Tom Belcher Benefit Planned for Saturday

Posted on Author WKVI
Tom Belcher

A benefit for former WKVI Radio personality, Tom Belcher, will be held this Saturday, July 9th, at O’s Tap in Knox. Tom Belcher has suffered from a few medical issues in the past several months and the community is coming together to help him with medical bills. He is in need of a liver transplant.

Entertainment will be provided by Hawg Wild and there will be food, raffles, door prizes and more during the event from Noon to 6:00 p.m. CT on Saturday. All proceeds will go toward his medical expenses.

Number of Domestic Violence Calls up in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI

The number of domestic violence calls to local police departments have slightly increased in the past few months. We asked Ruth Matsey, the President of the Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, what she has been seeing in Starke County.

“What we’re seeing a lot of in Starke County is the form of child abuse which is neglect, whether it’s due to financial circumstances or a lot of times it’s with meth,” said Matsey. “Kids are being left unsupervised, plus they’re around all of the dangerous chemicals.”

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Thom Morin Comes Before Knox City Council to Request Handicapped Parking Spaces

Posted on Author WKVI
Thom Morin

Thom Morin, who has been before the Knox City Council before to request more handicapped parking spaces, was before them again last week.

Since Mr. Morin has presented a proposed document spelling out ADA rules, the City has added a space on Main Street by the tracks, another on the north end of Main Street near Lake, one in the alley by the Community Center, and two on the east side of the Community Center. The Mayor announced that he is working on one handicapped parking spot by the Courthouse.

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A Little Piece of the Beatles History at Papa’s Restaurant in Culver

Posted on Author WKVI
Brian McCormick

If you’re a restaurant affectionado, you’ve undoubtedly eaten at Papa’s in Culver. It’s the restaurant on the curve that has the vinyl record jackets on the wall.

Chances are many of those album jackets could have been designed by the original owner of Papa’s, Jim McCormick. Jim McCormick was an A and R man for years at V-J Records in Chicago. Look above the bar and you’ll see a Beatles jacket. Jim McCormick recommended that V-J sign the British group in the early 1960’s. An initial contract was sold for $350 to Capital and the rest, as they say, is history. His son, Brian, runs the restaurant today, and remembers how close his dad came to signing the Beatles. Continue reading →

Budget Work Being Done in Knox City Clerk-Treasurer’s Office

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council #2
Back Row: Mayor Rick Chambers, Ed Blue, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, Greg Matt and Attorney David Matsey. Front Row: Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg and Ron Parker

It’s budget time in the Knox City Clerk’s office. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston told the Knox City Council members last week that the annual audit is being done now, and he is working on the 2012 budget.

Houston said this seems to be a more in-depth audit as the City received over $500,000 in federal grants during the past year.

On July 6th, Houston will meet with the Department of Local Government Finance, and he thought the Council might want to consider a work session before the next Council meeting on July 12th.

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Indiana’s Economic Front Looking Positive

Posted on Author WKVI

There’s good news for Hoosiers on the economic front, according to Fifth District State Senator Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso).

First, Charbonneau points out that Indiana’s real gross domestic product grew at a remarkable rate of 4.6% in 2010. In comparison, other states averaged 2.6 percent GDP improvements. Indiana and Oregon led the nation in durable goods manufacturing with statistically twice the growth of our closest state competitors in that industry. In the Great Lakes region, Michigan had a GDP of 2.9%; Wisconsin 2.5%; and Illinois, 1.9%. Nationwide, only New York and North Dakota experienced GDP growth outpacing that of Indiana.

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Starke County Fireworks Event Showcases Local Organizations

Posted on Author WKVI
Members of the Starke County Amateur Radio Club: Janet Langer, Jolene Brown and Tony Langer

The Fireworks presentation at the Starke County Airport went off without a hitch Saturday night. It was a hot day to start off with, but a rain shower came through the area late in the afternoon and it cooled off nicely for the fireworks show at dusk.

Several representatives of organizations showed up early in the afternoon to present some information on their programs.

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Pulaski County 4-H Royalty Crowned

Posted on Author WKVI
Back Row: Jacob Frasa, Jessica Brooke, Justine Kruger and Baleigh Dickson. Front Row: Erica Putt and Veronica Leman

The Pulaski County 4-H Fair Royalty was crowned Saturday night in ceremonies at the Pulaski County fairgrounds.

Erica Putt and Veronica Leman were crowned 4-H Royalty. The court members were Jacob Frasa, Jessica Brooke, Justine Kruger, and Baleigh Dickson.

Congratulations to the Royalty winners! The Pulaski County 4-H Fair continues through Thursday, July 7th. A complete list of fair events can be found on this website.

Photo submitted by Rosenbaum Photography.

Maxinkuckee Players Moving Along with Summer Production

Posted on Author WKVI
<img class="size-full wp-image-8392 " title="nunsense" src="http://www.wkvi.com/wp-content/uploads/201

1/03/nunsense.jpg” alt=”” width=”202″ height=”240″ />

According to Assistant Director Charles Weaver, the sets are completed and the rehearsals have begun in earnest for the Maxinkuckee Players summer musical, Nunsense – The Mega Musical.

The show’s Director, Becky Liechty, had earlier said the performances this year will come with a larger cast and more music than the original production, seen at Culver a few years ago. The cast is rehearsing as Argos High School where six performances will be presented beginning Friday, July 22nd. Opening night tickets are just $5.00.

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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.