Three New Laws Approved Regarding Education

Posted on Author WKVI

The Indiana General Assembly approved 161 new laws this year, many of which will become effective July 1. The changes in state law taking place this summer impact a variety of issues including education.

Senate Enrolled Act 267, or, “Erin’s Law,” requires the Department of Education to work in cooperation with the Department of Child Services and other organizations to provide public school systems with a curriculum to educate teachers, school personnel and children about child sexual abuse and how to report suspected abuse of students. The Department of Education will provide schools with education materials, response policies, and reporting procedures for grades two through five.

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Authorities Not Ready to Release Identity of Driver in Fatal Accident

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

Authorities are not yet ready to release the name of the driver of a vehicle who died in a Monday morning accident on U.S. 35 and John Street in Knox. Notification of the next of kin has to be made before that information can be released.

Starke County Coroner Kris Rannells and Forensic Pathologist Dr. Alan Griggs performed an autopsy Tuesday on the victim in Lafayette and confirmed that the driver of the passenger vehicle had a heart attack prior to the accident and died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. The driver suffered a torn aorta.

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Cost of Renovation of Starke County Jail Greater Than New Jail

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Jail Committee looked at plans for a renovated or new county jail yesterday afternoon, and one surprising figure presented was that renovation of the current jail would cost more than a new facility.

That’s because $750,000 to $1 million would be needed to house the prisoners for 18 months while the renovation is being completed. Also adding to the cost of renovation would be soft costs, as a renovation project would take longer than new construction.

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Exercise Group To Resume Normal Operations At Knox Community Center

Posted on Author WKVI
The exercise group attended the meeting en masse to be heard regarding the council's decision.

Applause filled the room at this week’s meeting of the Knox City Council, as they approved a motion to allow an exercise group to resume use of the community center at no charge.

The group had been using the Knox Community Center free of charge since 1998, but were recently asked to move operations to the Girl Scout Cabin in order to avoid paying a fee to use the center. Virginia Wireman-Duncan, the leader of the exercise group, said they felt they should be able to use the center free of charge because they did not charge any of their members any kind of fee in order to exercise with the group.

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La Porte Officials Remind Residents That A Burn Ban Is In Effect

Posted on Author WKVI

A burn ban has been in effect in La Porte County since June 15, a fact that La Porte City Fire Chief Andy Snyder and City Police Chief Adam Klimczak say is due to dry conditions that have created a threat to the lives and property of the people of La Porte County. The ban will remain in effect until further notice.

While the ban is in effect, residents are prohibited from lighting campfires, bonfires, and unpermitted controlled burns. This includes the burning of yard waste as well as construction and organic debris, and the lighting of fireworks is also prohibited. The ban also prohibits the discarding of unextinguished, smoking materials of any kind on the ground or anywhere not within an enclosed fireproof receptacle.

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Knox 21st Century Scholars Site To Close June 30

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox support site of the 21st Century Scholars is closing its doors effective June 30. The Knox site supports students in Starke, Pulaski, Jasper and Fulton counties.

The 21st Century Scholars Program was initiated to ensure that every student who wanted to go to college could afford to do so. Income-eligible seventh and eighth grade students who enrolled in the program and fulfilled a pledge of good citizenship could receive tuition up to four years at any participating public college or university in the state.

The Regional Coordinator at the Knox site, Kelly Manning, said that even though the support site is closing, the scholarship will still be available.

“The promise of the scholarship is still there for the students, just not the support from the support sites,” said Manning.

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Koontz Lake Dam Project Nearly Complete

Posted on Author WKVI

The road project along the Koontz Lake Dam is nearing completion.

State Road 23 in Koontz Lake has been closed since April 9 as crews work to rebuild the Koontz Lake Dam and straighten the road crossing over it. Officials at the Indiana Department of Transportation predict the road will be open to traffic some time this week.

Pulaski County Economic Summit Planned For June 28

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County Community Development Commission is sponsoring an Economic Summit Thursday, June 28 at 6:30 p.m. ET at the Medaryville Lions Club.

CDC Executive Director Nathan Origer explained the summit will include a presentation and discussion regarding business life in Pulaski County.

“We’re going to have our State of the County Economy Address and a panel of entrepreneurs will talk about what it’s like to start to run a business in Pulaski County, where they’ve succeeded in their market, where the county or local government has been an aid or hindrance, and their vision of the county’s economy in their own business future,” Origer explained.

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Knox School Officials Learn About New Superintendent Evaluation Model

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

Superintendent A.J. Gappa and three members of the Knox Community School Board recently attended a training session in Gary concerning the new superintendent evaluation model.

“According to the new law, it has to be implemented during the 2012 to 2013 school year,” said Gappa. “By the middle of September, we have to have an evaluation tool submitted to the State. We thought it was a valuable information session. It was information that we will need to proceed in that area.”

The session was facilitated by members of the Indiana School Boards Association.

The administration evaluation is a lot like the new RISE teacher evaluation which looks at a teacher’s professional practice and measures student learning.

Free Lunch Available At North Judson-San Pierre Schools

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson

The USDA Summer Food Service Program is in full force at the North Judson-San Pierre Schools. Superintendent Lynn Johnson encourages you to eat at the school – for free.

“Any student under the age of 18 can come and eat and there is no cost at all,” said Johnson. “I would encourage families, whether or not they fall under the guidelines of free and reduced lunch, it is open to every student, or every child, under the age of 18.”

The USDA Summer Food Service program continues through July 22. Breakfast is served from 7:45-8:15 a.m. CT and lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT in the North Judson-San Pierre Elementary School. Meals are free for those aged 18 years and younger. Adults may eat lunch for $2.

Most of the schools in our listening area are participating in this program. Free breakfast and lunch are available at most sites.

Two State Police Organizations Work To Protect Indiana’s Youth

Posted on Author WKVI

Two teams of dedicated crime-fighters have been working to protect Indiana youth by making an effort to put an end to child enticement, pornography, and other crimes. The Indiana State Police has a team of 14 motivated, dedicated, and highly-trained men and women of the Cyber Crimes and Crimes Against Children Units that focus on tracking down and putting behind bars those that prey on children online.

These specially-trained units conduct investigations involving online child enticement, both on-scene and centralized. Members of these units are also trained Digital Media Recovery Specialists, allowing them to conduct forensically-sound previews and investigations into computers, phones, and other media collected as evidence.

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Business Toolkits Now Available to Assist With Smoke-Free Air Law

Posted on Author WKVI

With the new Indiana Smoke Free Air Law taking effect July 1, Indiana will join 49 other states in protecting workers and patrons from secondhand smoke in the workplace. In an effort to help businesses implement the new law, the Tobacco and Cessation Commission at the Indiana State Department of Health has developed free “Breathe Easy Indiana” toolkits – a great resource, says State Health Commissioner Greg Larkin, to help businesses prepare for the law.

The toolkit includes an employee training guide, business checklist, smoke-free window clings, coasters, posters, and table tents, as well as a quick reference brochure providing basic information regarding the law. Businesses covered by the new law must post signs stating, “Smoking is prohibited within eight feet of this entrance,” or similar language, and must be visible at each public entrance.

To order such a toolkit, or to learn more about the law, visit www.breatheindiana.com.

Meteorologist Says To Expect High Temperatures In July

Posted on Author WKVI

Mother Nature will be turning up the heat tomorrow with highs expected in the mid-90s. Try to limit your time outdoors during this hot spell, but if you must be outside, seek shade as much as you can, drink plenty of water and take breaks as often as possible. Visit an air conditioned place such as the many local businesses, Community Services of Starke County, Pulaski County Human Services or your local library.

It’s been quite hot early this summer and WKVI’s Accuweather.com Meteorologist, Heather Zehr, says we could see higher-than-normal temperatures this summer.

“It look like at least here in the short term, we’re still going to have to deal with more hot weather than cool weather and I think temperatures are going to be trending above normal probably for at least the first half of July,” said Zehr. “We may see a little turn back to more normal temperatures.”

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One Fatality Reported In Yesterday’s Crash

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

Knox City Police responded to a two-vehicle accident on U.S. 35 and John Street Monday morning. An investigation revealed that a northbound Ford passenger car had crossed the center line, striking a southbound minivan.

Police say the passenger car was occupied by a male and female, and one male was traveling in the minivan. The driver of the passenger car was pronounced dead at the scene and the passenger was airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend in serious condition.

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Pulaski County Burn Ban Still In Effect For Next Seven Days

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County Commissioners have continued the burn ban for another seven days in light of continued drought conditions and a lack of rain in the forecast.

The ban has been in place since noon on Monday, June 18, and it will remain in effect until noon on July 2, when it will once again be reevaluated. The commissioners enacted the ban because of the dry conditions of this summer, and they feel the county is at risk of a widespread fire hazard. Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood or other combustible materials is prohibited, with the exception of grills. Also prohibited is the burning of debris such as timber of vegetation, and recreational campfires – unless enclosed – are prohibited as well.

Pulaski County residents are also strongly discouraged from discharging fireworks.

Starke County’s burn ban is also still in effect until July 2, when they will also reevaluate the ban and decide whether or not to allow it to expire. Marshall County residents are also under burning restrictions.

One Arrested After Man Flings Chemical At Police

Posted on Author WKVI

Two people were arrested Friday after a traffic stop that almost injured an officer.

A vehicle driven by Dana Candlish of Kokomo was stopped by an officer from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department because she was following a car too closely. As the officer approached the car, he reportedly saw the passenger, Paul Burke of Royal Center, open the door, bend over in his seat, sit back upright and close the door. The officer asked for identification and Burke told the officer he didn’t know if he had his ID.

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House Bill 1196 To Illegalize Bath Salts

Posted on Author WKVI

One hundred and sixty-one new laws have been approved by the Indiana General Assembly this year, and a large number of those new laws will become effective on July 1. These changes impact a variety of issues from bills regarding education and health care issues to those regarding farms and home energy cost.

One such bill, House Bill 1196, addresses synthetic drugs – particularly bath salts. The bill changes the term “synthetic cannabinoid” to “synthetic drug” in the bill, and adds additional chemical compounds – including some compounds sold as bath salts – to the definition of synthetic drugs. It also expands the definition to include certain chemical compounds structurally related to synthetic drugs.

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Pulaski County Man Arrested Following Traffic Accident

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Sheriff's Department

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department investigated two personal injury accidents Sunday night, one of which resulted in an arrest.

A Wheatfield woman was injured in a single vehicle accident at 6:52 p.m. ET on State Road 39 near County Road 400 North. Shannon Conley’s vehicle reportedly left the right side of the roadway and she lost control of the vehicle when it came back onto the paved surface. The vehicle slid sideways, back off the roadway, before traveling through a barbed wire fence, down into a ditch, and into the water. She climbed out of the vehicle and waved down passing motorists for assistance. Conley sustained a head injury in the accident.

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Two Local Sentences Handed Down In U.S. District Court

Posted on Author WKVI
George Wedow

George Wedow of Michigan City was recently sentenced in U.S. District Court.

In his plea agreement, Wedow admitted that between February and August 2011, he used two homes in Northern Indiana, including one in Grovertown, to house and train dogs he knew would be used in animal fighting contests. He was sentenced to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of Buying, Selling, Delivering or Transporting Animals for Participation in an Animal Fighting Venture.

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Knox School Lunch Prices To Increase Slightly

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

The Knox Community School Board approved an increase in breakfast and lunch prices for the 2012-2013 school year. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says a nickel increase will be incurred across the board.

“Breakfast at all schools will be $1.15 this coming school year,” explained Gappa. “Elementary lunch will be $1.75 and the middle and high school lunches will be $2. Those have all increased a nickel from last year.”