Knox Man Injured in Accident

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man was injured in a single vehicle accident in LaPorte County.

LaPorte County Police officers responded to a call at 12:07 this morning of a car in the ditch at 1500 S. 100 W. in LaPorte County. Eugene Sinn, 57, told police that he didn’t remember how he got there or how long he was there. According to LaPorte County officials, the officer reportedly asked Sinn if he had been drinking prior to the accident and stated that he had been drinking. He was taken to the hospital for medical treatment for facial cuts and a laceration over his upper lip.

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Knox J.V. Completes 7-0 Conference Season

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
First Row L to R: Ashley Kreiger and Kazia Stacy. Second Row L to R: Brittany Fletcher, Miranda Shepherd, and Kindrick Joseph. Back Row L to R: Varsity Head Coach Dan Huizenga, Varsity Assistant Cameron Gilbert, Azure Conner, Kourtney Wagner, Torie Elliott, Sarah Hodge, Rachel Lenig, Manager Summer Shepherd, JV Assistant Larry Mullins, JV Head Coach Brian Earnest.

The Knox Lady Redskin J.V. team set a school record this year for wins with an overall record of 16-4. Their 16 wins included two championships in both the Hanover Central Tournament and the Northern State Conference where they were a perfect 7-0! The skins had a seven girl rotation and were lead in scoring by six different individuals throughout their 20-game season. Coach Brian Earnest stated “the key to our success this year was togetherness. I have never been prouder of any group of kids in 13 years of coaching. These girls proved what working hard and believing in one another can allow you to achieve”.

The future of Knox Lady Redskin basketball is in good hands with this group. Congratulations to the Lady Redskins on their record-setting, conference championship season!

Starke County Landfill Problems Reported to Commissioners

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners: Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis

More money needs to be poured into the site of the old Starke County Landfill. Brian Horvath, the Senior Project Manager of Weaver and Boos Consultants appeared before the Starke County Commissioners this week to report on conditions at the landfill.

Of the 12 probes placed on the property to detect methane gas, four showed up positive. The county now has 60 days to correct the situation.

Horvath said that trench 15 to 20 feet deep will need to be dug and then filled with gravel . The trench will provide a preferential pathway for any gas in the ground. The gas would then be vented into the atmosphere.

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Accidents Reported in the Kankakee Valley

Posted on Author WKVI

The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department responded to a single vehicle accident on 1500 South, one mile East of State Road 39 last night around 8:00 p.m. One occupant was taken to the hospital.

Knox City Police Department officers were called to a rollover accident on Bender Street near Pacific Avenue around 10:00 p.m. last night. This was also a single car accident and minor injuries were reported in this accident.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department officers were called to a rollover accident early this morning at 1075 W. State Road 10. This was a one vehicle accident with one person injured.

All of these accidents are still being investigated and we hope to get more information on these cases once more information is available to us.

Mark Allen Not Challenging Kathy Norem for Commissioner Seat

Posted on Author WKVI
Kathy Norem completes her candidacy paperwork

One of the more exciting local races in the 2008 Starke County General Election involved commissioner candidates Kathy Norem and Mark Allen. Both were attempting to fill a vacant seat on the board and 9,223 votes were cast in that specific race. At the end of the night, Norem, a Republican, edged Democrat Allen by 73 votes.

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Chesapeake Run Subdivision Offers Roads to County

Posted on Author WKVI

Alan T. Hildebrand, a Certified Public Accountant with Cross Roads Business Advisors, appeared before the Starke County Commissioners this week. Hildebrand represents Teachers Credit Union, owners of the housing development at Chesapeake Run Golf Course in North Judson, and presented a petition the commissioners to accept the roads in the subdivision. If accepted, the county would be charged with maintenance of the streets on the property.

Commissioner Dan Bridegroom said he had observed the paving work done on the property and was impressed. He did express concern over the closeness of the street lamps to the roads, saying this could cause a problem in snowplowing.

The commissioners did not take possession of the roads at this meeting, pending presentation of a legal description of the streets.

New North Judson Park Caretaker Hired

Posted on Author WKVI

North Judson Park Board President Bob Kolanowski told the Town Board this week that a new park caretaker has been hired. Jon Harrison was hired after six applicants were interviewed. Jon Harrison takes over the position from James Harrison, his father, who passed away last year. He worked with his father at the Park before and has the experience necessary to fulfill the caretaker’s duties.

The Board also held a discussion about increasing the Board to five members. The board, which numbers three, talked about what is required for that increase to take place. No decision was made during Monday night’s meeting.

The Board also approved a special event permit form.

Wife of Knox United Methodist Church Pastor Passes Away

Posted on Author WKVI

Following a valiant battle against cancer, Diane Squibb, 63, passed away yesterday.
Diane is the wife of Knox United Methodist Church Pastor Ray Squibb who has hosted the “Sunday Morning Day by Day” program for several years. Diane often accompanied her husband to the studio and occasionally was part of the program.

She worked at the Henry F. Schricker Library in Knox, until becoming too ill to fulfill her duties.

The Rannells Funeral Home, Hamlet Chapel is in charge of the services.

Fred Baker files Candidacy for Starke County Council at-Large Seat

Posted on Author WKVI

Retired Starke County Police officer Fred “Freddie” Baker is the latest candidate to sign up for the May primary. Baker has filed for a position on the Starke County Council. He will be running in the Democrat Primary as a council at large candidate.

Other candidates to file for Starke County Council at-large seats include Republican Bryan H. Cavender, Democrat Robert (Bob) Sims, Democrat Judy Benninghoff and Republican Talia Reed.

College Goal Sunday Scheduled for February 12th

Posted on Author WKVI

If you are seeking help in filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form that is due March 10th, you can get that help at the College Goal Sunday at Plymouth High School this Sunday, February 12th at 2:00 p.m. ET.

The FAFSA is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, loans and scholarships at most college, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide. In one afternoon at College Goal Sunday, you and your parents can get help in finishing the complicated form and get it filed online.

Tax forms and other income and benefits information is required. For more information, visit www.collegegoalsunday.org.

Scholarships Available for Criminal Justice Students

Posted on Author WKVI
Sheriff Oscar Cowen
Sheriff Oscar Cowen

The Indiana Sheriff’s Association will be awarding college scholarships to qualified high school seniors or college students who are pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies. Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen encourages you to apply for one of 40$500 scholarships awarded to qualifying students throughout the state.

You must be an Indiana resident, be a current member of the Indiana Sheriff’s Association or a dependent child or grandchild of a current member of the association, attend an Indiana college or university, major in law enforcement field and enroll as a full-time student.

The application deadline is April 1st.

North Judson J.V. Team Has Perfect 20-0 Season

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Front Row: (L-R) Dakota Stalbaum,Taylor Brandt, Ellie Eccles, Megan Block, Kora Timm. Back Row: (L-R) Darium Stalbaum, Danielle Sallee, Amanda Rose, Coach Chris McGowen, MacKenzie Brandt, Kara Trent, Kimberlyn Skibbe. Not Pictured: Taylor Minix, Carrigan Baxter.

The North Judson San-Pierre Lady Blue Jays J.V. team had one common phrase this year…”20-0″. Coach Chris McGowen stated that “this was a great group of unselfish girls who were very coachable and truly bought in to what they were trying to accomplish”. Throughout the course of the year the Jays averaged 40.2 points per game while giving up just 22.4 points per game. Proof that this team was a truly unselfish one is in the fact that not a single girl on the team averaged in double figures while the team scored 40ppg! Overall team defense was also a major reason the Jays were able to finish with no losses, as they held teams scoreless in 10 of the 80 total quarters played this season. The Jays had major wins throughout the year against quality opponents including Winamac, North Montgomery, and John Glenn, as well as Starke County rivals Oregon-Davis and Knox.

The future is bright for Lady Blue Jay basketball. Congratulations to the North Judson San-Pierre Lady Blue Jays on their perfect 20-0 season!

Starke County Tourism Embezzlement Explained

Posted on Author WKVI
Jennie Carter

In an effort to explain how the embezzlement of $7,140 could go undetected for almost a year, the Starke County Tourism Board issued a timeline and statement yesterday in the Jennie Carter case.

According to the timeline, Carter, Coordinator of the Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County organization, wrote a check for that amount of money on March 21st, 2011 to the Drug Free organization. She claimed it was for money owed to the Indiana Department of Revenue in taxes. Cosigning with Carter was the Tourism Board President, Rich Wieczorek, who is not suspected of wrongdoing. The check was cashed by Carter, who took possession of the money.

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Pulaski County Bell Tower in Need of Repair

Posted on Author WKVI
Mortar has crumbled in the Pulaski County Courthouse bell and clock tower

Pulaski County Maintenance Director Morry Demarco told the Commissioners this week that the bell and clock tower atop the courthouse is in pretty rough shape. According to Demarco, the tower is in need of being re-tuckpointed to reapply mortar between the bricks with an estimated repair time of up to four weeks.

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Starke County Commissioners Decide Against Polling Location Consolidation

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Commissioners decided this week to not allow the number of polling places to be reduced from 17 to 10 in this year’s May Primary election. The Election Board members were told that the reduction would be too much of a change, and that the Commissioners would rather have it phased in during another election year. Commissioner Dan Bridegroom said they asked the Board to sit down with Democrat Chairman Ken Wallace and Republican Chairman Brenda Stanojevich and they opposed the proposal.

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West Central Middle School Principal Announces Retirement

Posted on Author WKVI
Kay Beasey

The West Central School Board approved the retirement of Middle School Principal, Kay Beasey at their meeting last week.

“She’s been with the corporation for 24 years I believe and she’s done an outstanding job,” said Superintendent Charles Mellon. “There were just some health issues that she is dealing with so she felt it best to take an early retirement.”

Knox Man Charged after Driving under the Influence

Posted on Author WKVI
John Lenig

A Knox man was arrested Sunday, January 29th after he reportedly hit a patch of ice and hit a tree while driving under the influence.

John Lenig told a Starke County Sheriff’s Department officer that he hit a patch of ice on Toto Road near State Road 23 and he hit a tree. After the vehicle hit the tree, it burst into flames. Josh Workman said that he drove upon the accident and saw that the car had hit the tree and was on fire. He saw Lenig out of the car and a female passenger, Amber Sheperd, still trapped in the car. Workman removed her from the wreckage and took her to IU Health Starke Hospital. She was later airlifted to a South Bend hospital for treatment of a broken neck and an internal injury.

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LaPorte Man Arrested on Warrant for Dealing Cocaine

Posted on Author WKVI
Anthony Flores

A LaPorte man was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for Dealing Cocaine, a Class A Felony.

26-year-old Anthony Flores, of 605 Fremont Street in LaPorte was taken into custody at his home without incident and is currently in the LaPorte County Jail. His initial hearing in LaPorte Circuit Court is scheduled for Friday, February 10th.

This arrest was the result of a four week investigation into the distribution of cocaine in the City of LaPorte as well as LaPorte County. Sheriff Michael Mollenhauer credits this arrest on a team effort between the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department and the LaPorte and Michigan City Police Departments. If you suspect drug activity in your neighborhood, call the Metro Operations Unit at (219) 325-9022.

North Judson Town Board Reviews Paperwork for Trash Bids

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson Town Board reviewed the paperwork that will be published concerning the trash bids. The Board will be accepting bids in the next couple of months.

The Board tabled a resolution from the U.S. Bicycle Route #35 organization. The resolution asks that the town maintain a route for bicycles that will be connected to the Erie Trail in North Judson. The resolution was tabled because the Board thought the proposed route was unclear. The project would not cost the Town of North Judson anything.

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Debbie Mix of Tourism Commission Issues Statement

Posted on Author WKVI

The Tourism Commission is dedicated to promote Starke County in the most positive manner and it is with great regret that there was a misappropriation of funds. Tourism has put new and formal procedures in place to prevent this from ever happening again.

In 2011, some checks were issued in which proper documentation was questioned by the Board of Tourism. Jennie Carter repeatedly told the board she had the supporting documentation and her explanation was believable.

Through a series of events more concern over the checks came into question. Confirming documentation from Indiana Department of Revenue was received in late December. At that time, fact finding meetings were scheduled with Jennie on three occasions, however she was unresponsive. A time line of events was established to verify misappropriation of funds.

On January 10, 2012 the full tourism board met and was informed of the chain of events implicating Jennie Carter in the misuse of funds. Later that same day the board drafted a letter of demand asking Jennie for the funds, confirming responsibility, and her immediate removal from the board. That letter was signed by Jennie and notarized that same day. Also on the 10th, a call was made to Martin Lucas the County’s Attorney to inform him and a January 13th meeting was scheduled.

On January 16th the Tourism Board met again and agreed the President would contact the Auditor’s office to schedule a meeting with the County Commissioners. On January 26th the Auditor’s office responded with a February 6th executive meeting with the County Commissioners.

It has never been the board’s intention to hide anything. It is unfortunate but it takes time to do a thorough investigation. No one was willing to make false accusations. Tourism took the appropriate steps to make sure the admission of guilt was made, a return of funds scheduled, and contacts made to take further action. The board is willing to release the time line and/or minutes to anyone who is interested.

The accusation that the Tourism Board knew ahead of time and took no action was unfounded and was a personal comment unsupported by facts. Tourism has worked methodically and with due diligence to be sure it acted responsibly.
Sincerely,
-Debbie
Deborah J. Mix
Starke County Chamber of Commerce/Tourism Commission
Executive Director/Coordinator
P.O. Box 5
Knox, IN 46534
574-772-5548 (p)
574-772-0867 (f)