DNA Evidence Links Suspect to Burglary Incident in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI
Bruce Banks

A suspect has been produced from DNA evidence retrieved from a burglary incident in Starke County.

Caroline Gregory reported a burglary at her residence in June of 2010 where she told police that her computer and a muzzleloader were stolen. Blood samples were retrieved as evidence from the scene was well as several fingerprints. The evidence was sent to the Indiana State Police Crime Lab in Lowell, Indiana and on June 17th, 2011, the Starke County Sheriff’s Department received notice that DNA evidence was recovered from one of the items. A hit in the DNA databank found Bruce Banks to be the suspect in the case.

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Week in Review for June 27th-July 1st, 2011

Posted on Author WKVI

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

Mercan Lyncook of Parma, Ohio lost his life early Sunday morning after he jumped into the Yellow River off the abandoned train Bridge near the historic Depot in Knox and never resurfaced. Preliminary autopsy results have found that Lyncook died of asphyxiation because of drowning.  The Knox-Center Township Fire Department recently purchased a boat for river rescues and it was used in the rescue attempt. Continue reading →

Hochstetler Found Guilty in Stabbing

Posted on Author WKVI
Niki Hochstedler

The trial of Niki Hochstetler continued yesterday in Starke Circuit Court as the defense called Hochstetler to the stand. Hochstetler, a resident of Walkerton, told the jury that she was at the Country Roads Bar and Grill with two of her friends when Eric Amore began insulting and cussing at her. She said that she was not bothering him and had not spoken to him before he began making these disparaging comments.

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Texting While Driving Law Takes Effect Today

Posted on Author WKVI

Indiana’s texting while driving ban goes into effect today, and it carries with it a $500 fine if convicted. State Representative Nancy Dembowski (D-Knox) said it’s about time.

“Texting while driving is a very dangerous activity,” said Dembowski. “Last year, or a couple of years ago, we prohibited young people under 18 from doing that and I suppose they are the most frequent who misuse it, but it made no sense to me and the legislature that we should prohibit it for young people but not for all of us so it takes effect for all of us.”

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Investigation Continues into Toddler’s Death

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff said yesterday that the death of a three-year-old Knox boy is still under investigation. The three-year-old died after being rushed to IU Health Starke Hospital by his father on June 19th. He was transferred to a South Bend Hospital where he passed away.

Bourff said he still has not received the autopsy report from the St. Joseph County Coroner’s office.

Knox City Council Discusses Refinancing Debt on Community Center

Posted on Author WKVI
John Julien

John Julien of Umbaugh and Associates came before the Knox City Council this week to bring them up to speed on the savings associated with refinancing the outstanding debt on the Knox Community Building. In 1997, the bonds on the building sold at a 5.5% interest rate. Julien told the Council that they could now be sold at 2.9%.

“$23,000 isn’t going to make the City rich, but it’s $23,000 that you don’t have access to right now,” said Julien. “In the grand scheme of things, I think it’s worthwhile for the City to pursue. The savings aren’t earth shattering, but it’s hard to imagine that interest rates are going to go much lower.”

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Walkerton Fourth of July Celebration Begins Today

Posted on Author WKVI

Going back to the 1950’s, Walkerton, Indiana has been one of the places to be over the 4th of July weekend. This year is no exception and it all gets started today with the Independence Day Parade at 7:30 p.m. ET. The parade will begin at the Urey Middle School and ends at the John Glenn High School. There’s plenty of weekend fun, so grab a schedule, and enjoy some of the events.

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New Troopers Assigned to State Police Posts

Posted on Author WKVI
Ryan Hovarter

Forty-three probationary troopers from the 70th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy were issued their state police cars recently at the Indiana State Police garage located at the Indiana State Police Indianapolis District. Five of the troopers have been assigned to the Lowell Post, including Ryan Hovarter from Starke County. Hovarter has been assigned to work Porter and LaPorte Counties.

Other probationary troopers assigned to the post are Corey Dupuy from Jasper County, Davonne Barlow from Lake County, Danielle Elwood from Whitley County, and Brandon Henderson from DuPage County, Illinois.

CADA, KIRPC Asks Knox City Council to Sponsor Phoenix House Expansion

Posted on Author WKVI

Ruth Matsey, President of the Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, and Edwin Buswell of the Kankakee Regional Planning Commission appeared before the Knox City Council Tuesday night to ask the City officials to approve sponsorship of an addition at the Phoenix House. Since 1995, the Phoenix House has served as a short-term emergency shelter for women fleeing abusive relationships.

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Pulaski County 4-H Fair Begins Today!

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County 4-H Fair begins today. Most of the 4-H projects will be entered today. Vendors will also be moving in for the week-long event.

At 5:30 p.m. ET this evening, there will be a 4-H Class Tractor Pull on the pull strip and then at 7:00 p.m. ET, a Truck and Tractor Pull will be featured on the pull strip.

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Students Complete Two Week Kindergarten Countdown Program

Posted on Author WKVI
Volunteers from IU Health Starke Hospital help students with a project

Students who never had been in a school setting and who will be entering Kindergarten at the Knox Community School Corporation this Fall have been in a Kindergarten Countdown class for the past two weeks. The students have made great strides since their first day, according to Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Peggy Shidaker.

“They have been learning their numbers, their letters, their colors, their shapes and they have learned not only how to get acclimated to the school, but to their peers, to the bus, to the rules and to the cafeteria,” said Miss Shidaker. “Most importantly, they have started to learn the process of learning. We just couldn’t be more pleased.” Continue reading →

Accident Slows Traffic on US 35 in Knox

Posted on Author WKVI

Officers from the Knox City Police Department were called two a two vehicle accident Thursday morning on US 35 in Knox.  It appears that a motorcycle in the southbound lane was attempting to turn left into Advanced Auto Parts and a car hit the rear of the motorcycle.  Injuries were reported at the scene.  Individuals were taken to the hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. Continue reading →

Sysco Project Picking up Pace in Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI

There’s finally some movement on the Sysco project in Hamlet. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Director, Charles Weaver, revealed yesterday that he has been securing information for three general contractors who have been asked by the Baugh Midwest Cooperative to submit bids for the construction of the massive redistribution center. Baugh Midwest Cooperative is the parent company of Sysco.

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Knox Police Continue to Investigate Attempted Abduction

Posted on Author WKVI
Amber Howard and her children, Korie and Evan

Three weeks ago today, Amber Howard was in her home in Knox when she heard her daughter, Korie, screaming that someone was in the back yard trying to abduct her one-year-old brother, Evan.

When the mother went into the yard, the daughter said the man, dressed in red jogging pants, came into the yard, grabbed her off a swing set, and then picked up the baby as if to take him. When she screamed, the man ran off down Roosevelt Road in the Parkview section of Knox. He dropped the baby before climbing over a fence.

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Trial Begins for Niki Hochstetler

Posted on Author WKVI
Niki Hochstetler

After a lengthy selection process, a jury of 12 citizens and one alternate juror was chosen in the case of Niki Hochstetler, charged with two counts of Battery with a Deadly Weapon, and one count of Criminal Mischief after allegedly stabbing Eric Amore at the Country Roads Bar and Grill in Walkerton last July. The defense had requested a motion to limit, requesting that witnesses be questioned outside of the presence of the jury to ensure that what the witnesses say is acceptable before the jury, but this request was denied by Judge Kim Hall in the Starke Circuit Court.

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Hamlet Town Board Waits to Release Project Funds

Posted on Author WKVI
Hamlet Town Board: Curtis Simpkins, Kerry Stone and Bob Yung

Van Janovic appeared before the Hamlet Town Board last week to request the release of funds for the sewer improvement project that was recently completed. The Board agreed to retain a small percentage of funds contingent upon KIRPC’s approval of the project. Once the project gets the ok, all of the funds will be released to H&G Underground.

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Citizens Speak Up at Culver Town Board Meeting

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

At Culver’s Town Board meeting, several citizens spoke up against the local banquet facility after a large outside gathering got very loud, bothering neighbors. Some of the residents wanted to know if the big outdoor gatherings are required to get any permits to have these loud events, and Board President, Ginny Bess Munroe, mentioned that a food cart serves food in that area and is required to get a permit.

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Renovation Project Continues at Knox High School

Posted on Author WKVI
Crews have been replacing water pipes throughout the High School

The renovation project is progressing at Knox High School. A Qualified School Construction Bond in the amount of $1,970,000 was approved for the replacement of water pipes, construction in the pool area, new lockers and more at the High School.

“All the water pipes throughout the High School are being replaced and that’s a major project,” explained Superintendent, A.J. Gappa. “All the ceiling tiles had to be removed to get to the water pipes. Many of the cement block walls had to be cut into and blocks taken out to replace pipes and then put back into place. We have some major work going on in the pool area because of the changing of the ceiling and the lighting in addition to the deck lining and so forth. Everything is torn up, there’s dust everywhere, but work is progressing. It appears that a couple things may be a little ahead of schedule and a couple of other things are just barely behind, but everybody thinks it will be done on time, which is mid-August.” Continue reading →

North Judson-San Pierre Retirees Honored

Posted on Author WKVI
(L to R) Bill Gustafson, Murry Hight, Bill Ransom, Nila Beauchamp, Shirley Bukowski, Betty Warner and Barb Rausch

The North Judson-San Pierre School staff recently honored 10 retirees at their end-of-the-school year breakfast. At the same time, they also recognized 33 staff for years of service.

Retiring from North Judson-San Pierre Elementary School are Nila Beauchamp, Shirley Bukowski and Betty Warner. From the Middle School, retirees are Bill Gustafson, Murry Hight, Bill Ransom and Barb Rausch. Retiring from the High School are Bob Bell and David Vessely and James “Art” Dolezal is retiring from the maintenance department.

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