Nathan Origer Begins as New Pulaski County Community Development Commission Director

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County Community Development Commission has a new Director. Nathan Origer has been in the office for a little over a week and he says he’s ready to begin his duties.

“If you’ve got a business looking to expand here in the County, I’m the guy who’s going to help you look for grants, navigate the abatement process, the revolving loan fund process, and also potential companies coming into the County,” said Origer. “I’m going to be giving them all the reasons why Pulaski County is where they should bring their operation. I’m going to work with the community and county government, small project development, and work with the PACE program on workforce development.”

Origer was asked what aspects Pulaski County has to attract businesses.

“I think we’ve got a government that is looking forward to entertaining new clients and businesses. There are communities with strong infrastructure. Winamac is doing a sewer separation project right now to improve theirs. Medaryville is undertaking a new storm water project so they will have better drainage over there. We’ve got a good agriculture base so we could look into value added products. We’ve got a rail line on the west side of the county and we’ve got a rail bank on the northeast side of the county. We do have one U.S. Highway that has connections to some pretty important places and we’re close to I-65. It’s just an ideal location where you’ve got quality of life, lower cost of living, and still close enough to the big markets for a company to do what it needs to do.”

Baugh Construction Erects New Dugouts at Wythogan Park

Posted on Author WKVI
Park Superintendent George Byer, Rodger Weigel, and Jed Baugh

The Knox community is encouraged to give Baugh Construction a big thank you as the owner brought a crew down to Wythogan Park and erected two new dugouts on field number two, at no cost to the Park Board or the City.

Ted Hayes was there Friday afternoon to talk with the owner, Jed Baugh.

“Our kids are in baseball and my oldest boy was probably in it for seven years and somebody said they needed dugouts so we figured we would do them,” said Baugh. “The dugouts are cement block dugouts. We poured a concrete pad to set them on and we’re building benches on the inside. The roof will be trimmed out with cedar trim with a steel pole barn metal on top.”

Baugh Construction’s main focus in the past few years has been siding and exterior work, but as Jed told Ted his crew will tackle just about everything in the construction line.  Jeff Sample donated the metal for the roof.

If you’d like to thank Jed and the crew you can call them at 772-6808.

Mary Szymusiak to Deliver Graduation Address at Ancilla College

Posted on Author WKVI

As many as 120 students are expected to receive diplomas at the Ancilla College 2011 Commencement, Saturday, May 7th. College President, Dr. Ron May, says an Ancilla alum will deliver the address.

“Mary Szymusiak is an Ancilla College graduate, Class of 1995,” said Dr. May. “Her degree from us is in Liberal Studies. She went on to complete her Bachelor’s Degree. She taught Junior High and High School in North Judson. She has remained very much involved since that time with the whole Ministry Center community here at the college, along with her husband, Jim. She is now the owner and operator of Tefft Bridge and Iron in Wheatfield and we think she’s a very good example for our graduates of how you can take a degree at Ancilla and build it into something substantial.”

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Free Diabetes Screenings Tomorrow at IU Health Starke Hospital

Posted on Author WKVI

Free diabetes screenings will be held at IU Health Starke Hospital Tuesday from 7:00-11:00 a.m. CT.

“I, and a nurse from LaPorte Hospital, who is certified Diabetes educator, will be set up in the hospital lobby for free screenings for anybody who would like to come in and get their blood sugar tested and screened for diabetes,” said Dietitian, Deb Meznarick. “Following that, on May 10th, we’re going to start diabetic classes. Dr. Holm, who is from Holm Clinic in Plymouth, will be assisting and teaching the classes. It will be a four week series on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:00 p.m.”

To set up a time for your screening, please call IU Health Starke Hospital and speak to Deb Meznarick.

Starke County Jail Upgrades Security Equipment, Video Arraignment System Installed

Posted on Author WKVI
Sheriff Oscar Cowen
Sheriff Oscar Cowen

Several upgrades are in the works for the Starke County Jail. The Commissioners approved a bid this week for the tear off and installation of a new roof on the Jail and the Board members will also be reviewing bids to replace the HVAC system at the Jail during their meeting on Monday.

One recent upgrade has helped the operation of the jail and the courts. Here is Sheriff Oscar Cowen:

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Absentee Voting Available for Three More Days; BMV to be Open for Voter Identification Cards

Posted on Author WKVI

Voters in precincts 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Center Township have a chance to vote absentee today and tomorrow from 8:00 a.m. to Noon and from 1:00-4:00 p.m. CT in the Starke County Courthouse. The final time to vote absentee will be Monday, May 2nd, from 8:00 a.m. to Noon only. Election Day is Tuesday, May 3rd. The polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and voting will be conducted in the Knox Community Center.

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Greg Matt and Jeff Berg Run Unopposed in Primary Election for Seats on Knox City Council

Posted on Author WKVI
Greg Matt
Jeff Berg

There are two other candidates running for a seat on the Knox City Council and they are unopposed in the Knox Primary Election.

Greg Matt has served for eight-and-a-half years on the Council and he says that his focus is the economy and jobs.

“In the next four years, I hope we can continue our partnership with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation and bring in more industry and more jobs,” said Matt. “Charlie’s been a great asset to us and we’ve been quite successful. A lot of that is because he had a great opportunity to bring in the rail into our Industrial Park. I’m very pro industry because that gives us a lot of employment and that’s what we would all like to see.”

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Knox Fifth Grade Students Give Lesson in Technology to School Board

Posted on Author WKVI
Mrs. Barnes and 5th grade presenters: Mrs. Barnes, Victoria Bulick, Colin Kulpa, Libby McEntee, Payton McIntyre, Mariah McKee, Allison Minix, and Cassie Waletzko

The Knox Community School Board got a lesson in technology at their recent school Board meeting and the teachers were 5th grade students.

“We just showed the Board what we’ve been doing this year in technology,” said Laura Barnes, Computer Applications Teacher at the Knox Elementary School. “We’ve started all of the grade levels on various new technologies IPads, some web tools such as Glogster and My Big Campus so we showed the Board some of those things. Glogster is a web tool which is basically a cross between a blog and a virtual poster. The kids can use them for presentations with projects, they can use them as a creative journal – there are a lot of educational tools for it.”

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Winamac Town Park Experiences Flooding

Posted on Author WKVI
Entrance to the Winamac Town Park

The Winamac Town Park is under water. Winamac Park Superintendent, Don Thompson, said the back end of the park is under water and the walking paths are also under water. The water has reached the 4-H buildings in the Town Park as well.

Thompson said the Tippecanoe River is expected to crest near 11 feet Friday afternoon and the flood stage is at 10.0. According to the National Weather Service, at 11.5 feet, houses and lots could flood in the eastern parts of Winamac near the State Road 14 bridge.

Monterey Youngster Passes First Round of ‘X Factor’ Auditions

Posted on Author WKVI
Taylor Smith

Taylor Smith, of Monterey, has made it through the first round of auditions for the new Simon Cowell program, “X Factor”. The auditions were held in Chicago. The next round of auditions were held Thursday morning. The results of that round are being kept secret until “X Factor” airs.

“X Factor” will air on Fox 28 and the premiere of the program will be in September.

Captain Stubby to be Featured on Today’s ‘Ted Hayes Remembers’ Program

Posted on Author WKVI
Ted Hayes
Ted Hayes

Ted Hayes remembers 4-29

After a week off for a vacation, Ted Hayes is back today on “Ted Hayes Remembers”. This week at 12:20 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. you’ll hear an interview done 20 years ago with the late Captain Stubby.

For years, listeners in the Kankakee Valley awakened to Captain Stubby and Charles Home Bill on “Is Anybody Home.”

Captain Stubby was the perfect way to start the day.

Join Ted Hayes and the late Captain Stubby today on “Ted Hayes Remembers”.

Robbins Ditch Overflows

Posted on Author WKVI
The Robbins Ditch broke out - looking North just east of Range Road on the south side of Robbins Ditch

Starke County Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall reports that the Robbins Ditch at 400 North and Range Road in Starke County has overflowed its banks and has flooded the road and surrounding fields. The road is closed until further notice.

Photos provided by Becky Pulver of Brems. Continue reading →

Officials Meet to Discuss IU Health Starke Hospital Facility

Posted on Author WKVI
IU Health Starke Hospital

Members of the Starke County Board Commissioners and County Council met Tuesday evening in a special session with representatives of IU Health Starke Hospital to discuss options available for operation of the healthcare facility. The County leases the aging building at the corner of U.S. 35 and Culver Road to IU Health, which operates the hospital.

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Ordinance Tabled Regarding Stolen Items Purchased by Pawn Shop

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

A city ordinance regarding pawn shops in Knox purchasing stolen merchandise was brought before the council this week. The ordinance, which would primarily affect First Choice Pawn, was tabled for further consideration after a discussion between the Council and the operators of First Choice Pawn, Hank Minix and Chris Firebaugh.

City Attorney Dave Matsey modeled the ordinance after Indianapolis and Bloomington, who currently have an ordinance regarding licensing for pawn shops. The ordinance would require pawn shops to hold an item for ten days before selling it to give law enforcement time to receive theft reports and intercept stolen merchandise before the pawn shop is able to sell it. The ordinance also prohibits pawn shops from selling merchandise to intoxicated persons and establishes a fee of $25 for pawn shops to operate with a license, and establishes a procedure to follow in the event of stolen property being purchased by the pawn shop.

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