Victorian High Tea Inspired by Hat

Carol Blastic attended the Victorian High Tea

A woman’s hat led to a successful promotion for the Starke County Food Pantry.
Lois Bock noticed a woman’s interesting hat during services at the Eagle Creek Church, and it was that hat that inspired her to organize last week’s Victorian High Tea event.

Of course, her pastor also had something to do with the event, as Bock explained.

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From the WKVI Archives

On May 2, 2001, the new Knox Post Office grand opening celebration was held. Peggy De Vries, Knox Postmaster, greeted the crowd, and later conducted a tour of the new building.

On this date in 1977, Bob March resigned as Head Basketball Coach at Winamac High School. March was a member of the 1956 Indians sectional basketball team.

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17-Year-Old Inmate Found Unconscious After Alleged Suicide Attempt

A 17-year-old inmate from the LaPorte County Jail is being treated in the Critical Care Unit of IU Health La Porte Hospital after he allegedly attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself with a sheet.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, jail staff discovered the inmate not breathing in his cell, but the jail staff’s quick response and CPR efforts revived him, and he was breathing on his own when taken from the facility by ambulance.

According to video surveillance, a supervisor checked on the inmate during a shift-change count of the inmates, but he was discovered seven minutes later during another routine security check.

The inmate is charged with a revocation of suspended sentence from work release, with original charges stemming from an offense for which he was charged as an adult due to the seriousness of his offense. His name is not being released at this time due to his age and the ongoing investigation.

Rape Investigation Leads to Arrest of Plymouth Man

Wayne M. Davis

Detectives with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department are investigating an alleged rape incident.

On Sunday morning, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department received a call of a female that had walked to a residence in the area of Rose Road and Mill Pond Trail. She indicated to the homeowner that she had been assaulted and asked them to call the police.

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Scrap Metal Investigation Leads to Monterey Meth Bust

Michael Babcock
Kristin Redlin

Two Monterey residents were arrested on Tuesday, April 24 after Pulaski County Sheriff’s deputies reportedly found an active meth lab at their residence.

Officers approached the home on Hazel Boulevard after an investigation was being conducted concerning the theft of scrap metal. Bart Shank, who was suspect of theft, had directed police to the residence to speak to Pete Rowe. He told police that he had been scrapping items with Rowe and said he lived at the address. When police arrived, one resident, Michael Babcock, told police he had never heard of Pete Rowe and that he and his girlfriend had been living at that residence for approximately two months.

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Starke County’s Health Ranking Problematic for Industry

State Representative Nancy Dembowski

According to the second of a two-part forum last Thursday night at Bass Lake, a county’s health ranking can impact many different areas– one of which is industrial attraction. State Representative Nancy Dembowski said that “quality of life” is one of the issues that arises when industry considers Starke County, because being ranked next-to-lowest in the state’s health ranking is definitely not a postive.

At the forum Thursday night, Dembowski pointed out a number of areas to work on, as the assembled members separated into groups.

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Annual Starke County Youth Club Radiothon Friday

Irene Szakonyi

WKVI is gearing up for its annual Radiothon for the Starke County Youth Club. This Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., we’ll be on the air taking pledges and informing the public about this award-winning club.

Youth Club Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says her main goal for the radiothon is educate the community about the club’s purpose.

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Rummage Sale Planned to Benefit Drew Shearin Scholarship Fund

The Drew Shearin Scholarship Fund is receiving some support from local student Taylor Kemble, who has organized a rummage sale to take place Friday, May 4 at the Knox United Methodist Church. Kemble says that because this will likely be her last rummage sale, she felt she needed to benefit someone who had a huge impact on her life– the late Drew Shearin.

“Well, I’ve been doing this for, I believe, the past four years now, and I just decided that since this was probably going to be my last rummage sale, I wanted to do something for Drew because he was a huge part of my life, and he inspired me to do many things and I just decided that this was going to be dedicated to him,” said Kemble. (05-01-12 Kemble – Drew)

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Local Firefighters Earn Multiple Certifications

Firefighters participate in training at the Washington Township Fire Department

Area firefighters recently completed a new recruit course.

Captain Joe Short from the Washington Township Fire Department said the course started in November and finished April 22. Firefighters met three days a week for a combination of lectures and hands-on activities. Those who completed the training received certifications in National Incident Management System (NIMS) 100, NIMS 200, NIMS 700, Autism, HAZMAT Awareness, HAZMAT Operations, Mandatory Firefighter, Firefighter I and Firefighter II. The courses were taught by Washington Township, Hamlet and Bremen Fire Officials and Starke County EMS Director Paul Mathewson.

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Knox Schools to Provide Free Meals Through June

The Knox Community School Corporation will be participating in the USDA Summer Food Program again this year.

Free meals will be made available to children 18 years of age and under beginning in June. Any child is welcome to eat for free at the Knox High School from June 4 to July 26, and at the Knox Elementary School from June 4 to June 28.

No child will be discriminated against and every child from all over the area is welcome to participate. Both breakfast and lunch will be served.

Ancilla College to Hold Graduation Services Saturday

Ancilla College will hold graduation services on Saturday, May 5 at 11 a.m. ET in the Ancilla Domini Chapel. Over 100 graduation applications have been received and December 2011 graduates will also be included in the proceedings.

The Commencement Speaker will be Sister Virginia Kampwerth, Ancilla College President from 1985 through 1994. Kampwerth graduated from Ancilla Domini High School and Ancilla Domini College before beginning her distinguished career in education that eventually led her to serve as Academic Dean and President of Ancilla College. She is currently Provential Councilor of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ American Province.

Plymouth Man Killed in Accident in Marshall County

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department investigated a fatal accident late yesterday afternoon.

82-year-old Donald Ferguson, of Plymouth, was killed instantly when his car was struck from behind by a semi-trailer tanker truck on U.S. 30 and Cedar Road in Bourbon. Ferguson was making a right hand turn onto Cedar Road when the accident occurred. Ferguson’s wife was injured in the accident and she was transferred to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Plymouth.

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Turkey Tracks Event a Big Success

Bob Fossler and Gilbert Harrington

The three-day Turkey Tracks event was held this past weekend. As of Noon yesterday, the disabled hunters and guides had taken in 20 wild turkeys. The event was sponsored by the Eric Corey Foundation, and the 31 hunters enjoyed a weekend in the woods.

Activities occurred during the evening and in fundraising efforts, two specially-crafted Eric Corey plaques were auctioned for $4,600.00. A third plaque was presented to Carol and Doug Corey to be hung in Eric’s trophy room.

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Knox City Council Asked to Take Over Gateway Property

Back Row: Greg Matt, Mayor Rick Chambers, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, Donald Kring, City Attorney David Matsey. Front Row: Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg and Ron Parker

Gateway and the Starke County Historical Society are in discussions with the City of Knox to deed the Gateway property to the city. When Gateway was conceived, it did not include the Depot and all of the other historic items such as the watchman’s tower, Nickel Plate signal tower or the caboose and tracks.

The area had been an ice and coal yard for years on the west side of U.S. 35 and a fuel distribution center on the east side. To the north was the Golding property that was at one time a 1920 gas station. Jim Shilling convinced the owners of the property to sell it to a private organization called Gateway.

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4-County Drainage Board Lifts Robbins Watershed Assessment Fee

The 4-County Drainage Board has omitted the 2012 general drain maintenance assessment for landowners within the Robbins Watershed.

This will affect landowners in Center, Davis, Oregon and Washington Townships. The change will be reflected on the 2012 tax statement. The Drainage Board will continue to address maintenance on the drain during this year and the Board will review and evaluate the maintenance assessment for 2013.

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Corey Drive Residents Sign Petition Against Street Lights

The vote totals are in! Two residents from the Corey Drive area of Knox presented petitions to the Knox City Council last week that indicated most residents of the subdivision do not want street lights. Virginia Thomas presented the results.

“Three want street lights, and 14 don’t,” Thomas reported. “We went down the whole street. You know what they want more than street lights? They want “speed bumps,” but I said we’re only surveying for or against street lights.”

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Knox Storm Water Project Complete

Knox City Board of Works members heard this week that the storm water drain project is officially completed. The $837,095 project provided several drains in flood prone areas of the city, mostly around Portland, Washington, and John Streets.

$25,000 was left over after the project was completed and now the city is now researching if the funds can be used for other projects.

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Oregon-Davis Students to Hold Mini Relay for Life

The Oregon-Davis students will host a Mini-Relay to raise money in the fight against cancer.

Students will be collecting money from now until the day of the event, May 18th. The students will walk on the school grounds in the abbreviated version of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The Mini-Relay will be an all-day event complete with music, games, class banners, and luminaria bags decorated by the students in memory or in honor of a family member or friend with cancer.

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