Hamlet Man Killed in Monday Accident in Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Police and first responders tend to an accident at U.S. 35 and John Street in Knox

Starke County Coroner Kris Rannells has released the name of the man killed in a two vehicle accident in Knox Monday afternoon.

67-year-old Robert Freye, of Hamlet, was traveling north on U.S. 35 in Knox when he suffered a heart attack, causing him to cross over into the southbound lane by John Street and hit a minivan driven by Patrick McCarty, 39, of Knox. Freye died instantly of a torn aorta as a result of the accident. The passenger in his vehicle, Mary Hightower, 63, of Hamlet was injured in the accident and was flown to Memorial Hospital in South Bend. McCarty received minor injuries in the accident.

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Fatal Accident Investigated by Marshall County Police

Posted on Author WKVI

Officers from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department were called to a fatal accident on 12 B Road east of Olive Trail last night.

Marshall County Coroner Bill Cleavenger said 16-year-old Vincent Cody Poczik of Plymouth and his passenger, 16-year-old Hunter Brandt of Plymouth, died of injuries sustained in the single vehicle accident. Poczik’s vehicle left the road, struck a guardrail and flipped end over end.

Both boys were killed instantly.  The accident remains under investigation.

Toxicology results are pending on both youths.

Fallen Tree Causes Moped Accident

Posted on Author WKVI

A moped driver was injured in an accident during the storms that went through the North Judson area last night.

The moped hit a tree in the middle of the road on 250 West near 700 South. The driver was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital and later airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend with unspecified injuries. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department has not released the name of the man involved in the accident.

Temperatures Exceed 100 Degrees; Beware Heat Stroke

Posted on Author WKVI
Walter Fritz
Dr. Walter Fritz

With temperatures breaking the three-digit mark, former Starke County Health Officer Dr. Walter Fritz says residents need to be aware of the risk of heat stroke. Fritz says the longer the weather stays this hot, the more likely it is for someone to suffer from heat stroke.

“It looks like we’re in for a long haul with this, and the longer and the more severe the weather goes on like this, the more likely the possibility of heat stroke is to come up,” Fritz explained. “This is a medical condition that we all have to keep in the back of our minds and hopefully use good common sense to prevent.”

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Fireworks Displays May Fizzle Out In Marshall County

Posted on Author WKVI

Public fireworks displays in Marshall County are in jeopardy, as the disaster declaration for the county has prohibited the launching of consumer fireworks. Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery says the decision as to whether or not to allow public fireworks displays to take place this year will ultimately fall on the shoulders of the county commissioners.

Avery says one jurisdiction has decided to move forward with their fireworks display this year, so Avery will meet with the commission president to reevaluate conditions and decide whether or not to allow the fireworks show. Legally, fireworks are not supposed to be launched until today, according to state statute – but Avery says they’ve always had a problem with people discharging fireworks before they’re legal.

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Knox Woman Arrested For Stealing From Parked Cars

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox woman was arrested Wednesday on a charge of theft after an investigation by the Plymouth Police Department.

On Tuesday, June 26, an employee from AutoPark called the Plymouth Police Department to report a customer going through employee cars in the parking lot. Police were told that a video was taken of the suspect entering one car and placing something in her pocket.

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Knox City Council Approves Using Riverboat Funds To Build Handicap Ramp at Courthouse

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council this week approved a motion to use $4000 from Riverboat revenue to put in a handicap ramp on the west side of the courthouse. The committee planned to use funds out of the 50/50 sidewalkfund, but work that had been done in front of city hall and expenses as part of the city’s leaf pick-up had drained the sidewalk repair fund.

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Torres-Bowman Announces Retirement From Community Services of Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI
A retirement party was held for Cecilia Torres-Bowman, pictured.

Cecilia Torres-Bowman has retired from Community Services of Starke County after dedicating 20 years of her life to the organization. She says she’s done a little bit of everything while there.

“For almost 20 years, I’ve done a little bit of everything – mostly with the food pantry and the Energy Assistance Program,” said Torres-Bowman. “I also lent out health equipment and the resource manuals, so there have been quite a few things I’ve been doing.”

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Summer Study Committee To Look At Housing D Felonies In-County

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Jail

With state corrections facilities running out of room, a summer study committee is looking into the possibility of housing criminals charged with Class D felonies in county jails rather than the Department of Corrections.

Because of this, the Starke County Jail Committee has been encouraged to plan for a facility with 130 beds rather than just 100 to ensure that even if the state does decide to send D-felony offenders back to the county, they won’t have to worry about overcrowding.

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Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act

Posted on Author WKVI
IU Health Starke Hospital
IU Health Starke Hospital

The Supreme Court has upheld President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act. The law requires individuals not covered by employer or government-sponsored insurance plans to maintain minimal essential health insurance coverage or pay a penalty unless exempted for religious beliefs or financial hardship.

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Tax Abatement Approved For Hoosier Custom Plastics

Posted on Author WKVI

After tabling the matter twice, the Knox City Council this week finally signed documents stating that Hoosier Custom Plastics is in substantial compliance to the terms of their tax abatement.

Council Attorney David Matsey said they were hesitant to sign the forms because documents that were necessary to ensure they were in compliance had been sent to the wrong department – some documents went to the clerk-treasurer’s office that should have gone to the auditor’s department, and vice versa. However, the council ultimately agreed that the company is in compliance, and approved the forms.

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Nineteen-year-old Arrested For Theft Of Laptop, Wallet

Posted on Author WKVI

The Plymouth Police Department on Monday arrested 19-year-old Andrew Benson on charges of Theft, Credit Card Fraud, Forgery, and Resisting Law Enforcement following an investigation into items stolen from a vehicle parked at the Plymouth High School.

Police received a call on June 20 stating that a Dell laptop computer and a wallet containing credit cards and gift cards were stolen from a vehicle parked at the high school, and police soon learned that the cards had been used shortly after they were stolen. Three Plymouth businesses reported the cards were used at their locations.

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State To Inspect Starke County Jail July 17

Posted on Author WKVI

The annual state jail inspection is coming up for the Starke County Jail. On July 17, state officials will inspect the facility, check the safety of its inmates, and ensure that the jail conforms to state guidelines for running a corrections facility.

Sheriff Oscar Cowen says that while they have in the past been written up for overcrowding issues, he’s confident they will not be flagged for it this year. He says the housing of prisoners in the Pulaski County Jail has allowed them to keep the population down to the jail’s limit of 62 prisoners.

The housing of prisoners at Pulaski County has an annual cost of roughly $72,000.

Cowen said he does not expect the inspection to have any impact on the jail committee’s decision. He says the results from previous inspections were actually what spurred the jail committee to begin working on a solution to the overcrowding issue.

No Rest In Sight For The Knox Redskin Brigade

Posted on Author WKVI

The summer months usually mean a summer vacation for students, but not for the members of the Knox Redskin Brigade. Director Craige Phipps says the marching season and the regular band season is right around the corner.

“We start full-bore at the end of July and run through the end of May,” said Phipps. “We really do try and give them as much time as we can, but even with that, there’s things that need to be done through the summer.”

Phipps said the staff talked about what type of show to do this year and the music from “Cirque du Soleil”came up in conversation. He explains the show’s concept from there.

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Six States To Participate In DUI Enforcement Initiative

Posted on Author WKVI

A six-state project for a DUI enforcement initiative is set for June 29 and June 30, and the Indiana State Police will participate in this effort.

The high-visibility enforcement effort will help reduce DUI-related vehicle crashes. The Indiana State Police will be joined by the Kentucky State Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Pennsylvania State Police, Michigan State Police and the West Virginia State Police in this enforcement effort.

Troopers in Indiana will utilize sobriety checkpoints and high-visibility saturation patrols in an effort to deter impaired driving.

Red Flag Warning Issued By National Weather Service

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox-Center Township Fire Chief Ken Pfost

The National Weather Service has placed us under an excessive heat warning and a red flag warning until 7:00 p.m. CT tonight. A red flag warning means that today’s combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and the heat will create explosive fire growth potential.

With that, Knox-Center Township Fire Chief, Kenny Pfost, reminds you that proper disposal of cigarettes and safe handling of fireworks is critical to avoid accidentally starting a fire.

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Starke County Community Foundation Distributes $30,000 In Scholarships

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Community Foundation recently distributed $30,000 in scholarships during their annual reception.

Twenty-two scholars received 29 scholarships. Cody Hendershott was named this year’s recipient of the Ed Hasnerl/WKVI Scholarship and received his award during the reception. The 2012 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar, Katelyn Schwenk of Oregon-Davis High School, was also recognized.

More than 50 Starke County students applied for the 29 Community Foundation scholarships and 15 students applied for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship.