West Central Schools Gets a Donated Facelift

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board discussed the many summer projects in progress and Superintendent Charles Mellon said all of the buildings should be ready for the beginning of the school year in August.

He said one of the buildings got a nice facelift from a resident.

“David Zeltwanger operates a brick laying company and out of the kindness of his heart, he has cleaned the front office outside where we have stone,” said Mellon. “It really looks nice. We also appreciate Alliance Bank for purchasing the cleaning solution.”

Mellon commented that what the school can’t afford to do, the community has stepped forward to cover those bases.

The Final Countdown!

Posted on Author WKVI
WKVI's Tom Berg with the Backstage Studio of Dance flash mob

Tom Berg is entering into the final hours before he sets a Guiness World Record! Tom was surprised by a flash mob yesterday. Several students from the Backstage Studio of Dance performed an impromptu routine as part of Tom’s show to help keep the spirit alive during this world record attempt. Continue reading →

Special Meeting Held Regarding North Judson Industrial Park

Posted on Author WKVI
Charles Weaver
Charles Weaver

A special meeting was held at the North Judson Community Center last week regarding the industrial park, and while nothing definite was decided, the meeting brought together members of the community to share ideas and gather information.

The industrial park has been dormant for quite some time, and the Starke County Economic Development Foundation wanted to work with the North Judson Town Council to put their heads together and come up with some potential possibilities for the development of the park. The meeting also reviewed any current issues with the park.

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Woman Arrested For Allegedly Neglecting Her Autistic Child

Posted on Author WKVI

A Pulaski County Deputy went above and beyond the call of duty concerning the well-being of an eight-year-old autistic boy who had wandered from home after midnight.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a driver early Thursday morning who said a boy was walking in between county roads 300 and 400 South on U.S. 421. The officer saw the boy and introduced himself, and the boy told the officer his name and that he was autistic. The boy then continued walking north on U.S. 421. The officer walked beside the boy and attempted to speak to the boy who didn’t reply. In the meantime, dispatch was attempting to get a hold of the child’s mother but wasn’t having any success. A relative was contacted and picked up the child, who was now with the officer north of the West Central schools.

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Winamac Town Board Approves Ordinance Regarding Plant Removal

Posted on Author WKVI
Winamac Town Hall

The Winamac Town Board has approved an ordinance concerning the removal of fallen trees, tree limbs, weeds, and rank vegetation.

The ordinance addresses safety and health of the residents of Winamac, and an order will be issued by Town Manager Jim Conner to clean up any uncontrolled, uncultivated growth of annuals, plants, and trees. Winamac residents are responsible for the removal, cutting, or disposal and elimination of weeds, grass and other uncontrolled growth on their property. If someone files a written complaint at the Winamac Town Hall about the overgrown grass or trees on your property, your property will be inspected. If a violation is found, a written notification will be sent to you and you will have seven days to rectify the issue. You will be able to file an appeal.

If you violate any provision of this ordinance, you shall be subject to a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $250.

Starke County Fair Kicks Off Today

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Fair officially kicks off today! Starting at 6 a.m., 4-H swine, sheep, and goats can be entered until 11 a.m. From 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., contestants for the 4-H cake decorating, flowers, and gardening and crops categories can enter, along with open class foods, food preservation, and hay and grain.

At 10 a.m., fishing opens at the conservation building, and at noon, the 4-H livestock sonoray will take place. Judging for the cake decorating, flowers, and gardening and crops categories will take place at 12:30 p.m., and the poultry, pigeon and waterfowl showing will take place at the poultry and rabbit barn.

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Farmers in Forty-Five Counties Qualify For Disaster Assistance

Posted on Author WKVI

Thirty-six counties in Indiana have been designated as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by extreme drought. State Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Indiana announced Friday that the USDA will also qualify farm operators in 19 other counties for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous to the designated counties.

Allen, Carroll, Cass, Crawford, Daviess, DeKalb, Dubois, Elkhart, Fulton, Gibson, Grant, Greene, Howard, Huntington, Knox, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Lawrence, Marshall, Martin, Miami, Noble, Orange, Perry, Pike, Posey, Pulaski, St. Joseph, Spencer, Steuben, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Wabash, Warrick, Wells, and Whitley counties have been designated as primary natural disaster areas.

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ISTEP Scores Drop At West Central Schools

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board members discussed ISTEP scores during their recent meeting and Superintendent Charles Mellon said the scores were down this year.

“We have a lot of work to do there Our scores have gone down. I didn’t want to give any off-the-cuff reasons as to why. We’re going to do some in-depth investigation as to the rationale,” Mellon explained.

Mellon said it was a bit of a surprise as the students showed growth in testing throughout the school year.

“A lot of our inside the corporation test scores, like with acuity and so on, show student growth at a good rate. We need to go in and compare some scores and dig a little deeper to see why we’re going in the wrong direction,” said Mellon.

Two Retirees Return To Eastern Pulaski Schools

Posted on Author WKVI
Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman

The Eastern Pulaski School Board hired two teachers back to the corporation that retired last school year. Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman said it’s nice to have them back for another year.

“Bus driver, Mrs. Janet Haschel, had decided to retire back in May and come July she decided that bus route wasn’t so bad! She is going to be a bus driver with us again this next year. I’m very pleased to announce that one of our long-time math teachers, Mrs. Jan Moore, has come back with us. When she left, we made her position a part-time position. That half-time position seemed pretty attractive to her so she did apply and the board hired her,” explained Klitzman. (dr klitzman 07-14 #1)

Klitzman says this practice doesn’t happen very often.

Work Release Escapee Returned To Jail

Posted on Author WKVI

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.

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Winamac Town Board Discusses Inmate Community Service Options

Posted on Author WKVI
Winamac Town Hall

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

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

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.”

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Two Arrested In Pulaski County For Possession, False Informing

Posted on Author WKVI

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.

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North Judson Man Arrested For Theft Of Air Compressor

Posted on Author WKVI

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

Posted on Author WKVI

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

Posted on Author WKVI
Raymond Higdon

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.

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

Posted on Author WKVI

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 →