Free Christmas Dinner at Winamac First United Methodist Church

 
 
The holidays are a time of togetherness, a time to share with one another and spend time with those you love. Unfortunately, there are times when getting family and friends together isn’t easy, and it’s not uncommon for people to spend Christmas Day on their own. To help with that, the Winamac First United Methodist Church is hosting their fifth annual Community Christmas Dinner on Christmas Day from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET at the church on the corner of Monticello and Spring.

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Starke County Attorney Still Researching ATV Options

  
 
Starke County Attorney Marty Lucas is still looking into the county’s options with regard to allowing utility vehicles like Kawasaki Mules and John Deere Gators to be driven on county roads. County officials are looking for a compromise to allow adults to drive such vehicles that are properly insured on the roads while still prohibited all-terrain vehicles like 3-and-4-wheelers. State law prevents the county from requiring licenses in order to operate these vehicles on county roads, but Lucas says it may be possible to set a minimum age. He’s still researching the policies other jurisdictions have on the books and hopes to have an update for the commissioners within the next month.

Ancilla College “Excited” About Lilly Endowment

Dr. Ron May
Dr. Ron May
Ancilla College has been awarded a $1 million Lilly Endowment grant. The college received one of 39 such grants provided by the Endowment to the state’s accredited colleges and universities as part of its Initiative to Expand Opportunities Through Educational Collaborations. The grants, totaling $62.7 million, will provide a significant boost to the schools’ efforts to enhance and expand opportunities for college graduates to find meaningful employment in Indiana.

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Residence in Knox May Soon Be Demolished

Knox Board of Public Works
Knox Board of Public Works

The attorney for the city of Knox is drafting a demolition order for a property within the city limits at the request of Plan Commissioner Bruce Williams. Williams told the Board of Works this week that the building located at 409 and 411 Lewis Drive is in very bad shape. He said the building has not been lived in for about four years, and it’s falling apart.

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Flood Watch in Effect Through Sunday Morning

 
 
The combination of rain and melting snow could make for a soggy weekend. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the entire WKVI listening area through Sunday morning. Rainfall totals of between 1 and 3 inches are possible, with much of the precipitation expected Saturday night. Streams, creeks and low-lying areas are expected to flood first, but rivers could overflow their banks early next week. Residents who live in low-lying areas are urged to monitor forecasts and be alert for possible flood warnings. A watch merely means conditions are favorable for flooding to occur, while a warning means flooding is occurring.

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Telephone Scammer Claims to Be From Federal Government

  
 
WKVI News has gotten word of another telephone scam that appears to be an attempt to separate residents from their cash. In this case a caller with a thick foreign accent claims to be from the United States Treasury and says he has money for the caller, he just needs her bank account number so the funds can be deposited within 45 minutes. When the caller asked why she was receiving money she was told it was because she did not have a criminal record. She became suspicious and told the the man she would need to call him back, but was instead told he would return her call in a few minutes. She tells WKVI News she never received a return telephone call. When she tried to call the number back, she got a message that all circuits were busy. The caller apparently knew the name of the person associated with the telephone number he was calling. Law enforcement and bank officials remind people to always verify the identity of a person who calls before giving them any bank account or Social Security numbers in order to avoid becoming the victim of identity theft. If a caller is legitimate, they will give you information to return their call. If you have fallen victim to such a scam, notify your bank and the police immediately.

Pence Authorizes One-Time Bonuses for State Employees

Indiana Governor Mike Pence
Indiana Governor Mike Pence
Governor Mike Pence yesterday sent out letters to state employees authorizing one-time bonuses following performance evaluations in January. According to the letter, employees who meet expectations will receive a $500 bonus, those who exceed expectations will receive $750, and those rated outstanding will receive $1,000. Since the bonuses will be funded by the Personal Services Contingency Fund or absorbed by dedicated or federal funds, they will not impact the state’s general fund.

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Representative Dermody Named Legislator of the Year by IPCA

State Representative Tom Dermody
State Representative Tom Dermody
The Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association honored State Representative Tom Dermody (R-LaPorte) as Legislator of the Year during a ceremony held in Carmel. Scot Imus, IPCA Executive Director, presented the award to Rep. Dermody for working to streamline the collection process for the state’s gasoline sales tax during the 2013 legislative session.

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Plymouth Man Sentenced on Felony Meth Manufacturing Charge

 
 
A Plymouth man who was cooking meth in the basement of a Washington Street residence according to court documents has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Jamie Wacasey, 34, previously pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a housing complex. The charge stems from his April 30 arrest during which items used to make meth were also found in the basement of the Plymouth home. The arrest was a result of a joint investigation between the Plymouth Police, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and Indiana State Police. Marshall Superior Court Judge Robert O. Bowen ordered four years of Wacasey’s sentence to be suspended and made purposeful incarceration a term. Additionally his sentence will be served concurrently to a proposed one-year sentence that’s pending in Marshall Superior Court for the revocation of Wacasey’s probation.

Knox Board of Works Approves Pay App for Lift Station Pump

Knox Board of Public Works
Knox Board of Public Works

The lift station for the city of Knox is reportedly “beyond its last legs,” according to an official with the city water department. Bob Alloy with Territorial Engineering approached the Knox Board of Works this week and explained that a crew is still working to try to get the new pump operational, having already visited the city six times previously to try to repair the problematic pump.

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Two Men Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse
Two sentences were handed down in the Starke Circuit Court yesterday morning, sentencing the men to stays in the Department of Corrections. Zachary Tomerlin and Sammy Bottorff were both sentenced in court on felony charges.

Tomerlin was sentenced to a total of 36 months in the Department of Corrections on charges of Possession of a Narcotic Drug and Resisting Law Enforcement. He was arrested in August and found to be in possession of a narcotic drug and intentionally fled on foot from an officer.

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Pulaski Commissioners Approve Purchase of Conveyor For Recycling Center

Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter

The Pulaski County Commissioners this week heard an update on the recycling and transfer station from Director Ed Clark, who presented a proposal to purchase from the nearby mobile conveyor manufacturer, a 22-foot conveyor to be used to feed the recycling center’s baler. He said the cost came to $2875. The commissioners approved his request.

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Marshall County EMA Warns of Potential Flooding

 
 
Residents who live in flood-prone areas may be in for a soggy Christmas celebration due to a combination of rain and melting snow. Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery says ditches and creeks may flood, and ponding on roads and potential wash-outs are all possible. He urges anyone who has experienced issues with flooding in the past to take precautionary measures to ensure safety. He recommends using an all-hazards weather radio to stay informed about potential dangers and developing a family safety plan. Additionally, Avery says you should never let children play around high water areas, ditches or storm drains. He adds that barricades are put up for protection and says you should never try to drive around one. Turn around, don’t drown – don’t drive through flooded roadways, as the pavement underneath may be washed out. Also, Avery says motorists need to be extra cautious at night when it is more difficult to recognize flood dangers.

IRS Officials Offer End-of-Year Tax Advice

  
 
The clock is ticking on tax deductions for 2013. IRS officials say donations to charities and contributions to workplace retirement plans need to be made by Dec. 31 in order to count for the 2013 tax year. These include donations to qualified charities, which must be itemized when you file your taxes. Additionally taxpayers need receipts for each donation, regardless of how large or small it is, in order to claim it as a charitable deduction. A donation charged to a credit card by Dec. 31, 2013 is deductible even though the bill won’t be paid until next year.

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Ancilla College Receives $1 Million Lilly Endowment Grant

Ancilla College Campus
Ancilla College Campus
Indiana’s only private, Associate’s Degree granting college has been awarded a $1 million Lilly Endowment grant. Ancilla College received one of 39 such grants provided by the Endowment to the state’s accredited colleges and universities as part of its Initiative to Expand Opportunities Through Educational Collaborations. The grants, totaling $62.7 million, will provide a significant boost to the schools’ efforts to enhance and expand opportunities for college graduates to find meaningful employment in Indiana.

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Grovertown Man Still Missing; Search Continues

Isaiah Lincoln Grounds
Isaiah Lincoln Grounds

A 26-year-old Starke County man is still missing, having been last seen on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in locating Isaiah Lincoln Grounds, who was reportedly last seen as he was leaving the Grovertown Truck Stop in a gray four-door 2001 Oldsmobile Alero. He is described as a white male, 6’2” tall, 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

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