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After two days fleeing from police, 24-year-old Travis Owens was arrested and returned to the custody of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. Owen had walked away from his work release assignment at S & S Precast in Winamac on Tuesday, July 10, just a short time after he had reportedly told a coworker that he “couldn’t handle the time anymore” and he was leaving.

Owens had been working at S & S Precast since June 20 as part of a work release program.

Winamac Town Board Discusses Inmate Community Service Options

The Winamac Town Board heard a request from Park Superintendent Rick Dilts, who inquired as to whether or not Pulaski County Jail inmates could be used to help clean up the park. Those inmates needing community service could be used for the project. The park officials and the Pulaski County Jail officials were to talk and discuss the feasibility of the partnership and the liability issues.

Winamac Police Chief Mike Buchanan told the town board that he is having an issue with the officers telling kids that they are not allowed in the town park. Several kids have been in the park causing problems, and Buchanan said the officers can not discipline the youngsters according to the prosecuting attorney. A report would need to be filed and then brought before the prosecutor and the probation departments before action can be taken. The board ultimately agreed that a policy needs to be in place so that if a crime is committed in the park, officers can reprimand the perpetrators.

Donnelly Appreciative Of Emergency Grazing During Drought

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Indiana Farm Service Agency announced yesterday that 22 counties throughout Indiana have been authorized for emergency grazing of Conservation Reserve Program lands.

Congressman Joe Donnelly says he’s pleased with the recent decision to allow grazing, which he says will greatly benefit farmers.

“I am pleased that the USDA and the Indiana Farm Service Agency authorized the emergency grazing of CRP acres,” Donnelly said. “The drought has caused Indiana’s fields to suffer, limiting the food options for the livestock that rely on those crops from those fields for food. Today’s announcement authorizing 22 counties for emergency grazing will give farmers more flexibility as they seek to provide adequate hay and forage to feed their livestock.”

Two Arrested In Pulaski County For Possession, False Informing

Two Pulaski County residents were arrested on Friday after they stopped at a gas station and a Pulaski County officer recognized the passenger as having a warrant out for her arrest.

Two officers followed the vehicle in Medaryville and a traffic stop was initiated on Main Street, west of U.S. 421. Deputy Mat Anderson asked the passenger her name and she gave the name of “Marcie Klemp.” Anderson ran the information and asked her several other questions which she was unable to answer. Deputy Ryan Austin asked the driver, Billy Crowe, who the passenger was and he confirmed her name was Jackie Sizemore.

North Judson Man Arrested For Theft Of Air Compressor

July 14, 2012November 26, 2020WKVI

A North Judson man was arrested Wednesday after a theft investigation.

On Monday, July 9, Rebecca Brown told Starke County police that an air compressor was stolen from a pole barn on her property at 1417 W. 400 S. in North Judson. She went to the pawn shop on Tuesday, July 10 and found the air compressor. After an investigation, police found that the air compressor was pawned by Michael Tolson well before she discovered it was missing. Stealing someone’s air compressor is a surprising thing especially today when there are a lot of affordable yet great options on https://occupythefarm.org/how-to-refill-co2-tank-with-air-compressor or with any local hardware stores.

Tolson, 22, was arrested on a preliminary charge of Theft. He is in the Starke County jail with no bond.

Culver Man Arrested After Providing False Identity

A Culver man was arrested early Friday morning after a traffic stop.

Plymouth police pulled over a vehicle driven by 21-year-old Tyler Byers, of Culver, and when police asked him his name, he gave the officer a false name. When police correctly identified Byers, they found he had two outstanding warrants for his arrest.

Byers was arrested on the two arrest warrants and a preliminary charge of False Informing.

Higdon Receives Two Years For Fleeing Police

After fleeing from police in a vehicle on April 27 before he was ultimately arrested and charged with Resisting Law Enforcement, Driving While Suspended, and Reckless Driving, Raymond Higdon appeared in the Starke Circuit Court this week for his plea and sentencing hearing.

Higdon pleaded guilty to Resisting Law Enforcement as a Class D felony, and the other charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. Higdon will serve two years in the Department of Corrections with none of that sentence suspended, and he will also be required to pay all court costs and submit to a DNA cheek swab.

Week in Review for July 9th-13th, 2012

Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

The Starke County Commissioners have decided to reinstate the burn ban due to the dry conditions and an increase in fire activity. Open burning of any kind is prohibited, except for grills. You may burn debris in a burn barrel with a one-quarter inch mesh top from dawn to dusk. This burn ban will be in effect until July 16th when the Starke County Commissioners and EMA Director Ted Bombagetti reevaluate the conditions. Continue reading →

New West Central Elementary Principal Hired

Mellon, Charles — West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board members hired a new Elementary School Principal at their meeting Thursday night. West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon said he will be a great addition to the staff.

“Daniel Zylstra is our new Elementary Principal. He is coming from the Hammond School Corporation. He was at the meeting to sign his contract so he will be ready to jump in and get things rolling here in the near future,” said Mellon.

Court of Appeals Upholds Haut’s Sentence

The Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction and sentence against Jack Haut.

Haut was found guilty by a jury of a Class C Felony charge of Reckless Homicide and was sentenced to eight years in prison. A jury found that Haut had driven his pickup truck on U.S. 35 north of Knox and into the path of a motorcycle driven by Tom White, who died from injuries in that accident. Haut claimed he had no recollection of that event and chemical tests proved that he had controlled substances in his body at the time of the accident. A police officer had testified during the trial that Haut appeared intoxicated at the scene.

The Court of Appeals noted in their decision that sufficient evidence supported his conviction and the court upheld the jury’s decision and the judge’s sentence.

Thieves Steal Backhoe to Demolish Knox Business

July 13, 2012July 13, 2012WKVI

A Walkerton man is among three men accused of stealing a backhoe from the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Kingsbury to tear down the building that formerly housed Windy City Golf Carts in Knox.

According to a published report, three men bid on a demolition job but didn’t have the equipment to tear down the building. Instead, they reportedly stole a backhoe from the U.S. Army Reserve Center.

Drought Continues To Devastate Local Crops

With reports of farmers throughout Indiana mowing down their crops because of irreparable damage from drought conditions, Purdue Agricultural Economist Chris Hurt says there is a reason for removing the damaged corn entirely. He says that while there is no real positive reason to do so, there are a number of possible reasons to want to have the entire crop removed.

First, he says if there is going to be no usable corn crop – that is, ears and seeds – then there is value to the stock itself for use as cattle feed. Generally, this would be chopped down and placed in silos or bailed.

Class Action Lawsuit Against Starke County Still On Hold

The class action lawsuit against Starke County by former Starke County Jail inmate Jack Haut is still at a standstill, as the court is currently awaiting an expert witness report from the plaintiffs to substantiate their allegations that the jail is so overcrowded that conditions are unconstitutional for inmates.

While they have until Aug. 30 to do so, the plaintiffs have been having a rough time coming up with the expert witness report required by the court. It was reported that they had found an expert witness and had begun developing the report, but the witness unexpectedly passed away, effectively bringing them back to square one. They now have to hire a new expert witness to work on the report, and until then, there is no trial setting for the case.

NIPSCO Reports Credit Scam Throughout Northern Indiana

A credit scam has been reported to NIPSCO officials.

NIPSCO customers have been receiving phone calls where a scammer asks the customer to provide personal information and says that after all that information is submitted, the customer will receive energy credits from the government. The scam artist will ask for your Social Security number and then give you a fraudulent bank routing number to pay utility companies.

NIPSCO reminds you to never give out personal information to unconfirmed sources. NIPSCO only asks for a Social Security number when a customer is applying for new service.

Utility companies are working with law enforcement to bring an end to the scam.

Charges Dropped Against Former Hamlet Street Superintendent

The State of Indiana has dropped charges against former Hamlet Street Superintendent John Goble, Sr.

Any outstanding summons regarding charges in this case have been ordered revoked.

Goble had resigned from the Town of Hamlet in January, and his temporary replacement reportedly could not find certain pieces of equipment. A current equipment inventory list and receipts did not match. A warrant was issued for Goble’s arrest and he was arrested in late March on a charge of theft. He pleaded not guilty to the charge in Starke Circuit Court.

After further investigation, the State of Indiana filed a motion to dismiss the cause without prejudice, which was signed on June 27.

Two Ordinances Passed By Knox City Council

Knox-City-Council-2012 — Knox City Council

Two ordinances were passed this week at the meeting of the Knox City Council on their first readings. The first ordinance increased the water rate for the city in two phases: the first would increase the rate by $2.35, and the second would raise it an additional $2.35, effectively making a total increase of $4.70.

The second ordinance passed was an amendment to the sewer and stormwater ordinance, increasing the rate by $1 this year and an additional $1 next year.

An additional appropriation was also approved at the meeting. The appropriation moved $140,000 from the Cumulative Sewer Fund to rebuild the lift station located on Claybaugh Drive in Knox, near the South Side Fire Station. Another $27,301.08 was moved from the Sewer Improvement Fund, and $21,000 in EDIT funds were also appropriated for the project.

Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston says the council will also be reestablishing the Cumulative Capital Development Fund in the near future.

LaPorte Man Arrested For Dealing Heroin Following Anonymous Tip

July 13, 2012July 13, 2012WKVI

A LaPorte man was taken into custody after LaPorte Metro Operations Unit detectives executed an arrest warrant on Wednesday.

Twenty-year-old Thomas J. Dykstra was arrested for an outstanding arrest warrant through LaPorte County Circuit Court for Dealing a Controlled Substance, heroin, as a Class A Felony. He is currently being held in the LaPorte County Jail with no bond.

Dykstra’s arrest was the result of a continued effort by the LaPorte Metro Operations Unit in investigating anonymous tips received from the public. If you have a tip for police, call (219) 325-9022.

Eastern Pulaski School Purchases RISE Software