Memorial Day Services in Knox, Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox VFW Post #748 will be hosting Memorial Day services beginning this Sunday, May 29th. Opening ceremonies begin at Noon on Sunday with the posting of the guard for a 24-hour vigil. Congressman Joe Donnelly will be speaking, along with State Representative Nancy Dembowski and Knox Mayor Rick Chambers. The Candlelight ceremony will be Sunday at 8:30 p.m. and all of the POW MIA soldiers’ names from the Iraq and Afghanistan War will be read. At Noon on Monday, May 30th, the closing ceremonies and the retiring of the guard will be held at the Post Home. Several veterans, firefighters, police officers, and National Guard members will be standing vigil at the Post and a Civil War camp will be set up in the back of the facility.

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Retired Military Animal to Receive Purple Hearts Saturday in Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI
Maya is pictured here with Neil Berg from the Hamlet American Legion

The Hamlet American Legion is holding a chili supper benefit for Retired Military Animals on Saturday, May 28th from 3:00-8:00 p.m. at the facility. Maya, a retired military dog who was rescued by Don Thomas of the Grovertown area, will receive three purple hearts during the benefit Saturday.

Maya, a 12-year-old veteran, served in the Army as well as the Marines. During her six years of service, she saved countless lives in Afghanistan and Iraq using her bomb detecting abilities. She was rescued by Don Thomas a few years ago and was able to do so by an amendment signed by then-President Bill Clinton that allows retired military canines to have owners found for them instead of being euthanized. Saturday’s benefit will help interested individuals to take things one step further and help with the expense of housing these animals, medical expenses and the cost of food.

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Storm Wreaks Havoc in Kankakee Valley

Posted on Author WKVI
Francesville Fire Station Two sustained damage due to a tornado

Several buildings sustained damage after tornadoes touched down in Francesville Wednesday morning. Francesville Fire Chief, Tim Wuethrich, talked about the event.

“It appears that we had a tornado touch down in two spots in Francesville, maybe three,” said Wuethrich. “It took three poles out on the highway, leveled a building that we call Station Two, our other fire station. We had a fire truck in there that’s underneath the rubble. It took part of a roof off a house on the other end of town. I’ve been at Incident Command the whole time so I haven’t assessed the damage yet.” Homeowners with damaged roofs may need to hire local roofers to fix and restore their roofing systems. They may also need to find a supplier of timber roof trusses for their roof replacement project.

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Hamlet Storm Water Improvement Project Nearly Complete

Posted on Author WKVI

At their meeting Tuesday night, the Hamlet Town Board members learned that the storm water improvement project is almost complete. Paving will be done this week on Starke Street, Pearl Street, and Davis Street and the project should be done. Work has been ongoing to extend storm drains along those roads to alleviate a standing water issue in the old downtown area in Hamlet. The project came in under budget and the Board was able to use the extra funds, plus $15,000, to pave the roads after the drainage equipment was installed.

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Ted Hayes Remembers Don Paul

Posted on Author WKVI
Don Paul, Sr.

“We lost a good man last week,” said Ted Hayes. “Don Paul was one of those guys who was a good husband, a good father, and a good grandfather. He was good for 4-H in Starke County having devoted thousands of hours in his lifetime to making sure 4-Hers had good guidance, and better still, a good role model.”

“But when I think of Don Paul, I will remember him as a great team-mate with his wife, Mabel. If you know Mabel as I do, you know she’s a take charge woman in a good way. And that was alright with Don because he was always there for her. Her accomplishments, which were many, made him so proud.”

“I remember the night Mabel was honored with the Schricker Award. There wasn’t a person in the room who was happier for her, than her husband Don.”

“And his grandchildren, well, his shirt buttons popped when mentioning their accomplishments.”

“Yes, we lost a good man last week. He’ll be missed by all who knew him. But we were all richer because he lived among us. We were all richer because of the example he set.”

Hamlet, Knox Fire Crews Respond to Call Outside of Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI

Residents were tearing down a house at 2323 E. 480 N. outside of Hamlet Wednesday afternoon when a fire started and got out of control.

According to Hamlet Fire Chief, Bob Goetz, scrap from the destruction of an abandoned house on the property started on fire. The fire got out of control and spread to a garage. The Hamlet Fire Department responded to the scene as well as the Knox-Center Township Fire Department and the fire was extinguished. Minimal damage was reported to the garage. There were no injuries reported.

Hamlet Sewer Improvement Project Continues; Streets Affected to be Repaved

Posted on Author WKVI
Crews work on Davis Street in Hamlet

The Hamlet Town Board met in special session to discuss the downtown sewer improvement project.

The Board learned that $80,000 will be left over from the project. The Board will contribute $10-15,000 to ensure that all streets affected in the sewer improvement project will be repaved curb to curb. Work is currently being done on Pearl Street and Davis Street. The project is expected to last through the summer.

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News from the Town of Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI

H&G Underground continues to work on the storm water improvement project in the Town of Hamlet. The project is improving storm drainage in the old downtown area of Hamlet.

Work is currently being done on Starke Street and the piping should be finished this week. Work has also started on Pearl and Davis Streets. At their meeting Tuesday night, the Hamlet Town Board expressed their gratitude to the community for being patient during this process. It will alleviate drainage issues in the Town which have been a problem for several years.

The Hamlet Town Board also approved May 21st and 22nd as the Town-wide yard sale dates.

Hamlet Police Department Recovers Stolen Vehicle

Posted on Author WKVI
Adam Makowski

Hamlet Police Department officers recovered a stolen vehicle after a traffic stop Thursday night.

While on routine patrol, officers spotted a vehicle matching the description of a truck that was stolen in the Knox area last week. Officers ran the plate through the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and it was confirmed as the stolen vehicle. Adam Makowski was arrested and charged with Theft Receiving Stolen Property and Possession of Marijuana. Steven Sandoval was arrested and charged with Theft Receiving Stolen Property and False Informing.

Storm Water Project Begins in Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI

Work has begun on the storm water drain project in Hamlet. Workers from H & G Underground Utility have begun milling the road and placing pipe as they go.

Roads will be closed at different intervals during the project. Starke Street is closed today at Railroad Street around the Hamlet Library and north over the tracks to the stop sign on Plymouth Street. The contractors expect this section to be closed for about a week.

Boil Water Order Continues for Town of Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI

The boil water order continues for the Town of Hamlet.  The order is in effect until Wednesday, March 2nd.

The advisory was initially put into effect on Friday, February 25th after Hamlet Water Superintendent, John Goble, notified WKVI that some unknown suspect(s) opened two fire hydrants on 500 East and left them open.  The act, that occurred between 9:00-9:30 p.m. CT, drained the water tower for the Town of Hamlet.  A third hydrant was partially opened.  In two-and-a-half hours, 300,000 gallons of water was drained from the water tower.  The fire hydrants are located out by the Sysco property on 500 East.

Hamlet Police Chief, Jeremiah Patrick, told WKVI that there are no suspects at this time, but his Department is continuing to investigate the incident.

Unknown Suspects Drain Hamlet Fire Hydrants; Water Tower

Posted on Author WKVI

The Town of Hamlet is under a boil water order until further notice.

According to John Goble, Hamlet Water Superintendent, a unknown suspect or suspect(s) drained all six fire hydrants on 500 East, which has also drained the water tower. No flooding was reported as it was contained in the fields. Goble said this is a big concern as fire protection as been hindered with the loss of water.

The incident has been turned over to the Hamlet Police Department for further investigation.