Week in Review for January 23rd-27th, 2012

Posted on Author WKVI

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.

Eric Corey

Funeral services for the creator of the popular Turkey Tracks hunt for disabled hunters, Eric Corey, were held Sunday at the Knox Community Center. Hundreds attended the service.

Welding classes could be offered soon at the Knox Middle School. Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa is discussing the project with representatives from the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, SCILL Center, and the North Central Area Vocational program. Continue reading →

Two Grovertown Residents Arrested after Police Conduct Search Warrant

Posted on Author WKVI
Heather VanDusen
Julius Novitzke

Two Grovertown residents were arrested Wednesday after a search warrant was executed at their residence.

Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police conducted a drug investigation at 10195 E. Francis Street in Grovertown. Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall approved a search warrant for the property and officers from Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police and the Plymouth K9 unit executed the search warrant early Wednesday morning. Officers located several items commonly used the manufacture of methamphetamine, discarded methamphetamine labs, the finished product and other controlled substances.

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State Representative Nancy Dembowski Discusses Right to Work

Posted on Author WKVI
Indiana Statehouse

The right to work bill passed the Indiana House Wednesday and the debate on the bill lasted five hours. Democrat State Representative Nancy Dembowski said it was grueling.

“It was one of the worst things I’ve ever been through,” she said. “They’ve got all of the people demonstrating in the hallways and they shut off the speakers so the people out there can’t hear what’s being said. We insisted that they have a right to hear and we demanded they open the doors because the Constitution says that you have to have the doors open unless you want to do something in secrecy. Our people were trying to open the doors and they instructed the police to stop us. People have no idea what it was like. Person after person after person just pleaded with them that it was going to hurt the common working man and stop and they stuck together and they got it accomplished.”

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Several Republicans File for Candidacy in Starke County Clerk’s Office

Posted on Author WKVI
(Left to right) Robert "Bob" Kolanowski, John Norem, Republican Chairman Brenda Stanojevich, Don White, Dorene Matzat, Don Johnson and Kathy Norem

Several Republican candidates filed for office yesterday in the Starke County Clerk’s Office.

Those candidates include Robert “Bob” Kolanowski, Don White, Don Johnson, Dorene Matzat and John Norem who filed for Precinct Committeeman positions. Don Johnson and Don White also filed for State Convention Delegate.

Kathy Norem filed for County Commissioner in District 1. Continue reading →

Cheryl Paschen Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Cheryl Paschen

Cheryl Paschen was sentenced yesterday in Starke Circuit Court.

She pleaded guilty in plea agreement to two counts filed against her: Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Syringe.

Judge Kim Hall sentenced her to 18 months in the Indiana Department of Corrections with 6 months suspended on both charges. Both sentences will run concurrently and on home detention through Starke County Community Corrections. As a term of her probation, she will be entering into a drug rehabilitation program and she will need to complete treatment.

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Apple to Host Technology Discussions at Culver

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

Culver Community School Corporation’s One-to-One Technology Initiative is receiving some positive attention, and Principals Albert Hanselman and Julie Berndt informed the board this week of an upcoming presentation hosted by Apple to allow visitors from other school corporations to see the iPad initiative in action. According to Superintendent Brad Schuldt, the event will give visitors a chance to talk to Apple representatives regarding products, services, and their costs, as well as speak to Culver employees regarding the use of the technology and get an idea of the major successes and problems with the program.

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Starke Circuit Court Judge Sentences Earl Beem, Jr.

Posted on Author WKVI
Earl Beem, Jr.

Earl Beem, Jr., of Knox was convicted of Possession of Methamphetamine Under Three Grams as a Class C felony in the Starke Circuit Court Thursday after previously pleading guilty as part of a plea agreement. Beem was sentenced to a total of 62 months in the Department of Corrections, making this his third trip to prison after he was convicted of a Probation Violation and Dealing A Legend Drug in the past.

Beem will serve four years for the felony, but will be serving an additional 14 months for violating his probation. In addition, the court recommended that he complete the CLIFF program.

Knox City Council Approves Purchase of Property in Parkview

Posted on Author WKVI
Back Row: Greg Matt, Mayor Rick Chambers, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, Donald Kring, City Attorney David Matsey. Front Row: Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg and Ron Parker

The Knox City Council approved the purchase of a property in the Parkview Heights area.

The Council purchased property at 404 Giles Court. On the property is a 1950’s-type trailer, and the owner, James Landrum, offered to sell it to the city for $2,000.00. Mayor Rick Chambers said on top of the purchase price the council would need to figure the cost of cleaning up the property.

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Right to Work Bill Passes Indiana House

Posted on Author WKVI
Indiana Statehouse

The right to work bill passed the Indiana House yesterday.

The final vote was 54-44. The bill gives workers the freedom to choose whether or not to financially support a union. It states that an employee cannot be forced to join to financially support a union in order to get or keep a job.

House Bill 1001 was heard on third reading yesterday after the majority of the Democrat Caucus boycotted the first few weeks of session by failing to show up to work. Members of the House Republicans attempted to address right to work last session, however the Democrats denied the House a quorum by fleeing to Illinois for five weeks. The issue was tabled and further studied in the Interim Study Committee on Employment this summer.

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December Unemployment Rates Show Little Improvement

Posted on Author WKVI
Indiana Workforce Development

Starke County’s unemployment rate went up in December. The rate was only slightly higher at 10.7%, which is the 11th highest in the state.

Indiana’s rate was not changed from November at 9%.

Fayette County had the highest rate at 12.3% followed by Vermillion, Elkhart, Tipton, and Blackford. Dubois County had the lowest rate at 5.9% followed by Davies, Hamilton, Knox, and Switzerland.

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Knox Woman Arrested after Battery Incident

Posted on Author WKVI
Jennifer Czarnecki

A Knox woman faces seven charges after a battery incident on Saturday.

Starke County police were called to a residence in North Judson where it was reported a female had been battered. When the Starke County officer arrived on scene, he observed a woman in handcuffs attempting to leave the back of the police car. She had reportedly told her mother that she had been battered, but no evidence of the battery was indicated.

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Hearings Held in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall sentenced Cheryl Hughes yesterday on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Operating a Vehicle Dangerously While Intoxicated. She was sentenced to 13 months on the possession charge and 12 months on the OVWI charge. All time was suspended and will be served on probation. Her Driver’s License was suspended for nine months.

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Legislators Considering Smoking Ban

Posted on Author WKVI

Legislators are considering a smoking ban in this session of the legislature that would prohibit smoking in public places, enclosed areas of a place of employment, in certain state vehicles and within 12 feet of a public entrance to a public place or an enclosed area of a place of employment. The bill allows smoking iqos heets uae cigarettes in certain gaming facilities, cigar bars, and retail tobacco stores if certain requirements are met.

Yet tobacco is legally sold in virtually every country in the world and, after decades of understanding its harm, it remains not only legal but highly accessible and profitable (to everyone but the consumer) in US.

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College Goal Sunday Set in Plymouth

Posted on Author WKVI

Students looking for help on the FAFSA form can get that assistance during College Goal Sunday on February 12th at Plymouth High School.

This free program is designed to assist you in filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form. The FAFSA is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, loans and scholarships at most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide. The deadline to file for the FAFSA is March 10th. In one afternoon at College Goal Sunday, you and your parents can get help in finishing the complicated form and get it filed online.

Tax forms and other income and benefit information are required. For more information, visit this website.

Township Government Portion of Government Reform Bill Fails to Pass

Posted on Author WKVI
Indiana Statehouse

A bill that would have reshaped county government died yesterday. Republican Representative Kevin Mahan, of Hartford City, pulled a bill that would have eliminated township advisory boards and required referendums in each county on whether to keep township government at all. The bill was to have been debated Friday.

Oregon Township Trustee Mark Allen, a Democrat, traveled to Indianapolis to attend the hearing.

“There was quite a push to keep townships alive and I think it’s a great thing, especially in your rural communities,” said Allen. “Where I live, you’ve got a volunteer fire department that the township trustee is in charge of and you also have a township assistant.”

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Some Republicans are Voting Against Right to Work

Posted on Author WKVI
State Representative Tom Dermody

Even though Republican Governor Mitch Daniels has made right to work his number one priority item for this session of the Indiana General Assembly, some Republicans are voting against the measure. One was Senator Ed Charbonneau, of Valparaiso, who voted against the bill Monday.

Republican Representative Tom Dermody, of LaPorte, has said he will vote against the measure.  Continue reading →

Owner of Ortman’s Meat Processing in Winamac Dies

Posted on Author WKVI
Jim Ortman

The owner of Ortman Meat Processing in Winamac passed away Monday in Pulaski Memorial Hospital.  James R. Ortman, with his wife Mary,
have owned the business for 23 years as well as Prairie Moon Orchard in Francesville.

Ortman won many awards for his products. He was a member of the Indiana Meat Packers Association and a Director and Chairman of the Cured Meat Show.  Jim had lived in Winamac since 1962 and when he was 13, he was adopted by George and Ann Ortman.

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