Lightning Strikes Washington Twp. Home – Blasts Thermostat Across Room

Posted on Author WKVI
David Pearman

“It’s amazing what lightning can do when it really strikes a home.”

These are the words of Assistant Fire Chief Dave Pearman, who arrived at a home in Washington Township in response to a reported lightning strike to find that the house had suffered a direct lightning strike at roughly 8 p.m. on Saturday.

According to Pearman, the power of the lightning strike caused nearly every electrical device in the home to overload, shorting them out. He said it also blew apart the phone boxes, caused a fire to develop behind the electrical box, and blasted the thermostat off the wall, launching it nearly eight feet across the room.

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Work Session To Be Held Regarding Knox Elementary Palmer Wing

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Community School Board will hold a work session on Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. to discuss the possible elementary facility project.

Residents are encouraged to attend this event and give their opinion on what the board should do with the Palmer Wing of the elementary school. The board has been getting updates from the Elementary Facility Study Committee; Architects Barton, Coe, Villema and financial representatives Umbaugh and Associates, and the groups have been discussing all options available.

The Palmer Wing is deteriorating and can no longer house all of the technology and necessary needs in that section of the elementary school. The board has the options of doing nothing, tearing down the Palmer Wing and building a new structure in its place, or rehabilitating the current structure.

The board will meet in the Knox Community Elementary School All-Purpose Room and will take comments from the public. No action will be taken at this meeting.

CASA Accepting Volunteer Training Applications

Posted on Author WKVI

Representatives of the Starke County Court-Appointed Special Advocate program have announced the program is now taking applications for their fall volunteer training.

CASA volunteers work to help children find safe, permanent homes where they can thrive, as it is not uncommon in Starke County for abused and neglected children to be taken from their homes and placed into temporary foster care because their parents cannot or will not care for them. Each advocate is specially trained to look out for the child’s best interests.

CASA encourages anyone interested to call (574) 772-7200 for more information. The beginning of the fall training class has been scheduled for Sept. 18, with a deadline to apply of Aug. 18. For those who would like to invest their time and attention in becoming a powerful voice for local children, call CASA or email starkecountycasa@yahoo.com.

Clean-Up Continues In Wythogan Park

Posted on Author WKVI
This is just an example of the devastation at Wythogan Park.

Knox Park Board President Kurt Snearly says Wythogan Park is still closed to the general public, but loggers and tree service professionals will soon be hired to help clean up the hundreds of trees, branches and limbs that littered the park after a huge storm rolled through Knox on July 24.

Snearly says the park employees are doing their best to clean up as much as possible and progress has been made. Loose branches are still hanging from atop many mangled trees and until those are taken care of, the park will remain closed.

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers is working on getting quotes for clean-up and removal of debris.

Marsh Manor Purchased In Tax Sale – Buyer Unhappy

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

Knox City Attorney David Matsey told the city council this week that Marsh Manor, located at 304 S. Main St., was recently sold in the county’s online tax sale.

Matsey says the woman who purchased the property was unaware that the building had previously caught fire, and he says she paid about $15,000 in a bidding war on the property. The back-taxes on the property are currently around $18,000.

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Owners of Five Seized Horses To Face Animal Cruelty Charges

Posted on Author WKVI

After the Starke County Sheriff’s Department received a flood of calls reporting five horses in the roadway on Sunday night, the animals were seized and are being cared for. Now the owner is facing charges of cruelty to animals.

At least two of the loose horses appeared emaciated and unkempt, and the five animals had escaped their pen and were walking in the middle of the road. They were picked up by the sheriff’s department and are now being cared for by the Starke County Sheriff’s Posse.

County Prosecutor Nick Bourff says the large commotion created by the concerned citizens who made the calls out of concern for the animals’ well-being is what prompted the sheriff’s department to take action and seize the animals.

Bourff says this is the first time they have filed any charges on the owners of these five animals.

Knox Man Arrested For Theft of Lawn Tractor

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man was arrested after he allegedly broke into a home in Knox on Saturday.

A resident living in the 1800 block of County Road 300 East in Knox called the Starke County Sheriff’s Department to report that an unknown person broke into her home and stole several items. The shed on the property had also been broken into and a lawn tractor was stolen. The lawn tractor was later found in a shed at a residence near the crime scene.

Officers obtained a search warrant for that residence and on Monday, the items that were reported stolen were recovered. Patrick Sullivan, 36, was at the home at the time the search warrant was conducted and was taken into custody. Sullivan has preliminary charges of Theft and Receiving Stolen Property.

Storm Cleanup Still Underway In Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers

The City of Knox continues to clean up from the ferocious storm on July 24.

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers says the city is trying to keep up with brush pick-up, but with the street department’s regular duties and the brush overload, an outside contractor has been hired to aid the street department in brush pick-up.

Brush in the alleys will be picked up last as the street department sifts through the debris. Mayor Chambers says the brush in the alleys may be left until next month. He asks that residents be patient while clean-up continues in the city.

Drew’s Gift Fundraiser To Be Held Saturday

Posted on Author WKVI
Drew Shearin

A fundraiser to help a fund that puts musical instruments in the hands of future musicians will be held Saturday, August 4. The fund is “Drew’s Gift”, which was set up by the late Drew Shearin’s family. His mother, Deb Johnson, talks about what we can expect during Saturday’s event.

“It is at the Washington Township Fire Department and doors will open at 2 p.m.,” said Johnson. “We’re having a hog roast, live music, a live auction, a motorcycle ride and a truck ride. You can go on the website drewshearinmusic.com and all of the information is there.”

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Tough Decision In Future For Starke County TRIAD

Posted on Author WKVI
Community Services of Starke County
Community Services of Starke County

The Starke County TRIAD has a tough decision before them regarding the fate of the organization. TRIAD Treasurer Joan Haugh says they will soon decide whether to disband the organization entirely or join the LaPorte County TRIAD, and she says members appear to be leaning toward disbanding.

Haugh says that even if the organization is discontinued, many programs and services offered by the agency would fall on the shoulders of Community Services of Starke County. She says the File of Life program and Beacon Flashers program would continue, and Community Services would still provide seniors with advice about the latest scams and frauds. She says they would also work with the Starke County Environmental Management Agency and the DEA in establishing pill drops throughout the year.

While some members of TRIAD have not yet voiced their votes on whether to disband or join LaPorte County, Haugh says they will likely make the decision at the agency’s next meeting.

For more information on TRIAD or Community Services, contact Haugh at (574) 772-7070.

13-Year-Old Found and Returned Home in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI
13-year-old James A. Chapman was reported missing Wednesday afternoon.

A 13-year-old boy has been found and returned home safely after he was reported missing in Starke County at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police say that James A. Chapman left his home in the 5000 East block of 100 North through a bedroom window and was seen a short time later, approximately one-quarter of a mile east of his residence.

Family and friends were contacted but no one had seen him for several hours after he was discovered missing. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department released a runaway report at 6 p.m. last evening.

The sheriff’s department announced that he was returned home safely before 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Three INDOT Projects Underway Near Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI

The Indiana Department of Transportation is working on three different projects in the Starke County area.

Crews are removing tree debris on State Road 8 between State Road 39 and U.S. 35. The debris was caused by the storms that roared through the area on Tuesday, July 24. Travel is restricted to one lane and this project could continue through the week.

State Road 39 between State Road 8 and U.S. 30 is closed during the day for pipe replacement. The road is open at night, and this project is expected to continue for the next two weeks.

Crews are also resurfacing U.S. 35 between the U.S. 30 intersection and U.S. 6. Chip and seal work is expected to continue through the week. Drivers are asked to proceed on that road with caution, as loose gravel will be present.

Starke County Jail Public Information Meetings Come to a Close

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Sheriff's Department

The last Starke County Jail Committee public meeting was held last night at the North Judson-San Pierre High School Auditorium. Commission President Kathy Norem was asked what kinds of questions residents have been asking about the proposed jail project.

“Most of the questions centered around the financing and how the figure was derived,” commented Norem. “There weren’t too many questions asked about the jail itself. The questions were mainly about the financing.”

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Knox Business Looking to Mount Antenna On Water Tower

Posted on Author WKVI
NITLine's tower was bent nearly to the ground from the force of the storm.

A Knox business has hit a bit of a setback in the wake of the July 24 storms. NITLine CEO Jerry Shepherd approached the city council this week seeking “immediate approval” to establish a wireless internet tower on the city’s water tower. He said this is an emergency case because his tower near the NITLine building on Main Street had been critically damaged in the storms, and he needs to get his internet service up and running as soon as possible for his customers.

Shepherd requested approval to mount an antenna on the East Street water tower because of its central location. Several antennas have already been mounted on the water tower, including the Knox Community Schools communication equipment and a number of antennas for DC Technologies. Shepherd said his antenna would have no conflicts with the current equipment, and he says the liability would be covered.

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Two Arrested After Police Receive Accidental Text of a Drug Sale

Posted on Author WKVI

Two Knox residents were arrested Tuesday on drug charges.

A deputy from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department reportedly received a text message from an unknown person asking about a drug transaction. The text reportedly talked about selling methamphetamine, and police say the message requested to meet the subject at the Knox Post Office. Officers from the Knox City Police Department arrived on scene and waited for the transaction to take place. When it was complete, officers moved in and arrested 53-year-old Tony Clemons and 44-year-old Deborah Clemons of Knox on a preliminary charge of Dealing Methamphetamine.

Multiple bags of methamphetamine were found in their possession.

Two Arrested Following Residential Search In Knox

Posted on Author WKVI

A search warrant was executed that allowed officers from the Knox City Police Department to arrest two on drug charges.

Officers received information about narcotics being sold at a residence in Knox and, with that information, the officers applied for a search warrant. Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall signed the search warrant and it was executed Tuesday afternoon at 1560 S. 300 E. in Knox.

As a result of that search, police found an indoor marijuana growing operation and the suspects in the case were found to be in possession of marijuana.

Justin Back, 28, and Mitchell Thompson, 28, of Knox were arrested on preliminary charges of Dealing in Marijuana and Possession of Marijuana.

HealthLinc Holds Back to School Health and Wellness Fair

Posted on Author WKVI
Residents visit the HealthLinc Back to School Health and Wellness Fair

HealthLinc, Inc. hosted a Back to School Health and Wellness Fair yesterday afternoon at the Knox HealthLinc Clinic. Uninsured and underinsured children were able to receive immunizations and sports physicals for the start of the school year.

HealthLinc Site Manager, Angie Gardner talks about other activities during yesterday’s event.

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Detectives Investigating Inmate Injury At Starke County Jail

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Sheriff's Department

An internal investigation is being conducted into allegations of how an inmate was injured in the Starke County Jail.

Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen confirmed that an inmate was injured while incarcerated in the jail. Luther Lovins had been arrested by North Judson police on July 12 for a charge of Disorderly Conduct. He was released on July 26.

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