North Judson Sports Official Passes Away

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County has lost a sports icon. Gene Marks, of North Judson, passed away Monday at the age of 80. Marks was an official of several sports but the one he is most famous for is basketball.

WKVI’s Harold Welter was an admirer of Gene Marks. He was asked yesterday what he remembered most about the famous official.

“Gene Marks was one of the greatest promoters of high school sports, ever,” said Welter. “He loved to work with kids and he loved to support kids. It was just a big part of his life.”

Continue reading →

Washington Township Community Center Open House this Sunday

Posted on Author WKVI

An Open House is scheduled for Sunday, October 23rd from 2:00-5:00 p.m. CT at the Washington Township Community Building. Township Trustee, Shelly Kemble said the Open House is an opportunity for you to see all of the improvements.

“We want to show the public what’s been going on,” said Kemble. “If anyone has any old pictures of the Washington Township building when it was being built, the firehouse, or the old Washington Township Elementary School, we would like to make copies of those, enlarge those, and put those as a permanent fixture in the building. We would like to have a new area in ‘new’ building and a new atmosphere.”

Continue reading →

SCILL Center to Hold Coat Drive

Posted on Author WKVI
SCILL Center

The SCILL Center is hosting a coat drive. Director Jerry Gurrado, said drop off sites are at the Oregon-Davis High School, Ray’s Super Foods in North Judson, Pioneer Florist in North Judson, Five Star in Knox, Key Bank in Knox, and Baileys.

“We’re still in the process of organizing the event, but people from Love, INC and a couple of other organizations are helping to work with us on maybe getting some church organizations, or volunteers from the community, to wash the coats and then we’ll have distribution sites. There will be no questions asked, whether it be children’s coats or adult coats. Come pick them up and take them. We’re happy to be able to help in any way we can,” said Gurrado.

Continue reading →

Starke County Prosecutor Given Permission to Hire Intern

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Council has given permission to Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff to hire a part-time intern.  Autumn Ferch is being considered for the position.  She is currently a law school graduate waiting to pass the bar exam.

When hired, Autumn Ferch will be assigned to meet with defendants, prepare files, do preliminary case work, and work closely with the child support office.

Continue reading →

Four Arrested after Fight in Downtown Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
Paul Bottomley
Christopher Bradley
Natasha Piper
Brian Greene

Four people were arrested in downtown Knox on Saturday after an alleged fight in front of O’s Tap.

Police were called to a fight where guns were reportedly involved. When officers from the Knox City Police Department arrived on scene, Christopher Bradley was ordered to the ground and he presented a full magazine clip for a semi automatic weapon and handed it over to police. The rest of the gun was removed from his waistband. Bradley told police he took the gun from Paul Bottomley who allegedly hit his sister, Natasha Piper, in the head with the gun. Piper was bleeding from wounds received in the incident. She was transported to IU Health Starke Hospital.

Continue reading →

Three Arrested after Search Warrant

Posted on Author WKVI
Amber Watts
Timothy Hampton

A search warrant at a residence in Knox resulted in the arrest of three people for drug possession.

The warrant was executed at 404 E. New York Street where police reportedly found drug paraphernalia and marijuana in the residence. Some of the marijuana was found to be individually packaged. The Indiana State Police gathered the evidence to be processed through the Crime Lab.

Continue reading →

Pulaski County Commissioners Approve Land-Use Ordinance

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

In a unanimous decision by the Pulaski County Commissioners, Pulaski County now has at least some form of zoning regulation now with the Commissioners’ approval of the land-use ordinances and maps as presented by the planning commission.

According to Planning Commission President Don Good, the documents are based primarily on how the land is being used in terms of businesses, cemeteries, residential areas, and agricultural areas. Good also indicated that the land-use ordinances and maps will not require people to go through a lot of “red tape,” but are instead focused on protecting landowners.

Continue reading →

Winamac Man Arrested on Domestic Battery Charge

Posted on Author WKVI
Ben Seman

A Winamac man was arrested Saturday on a Domestic Battery charge.

An officer from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call of a domestic battery incident at 132 E. Rays Road in Winamac. While the caller was on the phone, the dispatcher heard the suspect, Ben K. Seman, tell the victim to stop or he’ll kick her in the ribs again. The victim told police that she thought her ribs were broken. She told police that Seman had thrown her to the floor and she was transported to Pulaski Memorial Hospital for her injuries.

Continue reading →

Dan Wheldon Remembered by Davis Family in Winamac

Posted on Author WKVI
Dan Wheldon

Dan Wheldon lived to race. Unfortunately, his love of racing came with a certain amount of risk and Sunday in Las Vegas Dan Weldon was involved in a crash that took his life.

Lori and Dewain Davis in Winamac knew Danny very well. They met Danny through their daughter who dated the famous racer at one time.

“He had such a passion for racing,” said Dewain Davis. “I know the first time I met him, I asked him, ‘Do you think you’ll ever race in Indianapolis?’ He replied, ‘Oh yeah. I’ll be there.’ Sure enough, he was. I remember one time I asked him, ‘Daniel, what is your biggest fear of the race track?’ He said, ‘Dewain, coming up behind another car, hitting the back wheel that causes me to go airborne. When that happens, I’m toast.’ And that’s what happened Sunday. He went airborne.”

Continue reading →

Jim Arnold Named Senator of the Year by Aviation Association of Indiana

Posted on Author WKVI
Senator Jim Arnold

State Senator Jim Arnold was named State Senator of the Year by the Aviation Association of Indiana. In ceremonies last week at the Association’s annual conference held at Swan Lake Country Club in Plymouth, Arnold was presented his award.

Top legislators are annually recognized by the Association for their commitment, accessibility and responsiveness to issues facing the aviation industry.

Senator Arnold (D-LaPorte) said the honor is particularly important to him as he has personal experience with the aviation industry. While serving in the U.S. Air Force, he was an air traffic controller.

Continue reading →

Wythogan Park to Stay Open until Winter Weather Arrives

Posted on Author WKVI
Wythogan Park

With cooler weather in the air, many people have wondered when Wythogan Park in Knox would be closed.

WKVI News posed that question to George Byer, the Park Superintendent, last week.

“The way things have been going and the way the weather is, we usually do it on a year-to-year basis,” said Byer. “The way it looks, with the Indian Summer that we’ve had here the past week, we’re going to keep the park open until we’re forced to by Mother Nature and the snow. It’ll be open until it gets cold enough to where the water lines may freeze.”

Continue reading →

SCILL Center Names Students of the Month

Posted on Author WKVI
Tyler Wickizer
Tyler Keeton
Mikinzie Wilson
Thomas Carey

The SCILL Center recently announced the Student of the Month recipients for the month of September.

Tyler Wickizer from LaVille High School and Tyler Keeton from Knox High School were the AM class recipients of the award. Mikinzie Wilson and Thomas Carey both from Knox High School were the PM class recipients of the award.

Continue reading →

Starke County Man Arrested after Attempting to Stab Two Men

Posted on Author WKVI

Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Starke County man, Sunday,  after he allegedly attempted to stab two men.

Police were called to a residence in the 1400 block of 400 South where they found that Shelby G. Thomas, 56, threatened death to one of the victims by pressing a knife to the victim’s neck. As officers attempted to take Thomas into custody, he then pulled out a large knife and told police that he was not going back to prison. He was eventually taken into custody and transported to the Starke County Jail.

Continue reading →

Funeral Services Held for Drew Shearin

Posted on Author WKVI
Drew Shearin

On the first Sunday following the death of a popular student a week ago, the clergy of the community used the occasion to pray for and ask comfort for the family and friends. By the outpouring of sorrow all last week, the student body of Knox High School and the community at large showed what an impact Drew Shearin had on all who knew him.

Before hundreds of those in his services Friday night, his youth pastor, Rev. Rick Martin, put it best in his closing prayer.

Continue reading →

Starke County Jail Committee Hearing Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI

The first Starke County Jail Committee meeting will be held this evening. Commissioner Kathy Norem will chair the meeting. Norem announced last week that Todd Samuelson from Umbaugh and Associates will be at the first meeting. Samuelson is an expert on financing, and is expected to explain options as the committee moves forward making decisions on how to correct problems associated with the deteriorating Starke County Jail.

Pulaski County Health Department to Help Food Pantry for the Holidays

Posted on Author WKVI
Food Pantry

The Pulaski County Health Department is teaming up with Pulaski County Human Services to fight hunger this holiday season.

If you bring a non-perishable food item to the Pulaski County Health Department, you will receive $3.00 off for each child administration fee for vaccines now through November 30th. A non-perishable food item is needed for each vaccine the child is receiving to be discounted at the time of your appointment.

Continue reading →