NJ-SP Superintendent Responds to Bomb Threat

NJ-SP High SchoolPolice and school officials are following up leads as to who left a written bomb threat at North Judson-San Pierre High School last night. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says the perpetrator will be dealt with swiftly and severely both by the school and the authorities. The school handbook outlines punishment up to expulsion. If the person who left the note is over 18, he or she could be prosecuted as an adult. Continue reading

Knox Residents Jailed on Meth Charges

Alfred Higdon
Alfred Higdon
Shari Melton
Shari Melton

A month-long investigation by the Knox Police Department culminated in the arrest of two residents on meth charges last night. Alfred Higdon, 40, and Shari Melton, 39, were arrested at a home in the 300 block of Delaware Street. Officers reportedly found chemicals used in the manufacture of meth as well as methamphetamine and marijuana at the residence. Higdon and Melton both face charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of precursors and possession of marijuana. Formal charges are pending.

 

NJ-SP Steps Up Security Following Bomb Threat

Expect a police presence this morning at North Judson-San Pierre schools. Corporation officials confirm a bomb threat was written at the high school. Police, fire and school officials and a K9 unit thoroughly searched the building and found no evidence of a bomb. This morning’s two-hour delay will allow administrators and law enforcement to meet with staff and review security procedures. School officials stress that the safety of students is their number one priority.

 

 

Trial for Virgil Noble Continues in Starke Circuit Court

Virgil Noble
Virgil Noble

The trial continues in the Starke Circuit Court for a man charged with rape and sexual battery following an alleged incident in 2010. Virgil Noble is facing those charges after being arrested after an incident involving inappropriate sexual contact with a Hamlet woman. Noble was arrested at his home on Dec. 28, 2010 on an active arrest warrant for the charges.

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Area Proms Prompt Law Enforcement to Step up DUI Patrols

 
 
With area schools holding their proms and post-prom events within the next month, local law enforcement departments are stepping up DUI patrols throughout their communities. Police will saturate areas around each prom and post-prom site in an effort to cut down on potential alcohol and drug use, with a zero-tolerance policy toward the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages. In addition, those who provide alcohol to minors will be targeted and jailed.

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Road Closure to Affect Traffic in LaPorte County

 
 
The U.S. 6 bridge between Tracy Road and Meadowlark Boulevard in LaPorte County is closed. The closure is located between the east and west U.S. 6 junctions with U.S. 35.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced that the section of road will be closed to all traffic until the construction of the new bridge is complete in October. The closure was initiated Wednesday afternoon.

Eastbound traffic on U.S. 6 will be detoured south on State Road 39, east on U.S. 30, north on U.S. 35 and back to U.S. 6. Westbound U.S. 6 traffic will travel south on U.S. 35, west on U.S. 30, north on State Road 39 and back to U.S. 6.

Knox Board of Public Works Discusses Progress at Phoenix House

Knox Board of Public Works
Knox Board of Public Works

The Knox Board of Public Works approved a pay application for Chester Construction at their meeting this week in the amount of $49,563.74. The board members also approved a claim for Mark Milo Enterprises for $29,307.50.

Van Janovic from Territorial Engineering explained to the board that these claims are for the Phoenix House construction project. He said Chester’s work is about 91 percent complete and the parking lot work being done by Mark Milo is about 63 percent complete. He said he walked through the project area and was impressed with the work that has been done and it’s been on schedule.

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City of Knox Accepting Bids for Paving

Knox City Hall
Knox City Hall
The city of Knox is soliciting paving bids. Sealed bids for the construction and paving of streets with hot asphalt concrete will be accepted until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22 at the clerk-treasurer’s office. Copies of the bid specifications are available during regular business hours. The Board of Public Works and Safety reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any informality in the bidding process.

PHS, John Glenn Named Among Top Schools in State

  
 
An area school has been named one of the top schools in the state by the U.S. News and World Report, ranking in the top 50 best high schools in the state for 2013. John Glenn High School in Walkerton came in at number 21 in the state while Plymouth High School ranked number 26 for the state, following U.S. News’s review of 21,035 United States public schools.

Only 105 Hoosier schools made it into the running. With more than 1000 students and 51 teachers, PHS boasts a larger enrollment than most schools in Indiana. John Glenn High School has 605 students and 32 teachers, ranking 1576th in the nation.

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Knox School Board Acts on General Diploma Recommendation

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
During their April 1 meeting, the Knox Community School Board heard from High School Principal Dr. Elizabeth Ratliff concerning diploma credits needed for a general diploma.

Dr. Ratliff suggested lowering the credits for a general diploma from 46 to 42. The same English and Language Arts credits and Math credits would be needed, but dropping the number of credits would allow more opportunities in the vocational classes or other electives. Plus, the students would be able to graduate on time.

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Register Now for Irish Pub 5K Run/Walk for Free T-Shirt

  
 
The Irish Pub in North Judson will soon be hosting their Second Annual Irish Pub 5K Run/Walk event, planned for Saturday, May 11 at 10 a.m. Jenny Craig of the pub told WKVI’s Lenny Dessauer that all donations from the event will go to the Hoosier Burn Camp, a summer camp experience for young men and women who have experienced injuries from burns. However, time is running out to sign up in time to get your free t-shirt. Craig said that only registrations that have been received by Saturday are eligible for a free shirt.

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Kersting’s Cycle Center to Hold Blessing of the Bikes Ceremony Saturday

Tom Berg talks with Sandy Kersting Rudd
Tom Berg talks with Sandy Kersting Rudd
Kersting’s Cycle Center in North Judson will be holding their Blessing of the Bikes ceremony this weekend with a variety of entertainment and vendors. Pastor Adam Speicher of Clymers UMC and Lake Cicott UMC will be performing the blessing ceremony on Saturday following a performance by the Acousticats.

Speicher said the group will pray over water as a symbol before breaking into four teams, each of which will go individually through the crowd, blessing not only the machines but the riders as well. He said he hopes to have each team ask if any specific prayers are needed as they go through the crowd, giving each attendee the chance to have their own prayer.

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Governor Signs Bill to Expand Veteran-Owned Small Business Opportunities

Governor Pence joins Senators Mike Delph (R) and Jim Buck (R), Representative Jim Baird (R) and representatives from veterans advocacy groups to sign SEA 564, which expands veteran owned small business opportunities in Indiana.
Governor Pence joins Senators Mike Delph (R) and Jim Buck (R), Representative Jim Baird (R) and representatives from veterans advocacy groups to sign SEA 564, which expands veteran owned small business opportunities in Indiana.

A bill that expands veteran-owned small business opportunities in Indiana was signed by Governor Mike Pence Thursday.

Senate Enrolled Act 564 requires the Department of Administration to procure at least three percent of state contracts with veteran-owned small businesses. It also requires the Department of Administration to adopt rules, develop policies and set forth guidelines regarding contracting opportunities for veteran-owned small businesses. A report of state contracts with Hoosier veteran-owned small businesses must be filed annually.

This is Pence’s third Roadmap bill signed into law this legislative session. Governor Pence’s Roadmap outlines his vision to continue Indiana on a pathway to success through fiscal responsibility, economic development and educational opportunity for every Hoosier child.

LaPorte County Teenagers Arrested after Burglary, Pursuit Incident

LaPorte County Sheriff's Department
LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office

LaPorte County officers arrested three Gary teenagers after a burglary and pursuit incident in LaPorte.

Shortly before 10:00 a.m. Thursday morning, officers from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office were notified of a residential burglary in progress in the 1200 north block of Goldring Road. The vehicle was then observed fleeing the area. Officers from the Michigan City Police Department saw the vehicle driving erratically along County Road 400 north near U.S. 421. The vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and a pursuit began. The driver refused to stop and went onto Highway 94 and continued traveling at high speed.

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Police Engage in Hour-Long Standoff with Suicidal Subject

 
 

Officers from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department were involved in a standoff late Wednesday night with a suicidal subject.

The officers were asked to perform a welfare check on a person residing in the 7000 block of 11A Road in Plymouth. The man had reportedly contacted a suicide hotline and expressed a desire to harm himself. When officers from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and the Argos and Bourbon Police Departments arrived at the scene, they found a man armed with a gun. The officers were then involved in a standoff with the man.

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Truck Driver Killed in LaPorte County Crash

Steven Lunn, 52, of Olympia Fields, Ill. had to be cut from the wreckage of his truck.
Steven Lunn, 52, of Olympia Fields, Ill. had to be cut from the wreckage of his truck.

A truck driver from Olympia Fields, Ill. is dead and a Valparaiso man is in jail after an early morning crash on I-94 in LaPorte County that shut the highway down for about two hours. The wreck occurred near the Indiana-Michigan State Line around 2 a.m. Truck driver George A. Leeth, Sr. of Hammond called 911 from his cell phone to report a suspected drunk driver in an Audi station wagon driving erratically with speeds ranging from 25 to 60 miles-per-hour. The driver, Howard B Gutenstein, 47, of Valparaiso, stopped his car in the middle of the highway, got out and started walking around. Leeth stopped, according to state police, put his flashers on and coaxed Gutenstein back into his car. As Leeth was getting back into his truck, another semi hit him, pushing his truck into Gutenstein’s car. The driver of the second truck, Steven Lunn, 52, of Olympia Fields, Ill.hand to be cut from the cab of his truck and was pronounced dead at the scene of massive trauma. Leeth was taken to a Michigan City hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Gutenstein faces a felony charge of operating while intoxicated causing death and a misdemeanor offense of endangering. State troopers say he had a blood alcohol content of .13 percent.