Walkerton Substitute Teacher Charged with Sexual Misconduct with Middle School Student

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

According to information provided by St. Joseph County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer McKinney, 20-year-old Austin Kipp, also known as Austin Csenar, was recently charged with the Level 5 Felony of sexual misconduct with a minor.

The minor, who is at least 14 years of age but less than 16 years of age, is referred to as child victim in all the official documentation and certain information was withheld from reference to protect their anonymity.

Detective Jeremy Wright with the South Bend Police Department was assigned to the St. Joseph County Special Victims Unit to investigate allegations of a substitute teacher at a Walkerton middle School engaging in sexual behavior with a student. Continue reading →

Marshall County Council Approves Appropriation for Metronet Project

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Marshall County Council members discussed an additional appropriation for the Metronet project Monday morning.

The amount was for $250,000 out of the Rainy Day Fund which is the amount St. Joseph County is expected to pay for the project.

Auditor Penny Lukenbill explained that Trinity Health sent in $125,000 for their portion of the cost in August which was appropriated last month. The county is anticipating St. Joseph County’s portion of $250,000 this week. Lukenbill stated that she wants to be prepared for when that happens.

Continue reading →

Local County Entities Receive Local Government Cooperation Award

Posted on Author WKVI
Representatives of Marshall County and St. Joseph County accept Local Government Cooperation Award
Representatives of Marshall County and St. Joseph County accept Local Government Cooperation Award

The decision to being dark fiber optic infrastructure into the counties of St. Joesph and Marshall plus the City of Plymouth has prompted the Association of Indiana Counties to award county officials for that effort.

The entities were the recipient of the 2014 Local Government Cooperation Award for the Metronet project.

The Metronet project that extends dark fiber from St. Joseph to Marshall County will assist businesses in obtaining the highest speed of internet available to streamline operations and to create economic development. The project was funded by Marshall County government, St. Joseph County government and local businesses.

Continue reading →

Pence and Walorski to Officially Open New U.S. 31

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Gov. Mike Pence, U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski and other dignitaries will be on hand for tomorrow’s ribbon cutting and dedication of the new U.S. 31 between Plymouth and South Bend. The ceremony will take place at 2:30 p.m. EDT on State Road 4 at the new U.S. 31 interchange. The road will be closed in that area from 12:30 until 3:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. During that time traffic will not be able to enter or exit the new section of highway. Continue reading →

Stolen Vehicle Wrecked in St. Joseph County

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 

An early morning joyride in a pickup truck reported stolen from a Plymouth residence ended with a crash in St. Joseph County. The owner of the white 1996 Ford F-350 pickup truck called Marshall County Dispatch early this morning to report it stolen from a lot in Gatewood Mobile Home Park on U.S. 31 in Plymouth. Continue reading →

Internet Casanova Pleads Guilty to Theft Charge

Posted on Author WKVI
Raymond Holycross
Raymond Holycross

The Marshall County man who has left a string of broken hearts and bad debt from Oregon to Indiana has pleaded guilty to a theft charge in St. Joseph County. A woman who met Raymond Holycross online last fall called the police after discovering he had pawned the expensive digital camera she loaned him. She also discovered he used several aliases to woo and swindle unsuspecting women. Holycross agreed to plead guilty to a theft charge in exchange for not serving more than 18 months in prison. The agreement also recommends he pay restitution of $956 to his victim. Holycross will be sentenced on May 8. At that time the judge can either accept his plea or throw it out and send his case to trial. He may also reduce the D felony to an A misdemeanor since Holycross hasn’t been convicted of any similar charges. He does have charges pending in other jurisdictions but is not to be moved unless the judge in St. Joseph County approves it first.

 

While the Weather Remains Calm, INDOT Prepares for More Winter Weather

Posted on Author WKVI

We’ve enjoyed a few snow free days in this new year, but don’t get too excited. As we all know, Indiana weather can change quickly from one day to the next which means we could see another big snow event at any time.

The Indiana Department of Transportation is ready for the next event as their top priority is snow and ice removal. INDOT uses all available resources to keep roads open, maximize the mobility of the traveling public and help minimize accidents due to winter traveling conditions.

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

James Strong Named Commander of the Indiana State Police Post in Bremen

Posted on Author WKVI
Commander James Strong

Indiana State Police Superintendent, Paul Whitesell, recently announced the promotion of First Sergeant, James Strong, to the rank of Lieutenant to serve as the Commander of the Indiana State Police Post in Bremen. The Bremen Post covers Marshall, St. Joseph, Kosciusko, and Elkhart Counties. Strong earned this promotion through written testing and a competitive interview process.

Continue reading →

Unemployment Report Shows Improvement

Posted on Author WKVI

The unemployment report is out for October.  Starke County went down in percentage, but went up in the state ranking.  Starke County went from 11.3% in September to an even 11% in October.  But the County moved from the ninth highest unemployment rate in the state to seventh in October.

Pulaski County and Porter County had the lowest rates in our area. Pulaski came in at 8.0% and Porter was 7.9%.  Marshall was an even 10.0%; La Porte 10.6%; Fulton 9.2%; St. Joseph 10.6% and Jasper was 8.5%.  Since the January report, Starke has dropped from 13.6% for the 11.0%; Pulaski dropped from 10.1% to 8.0% and Marshall dropped from 12.4% to 10.0%.