Selected areas of Bass Lake will be treated with an EPA-registered aquatic herbicide on or after May 21. The herbicide is being applied for the control of Invasive Eurasian Water Milfoil.
The treatment is being funded by the Bass Lake Conservancy District under an IDNR permit, and according to a news release, there are no restrictions on fish consumption or body contact.
The first Starke County casualty of the war in Afghanistan will have his name enshrined on the courthouse war monument. A stone mason was working on the Afghanistan portion of the granite monument yesterday.
Specialist Robert Tauteris, Jr., 44, of Hamlet died in Afghanistan on January 5 after his truck was struck by a roadside bomb.
“If it wasn’t that I had strep throat, I never would have gotten the job,” said Rosie Heise, who was recently promoted to the position of Vice President of Business Improvements for both IU Health La Porte and Starke hospitals.
In an interview with WKVI News, Heise said that while visiting her local physician, Dr. Walter Fritz, for strep throat four years ago, she learned that Starke Memorial Hospital was looking for a controller. She applied, was hired, and the rest is history.
Since being employed, Starke Memorial has become IU Health Starke Hospital, and Heise has been an integral part of the operation.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board members approved several retirements during their meeting this week. Elementary teacher, Brenda Roberts, will be retiring at the end of the school year after 37 years in the education field and Middle School Secretary, Dorothy Malchow, is retiring after 27 years at the corporation. Superintendent Dr. Klitzman also announced the retirement of the Middle School Principal.
“Mr. Stan Good, after 25 years in education – all at Eastern Pulaski Schools – and as our Middle School Principal for 18 years, is retiring,” said Klitzman. “He is going to stay in the education arena, but in a private sector helping different areas through a corporation that seems to find its niche on those students that are not functioning as well as they should in the traditional setting of a school. It’s more of an alternative selection.”
The North Judson-San Pierre High School graduation will be in June this year and Superintendent Lynn Johnson said it will come down to the wire as to who will be named the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the graduating class of 2012.
“It’s not been made official yet as far as those winners,” said Johnson. “Our graduation is Sunday, June 3 at 2 p.m. CT in the high school gymnasium and that is a change. We had it on a Friday night but we had some conflicts with some schedules with students, so we did move it to that Sunday.”
Former WKVI Intern Amy Pflugshaupt received the Best Live On-the-Scene Reporting award at the most recent Wisconsin Broadcasters Association gala.
She also won the Best Morning Newscast award. Pflugshaupt is an Oregon-Davis and Purdue University graduate who has been working at WSAU-TV in Wausau, Wis., since her college graduation.
We at WKVI pass along congratulations to Pflugshaupt on her most recent awards.
Four years after Governor Mitch Daniels tried to privatize the Hoosier Lottery, the agency is seeking proposals from private-sector firms. The Indiana State Lottery Commission announced yesterday that they are seeking proposals from private firms in hopes of improving the agency’s net income.
Hoosier Lottery Spokesman Al Larson says this is not privatization. He says the Hoosier Lottery is still a state agency and will continue to be owned and directed by the state – they are simply seeking a potential vendor that believes they can help improve performance with operational expertise. He adds the Hoosier Lottery already has vendor relationships in place and that this is nothing new to the Hoosier Lottery or the lottery industry in general.
Susanne Lange, Director of the Bella Vita Pregnancy Resource Center in Knox, announced that ten young ladies chose life in her remarks from last night’s Bella Vita Fundraising Reception.
Addressing the crowd too at the Knox Community Center was Brandi Pitts, holding her beautiful son Kendrick. She told a story of a frightened young lady going home to tell her parents that she was pregnant. “Don’t be mad at me mom and dad,” she said. To which her parents said, “We aren’t mad, we love you, and we’ll love your baby, too.” Brandi thanked Bella Vita and her mother and father for the support given through birth and beyond.
Good news for Fourth of July fans: there will be fireworks this year at the Starke County Airport. Fireworks Committee Chairperson Linda Berndt said yesterday that the fireworks are still on. To date, almost $5000 has been collected of the nearly $10,000 cost for the display and other expenses. The fireworks display will take place July 4.
Starke County may be luckier than other locations around the nation, as many cities and towns have cut fireworks for a variety of reasons. The celebrations have been primarily snuffed out due to budget cuts for towns and corporate sponsors.
The Knox City Council gave Mayor Rick Chambers the authority to sign the Coalition Against Domestic Abuse grant contract last week. The Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant was for $424,000, with a 10 percent match from CADA, making the total $471,000. The money is to be used to extend the garage at the Phoenix House, an abuse shelter in Knox.
A Knox man was arrested Tuesday after a burglary incident.
Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department conducted a burglary investigation that occurred May 8th in the 10000 block of State Road 8 in Starke County. During the investigation, officers reportedly located stolen items on a pawn list. The officers linked the stolen items back to the victim’s son.
The Winamac Town Board heard a presentation by the Safe Routes to School organization about the second Walk to School Day planned for Tuesday, May 22. The organization is also working on a Bike Safety Day on July 24. More details will be released about that effort in the near future.
The organization’s members also asked the Town Board to approve Superior Street as a one-way street going east. This would help traffic with kids coming off of the Panhandle Pathway walking or biking to and from school on the Safe Route to School. The Board voted in favor of the change and the change will be effective after an ordinance is approved officially making the move.
IU Health Starke Hospital will be establishing a patient and family advisory council. The council will consist of past patients and families, and will give advice on future programs and services.
The hospital is seeking patient and family nominations for the IU Health Starke Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Council. Nominees should represent the diversity of IU Health’s patient community, have had a recent experience with the IU Health System, and be able to share their insight in ways that are constructive and be able to interact well with others and speak candidly in groups.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board met Tuesday night and Superintendent Lynn Johnson said the Board approved several items on the agenda.
“The school handbooks for the 2012-2012 school year were approved, the textbook adoption for next year for fine arts and technical arts, the Summer Enrichment Program which will run July 24 through August 2, and also the budget calendar for the 2013 budget,” said Johnson.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board members recognized this year’s Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the graduating class of 2012 at their meeting this week. The Board recognized Valedictorian Jordan Morning and Salutatorian Tyler Abbott. Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman said the board and their families celebrated their accomplishments throughout their entire high school career.
The annual Memorial Day ceremonies on May 28 will take place at the Courthouse Memorial at 9 a.m. There will not be a 24-hour vigil as in previous years; instead, there will be a short ceremony at the courthouse, then the parade to Oak Hill Cemetery where there will be another short ceremony. The Redskin Brigade will participate in the ceremony. Appreciation for the brigade’s participation is being acknowledged by both the American Legion and VFW.
There will also be a brief ceremony in memory of Indiana National Guard Spec. Robert Tauteris, Jr. His name will be added to the monument this week.
Ever hear of a “Gold Party?” Chances are you haven’t. The Marshall-Starke Development Center is holding a Gold Party fundraiser tonight from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at 1901 Pidco Drive in Plymouth.
The Marshall-Starke Development Center will be paid a percentage of all gold and silver sold at the event. The higher the participation, the higher the percentage donated back to Marshall-Starke.
Even if you can’t make it, take your bag of gold to the center before the party. The experienced jewelers will qualify, weigh, and cash it out for you.
Tangled or broken necklaces, banged up bracelets, mismatched or broken earrings, and just plain gold jewelry you can buy at this moissanite necklace sale at Celeste Jewelry will bring you cash.
For more information, call (574) 936-9400.
More than 250 people are expected tonight at the Knox Community Center for the second annual Bella Vita Pregnancy Resource Center banquet.
Michelle Barnhart talks about tonight’s event.
“We have “In His Staff” dance team from the North Judson United Methodist Church, plus a pianist, and a flautist performing. The highlight of the evening could be the hot hors d’oeuvres with cheese that will be served to those attending. It’s going to be an enjoyable fondue night at the Knox Community Center,” said Michelle.
With proud parents looking on, 16 Senior students of the SCILL Center Auto Tech class received their diplomas last night.
Filling in for the announced speaker, Dr. Dane Miller, Founder of Biomet in Warsaw, the Executive Director of the SCILL Center, Jerry Gurrado, urged the graduates to use the knowledge gained to do great things in the future.
Borrowing from some of the notable people that he has met in his career as a high school coach, including the illustrious Johnny Wooden, Gurrado exhorted the students to follow their dreams.
“Dreams can come true, and by realizing your dreams you can inspire those who follow you in this unique class to realize theirs too,” Gurrado said.
After previously being suspended with pay, Robert “Ryan” Corbin filed his resignation with the Knox School Board, who approved it at their recent meeting. Corbin, a Knox High School gym teacher and boys and girls varsity swim coach, was suspended after being accused of inappropriate behavior with a 16-year-old student.
Police had previously interviewed both the student and Corbin and they both allegedly admitted to having conversations with each other. Inappropriate Facebook messages were sent, and conversations were also held via telephone and texting.
