Township Government Portion of Government Reform Bill Fails to Pass

Posted on Author WKVI
Indiana Statehouse

A bill that would have reshaped county government died yesterday. Republican Representative Kevin Mahan, of Hartford City, pulled a bill that would have eliminated township advisory boards and required referendums in each county on whether to keep township government at all. The bill was to have been debated Friday.

Oregon Township Trustee Mark Allen, a Democrat, traveled to Indianapolis to attend the hearing.

“There was quite a push to keep townships alive and I think it’s a great thing, especially in your rural communities,” said Allen. “Where I live, you’ve got a volunteer fire department that the township trustee is in charge of and you also have a township assistant.”

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Some Republicans are Voting Against Right to Work

Posted on Author WKVI
State Representative Tom Dermody

Even though Republican Governor Mitch Daniels has made right to work his number one priority item for this session of the Indiana General Assembly, some Republicans are voting against the measure. One was Senator Ed Charbonneau, of Valparaiso, who voted against the bill Monday.

Republican Representative Tom Dermody, of LaPorte, has said he will vote against the measure.  Continue reading →

Bill Introduced Yesterday Could Help Starke County Build a New Jail

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Jail

Republican State Representative Tom Dermody, of LaPorte, introduced a new bill in the House Ways and Means Committee yesterday to help raise funds for a new jail in Starke County.

House Bill 1213 would allow the Starke County Council to increase the County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) to finance, construct and equip a jail facility. The county council is only permitted to raise enough funds to cover the costs of the jail and the additional tax rate cannot increase more than .65%.

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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.

Oregon-Davis Graduate Participates in National Cheerleading Competition

Posted on Author WKVI
Kelsey Minix

Oregon-Davis graduate, Kelsey Minix, recently participated in the National Cheerleading competition at Disney World. She is on the cheer squad at Purdue University. Minix talked about the competition that was held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Center at Disney World.

“The routine is two minutes and 30 seconds long and it can’t be any longer than that,” said Minix. “There’s two different portions of music which is fast-paced and many skills set to it. Every school then does a cheer that you would do at a game. There’s a lot of tumbling, partner stunts, pyramids, basket tosses and so many things packed into two minutes and 30 seconds.”

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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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Funeral Services Held for Eric Corey

Posted on Author WKVI
Eric Corey and his parents

With hundreds of hunters and others in attendance at the Knox Community Center on Sunday, the community said good bye to Eric Corey, of Knox.

Corey, 25, was the subject of many stories about his battle with ALS, his beating the odds for 10 years while hunting all over the world and setting up an event where other people with disabilities could enjoy the sport he loved so much. For three years, Eric and his family organized an event called Turkey Tracks and it grew every year with disabled people going turkey hunting with guides.

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CASA Training Scheduled for March 6th

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Court Appointed Special Advocate program, or CASA, will soon have a training class for volunteers.

Volunteers in the program are appointed by the court to express the wishes of a child in court and advocate the best interest of the child for the duration of their court case. You should have a passion for serving abused or neglected children, have good communication skills and dependable transportation.

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Funeral for Eric Corey of Knox to be Held Sunday

Posted on Author WKVI
Eric Corey

He hunted from Canada to Africa, and he started an event called Turkey Trax so other hunters (young and old) with physical disabilities like himself could enjoy the sport that he loved– and because of the seriousness of his disease, he made his parents promise that they would carry on the event if and when he passed away.

Eric Corey died on Wednesday afternoon in his home in Washington Township. Because of the number of people he became friends with and inspired, his funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Knox Community Center.

M.C. Smith Funeral Home is in charge of the services.

Knox Man Arrested on Battery Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
James Daniel

A Knox man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly battering his wife and firing a gun at her.

Starke County police received a call from the victim who said that she and James Daniel were arguing and he reportedly shoved her while she was on the phone with her father and she shoved him back. He then allegedly hit her in the face with his fist. He told her to exit the residence and her father came to get her.

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Starke County Plan Commission Grants Permit to Julia Ford

Posted on Author WKVI
Bruce Williams explains the permitting issue in this case to the Starke County Planning Commission

The Starke County Plan Commission was informed by Building Inspector Bruce Williams this week that he has granted Julia (Povilaitis) Ford a permit for a structure that is placed at 6690 East 250 North in rural Grovertown.

The original permit that he had granted was eventually revoked by the BZA board because it was issued as a Type One Manufactured Home. Williams acknowledged that the permit issued on January 11th of this year was a Commercial Unit, but said it was to be converted to a Single Family Dwelling.

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Starke County Jail Committee Holds Final Informational Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Jail

The third in a series of informational meetings on the Starke County Jail was held at Oregon-Davis High School last night.

Those in attendance heard plans for a bill to be heard in the state legislature that would allow the Starke County Council to adopt an ordinance imposing an additional county economic development income tax rate for the purpose of financing, constructing, acquiring, and equipping a county jail and related buildings and parking facilities. Although this method of funding a project has not been agreed upon by the Jail Committee, if passed by the legislature it would be a funding tool to be used exclusively or in tandem with a property tax levy to fund a new jail.

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Dorene Matzat Honored at Henry F. Schricker Dinner

Posted on Author WKVI
Deb Mix, Dorene Matzat and Dorothy Osinski

Dorene Matzat was honored last night as this year’s Henry F. Schricker Award winner at the annual Starke County Chamber of Commerce dinner at the Bass Lake Property Owners Association building.

After hearing accolades given by several friends and her daughter before the award ceremony itself, those assembled heard the story of a woman who always put “service before self.” Whether it was taking an ill and lonely veteran to the VA for treatment, making a delicious meal for community events, singing in the Community Choir, or making a scared little girl feel comfortable on the first day of classes at the Lutheran School, Dorene was always there.

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Jerrold Minix Arrested on Active Warrants

Posted on Author WKVI
Jerrold Minix

Former Starke County resident, 31-year-old Jerrod L. Minix, was arrested on two active arrest warrants on Tuesday.

Police in LaPorte County received information on the whereabouts of Minix and officers from the Michigan City Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit, the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, LaPorte City Police Department and the United States Marshals Service set out to arrest Minix. They arrived at 115 Tall Timbers Court in Michigan City and surrounded the residence. Police then conducted a search of the residence after speaking with the female owner of the residence and Minix was found hiding underneath insulation in the attic. Minix was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Michigan City Police Department.

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Four Charges Filed Against William Blankenship III

Posted on Author WKVI
William Blankenship

William Blankenship III, 22, of Knox, was in Porter County Superior Court 1 in Valparaiso yesterday for his initial hearing.

Porter County Prosecutor Brian Gensel has formally charged Blankenship with Escape as a Class C Felony, plus Auto Theft, Fleeing Law Enforcement, and Criminal Mischief as Class D Felonies. Blankenship pleaded not guilty to all charges and bond was set at $25,000 cash or surety.

Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford’s court has scheduled an omnibus hearing for Blankenship on May 7th, a pre-trial hearing on June 4th and his jury trial is set for July 9th at 1:00 p.m. in Porter County Superior Court 1.

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Eric Corey Dies at the age of 25

Posted on Author WKVI
Eric Corey

The young man who inspired so many with his gallant fight against Lou Gehrig’s Disease has passed away at the age of 25.

“There are few people that I call my hero, but Eric Corey was that to me,” said Ted Hayes. “I had the privilege of being with Eric during the Turkey hunt he and his family put together for disabled youngsters and old people alike.”

“An avid hunter himself, Eric had traveled the world hunting and four years ago he told his mother that he wanted to give others the chance to hunt that he had. The first year it was just a few, but over the past two years, the Turkey Tracks hunt grew and at the opening night ceremonies Eric Corey was always the happiest person in the room.”

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Starke County Jail Committee Holds Second Informational Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI

The second informational meeting held by the Starke County Jail Committee was held last night in North Judson.

Those in attendance heard Todd Samuelson of Umbaugh and Associates talk about the funding of a new jail, using the figure $13.5 million. If property taxes were used to fund the project, the tax implication would be $.12 per $100.00 of net assessed value. The bond issue would be for a maximum of 20 years according to Samuelson. Some members of the committee said they are looking into a combination of property taxes and income taxes if a new jail were built.

The Jail Committee stressed that no decision has been made on whether to build a new jail, or not.

It was pointed out that Starke has the second oldest jail in the state with many problems arising over the past year.

The final information meeting will be tonight at the Oregon-Davis High School at 6:00 p.m.

House Democrats Fined $1,000

Posted on Author WKVI
Indiana Statehouse

The right to work squabble at the Statehouse kicked into high gear Wednesday with House Democrats again staying away from the chamber. For the second day, the Democrats held an open caucus in the rotunda. With that, Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma fined the 33 of the 40 lawmakers $1,000 for not coming back to the chamber.

17th District State Representative Nancy Dembowski was one of the Democrats who stayed away.

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