Notes from the WKVI News Desk

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox Park Superintendent, George Byer, announced this week that Wythogan and Sandy Acres parks have opened. The swings will be up by next week and the water will be turned on in the next few days. Byer said everything will be ready for the children during spring break.

WKVI Radio has learned that a former resident of Knox, Helen Sands, has passed away in San Antonio, Texas. She had resided near her son Larry for a number of years. Helen Sands, in the early days of WKVI Radio, was a frequent guest on the night-time music shows and she shared her record collection. She was at one time an employee of the Starke County Highway Department. A memorial service is planned for Mrs. Sands next week in Knox.

Special Prosecutor Named to Impropriety Case

Posted on Author WKVI

A special prosecutor has been named to handle the case against Sheriff Oscar Cowen in which claims of impropriety were filed by former deputy Don Ferguson. Curtis Hill of Elkhart County has been named, but he has not yet accepted the position. Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff petitioned for a special prosecutor because of his close work relationship with the Starke County Police.

The Special Judge assigned to the case, Honorable Jeffrey Thode of Porter Superior Court #6 located in Portage, Ind., will replace Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall who issued an Order of Recusal and Assignment of a Special Judge to the case.

IU Health Starke Hospital Staff Praised for Turning Around Hospital

Posted on Author WKVI
Thor Thordarson

The President and CEO of the LaPorte Regional Health System visited with the administrative team and Community Hospital Board at IU Health Starke Hospital this week. Thor Thordarson praised the leadership team for turning around the hospital that he said was losing money before they arrived.

“I came down here to congratulate the board and the leadership team for doing a fabulous job over the last several years, and really turning this hospital around from losing millions of dollars a year a few years ago to having a healthy operating margin in 2011,” stated Thordarson. “I know it’s been difficult here for the last few years so it’s very nice to see the fruits of all those very difficult decisions came out and good quality health care and financial results happen.”

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Legislators Pass Weakened Smoking Bill

Posted on Author WKVI

“It’s better than nothing.” That’s how authors of a smoking ban bill described their feelings after the measure passed the legislature this year. Even though it was passed, the measure was so watered down at the end that legislators were hard pressed to think of a place that will be affected. 17th District Democrat Representative Nancy Dembowski talks about the bill.

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More Funds Received to Help Starke County Residents with Heating Bills

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

Community Services of Starke County has received additional funds to help low income families pay home heating bills.

If you have already received assistance this heating season from November 2011 to today, no additional funds are available for you. Applications for this new funding will only be accepted for those that will be applying for the first time this heating season in Starke County.

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Open House Scheduled for Two Retirees from IU Health Starke Hospital

Posted on Author WKVI
IU Health Starke Hospital

The year was 1952. Harry Truman was President of the United States, Rocky Marciano was the Heavyweight Boxing Champion, the New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series, and Rosanne Barr and Mr. T were babies.

In 1952, Edith Gurrado began a job in the dietary department at Starke Memorial Hospital – a position that she would hold for 60 continuous years. That streak ended recently when Edith announced her retirement from IU Health Starke Hospital.

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Fundraiser Scheduled for Those Affected by Tornadoes

Posted on Author WKVI
Tornadoes ravaged the Salyersville, Kentucky area

Twelve days after a devastating tornado hit Salyersville, Kentucky, construction crews are rebuilding roofs and stabilizing structures. County Judge Charles Hardin said the tornado destroyed more than 190 houses and about 80 buildings in the community with 1,900 residents.

Debbie Mix, the Executive Director-Coordinator of the Starke County Chamber of Commerce-Tourism Commission has announced that a Gospel Music Jam will be held on Saturday, March 24th at 3:00 p.m. at Grand Central Station in North Judson. This will be a fundraiser for the Tornado victims of Magoffin County, Kentucky. The event will feature local music groups and singers. If you plan on attending, bring a covered dish, if possible.

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Congressman Joe Donnelly Cautious about Getting Involved in Syria

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

While some in Congress are beating the drums to get involved in Syria, Congressman Joe Donnelly is urging caution.

“It’s a very unstable situation and I don’t see how us getting into the middle of it would help,” Donnelly said.

It’s estimated over 8,000 people have been killed as the Syrian government attempts to put down the popular revolt. Sen. John McCain is one who has advocated doing something, if only using air power.

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Hunter Education Class Scheduled for a Weekend in April

Posted on Author WKVI

Indiana Conservation Officers are offering a free Hunter Education Class on Saturday and Sunday, April 14th and 15th. The course will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CT at Kankakee FWA Headquarters at 4320 W. Toto Rd. in North Judson.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a Indiana Hunter Education Certification which is required for any hunters born after December 31st, 1986.

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John Schacht Arrested after Alleged Battery Incident

Posted on Author WKVI
John Schacht

A man was arrested after police received a call regarding an alleged battery incident in the 8900 block of South Birch Street in Monterey on March 8. According to the police report, Karen Barnett told police that she had been battered and her life threatened by 50-year-old John Schacht. She told police that on March 7, Schacht punched her in the back of the head and told her he was going to kill her.

Barnett went on to say that she could not contact anyone for help on the day of the incident because Schacht injected her in the left arm with an unknown substance, but admitted to using methamphetamine with Schacht. She then told police that Schacht had drugs in the home.

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Koontz Lake Regional Sewer District Operational

Posted on Author WKVI
Early in the project, crews worked to install a small diameter force main as part of the collection system

The long-awaited sewer system in Koontz Lake was put into operation with a connection of three homes on Monday, March 5th.

“At our February meeting, we made a determination that the system was at a stage of substantial completion,” said Koontz Lake Regional Sewer District President, Paul Warnke. “This allowed us to begin connection to households and businesses. On Monday, March 5th, we had the first three homes officially connected to the system with full functionality and we then had ceremonial toilet flushes.”

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Johnny P. Whitt, Jr. Arrested on Drug Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Johnny P. Whitt, Jr.

Johnny P. Whitt, Jr. was arrested March 6th and faces methamphetamine-related charges after police received a report of a suspicious man at Zingo Express who purchased tin foil and salt, and asked if the store sold Zip-Lock bags.

When police arrived, they found Whitt leaving the store and walking to the Super Value Inn, just north of the Zingo Express. After entering the hotel, police monitored the building and followed him after he left, before pulling him over at the intersection of Delaware Street and U.S. 35 in Knox. The man was identified as Whitt, and marijuana was found on his person along with multiple packs of cold medication.

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Oil Found in Bakken Oil Fields in United States Could Turn a Profit

Posted on Author WKVI

The talk about gasoline prices and what’s driving the market has overshadowed the fact that huge oil finds have been discovered in the United States. According to Don Good, of Good Oil in Winamac, we are able to get to the product with new technology.

Don talked to us recently about the Bakken Shale Oil Field which stretches from Canada into Montana and North Dakota. This field could hold over four billion barrels of oil reserves, and the Arctic Natural Wildlife Refuge in Alaska could potentially hold up to 10 billion barrels of oil. They are looking at oilfield wireline services for the number of things these can do.

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Starke County Commissioners Reject Road Dedication Proposal

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners: Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis

The Starke County Commissioners recently passed a motion rejecting a proposal from Alan Hildebrand to annex four roads in the Chesapeake Run Subdivision to the ownership of the county. Hildebrand approached the commissioners with a letter proposing the dedication of the streets to the county in order to have the county maintain the roads.

However, a number of issues arose from the request. The commissioners were uneasy taking responsibility for street lamps located on the easement lines on the properties, and a number of fences were positioned directly on the line as well. The big question on their minds: who would maintain and pay for the lights?

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General Assembly Completes Productive Session

Posted on Author WKVI
Indiana Statehouse

The General Assembly, which began with a month-long battle over right to work, ended with a flurry as legislators passed a smoking ban, abolished the inheritance tax and set aside more money for full day kindergarten and state fair stage collapse victims.

Republican Senate President Pro Tem David Long, of Ft. Wayne, boasts legislators again held the line on spending with taxpayers scheduled to receive a $40-$50 rebate as a result.

Governor Mitch Daniels issued a statement thanking legislators for an extraordinarily productive session.

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Alan Kurtz to Leave Purdue Extension

Posted on Author WKVI
Alan Kurtz
Alan Kurtz

Agriculture Educator Alan Kurtz will be leaving his position tomorrow. Kurtz has worked in both Starke and Pulaski Counties over the past year and a half.

Kurtz talked about his time here.

“Well, it’s been kind of a whirlwind tour for me. I’ve been involved in a lot of different things. I came in as an Agriculture Educator, I did a lot of 4-H work, and ended up being an Agriculture County Extension Director,” he said.

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City of Knox Sells Old Firetruck on eBay

Posted on Author WKVI
Jeff Houston

Online auction shopping website eBay came to the rescue of the City of Knox recently. Unable to sell used equipment and vehicles, the city has turned to eBay and it has turned out to be a gold mine. The most recent thing sold was an
old fire truck, as Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explains.

“We sold the old firetruck on eBay for $4850, and that seems to be a pretty good process for us. We used to set vehicles around and put “For Sale,” and we did set this up here so people could see it, but it had the email address and stuff to be able to bid on it for a certain length of time on eBay rather than to come in and make bids with us. I like it a lot better, and I’m real happy with the rate that we are getting compared with what we were getting before,” said Houston.

As they say, “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” The old fire truck was taken away by a buyer in Michigan.

An interesting story about eBay. The founder, Pierre Omidyar, sold a broken laser pointer in 1995. It was the first item sold over eBay, and Omidyar was so astonished that he called the buyer back and asked, “Do you realize this laser pointer is broken?” To which the man replied, “I’m in the market for broken laser pointers, not new ones.”

Omidyar then realized eBay might really be successful.

City of Knox Announces 50-50 Sidewalk Replacement

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers

Mayor Rick Chambers is announcing the 50-50 sidewalk replacement program is back. The City of Knox will pay 50 percent of the cost of material and labor for the sidewalk replacement, and all available funds are used on a first come, first served basis and until monies to support the program run out.

The work will be approved or disapproved after the Street Superintendent measures and inspects the requested sidewalk.

Property owners must pay their share within 14 days of notification for the project to continue. If not, the project will be placed on the bottom of the work schedule. All applications must be dated and received by 4 p.m. on April 23.