Testimony continued this morning in the case of a man accused of burning down his salvage business.
As of this afternoon, the jury continued to hear from the day’s first witness. WKVI reporters at the scene say the witness is Larry Cooper, a contract fire investigator hired by James Campbell’s insurance company. Campbell is the owner of C&C Salvage, and is on trial for arson charges.
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The first firefighters to arrive at the scene of a blaze at a Knox business testified yesterday in the arson trial of its owner. James Campbell is accused of setting fire to his salvage yard and tire shop on U.S. 35 at Toto Road last March 20st. Barry Sanders from the Bass Lake Fire Department was the first to arrive. He showed up in his personal vehicle with his sons about five minutes after the notification went out. Sanders was recovering from shoulder surgery but still came out to assist. He testified his concern was for Campbell’s house, which is located just south of the salvage yard. Sanders said he knocked loudly on the doors and windows for several minutes until the heat drove him away, and nobody answered. Earlier witnesses testified Campbell was at the shop until around 5 p.m. Firefighters were notified at 5:17 p.m., according to dispatch records. Continue reading
The City of Knox held a public hearing today on a grant program that could improve a few neighborhoods.
The Blight Elimination Program allocates funds for the demolition of homes and other multi-family residential structures. The City of Knox applied for more than $180-thousand.
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Legislation sponsored by State Representative Tom Dermody will be signed into law.
According to a press release from the LaPorte Republican’s offices, the legislation would allow for additional options for prison inmates to correspond with their families. The Indiana Department of Corrections is required to provide necessary items to send mail through the postal service.
The North Judson Town Council has decided more research needs to be conducted before regulating truck routes.
The measure was brought up at their last meeting. Under its current language, the ordinance would regulate where commercial truck traffic can drive in the community. Should the ordinance pass, local law enforcement could cite truck driver’s not following the designated routes.
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A bill introduced by U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly aims to improve financial literacy among college students.
Almost 1-million Hoosiers are thought to have student loans. Donnelly hopes the “Empowering Student Borrowers Act” will help students understand how much money they’re borrowing, as well as their repayment options.
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Indiana was on a list of 10 governors pushing back against plans proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA is calling for a reduction is carbon emissions from the current 75 parts per billion to between 65 and 70 parts per billion. As things stand, 91 of Indiana’s 92 counties meet federal ozone clean air standards.
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin can buy two 2016 Ford Interceptor Utility Vehicles. The county council Monday evening approved the purchase, which will cost slightly more than $70,000. The money will come from the county adjusted gross income tax, or CAGIT, certified shares. The equipment list for both was whittled down significantly due to budgetary constraints. Dulin says new light bars need to be purchased for the SUV’s, as the ones on the existing Dodge Charger patrol cars will not fit.
The trial of a man accused of setting C&C Salvage on fire around this time last year continued Wednesday morning.
The businesses’ bookeeper and Office Manager Jose’ Delgado has been testifying since this morning. According to WKVI reporters at the scene, Delgado said in court that business had slowed down, even posting a loss in 2013. Delgado was briefly considered a suspect in the investigation according to previous reports.
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The state will call more witnesses today in the arson trial of a Knox man accused of setting his business on fire. James Campbell owns C&C Salvage, also known as Starke County Recycling, at the intersection of U.S. 35 and Toto Road. The business caught fire last March 20, and Campbell was arrested eight days later on an arson charge. The state’s first witness was a mechanic named Tim Graves, who worked for Campbell for two weeks prior to the fire. He testified Campbell sent him out to get seven gallons of gas and a 50-foot extension cord about two hours before the fire started. Continue reading
The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld a Knox man’s conviction on a drug charge from 2013. A jury found Alfred Higdon guilty of possession of methamphetamine as a Class D felony. He was sentenced to three years in prison. Higdon’s appeal claims the trial court erroneously admitted evidence that was the product of an illegal search by law enforcement. Continue reading
The Knox School Board took action Monday evening to approve a new 4-year contract for the “one-to-one” computer program for students. The computers will become the property of the corporation at the end of the contract. The lease can be shortened with early payment to the supplier. The details of the lease were extensively reviewed by the board at its last meeting. Continue reading
The North Judson Town Council was able to host their meeting in a slightly different location on Monday night.
Months of renovations allowed the Town Council to meet for the first time at North Judson’s new Town Hall.
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The first two witnesses for the state have testified in the arson trial of a Knox man accused of setting his business on fire. James Campbell owns C&C Salvage, also known as Starke County Recycling, at the intersection of U.S. 35 and Toto Road. The business caught fire last March 20, and Campbell was arrested eight days later on an arson charge. The state’s first witness was a mechanic named Tim Graves, who worked for Campbell for two weeks prior to the fire. He testified Campbell sent him out to get seven gallons of gas and a 50-foot extension cord about two hours before the fire started. Continue reading
A Culver man turned himself into Plymouth Police on Monday after he was accused of sexual contact with a minor several months ago.
Plymouth police say they received a phone call from 43-year-old Joey Maxon who stated he would be waiting for officers at the Wal-Mart in Plymouth. Maxon had an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of Pulaski County. He was taken into custody.
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A jury of eight men and six women will hear testimony in the C&C Salvage arson trial in Starke Circuit Court. Attorneys for the state and defendant James Campbell spent yesterday screening prospective jurors and finally settled on a panel of 12 with two alternates around 5:20 p.m. The scrap yard south of Knox at the intersection of U.S. 35 and Toto Road caught fire on March 20, 2014. Firefighters from eight local departments responded and spent several hours battling the blaze. One firefighter from the Bass Lake Fire Department was injured. Campbell owns the business. He was arrested eight days later on a charge of arson as a Class A felony. If convicted he faces between 20 and 50 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Continue reading
Inmates at the Starke County Jail could soon be picking up trash along county roadways under the supervision of a corrections officer. The Starke County Commissioners last night blessed Sheriff Bill Dulin’s plan to establish an inmate road crew of between three and five people to bag up debris for the county highway department to collect. Superintendent Rik Ritzler says it shouldn’t be a problem if the inmates stay in one area and Dulin coordinates schedules with him in advance. The road crew will not cost the county any additional money. The commissioners agreed it will be beneficial to the county in terms of beautification and making the inmates work. Continue reading
The last day of school for students for the spring semester of 2015 at Knox Schools has been moved forward by two days to June 1st. Superintendent A.J. Gappa told the school board last night that originally four days had been set aside for weather-related “make-up” days, but so far there have been six days of weather delay. The scheduled contingency days have already been used. Continue reading
A Knox resident has been honored for their service to the community.
The Gleaner’s Ober Arbor Club honored Ed Hasnerl for his volunteer efforts. Hasnerl has served on the Library Board, the Gateway Committee, as the Starke County Historian, and on the IU Health Starke Hospital Board among many other boards and commissions over the years.
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Almost a year after a set fire destroyed a Knox business the owner is scheduled to stand trial in Starke Circuit Court. James Campbell owns C&C Salvage on U.S. 35 just south of Toto Road. It caught fire on March 20. The Bass Lake, Knox-Center Township, Hamlet, Washington Township, Koontz Lake, North Judson-Wayne Township, San Pierre and Monterey Fire Departments all responded to the blaze and spent several hours getting it under control. One firefighter was injured. Black smoke was visible for miles, and a brigade of tanker trucks hauled water to the scene. Continue reading
