SCILL Center to Hold Coat Drive

Posted on Author WKVI
SCILL Center

The SCILL Center is hosting a coat drive. Director Jerry Gurrado, said drop off sites are at the Oregon-Davis High School, Ray’s Super Foods in North Judson, Pioneer Florist in North Judson, Five Star in Knox, Key Bank in Knox, and Baileys.

“We’re still in the process of organizing the event, but people from Love, INC and a couple of other organizations are helping to work with us on maybe getting some church organizations, or volunteers from the community, to wash the coats and then we’ll have distribution sites. There will be no questions asked, whether it be children’s coats or adult coats. Come pick them up and take them. We’re happy to be able to help in any way we can,” said Gurrado.

Continue reading →

Starke County Prosecutor Given Permission to Hire Intern

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Council has given permission to Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff to hire a part-time intern.  Autumn Ferch is being considered for the position.  She is currently a law school graduate waiting to pass the bar exam.

When hired, Autumn Ferch will be assigned to meet with defendants, prepare files, do preliminary case work, and work closely with the child support office.

Continue reading →

Jim Arnold Named Senator of the Year by Aviation Association of Indiana

Posted on Author WKVI
Senator Jim Arnold

State Senator Jim Arnold was named State Senator of the Year by the Aviation Association of Indiana. In ceremonies last week at the Association’s annual conference held at Swan Lake Country Club in Plymouth, Arnold was presented his award.

Top legislators are annually recognized by the Association for their commitment, accessibility and responsiveness to issues facing the aviation industry.

Senator Arnold (D-LaPorte) said the honor is particularly important to him as he has personal experience with the aviation industry. While serving in the U.S. Air Force, he was an air traffic controller.

Continue reading →

Starke County Man Arrested after Attempting to Stab Two Men

Posted on Author WKVI

Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Starke County man, Sunday,  after he allegedly attempted to stab two men.

Police were called to a residence in the 1400 block of 400 South where they found that Shelby G. Thomas, 56, threatened death to one of the victims by pressing a knife to the victim’s neck. As officers attempted to take Thomas into custody, he then pulled out a large knife and told police that he was not going back to prison. He was eventually taken into custody and transported to the Starke County Jail.

Continue reading →

Starke County Jail Committee Hearing Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI

The first Starke County Jail Committee meeting will be held this evening. Commissioner Kathy Norem will chair the meeting. Norem announced last week that Todd Samuelson from Umbaugh and Associates will be at the first meeting. Samuelson is an expert on financing, and is expected to explain options as the committee moves forward making decisions on how to correct problems associated with the deteriorating Starke County Jail.

Bluegrass Jam held at Knox Community Center

Posted on Author WKVI

Country music fans, especially of the Bluegrass persuasion, turned out Friday night for Mayor Rick Chamber’s Bluegrass Jam at the Knox Community Center.

Mayor Chambers said the event gives musicians, and fans alike a chance to get out and enjoy their music of choice.

“We had a great turnout as usual,” said Mayor Rick Chambers. “We had about 270 people here. We had donations for the Food Pantry and my pickup truck is full of food. We probably have 700 or 800 pounds of food. It’s a really great turnout. We hold these events about twice a year and we’d like to do more, but the Community Center is usually rented out, so we do one in early spring and late fall.”

Continue reading →

Starke County Sheriff Donates Golf Outing Money to Charity

Posted on Author WKVI
Sheriff Oscar Cowen
Sheriff Oscar Cowen

In past years, Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen has held a golf tournament to help finance his political campaigns. This year, Sheriff Cowen will donate the money to charity. The tournament raised $2,115.00, and Cowen has named a charity that will benefit from the fundraiser.

“Two Starke County girls that were well known, Christina Rotering and Ashley Derrickson, who succumbed to cancer, I thought that would be a good cause to donate the money to.”

Continue reading →

Congressman Donnelly Discusses Proposed Legislation Concerning Exports

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

Congress is attempting to reign in the Chinese for manipulating its currency to make its exports to the U.S. cheaper and U.S. exports more expensive. Many legislators are hesitant to take on the Chinese this way, saying quiet diplomacy is a better way to influence policy.

Second District Congressman Joe Donnelly spoke on the house floor yesterday about the proposed legislation.

Continue reading →

Knox Kindergarten Student Makes Donation to Fraternal Order of Police

Posted on Author WKVI

The Kankakee Valley Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #129 in Starke County received a donation from a Knox Elementary student, Kindergartener Jack Guzman.

The student collected money he found around the house and collected small donations from family members. He donated his money in support of the F.O.P.’s program “Shop with a Cop”, which is a program that allows officers and auxiliary members of the F.O.P. to take children from throughout Starke County shopping for school clothes and supplies.

Continue reading →

Candlelight Vigil Held for Drew Shearin

Posted on Author WKVI
Photo provided by Jayme Goetz

The heart of the community has been torn asunder following the tragic loss of a Knox High School student. Andrew “Drew” Shearin was a 17-year-old junior whose life touched an unbelievable number of hearts before he was prematurely torn away from his family and friends, spurring an unbelievable amount of sorrow in the community.

“Drew was an extremely popular and engaging student and will be greatly missed by his peers, our staff, and the Knox community,” said Knox High School Principal Elizabeth Ratliff. “We also offer our heartfelt sympathies to the family for their loss.”

Continue reading →

Linda Belork’s Lawsuit Moved to Jasper County

Posted on Author WKVI
Linda Belork

A change of venue has been granted by Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall in the lawsuit filed by former Starke County Treasurer Linda Belork. The suit was brought about after Belork’s August 11th dismissal of her duties as treasurer of the county. Belork was relieved of her duties by the County Commissioners after a state audit reported financial discrepancies. According to a later commissioner’s report, some of the discrepancies have been cleared up by the Auditor’s office.

Ethan Lowe, Belork’s attorney, asked for a change of venue from Starke County. Representing the County in the matter is attorney, Martin Lucas.

Continue reading →

Fire Prevention Tips

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox-Center Township Fire Chief, Kenny Pfost, has another fire prevention tip in honor of National Fire Prevention Week.

“Never leave your home with candles burning,” said Pfost. “We’ve had a lot of fires where people leave home and they forget to put a candle out. Keep them away from curtains.”

Continue reading →

Knox Redskin Brigade to March in Regional Competition with Heavy Hearts

Posted on Author WKVI
Drew Shearin

The Knox community continues to mourn the loss of Knox High School Junior, Drew Shearin. Drew died in a car accident on State Road 8 east of Knox late Monday night.

Drew was a Drum Major for the Knox Redskin Brigade, who is set to take the field Saturday for the ISSMA Regional Marching Band competition to compete for a chance for the State title in Indianapolis on October 29th. Director Craige Phipps says that the band will march in Chesterton this Saturday.

Continue reading →

Two Plead Guilty in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Mark Griffin

With his trial only a day away, Mark Griffin told the Starke Circuit Court that he would like to plead guilty. No plea agreement was submitted, but Griffin told Judge Kim Hall that a recommendation had been agreed on by Prosecutor Nick Bourff and Defense Attorney Richard Ballard. Griffin said that he no longer wants to take his case to trial because he has been unable to get in contact with the witnesses he had planned to bring forward.

Continue reading →

Accident Claims Life of a Knox High School Student

Posted on Author WKVI
Drew Shearin

A Knox High School student was killed in a single vehicle accident late Monday night.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department said that 17-year-old Andrew “Drew” Shearin was traveling eastbound on State Road 8 when for some unknown reason, his vehicle left the roadway and struck a NIPSCO utility pole. The accident occurred just east of the Yellow River Bridge. Starke County Sheriff’s Department officers and Washington Township Fire Department personnel found him trapped in the vehicle and he was pronounced dead at the scene.  Starke County EMS and the Knox City Police Department assisted at the scene.

Continue reading →