DeMotte State Bank Relay for Life Pageant Draws 33 Contestants

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Sunday’s inaugural Relay for Life Pageant, sponsored by DeMotte State Bank, drew an astounding 33 contestants, ranging in age from 1 to 18.

Coordinator Candice Miller hopes to raise $1,500 for cancer research through a combination of entry fees, ticket and concession sales and other donations. Miller says many of the contestants are taking part because proceeds benefit cancer research. That’s also why the DeMotte State Bank is fielding a team. Miller is a cancer survivor, and says many members of the bank’s close-knit staff have been touched by the disease.

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Recommended Plea Bargain for Miller Filed in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse
A recommendation for a plea agreement has been filed in the case of former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller. Special Prosecutor Michael Krebes has filed the recommended plea agreement with the St. Joseph County Court in which Miller would plead guilty to three counts. Special Judge Jerome Frese took the recommendation under advisement.

The recommendation would sentence Miller to three years on each count to be served concurrently, and each of those sentences would be suspended to be served on probation. In addition, Miller would be required to pay court costs, probation fees, and serve one year on home detention through Starke County Community Corrections. She would also be required to pay $52,044 in restitution per a negotiated settlement with the Indiana Attorney General’s office.

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NJ-SP Graduate to Accompany Soldier’s Remains to Arlington National Cemetery

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A North Judson-San Pierre graduate will be accompanying the remains of a Korean War soldier to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Army Lt. Col. Timothy W. Miller will be guarding the casket of Lt. Col. Don Faith Jr., of Washington, Indiana, to Faith’s final resting place in the most prestigious cemetery in the world. This is a huge honor that has been bestowed on the former Starke County resident.

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Irish Pub in North Judson to Host Annual 5K Run/Walk

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Irish Pub in North Judson will soon be hosting their Second Annual Irish Pub 5K Run/Walk event, planned for Saturday, May 11 at 10 a.m. Jenny Craig of the pub told WKVI’s Tom Berg that all donations from the event will go to the Hoosier Burn Camp, a summer camp experience for young men and women who have experienced injuries from burns. Craig said the pub is still looking for sponsors and participants of all ages to participate in the event.

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Telephonic Conference to be Held in Case of Connie Miller

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A telephonic conference concerning former North Judson Town Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller’s case will be held this morning at 10 a.m. ET. St. Joseph County Judge Jerome Frese will preside over the telephone conference and Special Prosecutor Michael Krebes from Howard County will be handling the case for the State. Todd Wallsmith is representing Miller.

Connie Miller is accused of taking $74,408.67 from the town of North Judson during the time in which she served as the town’s Clerk-Treasurer from Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2011.

Ten counts have been filed against Miller; nine counts of Theft and one count of Official Misconduct, which are Class D Felonies. The charges, which were filed Aug. 22, allege that Miller took unauthorized control over cemetery lot sales, utility receipts, and other deposits and payments from the town.

North Judson Changes Due Dates for Town Service Bills

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The North Judson Town board recently approved a change in the monthly due date for the bills for water, waste, sanitation, hydrant, and trash services. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained that beginning in July, these monthly bills will be due on the 12th day of each month.

The current due date is the 15th day of each month, and Henry explained that the change in the due date is to allow the town to adjust the scheduling dates involved in the monthly billing cycle.

The board also approved the purchase of a steel walkway over the oxidation ditch, allowing town employees to safely walk around or over the ditch rather than walk along it. Henry said the board received information on the matter from Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann, and approved the purchase order to Kankakee Valley Steel for $12,870.

North Judson Fire Chief Urges Caution Against Brush Fires

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The North Judson Town Board this week heard from Fire Chief Joe Leszek, who informed the board that most of the fires that the department has been dealing with lately have been brush fires, and he is emphasizing the need for caution this time of year because of how dry the environment is. Dry leaves and brush can easily ignite, and Leszek is urging residents to err on the side of caution when dealing with anything flammable outside.

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Kankakee River Basin Commission Holds Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Kankakee River Basin Commission met Thursday at the Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Headquarters in North Judson.

A report was given by a Three-County Drainage Board representative and officials are busy trying to gather paperwork in order to purchase a home on the Marshall/Starke County line. They are hoping to raze the home as erosion has caused an unstable ground condition on a sand bluff and the home could very well fall into the Yellow River. The drainage board will continue working with the Kankakee River Basin Commission and the Department of Homeland Security in following the proper procedures to complete this project.

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North Judson Highland Cemetery Rules and Regulations Signs Installed

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The North Judson Highland Cemetery now has two new aluminum signs in replacement of the older wooden sign that Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said had become dilapidated and disintegrated over the years. The town board had previously signed off on a quote of $860 for two new signs, one of which was posted at the main entrance while the smaller sign has been posted at the secondary entrance on the east side.

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North Judson to Soon Repair U.S. 30 Railroad Crossing Near Hanna

Posted on Author WKVI
 

The town of North Judson received help from state representatives Douglas Gutwein and Tom Dermody, as well as Senator Ed Charbonneau and INDOT Representative Robert Alderman with the goal of obtaining funds to proceed with the repairs to the railroad crossing on U.S. 30 near Hanna. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said the town has been working on getting the project under way since last summer.

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Volunteers Carry Cross to Raise Awareness of Community Issues

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The organizers of an Easter-eve walk from Knox to North Judson hope their event will raise awareness of many problems that plague Starke County.

“One person can’t fix it all, but as a community we can come together, and we can show these people that we care about ’em,” organizer Jerry Bacon told the crowd prior to the start of the event. “We don’t want to see ’em all thrown in jail because they’re all addicted to drugs. We want to see ’em delivered from that. We want to see ’em set free from that addiction. We don’t want to see people without jobs. We want to see jobs brought into our community and people working and taken out of the situations they’re in.”

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North Judson Town Board Approves Quote for Highland Cemetery Signs

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Highland Cemetery in North Judson will soon be sporting some new signs, as the town board this week signed off on a quote of $860 for two new signs, one of which will be posted at the main entrance while a smaller sign will be posted at the secondary entrance. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained the larger sign will highlight the recently amended cemetery rules and regulations; the smaller sign, she said, will direct visitors to the main entrance sign.

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North Judson Reimbursed Part of Allegedly Embezzled Funds

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The town of North Judson recently received a check from their insurance company for the alleged embezzlement of cemetery lot sales, utility receipts, and other deposits and payments from the town by former clerk-treasurer Connie Miller. Current Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained that the insurance company issued a check in the amount of $51,791.13, and Henry said that she has since sent a detailed list to the State Board of Accounts of which departments will be credited with portions of that money, and, following their approval, issued those credits to the department.

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NJ-SP Kindergarten Registration Set for April 16

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

North Judson-San Pierre kindergarten registration is Tuesday, April 16 from 5–7 p.m. at the elementary school.

You are asked to take your child’s birth certificate, immunization record and Social Security card when they register your child. Both of you will be able to visit kindergarten classrooms and meet kindergarten teachers.

If you are unable to attend this registration, visit the school office to register your child.

You child must be the age of five on or before Aug. 1 to enter kindergarten.

March Madness Snowstorm Socks Kankakee Valley

Posted on Author WKVI

It’s a whole different kind of March Madness across the Kankakee Valley this morning. Roads are slick and snow-covered after a late season overnight snowstorm. This is making for hazardous travel. If you do have to be out, allow yourself plenty of time to reach your destination, and remember, ice and snow, take it slow. Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, brake early and accelerate slowly. If you see a snow plow, stay back and give it plenty of room to operate. Don’t tailgate or try to pass a plow truck, as the roadway will be clearer behind the plow than in front of it.

You can check road conditions anywhere in the state by visiting www.trafficwise.in.gov or by dialing toll-free 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) for updated Indiana travel information, including road conditions, road closures, construction information and other traffic alerts.

Snow should taper off into flurries by midday, but additional snowfall is expected tonight and into tomorrow before temperatures warm up into the 40s by the middle of the week. Fortunately the snow will not be a factor for schools today, as most school systems within the WKVI listening area are on spring break this week. However, if we receive word of any other weather-related closings or delays we will pass it along on the closings and delays page at www.wkvi.com as well as on the air and on our Facebook page.

 

Meth Investigation Nets One Arrest

Posted on Author WKVI
Henry Wood
Henry Wood

A Starke County man is jailed on meth charges after an investigation yesterday by deputies from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office. They found Henry Wood and his dog sitting in the passenger seat of a tan vehicle parked at 3131 South State Road 39 in North Judson. Wood consented to a search of the vehicle, and deputies reportedly found an inactive meth lab and other articles used in the manufacture of meth. Wood faces charges of dealing in methamphetamine. The Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team was called in to assist with the cleanup.