WKVI Information Center

A Medaryville man was arrested Saturday after an alleged domestic dispute.

Larry Minarik, Jr. reportedly got into an argument with a 26-year-old woman over a cell phone. During the argument, Minarik allegedly pushed the woman down in their home and pressed his hand over and into her mouth and yelled at her to be quiet. The woman told police she couldn’t breathe and struck Minarik in the face to get him to stop. The woman’s eight-year-old son reportedly heard his mother scream.

The woman called her father who then called police. By that time, Minarik left the residence. The officers learned that the woman had filed a protective order against Minarik but it had not yet been served. Minarik reportedly called the woman later and asked to get some things from the residence and officers were able to come back to the home to arrest him.

Minarik reportedly told police that he put his hands in front of her mouth but did not actually touch her. He said she was screaming for no apparent reason.

Minarik was arrested on a preliminary charge of Domestic Battery with a Minor Present. He was served with the protective order while being booked into the Pulaski County Jail.

NIPSCO Offers Credit For AC Cycling Program

With extremely hot temperatures outside over the last several weeks, the electric grid is under a great deal of stress. To combat this, NIPSCO is partnering up with customers to manage the load by utilizing the Air Conditioner Cycling Program.

The program works by using a remote-controlled switch on or near the outside unit of a home’s central AC unit, allowing the compressor to be cycled for short amounts of time during periods of high electric demand. This cuts down on the use of electricity while allowing the blower motor in the air handler to continue to circulate already-cooled air.

Starke County Airport Looking Forward to Expansion

There’s not a lot of activity now at the Starke County Airport but Airport Manager, Pam Beharry said a runway extension and the introduction of a different jet fuel will keep the area busy next year.

“We’ll be getting an extension to the 5,001 foot runway,” said Beharry. “We have introduced Jet A fuel for the oncoming turbine operations – turbine as in turbo-prop or jet aircraft. We’ve got a few coming in on a regular basis. We’re just looking forward to a lot of business and improvements coming in the future.”

Voucher Program Informational Meeting Planned for North Judson Parents

School Choice Indiana representatives will be hosting an information session to inform North Judson parents and families of educational options for their children through the state’s school voucher program, tax credit scholarships, tax deductions, and other forms of school choice. The session will be held at St. Peter Lutheran School on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT.

Statewide Water Shortage Could Force Bass Lake Pumps to Cease

July 23, 2012July 23, 2012WKVI

With a statewide water shortage warning in place, the Bass Lake Conservancy District warns that if the shortage hits the emergency level, the pumps which pour millions of gallons of water into Bass Lake will be shut off.

The DNR notified the Bass Lake Conservancy District of this situation last week. If the pumps are shut off, all boats in the lake will need to be taken ashore as soon as the emergency is declared or the boat may not be able to be transported out of the lake. The lake levels will deplete quickly.

Public Information Meetings Scheduled For Starke County Jail Project

starke-county-jail-outside — Starke County Jail

The Starke County Jail Committee met recently and a consultant from the DLZ Corporation gave the committee options concerning the jail. Commissioner Kathy Norem said several public information meetings have been scheduled to inform county residents of those findings.

“The first will be Thursday, July 26 at the Knox Middle School Cafeteria at 6 p.m., or you can attend one of the other two meetings,” Norem explained. “One will be Tuesday, July 31 at the Oregon-Davis High School Cafeteria at 6 p.m. or Wednesday, August 1 at 6 p.m. at the North Judson-San Pierre High School Auditorium.”

Norem says a number of options were presented by DLZ, and each of them have their pros and cons.

Whitt Sentenced To Ten Years For Dealing in Methamphetamine

July 23, 2012July 23, 2012WKVI

Starke-County-Courthouse-large — Starke County Courthouse

Cole Whitt, Jr., of Plymouth, was recently sentenced to prison following a hearing before Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall.

Whitt pleaded guilty to Dealing in Methamphetamine as a Class B Felony in a plea agreement accepted by Judge Hall which dropped charges of Possession of Precursors, Methamphetamine and Marijuana. The judge took into consideration that Whitt had been to prison twice before he rendered his decision, sentencing Whitt to 10 years in the Department of Corrections with none of that sentence suspended. Upon completion of the CLIFF program and at least six years of his sentence, he can petition the court for a modification of his sentence.

Pulaski County Recycling Center Breaking Even

The Pulaski County Commissioners last week received a report from Recycling Center Director Ed Clark, who informed them that his center has brought in a total of $24,472.11 for the month of June. He says they’re currently breaking even for operating costs, and they’ve brought in over $140,000 this year so far.

Clark explained that the center is suffering from a drop in commodity prices. The center used to be able to sell one kind of plastic for $25 per pound, but the price had dropped twice in June down to $19.50 per pound. While this drop is bad for the center when selling plastic, Clark says this is the perfect time to purchase plastic to sell later at a profit.

Clark also told the commissioners that he will be seeking estimates on repair work at the transfer station. He says that the compactor is in need of repair because of a break in one component, and while the compactor can still be used, he says it’s best to get the break repaired before putting it through heavy use.

IU Health Starke Hospital Invests Nearly $750,000 In Equipment

July 23, 2012July 23, 2012WKVI

IU Health Starke Hospital Interim President David Hyatt announced this week that the hospital has invested nearly three quarters of a million dollars in new equipment. He presented his capital expenditures report to the Starke County Council last week, and he said total capital expenditures so far this year total $862,071. He says $735,280 of these expenses were for equipment, with $63,589 in contingency funds.

Two high-tech pieces of equipment cost nearly half a million dollars alone, including a Nuclear Medicine Dual-head Camera at $276,749, and a new Patient Monitoring System for the inpatient units with a cost of $202,470. Hyatt says the new patient monitors are the most technologically-advanced monitors available, and will allow patients to be monitored anywhere in the hospital from central monitoring screens in the ICU and Medical Surgical Units.

Students Return To School Soon – Are They Immunized?

Lynch,-Frank — Starke County Health Nurse Frank Lynch

Students will be returning to the classroom in mid-August, so now is the time to schedule immunizations for your child.

Starke County Health Nurse Frank Lynch talks about immunizations needed for Kindergarten students.

“They will need their Kindergarten shots,” Lynch explained. “If they’re up to date on everything else, then they should be looking at only having to come in and get their tetanus and their polio boosters, their second MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and a second Varicella (chicken pox) if they haven’t had it already.”

Students in grade six and up also need certain immunizations.

Knox High School National Honor Society Honored By School Board

The Knox High School National Honor Society was spotlighted during the school board’s recent meeting. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says the members were involved in a great fundraising effort.

“Dr. Ratliff, the principal at the high school, brought to the board a letter from the Pennies for Patients fundraising effort,” said Gappa. “Our National Honor Society at the high school raised over $1,200 in pennies to support that fund. The whole nation raised over $600,000.”

Miss Teen Bass Lake Crowned Saturday Night

July 23, 2012July 23, 2012Anita Goodan

A Knox High School Senior was named Miss Bass Lake for 2012 at a Pageant held Saturday night at the Bass Lake Community Center.

Nicole Knutel was selected from seven candidates vying for the title. Paige Baldacci of Tinley Park, Illinois, a student at Culver Girls Academy was named 1st Runner-Up and Emily Novello of Valparaiso was named 2nd Runner-up.

Shawn Heck Sentenced To Eight Years For Dealing Methamphetamine

Shawn Heck was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Thursday.

Heck pleaded guilty to a charge of Dealing in Methamphetamine in a plea agreement which Judge Hall accepted. Heck will serve eight years on that Class B Felony charge with none of that sentence suspended in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Upon his completion of the CLIFF program and serving a mandatory six years of that term, he may apply for a modification of that sentence. He was ordered to pay a $200 drug interdiction fee. As part of his plea agreement, charges of Possession of Precursors and Possession of Methamphetamine were dropped.

Plymouth Teen Arrested For Manufacturing Counterfeit Cash

A Plymouth teen was arrested Friday after an investigation by the Plymouth Police Department.

Police received a phone call from Walmart employees stating that a young man had just purchased items using counterfeit money. The suspect 19-year-old Dakota Vandall, was detained at the store and police discussed the incident with him.

Police reportedly found 11 counterfeit $20 bills in his possession. During questioning, Vandall allegedly admitted that he had copied some twenty dollar bills to make the counterfeit bills. The act was performed at his residence where police found two more counterfeit bills.

Vandall was arrested on a preliminary charge of Forgery/Counterfeiting. He was taken to the Marshall County Jail and placed under a $5,000 cash bond.

Knox High School Continues To Offer Free Breakfast and Lunch

A few Knox High School students are involved in the second session of summer school, and High School Principal Dr. Elizabeth Ratliff said summer school has been going well.

“We have a lot of classes going on at the high school,” said Ratliff. “We also want to remind you that we do have free lunch or breakfast for any individual under 18 going on at the high school. They can come in and get a complimentary lunch or breakfast. If you have visitors in town, we’d welcome you here.”

Breakfast and lunch will be served at the high school Monday, July 23 through Thursday July 26. Breakfast is served from 7 to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT.

Starke County 4-H Fair Comes To an End Tomorrow

The Starke County 4-H Fair is coming to a close after a week of fun, heat, and 4-H success.

The garden tractor pull begins today at 8:30 a.m., Kid’s Day Registration is at 10 a.m. in the Show Arena, the 4-H rocket launch will be at 1 p.m. at the Starke County Airport and the Pet Fun Run is at 2 p.m., sponsored by the Starke County Humane Society.

The fair officially closes tomorrow at 5 p.m. with the Hamlet Fire Department’s truck and tractor pull.

Winamac Power from the Past Continues Today

The Winamac Power from the Past show continues today in the Winamac Town Park.

On display are Ford and Fordson Tractors, machinery, and tools. Starting at 10 a.m. today and tomorrow, visitors can enjoy viewing antiques and collectibles, a quilt show, flea market, antique motorcycles, shingle mill, tractor games, wheat weaving and crosscut saw contests.

“Over Due” will perform tonight at 8 p.m. and there will be a spark show after the horse pull in the steam engine area.

More great features are set for tomorrow. Admission is $3.

Art Dominates Henry F. Schricker Public Library

_DDM8869 — Wesley Dolinski and Darius Mirza sit surrounded by art on display at the library.

Visitors to the Henry F. Schricker Public Library may have noticed a bit of a change about the place, as the lobby is now plastered with all kinds of art, courtesy of artists Wesley Dolinski and Darius Mirza.

Sculptures, photographs, and paintings are on display at the library. Dolinski explained that most of the work was done by him and Mirza, but three or four pieces on display were purchased from art teachers of his past. More than 40 pieces are being displayed.

Photographer Darius Mirza says when he moved to America in 2006, he tried to capture the urban life settings of big cities such as Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, but he also wanted to share some other settings as well, such as European architecture and landscapes. As a result, his photography collection – and many of his works on display – include images from Switzerland, Romania, and other countries.

Weak Demand Causes Drop In Oil Prices