Pulaski County Recycling Center to Purchase Mower

Posted on Author WKVI

Knee-high grass is a thing of the past for the Pulaski County Recycling Center, thanks to the upcoming purchase of a Dixie Chopper from Bill’s Circle Mowers in Francesville, IN. While the grass wasn’t yet knee-high, it could have potentially grown that tall if the commissioners didn’t approve the purchase of a mower. Ed Clark of the recycling center has been using his personal mower to keep the grass trimmed, but Commissioner Kenneth Boswell felt uneasy about allowing county employees to use personal equipment.

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Starke County Plan Commission to Discuss Dog Kennel Ordinance Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Plan Commission is scheduled to meet tonight in the Starke County Annex building to discuss a proposed Dog Kennel ordinance after it failed to gain approval at the June meeting of the Starke County Commissioners.

Over 60 owners objected against many aspects of the proposed ordinance at that Commissioners meeting that was presented by Administrator/Building Inspector, Bruce Williams.

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On this Date in History

Posted on Author WKVI

On this date, Apollo 11 landed the first humans on the moon.

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first to step out onto the moon’s surface.

While that was going on, Harold Welter and Ted Hayes were testing the equipment at WKVI FM because the next day they would be broadcasting to the Kankakee Valley for the first time. Continue reading →

Starke County Commissioners Name New EMS Director

Posted on Author WKVI
Paul Mathewson

A committee set up to select a new EMS Director made their recommendation last night at the Starke County Commissioner’s meeting. Paul Mathewson was selected to take over the duties most recently held by Lisa Burger.  The Commissioners unanimously approved the recommendation.

One qualification that Mathewson had was that he is a professionally trained Paramedic. He has most recently been employed by Porter Hospital in Valparaiso.

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Pulaski County EMS Suffers Ambulance Woes

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County EMS is in an inconvenient situation with one truck out of commission and another being serviced because it has been belching black smoke. Nicole Lowry asked the commissioners to approve the replacement of a 6 liter diesel engine with a 7.3 liter diesel engine, with an estimated cost of $20-$32,000. Wagner’s Performance Diesel will be performing the conversion, which includes changing wiring harnesses, as well as the electrical components in the vehicle, which makes it a pretty tough job.

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One Vehicle Accident Injures Francesville Resident; Charges Pending

Posted on Author WKVI

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department officers were called to a single-vehicle accident scene on County Road 500 South near 1600 West in Francesville on Sunday. Kenneth Nuest, 47, of Francesville told police that he was traveling on County Road 500 South when he fell asleep. His vehicle hit some gravel which caused him to wake up. He reportedly was traveling off the roadway on the north side of the road. He attempted to correct the vehicle and told police that he believes that he over-corrected. The vehicle then began to fishtail and the vehicle left the roadway and began to flip and slide.

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Knox Community School Board Appoints Assistant Middle School Principal

Posted on Author WKVI
Dave Miller and Josh Pugh

The Knox Community School Board members approved the appointment of Josh Pugh as the Middle School Assistant Principal at their meeting last night.

Pugh has been a Knox Elementary School teacher for the past 10 years. He has worked as a 2nd grade teacher and as a Reading Coach. He said that he looks forward to the challenge of the position of Assistant Principal and will do it to the best of his ability.

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Jerry Gurrado Hired as SCILL Center Director

Posted on Author WKVI
SCILL Center

WKVI News has learned that a Director for the SCILL Center in Knox has been hired and is on the job. Jerry Gurrado, a 1969 Knox High School graduate, has been at the facility since July 1st. In the past, he has primarily been in education, having been a successful basketball coach at several high schools in Indiana.

WKVI will have an extensive interview with Mr. Gurrado later this week.

Keep Pets Cool in Extreme Heat

Posted on Author WKVI

If you think you’re hot in this heat, consider how your pets are feeling. Suzanne Crider, from the Starke County Humane Society, reminds us about pet care during extremely hot weather.

“They dehydrate just like we do,” she said. “They need an adequate supply of water, shade if at all possible, but water is the very most important thing. If you have livestock, you need to have some kind of salt block because when they get dehydrated, they need salt the same way people do. If you use some common sense, and if you think about what would make you comfortable, that will usually translate right to your animal.”

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Maxinkuckee Players Production to Open Friday

Posted on Author WKVI

The sets are made, the actors and actresses have rehearsed their parts, and it’s a about curtain time for the first performance of the summer musical Nunsense – The Mega Musical as presented by the Maxinkuckee Players.

The show’s Director, Becky Liechty, had erlier said the performances this year will come with a larger cast and more music than the original production presented at Culver a few years ago.

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Starke County Commissioners to Name New IT, EMS Director Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners ( L to R ) Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom, Jennifer Davis

The Starke County Commissioners are expected to name a new IT Director tonight to replace Bob Smith who recently announced that he is leaving the position.

Also on tonight’s agenda is the possible naming of an EMS Director. That position might be a little more difficult to fill because the selection committee has been inundated by applications. Enticed by a $50,000 salary and car, the position has seen applications from far and wide. The committee advertised for a paramedic to take the EMS job, as it’s hoped that the new Director helps in a move from a basic service to Advanced Life Support. One of the goals is to have a paramedic chase vehicle in operation by the first of the year. Several codes have to be approved by the state before the move to ALS service. It’s expected that IU Health Starke Hospital will be the sponsoring hospital.

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Jack Haut’s Trial to Begin Wednesday

Posted on Author WKVI
Jack Haut

Jack Haut’s trial is expected to begin on Wednesday in Starke Circuit Court. Haut is charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Death and Reckless Homicide.

In July 2010, it is alleged that Jack Haut was driving his pickup truck on US 35 north of Knox when he swerved into the other lane and struck Thomas White of Knox head-on. White was riding a motorcycle at the time of the accident. White died from injuries sustained in the accident.

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Starke County Courthouse Elevator Still under Construction

Posted on Author WKVI
All of the electrical components are coming together for the new elevator

The Starke County Courthouse elevator is still out of order.

“We finally got the hydraulic jack in and the crew did that last week,” said Courthouse Custodian Carl Goodrich on the progress of the construction. “Now, another crew is going to put in the hard-wiring, get the controllers hooked up and all of the handicapped part of it put together. They’re putting in new push buttons and kind of modernize it a little bit and they should be done with that by next week. All that’s left is to have an inspector come and see if everything’s been done right.”

The elevator will be in use once the State inspects it and gives the notice to proceed with operation. Oracle Elevator in Kentucky has been working on the project. Continue reading →

Eastern Pulaski Makes Energy Upgrades

Posted on Author WKVI
Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman

The maintenance staff at the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation has been busy with several projects this summer.

“In our Elementary Gym, we’re completing the project of switching out those very expensive-to-run lights that take five minutes to turn on,” said Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman of the energy efficient upgrades. “We’re removing all of those and putting in very efficient tube lights. We have found in doing this that we’re using far less fixtures that we had the old way so we are doing that ourselves internally and just buying the materials. We feel like we’re going to be saving in the cost of installation as well as in the operation of the materials.”

“Race for Rick” in Winamac this Saturday

Posted on Author WKVI

An Annual 5-K race is being held in Winamac on July 23rd. Jason Hague is one of the organizers of the event that is called “Race for Rick”. The race is in memory of Rick Haschel, Sr. who was an avid runner.

“He helped his son, Mike, get involved in running,” said Hague. “All of the proceeds are going to the Pulaski County Memorial Hospice and it’s a memorial of my Mom and Rick for the Hospice because they both passed away of cancer and both of them were on Hospice care.”

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Starke County Forest Opens to Public This Saturday

Posted on Author WKVI
Bruce Wakeland

The Starke County Forest, on Division Road between 1025 E. and 1100 E., will be open to the public beginning Saturday, July 23rd. The property was donated to Starke County for bird watching, hiking, cross country skiing and a chance for all to learn about nature.

Forester Bruce Wakeland says that there are five miles of trails leading through woodlands, meadows, tree plantings, and up to ponds. An observation tower will be open for you to look over an 18 acre marsh.

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Potential Presidential Candidate Visits WKVI!

Posted on Author WKVI
John Davis

A Republican Presidential candidate was in Starke County yesterday. His name wasn’t Romney, Gingrich, Bachmann, Paul, Pawlenty, or Huntsman.

His name isn’t mentioned on the network nightly news.

He doesn’t show up in the polls.

He probably has no chance of becoming President of the United States, but he’s working the grassroots, and thinks he still has an outside chance for the nomination. His name is John Davis, and he was in our WKVI studio Friday. Continue reading →