Winamac Town Board Discusses Nepotism Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI
Winamac Town Hall

The Winamac Town Board members Monday night discussed how they are going to implement the town’s nepotism ordinance.

The board recently passed a nepotism ordinance that closely mirrors the state’s new law on the subject that will take effect July 1. House Enrolled Act 1005 states that all local government entities must implement and adopt a nepotism policy consistent with the Indiana code.

The town’s policy outlines that after July 1, an individual who is a relative of an existing employee may not be employed by the town in a position that results in one relative being in direct line of supervision of the other relative. Those who already may be employed in this capacity may be grandfathered in after the law takes effect July 1. A relative of an elected official, an individual who works or is appointed to any department or board on any basis, or a member of the fire department and police department will not be approved for employment under this policy.

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Knox City Council Discusses Requests For Free Exercise At Community Center

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community Center

The Knox City Council faced a roomful of concerned women this week at its regular meeting. The women were part of an exercise group that had used the Knox Community Center since 1998 twice a week at no charge, but recently, they were asked to move to the Girl Scout Cabin in order to keep their “no charge” status.

The sessions were conducted by Virginia Wireman-Duncan who read a prepared statement.

“We would like to know who decided to evict us from the community center and why. The exercise
class has met at the community center since Sept. 30, 1998. There has never been a charge for those
attending the classes,” said Wireman-Duncan. “During the 14 years we met we were not charged because we were recognized as a community service for the city of Knox. There are now 55 members; thirty or more attend each class. So they wanted to know, first of all, why we were evicted from it, and second who initiated that we be removed from the community center.”

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PETA BOA Board to Meet June 25

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County PETA BOA Board has scheduled an organizational meeting on June 25, and they expect to hear a number of appeals regarding assessments that the board has set on real estate. The meeting will start at 9 a.m., and each appeal will be given roughly an hour to be discussed.

While the board expects to hear anywhere from five to eight appeals at the meeting, Starke County Assessor Rhonda Milner says they don’t necessarily make a decision immediately. She says that in some instances, the board may need to review documents and send the taxpayer paperwork afterward with their decision on the appeal.

In some cases, an inspection must be completed before the board can make their decision, but Milner says that the decision is usually made within a month.

Warm Spring Beneficial For Wheat Crop

Posted on Author WKVI

Eugene Matzat of the La Porte Extension Office has been talking about the condition of the crops in our area this week. Matzat explained the warm spring put the wheat crop ahead of schedule.

“Because of the warm temperatures that we had in March, as well as the general earliness of the spring, this year has been well ahead of normal,” he said.

The wheat harvest is already into the harvest stage in southern Indiana.

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Starke County Environmental Collection Event Tomorrow

Posted on Author WKVI
Workers prepare computers to be hauled away during last year's environmental collection event

The Starke County Environmental Management District is sponsoring the Environmental Collection Event tomorrow and Saturday, June 15 and 16, at the Starke County Highway Garage. Tomorrow’s event will be from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday’s event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT. You must have an environmental coupon which was included in your 2012 Environmental Assessment Invoice. This is open to Starke County residents only.

A limit of five tires will be accepted, of which one may be a tractor tire. If you have more than five tires, there will be a charge of $2 for car tires, $4 for semi tires and $20 for farm tractor tires.

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A Nearly-Flagless Flag Day For One Bass Lake Resident

Posted on Author WKVI

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day.

Unfortunately for one Bass Lake resident, Flag Day is going to be a bit dismal this year. Since Memorial Day, Ken Myers’ flag pole at Bass Lake has been bare – that was the day someone stole not only his American flag on a 30-foot pole, but his Vietnam POW flag and his Marine flag.

“On Memorial Day, I was flying my American flag at half-staff. My wife was out watering her flowers and some people stopped by and asked why we weren’t flying my flag – it’s like a monument out here – and she looked up and all three flags were gone,” Myers said.

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From the WKVI Archives

Posted on Author WKVI

It was in 1975 that the Knox Alumni Banquet was held at the Ruth Palmer Building and the new Knox High School. Alumni President Bill Barnett reported that a crowd of 190 were served at the dinner alone. Entertainment was provided by Bill Harvey, and dance music was provided by the Tony Barren Band of South Bend. The 1975 banquet was the largest ever.

Jayne Cowen

Jayne Cowen, 23, of Knox was a contestant in the Miss Indiana Scholarship Program at Indiana State University’s Hulman Center on this date in 2001. In Cowen’s talent portion, she performed an exciting two-minute exercise and dance routine to the music of “The Twilight Zone.”

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Hunnicutt to Appear for Initial Hearing on Escape Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Joshua Hunnicutt

After fleeing the Starke County Jail on May 23 and turning himself in just five days later, Joshua Hunnicutt will appear for his initial hearing today for additional charges of Escape and Conspiracy to Commit Escape.

Hunnicutt had been on the run since climbing a razor-wire wall in the recreation area of the jail and fleeing from police. He said he turned himself back in because he realized he had made a poor decision in escaping, and said he doesn’t have any recollection of what took place prior to his escape.

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Plymouth Police Note Increase In Theft Incidents

Posted on Author WKVI

Theft incidents are on the rise in Plymouth.

The Plymouth Police Department has arrested three different people in a week for theft of items from Walmart. The most recent arrest was Monday, June 11, when Michael Dalton of Plymouth reportedly concealed and failed to pay for lithium batteries. Dalton had paid for Coleman fuel and drain cleaner, but did not pay for the batteries.

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North Judson Festival Celebrates Agricultural Aspect of Mint

Posted on Author WKVI

There is one element of the Mint Festival that makes it completely unique: mint! The agricultural aspect of mint is celebrated during this time and many farmers in the North Judson area and in Starke County produce mint that is used in every day items such as toothpaste, gum and candies.

Mint Festival President, Terry Thompson, says the oil that is distilled from the mint plants will be available for purchase during the festival.

“We do have the mint oil that everybody loves,” said Thompson. “We have mint plants and hopefully we’ll have some mint candy.”

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Sewer Separation Project Completed in Winamac

Posted on Author WKVI
Winamac Town Hall

Members of the Winamac Town Board heard from Commonwealth Engineering representatives Monday night as they reported the final figures from the storm sewer separation project.

The project was finally finished with the separation of several sewer lines in the downtown area and the repaving of some areas in town that were not properly paved in the fall. Stripes have been painted on all the streets and parking lines have also been marked.

The water tower is being painted in the town of Winamac, and that project is expected to be complete by the end of the month. Water pressure has been an issue during this project, but pressure should return to normal when painting is done. This action is done for safety issues and to make any necessary repairs.

Brooke Webb Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Brooke Webb

Brooke Webb, charged with multiple counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana and Visiting a Common Nuisance after she was arrested at a residence in Knox on Nov. 23, 2011, appeared in the Starke Circuit Court Monday morning for her plea and sentencing hearing.

Webb was sentenced to three years in the Department of Corrections for Possession of a Controlled Substance as both a Class D felony and a Class C felony. One year of that sentence has been stayed, and one year will be served on probation. In addition, the court will allow her to serve the one remaining year on home detention. The rest of the charges against her were dismissed as part of the agreement.

Accused of battering his girlfriend in March, David Zachary was to appear for his plea and sentencing hearing in the Starke Circuit Court this week as well. However, due to an incomplete questionnaire, the pre-sentence investigation was not complete. A status hearing has been scheduled for Zachary on June 14 at 8 a.m., when they will learn if the pre-sentence investigation has been completed.

Eastern Pulaski School Board Approves New Middle School Principal

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

Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent Dr. Robert Kltizman announced that the school board members have approved the employment of a new middle school principal.

“We hired Mr. Ryan Dickenson as the middle school principal,” announced Klitzman. “Mr. Dickenson has 13 years of teaching experience, all at the middle school level, at a couple of school corporations. For the past four years, he has been the assistant principal/athletic director at Bremen schools. He is credited by administrators at Bremen of being key in the turnaround Bremen has experienced academically. He’s got a great faculty to work with and a great staff. We look forward to Mr. Dickenson’s start in the fall.”

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Starke County Sheriff Requests Three New Police Cars

Posted on Author WKVI
Sheriff Oscar Cowen
Sheriff Oscar Cowen

Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen has informed the county commissioners that he is in need of three new cars.

Commission President Kathy Norem asked Cowen to come back with actual quotes, a listing of the current fleet with years in service, and their current mileage.

She also asked Cowen to look at trucks, stating they “have better resale value.”

West Central School Corporation To Undergo Maintenance Over Summer

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

Maintenance workers at the West Central School Corporation will be busy this summer with several projects. Superintendent Charles Mellon outlined those projects, which include work at both the elementary school and the high school.

“In the elementary school, we will be replacing the lights in the classrooms and hallways and we’re going to upgrade the pool’s filtration system,” commented Mellon. “There’s always a little bit of carpeting that we do throughout the corporation. We’re sanding down and refinishing the high school gym floor and replacing the black boards with marker boards throughout the corporation.”

Crops Not Taking Kindly To Unpredictable, Dry Weather

Posted on Author WKVI

The topsy-turvy weather pattern that occurred early this spring saw many farmers planting earlier than usual. Now, the hot temperatures with little moisture is taking a toll on the young corn crop. La Porte County Agricultural and Natural Resources Extension Educator for Purdue University Eugene Matzat explained that the corn crop isn’t doing the greatest.

“Obviously the corn crop needs a drink of water. It’s showing some signs of stress. Corn that is relatively tall is probably about hip high, and it’s showing signs of moisture stress. I saw some corn late last week that was curling up trying to conserve moisture,” said Matzat.

Unfortunately, there’s no relief in sight as Matzat also noted that no rain is forecast for the immediate future.

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Rex Miller Announces Retirement From Oregon-Davis

Posted on Author WKVI
Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney

“He could and did fill almost every position in the school system. We’re losing a great employee.” Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Steve Disney said these kind words about Rex Miller as he announced his retirement from the system.

During his tenure, Miller has been, among other things, the athletic director, media specialist, assistant principal, and even subbed as a bus driver occasionally. He retired as the dean-administrative assistant.

“He was an Oregon-Davis Bobcat through and through. He and his wife Brenda moved to this school system, and they never left. Rex was a strong community member who was willing to do whatever he could for the O.D. kids,” said Disney.

Boater Stumbles Upon Old Bass Lake Diving Board

Posted on Author WKVI

Do you ever remember diving off the diving board at Bass Lake? What year was it? Well, you might never dive off of it again, but because of the low water at Bass Lake the old diving board and platform have been discovered. A boat struck the items in about four feet of water, and although at first no one knew what it was, it was soon discovered that the platform had four polls on each corner and a rug on top of the deck.

On another note, Starke County’s most famous bridge – the one that went over Eagle Creek – has been removed. The wooden bridge was the site of a near-tragic event that occurred in April 1996 when a runaway school bus went over the bridge before a student, John Waldron, stopped it in a field.

The bridge has recently been taken out and a culvert installed. Highway workers brought the old wooden bridge to the highway garage property. It’s not known if it will be sold, scrapped, or used for parts.

From the WKVI Archives

Posted on Author WKVI

As the Starke County Jail Committee discusses an upgrade today, commissioners Don Thompson, Todd Troike, and Joe Weinberg were talking about an upgrade to the jail 39 years ago.

On June 3, 1973, the commissioners met with James Garman, an architect with M&W, Inc. Also in attendance at the meeting were Sheriff Harold Wyland and Auditor Jack Milner.

Some of the discussion items included whether to consider the feasibility to serve both county and city departments, whether to put a basement in the new building, and space requirements for 30 inmates. They also discussed where to place the drunk tank, interrogation rooms, booking offices, squad room, and laundry room. A brief debate was held regarding whether or not a kitchen was a requirement, and whether or not to add the sheriff’s living quarters onto the jail. Finally, they reviewed neighboring Jasper County Jail estimates that were quoted at $175,000 for cells and $500,000 for the building.

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Two Arrested After Police Find Stolen Rifle

Posted on Author WKVI

Two Winamac residents were arrested June 6 after Pulaski County officers found them to be in possession of a stolen firearm. Officers were called to a domestic dispute and, while information was being gathered concerning the alleged incident, they found a weapon after the suspect said there weren’t any weapons in the home.

Hollis Howard was asked about his status as a convicted felon after he confirmed he was a convicted felon, officers searched the home and found a .22 caliber rifle in the kitchen area. Howard stated that he had forgotten about the rifle and the weapon was in the home for his wife’s protection. He reportedly stated that he had gotten it from an uncle some time ago. Police ran the serial numbers of the rifle and discovered it had been reported stolen to the Hobart Police Department.

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