Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin will discuss the acquisition of a second K9 with the county commissioners when they meet this evening. Last year the county bought a dog from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department after one of their K9 handlers left for personal reasons. K9 Terror is a certified drug and tracking dog and has already assisted with numerous drug-related investigations since joining the force in December. Dulin will also talk to the commissioners about establishing a county inmate road crew, according to the advance agenda for tonight’s meeting. It starts at 6 p.m. at the annex building. Continue reading
Community Services Director To Retire
The long-time director of a local non-profit has decided to retire.
Joan Haugh has been with Community Services of Starke County for the past 40 years. She recently informed the organization’s board of directors that she will leave her duties at the end of July.
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Local Grocery Store Up For Sale
A grocery store in Starke County will be going up for sale.
The owner’s of Ray’s Super Foods disclosed on Wednesday of this week that they were planning to “make a change.” The move was announced as an advertisement in The Market – a weekly advertising publication.
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Candidates for Town Offices May File until August
Candidates may continue to file for office in the municipal election.
The filing deadline for the Knox City Council, mayor, judge and clerk-treasurer candidate positions has expired with the primary election set for Tuesday, May 5.
Candidates seeking office in towns with a population less than 3,500 can file until Monday, Aug. 3. If there is more than one party candidate running for a seat, a town convention will be held to determine the party candidate on the General Election ballot in November.
Know Severe Weather Terminology as We Head into Spring
As we turn the corner into spring, the weather will become more volatile.
The observation of Severe Weather Preparedness Week is underway and Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery says it’s a time to alert the public about the hazards of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. Meteorologists will be using terms like severe thunderstorm watch and severe thunderstorm warning and Avery says it’s important that residents know the difference.
Statewide Winter Moratorium Ends, Utility Payment Assistance Still Available
The state-mandated moratorium on utility service disconnection during the winter months is over. However, several forms of payment assistance are still available for low-income families who need help paying their heating bills. These include assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Program. It is available to households that fall within 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines and is administered through local community action agencies. LIHEAP-eligible NIPSCO customers may also qualify for additional discounts through the NIPSCO Customer Assistance for Residential Energy, or CARE, program. Applications are made at the same time as those for LIHEAP assistance. Continue reading
Final Pretrial Hearing Set for Murder Defendant
Next month’s murder trial for a Knox man accused of killing his estranged wife at their rural California Township home last June is still on schedule. Gary Chavez is charged with murder, kidnapping and carjacking. Police say he beat his wife Kimberly to death on June 6, 2014, drove to Mark Bailey’s Discount Center and kidnapped an employee who was sitting in his car in the store parking lot. The two drove to English Lake where Chavez is accused of stealing another vehicle at gunpoint and leading authorities on a high-speed chase through LaPorte and Porter Counties. That vehicle broke down near Kouts, which is where Chavez allegedly stole a pickup truck at gunpoint from two men who stopped to help him. Police in Lake County deployed stop sticks on Interstate 65 near Crown Point in an attempt to end the pursuit. That’s when Chavez shot himself in the face. He spent two months in a Chicago hospital before being released to the custody of the Starke County Sheriff and has been jailed ever since. Continue reading
Second Suspect Arrested in Burglary Investigation
Another suspect has been arrested in a burglary investigation in Starke County.
On Feb. 16, a North Judson man called police to report that two men were coming out of his garage with his possessions and ran through the woods. Officers were able to track footprints to a neighboring pole barn to the north where the stolen items were found, according to a press release.
Rickie Clemons, 19, of Knox was arrested on site and has preliminary charges of burglary and theft.
Robert Manns, 40, of Knox had an active warrant for his arrest for his alleged involvement in this burglary. His information was featured on the Starke County’s Most Wanted list, and an anonymous tip led police to his location. On Thursday, March 12, deputies from the Stake County Sheriff’s Department, along with the K9 unit, arrived at a home in the 6200 south block of 250 W. in North Judson. Officers heard movement in the residence and after five minutes, a woman answered the door, according to police. They entered the residence with K9 Terror and located Manns hiding in a trap door and arrested him without incident.
Manns was booked into the Starke County Jail on charges of burglary and theft. Both suspects are being held in the Starke County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges in Starke Circuit Court on Friday morning and was appointed a public defender.
The Starke County Most Wanted list is available by clicking here.
Mother of Baby Left in Car Makes Initial Court Appearance
The mother of an infant who suffered frostbite after being left alone in a car after a Feb. 5 crash near North Judson made her initial appearance in Starke Circuit Court yesterday. Shayna Madison, 24, is charged with neglect of a dependent as a level 5 felony. Police responded to a wreck in the area of 250 West and 500 South. No driver was in the vehicle, but a small child was found in a car seat in the back. The child was treated at IU Health Starke Hospital and turned over to the Department of Child Services. Continue reading
Warming Weather Means Preparations To Fix Potholes
The weather has been warming over the last few days, and crews at the Starke County Highway Department have transitioned to their springtime activity of filling potholes.
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Robert Corbin Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
Robert Corbin was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Thursday afternoon.
Corbin pleaded guilty to child seduction as a Class C felony in a previous court setting. Judge Kim Hall accepted the plea agreement that called for a seven-year sentence in the Indiana Department of Corrections. His sentence was broken into three components: 28 months will be served in the Indiana Department of Corrections, 28 months will be served on home detention with electronic monitoring and 28-months was suspended to be served on probation. By pleading guilty, all other counts against Corbin were dropped.
Police Still Seeking Information Child Pornography Case
The investigation into the arrest of a Knox resident is ongoing with the Knox City Police Department.
Police have been able to identify victims from child pornography images allegedly found on Robert Wisilinski’s computer. The officers continue to work on leads and help victims in the wake of Wislinski’s alleged actions. Continue reading
Check for Unclaimed Property
Indiana residents are encouraged to see if they are eligible to claim unclaimed property totaling $66 million.
Unclaimed property includes investment earnings, insurance proceeds and benefits, wages, and money from savings and checking accounts. Attorney General Greg Zoeller said making a claim with the Attorney General’s Unclaimed Property Division is free. Visit www.IndianaUnclaimed.gov search for your name, relatives, neighbors and friends names. Business owners and charitable organizations should also check annually for unclaimed property.
SCYC Among Indiana First Lady’s Charitable Foundation Grant Recipients
A nonproift organization dedicated to serving youngsters in Starke County is the recipient of funds from the Indiana First Lady’s Charitable Foundation. Starke County Youth Club Executive Director Irene Szakonyi and Melissa Smith accepted the honor during a Tuesday reception at the Governor’s residence.
“The Starke County Youth Club is one of those organizations that is doing great work for our Hoosier children and families, and it is an honor to recognize them today,” First Lady Karen Pence said. Continue reading
Smoke Detectors Available from Community Services of Starke County
A local nonprofit agency has smoke detectors available for families in need of the potentially life-saving devices. Community Services of Starke County Executive Director Joan Haugh says a couple of recent fire fatalities got her to thinking.
“I just felt we could save a life or two if we made sure every home had a smoke alarm – a working smoke alarm or sometimes two. So we applied to State Farm because they had a safety grant, and they awarded me some funds to purchase smoke detectors,” Haugh said. Continue reading
Pulaski County CDC Establishes County Bicentennial Committee
Officials in Pulaski County are making plans to celebrate Indiana’s 200th birthday. The Pulaski County Community Development Commission recently established the Pulaski County Bicentennial Committee. It will serve as a liaison to the Indiana State Bicentennial Commission.
Activities across Indiana in 2016 will celebrate 200 years of statehood with Legacy Projects, an Olympic-style torch relay across the state and other events. Continue reading
LaPorte Woman a Victim of Tax Fraud
A 75-year-old LaPorte woman was unable to file her taxes because someone else used her personal information to file a claim.
LaPorte City Police Department officers were made aware of the fraud incident this week. The victim told police that her nephew attempted to file her taxes, and the filing was rejected. She added that she was an Anthem Health Care customer, and her information was among those stolen in a recent massive hacking incident.
Sen. Donnelly Participates In Bloody Sunday Commemoration
Indiana’s Democratic U.S. Senator recently participated in what some are calling a civil rights pilgrimage.
Senator Joe Donnelly traveled to Selma, Alabama on Sunday with other state residents to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
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Get a Free NOAA Weather Radio Next Week
There’s a chance for you to get a free NOAA Weather/All Hazard Alert Radio next week.
Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery says the effort is part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week next week.
“We’re going to be giving away a limited number of all hazard emergency alert radios that were provided to us by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, as well as some that I was able to purchase through some grant funds that were available,” said Avery.
Rural Knox Resident Airlifted After Severe Accident in Valpo
Police in Valparaiso were called to the scene of an accident Saturday morning that saw the driver airlifted from the scene.
The incident occurred just before 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of State Road 49 and County Road 500 North. According to the Police Department, 22-year-old John Binkowski of rural Knox was stopped at a red light when an oncoming semi-tractor trailer allegedly disregarded to the signal.
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