North Judson Man Escapes Serious Harm after Head-on Collision; Michigan City Man Dies

Posted on Author WKVI

A North Judson man sustained minor injuries in an accident that claimed the life of a Michigan City man on Saturday.

Michael Kieszkowski, 45, of Michigan City, was reportedly highly intoxicated when he crossed into oncoming traffic on U.S. 421 near County Road 1000 South. Keith Belcher, 20, of North Judson told LaPorte County police that he was southbound on U.S. 421 when Kieszkowski began flashing his high-beam headlights as he approached in the opposing lane. Belcher said he did not have his high-bream headlights on and flashed his to signal that he was not using them. Kieszkowski then reportedly veered into Belcher’s lane and Belcher told police could not avoid a head-on collision.

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Financial Improprieties Found Involving Starke County Taxpayer Money

Posted on Author WKVI
Jennie Carter

The Starke County Commissioners emerged from an Executive Session yesterday to announce financial improprieties involving taxpayer money by Jennie Carter. Carter is the Coalition Coordinator for Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County.

According to County Attorney Martin Lucas, the commissioners came to the conclusion that Carter committed financial improprieties by transferring funds from the Convention and Visitors Board to the Tourism Board.

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United Consulting Foots the Bill for Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

A slight hiccup in the Monterey Bridge project has brought with it some extra cost—but not to Pulaski County. Jeff Larrison of United Consulting told the county commissioners this week that a small sliver of land along the riverbank slipped under their radar and must be acquired before the project to continue. However, because the parcel wasn’t appraised along with the other properties or included in the right-of-way engineering, an additional cost would be incurred.

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Two Arrested after Tearing up a Yard in Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI
Chelsey Adam
Robert Allen

Two North Judson residents were arrested Sunday after they were reportedly tearing up a resident’s yard on 750 North in Pulaski County.

An officer with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department responded to the residence. The owners reportedly had a run-in with Allen before and had buried 2X4 boards with nails sticking out of them in the front yard. Allen had allegedly showed up at the house, revved his engine and started doing donuts in the yard. The owners ran outside with a baseball bat and Allen exited his vehicle and they all exchanged words. Allen then reportedly got back into his truck and drove the truck toward the residents. They then called police.

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Recycling Center Receives $20,000 for Repairs

Posted on Author WKVI

The use of $20,000 for fuel, oil, and repairs was approved for the Recycling Transfer Station by the Pulaski County Commissioners this week. Ed Clark of the recycling center approached the commissioners requesting to use that amount from a grant they had received, because of the $28,000 the center had requested from the county council, they had only received $8,000—a steep cut.

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Winamac Man Arrested on an OVWI Charge

Posted on Author WKVI
David Reid

A Winamac man was arrested Saturday on drunk driving charges after he showed signs of driving under the influence.

An officer from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department saw a suspicious vehicle and followed it for a while. The vehicle then turned into a driveway on Adams Street in Winamac but no one exited the vehicle. The officer watched the vehicle and it left two minutes later. The driver then approached the intersection of State Road 119 and Boyles Street and failed to come to a complete stop at the intersection. The officer conducted a traffic stop and after interviewing the driver, asked him to step out of the vehicle and began to conduct tests to see if the driver was impaired.

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From the WKVI Archives

Posted on Author WKVI

It was on this date in 1928 that it was announced that Bass Lake would be the home of the largest and most beautiful Fish Hatchery in Indiana. The Indiana Department of Conservation purchased five acres of land surrounding the present hatchery. The hatchery would then cover ten acres of land.

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Two Arrested after Police Investigation

Posted on Author WKVI
Phillip Mullins
Angela McDougal

Two Knox residents were arrested this weekend as a result of a police investigation into a possible methamphetamine lab.

On Friday, February 3rd, officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Hamlet Police Department served an arrest warrant on Phillip Mullins in the 3000 block of 400 North in Knox, and found him, as well as a female and child, inside the residence. After Mullins was arrested, police also located an inactive methamphetamine lab, a hydrochloric acid generator, and several items associated with manufacturing methamphetamine, in addition to marijuana and other paraphernalia.

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More Races Develop in May Primary Election

Posted on Author WKVI

Another race has developed for the May Primary in Pulaski County.

Incumbent Republican County Commissioner, Michael Troy “Big Mike” Tiede will face Republican challenger, Larry L. Brady for the District 2 seat.

This is not the only Commissioner race on the ballot. Republican Incumbent Kenneth R. Boswell will have competition with Republican challenger, Terry L. Young in District 1.

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Marshall County to Host Weather Outreach Program

Posted on Author WKVI

Although January has only just come and gone, Indiana has already felt the impact of severe weather in 2012. Three tornadoes recently struck in southern Indiana, causing over $1 million in damages. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.

With severe weather already occurring this year, the National Weather Service in cooperation with the Marshall County EMA and the SKYWARN group will be hosting the annual Weather Outreach Program. Previously coined “Storm Spotter Training,” this program will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in room 203 of the Marshall County Building at 112 W. Jefferson St. in Plymouth.

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Lawmakers to Review Senate Bill that would end the Sale, Manufacturing of Synthetic Drugs

Posted on Author WKVI

Lawmakers are looking to end the manufacturing, distributing and use of synthetic drugs.

State Senator Jim Merritt has authored a proposal that would add more than 60 chemical compounds found in synthetic drugs like Spice and bath salts to the state’s list of illegal substances. He says his bill would also ban molecules similar in structure to those illegal compounds to prevent drug manfacturers from slightly changing ingredients and skirting laws in the future.

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Two Lives Lost on Toll Road

Posted on Author WKVI

Two lives were lost in separate vehicular accidents on the Indiana Toll Road Saturday between midnight and 5 a.m.

According to Indiana State Police, the first accident occurred at 12:23 a.m., when an empty horse trailer broke loose from a Chevrolet Suburban heading west and left the roadway, crossing the median and into oncoming traffic. 50-year old Julio Zatina of Bridgeview, Ill., was driving a double-trailer semi in the eastbound lane when the trailer crossed the roadway. Zatina was not able to avoid the trailer and hit it, breaking a piece of the trailer off that flew through the semi’s windshield and struck him. He immediately lost control of the semi, which traveled across the median into the oncoming lane and through to the ditch on the other side.

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Week in Review for January 30th-February 3rd, 2012

Posted on Author WKVI

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels

Governor Daniels signed the right to work bill into law Wednesday afternoon. Indiana is now the 23rd right to work state.

Tom Collins, a former Winamac resident and player for the Negro Baseball League team, Memphis Red Sox, died last week at the age of 100.

The Knox City Council discussed ideas surrounding the Knox downtown revitalization project. Continue reading →

Shelby Thomas Pleads Guilty to Two Class C Felonies

Posted on Author WKVI
Shelby Thomas

Shelby Thomas pleaded guilty to two counts of Intimidation as Class C felonies in the Starke Circuit Court Thursday. Thomas, 57, admitted to threatening to kill Officers James Upsall and Dave Combs while armed with a 10-inch knife.

The possible penalties for these charges are two to eight years in the Department of Corrections on each count, and Prosecutor Nick Bourff is hoping for a 16-year sentence for Thomas. No plea agreement has been filed, but Bourff has indicated he will dismiss the remaining charges against Thomas, including four counts of Attempted Murder, if victims in the case feel 16 years is a sufficient penalty.

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Alex Bradley Found Guilty in Trial this Week

Posted on Author WKVI
Alex Bradley

Alex Bradley was found guilty in a jury trial on a charge of Receiving Stolen Property in Starke Circuit Court this week.

He was found guilty of being in possession of a stolen golf cart. Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall revoked his bond and he was taken back to the Starke County Jail. He will stay in the jail until his sentencing hearing on February 29th at 11:00 a.m.