Knox Man Arrested after Alleged Threats

Posted on Author WKVI
Jerry Riley

Jerry Riley of Knox was arrested Friday after a domestic incident was called into the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.

Witnesses told police that Riley had arrived at a residence on 800 South and rammed his car into his wife’s car and then backed up and hit a car belonging to Alexander Honchar, pushing it out of the driveway and into the lawn. Riley then exited the vehicle and confronted this step-son, Kebun Boule, about taking jewelry. Riley then allegedly hit Boule. Alexander Honchar told police that he walked around the corner of the porch and Riley surprised him and allegedly held a box cuttter style knife to his throat and Riley reportedly threatened him. Honchar then hit Riley and called 9-1-1.

Continue reading →

Ted Hayes Accompanies Civil Air Patrol on Mission

Posted on Author WKVI

WKVI’s own Ted Hayes was given the opportunity to go airborne with members of Indiana’s Wing of the Civil Air Patrol last Friday as they conducted a simulated mission to provide aerial photographs of bridges along the Kankakee River. Col. Mark Reeves of Indianapolis was the Commander for the evaluation. Lt. Col Matt Creed, First Lt. Lindsay Shipps, and Captain David Sinn conducted the mission.

Continue reading →

Brianna DeCamp Crowned Miss Outstanding Teen

Posted on Author WKVI
Brianna DeCamp

Brianna DeCamp has been crowned Miss Outstanding Teen 2011. Brianna is a student at East Noble High School in Kendallville. There were 22 girls in the competition, including Taylor Quella, of Knox, who will be a senior next year.

Local pageant officials said Taylor scored well in most of the categories. She reported that it was a great experience, one that she would like to compete in again next summer. The pageant is held in Zionsville, Indiana.

Madison Boldry, Miss South Bend Outstanding Teen won the “cause” award. Her platform was “Desire to Inspire”.

Continue reading →

18-Year-Old Drowns After Jumping From Yellow River Bridge in Knox

Posted on Author WKVI

The treacherous Yellow River has claimed another life. Mercan Lyncook, of Parma Ohio jumped from the abandoned train bridge near the depot at 12:00 midnight Sunday morning, and because of limited swimming ability never made it back to shore. The 18-year-old man’s body was found by the Marshall County Dive Team at 2:00 a.m.

The Knox Police Department and Indiana Conservation Office received a call from Lyncook’s friend that he did not surface after diving into the water.

Assisting in the search were the Knox Volunteer Fire Department, Bass Lake Fire Department, Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Washington Township Fire Department, and Starke County EMS.

Civil Air Patrol Conducts Training in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI
The plane is prepared for take-off

On July 1st, 1946, President Harry Truman established the Civil Air Patrol. It was charged with three primary missions: Aerospace education, cadet programs and emergency services. Over the past weekend, members of Indiana’s Wing of the Civil Air Patrol were in Knox conducting exercises to prepare themselves for whatever disasters they might be called to in the state.

Continue reading →

Nathan VanDerAa Appears in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Nathan VanDerAa

A status hearing regarding the violation of Nathan VanDerAa’s probation was held in Starke Circuit Court Friday. VanDerAa admitted to five violations of his probation, including an arrest in Pulaski County that he did not report for possession of methamphetamine as well as driving while suspended, failure to complete community service, and an overdue balance owed to the probation department. He has also not completed his drug abuse prevention evaluation and did not report to probation as directed.

Continue reading →

Starke County to Receive Federal Public Assistance

Posted on Author WKVI
Flooding occurred after a levee break on the Robbins Ditch. Photo by Becky Pulver.

President Barack Obama has approved 32 counties for federal public assistance for damage sustained by severe weather that began April 19th. Starke County was the only county listed from Northern Indiana that will be receiving funding.

Public assistance means state and local governments and certain non-profit organizations in the designated counties are eligible to apply for federal assistance to pay 75 percent of the approved cost of debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities.

Continue reading →

North Judson Town Board Discusses Outdoor Pool Regulations

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 members discussed outdoor pool regulations at their recent meeting.

Building Inspector, Steve Ransom, said if you install a pool 24 inches tall or bigger, whether it’s a temporary pool or you plan to place it on your property permanently, a permit is required. Pools under 48 inches that have an entry that can not be secured must be fenced in. More information regarding pool installation can be found in an ordinance in the Clerk’s office.

Continue reading →

IU Health Starke Hospital Implements New Information System

Posted on Author WKVI
IU Health Starke Hospital

IU Health Starke Hospital has implemented a new hospital information system.

“IU Health Starke Hospital implemented a new hospital information system which includes computerized provider order entry and electronic medical records,” said I.T. Director, Ashley Norem. “What this means is that IU Health Starke Hospital now operates all patient related procedures and processes digitally, improving the quality of care for our patients.”

Continue reading →

Funding Cut for Instructional Assistants at West Central

Posted on Author WKVI

The West Central School Board members discussed instructional assistants at their meeting Thursday.

The instructional assistants in the corporation were notified of the reduction in Prime Time Funding in the amount of $46,000 and that will result in the reduction of three to five instructional assistants in the Corporation. Every staff member was asked if they would consider retirement or resigning and to notify the administration. All reported that they would like to keep their job. The next step will be relayed to the Board by administrators at a future meeting.

Continue reading →

Week in Review for June 20th-24th, 2011

Posted on Author WKVI

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

Starke County Jail

The Starke County Commissioners revisited the issue of a new Starke County Jail after inmate Jack Haut brought a class action lawsuit against the County over conditions at the jail. This week, the Starke County Council approved the transfer of $100,000 to help fund the County’s defense in the lawsuit.

The Knox City Council members told Knox Mayor Rick Chambers no when he asked the Council if they would be interested in selling Sandy Acres Park. It is assumed the land would be used for a business venture. Continue reading →

Starke County Council Approves Salary, Car for New Paramedic EMS Director

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem brought the Starke County Council up to speed on the work of the Advanced Life Support Committee at the Council’s recent meeting. Norem said that the ALS Committee hopes to have a paramedic chase vehicle in operation by the first of the year. She reviewed the time line of codes that have to be approved by the State before they can start. One is that I.U. Health Starke Hospital will agree to be the sponsoring hospital.

Continue reading →

Governor Daniels Visits Kersting’s Motorcycle Museum

Posted on Author WKVI
Governor Daniels talks to Jim Kersting about the motorcycles in the museum

It’s not unusual for people from far and wide to stop by Kersting’s Motorcycle Museum in North Judson. The Governor of the State of Indiana, Mitch Daniels, stopped in for a visit yesterday and took a tour of the most famous motorcycle museum in the Midwest and the most interesting in the United States. He was given the tour by Jim Kersting.

Continue reading →

Starke County P.T.A.B.O.A. Board Reviews Land Values

Posted on Author WKVI
John Viveiros

The P.T.A.B.O.A. Board met this week to review and approve the property values following the recent reassessment.

“The Assessor, by law, has to come up with the land values,” said John Viveiros, Project Manager for the reassessment project in Starke County. “We went through and did a neighborhood delineation based on the sales and came up with land-based rates for each and every neighborhood.”

Continue reading →

Knox Community School Board Reviews Lease Agreement with Conn-Selmer

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Community School Board approved a lease agreement with Conn-Selmer Monday night. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the School Corporation and Conn-Selmer have had this lease agreement for band equipment for the past ten years:

“Under the terms of the agreement, we are able to purchase expensive musical equipment at a huge discount which is a benefit for us,” said Gappa. “One the other side, Conn-Selmer advertises Knox as one of their schools that they supply instruments for. Our marching band in the past has had much success around the state so they use that to their benefit and it really helps our band department with the purchase of much needed big equipment.”

Continue reading →

Facts Presented at Recent Gas Price Forum

Posted on Author WKVI

A few interesting pieces of information came up during Scot Imus’ presentation on gas prices in LaPorte this week. He’s the Executive Director of the Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association.

Do filling station owners like high gas prices or low gas prices? Low. Stations general make 70% of their income off of gasoline sales, and 70% of their profit from convenience items (i.e. candy bars, potato chips, pop, coffee, knick knacks, etc). When gas prices are high, consumers have less money to spend on the convenience items.

Continue reading →

North Judson Town Board News

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 tentatively approved a bid from Gatlin Plumbing and Heating of Griffith, Indiana, to do the sewer separation work on State Road 39. The Board can not formally award the bid until the state releases the funds for the project. The company had the lowest bid of $531,153.

A discussion was held on the proposed 50/50 sidewalk program. The Board is considering entering into this program, but will not make a decision until the Board begins budget sessions for the next year. The Board has scheduled a budget meeting to plan the 2012 budget for Monday, June 27th at 4:00 p.m.