produce 900 kilowatts a day, when it’s running in full capacity,” Mellon explained.

Continue reading →

Culver School Board Hires Several Teachers

Posted on Author WKVI
Culver Community School Board
Culver Community School Board Members (from left, clockwise): Jack Jones, Ryan Seiber, Marilyn Swanson, Brad Schuldt, Eugene Baker, Jim Wentzel, Ed Behnke, Ken VanDePutte

The Culver School Board last week approved several new hires at the elementary school and high school. Superintendent Brad Schuldt says Erin Proskey has been hired as the new elementary school assistant principal. Proskey previously taught at Knox, but comes to Culver after holding an assistant principal position at Tippecanoe Valley.

A new social studies and special education teacher has also been hired. Gina Hierlmeier will fill both teaching positions and will also serve as the girls’ varsity basketball coach. Christina Wright has also been given a position at the school as English teacher, and Jeff Allen will be the new assistant technology director.

The board also adopted the elementary and middle schools’ new handbooks, and Schuldt says that while there are a number of modifications, not many of them are major. He says the new handbook is available at their website at www.culver.k12.in.us. The board also approved the upcoming school year’s lunch prices. Schuldt says lunch will cost $2.55 at the middle and high schools, and the cost for lunch at the elementary school will be $2.45.

Chester, Inc. Agricultural Division To Relocate To North Judson

Posted on Author WKVI

The Agricultural Systems Division of Chester, Inc. will be locating to the North Judson area.

Chester has added an additional structure in North Judson which is housing a growing inventory of parts needed because of the large number of irrigation systems serviced by Chester.

The Agricultural Systems Division of Chester was established in 1970 when Chester first added center-pivot irrigation systems to their line of products and services. This division now services over 1500 irrigation systems, mostly center-pivot systems, and they also service grain dryers and drying bins.

Continue reading →

Boy Scouts Exhibit Room Opens Soon

Posted on Author WKVI

The grand opening and dedication of the Boy Scouts Exhibit Room will take place Saturday, Aug. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Museum and Crossroads Center in Plymouth. The dedication ceremony for the new display is being organized by Clarence Shively with the participation of local Boy Scouts, and the public is encouraged the attend and support the scouts with their exhibit dedicated to the organization.

This historical collection of scouting artifacts from the Marshall County area is the result of many hours of work put in by Shively organizing and gathering items. Volunteer Mandy Chalk and curator Elizabeth Garza have also put forth effort for the collection, working with Shively to create the informational signs in the room.

Continue reading →

Back to School Health and Wellness Fair Set For Aug. 1

Posted on Author WKVI

Healthlinc, Inc. will be hosting the third annual Back to School Health and Wellness Fair on Wednesday, August 1 from 3 to 6 p.m. CT at the Knox Healthlinc Clinic, located at 104 E. Culver Road.

During this event, donated backpacks and supplies will be given to school-aged children, immunizations will be provided, and sports physicals will be available for uninsured and under-insured children. Other information and entertainment will also be offered.

Continue reading →

DeMotte WWII Vet to Fly on B-17 Bomber

Posted on Author WKVI
B-17 Flying Fortress

Three of America’s most famous World War II aircraft will be on display in Valparaiso for three days next week, as part of the Wings of Freedom Tour hosted by the Collings Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational foundation based in Stow, Mass.

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, and North American P-51 Mustang will be available for walk-through tours for $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under at the Porter County Regional Airport located at 4207 Murvihill Road in Valparaiso. This event is being held to honor the veterans of WWII, and to educate the nation about the history and impact the war had on our country. Northwest Indiana WWII veterans are encouraged to attend and share their stories with visitors to ensure the memory of those who gave their lives for their country will never be forgotten.

Continue reading →

Destructive Storm Tears Through Starke County and Surrounding Area

Posted on Author WKVI
Dennis Estok, Bruce Williams, and Jim Coad cleaning up storm damage at annex.

A destructive storm ripped through the Starke County and Knox areas Tuesday morning, cutting out electricity to over 80,000 NIPSCO and Kankakee Valley REMC members at one time.

Starke County EMA Director Ted Bombagetti talks about where most of the damage is located.

“Most of the damage is in the City of Knox itself,” said Bombagetti. “We do have some out in the outlying areas. The trees literally knocked down poles and wires. If you don’t need to be out, let the guys do their job and get the roads cleared up.” Homeowners may need storm damage repair services to restore their damaged properties.

He said the most important thing to focus on during times like this is getting emergency response to those who need it.

Continue reading →

Storms Rock Northern Indiana

Posted on Author WKVI
This image was taken on U.S. 35 north of Knox. Photo by Kim King, Editor of the LaPorte Herald Argus

A massive storm went through the Kankakee Valley this morning. Currently, over 64,338 NIPSCO customers and 14,800 Kankakee Valley REMC customers are without power.

The Starke County EMA Director Ted Bombagetti, Starke County Commission President Kathy Norem and Starke County Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall urges Knox residents to stay where you are for the time being as many roads in the county are impassable. The storm hit hardest in the Knox, Bass Lake and eastern Starke County areas.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department has communication issues, but the 911 system is working.  A dispatch tower was damaged in the storm.

The Starke County Airport sustained major damage.  Several hangars were destroyed and several planes were damaged.

Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer reports roads closed as trees and electric lines are down.

Listen to K99.3 for updates and check the closing and delays section on this website for closures. Continue reading →

Pulaski County Jail Not Hindered By Additional Inmates

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer

The arrangement to house a number of Starke County inmates in the Pulaski County Jail to ease the overcrowding situation in the Starke County facility seems to be going well, according to Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer.

“So far it’s been going really well,” said Gayer. “The inmates haven’t caused any additional work. We’re set up to house 127 inmates, we were down to about 50 when this agreement came into play, so things are going well so far.”

Pulaski County is housing the inmates for the agreed upon cost of $20 a day per inmate. The jail staff is then responsible for housing the inmates, providing their meals and issuing their necessary medications. Sheriff Gayer said there were 13 inmates in the jail yesterday, and the number of inmates ranges from 13 to 15 a day.

Continue reading →