Gerald L. Broude, Jr. was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Tuesday morning. Judge Kim Hall sentenced Broude, Jr. to 50 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. He was given 50 years on each of the three Class A Felony counts of Child Molestation, and eight years on one count of Child Molestation, a Class C Felony. The sentences will run concurrently for a total of 50 years.
The mother of the victim gave a victim impact statement this morning and Broude, Jr. maintained his innocence in his statement to the Court. Judge Hall found his actions to have a severe impact on the victim and the family and classified him as a sexually violent predator.
Gerald Broude will be sentenced today in Starke Circuit Court. On December 1st, a jury of seven men and five women deliberated for 30 minutes, finding Gerald Broude guilty on four counts of child molestation. The alleged acts occurred in 2008.
After Broude’s verdict came in, Broude was ordered to be held without bond until today’s sentencing hearing.
Starke County’s most famous citizen passed away on this date in 1966. Henry Schricker died on December 28th, a Wednesday afternoon after being a hospital patient at Starke Memorial Hospital for almost a month. He died of a heart attack at the age of 83.
He served two terms as Governor of the State of Indiana. He was born in North Judson on August 30th, 1883, when the area was still part of the Great Kankakee Swamp.
A tragic auto accident occurred Sunday afternoon at the intersection of State Road 10 and State Road 35 in Starke County. Police found that Megan Smithson, 19, of Illinois, stopped at the intersection and pulled out onto US 35 and into the path of a vehicle driven by Tony Wagner, 37, of Winamac. Smithson was pronounced dead at the scene by Starke County Coroner, Kris Rannells.
Wagner was transported to Starke Memorial Hospital and airlifted to South Bend Memorial for leg injuries sustained in the accident. An 18-year-old passenger in Smithson’s vehicle was also airlifted to South Bend Memorial due to injuries suffered in the accident. The Bass Lake Fire Department and Starke County EMS assisted the Starke County Sheriff’s Department at the scene.
A Starke County police officer arrested a Knox resident on Wednesday, December 23rd, on charges of Residential Entry and Possession of Methamphetamine, both Class D Felonies.
Officers were called to a residence on 250 North after a call was made to the Sheriff’s Department about a possible break-in at the residence. Justin Miller was attempting to leave the residence and got stuck in the snow when police were called to the scene. After further investigation, police found that Miller had allegedly broken into the basement by breaking the basement window and gaining entry into the residence. When police searched Miller’s vehicle, they reportedly found methamphetamine and paraphernalia in his pickup truck. Justin Miller was taken to the Starke County Jail and currently has no bond.
Four County Councilmen are being replaced in January. Chuck Estok, Bruce Fingerhut, and Bill Dulin attended their final meeting last week. Dan Awald, who is the fourth Councilman being replaced, was not in attendance at his last meeting.
Following the meeting, Ted Hayes talked with the three who were in attendance, starting with Chuck Estok, who has served the longest at 16 years. Ted asked the veteran Democrat Councilman what he is most proud of during his long service to the citizens of the County.
Experience Works is offering paid training and employment search opportunities for low-income seniors age 55 and older.
Participants with Experience Works earn minimum wage while they train, learning updated job skills at local non-profit and community organizations. They also get assistance creating resumes, coaching on interview skills, learn to fill out online applications and conduct job searches. If you think you might qualify for this program, attend an information session at the Knox WorkOne location on West Lake Street on Wednesday, December 29th from 9:00 a.m. to Noon CT. For more information, call (574) 595-6294 or visit their website.
It was the primary election of 2010 and the Starke County Sheriff’s race was one talked about by citizens around the County. Of course, Sheriff’s races always create interest, but this one was different. Deputy Bill Dulin came out early with signs, a sure sign that this was to be a serious effort. Even though Dulin worked hard during the campaign the political pundits game him little hope of upsetting incumbent Oscar Cowen. On Election Day itself, most predicted a sizable win by Cowen.
Judge Hall discusses the lighting in the Courtroom with Greg Scarpone from M&I Engineering in Indianapolis
A meeting was held in the Starke County Courthouse, Thursday, between the engineer, contractor, two Commissioners and Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall to assess the new lighting in various rooms, including the Starke Circuit Courtroom.
Some of the installation of lighting in the rooms controlled by the Judge was deemed to be unfinished, or unsatisfactory, by Judge Hall.
The Department of Local Government Finance certified Starke County’s 2011 budget order and tax rates on December 21st, paving the way for on-time property tax bills for the second year in a row. The budget certification put the county in a position to have taxes due on May 10th, 2011. Starke County was the 28th county in the State to receive its 2011 budget order and tax rates.
A North Judson man was arrested Thursday morning on charges of Domestic Battery Causing Serious Bodily Injury, a Class C Felony and Invasion of Privacy, a Class A Misdemeanor.
The Starke County Public Library system is sponsoring a Youth Photo Contest. Children ages 5 to 18 are welcome to participate.
Photos need to be taken to the Children’s Department desk at the Henry F. Schricker branch from January 6th until January 22nd. Pick up a form to fill out to tape to the back of the photo and sign a release of liability to the Library. All entries must be a minimum measurement of 5×7. Two pictures may be submitted and they may be black and white, color, or one of each. Photos must be framed. The photos will be displayed February 1st through February 28th and judging will be done by patrons on February 15th and 16th. Winners will be posted on the library’s website and winners will be notified by email or by phone.
August 12th was an ordinary day in Starke County, except for Pete Daley who claimed his dog was killed when it jumped into a drainage ditch while playing fetch with its owner. The problem was the water temperature was near 200 degrees after the ditch was infused with scalding water from a Mint Still.
Bob Troike presents Clara Belle's famous fruit cake to Ted Hayes
For over 25 years, Clara Belle Troike has provided a delicious fruit cake to the employees of WKVI radio. When Ted Hayes was on the air, he mentioned once that he had never tasted a fruit cake that he liked. Clara Belle put him to the test with one of her fruit cakes, and that turned Ted around forever. Since that time, Ted and the staff have received a delicious holiday fruit cake. We look forward to it every year.
Bob Troike presents the station's fruit cake to Tom Berg
Wednesday, the station’s fruit cake arrived; a big one for the gang and a smaller one for Ted. To answer a question posed by a listener some years ago, “the fruit cake is the virgin kind, with no alcohol added.”
Again, thank you Clara Belle for the fruit cake, and may you have a blessed Christmas.
Sonny Newbauer, Plant Manager at Hoosier Custom Plastics, was struck by lightning in the business’ parking lot on Tuesday, August 3rd.
Gordon Shank, owner of Hoosier Custom Plastics, told WKVI that day that he had heard a clap of thunder at 7:45 a.m., looked outside the plant, and saw Sonny Newbauer on the ground after he was struck by lightning. Newbauer, of Knox, was given CPR by a fellow employee and while still unconscious, he was taken to Starke Memorial Hospital. The medical staff sedated Newbauer and he was flown to a Fort Wayne Hospital.
Julianne Havens discusses claims with the Starke County Commissioners
The discussion between the Starke County Commissioners and outgoing Prosecutor Julianne Havens came to an amicable agreement Monday night. Havens had earlier submitted claims for law enforcement needs and the Commissioners questioned whether the funding was appropriate for the funding source. Havens, herself, eliminated some of the items from questionable categories.
“It gets complicated because I can use the IV-D fund for child support enforcement and for five years I’ve been using it to support child support,” explained Prosecutor Havens. “This year, I was going to try and focus on the enforcement aspect of it which, to me, means police. They agreed with my argument. However, they indicated that if an audit were to happen, the way they look at it is a proportional nexus. They are going to look at it whether or not the police are out supporting child support, making arrests, picking up people on body attachments and things of that nature. Their fear is that the proportionate nexus is not going to be enough for them to say that these funds that were spent were reasonable.”
Marvin McLaughlin takes a moment to chat with Starke County Commissioner Jennifer Davis
The Starke County Chamber of Commerce announces that this year’s Henry F. Schricker “Service before Self” Award winner is Marvin D. McLaughlin. McLaughlin is well-known to all citizens in Starke County.
Marvin McLaughlin is known to most of us in the County as the “Honorable Judge Marvin McLaughlin” for his many years of service on the Starke County Circuit Court bench.
When Marvin McLaughlin was sworn in as judge, then-retired Governor Schricker said a few words. McLaughlin said this about Henry Schricker.
“Back in the 1950s when he ran for Congress, I worked as a volunteer on his campaign at the Statehouse,” said McLaughlin. “He was a very interesting person and he was very interested in you as an individual and he was a very appreciative person.”
He is a winner of the Sagamore of the Wabash, having been presented the award at his retirement recognition event from the bench in 1992.
Among his proud achievements is having been a 4-H leader.
“For 15 years I was a 4-H leader,” said McLaughlin. “When we first came to the County, that’s when Purdue had changed, saying that the agriculture teachers could no longer be 4-H leaders. In North Judson, we didn’t have a 4-H club. The kids had to go somewhere else. I started the club from scratch.”
Congratulations to Marvin McLaughlin of North Judson who is this year’s Henry F. Schricker Award winner for 2010. He will be feted at a banquet in January at the Knox Community Center.
Knox Mayor, Rick Chambers, wants to congratulate the winners of the 2010 Outdoor Christmas Decoration contest.
First place went to Rachel Fletcher at 5675 S. 500 E. in Knox. Mr. and Mrs. Gene Wheeler and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Parkison, who live in the 400 block of Carlson Drive in Knox tied for second place and Mr. and Mrs. Stacey Griffith at 302 Main Street in Knox took third place.
Additional charges have been filed against a Walkerton man who told Starke County police officers to leave him alone or he would kill them or himself. Donald Smith, 33, engaged in a 45 minute standoff with officers before he was taken into custody on December 15th, from a camper he was occupying.
Smith has been charged with Dealing Methamphetamine, a Class B Felony; Possession of Precursors with a Firearm, a Class C Felony; Intimidation, a Class D Felony; and Theft, a Class D Felony. He has a bond of $75,000 through Starke Circuit Court.
