Starke County Commissioners Terminate Employees in Treasurer’s Office

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Treasurer's Office is now empty after the Commissioners terminated all employees

The Starke County Commissioners met in an emergency session this morning to address unresolved issues from a 2009 audit of the County Treasurer’s Office.

The Commissioners held an Executive Session meeting and then Commission President Dan Bridegroom read a prepared statement to the press and public.

“As a result of an unresolved issue from 2009 State Board of Accounts Audit of the Starke County Treasurer’s Office, county officials have instituted additional safeguards on county bank accounts. The safeguards will enhance review procedures that may result in modest delays in the availability of funds for payment of county checks. Delays should not exceed 48 hours.”

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Knox City Council Discusses Budget

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

In a special session with Knox City Clerk-Treasurer, Jeff Houston on Tuesday evening, the Council walked through the completed budget that will soon be submitted to the Department of Local Government Finance. Presented was a budget that totals $3,112,071.

“At our next meeting, on the 23rd of August, we’re going to have our Public Hearing at 7:00 when we have our Council meeting,” said Houston when explaining the next step in the budget process. “The budget is also advertised and we’ll have our third reading of the salary ordinance.”

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Students Head Back to School Next Week

Posted on Author WKVI

Students will be returning to classrooms next week. Before the students go back to the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation, Elementary students are invited to participate in the meet the teacher night on Tuesday, August 16th 5:00-6:00 p.m. ET. Meet the teacher night for Middle and High School students will be from 5:30-6:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday. School begins for all students in the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation on Wednesday, August 17th.

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Knox High School Renovation Project Nearing Completion

Posted on Author WKVI
New lockers were installed as part of the QSCB project at the high school

The Knox Community High School has been under construction this past summer. The Corporation received a Qualified School Construction Bond and Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the money was used to fix several issues at the High School:

“The main part of the project was to replace the water pipes throughout the building,” said Gappa. “The building is a little over 35 years old and many of the pipes had become clogged, water pressure at the east end of the building was pretty weak and in some places hot water was just trickling out of the pipes instead of streaming. It was due to be finished this week before school started and the majority of the work will be finished. The last part of the project in the main part of the building are the sinks and the restrooms. They are due to arrive today and will be installed this week and so everything will be ready to go for school.”

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Starke, Pulaski County 4-Hers do Well at State Fair

Posted on Author WKVI

Several area 4-Hers have done well on their projects at the Indiana State Fair.

The following Starke County 4-Hers received a Merit Ribbon for their projects: Mason Awald for his Electric project, Samuel Back for his Weather project, Alex Haney on a Foods project, Haley Hartmann for Cat Posters, Alivia Hesters for Foods, Rachel Lenig for foods, Gage Minix for Crafts and Shooting Sports Education, Hanna Shidler for Home Environment and Mia Shively for Photography.

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From the WKVI Archives

Posted on Author WKVI

On this date, 83 years ago, it was announced that a new dance pavilion was planned for Bass Lake.

“First, let me tell you the pavilion announcement was being made on this date in 1928,” said Ted Hayes. “Yes, the pavilion was to be added to the current one at the Taggart Hotel. It should be ready for the summer months of 1929. And manager Bogan says Dorothy Bush’s Blue Dog band has already been secured for the opening weekend. And here’s some more exciting news, there are plans to screen in the front porches at the Taggart.”

Stacie Brown to Appear for Initial Hearing in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Stacie Brown

Stacie Brown is due in Starke Circuit Court today for an initial hearing on charges brought against her in the death of her three-year-old stepson, Ethan Brown. Stacie Brown was arrested on Friday, August 5th and Starke County Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff filed official charges against her that include Battery Resulting in Death and Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death, both Class A Felonies.

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Republican Town Convention Held in Francesville

Posted on Author WKVI

The Francesville Town Convention was held last night at the Francesville Fire Station. Republicans Andy Durham, Steven Dee Sewell, Pamela G. Antrim and Kyle B. Trent filed for the three seats available on the Francesville Town Council. After a vote, Kyle B. Trent, Pamela G. Antrim and Andy Durham will be advancing to the General Election ballot.

The Democrat Town Convention for the Town of Hamlet has been set for Monday, August 15th at 7:00 p.m. CT at the Hamlet Fire Station. The Republican Caucus has not yet been determined. The North Judson Town Convention will be held on Tuesday, August 16th at 7:00 p.m. at the North Judson Community Building, better known as the old fire station.

Winamac Town Council Approves Grant for Residential Renovations

Posted on Author WKVI

Eight homes in Winamac will be undergoing some much-needed renovations, thanks to a grant approved by the Winamac Town Council this week. Shawn Cain from KIRPC approached the Council with a request to approve a bid to perform various work in these houses, including installation of energy-efficient windows, heating systems, insulation, and some electrical work and plumbing as well. Visit sites like homeserviceheroesfl.com/residential-plumbing/tampa-fl/ for additional plumbing guidance. Most of these homes need several different improvements, and the houses with the most pressing needs will be given the highest priority. The town is expected to provide a 10% match for the grant.

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National Night Out in Knox to be Bigger and Better in 2012

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Neighborhood Watch Committee had to cancel this year’s observation of the National Night Out event, but Greg Matt assured us that it will be bigger and better in 2012.

Already postponed once because of the Andy Howes Memorial Service in Knox, the event was rained out Monday night. Matt said the event was canceled for this year but it will return in August next year.

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Tonight’s Powerball Drawing Offers $220 Million

Posted on Author WKVI

There’s Powerball fever in the air. The largest pre-draw Powerball jackpot of 2011, an estimated $220 million, is up for grabs tonight and the Hoosier Lottery is hoping to add to its long list of Powerball jackpot winners.

The jackpot, which was last hit in Georgia on June 29th, rolled through Saturday night’s estimated $180 million offering without anyone matching all five numbers and the Powerball. Tonight’s drawing is set for 10:59 p.m. ET with ticket sales set to conclude at least 59 minutes before the drawing.

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Two Arrested on Burglary Charges in Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI
Bryan Henke
Clay Lovely

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department investigated a string of burglaries and theft occurring near the intersection of County Road 1100 West and State Road 14 and two people were arrested as a result of that investigation.

Detectives Dave Walters and Scott Taylor conducted surveillance in this location on August 3rd and 4th. On August 5th, Bryan Henke, 30, of Medaryville was seen by detectives breaking into a farm building in that area. A short time later, police were also able to apprehend Clay Lovely, 30, of North Judson, who was reportedly assisting Henke in the burglary. Henke reportedly told police that they were trying to steal an ATV. Both were taken to the Pulaski County Jail and have preliminary charges of Burglary. Lovely has an additional charge of Driving While Suspended. Bond was set at $25,000 each.

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Rensselaer Man Charged with Theft in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI
Jason Richie

A Rensselaer man was arrested Saturday after he was seen stealing a chainsaw from a garage in the North Judson area.

The suspect, who was later identified as Jason Richie, reportedly walked in a garage owned by Richard Anderson and walked out with a chainsaw, according to the Starke County Sheriff’s Department report. Anderson’s son-in-law, Samuel Denno, reportedly ran outside with a gun to stop Richie. Denno told police that the man allegedly threw the chainsaw in some weeds when he saw that Denno followed him into a wooded area. Denno later told police that he didn’t know the man but could identify the man if police apprehended him.

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Knox Kindergarten Teachers Conduct Home Visits

Posted on Author WKVI

The Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the Knox Community School Corporation, Peggy Shidaker, and seven teachers visited 120 incoming Kindergarten students at their homes to make sure the students and the parents are prepared for the new school year.

“When we arrived, we were greeted warmly by every parent in our school corporation of our incoming Kindergarteners and that was fantastic,” said Miss Shidaker. “We were able to take them a little Dr. Suess bag and in that Dr. Suess bag each student received a coloring activity book, an activity calendar that gets them ready for school and they received a book. The parents received a pamphlet called Making the Move to Kindergarten.”

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Francesville Man Arrested after Pursuit in Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI
Randall Grigsby

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Francesville man after a pursuit incident on Friday, August 5th.

Officers were traveling westbound on 900 South approaching 1400 West when a police unit from Monticello and another from Monon passed in front of them at a high rate of speed. Police learned that the units were in pursuit of a wanted person the Pulaski County officers were attempting to locate earlier that evening and they joined in the pursuit.

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News from the North Judson Town Board

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson Town Board members approved a price quote of $62,795 for a new dump truck for the Utility Department. The older model will be traded in for the 2011 model from Northern Equipment in Plymouth. The payments of approximately $23,000 will be spread over three years. The Board has been planning for this purchase for the past four years.

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