Retired Military Animal to Receive Purple Hearts Saturday in Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI
Maya is pictured here with Neil Berg from the Hamlet American Legion

The Hamlet American Legion is holding a chili supper benefit for Retired Military Animals on Saturday, May 28th from 3:00-8:00 p.m. at the facility. Maya, a retired military dog who was rescued by Don Thomas of the Grovertown area, will receive three purple hearts during the benefit Saturday.

Maya, a 12-year-old veteran, served in the Army as well as the Marines. During her six years of service, she saved countless lives in Afghanistan and Iraq using her bomb detecting abilities. She was rescued by Don Thomas a few years ago and was able to do so by an amendment signed by then-President Bill Clinton that allows retired military canines to have owners found for them instead of being euthanized. Saturday’s benefit will help interested individuals to take things one step further and help with the expense of housing these animals, medical expenses and the cost of food.

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Storm Wreaks Havoc in Kankakee Valley

Posted on Author WKVI
Francesville Fire Station Two sustained damage due to a tornado

Several buildings sustained damage after tornadoes touched down in Francesville Wednesday morning. Francesville Fire Chief, Tim Wuethrich, talked about the event.

“It appears that we had a tornado touch down in two spots in Francesville, maybe three,” said Wuethrich. “It took three poles out on the highway, leveled a building that we call Station Two, our other fire station. We had a fire truck in there that’s underneath the rubble. It took part of a roof off a house on the other end of town. I’ve been at Incident Command the whole time so I haven’t assessed the damage yet.” Homeowners with damaged roofs may need to hire local roofers to fix and restore their roofing systems. They may also need to find a supplier of timber roof trusses for their roof replacement project.

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Three Offenders Appear in Starke Circuit Court for Initial Hearings

Posted on Author WKVI
Murriah Dailey

Murriah Dailey made an appearance in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday, but her case has been continued until Friday at 9:00 a.m. due to some issues with the police report. The officer has not yet signed the report, so the prosecuting attorney has been unable to file charges at this time. An affidavit for probable cause has been filed for two counts of Attempted Murder, as well as counts of Motor Vehicle Theft, Battery on a Police Officer, and Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle. More charges are expected to be filed by state police after their investigation is completed.

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Knox City Council Discusses Refinancing Knox Community Center Bonds

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council #2
Back Row: Mayor Rick Chambers, Ed Blue, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, Greg Matt and Attorney David Matsey. Front Row: Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg and Ron Parker

The Knox City Council heard a report from Mayor Rick Chambers this week on a proposal to refinance the Knox Community Center bonds.

“John Julien from Umbaugh and Associates called the other day and he had mentioned this to Jeff (Houston) and I about a year ago,” explained Mayor Chambers. “The interest rates are down. The interest rates on our current loan is 5.5% and he thinks interest rates for 2.9% could be had if we put this out for bid. This loan will be paid off in 2019. Over the length of that loan, if we can bond for 2.9%, we would save $55,000. That’s a little misleading because we have $32,000 currently in an escrow account with First Monterey Bank. So, with the expense of redoing that bond and being able to use that $32,000 now, subtract the $32,000 from the $55,000 – over the course of this loan we’d be saving $22,000.”

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Gas Prices Continue to Fluctuate

Posted on Author WKVI

Do you feel like you’re a yo-yo when it comes to gasoline prices? If you filled up Tuesday night or early yesterday morning you were lucky because by mid-morning the gas prices had spiked higher. Prices that had fluctuated between $3.60 and $3.80 for a gallon of regular suddenly were up to $3.95 locally.

Memorial Day Weekend Starts the Tourism Season in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI
Rich Wieczorek

The Memorial Day Weekend is the “kick-off” for summer fun in the area. Rich Wieczorek, spokesperson for the Tourism Board in Starke County, is in to tell us about the guides that are available at the tourism office in the Chamber Depot.

“Right now we’ve got the Visitor’s Guide and it’s information for people coming into the county because when the come in the county, where do they go? Well, they pick up the Visitor’s Guide and there it is. The festivals are in there, recreation, antique shops, places to eat, and if they don’t have a place to stay, lodging is listed. At the same time, the campgrounds are all opening up now. The Bass Lake Beach and Campground will have free Wednesdays again and Hickory Hills is going full blast too.”

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Senator Jim Arnold to Represent Parts of Starke County in State Senate

Posted on Author WKVI
Senator Jim Arnold

WKVI News had an opportunity recently to talk with Eighth District State Senator Jim Arnold (D) of LaPorte. Arnold, if elected in 2012, will represent a few townships in Starke County.

“It’s a pleasure and an honor to have the opportunity to represent the people of Starke County,” said Senator Arnold. “I don’t have all of Starke County, but I do have five townships in the northern part of the County. I picked up additional portions of St. Joe County as well. I’m honored and privileged to be down here and I look forward to working with the people on concerns of mutual interest.”

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Public Areas in Culver Soon to be Alcohol-Free

Posted on Author WKVI

Public areas in Culver may soon be alcohol-free, as the town council approved the ordinance on its first reading this Tuesday. This ordinance has been discussed for over a year, but this is the first draft of such an ordinance.

The ordinance prohibits open containers of alcohol from public property, but restaurants, bars, and other similar places of business remain unaffected.

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Summer School Underway at Ancilla College

Posted on Author WKVI

Monday we told you about the Triathlon on the campus of Ancilla College. While on the campus, Ted Hayes had a chance to talk with Dr. Ron May, the President of Ancilla, and asked him about graduation and summer school.

“We had more than one hundred graduates that participated and had a great ceremony and a great speaker,” said Dr. May. “One of our graduates, Mary Szymusiak, Class of 1995, did a great job. We’re into summer school already. It’s up and running and we’ll do our first session here and end it toward the end of June and then start up with a second summer term and keep right on moving.”

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Pulaski Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Volunteers Needed

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski Memorial Hospital

The Pulaski Memorial Hospital Auxiliary has openings for volunteers for both men and women. Areas of service include the gift shop, reception desk, hostess program and the patient service program.

If you are a leader of a group, encourage members to consider volunteering at the hospital. It is a great way to make new friends and feel good about yourself. Call (574) 946-2100 for more information.

North Judson-San Pierre 3rd Grade Class Tours Starke County Museum, Courthouse

Posted on Author WKVI
Dan Roscka tells the students some of Starke County's history

Mrs. Ridley’s third grade class from North Judson-San Pierre Elementary School took a tour of the Starke County Museum in Knox Tuesday morning. The tours were given by Marianne Gappa, June Golding, Peg Brettin and Dan Roscka. Dan Roscka told the students about the time capsule that was opened during the County’s Sesquicentennial.

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Jim Shilling to be Featured on Friday’s “Ted Hayes Remembers” Program

Posted on Author WKVI
Jim Shilling

TED HAYES REMEMBERS-6-3

This week on “Ted Hayes Remembers”, Ted will talk with Jim Shilling.

Jim and Melba Shilling have been in the forefront of collecting and maintaining a history of Starke County for decades. Jim has shown the Starke County Courthouse to hundreds of people, and taken hundreds more on tours of the Starke County Museum.

Ted asked Jim to talk about historical events over the past 50 or so years that have impressed him.

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Kierstynn Combs Signs with Bethel

Posted on Author Nathan
Kierstynn with her parents at Kierstynn's signing.
Parents Vicki and Mark look on as Kierstynn signs her letter of intent.
Kierstynn with her parents, tennis/volleyball Coach Bruce Johnson, Bethel Coach Jody Rodriguez, and Knox A.D. Phil Owens.

Knox senior Kierstynn Combs has decided to attend Bethel College where she will continue her basketball career. A 4-year letter winner for the Knox Lady Redskin basketball team, Kierstynn scored over 550 points in her career at Knox and has been known for her hard-nosed, competitive nature on the court.

Culver Community Students to Receive iPads Next Year

Posted on Author WKVI
Culver Community School Board
Culver Community School Board Members (from left, clockwise): Jack Jones, Ryan Seiber, Marilyn Swanson, Brad Schuldt, Eugene Baker, Jim Wentzel, Ed Behnke, Ken VanDePutte

With the use of technology in public schools on a quickly increasing trend, Culver Community School Board has approved a lease with Apple, Inc. to provide iPads for all high school and middle school students. Culver Community Schools will be spearheading what they’ve called the “One-to-One Technology Initiative,” which gives students the equipment and opportunities to “learn by doing.” Students would be able to bring these devices home at the end of the day, but they would be returned to the school at the end of the school year.

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Services for Andy Howes Set for August

Posted on Author WKVI
Andy Howes

Services will be held in Starke County in August for Chief Warrant Officer, Andy Howes. Although complete details are not available at this time, it is known that services will be August 2nd and that his remains will be taken on to his final resting place, Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Those services will be held August 5th. Howes’ partial remains have been in U.S. possession since 1988. They were identified through DNA samples.

Originally, plans were set for 2012 but were moved up to August of this year.

Howes was on a mission in November of 1970 when his helicopter failed to return to base.  He was a Knox High School graduate.

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Officials from Starke, Pulaski Counties Participate in Earthquake Exercise

Posted on Author WKVI

The largest ever Indiana exercise and the first ever national level exercise designed around a natural disaster was held last week. Starke County EMA Director, Ted Bombagetti and Pulaski County Chief Deputy Sheriff, Ron Patrick, who is the District Two Task Force Commander for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, were involved in the exercise that took place at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center. Pulaski County Sheriff, Michael Gayer, attended the training and he talks about the training center in Jennings County:

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Five Star to Display Historical Starke County Pictures

Posted on Author WKVI
A worker puts up the first historical Starke County picture at Five Star

The Five Star store in the Knox Mall is going to house 40 to 50 four by six foot pictures depicting Starke County’s history. The first picture went up yesterday and Jim Shilling was there to describe the scene.

“We’re putting up the first picture above some of the produce on the northeast corner of the store,” said Shilling. “It’s a picture of the Charles Windisch store that was in Starke County about 100 years ago. If you look closely to the left, that’s Charles Windisch and if you look in the back, you’ll see the cooler. That’s not a cooler like you think of now. That storage above it is filled with two or three hundred pounds of ice and that’s the cooler. He butchered his own meat, it was always fresh and it was quite a grocery store. On the bottom right, you can almost pick out a Red Delicious apple.”

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