Head of IU Health La Porte Foundation Receives Community Service Award

Posted on Author WKVI

IU Health La Porte Hospital Foundation Head Maria Fruth recently received recognition for achievements in community service. Serving as executive vice-president and chief operating officer of the foundation, Fruth was presented with the Liberty Bell Award at a special ceremony on Friday, May 4 at La Porte Superior Court No. 1 in Michigan City.

The Liberty Bell Award was established by the American Bar Association more than 40 years ago to acknowledge outstanding community service.

Fruth has worked to establish a similar organization in Starke County at IU Health Starke Hospital.

Grovertown Woman Receives Community Leadership Award

Posted on Author WKVI

A Grovertown woman was presented with a Community Leadership award from 1st Source Bank. Mabel Paul was announced as the winner of the Ernestine M. Raclin award.

Five employees and five community volunteers who embody the spirit, values, energy, and leadership of Ernestine M. Raclin were given awards. Raclin was the past chairman of 1st Source Bank.

In the announcement of the award it was noted that Mabel Paul had served as secretary of the 4-H fair board for 28 years, and has planned numerous fundraisers and events, mentored children, and given back to the community in countless other ways.

Week in Review for May 21st-25th, 2012

Posted on Author WKVI

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

Jonathan Hummel
Nathan Hummel

Jonathan Hummel and Nathan Hummel were sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Thursday, May 17th. The pair were involved in an armed robbery incident in December. Jonathan Hummel was sentenced to 30-and-a-half years in the Department of Corrections as per a plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to charges of Dealing a Narcotic Drug; Robbery; Aiding, Inducing or Causing a Robbery; and Criminal Mischief. Nathan Hummel pleaded guilty to charges of Dealing a Narcotic Drug; Robbery; Aiding, Inducing or Causing a Robbery; and Disarming an Officer. He will serve 25 years in the Department of Corrections. They are both required to pay restitution in the amount of $2,900 for damages to a police squad car and $11,924 in restitution to the Knox CVS.  Continue reading →

Plymouth Assistant Superintendent Announces Retirement

Posted on Author WKVI

A 1963 graduate of Knox High School, Dr. Rodger Smith has announced his retirement, effective at the end of the school year at Plymouth. He has been the assistant superintendent of the corporation since 2008. He was superintendent of the John Glenn School Corporation for five years before his employment at Plymouth.

Smith still makes his home in Knox.

North Judson Town Board Member Increase To Be Presented To Voters

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board

The decision regarding the transition of the North Judson Town Board from a three-member board to a five-member board will go to the voters in November. According to Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry, a resolution was approved at their previous meeting to place the question on the ballot, and that resolution was recently certified by Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski. The question will appear on the ballot in November.

The board also had further discussion regarding Highland Cemetery. The newest and largest of plot sections in the cemetery, Section 13, was never surveyed and properly plotted. As a result, several grave plots are not square and do not match up with other plots. Every other section in the cemetery was surveyed and carefully plotted, squaring up the graves evenly.

The board discussed the possibility of having the Starke County surveyor give his recommendation on what to do regarding the uneven plots.

Knox Man Arrested On Auto Theft Charges

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man was arrested for the theft of an automobile after an accident in Starke County on Saturday, May 19.

At 5 a.m., officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department were called to an accident on 50 South, just east of 200 East. A witness told police that the driver fled the scene, and officers were unable to locate the suspect.

Later that morning, a woman reported her car stolen from her friend’s home on Toto Road, west of 700 East.

Starke County police continued to investigate the incident and found that it was Zachary Tomerlin of Knox who allegedly took the vehicle from the Toto Road residence. Tomerlin was arrested on Tuesday, May 22, on a preliminary charge of Auto Theft.

Plea Agreements Fall Through In Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Rose Martin

Attorney Richard Thonert of Fort Wayne, the counsel for Rose Martin, filed a motion to withdraw from her case. Martin is charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors. The court approved the motion, and Martin’s attorney is now Richard Ballard. A plea agreement was also rejected for Martin, and her trial is scheduled for Aug. 1 at 9 a.m. with a pretrial motions and instructions hearing on July 31, and a jury status hearing on July 20.

A plea agreement was also withdrawn for Billy Coldiron. The agreement would have sentenced him to four years in the Department of Corrections with two years suspended, and he would have been allowed to serve that sentence on home detention. The state withdrew their plea offer, and a plea agreement deadline has been set for July 18 at 9 a.m.

Starke County Economic Development Foundation Discusses Rail Expansion

Posted on Author WKVI
Charles Weaver
Charles Weaver

Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charles Weaver recently discussed the county’s strategy to expand rail access in Starke County during the recent Society of Innovators’ “Pride and Pedestal” event in Hammond.

Weaver explained that the cooperative effort between the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, City of Knox, Starke County officials, Knox Civic Development Corporation, and Territorial Engineering helped shape industry and economic development in the Knox area.

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Knox City Court In Jeopardy Due To Funding Problems

Posted on Author WKVI
Back Row: Greg Matt, Mayor Rick Chambers, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, Donald Kring, City Attorney David Matsey. Front Row: Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg and Ron Parker

When members of the Knox City Administration appeared before the Starke County Council Monday night seeking funding sources to narrow the loss gap at Knox City Court, the subject of discontinuing the court was mentioned.

The next night the Knox City Council met and Attorney David Matsey reported on the meeting with the county officials.

“I think some reality is setting in with the county council members about what is going to happen if city court isn’t there anymore. We need to close that gap of $80,000, and the city isn’t going to subsidize the court forever. The bottom line is it’s going to cost $300,000 to $400,000 to operate another court,” Matsey said.

Continue reading →

Click It Or Ticket Blitz To Continue Through June 3

Posted on Author WKVI

Several police agencies in the state, including the Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, are participating in the Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement blitz until June 3.

Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer says his department will be out in full force.

“Traditionally, Memorial Day weekend is a busy weekend for motorists,” explained Gayer. “It is a law in Indiana to wear your seat belt. The officers get paid by the federal government on their days off to go out and try to enforce the seat belt law more rigorously than they would normally do during the normal course of their duties just because it is a busy holiday.”

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Knox Community Schools Laptops Benefit Students, Teachers

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

Knox Technology Coach Chris Ross gave a laptop usage update to the Knox Community School Board members this week. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says it has been a learning experience for teachers and students.

“We talked about how the staff has transformed from the beginning of last year where they were all entry level and how they’ve progressed throughout the school year – some more rapidly than others because they’re handier with technology,” said Gappa.

Continue reading →

PHS Band Members to March In All-State Marching Band and Indy 500 Parade

Posted on Author WKVI
Plymouth High School Band Members will represent their school at All-State Marching Band and Indy 500

Plymouth High School will be sending six members of the Pride of Plymouth Marching Band to march in the Indiana All-State Marching Band at the Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade on tomorrow.

Students from high school band programs throughout Indiana are selected for this event based on teacher recommendation and student applications. Plymouth has one of the largest numbers of students involved in the band. Students will spend Friday rehearsing on the Butler University campus and then perform in the Festival 500 Parade in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday morning.

Braun Corporation To Sponsor Indianapolis 500 Entry

Posted on Author WKVI

The number 99 BraunAbility/Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara/Honda/Firestone car will be driven by Townsend Bell.
The Braun Corporation out of Winamac and its dealership, Superior Van and Mobility in Indianapolis, are sponsoring a Sam Schmidt Motorsports entry in this year’s Indianapolis 500.

The number 99 BraunAbility/Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara/Honda/Firestone car will be driven by Townsend Bell, who will start sixth in Sunday’s race.

Ralph Braun, owner of the Braun Corporation in Winamac, and Sam Schmidt, owner of Sam Schmidt Motorsports, have both built successful businesses, both have the intense love of racing, and both have achieved remarkable careers while living and running their businesses from a wheelchair.

Continue reading →

Starke County Legacy Of Women Grant Deadline Approaching

Posted on Author WKVI

The application deadline for grants from the Starke County Legacy of Women is Tuesday, May 29.

The Legacy of Women supports innovative programs, projects and activities that seek to empower women and girls. Individual grants can also be given to women who want to participate in personal leadership development events.

Applications can be found online at www.nicf.org, or you can contact the Community Foundation at (574) 772-3665. You can also e-mail starke@nicf.org for more information.

Joshua Hunnicutt On The Run From Starke County Jail

Posted on Author WKVI
Rachel Berdine
Joshua Hunnicutt

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department has announced an inmate escape from the rec area of the Starke County Jail. Officials say Joshua Hunnicutt walked out from the jail at 3:55 p.m. yesterday.

Police believe that Hunnicutt escaped from the jail and into a car driven by his girlfriend, Rachel Berdine. She is known to drive a purple 1995 Geo Tracker with license plate number 513CEH. The suspects may have headed south of Knox.

Continue reading →

Knox City Court Suffers From Lack Of Funding

Posted on Author WKVI
Charles Hasnerl

Members of the Knox City Administration, City Judge Charles Hasnerl, and Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff came before the Starke County Council this week seeking guidance in a request for Pretrial Diversion funds. The city administration is trying to find ways to lessen the $80,000 loss in the funding of Knox City Court.

Although no action was taken, it became apparent to City Attorney David Matsey and Starke County Attorney Martin Lucas that there was no way the $9000 in question could be used for the funding of the court.

At one point in the discussion, it was again mentioned that the city might discontinue city court and return the cases that come before Judge Hasnerl to the county. That, however, didn’t seem to be an area anyone wanted to explore at the meeting.

Knox School Board Approves Library Board Improvement Plan

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members approved the Starke County Library Board’s plan for improvements that include the elementary school property. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says the plan would save the library some time and money.

“They would like to tie into our sewer line, if possible,” said Gappa. “It would save them a lot of labor and probably some costs on some materials. They need to change a sidewalk that connects our elementary property with the library property. They also want to hook into the horseshoe drive at the elementary school off Culver Road so the back parking lot of the library would have an exit into the horseshoe drive.”

The plans were submitted to the board during their last meeting.

Starke County Workman Compensation Insurance To Increase

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners: Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis

The Starke County Commissioners have been informed that the Workman Compensation Insurance for the county is increasing from $103,000 a year to $137,000. Ideas to keep the cost to employees the same or lower were discussed at this week’s board meeting.

Suggestions included forming a Safety Committee, setting up a procedure whereby workers would be required to return early to do light work, and establishing a fund to pay claims of less than $100.

Continue reading →

Plea Agreement Rejected For Robert Reed

Posted on Author WKVI
Robert Reed

A plea agreement was rejected for Robert Reed, who was arrested on charges stemming from an alleged robbery and attempted murder case in San Pierre on May 22, 2011. The plea agreement would have sentenced Reed to 24 months in the Department of Corrections on charges of Receiving Stolen Property and Resisting Law Enforcement. None of that sentence would have been suspended.

Reed is currently being held in the Westville Correctional Facility, and was never transported to Starke County for his hearing. Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall rejected the agreement, and set a jury trial date of Aug. 1, with a pretrial motions and instructions hearing on July 31 at 1 p.m. A jury status hearing will take place on July 20 at 9 a.m., with a final pretrial conference and plea agreement deadline of July 13 at 9 a.m.

Marathon Gas Station Cited For Selling Synthetic Marijuana

Posted on Author WKVI

The Marathon Gas station near the intersection of U.S. 30 and Queen Road in Plymouth was recently raided by the Undercover Narcotics Investigation Team after they learned that the business was selling synthetic marijuana.

On Wednesday, May 9, officers with the investigation team along with officers from the Marshall County Police, State Police, and State Excise Police, executed a search warrant at the gas station and seized multiple packages of synthetic marijuana. The establishment was issued a citation from the Indiana State Excise police, and although no arrests were made, a formal criminal case is being forwarded to the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office.

Continue reading →