WKVI Information Center

Bob-kinojosa-presents-pat-mitchell — Bob Hinojosa presents Pat Mitchell with a plaque during the grand opening ceremony

The Starke County Community Corrections staff held a Grand Opening Tuesday for their new facility at 1911 South Heaton Street.

After opening remarks by administrator Bob Hinojosa, the Department of Corrections Commissioner, Bruce Lemon, addressed those in attendance. Lemon told Ted Hayes that the new facility was quite impressive.

“It’s a great program and a great new building so we’re excited about Starke County and Community Corrections,” said Lemon. “We fund it to the tune of $188,000 in Starke County and Starke County matches that with user fees which is a very impressive figure.”

Pulaski County Inmates Soon Back to Work

Pulaski County Sheriff's Office — Pulaski County Sheriff's Department

Inmates of the Pulaski County Jail might not have so much free time in the near future, according to Sheriff Mike Gayer who approached the Commissioners with a plan to put the inmates to work. The inmates have been used quite a bit in previous years, but because of a recent concern with injuries that practice has almost come to a halt.

Knox City Police Department Officers Alert for Mobile Meth Labs during Traffic Stops

Knox-City-Police-Chief-Clint-Norem — Knox City Police Chief Clint Norem

Elkhart police were hospitalized after they found a mobile meth lab in a vehicle and inhaled the chemicals that are used in the manufacture of the drug. WKVI talked with Knox City Police Chief, Clint Norem, and he said that officers don’t know what they’re going to come up against when they conduct a traffic stop:

Koontz Lake Residents Responsible for Sewer Hookups; Septic Fills once Sewer Plant is Functioning

The Koontz Lake sewer facilty is being constructed and should be finished in mid-2012. Paul Warnke from the Koontz Lake Sewer District was asked what the residents and business owners will be responsible for once the plant is complete.

“Homeowners and business owners do not have what is often called a connection fee or tap charge; however, they are responsible, physically and financially, for the pumping of their septic tanks, filling the septic tank with fill and then connecting a three or four inch line from their home to the grinder pump,” Warnke explained. “That is their responsibility and their sole responsibility.”

Starke County Commissioners Discuss Courthouse Safety

The Starke County Commissioners addressed the concern of safety in the Courthouse at this week’s meeting. Commissioner Kathy Norem, who is a member of the Courthouse Security Committee, recommended that signs be posted at each entrance of the courthouse advertising that no weapons, unless authorized, will be allowed in the building. It was also advised that the same signage be posted on all County buildings.

The Commissioners have talked about installing a metal detector at certain entrances and closing off the rest for safety.

Commissioners Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis agreed to the recommendation and the signs will be placed on all County buildings once the signs are produced.

Jackie Walorski Announces Her Candidacy for Congress in 2012

Jackie Walorski, who narrowly lost the 2nd District Congressional race to Joe Donnelly in November, has announced her intentions to run in the 2012 race.

“I couldn’t wait to get down here to talk to you and your listeners about it because I think the economy needs to get back on track and the country needs to get back on track,” Walorski told Ted Hayes. “All we’ve heard since January, since this last race, is more spending and more taxing and borrowing. The American people said no. I know we’re the early bird, but I think when you’re talking about an economy that’s heading for a wall I think there is no time to waste.”

March 23, 2011March 21, 2011Lenny Dessauer

TOMT-3-23-pickers

Jerry Johnson to Talk Basketball on ‘Ted Hayes Remembers’

1969 Purdue Basketball team — 1969 Purdue Basketball Team. Jerry Johnson is the third person in the second row

How many people live next door to a person who started in an NCAA Final Basketball game? Ted Hayes does.

Jerry Johnson will be Ted’s guest this Friday on “Ted Hayes Remembers”.

Back in 1969, the Purdue Boilermakers, winners of the Big 10 Conference, were seeded into the NCAA tournament. Although they were not expected to win, the Boilers ended up in the final game against John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins.

Three Plymouth Men Arrested after Police Find Mobile Meth Lab in Vehicle

Three Plymouth men, all from Plymouth, Indiana were arrested after the discovery of a mobile methamphetamine lab in the community of Fish Lake on Saturday, March 19th, 2011.

LaPorte County Police arrested 47-year-old Duwayne Amore who was charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine and Possession of Methamphetamine; 30-year-old Jacob Belcher was charged with Maintaining a Common Nuisance and 40-year-old David Gonzalez was charged with Visiting a Common Nuisance. A methamphetamine lab was located in the trunk of the vehicle.

Cause Determined in Death of LaPorte County Jail Inmate

LaPorte County Sheriff Michael Mollenhauer has released further information regarding the death of an in-custody inmate at the La Porte County Security Complex. Dead is Roy E. Young, 37, of Michigan City, Indiana. He was pronounced dead at 7:42 AM on Saturday March 19th, 2011 at Indiana University Health LaPorte Hospital.

An autopsy was performed on Monday March 21st, 2011. The official cause of death is cardiac arrhythmia induced by a drug overdose. The death is being termed “accidental.” During the autopsy, a plastic “tie off” baggie was found in the decedent’s intestinal track. Evidence is consistent with the statement given to police by Mr. Young’s cellmate that Mr. Young told him he had “swallowed cocaine” during the LaPorte Police traffic stop in an attempt to prevent being arrested for being in possession of the drug. Toxicology results are pending.

Koontz Lake Regional Sewer District Project in Progress and on Schedule

A project that began in 2002 is in the construction phase and should be completed by the summer of 2012. The Koontz Lake Sewer project is making headway and Paul Warnke of the Koontz Lake Regional Sewer District is in to talk to us about it today.

“We started initial construction of the collection system about a month ago and they’re working out there everyday, five days a week, and so far, I’d have to say we’re pretty much on target,” said Warnke.

Pulaski County Airport to Extend Runway

Pulaski-County-Commissioners — Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

The Pulaski County Airport Association Board approached the Commissioners Monday to inform them of their need to extend their runway an additional 800 ft. The runway, which is currently 4200 ft long, is required to be at least 5000 ft in order for corporate aircraft to land without jeopardizing their insurance. This is a huge issue for corporations, such as the Braun Corporation, because they are forced to lower the amount of weight on their aircraft in order to land on a shorter runway. This adds up to a substantial amount of difference in cost of operation, because the fewer trips an aircraft has to make, the better; Each time an aircraft has to shut off and then start up again, cycling the fuel through the system, it costs about $2000!

Representative Robert Behning Weighs in on Democrat Walk-Out

“The future of the Democratic process is at stake.” Those words were pronounced by Indiana’s House Majority Leader, Brian Bosma, last week in reference to the continued walk-out of 39 Democrats from their state legislative seats.

The Democrats have managed to shut down the House for a month and win concessions from Republicans on labor and education bills. As long as they hang together, the legislature is at an impasse.

Ted Hayes talked with Representative Robert Behning (R-District 91) to find out the attitude of a ranking Republican on the walkout. Behning is the Republican steering the education bill through the House. Ted asked him his general view of the walk-out.

Ryan Hovarter Named Probationary Trooper within the Indiana State Police-Lowell District

Indiana has 43 new probationary troopers assigned to state police districts throughout the State. Members of the 70th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy took their oath of office on March 4th at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center.

The recruits received approximately 917 hours of structured training since September 9th, 2010. Their curriculum included administrative subjects, general police subjects, investigations/criminal subjects, criminal and traffic law subjects.

NiSource Charitable Foundation Contributes $25,000 to Japan Relief Efforts

Merrillville, Ind.-based NiSource Inc., parent company of Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), today announced a $25,000 donation from the NiSource Charitable Foundation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund in support of its relief efforts in Japan.

Jerry Johnson to be Featured on ‘Ted Hayes Remembers’ This Friday