Changes in Immunization Requirements Take Effect January 1st, 2012

Posted on Author WKVI

Immunization eligibility requirements are changing as of January 1st, 2012.

All childhood immunizations are administered by the local health departments for free of charge, but due to funding constraints, eligibility requirements are changing. The State will only be providing childhood vaccines to the local health departments that have patrons who are on any type of Medicaid insurance, who are American Indian/Alaskan Native children, and those who are underinsured. “Underinsured” is defined as having no insurance, insurance that does not cover vaccines or the insurance caps vaccine coverage at a certain amount.

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Denise Dalton Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Denise Dalton

Denise Dalton, 42, of Knox, received her sentence in the Starke Circuit Court on Thursday for Possession of Methamphetamine, as a Class D Felony. All other charges against her were dismissed, including Manufacturing Methamphetamine as a Class A Felony, Illegal Drug Lab, and Battery.

Dalton was sentenced to 18 months in the Department of Corrections with none of that time suspended. Her time will be served on home detention with electronic monitoring by Community Corrections, and was given 16 days credit for time served.

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Samuel Smith Pleads Guilty to Domestic Battery

Posted on Author WKVI
Samuel Smith

Samuel Smith plead guilty last week to battering his wife in the presence of his two-year-old child. Smith was present in Starke Circuit Court on Thursday along with his attorney, Richard Ballard.

Convicted of a Class D Felony, Domestic Battery with a Child Present, Smith will serve 18 months in the Department of Corrections with none of that sentence suspended. A $50 domestic violence fee has also been imposed, and he will submit to a DNA cheek swab. He was credited with 176 days served, and he is also required to complete a Batterer’s Intervention program.

As part of the plea agreement, charges of Criminal Confinement and Resisting Law Enforcement were dismissed.

Pulaski County Drug Free Council Drafts Comprehensive Plan

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County Drug Free Council has drafted and adopted a new three year comprehensive plan for combating the abuse of drugs and alcohol in the county.  The plan was created after data was collected from the community.

The plan will be funded through the collection of drug interdiction fees received through the criminal justice system from those convicted of substance abuse offenses. That money is then awarded as grants to people and agencies that can effectively achieve the goals of the comprehensive plan.

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Knox Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Scheduled for November 27th

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Christmas tree lighting ceremony is on Sunday, November 27th.

Prior to the tree lighting, the Knox-Center Township Fire Department will be sponsoring a Christmas Parade. The fire trucks will leave the South Side Fire Station at approximately 4:30 p.m. and travel north on Main Street to the Starke County Courthouse in the downtown area. The firemen will be delivering Santa Claus to the tree lighting ceremony on the Courthouse Square at 5:00 p.m.

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Singing Hoosiers to Perform in Winamac

Posted on Author WKVI
Singing Hoosiers

The Singing Hoosiers show choir will perform in concert in Winamac at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 13th at the Winamac Community High School Socialtorium. Several Winamac High School singers are, or have been, a member of this choir. The Singing Hoosiers have a 60 year history and the group has appeared with such legendary entertainers as Bob Hope, Alan Sherman, Red Buttons, Tony Bennett, Duke Ellington, and Indiana’s favorite son Hoagy Charmichael.

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Reminder: Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday Morning

Posted on Author WKVI

Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 6th, at 2:00 a.m. You will need to set your clock back one hour before you go bed tonight (Saturday) or at 2:00 a.m. prevailing time Sunday morning.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 marks the change in the observance of Daylight Saving Time. It officially begins on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

Plea Deadline for Stacie Brown Extended

Posted on Author WKVI
Stacie Brown

The case against Stacie Brown continues with a plea deadline extension that was accepted by the Starke Circuit Court. Judge Kim Hall granted an extension to December 1st at 8:00 a.m. to allow Brown’s attorney, Timothy Lemon, to finish the discovery of the case and speak to some of the state’s witnesses. Lemon says the discovery is going well, but because expert witnesses are involved, he would like more time in order to speak to each of them.

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Marshall County Sheriff’s Department Investigates Break-in Incident; Suspect Wore Ninja Costume

Posted on Author WKVI

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a break-in incident in Walkerton.

A man wearing a ninja costume broke into a home in the 19000 block of 4B Road. According to the police report, as the homeowner was on the phone with police after hearing noises outside the home, an unknown man broke in through a kitchen window. The man entered the master bedroom where the caller was on the phone with police, turned around and left the residence. Nothing was stolen and no one was injured.

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National EAS Test Scheduled for November 9th

Posted on Author WKVI

The National Emergency Alert System will be tested across the nation on Wednesday, November 9th at 2:00 p.m. ET.

The National-level EAS is a national public alert and warning system that enables the President to address the American public during extreme emergencies. Warnings will be sent to radio and television stations, cable television, satellite radio and television services and wire line providers.

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Ken Singleton Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Ken Singleton

Having previously plead guilty to two counts of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor as a Class B Felony and Incest as a Class B Felony, 39-year-old Ken Singleton appeared before Judge Kim Hall in the Starke Circuit Court on Thursday to be sentenced. The victim of the sexual abuse was not present to make a statement but a victim impact letter she had written was read aloud in court.

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Winamac High School Drama Department Present Fall Production this Weekend

Posted on Author WKVI

The Winamac High School Drama Department will present the comedy CONDITIONS tonight and tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET in the Winamac High School Socialtorium.

CONDITIONS is a comedy where Grandma Wallobee’s grandson and her secretary may inherit $10 million of her estate each, only if they agree to be married. Complications arise as the housekeeper threatens to quit her job over not receiving the inheritance, the secretary’s boyfriend wants to propose to her, add an obsessive roommate and a greedy granddaughter who tries to manipulate her way into the inheritance.

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Knox City Council Discusses Fireworks Celebration

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council #2
Back Row: Mayor Rick Chambers, Ed Blue, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, Greg Matt and Attorney David Matsey. Front Row: Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg and Ron Parker

The topic of fireworks came up again at the most recent meeting of the Knox City Council. Even though it’s billed as the Starke County Fireworks celebration, Mayor Rick Chambers explained to the Council that the City has been on the losing end monetarily while trying to support the effort.

“A fireworks contract was sent to me…what do we want to do with the fireworks?” Mayor Chambers asked the City Council. “We took quite a beating on that this year really because of the weather. We didn’t collect what we had collected in the past. Starke County didn’t donate like they’ve donated in the past. We got stuck with $4,700 which was the City’s cost this year. Last year, it cost us $640. We hustled, we worked, we got donations, and this year it sort of fell through with the economy and the bad weather that night.”

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Senator Ed Charbonneau Speaks to 21st Century Scholars in Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
State Senator Ed Charbonneau

State Senator Ed Charbonneau was in Knox last night to speak at the 21st Century Scholars ceremony.

“This is a very exciting program that provides college tuition for four years at a state college or university, and an equivalent amount if a student wants to go to a private school,” said Senator Charbonneau. “What this does is remove the worry that a young family might have of how they’re going to pay for their child’s college education.”

The scholarships are based on income levels, but the only criteria is that the students conduct themselves in a positive manner through high school.

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Residents Gather to Discuss the Future of Downtown Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
This is the one of locations discussed at last night's meeting. This is the old Everett's Drug Store/movie theatre building

Approximately three dozen people attended the first meeting called last night to gain ideas for improving downtown Knox.

The meeting was chaired by Mayor Rick Chambers and Gene Blastic from the Starke County Economic Development Foundation.

Many of the comments had to do with buildings that have fallen into disrepair. Knox City Councilman, Greg Matt, said it’s obvious the City Council is going to have to create ordinances with more stringent codes to force the building owners into action.

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