Electronic Devices Will No Longer be Accepted at Landfills after January 1st, 2011

Posted on Author WKVI
Residents brought in several computers during the last Starke County Environment Days recycling event

Beginning January 1st, 2011, Indiana households, public schools, and small businesses will no longer be able to mix unwanted computer monitors, computers, televisions, printers, computer keyboards or mice, DVD players, video cassette recorders or fax machines with municipal waste that is intended for disposal at a landfill.

Effective July 1st, 2009, the Indiana Legislature enacted the Indiana Electronic Waste Program. The program’s purpose is to reduce the amount of electronic waste being sent to Indiana landfills and ensure that hazardous substances found in electronic waster are being managed in an appropriate and environmentally responsible manner. Electronics contain heavy metals, including lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium that can be harmful if released into the environment.

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Police Officers to Patrol Indiana Roadways for Impaired Drivers during the New Year’s Day Holiday

Posted on Author WKVI

Police officers will be out during the New Year’s Day holiday weekend and they will be on the lookout for drunk drivers. Jeremiah Patrick, Coordinator of the Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership, reports that officers from the organization will be out in force this weekend. The Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership includes officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Knox City Police Department and the North Judson Police Department. Officers from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department will also be out in force to help detect drunk drivers.

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Top 10 Stories of 2010; Story #1

Posted on Author WKVI
Michael Drogosz

For the past two weeks, we have been scrolling down the top 10 stories of the year 2010. Here is the top story of 2010:

It was like a shootout from the wild-west. On February 15th, two Starke County officers tried to serve a felony warrant on Michael Drogosz at Bass Lake.

After he failed to come out, officers called for a SWAT team. Before those officers could arrive, officers Don Ferguson and Bill Dulin took fire from inside the residence. With bullets whizzing too close for comfort, the officers fired back in self defense.

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Tuesday Night Men’s League 12/28/10

Posted on Author WKVI

Tuesday Night Men’s League 12/28/10
Team Standings:
1. Quarter’s 86.0-26.0
2. Konrad Cabinets 69.0-43.0
3. 1st Choice Pawn 64.0-48.0
4. Marks Body Shop 59.0-53.0
5. Sandbar 58.0-54.0
6. Hensleys 57.0-55.0
7. WKVI 56.0-56.0
8. Bowlaway Lanes 50.0-62.0
9. Half Track 46.0-66.0
10. Fishers 45.0-67.0
11. Simonis 42.0-70.0
12. Time Out 40.0-72.0

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Minor Earthquake Hits Central Indiana

Posted on Author WKVI

An earthquake about five miles below the ground hit north central Indiana shortly before sunrise Thursday morning.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 3.8 magnitude earthquake centered five miles southeast of Greentown, Indiana. According to published reports, the Indiana Geological Survey had no records of an earthquake this size in Central Indiana ever.

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State Senator Ed Charbonneau Discusses Criminal Sentencing Procedures

Posted on Author WKVI
State Senator Ed Charbonneau

Editors note: Recently the Pew Center on the States and the Council of State Government Justice Center released a report on Indiana’s criminal sentencing procedures. WKVI’s Ted Hayes had an opportunity to interview the ranking member of the Senate’s Appropriation Committee this week, and what follows are Fifth District Senator Ed Charbonneau thoughts on the subject:

“One of the challenges of my position is being responsible on the senate side for the school funding formula. I’ve been sitting in on all budget committee hearings recently. These meetings give a preliminary view of what the recommendations, or requests are going to be for the next budget cycle. The Department of Corrections was one of the departments that came to those meetings. Some pretty stunning numbers came from those presenting the DOC’s needs.”

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News from the Knox City Council

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

The Knox City Council learned that the City of Knox received a storm water infrastructure project grant worth $837,095. The Council will be providing a 20% match of $166,000 toward this project.

Clerk-Treasurer, Jeff Houston, announced that new tables and chairs have been ordered for the Knox Community Center. The dance floor was repaired and the carpets cleaned. The Council plans to review procedures for the Community Center in the near future.

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Starke County Commissioners Discuss Snow Days and Pay for County Employees

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

On December 13th, Starke County had a level one snow emergency, prompting the County Commissioners to close the Courthouse. That brought up the question of “should employees be paid when the courthouse is closed?”

It was noted that no policy is in place to address this question. At the last Commissioners meeting, it was decided to pay the employees for that day, but in the future, “snow days” must be used as a vacation day, or a non-paid day. Sick days cannot be used for this type of situation.

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Right to Work Legislation Bills Filed in the Indiana House

Posted on Author WKVI
Indiana Statehouse

With sizeable majorities in both Houses, will State Republicans push for legislation that would prevent workers from being required to pay union dues? House Labor Committee Chairman, Doug Gutwein (R-Francesville), has indicated that he personally likes the idea, but would not predict whether it will be debated this session. Bills have already been filed in the House on Right to Work legislation.

Governor Mitch Daniels, though, is not too excited to promote the legislation, wanting the legislators to concentrate on school, local government, and criminal justice reform.

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Knox Man Arrested on Charges of Rape, Sexual Battery

Posted on Author WKVI
Virgil Noble

Virgil Noble of Knox was arrested at his home on Tuesday, December 28th. He was arrested on a warrant issued by the Starke Circuit Court on two counts of Rape, a Class B Felony and two counts of Sexual Battery, a Class D Felony. He is currently out of the Starke County Jail on bond.

Noble’s initial hearing in Starke Circuit Court is set for January 7th, 2011.