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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Meth Problems Continue in Northern Indiana

Posted on Author WKVI

An Elkhart County man was killed in a mobile meth lab fire last week and that incident reminds us of the continuing problem of meth production for sale or personal use throughout Northern Indiana.

Porter-Starke Addictions Councilor, Leo Smith, says that this area has had meth issues for a long time and the process to produce meth has been refined so it’s a lot easier to make. Smith says that meth is one of the most highly addictive drugs that a person can abuse.

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School Bus Safety Tips

Posted on Author WKVI

As children head to the yellow buses for the start of school next week, national bus safety experts are offering several tips for parents:

Have children put everything in backpacks or school bags so they won’t drop things.

Wear bright colors that are more easily seen, and travel in groups when possible.

Most importantly, never reach under the bus or walk behind the bus.

2001: Starke County Commissioners Discuss New Jail

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Jail

After months of avoiding the issue, the Starke County Commissioners have publicly acknowledged a new jail is needed to relieve ongoing overcrowded conditions. That may not surprise anyone who has followed the problems at the jail over the past couple of years.

That was the opening sentence to an article in The Leader exactly 10 years ago today. In that same article, the Commissioners were proposing a joint meeting with the Council to discuss building a criminal justice center.

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North Judson Town Board Modifies Building Permit Fees

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board: Dan Anderson, Wendy Hoppe, Jane Ellen Felchuk, Attorney Cassie Hine and Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller

The North Judson Town Board discussed modifying the commercial building permit fees at their meeting last week.

The current fee schedule allows a commercial business to pay $.15 a square foot of new building construction. Instead, the Board plans to incorporate a flat fee per permit. If the new building or addition is 10,000 square feet or less, the permit will cost $250. If it is 10,001 or more, the permit will be $500.

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Knox-Center Township Fire Department Receives New Fire Truck

Posted on Author WKVI
The Knox-Center Township Fire Department's new truck

The Knox-Center Township Volunteer Fire Department took possession of its new fire truck last week.

“It has more storage and we can carry more firemen,” said Fire Chief, Ken Pfost. “The other truck that this vehicle is replacing could only hold three guys in the cab, but not comfortably. This truck hauls six firefighters. They can get their air packs on on the way to a call and be ready the moment they get to the scene and step off the truck. It has a refrigerator in it for rehab so we can keep water in it. If the guys get overheated they can get something to drink. It holds 1,000 gallons of water which is 250 gallons more than our other truck. It has a lot more capability.”

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Washington Township Fire Department Proposes New Training Facility

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

Washington Township Trustee, Shelly Kemble, and Washington Township firefighters Joe Short and David Pearman made a presentation to the Knox Community School Board about building a training tower at the old Washington Township School. Superintendent, A.J. Gappa explains why they had to seek the permission of the Board to pursue this project:

“Because the land that the old Washington Township school sits on was at one time donated to the school and given back to the Township and because of the structure of the Indiana laws, before anybody can do anything with that property, they have to get School Board approval. It’s supposed to be in the form of Parks and Recreation.”

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National Night Out Activities Scheduled in Knox Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI

The City of Knox will observe the National Night Out event tonight.

“We’ll have a street dance for everyone of all ages,” said Knox Neighborhood Watch Committee Spokesman, Greg Matt, of the festivities. “The Boy Scouts will be downtown helping us out and there were will be police cars, the new Hummer and the fire trucks will be there. We’re going to have the flashlight parade starting dusk and this year we’re going to take the parade, lead by new Hummer, down Main Street.”

The Police Department will be doing fingerprinting for the kids and there will be informational items for you concerning Neighborhood Watch.

The purpose of the National Night Out event is for you to get out and meet officers on the police force, the emergency responders and others in your neighborhood.

Lauren Jernas to Participate in the Indiana State Fair Pageant

Posted on Author WKVI
Lauren Jernas

Lauren Jernas, who was recently crowned Starke County 4-H royalty, will be competing in the Indiana State Fair Queen pageant August 19th-21st. Lauren will be competing with 88 other contestants from around the State for the honor of being the 2012 Queen.

Lauren was asked why she decided to be part of the pageant.

“I was chosen as one of the Starke County 4-H Royalty winners so I decided to go down to the State Fair to go to the pageant and have fun and meet a lot of different girls from around the state.”

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Knox-Center Township Fire Department Celebrates 100 Years; Parade Held Sunday

Posted on Author WKVI
These items were on display at the Southside Firehouse during the weekend.

The Knox-Center Township Fire Department held its 100th Anniversary celebration over the weekend and the festivities included an equipment and apparatus parade Sunday afternoon. Several fire departments from the area participated in the parade.

Enjoy these pictures from the parade! Continue reading →