State Senator Jim Arnold Reappointed to Study Committees

Posted on Author WKVI
Senator Jim Arnold

Indiana Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) upon recommendation by Senate Democrat Leader Vi Simpson (D-Ellettsville), has reappointed State Senator Jim Arnold (D-LaPorte) as a member of the Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee, the Criminal Code Evaluation Committee, and as a member of several other interim committees and commissions.

Arnold told WKVI News that he is eager to continue the work started last year by the Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Committee and Criminal Code Evaluation Commission to address Indiana’s rising prison population and hopes the committee will look into lesser sentences for nonviolent offenders.

Continue reading →

The Second Season of “Haven” Premieres Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI

The second season of “Haven” premieres tonight on the SyFy Network. One of the writers and producers of the show is Jim Dunn and he told us about how his writing career for television in Hollywood began.

“I went up to St. Paul, Minnesota, to go to college at Macalester College and my roommate assigned to me Freshman year was a guy named Sam Ernest. We got out of college and ended up opening restaurants together. We were both English majors and wanted to be writers and he had two restaurants, we had very successful businesses going up in the Twin Cities, but we weren’t writing. So we decided to start trying to write movies and TV shows together. We had a job opportunity to be an Assistant, which is basically a Secretary, out in Hollywood. We talked our wives into signing up and we all moved out to Los Angeles in the winter of 1999.”

Continue reading →

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Investigates Fatal Accident

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department investigated a fatal accident yesterday.

Deputy Michelle Jackson told WKVI that Jody Young of Union Mills was driving southbound on State Road 39. She stopped at the stop sign at the intersection with State Road 14 in Pulaski County and continued into the intersection and was struck by a MAC dump truck, driven by Richard Biddle of Lafayette. The truck hit the passenger side of the vehicle as he was traveling eastbound on State Road 14. Sabrina Oberle, 15, a passenger in Young’s vehicle, died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. Young received minor injuries and was taken to the hospital.

Continue reading →

Starke County Commissioners Tour Another Jail

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

The Starke County Commissioners toured another jail this week. They had recently visited the Marshall and Miami County jails. On Monday, they went to Rensselaer to tour the Jasper County Jail.

The tour of the 128 bed facility was conducted by Sheriff Terry Risner. The Jasper County jail is two years old and was moved from its former downtown Rensselaer location to property north of the city on State Road 231. Continue reading →

Starke County Food Pantry Receives Generous Donation

Posted on Author WKVI
(L to R) Front Row: Cecilia Torres, Tabitha Dillner and Gene Ladd. Back row: Joan Haugh and Dave Altman

The Starke County Food Pantry received a $3,500 check from the Starke County General Unrestricted Endowment Fund of the Community Foundation for the purpose of purchasing meat and food for the food pantry.

Cecilia Torres, Services Coordinator, says that several more donations have come into the food pantry, but more is always welcome. You may drop off your donation at the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Continue reading →

Restroom Facilites Requested at Sandy Acres Park

Posted on Author WKVI
Thom Morin

Thom Morin, who claims to be conducting a one man crusade to open up more areas for the handicapped in Knox, was back before the Knox City Council this week to point out the need for special restroom accommodations at Sandy Acres Park on the south edge of the city. Morin said a handicapped porta-potty would cost only a little more than installing a regular one at the park. He also would like to see a handicapped designated parking area at the same location.

Continue reading →

Knox Man Brought to Starke County to Face Meth Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Warren Coffin, Jr.

Warren Coffin, Jr. , 47, of Knox, has been brought into the Starke County Jail to face several methamphetamine related charges against him from an incident in August 2010.

According to police, in August, officers were called to 7125 E. 50 S. on a complaint that Warren Coffin, Jr. may have left drugs on the property. Officers looked inside a vehicle that belonged to Coffin and saw items used to manufacture methamphetamine. When a search warrant was executed, methamphetamine was reportedly found in the vehicle along with drug paraphernalia and precursors. When Coffin’s information was run through the Sheriff’s Department, officers were alerted that he was wanted on a warrant out of Marshall County.

Continue reading →

Eastern Pulaski School Board Seeking New Athletic Director

Posted on Author WKVI

The Eastern Pulaski School Board is in search of a new Athletic Director.

“Our Athletic Director/Assistant Principal, J.D. Dubes, did resign and he has taken an Assistant Principal position with Logansport High School,” said Superintendent, Dr. Robert Klitzman. “Mr. Dubes had been with us for three or four years and most recent years served a dual role as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director when Mr. Sheller left us. We are already in the search mode to replace Mr. Dubes with either an Athletic Director/Assistant Principal or an Athletic Director/Dean of Students position.”

Knox-Center Township Fire Department Celebrates 100 Years

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox-Center Township Fire Department is celebrating 100 years of service to our community this year. Founded in 1911, the Department replaced a citizen bucket brigade made up of business owners and residents of the Knox area.

To commemorate this anniversary, the Department has designed a new logo. The members of the department wanted the logo to include aspects that were both old and new and something unique to the Knox Fire Department. The background is the very traditional Red Maltese Cross, with the Knox-Center Township moniker, as well as the gold “100” in the center. One of the most unique aspects of the department are the yellow fire trucks, thus the “Yellow Jacket” sporting fire attire and wielding a water hose and fireman’s ax.

Continue reading →

Northern Indiana Power from the Past Begins Today

Posted on Author WKVI
This is one of the many working displays you will see at this year's Power from the Past show in Winamac

The Northern Indiana Power From the Past Show begins today at the Winamac Town Park. This year’s featured attractions are John Deere tractors, engines, machinery and tools.

Other events today include the Ladies-Only Skillet Toss. Tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET, there will be square dancing with caller Ralph Hardy and tractor games.

Continue reading →

Former North Judson Man Recovering after Fire Incident

Posted on Author WKVI

A former North Judson man sustained burns to over 35% of his body last week. The Post-Tribune reported in a story this week that Adrian Richie is expected to make a full recovery. He received second degree burns on his arms and legs.

Richie was clearing brush at his residence at Lake Dalecarlia when he attempted to burn it by pouring a small amount of gasoline on a large piece of cardboard. When the cardboard was ignited, it burst into flames.

Continue reading →

From the WKVI Archives

Posted on Author WKVI

Did you know that Walter J. Paulsen was the first North Judson resident to die in WWII?

It was on this date in 1974, that ground-breaking ceremonies were held in North Judson for the new Walter J. Paulsen U.S. Army Reserve Center. Over 500 people attended the festivities. General James G. Freeze, Commander of the 123rd Arcom Division, was the main speaker. Col. Jerry Paras of North Judson was the Master of Ceremonies for the ground-breaking festivities.

Starke County Community Corrections Offers Special Program for Offenders

Posted on Author WKVI
John Littman

One of the programs offered by the Starke County Community Corrections is presented by John Littman, of John Littman and Associates of Portage.  Littman talked about the program yesterday to employees of Community Corrections, the Starke County Prosecutor, and part of the probation staff.

“The participants, as a result of a criminal offense, are assigned as part of their sentencing or a plea agreement they may be assigned the ‘Thinking for a Change’ program,” said Littman. “One of the guiding principles in ‘Thinking for a Change’ is that thinking, our thinking, controls our behavior. There’s a quote in the program literature that says that we are the authority of our behavior. What we do is we emphasize those principles in terms of the teaching and the practice of the cognitive restructuring which is about taking control, taking charge, being the authority of yourself and your thinking, your behavior and the consequences that come along as the result of the thinking and behavior.”

Continue reading →

Pretrial Motion and Instruction Hearings Held in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Several pretrial motions and instructions hearings were held in the Starke Circuit Court yesterday. Jeannie Brewer, charged with Battery as a Class D Felony and Attempted Violation of a Custody Order, made her appearance in court with her attorney Richard Ballard. The state requested a continuance in this case, because the responding officer, Dave Combs, would be unavailable for the trial. The state said that they would like to have Combs take the stand and testify as to the statement he originally received from the victim because the victim has changed his story several times. Judge Kim Hall granted this continuation, and the trial has been scheduled for August 10th at 9:00 a.m. with a pretrial motions and instructions hearing on August 9th at 9:00 a.m.

Continue reading →

Eastern Pulaski School Corporation to Retain Tuition Policy

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

The State has changed the way schools are funded whereas a school’s General Fund is funded by the State. The Eastern Pulaski School Board agreed last year that because of the change, the Corporation will not charge a tuition fee if the student was in the Corporation on the State Count Day. Superintendent, Dr. Robert Klitzman, says they hope to continue that practice.

“Nothing has changed at the state level so I asked the Board to extend that beyond this year until something changes,” he said. “The Board did agree to keep that at status quo so we will not be charging tuition for those students that are officially enrolled in our School Corporation on the official count date.”

USDA Summer Food Program in Place until July 28th at Knox Middle School

Posted on Author WKVI

The USDA Summer Food Program is still available at the Knox Middle School. Free breakfast and lunch is available to children ages 18 and younger. Breakfast is served from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the Knox Middle School.

Kit Ream, Food Services Director at the Knox Community School Corporation, says the Cafeteria staff has been serving between 100 to 170 students for lunch and a few less for breakfast. You are encouraged to take advantage of this free service weekdays from now until July 28th.

Continue reading →

Sewer Separation Project Continues in Winamc after Union Crews Return to Work

Posted on Author WKVI
Winamac Town Hall

The sewer separation project in the Town of Winamac has resumed after Local 150 Union workers returned to the job. Contract issues had sidelined the project. Workers were off the job three weeks, and they are currently on Madison Street. The crews are trying to complete the Burson Street part of the project.

During their meeting Monday, the Winamac Town Board members heard from a group of concerned citizens about the extension of the runway at Arens Field in Winamac. The citizens are against the project and informed the members of why they are against the project. The biggest concern is the acquisition of land from farmers to extend the runway.

The Board learned that the Town was denied a Recreational Trails Grant to be used to finish the Panhandle Pathway project. The Town will apply for the grant again next year.

New Swing Set Installed at Sandy Acres Park

Posted on Author WKVI
George Byer, Matt Whiles, Patrick Jesuit, and Clarence Marshall install the new swing set at Sandy Acres Park

Many people driving by the Sandy Acres Park on the south side of Knox have wondered what was going in the playground area.

“What we’ve got going here is a new swing set for Sandy Acres Park,” said Park Superintendent George Byer. “It was one that we purchased last Fall, we really didn’t have a chance to get it installed. This swing set will consist of two full swings on it and then we’ll have a toddler’s swing and a baby chair swing. At the very end, we will have a handicap swing. Everybody will get a chance to be able to play on this one. Along with that, we’ll have a six foot bench that will be between the little kids kingdom area and the swing set. This will make a very nice addition to Sandy Acres Park.”

The base will be filled in with playground mulch.

Pulaski County Officers Arrest Winamac Woman on a Heroin Charge

Posted on Author WKVI
Marla Freeman

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Winamac woman on Sunday after police reportedly found heroin in her vehicle on a routine traffic stop on State Road 39 near 600 North.

Pulaski County Prosecutor Stacey Mrak told WKVI that when officers questioned 39-year-old Marla Freeman she said she had allegedly bought the drug while she was in Merrillville. She is facing a preliminary charge of Possession of Heroin. Police initially pulled her over after observing a headlight out on the vehicle.

Continue reading →

Starke County 4-H Royalty Crowned

Posted on Author WKVI
Lauren Jernas (L) and Megan Hinds. Photo by Jayme Goetz

Royalty was crowned at the Starke County 4-H Fair last night. The two winners are 10 year 4-H members.

“I’m 18 and this is my sixth year as a Junior Leader,” said Lauren Jernas. “I went to Oregon-Davis High School and in the Fall I will be attending Purdue University. I will be studying Animal Science.”

“I’m 18 years old and I go to Oregon-Davis High School,” said Megan Hinds. “Next Fall I am going to Ivy Tech in Valparaiso to study Early Childhood.”

Continue reading →