Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County Awards Grants

Posted on Author WKVI

Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County recently awarded $18,000 in grants from the Drug Free Starke County Fund. Grants were awarded in three categories: Prevention, Treatment and Justice.

The recipients include North Judson-San Pierre Middle School and High School, City of Knox for National Night Out, TAR WARS “Beware of Tobacco”, Knox Middle School for two programs, Porter-Starke Services for the Prime for Life Program, and Starke County Probation for the Substance Abuse Evaluation Supplementation program. The Knox City Police Department received a thermal imager and money for drug and evidence lockup.

Search Warrant Nets Four Arrests in Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
Ellis Clemons
Brandie Kotras
Tracie Young
Steve Wilson

Four Knox residents were arrested Friday morning after officers from the Knox City Police Department and the Starke County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at 202 W. Locust Drive in Knox.

Officers had received complaints about methamphetamine being used in the residence around small children and after an investigation, a search warrant was issued. Arrested were Ellis Clemons, 44, and Brandie Kotras, 33, who have preliminary charges of Possession of a Legend Drug and Maintaining a Common Nuisance. 25-year-old Tracie Young has preliminary charges of Possession of Marijuana and Maintaining a Common Nuisance. Steve Wilson, 40, was also arrested and he has preliminary charges of Possession of Marijuana, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

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Miss Kankakee Valley and Miss South Bend Pageants Held Sunday

Posted on Author WKVI
Samantha Rife, Kethleen Raab, Katlynn Surfus, Tom Berg and Megan Smaltz

The 10th Annual Miss Kankakee Valley and Miss South Bend Scholarship Pageants were held in Knox Saturday afternoon.

The winners from the competition will now go on to the Miss Outstanding Teen and Miss Indiana Pageants in Zionsville next summer.

Announced as Miss Kankakee Valley this year was Samantha Rife, of Star City. Samantha attends Ball State University, where she is majoring in telecommunications and also is a member of the women’s track team. Samantha has also applied for another competition.

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Ancilla College Recognition Banquet Scheduled for October 6th

Posted on Author WKVI

The annual Ancilla College Recognition Banquet will be held Thursday, October 6th, on the campus.

During the evening, two important awards will be conferred on a pair of important people to the college. The first award is the Sister Mary D. award given to a person who has shown outstanding leadership in promoting Ancilla College. The recipient of the award is Betty Chesak, of North Judson, who has for many years worked tirelessly to raise money for scholarships through the Alumni Association.

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Bella Vita Pledge Walk Gathers $6,300

Posted on Author WKVI
Bella Vita

The recent Bella Vita pledge walk at Wythogan Park in Knox helped raise $6,385 for the new pregnancy resource center located on Heaton Street.

Rhonda Adcock, President of the organization talked to us about the day.

“We had a really good cross section of our community there,” said Adcock. “We were able to get 88 walkers and we had about 120 people in attendance with all of our helpers and our board members and everyone that was there. We had a great financial turnout and we were able to have the Mayor come and be our Marshall for the walk.”

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Economy Auto Holds Customer Appreciation Day

Posted on Author WKVI
George and Della Mammarella

The annual Economy Auto Sales Customer Appreciation Party was held at Wythogan Park yesterday. In one hour, over 400 hotdogs and 550 hamburgers were served.

There was fun for the kids and giveaways.

“The rain in the morning stopped long enough to have the picnic and it started sprinkling at the end,” said George Mammarella. “I don’t have a final count, but I think we had about 400 people.”

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Emergency Personnel to Participate in Training Sunday Morning

Posted on Author WKVI

Fire Department and ambulance personnel and police officers from many departments in Starke County will be participating in Emergency Vehicle Operator Course training Sunday morning (September 25th) at the Washington Township Fire Department.

Tom Champion, from Terre Haute, is the state instructor for the class which takes firefighters, EMS personnel and police officers through a driving training course. This will give all emergency personnel certification for the rest of the year. The training will not cost the county any money; it is supplied by an insurance company.

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Starke County Commissioners Receive 47TR Report from Treasurer’s Office

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Commissioners received the “47TR” figures from one of the interim employees in the Treasurer’s office this week. That report is sent to the state each month showing that the figures balance with the bank receipts.

In an answer to a question from Commission President Dan Bridegroom, Casey Clark stated they still are not balancing, but “they are working on it.” By working with the Auditor’s office, the monthly figures are now balancing, but they are still off $46,000, according to Clark. That figure is a combination of money that is unaccounted for in 2010, and what she has found back to May of 2011

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Senator Arnold Visits Starke County Commissioners and Council

Posted on Author WKVI
Senator Jim Arnold

Sixth District State Senator, Jim Arnold, paid a visit to the Starke County Council and Commissioners this week. Arnold, who was assigned parts of Starke County in a new district, paid a courtesy call on both governing bodies, saying that the members can call him if they need help in any way. If elected in the 2012 election, Arnold’s new district will take in Davis, Oregon, Washington, Center, and Jackson Townships. Senator Ed Charbonneau will be left with only Railroad, Wayne, California, and North Bend townships.

Members of the council mentioned two topics they will be interested in during the 2012 legislative session. Those topics are the 9-1-1 and Police Pension Fund financing.

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Proposed Library Tax Rate Clarified

Posted on Author WKVI
Henry F. Schricker Library

The announcement of the renovation of the Henry F. Schricker Public Library in Knox caused an avalanche of comments to the story on our website. Most of the comments have to do with the cost to the taxpayers.

Starke County Auditor, Kay Chaffins, contacted WKVI yesterday to correct a figure we used as a taxpayer obligation over the next 20 years.

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Plymouth Woman Arrested after Police Pursuit

Posted on Author WKVI
Kristy Jimerson

An officer from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Plymouth woman after a pursuit incident Tuesday afternoon.

A caller notified the Sheriff’s Department of an intoxicated driver leaving the area of 900 East and 300 North in Starke County. A detective was in the area and spotted the suspect vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop but the vehicle failed to stop. The detective pursued the vehicle from 150 North and State Road 23 in Starke County to Plymouth and then to Culver. The driver stopped the vehicle after a minor vehicle accident in Marshall County on Tulip Road, just north of 14B road.

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Nathan Welter Named Starke United Campaign Chair

Posted on Author WKVI
Nathan Welter gave an address as Starke United's Campaign Chair

The Starke United Campaign Kickoff Breakfast was held yesterday. The breakfast was sponsored by Integrity Trade Services and was prepared by the Country Kettle.

Announced as the 2011 Campaign Chair was Nathan Welter, who also acted as the Master of Ceremony for the event.

Those attending heard presentations by Board Chairperson Todd Zeltwanger and Starke United Director Julie Dessauer. Testimonials were given by Irene Szakonyi of the Starke County Youth Club and Peggy Shidaker of Knox Community Schools. The Key Note Speaker was Pastor Ed Hasnerl, who gave an inspiring “Talking of Many Things” presentation.

Numerous pacesetter checks were presented to end the festivities.

Following the event we talked with Nathan Welter, who is a sports reporter at WKVI, about his involvement with Starke United. Continue reading →

Youth of Integrity Holds NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Event

Posted on Author WKVI

The official NFL Punt, Pass & Kick event sponsored by Youth of Integrity was held on Saturday, September 17th. This was Youth of Integrity’s first year hosting this event which was a huge success with over 120 youth participating. Each participant was awarded an official NFL participant certificate and all received a door prize. Five age groups per gender competed on distance and accuracy of punting, passing and kicking with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards given.

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Starke County Council Discusses and Approves Proposed Starke County Library Project

Posted on Author WKVI
Henry F. Schricker Library

The Starke County Council approved a proposal by the Starke County Library Board to finance an expansion-renovation project. A representative from Umbaugh and Associates told the council members that the bonds would not exceed $1,785,000 and would cost the taxpayers 17 cents per $1,000 in assessed valuation.

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Starke United Kick-off Breakfast Scheduled for Today

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke United

The Starke United campaign kick-off breakfast is this morning at the Knox Community Center. The theme for this year’s campaign is, “Together, we can inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow.”

The campaign chairman will be announced as well as the goal for the year. Julie Dessauer is the Starke United Director and she promises an inspiring breakfast, and campaign.  The breakfast begins at 8:00 a.m. CT and it is sponsored by Integrity Trade Services.

Work Almost Complete on Bridge in Brems

Posted on Author WKVI
County bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch

The bridge at Range Road and 400 North is almost complete. Yesterday, crews were pouring cement at the site and the bridge should be demolished on Thursday. Highway Superintendent, Steve Siddall, explains what comes next.

“They have to set their forms up and get ready for the abutment to hold the pre-cast box beams to go on it,” said Siddall. “Then the box beams will be delivered, they will set them into place, then they’ll form up and pour the top over it and we should be almost done.”

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Unopposed Candidates to Remain off November Ballots in Starke, Pulaski Counties

Posted on Author WKVI

There are some counties in the state that are considering putting all candidates on the November Municipal Election ballot, although state law only allows contested races on the ballot.

Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski and Pulaski County Clerk Tasha Foerg told WKVI that only contested races will appear on the Municipal election ballots. Skronski indicated that legislators may reverse this decision for future Municipal elections with the confusion it may cause voters. The Starke County Election Board voted to follow the state statute to only allow contested races. The Pulaski County Clerk said she is also following state statute.

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Starke County Council Approves Library Project

Posted on Author WKVI
Henry F. Schricker Library

After a great amount of discussion, the Starke County Council approved the remodeling project proposed by the Starke County Library Board on a 4-2 vote.

The request had been stalled for several months as the council members gained information. As it stands, the Library Board will be able to solicit bids to bond for a less than $2 million remodeling project at the Henry F. Schricker Library in Knox.

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