Judge Lifts Temporary Restraining Order Against Linda Belork

Posted on Author WKVI
Linda Belork

The restraining order against former Starke County Treasurer Linda Belork was removed Wednesday in Jasper Circuit Court after attorney Martin Lucas requested it. Lucas told Judge John Potter that the purpose of the temporary restraining order in the first place was only to prevent any destruction or alteration of public records in the immediate aftermath of the executive order to remove her from the Treasurer’s office.

Belork’s attorney, Ethan Lowe, did not object and the 15 minute court appearance ended. Although a discrepancy of thousands of dollars was initially reported, all funds were eventually accounted for.

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Starke County Jail Committee Public Meetings Set for Next Week

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Jail

The Starke County Jail Committee will be holding three public meetings to present information on what the Jail Committee has been discussing concerning a jail project.

The first meeting will be on Tuesday, January 17th at 7:00 p.m. at the Knox Middle School Cafeteria. Other meetings will be held on Wednesday, January 18th at 6:00 p.m. at the North Judson-San Pierre High School and on Thursday, January 19th at 6:00 p.m. at the Oregon-Davis High School.

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Handful of Candidates File on First Day

Posted on Author WKVI

Yesterday was the first day to file for candidacy in this year’s election.

One person filed in Starke County. Dennis Estok filed for Starke County Surveyor on the Democrat ticket.

In Pulaski County, Christi Hoffa filed for Recorder, Lynette Wilder filed for Treasurer, Joni Frain filed for State Delegate and Sam Frain also filed for State Delegate. All of the Pulaski County candidates filed on the Republican ticket.

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Yearly Statistics for Local Police Departments

Posted on Author WKVI
police badge

The North Judson Police Department had a total of 3,820 calls in 2011. The department had 832 traffic stops, 162 theft-conversion calls, 64 accident calls, 201 juvenile-family disturbance calls, 75 mischief-vandalism calls, and 55 assaults, battery and fighting calls. The officers also completed 12 Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated reports, 27 battery reports, 23 alcohol-drug reports and 116 adult arrests. 538 traffic warnings were also given in 2011.

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Testimony to be Heard Today Concerning Restraining Order Against Linda Belork

Posted on Author WKVI

On August 11th of last year, Starke County Treasurer Linda Belork was served a restraining order removing her from conducting her duties as treasurer of the county. The restraining order was issued after the three county commissioners voted to remove her from office following the announcement to the public that there were irregularities in some 2009 accounts.

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New CASA Director Named

Posted on Author WKVI
Rhonda Adcock

Judge Kim Hall has named a new CASA Director for Starke County. The new director will be assuming the duties held for the past four years by Ron Henningsmith.

“Rhonda Adcock has been a CASA volunteer with our program for just over a year now and she’s a very capable young lady,” said Henningsmith. “I decided that I need to step aside and let someone else take the reigns at the helm and she has gracefully accepted that challenge.”

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Knox Man Arrested on Possession Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Vernon Dale Chessor

A Knox man was arrested on possession charges after a traffic stop on Thursday, January 5th.

An officer from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department pulled over a vehicle driven by Jennifer Bonnell on 200 South East of 550 East in Knox. She had allegedly driven into the officer’s lane as she approached him. As the officer turned around and activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, the passenger, Vernon “Dale” Chessor, allegedly opened his door, dropped something outside of the car, and then shut the door. The officer called for another officer to see what the object was and continued with his traffic stop.

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Ed Hasnerl Recognized for Years of Service on Hospital Board

Posted on Author WKVI
IU Health Starke Hospital CEO Linda Satkoski, Ed Hasnerl and Board President Ben Bennett

Ed Hasnerl was recognized for serving 14 years on the IU Health Starke Hospital’s Community Board during a special meeting Monday night. At the same time Hasnerl was receiving his award, the board was welcoming his replacement, Martin Bedrock.

In board business, Ben Bennett was reelected the Board President, Sandy Hansen remains as Vice President, and Dr. Walter Fritz was selected to be the new Secretary taking the place of newly retired member, Ed Hasnerl. Continue reading →

Flags to be Flown at Half Staff for Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan

Posted on Author WKVI

Although many flags are already being flown at half staff in honor of the servicemen from Indiana who lost their lives last Thursday in Afghanistan, the official mourning period begins at 8:00 a.m. this morning.

Starke County Service Officer Gordon Richie made the announcement yesterday. Richie was asked how long the period will last.

“Until the funeral day,” he said. “After the funeral, at the closing of the businesses and Courthouse, they will then take the flags down from half staff.”

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Starke County Ambulance Service to be ALS Certified

Posted on Author WKVI
Paul Mathewson

Advanced Life Support service for Starke County may be only a few weeks away. That was the message the Starke County Commissioners heard last week from EMS Director Paul Mathewson.

“We found out that the application itself got accepted by the State for us to go ahead and move forward in becoming ALS certified,” said Mathewson.

Mathewson said he’s waiting on the state to come down and inspect the rigs and equipment before he can move ahead.

“We’re getting in equipment to stock the ambulance itself with all of the necessary equipment to run an ALS rig. We’re in the process of hiring on new paramedics to upgrade our service so that when the State is able to come down, we’re ready to go.”

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Ed Hasnerl Named Starke County Historian

Posted on Author WKVI

WKVI’s Ed Hasnerl has been officially named as Starke County Historian by the Indiana Historical Society. He replaces Marvin Allen who has moved to Florida. He was nominated by the local historical society last November.

The county historian acts as a contact person for people in the state and around the nation who have questions about county history. The position is a voluntary, working position.

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Starke County Soldier Killed in Afghanistan IED Attack

Posted on Author WKVI
Robert “Bobby” Tauteris Jr.

A Starke County soldier is one of four from the Hoosier state who were killed in Afghanistan this week. Robert “Bobby” Tauteris Jr., whose home address was listed in a release as being from Hamlet, was apparently killed by an IED explosion while on patrol.

Tauteris was a 1986 graduate of North Judson-San Pierre High School and is survived by his children Robert and Matthew. He is the son of Robert Tauteris, Sr. His mother Marge preceded him in death.

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Accident Claims Life of Plymouth Woman

Posted on Author WKVI

Emergency personnel were called to an accident on 1100 East, just north of U.S. 30 in Starke County yesterday afternoon. According to an officer from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, 45-year-old Lois Bickel, of Plymouth, was traveling northbound on 1100 East, when for some unknown reason, left the roadway, went sideways, went into the ditch and hit some trees. She was airlifted to South Bend Memorial Hospital and later died of her injuries.

The St. Joseph County Coroner’s Office determined her cause of death as blunt force trauma. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department investigated the accident.

Garnishment Case Heard by Starke County Commissioners

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

An interesting garnishment case came up before the Starke County Commissioners this week.

A public employee complained to the commissioners that her employer had received a “garnishment” notice from the treasurer’s office stating that she was behind in her real estate taxes. The matter was eventually cleared up at the treasurer’s office. It was an honest mistake that was easily corrected.

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Cheryl Paschen Appears in Court for Plea and Sentencing Hearing

Posted on Author WKVI
Cheryl Paschen

Cheryl Paschen made an appearance in the Starke Circuit Court Thursday for her plea and sentencing hearing. She had previously posted bond and was on home detention for three months, but on October 20th, she was removed from monitoring and has been staying with her parents.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Mary Ryan told Judge Kim Hall that she would need written approval for Community Corrections confirming Paschen is eligible for home detention as part of the plea agreement. In addition, the state will need to check and ensure that warrant issues in LaPorte County and Florida will not interfere with the defendant’s ability to successfully complete the agreement.

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Jeremy and Randall Rowe Appear for Initial Hearing in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Jeremy Rowe
Randall Rowe

Facing a total of over 20 charges stemming from a home invasion that occurred on Dec. 30, Jeremy and Randall Rowe made their initial appearances in the Starke Circuit Court this week. Each face charges of Robbery as both a Class A felony and a Class B felony, Robbery as both a Class A felony and a Class B felony, Intimidation as a Class C felony, Felon in Possession of a Firearm as a Class D felony, Receiving Stolen Property as a Class D felony, Pointing a Firearm as a Class D felony, and Possession of Marijuana as a Class A misdemeanor.

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Starke County Jail Meetings Planned for Later this Month

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Jail

The Starke County Jail Committee will be holding informational meetings on the jail situation in the third week in January. Although dates and locations have not been established, the Committee has agreed to meet at three sites.

The meetings are being held in the early stages of the Committee’s work to provide Republican Representative Doug Gutwein, of Francesville, with more information to present to the state legislature. Gutwein has agreed to author CEDIT legislation that could fund, or partially fund, whatever is decided by the committee as the best remedy for the aged jail structure.

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