Pulaski County Candidates Sworn into Office

Posted on Author WKVI
Back Row: Tom Murray, Jim DeArmond, Melanie Parish, Richard Denney, Marla Dawson. Front Row: Judge Blankenship and Judge Shurn

Five successful municipal election candidates were sworn in yesterday at the Pulaski County Courthouse. The swearing-in ceremony was conducted by Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn and Superior Court Judge Patrick Blankenship.

Sworn in were Tom Murray and Jim De Armond for the Winamac Town Board, Melanie Parish as Winamac Town Clerk-Treasurer, Richard Denney for Winamac Town Board, and Marla Dawson as the Francesville Town Clerk-Treasurer.

Punch and a congratulations cake were enjoyed by friends, and relatives who attended the ceremony with their loved ones.

Maxinkuckee Singers Perform at Knox United Methodist Church

Posted on Author WKVI
The Maxinkuckee Singers perform at the Knox United Methodist Church

The Maxinkuckee Singers performed last night at the Knox United Methodist Church. It was the next to last performance of the season for the Singers whom have entertained audiences for over two decades with their Christmas show.

The compact one hour show is filled with the traditional, sacred, and humorous songs of the season.

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From the WKVI Archives

Posted on Author WKVI

Well fortunately it won’t get down to 10 below zero tonight. It WAS 10 below in 1989 on this date, when WKVI’s first home in the 200 block of Main Street was gutted by fire. The station, which had been reconfigured into a home, was eventually rehabbed, and is currently a home again.

No one was injured in the blaze.

And on this date in 1773, American Colonists disguised as Indians dumped 342 chests of tea off a British ship in Boston Harbor in a protest of Royal taxes.
Little did those colonists know that in 2009 the Tea Party took its name from that event.

Car Catches Fire in Five Star Parking Lot

Posted on Author WKVI
This car caught on fire in the Five Star parking lot Wednesday night

The Knox-Center Township Fire Department was called to a vehicle fire last night in the Five Star parking lot.

Fire Chief, Kenny Pfost, said that when they arrived at the scene, flames were coming from the engine compartment. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the engine area. No foul play is suspected.

Photo provided.

Owner of Golf Cart Company in Knox Sells Business

Posted on Author WKVI

Ed Arnold, of the Golf Cart Company in Knox, announced at the Knox City Council meeting this week that he has sold the building on Heaton Street and must vacate soon.

Arnold gave a history of the building and business to the council members.

“Sixty-one years ago, my father decided to build a plant here in Knox, thirty years ago I purchased the building from him and the building has now been sold,” said Arnold. “We have relocated to a new facility in Grand Beach, Michigan, but it is our intent to keep a facility here in Knox as well because I have employees here that are important to me.”

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State Legislators to Help Author a Bill to Help Pay for Starke County Jail

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Jail

Financing possibilities and informing the public have been topics the Starke County Jail Committee has been working on recently. The committee has discussed holding informational meetings throughout the county to bring the public up to date on various options for rehabbing or building a new jail.

Fires, escapes, and a class action lawsuit have brought attention to the liabilities at the jail. Reportedly the second oldest county jail in the state, the facility has been overcrowded at times throughout the past year.

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Starke County Commissioners Seek Applications for Boards

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

The Starke County Commissioners are asking for the submission of letters of interest for 2012 board appointments.

The Commissioners are asking you to consider apply for seats on the following boards: Starke County Drainage Board, KIRPC, Health Board, North Judson-Wayne Township Library Board, Aviation Board, Hospital Community Board, Alcoholic Beverage Board, Regional Workforce Board, P.T.A.B.O.A. Board, and Community Corrections Board.

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Starke County Highway Superintendent Addresses Caved-in Bridge

Posted on Author WKVI
Steve Siddall

Bridge #62 in Starke County has caved in. Starke County Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall talked about the situation with the Commissioners.

“Bridge #62 has fallen in. It’s not in the water. I was in Indianapolis last week and checked on permits and we have the permits to pull the bridge up. We’re getting around getting our cables because we haven’t done this six years. We are not removing the abutments. We are just removing the box beams. If I remove the abutments, that could cause erosion and that could cost us more money. It will save us money in the long run by us taking this out. It’s going to take a couple of weeks to get things around because I have to get cables. Our crane will not just pick it up. We’ll have to scoot it, drag it and slide it and then haul it to the shop,” said Siddall.

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Applications for Housing Rehabilitation Grant are Due Today

Posted on Author WKVI

Today is the deadline to submit applications for the Indiana Department of Housing and Community Development Authority grant for an owner-occupied rehabilitation grant. The grant is open to Knox residents.

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers said that he hopes to partner with the Housing and Community Development Authority to help six to ten low-income or elderly homeowners in this project with home repairs. These repairs may include energy efficiency, accessibility and safety. If you are interested and believe you may qualify, call the Mayor’s Office at 772-4553.

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Knowledge of Return Policies a Must this Christmas

Posted on Author WKVI

The day after Christmas usually finds many businesses flooded with customers with post-holiday gift returns.

The Better Business Bureau wants you to make sure that you understand return policies prior to making any last-minute purchases. When you shop for that special Christmas gift, request a gift receipt, understand the store’s return policy, return the merchandise unused, unworn or unwrapped from the original packaging, and understand online returns.

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Bass Lake Lions Presents Donations to Starke County Food Pantry

Posted on Author WKVI
Ron Warner, Fred Heise, Mike Samack and Dave Swanson present Cecilia Torres-Bowman with a check for the food pantry

Another group has presented the Starke County Food Pantry with a generous donation.

The Bass Lake Lions Club is one of the many groups and individuals who have come forth to help the Community Services of Starke County’s food pantry. The Lions donated $500 plus canned food to the pantry on December 14th.

Photo provided.

Brett Kersey Sentenced to 20 Years

Posted on Author WKVI
Brett Kersey

Twenty-two-year-old Brett Kersey pleaded guilty in Starke Circuit Court on Tuesday to one count of Child Molestation as a Class A Felony. Kersey was sentenced to 20 years in the Department of Corrections with five years of that sentence suspended to be served on probation. In addition, he will be placed in the Sex Offender Maintenance and Monitoring program, complete a sex offender treatment program, possess no obscene material, consent to random computer searches, and a whole host of other rules and regulations as part of his probation.

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Starke County Man Arrested on Warrant for Child Solicitation

Posted on Author WKVI
Stanford Baker

A Starke County man was arrested on a warrant for child solicitation on Monday.

Stanford Baker allegedly pulled up to his young female neighbor while in his pickup truck and she on her bike in October in the Grovertown area. He reportedly handed her a letter that contained sexual content. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department was contacted and a report was given to the Starke County Prosecutor where a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Kenneth K. Wallace’s Attorney Files Motion to Dismiss Case in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Kenneth K. Wallace

Kenneth K. Wallace made an appearance in the Starke Circuit Court Tuesday morning. Wallace’s attorney told Judge Kim Hall that he was interested in obtaining field notes from officers on duty that had responded to the incident. In addition, he requested several other forms of information that he says he was not provided with as part of the discovery process.

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Winamac Town Board Discusses Paving after Completion of Sewer Separation Project

Posted on Author WKVI
Winamac Town Hall

The Winamac Town Board discussed the recent paving work done as part of the completion of the sewer separation project in the downtown area.

Wastewater Superintendent Brad Zellers told the Board that there are some spots where the paving was done too quickly and it didn’t settle right. There are several areas that will need to be redone in the spring. The Board can’t close out the project until all of the work is done to the Board’s approval.

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State Law Allows Bidded Projects to be Done by County Employees

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

Starke County Commission President Dan Bridegroom recently informed his fellow commissioners and the public that a new state law will allow county workers to do county work that was previously bid out.

The jobs done by the county workers cannot exceed $100,000 and the workers must demonstrate the skills and training to do the work.

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Two Arrested in Knox on Several Counts of Possession of Controlled Substances

Posted on Author WKVI

Two people were arrested on Saturday on several counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance after pills were found in the vehicle without a prescription.

A Knox City Police officer noticed a van parked at Zingo Express and noticed two people sitting in the car. The officer went on about his patrolling duties and when he came back by the gas station, the driver had moved the vehicle to the front of the building. The officer looked at the cashier and she reportedly pointed at the vehicle. The officer got out and questioned the two about their business at the gas station. Vergie Smith, of Walton, told police that she had been chased to Knox by her husband. She stated that they were allegedly having problems and she and Jason Record were sitting at the gas station waiting to go back to Walton. Record said that he was with her to help her.

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Congressman Joe Donnelly Discusses Super Committee Failure to Cut Deficit

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

Deadlocked on their refusals to compromise on recommendations for cutting the government deficit, both Republican and Democrat members of the Super Committee have admitted defeat.

Second District Democrat Representative Joe Donnelly was asked about that failure.

“They were not able to get enough movement on the revenue side,” said Donnelly. “We had significant cuts and we had enough to actually get into the neighborhood of the $3 trillion deficit reduction, but we could not get our friends to agree to a package that figured out how to increase revenue.”

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