Here is just some of the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:
Paul Paul Kosta, of Rensselaer, died after he was injured in an accident where Marilyn Stellingwerf pulled into the path of a vehicle driven by Vaid Robinson, of Hamlet, at the intersection of State Road 8 and U.S. 35 north of Knox on Saturday, October 29th. Continue reading
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
The Knox High School Drama Department is putting on another play: The Clumsy Custard Horror Show. With a lot of audience participation, the production is described as your typical fairy tale kingdom with a princess in need of a husband, an evil villain who desires her, and a hero who, of course, saves the day.
Mat Swanson and Jack Lynch, two long time members of the Board of Directors of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, will be honored next Thursday night by the Foundation at its “Prospectus and Achievements Night.”
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.
This is the 32nd Anniversary of the Iranian takeover of the American Embassy in Tehran. One of those hostages was Rick Kupke, of rural Francesville. He and the other 51 hostages were held for 444 days. Ted Hayes became closely connected to the story through an acquaintance with Rick’s mother Eleanor. He remembers that time today.
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.
Only five contested races on the ballots could mean a low turnout in next Tuesday’s municipal elections in Starke County.
Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski was asked how the absentee balloting was going.
“We’ve had three full days and 21 hours and we’ve had 25 voters so it’s slow,” she said.
A LaPorte man was arrested Tuesday after Indiana State Police received a tip about illegal drug activity.
State Police Troopers were called to a motel on State Road 39 in LaPorte County. During the course of the investigation, a K9 was utilized and 3.2 pounds of marijuana was located. Drug paraphernalia and $1,917 was also located in a rented room and a vehicle.
Winamac teenager was arrested by North Judson police after reportedly charging items on a credit card without the owner’s knowledge.
Nick Rudd, 18, allegedly took a credit card belonging to James Dolezal from his unlocked pick-up truck and bought items from gas stations and eateries that totaled approximately $158.00 from purchases made over a two-day period. Rudd told officers that he was given that card to use.
Absentee voting in Pulaski County is slow but it is available to you if you need to utilize that way of voting.
Clerk Tasha Foerg told WKVI that about 12 people have voted absentee so far. Only a handful of contested races will appear on the ballot. Those races include the Winamac Clerk-Treasurer, Francesville Clerk-Treasurer, and Town Council races in Francesville and Medaryville.
The Bureau of Motor Vehicles will be open on Election Day to give you time to obtain a photo ID needed in order to vote.
Full-service branches will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. prevailing time on Monday, November 7th and from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8th. Branches will only process ID cards and drivers licenses on those two days.
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers alerted the Knox City Council recently that he is working on a Housing Rehabilitation Grant.
“I met with Ed Buswell from K-IRPC to proceed on a housing rehabilitation grant,” said Mayor Chambers. “That grant will target the elderly and low income families. Last time we had about 18 applications and we are shooting for 15-20 applications and we would like to end up doing six to eight projects. That’s right in the area of what we did last time. We’re working on that. They have a fine time line. They will do the publishing and they will put together an application for me that will be available in my office or Jeff Houston’s office shortly. Within the next couple of weeks, that will be publicized for the citizens of Knox.”
Diabetes education classes are beginning tonight at IU Health Starke Hospital. Presenters will be Dr. Byron Holm and Meg Meznarick, RD, CD.
Tonight’s class will be Introduction to Diabetes. There will be three classes in the series that will be each Thursday night from 6:00-7:00 p.m. CT.
The Starke County Economic Development Foundation will be holding it’s “Prospectus and Achievements Night” next Thursday evening, November 10th.
Several awards will be given out that night. For the very first time, the Foundation is recognizing those industries which have been actively involved in business within the county for 50 years or more.
Executive Director, Charles Weaver, says the first to be recognized is almost 100 years old.
