Knox City Council Discusses Abolishing City Court

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox City Council recently discussed abolishing Knox City Court. Even though the court takes away almost $100,000 from the City’s General Fund, Mayor Rick Chambers says there’s no opportunity to abolish it until 2014.

“State statute states during 2006 and every fourth year after that, a second or third class town, or city may, by ordinance, establish or abolish a city or town court,” said Chambers. “So, we can’t just snap our fingers and say no more City Court next year. By state statute, every fourth year you have to do an ordinance.”

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Starke United Kick-off Breakfast Scheduled for Today

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke United

The Starke United campaign kick-off breakfast is this morning at the Knox Community Center. The theme for this year’s campaign is, “Together, we can inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow.”

The campaign chairman will be announced as well as the goal for the year. Julie Dessauer is the Starke United Director and she promises an inspiring breakfast, and campaign.  The breakfast begins at 8:00 a.m. CT and it is sponsored by Integrity Trade Services.

Work Almost Complete on Bridge in Brems

Posted on Author WKVI
County bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch

The bridge at Range Road and 400 North is almost complete. Yesterday, crews were pouring cement at the site and the bridge should be demolished on Thursday. Highway Superintendent, Steve Siddall, explains what comes next.

“They have to set their forms up and get ready for the abutment to hold the pre-cast box beams to go on it,” said Siddall. “Then the box beams will be delivered, they will set them into place, then they’ll form up and pour the top over it and we should be almost done.”

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Ivy Tech Classes Could Return to Winamac High School

Posted on Author WKVI

Industry isn’t the only thing in Pulaski County with a positive outlook; education may also be receiving a shot in the arm thanks to Ivy Tech Kokomo. Through their Logansport campus, Ivy Tech had previously conducted classes at the Winamac High School for some time, but they ran into a snag. The administrative support staff could only be at the school until the guidance offices closed at 4:00 p.m. This caused a number of issues, particularly since the classes took place at night when no support staff was present.

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Unopposed Candidates to Remain off November Ballots in Starke, Pulaski Counties

Posted on Author WKVI

There are some counties in the state that are considering putting all candidates on the November Municipal Election ballot, although state law only allows contested races on the ballot.

Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski and Pulaski County Clerk Tasha Foerg told WKVI that only contested races will appear on the Municipal election ballots. Skronski indicated that legislators may reverse this decision for future Municipal elections with the confusion it may cause voters. The Starke County Election Board voted to follow the state statute to only allow contested races. The Pulaski County Clerk said she is also following state statute.

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Marshall County Jail Inmate Dies

Posted on Author WKVI

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police and the Marshall County Coronor’s Office are investigating the death of Marshall County Jail inmate, Georgia M. Onofre.

The 35-year-old woman was in a special observation area in the jail due to her past medical history and was under constant surveillance by jail staff. She became unresponsive around 4:00 a.m. ET yesterday morning and jail staff immediately started resuscitation efforts. Plymouth paramedics transported Onofre to the Emergency Department where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

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Starke County Council Approves Library Project

Posted on Author WKVI
Henry F. Schricker Library

After a great amount of discussion, the Starke County Council approved the remodeling project proposed by the Starke County Library Board on a 4-2 vote.

The request had been stalled for several months as the council members gained information. As it stands, the Library Board will be able to solicit bids to bond for a less than $2 million remodeling project at the Henry F. Schricker Library in Knox.

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Knox City Police Continue with Death Investigation

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox City Police Department detectives continue to investigate the death of 59-year-old Bertha Clabaugh, of Knox. Police were called to the Oak Valley Apartments in Knox on Friday on a report that she was unresponsive. She was later pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy was conducted Friday and detectives are waiting on the pathology report and toxicology report to make a determination in the case. Starke County Coroner, Kris Rannells, said those results will probably not be available for 10 weeks. Detectives still indicate that no foul play is suspected.

Knox and North Judson Fire Departments to Trade Equipment

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox-Center Township and North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Departments have agreed to a swap of equipment. In the swap, North Judson would receive a 1980 Ford Pumper truck with a 750 gallon tank and Knox would receive an air bag system that is approximately six to seven years old.

Knox-Center Township Volunteer Fire Chief, Ken Pfost, explained to the City Council members that the air bag system new would cost approximately $10,000.

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Courageous to Open in Plymouth Theatre on September 30th

Posted on Author WKVI

The religious movie, Courageous, is coming to Showland Cinemas in Plymouth on September 30th. It was produced by a movie making ministry out of Albany, Georgia. This is the company’s fourth movie, and follows on the heels of the very popular Fireproof.

Dawn Roose, who is promoting the movie locally, talked about bringing the movie to Plymouth.

“Our original challenge was to pre-sell 1,000 tickets to have the movie in our local Showland theatre,” said Roose. “We did get word from Provident Films that they will allow it to come which we are just praising the Lord for. We have not reached that benchmark yet, but we are working toward it and I’m sure we’re going to surpass it.”

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Knox City Council Discusses Two Mile Jurisdiction

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 Knox City Council recently discussed the two mile jurisdiction for zoning purposes. The city has the right to go outside the borders two miles into unincorporated areas.

City Attorney, David Matsey, addressed a conflict in the ordinance as it is written. The ordinance and maps have to be brought into compliance by using digital mapping software, giving the city’s Building Inspector the authority to issue permits in the two mile jurisdiction.

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Congressman Joe Donnelly Addresses Unemployment, Roads and Bridges

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

The economy has been on everyone’s minds lately as well as unemployment. Unemployment figures have stalled in the 9-9.5% rate and Second District Democrat Representative Joe Donnelly was asked if that rate can be lowered in the next six to 12 months.

“I’m hopeful we can reduce that number,” he replied. “We have seen the numbers in our area come down from where they were a few years ago, but we have a long, long way to go. We’re going to continue to work at that everyday. The sponsor of the American Work Act are trying to get the members of Congress to sign on to that to help us create more jobs so the effort is there right now.”

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Indiana Unemployment Rises

Posted on Author WKVI
Indiana Workforce Development

Indiana saw an uptick in the August unemployment rate. The preliminary seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate went from 8.5 to 8.7 percent in August. The U.S. rate remained flat at 9.1 percent this month. The National Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised Indiana’s July job growth numbers to show an increase of 4,100 more private sector jobs than reported last month.

Starke County is ranked #15 in unemployment at 10.3%, Pulaski is 78th at 7.3%, Marshall is 27th at 9.5%, LaPorte is 24th at 9.8%, and Porter County is 68th with 7.7% unemployment. Fayette County is ranked #1 at 12.1% while Dubois County has the lowest unemployment at 6.1%.

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department to Hold Women’s Firearm Training

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is offering a basic firearms class for women this week. The class begins today and continues Thursday and Saturday.

The free course offers two evenings of classroom instruction today and Thursday from 6:00-9:00 p.m. ET and a day on the range on Saturday, September 24th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET. Participants will need to provide their own ammunition for the day.

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National Walk to School Day is October 5th

Posted on Author WKVI

Wednesday, October 5th is National Walk to School Day. If you find it easier to ride your bike, you are encouraged to do that instead.

Studies show that fewer children walk or bike to school than children a generation ago. In 1969, 48% of students in grades Kindergarten through eighth grade walked or biked to school. 40 years later, it is estimated that 13% of students walk or bike to school. School travel by private family vehicle for students in grades K-12 accounted for 10-14% of all automobile trips made during the morning peak period in 2009.

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Week in Review for September 12th-16th, 2011

Posted on Author WKVI

Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

Three 19-year-old boys were killed in an auto accident early last Saturday morning in Royal Center. Erron Stoddard of Winamac, Brandon Lee Miller of Winamac and Bruce Leearmel Wireman of Culver were killed when their SUV crashed into the rear of a parked semitrailer. The driver, Joshua Barcus, at last report, was listed in critical condition at Parkview Hospital. Continue reading →

Knox City Police Department Conducting Death Investigation

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox City Police Department is conducting a death investigation after a 59-year-old woman was found unresponsive in the Oak Valley Apartments.

Officers were called out Thursday evening to Bertha Clabaugh’s apartment and found her to be deceased. Detectives say that no foul play is suspected at this time, but an autopsy is scheduled for this afternoon to determine the exact cause of death. They are currently interviewing witnesses and following protocol in this type of case.