Winamac Man Arrested after Driving under the Influence

Posted on Author WKVI

Jeremy Miller, 33, of Winamac, was arrested Saturday after he was found to be driving under the influence.

Pulaski County Police were called to the town of Pulaski after a call was received about a man who reportedly had driven from a residence with his three children and he had been drinking. An officer pulled over Miller’s vehicle and his mother pulled up in a truck across the street. The officer allowed Miller’s three children to be taken from the scene into the custody of his mother. Police then conducted several sobriety tests and Miller allegedly failed every one. A portable breath test showed that he was over the legal limit. He was transported to the Pulaski County Jail.

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Pulaski County Police Arrest Rochester Man for Battery

Posted on Author WKVI

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Rochester man after he allegedly battered his wife on Sunday.

The victim told police that she and Derek Keller were drinking and they were on their way home when an argument ensued. Keller reportedly struck the victim with a closed fist in the forehead. She grabbed the keys out of the ignition and the vehicle stopped in the roadway. She ran to a home nearby and the homeowner drove her home and she called police.

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Two North Judson Residents Arrested on Methamphetamine Charges

Posted on Author WKVI

Two North Judson men were arrested on Tuesday, January 17th after Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department officers reportedly found items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine in their vehicle.

Police initiated a traffic stop at County Road 800 North and U.S. 421. The officer notified the driver, Donald Fletcher, that the license plates did not match the vehicle. Fletcher said he didn’t have the money to get the proper plates and he reportedly told police that he knew they weren’t the right plates and Starke County police recently towed the vehicle for the same reason.

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North Judson Woman Arrested on Battery Charges

Posted on Author WKVI

A North Judson woman was arrested in Pulaski County on Tuesday, January 17th after reportedly hit a police officer as she was being placed into custody.

Pulaski County officers were called to a residence in Medaryville after Sharon Nielsen was in a verbal argument with her husband. Her husband told police that she came home from the bar and an argument began. Nielsen had gone out to her car and her husband locked the door behind her. She began breaking windows and he called police. He said he wasn’t going to let her back into the house if she continued her destructive behavior.

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Uninsured Meth Users May Contribute to Closure of Burn Centers

Posted on Author WKVI

Many burn centers are being taxed to the point of considering closing because they are being filled with uninsured burn patients who come in with meth related injuries.

Most of these patients are reportedly using a simple method of producing meth by putting ingredients in a two liter soda bottle. Just one simple error can cause an explosion, resulting in burns over the entire body.

The average medical bill is $130,000.

Police and medical officials are spreading the word about this dangerous practice.

DNR Warns to Check Thickness of Ice

Posted on Author WKVI

DNR officials are warning you about walking on ice. A LaPorte man was rescued Sunday after falling through the ice on Clear Lake. LaPorte Fire Department officials found the man in water about eight feet deep.

Firefighters wearing proper cold suits went into the water and tied a line to the man. He was pulled to safety onto a floating sled.

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More Candidates File in Pulaski County Clerk’s Office

Posted on Author WKVI

Several candidates filed for the 2012 Election in the Pulaski County Clerk’s Office last week.

On the Republican ticket, Michael Troy “Big Mike” Tiede filed for County Commissioner in District 2 and Steven Nellans and Jerry “Jay” Sullivan, Jr. filed for at-large seats on the County Council.

Democrat Sheila K. Garling filed for Pulaski County Auditor.

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Offers 911 Public Education Classes

Posted on Author WKVI

The staff at the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is offering 911 public education classes to groups who are interested.

911 public education informs children how and when to call 911 and what to do when the 911 operator answers. The classes also teach adults about the questions 911 operators must ask in order to dispatch the appropriate assistance.

Officials can talk to school groups, pre-school groups, church groups or any other group who is interested in gathering as much information as possible on the 911 procedures.

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Township Trustee Bill to be Discussed in House Committee

Posted on Author WKVI

A bill that could impact all counties in our listening area could come up for a committee vote on Friday.

Members of a House of Representatives could vote on a bill that would dramatically change the way government operates in each county. If the bill became law, county residents would have the option of retaining or eliminating townships. The responsibilities the township trustees now coordinate would be handed over to the county. Even if voters decided through an election to keep the trustee offices. the responsibility in some areas would be changed. For instance, cemetery maintenance and weed control would move to the county, as well as the funding for poor relief.

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Man Damages Pulaski County Justice Center Doors

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

The Pulaski County Commissioners this week received some disturbing news: according to Maintenance Director Morry Demarco, someone had gotten very upset at the justice center and slammed the doors hard enough to cause some extensive damage.

“They slammed the doors open real hard, both sets of doors, and twisted the one door frame and bent three hinges on it. So the hinges had to be taken off and replaced and straightened, and the door frame had to be straightened on one door, but they’re in good working order now,” said DeMarco.

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Francesville Woman Arrested on Possession, OVWI Charges

Posted on Author WKVI

A Francesville woman was arrested Thursday after she reportedly was operating a vehicle under the influence of controlled substances.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department had received a call about an intoxicated driver and police found Samantha Davis’ vehicle at 1726 W. 560 S. The vehicle was off the road stuck in a large snow bank. Police found the driver, Davis, in the passenger side of the vehicle. The officer tried talking to her but he stated in the police report that she was having a hard time focusing and talking. She was asked to step back to the police car and she reportedly stumbled to the car. The officer asked for her ID and she had a difficult time retrieving her wallet from the car. The officer also reportedly found marijuana in her vehicle.

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Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Statistics for 2011

Posted on Author WKVI

Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer released the Department’s statistics for 2011.

The Department investigated 384 accidents which is a decrease from 2010, deputies investigated 220 car vs. deer accidents, 35 burglaries, 114 thefts, 45 drug cases, 6 child molesting cases, 8 residential entry calls and 23 battery incidents. There were 7,275 total dispatch calls in 2011.

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More Candidates File for Office

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Clerk’s Office received three candidate filings in the first week. Kasey Clark has filed for Starke County Treasurer and Robert (Bob) Sims filed for Starke County Council at Large seat on the Democratic ticket. Clark is currently in the office filling the term of Linda Belork who was removed from the office in August of 2011. Democrat Dennis Estok filed last week for the office of Starke County Surveyor.

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Handful of Candidates File on First Day

Posted on Author WKVI

Yesterday was the first day to file for candidacy in this year’s election.

One person filed in Starke County. Dennis Estok filed for Starke County Surveyor on the Democrat ticket.

In Pulaski County, Christi Hoffa filed for Recorder, Lynette Wilder filed for Treasurer, Joni Frain filed for State Delegate and Sam Frain also filed for State Delegate. All of the Pulaski County candidates filed on the Republican ticket.

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Winamac Woman Arrested on Possession Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Michelle Hanson

A Winamac woman was arrested on Wednesday after police found her in possession of a controlled substance.

A Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputy found a vehicle parked at the intersection of Adams and Monticello Street but didn’t initially see anyone in the car. The officer approached the vehicle and saw a woman, Michelle Hanson, sitting in a reclined seat in the vehicle. The officer knocked on the window several times until she opened the door. The officer asked what she was doing there and she replied that she had a few drinks with her friend and they went shopping. She said her friend stopped at that location and dropped her off. When the officer spoke to Hanson, he could tell that she had been drinking.

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Pulaski County Community Development Commission Looks Forward to New Year

Posted on Author WKVI

The Pulaski County Community Development Commission Board members have a lot of projects on tap for this year.

“We’re going to continue to build our efforts towards some Youth Retention programming,” said Executive Director, Nathan Origer. “Ideally, we’d like to get some non-voting youth members on our board contributing. We are planning an Economic Summit for probably late spring and this year it’s going to focus on entrepreneurial development, business start-ups, people who have a business and need to figure out how to take the next step in expanding their businesses and sustaining their businesses.”

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Robert Reed Initial Hearing Held in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Robert Reed

Robert Reed, of LaPorte, was in Starke Circuit Court last week where he pleaded not guilty to charges of Robbery, Receiving Stolen Property, and Resisting Law Enforcement as a Class D Felony and a Class A Misdemeanor charge.

The charges stem from an incident on May 22nd, 2011, when Robert Reed and Murriah Dailey allegedly stole items from Marvin Miller’s home. Police were alerted to the incident and they were found riding a motorcycle on State Road 10. An officer from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department attempted a traffic stop on County Road 750 West, they stopped and then took off and a pursuit began. The pursuit ended just past County Road 400 South. The motorcycle ran into soft dirt in a corn field and the pair fled from the motorcycle. A K9 unit was deployed and stopped Murriah Dailey, and Reed was detained by the K9 but later fled on foot. Dailey was in custody in the back of a North Judson Police car and she attempted to drive away in the car. The car was shot at and disabled and she was tased to gain compliance. She was taken to the Starke County Jail after she was medically cleared from IU Health Starke Hospital.

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