Short Term Capital Needs to be Addressed by IU Health Starke Hospital, County Officials

Posted on Author WKVI
IU Health Starke Hospital

There’s more today on the proposed sale of IU Health Starke Hospital to IU Health LaPorte Hospital. It was reported that the offer to purchase the hospital is for $1.00. Money-wise, there’s more to the offer.

Hospital spokesperson, David Hiatt, mentioned that Starke County is already on the hook for approximately $7.4 million that IU Health LaPorte Hospital inherited with the signing of the lease in 2006. If they decided to not renew the lease in 2016, the county would be responsible for that much money. If the hospital were to be sold to IU Health LaPorte Hospital, that money would be waived.

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Starke County Bridge #156 to Open by End of October

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

Starke County Highway Superintendent, Steve Siddall, brought county officials up to date on the Range Road and 500 North bridge project this week.

“They weren’t going to remove the bridge on Saturday but they ended up taking it out on Friday,” said Siddall. “When I went up there Saturday, they were already starting to pour the caps and the beams are sitting on a trailer ready to come right now. They’re just waiting for the IDEM permit to come in. If INDOT is in a hurry, INDOT will give it to them. It should be up there Thursday by the latest.”

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Knox Man Arrested for being in Possession of Marijuana and Chinese Throwing Stars

Posted on Author WKVI

An officer from the Knox City Police Department arrested a Knox man on drug charges and being in possession of Chinese throwing stars.

The officer noticed a vehicle traveling on State Road 8 from 500 East without properly functioning license plate lights. The officers pulled over the vehicle for the equipment violation. When the officer was talking to the occupants of the vehicle, the officer noticed a strong smell of marijuana. The driver, Nolan Wood, reportedly told police that there was a small amount of marijuana in a sandwich bag underneath the passenger seat. The bag was confiscated from the vehicle. The officer also found a case containing two swastika shaped throwing stars. Wood allegedly told police they were his and he was taken into custody.

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Knox Community School Board Discusses ADM Count

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members discussed the Corporation’s Average Daily Membership (ADM) at their meeting this week. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the count was done on September 16th and he discussed the enrollment with the Board.

“This year our ADM count for the entire corporation is 1,929 students,” said Gappa. “That is compared with 1,931 students last year so we are two students less. The State had forecast us to be eight students down so in relationship to what the State forecast us, we’re ahead of that game. Of course, we would like to grow in attendance, but I think we’ve held our own in comparison to many of the neighboring corporations.”

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Culver Denies Request for Reimbursement for Tree Removal

Posted on Author WKVI

When a tree falls in Culver and no one wants to pay for it, who covers the cost? That’s a question that was raised at the recent town council meeting, and the answer may surprise you.

According to Town Council President Ginny Munroe, an ordinance is in place that puts the responsibility for the tree on the shoulders of the landowner, meaning that even though the tree is in the right-of-way, the property owner is still responsible for any fees that tree may bring such as costs for trimming and cutting. Trees that have been planted by the town and are in the right-of-way are also prohibited from being removed without a permit.

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Starke County Commissioners Review County’s Assets

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

How much would you think Starke County has in assets? If you guessed $41 million, you would be close.

That figure was revealed at this week’s Starke County Commissioner’s meeting. The county is required to do a capital assets report each year to update records. Bill Nielson of Government Fixed Asset Services, Inc. said that the assets are unbelievable.

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North Judson Man Dies in Accident

Posted on Author WKVI
police badge

A North Judson man died yesterday after a skid loader reportedly fell on him when he was working on it.

Pulaski County Coroner, Steven VanDerAa, told WKVI that Daniel Trusty, 52, was working on the machinery in his garage on Monday at the time of the accident. The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department and the Coroner were called to the scene to investigate the incident.

The Braman and Bailey Funeral Home in North Judson is handling arrangements, which are incomplete.

Starke County Officials Endorse Jail Review, Selects Community Committee

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Jail

Starke County government officials endorsed a comprehensive jail review last night that will end with a decision on what to do about the 33-year-old facility.

Commissioner Kathy Norem presented to the county officials in attendance findings from a recent jail conference attended by a five person committee from Starke County. Norem said this is a thorough review of all of the options available.

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Pulaski County Auditor Questions Computer Repair Budget

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

Pulaski County Auditor Sheila Garling posed a question to the county commissioners at their meeting yesterday. When computers need maintenance, who pays for it?

Garling had recently had two computers fixed on-site by DeGroot Technology, with the costs of $149.99 and $184.99. Because of the fact that she never knows when this kind of work is necessary and she understands that not all departments can afford those kind of bills, Garling was not sure whether the bill could be paid out of the budget set aside for DeGroot or if a different budget is used.

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Medaryville Man Arrested on Domestic Battery, Strangulation Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Carl Larkin

A Medaryville man was arrested on Sunday after police found that he allegedly hit his live-in girlfriend and attempted to strangle her.

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department were called to 201 N. Jefferson Street in Medaryville on a report of battery. Officers learned that the victim had come home from the store and found Carl Larkin, her boyfriend, intoxicated and argumentative. The two argued and as the victim was placing grapes into the freezer, Larkin allegedly punched her in the face and then placed his hands around her neck and reportedly began to choke her. The officers arrived on scene and found Larkin in the residence and he was ordered out of the residence. He did not comply after a few attempts and after he jerked away from police, he was struck with a taser. He then complied with police and he was taken into custody.

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Starke County EMS Director Moving Forward with Service Upgrade

Posted on Author WKVI
Paul Mathewson

Starke County EMS Director Paul Mathewson informed the Commissioners this week that he is getting everything ready to switch the county from Basic Life Support Service to Advanced Life Support Service as soon as possible.

Today he will be meeting with state regulators to get the ambulances licensed for Advanced Life Support service. Mathewson was asked why the change in licensing for the vehicles is necessary.

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Two Winamac Residents Arrested on Charges of Manufacturing Methamphetamine

Posted on Author WKVI

Two Winamac residents were arrested on Sunday on methamphetamine related charges.

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department officers went to 301 N. East St. Lot 17 on a complaint that the residents were manufacturing methamphetamine. When officers arrived on scene, they reportedly found James Larvick, 43, and Jimmy Hopkins, 50, in the adjacent lot in the process of manufacturing methamphetamine. The suspects had trespassed onto the property to assemble the lab. The residence was unoccupied at the time of the incident. The Indiana State Police Clan Lab Team was called to clean up the scene.

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Culver Street Department to Purchase 50 New Water Meters

Posted on Author WKVI
Culver Town Council Members Ed Pinder, Ralph Winters, Ginny Bess, Sally Ricciardi
Culver Town Council Members (from left to right) Ed Pinder, Ralph Winters, Ginny Bess, Sally Ricciardi

The Culver Town Council has given Street Superintendent Bob Porter their permission to purchase 50 new water meters to help phase out the remaining old meters, which are susceptible to tampering. The street department has been systematically replacing the old meters over the last five or more years, and their inventory has been reduced to ten new meters remaining.

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Hunter Education Class Scheduled for this Weekend

Posted on Author WKVI

A Hunter Education Class is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, October 8th and 9th, at the Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area in North Judson.

The free course, which runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CT each day, offers classroom instruction and a written test for certification. Attendance both days is required. Children who are under the age of 14 need to attend the class with an adult. Lunch and refreshments are not provided so you must bring your own to class.

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West Central Wind Turbine Project Breaks Ground

Posted on Author WKVI
Rep. Doug Gutwein, R-Francesville, Performance Services President Tim Thoman, West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon and Pulaski County Commissioner Mike Tiede

West Central School Corporation representatives and student leaders, as well as parents and members of the press, were present to celebrate the start of construction on the school’s utility-grade wind turbine project. A ceremonial breaking of the ground was planned for Friday, Sept. 30 at 9:30 a.m., but because of rain, the ceremony was held inside the auxiliary gymnasium and Superintendent Charles Mellon wisely decided against digging a hole in the gym floor to commemorate the occasion.

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Knox City Council Discusses Vicious Dogs

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

Dogs in the city limits of Knox can be a problem for many reasons. Even though a dog may be gentle and kind to its owners, it might be vicious to others.

Vicious dogs was a topic of discussion last week at the Knox City Council meeting. It all came about when several people who received citations for offenses were just walking away from ownership. Not only was the fine for a vicious dog $250.00, but other lesser offenses were, too.

It was discussed at a past meeting that the fines should be reduced for the lesser offenses, but the $250.00 fine should remain for vicious dogs. One woman owed $750.00 in fines for lesser offenses. In this case, she said that she was going to give up ownership of the dog because she couldn’t afford the fines.

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Town of Culver Still Without Town Manager

Posted on Author WKVI
Culver Town Council Members Ed Pinder, Ralph Winters, Ginny Bess, Sally Ricciardi
Culver Town Council Members (from left to right) Ed Pinder, Ralph Winters, Ginny Bess, Sally Ricciardi

The search for a town manager is still underway for the town of Culver, now heading into its sixth month without a manager. Several candidates were interviewed for the position after the town council received less than 10 applications in July, but none of them were the perfect match for the position that the council had been looking for. Council President Ginny Munroe stressed the fact that they want to hire a town manager, but they haven’t yet found what they’re looking for.

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