Zhart Requests Inmates’ Assistance in Planting Trees

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

The Pulaski County Commissioners were approached at their biweekly meeting on April 18 by Fred Zhart with the Winamac Tree Committee. Zhart requested approval of the use of inmates to help him dig holes to plant 28 trees this weekend.

Zhart told the commissioners that he has enlisted the assistance of inmates before, and he reminded them that he did not allow smoking or contact with other people while the inmates were assisting him. Zhart went on to say that inmates were not only grateful to get out and work, but when the returned to work they are much easier to manage.

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Plea and Sentencing Hearing for Kevin Eggert Scheduled

Posted on Author WKVI
Kevin Eggert

A plea and sentencing hearing for Kevin Eggert is scheduled for this morning. Eggert is accused of threatening to kill Misty Ross while pointing a 12-gauge shotgun at her, and faces one count of Intimidation, a Class C Felony, and one count of Pointing a Firearm, a Class D Felony.

According to the police report, Officer Todd Keen was dispatched to a residence on Nov. 21, 2010 in reference to a male subject pointing a gun at a female. When Keen arrived, he spoke with Misty Ross, who was standing outside the residence. Ross told Keen that she and her boyfriend, Eggert, had been having some relationship problems, and had told Eggert a few days prior that she was leaving and taking their children. On Nov. 21, Ross had gone to a male friend’s house, and was getting ready to leave when Eggert pulled into the driveway, pointed the shotgun out the window, and said, “I’ll kill you and Tom.” Eggert then left.

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Mark Smith Seeking Candidacy for Mayor of Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
Mark Smith

We continue today with our interviews with the Knox city candidates for elective office in the spring Primary on May 3rd.

Mark Smith is the President of the County Council and has been coroner in the past. He is the owner of M.C. Smith Funeral Home in Knox.

Smith noted the improvements made in past administrations, including the highway project through Knox, Gateway Project, renovation of the old depot, and others. He said he feels we’re not progressing now, as we did then.

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Vote Absentee at the Starke County Courthouse

Posted on Author WKVI

Absentee voting has begun in the Starke County Courthouse for the May Primary Election. This election will feature the City of Knox candidates running for office only.

Absentee voting is available on the first floor of the Starke County Courthouse, Monday through Friday from now until Friday, April 29th from 8:00 a.m. to Noon and from 1:00-4:00 p.m. CT. Absentee voting will also be available on Saturday, April 23rd and Saturday, April 30th from 8:00 a.m. to Noon and 1:00-4:00 p.m. On Thursday, April 28th, absentee voting will be available from 5:00-7:00 p.m. You may vote absentee May 2nd from 8:00 a.m. to Noon. The Starke County Courthouse will be closed on Good Friday so absentee voting will not be available.

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Town of Winamac to Cease Grass Disposal; Sewer Separation Project Underway

Posted on Author WKVI
Winamac Town Hall

The Town of Winamac will not pick up bagged grass again this year. According to Town Manager, Jim Conner, the Town Board decided that residents will need to dispose of their own grass clippings. The issue was brought up last year when the Town Board and Wastewater Superintendent, Brad Zellers, expressed concern about the grass clippings in the streets and the problems they cause with the sewer system, especially during rains.

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Clean Spark Plugs Can Help Gas Mileage

Posted on Author WKVI

SCILL Center Instructor, Rod Dawson, is in this week to give us car care tips for National Car Care month. He says we can’t neglect spark plugs

“People don’t realize it, but that spark plug will fire 3 million times within a thousand miles of driving,” said Dawson. “Take a look at what that spark plug actually does. There’s a lot of heat, a lot of electrical, and chemical erosion that happens on that spark plug. It does wear down and it does need to be replaced.”

Initial Hearings Set for Those Arrested in Holloway Motel Meth Lab Bust

Posted on Author WKVI

The six individuals arrested Friday night on various methamphetamine charges will appear before Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. for their initial hearings.

Mathew Schoff, Cheryl Paschen, Kimberly Hurley, Tracey Gaideski, Timothy Clark, and Holloway Motel manager, Freeman Spelts, were arrested Friday after police found three active methamphetamine labs at the Holloway Motel on U.S. 30 in Starke County. They have charges ranging from Possession of Paraphernalia to Manufacturing Methamphetamine and Neglect of a Dependent. An 8-year-old child was taken into protective custody after the incident.

Bond has been set at $50,000 each.

Citizens Question Pulaski County Airport Expansion Project

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

Nearly 20 citizens of Pulaski County packed into the Commissioners’ meeting room to dispute the expansion of the county airport. The Pulaski County Airport Association Board has been looking into expanding their runway by 800 feet, which would allow larger corporate aircraft to land at their airport without jeopardizing their insurance, but the expansion requires the closure of road 100 West, as well as the acquisition of land from citizens. Everyone, from farmers to pilots, had something to say regarding the issue.

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Knox Mayor up for Election in City Primary Election

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers

It’s two weeks before the Primary Election in Knox. Today, we will begin a series of interviews with candidates running in contested races.

Rick Chambers is completing his first term as Mayor of Knox. The Mayor sat down with us recently to talk about that four year term.

“The first term was very exciting,” he said. “I like dealing with industry. We had industry move into our Industrial Park every year I’ve been Mayor. We added about 80 jobs, we did six tax abatements for industry that either expanded or built new. It was very exciting seeing that Industrial Park grow.”

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West Central School Board Moves Forward with Wind Turbine Project

Posted on Author WKVI

The West Central School Board has decided to move forward with the wind turbine project.

“In the contract, there will be contingencies as far as whether or not we do proceed, but one of the largest issues had to deal with the insurance and that has been solved at this point in time,” said Superintendent Charles Mellon. “The connection point will be in the contract as a contingency and it is also being worked on at this time. This deals with NIPSCO where we want the connection to be prior to the meter so we can use the electricity ourselves that are generating. We are still waiting on the feed-in tariff regulations to be clarified and approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.”

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Proper Tire Maintenance Ensures Better Gas Mileage

Posted on Author WKVI

SCILL Center Instructor, Rod Dawson, has another gas mileage saving car care tip for National Car Care month. Today, he talks tire maintenance.

“Make sure we keep them to the proper OEM specifications on tire air,” said Dawson. “Make sure you rotate them and look the tires over periodically. If you’re running two to three pounds on an under inflated tire, it’s like driving around with your parking brake on. You’re going to lose one to two miles per gallon.”

Purple Toilet Placed in Yard at WKVI for Relay for Life Promotion

Posted on Author WKVI

If in the course of your travels you drive by WKVI, you will see a beautiful purple toilet sitting in our front yard. Now you might wonder what that toilet is doing here and especially sitting in our yard.

We were selected to be a part of Starke County Relay for Life’s Toilet Parade.

Someone in Starke County donated the toilet in our honor and we get to proudly display it in our yard.

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