A line of severe storms that ripped through the WKVI listening area Monday night left a path of destruction in their wake. Significant property damage has been reported in several areas. Jim Collins with Collins Insurance Agency in Knox urges owners to document everything and take necessary steps to protect property from further damage. Continue reading
Don’t Get Scammed by Fly-by-Night Contractors
If you sustained damage to your home or have large trees in your yard that need to be removed due to the storms that came through the area Monday night, be on the lookout for contractors seeking to cash in on the damage.
Fly-by-night contractors often go door to door after storms offering to help victims clear debris or patch up homes.
Not All November Ballot Vacancies Filled
All positions on the November General Election ballot in Starke County have not been filled, but according to Clerk Evelyn Skronski, the county party chairmen have until Thursday, July 3 at noon to certify the new filings.
Skronski said a full list of candidates could be produced on Tuesday, July 8.
Protect Your Pets
With Fourth of July weekend coming up, it’s important to keep safety in mind. If you’re a pet owner who will be shooting fireworks yourself for the holiday, there are a few tips to keep in mind in order to assure your pet is safe. Continue reading
Results of Little Miss and Little Mister Pulaski County Pageant
The Hickory Creek at Winamac hosted their annual Little Miss and Little Mister Pulaski County Pageant this week at the fair.Storms Leave Kankakee Valley in the Dark
Power is still out this morning across much of the Kankakee Valley after two lines of strong storms tore through the area last night. NIPSCO and Kanakee Valley REMC crews are working as fast as they can to restore power to affected areas. About 3,800 REMC customers in Starke, Pulaski and Marshall Counties are in the dark. More than 86,000 NIPSCO customers across the northern Indiana are without power as well. Continue reading
Indiana’s New Criminal Codes Take Effect Today
After nearly 37 years, the criminal codes in Indiana will change today which will create six levels of felonies. Credit time will also change.
Robert Hinojosa, Director of Operations at Starke County Community Corrections, said the change stemmed from a lack of proportionality.
Pulaski County Commissioners, Council Discuss Airport Manager
The Pulaski County Commissioners and the county council members met in a special joint session Monday afternoon to discuss a change in operations at the airport.
County Attorney Kevin Tankersley told the joint board that it was brought to his attention that Airport Manager Bud Wagner has several pieces of equipment in his name at the airport that are being used for work. He pays for the fuel and is paid back as pilots fuel planes. The landline telephone is also in his name as well as the internet service. Wagner is also not employed by the county.
While this is already against normal policy, he’s not being reimbursed for the use of these items.
Tankersley asked the joint board to make sure that he is an employee and that he receives benefits like all other employees. He also suggested that the county or the airport board purchase those items that Bud owns that are in use at the airport or buy items that are county owned. Tankersley also suggested that the airport pay for the fuel and create an account for the fuel in the county’s name.
The commissioners approved a motion to make Bud Wagner an employee. He will work 35 hours a week and receive benefits. The council will decide what to do with the equipment purchases. The council members will discuss what to do to adjust the airport budget to reflect these changes.
Loud Party Lands Two Teenagers in Jail
LaPorte Police arrested two teenage boys early Sunday morning after responding to a complaint of several loud juveniles at the Country Acres Apartments, including one who was exposing himself. When the officers showed up just after 4 a.m., they saw several people standing outside building #5. Continue reading
Follow Ordinances Pertaining to Fireworks
There are laws governing when fireworks can be ignited in cities and towns in Indiana.
For instance, in the city of Knox, the use, discharge or ignition of consumer fireworks by any person or other entity is prohibited in the corporate limits except between the hours of 5 p.m. and two hours after sunset from June 29 to July 3 and from July 5 to July 9. On July 4, fireworks may be discharged from 10 a.m. to midnight.
4-H Royalty Crowned Over the Weekend
One of the weekend events that kicked off this year’s Pulaski County 4-H fair was the crowning of the 4-H Royalty. There were six students in the running, two were crowned queen and king and the others will serve as their court.
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Results of the 2014 Miss Pulaski Pageant Are In
The Miss Pulaski County Pageant was on Sunday at the 4-H fair. Even though all the girls displayed excellent poise and elegance there could only be one crowned queen.
This year’s winner of the Miss Pulaski Pageant was Justine Kruger. She also walked away with the People’s Choice Award. First runner-up and winner of Miss Congeniality was Emerald Blankenship. The second runner-up was Jessica Wagner and the third runner-up was Olivea Gorby.
Pulaski County Commissioners, Council to Meet in Special Session
The Pulaski County Commissioners and the Pulaski County Council members will will meet in special session today for the purpose of discussing possible changes at the airport.
Policy updates and how things may need to change in order to move forward in the future will be topics discussed today.
Longtime West Central Superintendent Retires
A local school corporation will have a new superintendent when classes start in the fall. This is Charles Mellon’s last day at West Central. He’s retiring after 34 years with the corporation. Mellon started there as an assistant principal in 1980 and worked his way into the front office.
“It is a great place to raise a family. Most things are centered around school and church in this community. That’s what we enjoyed. A lot of our staff that come in new stay. That’s a good sign that’s a good place to live and a good, strong school corporation,” Mellon told WKVI News. Continue reading
Take a bow
Today, we say a fond farewell to our mentor, colleague and friend, Ted Hayes. Over the years, Ted has served in many capacities at WKVI: general manager, news director, commercial producer and longtime on-air personality, forging many friendships throughout the Kankakee Valley and our listening area.
June is Scleroderma Awareness Month
It affects 300,000 people in the United States and there are many more cases where it’s misdiagnosed.
Stephanie Somers, Executive Director of the Greater Chicago Chapter of the Scleroderma Foundation, said the disease is a hardening of the skin.
Summer Safety: Don’t Leave Children Unattended in a Vehicle
Summer temperatures continue to soar, and although it may seem like common sense to never keep your child in a parked car, over the past 16 years more than 600 children have died of heatstroke due to being left unattended in a vehicle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, on a 60 degree day, temperatures inside a car can reach well above 110 degrees quickly.
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Gifts to Ancilla Scholarship Funds Help Local Students
If you are thinking about ways to leave a legacy to the community, Ancilla College officials urge you to consider setting up a scholarship fund to help students further their education. Executive Director of Institutional Management Todd Zeltwanger says donors can establish a named scholarship with a minimum contribution of $25,000. The Jack and Peggy Lynch family recently set one up to help a nontraditional student attend Ancilla. Continue reading
Candidates Needed to Fill Spots on General Election Ballot
There are still a few positions left open on the November election ballot in Pulaski County that need to be filled by Monday, June 30.
Clerk Tasha Foerg said there are vacancies in several advisory board positions as well as township trustee positions on both the Republican and Democrat tickets. She added that vacancies on the Republican ticket include surveyor and county council district 2. On the Democrat ticket, there are openings for assessor, clerk, coroner, county council district 4, and prosecutor.
Pulaski County 4-H Fair Starts Tomorrow
The Pulaski County 4-H Fair gets under way tomorrow at the Winamac Town Park and continues through Thursday. Opening day highlights include the 2 p.m. EDT achievement program and the 4 p.m. fashion revue. In addition to all of the fair food, a Dan’s Fish Fry is scheduled tomorrow evening, followed by donkey races in the outdoor arena. Continue reading
