Judge Rejects Miller’s Plea Agreement

Posted on Author WKVI

Scales of JusticeA special judge in South Bend has rejected former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller’s plea agreement. Jerome Frese told Miller he will not accept anything less than six years as punishment for the theft of more than $74,000 in public funds from the town of North Judson between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2011.

The plea agreement would have sentenced Miller to three years on each count to be served concurrently and each of those sentences would be suspended to be served on probation. As part of the recommended plea agreement, Miler would be required to pay court costs, probation fees and serve one year on home detention through Starke County Community Corrections. She would also have to pay restitution of $52,044.

Again, that plea agreement was rejected by Judge Frese. A hearing in the matter has been set for June 7 at 10 a.m. ET in St. Joseph County.

Whitney Products Likely to Close Permanently

Posted on Author WKVI
Whitley Products
Whitley Products

A deal to keep a Plymouth manufacturing plant open has apparently fallen through. WSBT-TV reports that negotiations between AMI Incorporated and Whitney Products have fallen through because the sides are too far apart. Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter tells the TV station AMI officials notified him on Friday that they couldn’t reach an agreement. This latest development likely means Whitney is closing its Marshall County plant for good. About 50 people work there. The company sent WARN notices to employees earlier this year alerting them to the possible closing. The Warsaw-based company makes precision tubular products for diesel engines, agricultural equipment, off-highway, construction equipment and HVAC markets.

iPad Purchases Leave Commissioners Budget Short

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 purchase of eight defibrillators for office buildings in Pulaski County hinges on the council’s willingness to appropriate funds for the potentially life-saving devices. Commissioners approved the expenditure last week. However, they don’t have funds readily available to make the purchase, having spent nearly their entire discretionary budget on iPads. Council members repeatedly refused to purchase the tablet computers for the commissioners and finally told them they can spend money in the commissioners budget without obtaining the council’s permission. If the council approves that expenditure when they meet tonight, it will still need to be advertised and approved at their June meeting.

Plymouth Plan Commission Approves “Shell” Building Plat Changes

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
In an effort to attract new investment into its industrial area, the city of Plymouth is moving forward with its manufacturing shell building project on the city’s northwest side. The Plymouth Plan Commission recently voted in favor of making some modification to the plat of land proposed for the building along Pioneer Drive near the corner of Commerce Street to improve access.

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Long Beach Manager Thanks District 2 Task Force

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
During the recent Marshall County Commissioners meeting, Marshall County Commissioner Deb Griewank read aloud a letter presented to the District 2 Task Force from the Long Beach, N.Y. area.

The letter was written by the City Manager of Long Beach Jack Schnirman in which he thanked the immediate response of Indiana’s District 2 Task Force in their time of need after Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc in that area. Members of the Incident Management team set up camp and helped coordinate emergency efforts in stabilizing the conditions in the city.

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The Cast is Set for Maxinkuckee Players Summer Production

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The cast has been set for the Maxinkuckee Players summer production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Zachary West of Argos has been cast as Joseph and Kathy Overmyer of Bremen is the narrator. The brothers will be played by Brian Liechty, Tom Boys, Eric Burch, Grant Ringenberg and Kevin Mallory from Plymouth; Brad Foster and Tony Hutchinson from Bremen; Doug Nielson of North Judson; Phillip McFarland of Knox; Austin Saenz of Tippecanoe; and Caleb Dehning of Culver.

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DNR Pleased With Bruce Lake Muskie Population

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

State fisheries biologists are pleased with the muskie population at Bruce Lake. The DNR has stocked muskies annually at the lake since 2000 and periodically monitors their numbers. A week-long survey in April netted 90 muskies, including 20 measuring over 40 inches long. The largest was a 48-inch, 32-pound female. The daily bag limit for muskie is one, and it must be at least 36 inches long. DNR Fisheries Biologist Tom Bacula and his crew also caught a number of large crappie and several large bluegill at Bruce Lake. DNR officials report the lake has a good balance of prey and predator fish and say muskies will continue to be stocked.

Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, Refined Team Up for Spring Expo

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and Refined are teaming up to host a Spring Expo in an effort to promote local business. The expo is planned for May 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Refined in Winamac at 102 N. Monticello St. There is no fee to set up a booth.

Angie Anspach said this is the first time the Chamber has held such an event, but they’re hoping to make it an annual expo to promote local businesses every year.

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Oregon-Davis Schools to Offer Free Lunches This Summer

Posted on Author WKVI

Oregon-Davis Jr./Sr. High School
Oregon-Davis Jr./Sr. High School
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation will be participating in the Summer Food Program this year June 10–July 11.

Free lunch will be offered to students 18 years of age and younger Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to noon ET at the Oregon-Davis Elementary School. All students are welcome without residential or financial stipulations.

If adults aged 19 and older would like to have a nutritious lunch, the cost will be $2.

No students will be turned away. Oregon-Davis is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

Seventh Annual Indiana Fallen Officers Blood Drive Begins This Month

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A blood drive aimed at keeping alive the memory of a Morgan County sheriff who lost his life in the line of duty is coming to the Kankakee Valley. In July 2001, Sgt. Dan Starnes of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department was shot and killed in a gunfight while on duty, and his surviving spouse Janice organized the Sgt. Dan R. Starnes Memorial Blood Drive in her county later that year – an annual event that has since gone statewide.

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May 18 and June 1-2 are Free Fishing Days

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Grab your fishing poles and tackle; Free Fishing Day is coming up in Indiana, giving anglers the perfect opportunity to get out to the water and cast out their lines. Free Fishing Day on May 18 is the second of four Free Fishing Days this year, the first of which was April 20. Indiana’s adult residents do not need a fishing license or a trout/salmon stamp to fish public waters in the state during Free Fishing Day.

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Activities Planned for National Nursing Home Week

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

This week is National Nursing Home Week! National Nursing Home Week is an opportunity to honor all of those who contribute to our nation’s nursing homes. Our vancouver senior care home has a phenomenal caretaker to patient ratio, ensuring the best care for your loved ones.

The staff at the Golden Living Center in Knox has several activities on tap for their residents. Today is Mexican Day where residents will learn all about Mexico and have some Mexican Food at 10 a.m.

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Rochester Man Arrested on Drug Charges in Miami County

Posted on Author WKVI

David Lowe
David Lowe
A Rochester man was arrested in Miami County following a traffic stop that led to a search which turned up methamphetamine and drug precursors in his possession. A state trooper stopped 27-year-old David Lowe for following a vehicle too closely and having overly-tinted windows, but after Indiana State Trooper Daniel Prus activated his emergency lights on his marked police vehicle, he reportedly saw Lowe switch seats with a female passenger.

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Bridge 70 Closed in Starke County; Travelers Be Advised

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Travelers on County Road 50 East near 500 South in Starke County are strongly advised to find a new route, as County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler announced yesterday that the county has closed Bridge 70 due to safety reasons. Ritzler explained the bridge was scheduled to be replaced next year but because of the unexpectedly high rate of deterioration, he said it was necessary to close the bridge to prevent an accident.

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Marshall County Commissioners Discuss Highway Department Requests

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Marshall County Commissioners held off on approving a road cut for Crystal Broadband as several customers have complained about the service the company provides.

Highway Superintendent Neal Haeck told the commissioners that a customer has complained for months that his cable service has not been working, but they keep charging him for it and he can’t get a hold of any representative to help him with the situation. He’d change to a satellite system but the location would not provide a direct line of sight for a satellite dish.

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Cosmetic Improvements Planned for Pulaski County Courthouse

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

New Pulaski County Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston is sprucing up the historic courthouse. He told commissioners he’s outsourcing repairs to the tile floor on the main level. They approved an expenditure of $1,240 for the work. In addition to fixing parts of the floor, the vendor will also polish the tile. Johnston and his staff plan to refinish the wood floors and banisters on the second story of the courthouse and replace the torn and tattered window shades in many of the offices. He assures commissioners all of the work will adhere to the necessary standards for historic buildings.

Johnston also told the commissioners he’s in the process of assessing all of the county’s buildings and prioritizing necessary repairs. Immediate needs include replacing exterior concrete at the annex building and repairing the roof at the county highway garage. Johnston says his staff will also focus their efforts on beautification of the building exteriors.

Knox BOW Approved Bid for 50/50 Sidewalk Program

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Board of Public Works
Knox Board of Public Works

The Knox Board of Works met in special session Friday in order to open and award a bid for the 50/50 sidewalk program.

Five businesses provided bids: Custom Concrete, Pete Kuchel Concrete, Do All Concrete, EAM Enterprise, and Covenant Concrete.

Mayor Rick Chambers read aloud the bids for the nine addresses of homeowners who submitted applications for the project. In the end, the Board of Works approved the bid of Covenant Concrete with a total bid of $13,940 as the lowest conforming bid pending a review of the bid packet by Street Superintendent Jeff Borg and City Attorney David Matsey.

State Police to Crack Down on Aggressive Drivers

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Indiana State Police Troopers are part of a federal effort to curb aggressive driving. The Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks Campaign aims to reduce the number of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles and passenger cars. State troopers will be part of the effort through Saturday, June 8. Troopers will be specifically looking for motorists who drive dangerously around semi trucks and other commercial motor vehicles. Some of the violations troopers will be concentrating on include unsafe lane changes, failure to yield the right of way, following too closely and aggressive driving. In many crashes involving commercial motor vehicles, the crash is caused by non-commercial drivers operating in an unsafe manner.

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