C&C Salvage Owner Jailed Without Bond on Arson, Insurance Fraud Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
The owner of C&C Salvage/Starke County Recycling, James Campbell, 46, is charged with arson and insurance fraud in connection with the March 20 fire that destroyed his business.
The owner of C&C Salvage/Starke County Recycling, James Campbell, 46, is charged with arson and insurance fraud in connection with the March 20 fire that destroyed his business.

The owner of a Knox business that was destroyed by fire last week is jailed without bond, charged with arson and insurance fraud. James L. Campbell, 46, of Knox, was arrested this afternoon by officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana Department of Homeland Security’s Fire Investigation Division. Campbell owns Starke County Recycling, also known as C&C Salvage. The business, located on U.S. 35 just south of Toto Road, caught fire on Thursday, March 20. Starke County dispatchers were notified at 5:17 p.m. The Bass Lake, Knox-Center Township, Hamlet, Washington Township, Koontz Lake, North Judson-Wayne Township, San Pierre and Monterey Fire Departments all responded to the blaze and spent several hours getting it under control. One firefighter was injured. Black smoke was visible for miles, and a brigade of tanker trucks hauled water to the scene. Continue reading →

Pulaski County Animal Shelter Still in the Works

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The seven-member board of directors for the soon-to-be-established Pulaski County Animal Shelter continues in their endeavor, having recently cleared a number of hurdles as they seek to create the much-needed shelter in the county. Board member Jaime Keller told WKVI that the building they are interested in renting, located at 13 E. Indian Hill Road in Winamac, was recently approved for rezoning and a special exception for the kennels.

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Knox City Street Department Hoping to Start Spring Projects

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Board of Public Works
Knox Board of Public Works

The Knox Board of Public Works learned that the street department is working hard to start on spring projects.

Street Superintendent Jeff Borg told the board that the crews are attempting to work on alleys to smooth them out. Street sweeping started but had to be put on hold as temperatures did not allow for that activity to immediately continue. Equipment maintenance has been ongoing until the weather breaks. Borg notified the board that two new plows are needed for the trucks as they are getting to the point of deterioration. Crews keep repairing the plows, but they’re hanging on by a thread.

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Voter Registration Deadline Approaching for May Primary

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Eligible voters who would like to cast ballots in the upcoming May 6 primary election have until Tuesday, April 8 to register. Prospective voters must be U.S. citizens who will be at least 18 on the day of the next election, have lived in their precinct for at least 30 days prior to the election and cannot be currently imprisoned after committing a crime. The easiest way to register is online at www.IndianaVoters.com. You will need to have a valid Indiana Driver’s License Number or Indiana State Identification number handy in order to complete the online registration. If you’re already registered to vote but need to update your name or address, you can also do so online.

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Drop Boxes Available to Discard Prescription Medications

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

It was recently reported that one of the biggest issues in Starke County is prescription drug abuse. A program sponsored by Moving Starke County Forward will be held in the next couple of months that will give information to community members on how to combat this pressing issue.

If you have unwanted, unused or expired prescription medication, you may take that medication to drop off locations at the Knox City Police Department and at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.

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Johnny Dubois Found Not Guilty in Bench Trial

Posted on Author WKVI

A bench trial was held Wednesday in Starke Circuit Court in which Judge Kim Hall heard testimony in the matter of Johnny Dubois.

Dubois was charged with Intimidation, a Class D felony. As written in the charging information, Dubois had verbally threatened to physically harm the victim if she didn’t give him the money he wanted. He also told her that he would kill her if she took their children away from him.

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Winamac Pipes Have Thawed, Turn Off Your Faucets

Posted on Author WKVI
Winamac Town Hall
Winamac Town Hall

Winamac residents no longer need to let their faucets drip to keep their pipes from freezing. That’s the word from town manager Jim Conner. He tells WKVI news water lines in town have finally thawed out and thanks residents for their cooperation. Also, Conner says any residents who no longer want the small recycling containers provided by the town can put them out, empty, with their trash on your collection day April 7th or 8th. The town will pick them up on those days.

Knox Board of Works Given Update on Lift Station Project

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Board of Public Works
Knox Board of Public Works

The Knox Board of Works received an update on the lift station project on Clabaugh Drive.

A pay application for $10,553.07 was approved. Bob Aloi from Territorial Engineering explained that the pump issue over the winter was reportedly caused by a problem with the force main. He said once the wastewater department crews finished cleaning the force main, crews will see how well the pump works. Aloi doesn’t anticipate any further costs in this project, but if the crews evaluate the pump after the force main is cleared and they find that it’s not working properly, crews would need to remove the pump and reevaluate the situation which could cost the city more money.

The project, which was supposed to be completed before the winter season, is nearly finished. The old lift station still needs to be removed and other items need to be wrapped up, including paving, before it is all said and done.

Bench Trial Held in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A bench trial was held yesterday in Starke Circuit Court in the case of Johnny DuBois.

During a pre-trial motion and instructions hearing on Tuesday, both the defense and the state agreed to waive the right for a trial and the defense asked for a bench trial which was granted.

Both sides presented evidence in the case yesterday and Judge Kim Hall took all evidence under advisement. Judge Hall will deliver a verdict today at 10 a.m.

Moving Starke County Forward Looks Deeper into Health Rankings Report

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings report came out this week and Starke County ranked in the bottom ten of all 92 counties in the state.

Moving Starke County Forward leader Nancy Dembowski said the organization began working to improve the numbers last year and noted that it takes a while to get things moving in the right direction. She said it’s going to take time and effort to overturn the numbers.

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LaPorte Couple Reports Tax-Related Identity Theft

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A LaPorte couple recently found out they were victims of identity theft after getting a cashier’s check and a letter from a bank in California. The letter from Citizen’s Bank in La Lolla, Calif. stated the cashier’s check for $3,675.06 could not be deposited using the information that was provided to them. That’s when the couple discovered their identity had been stolen, and someone had used their Social Security numbers to file a federal income tax return. They contacted the IRS and a credit monitoring agency to report the activity and also filed a report with the LaPorte Police Department.

Visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website to learn how to guard against identity theft and the steps to take should your identity be stolen. You can access all this information at http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft.

Knox Council Once Again Tables Museum Relocation Discussion

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Starke County Historical Society has hit another roadblock as they seek to relocate their museum. The Knox City Council this week refused to give the Historical Society permission to lease the city’s railroad right-of-way on U.S. 35, across from the visitor’s center, but Marvin McLaughlin with the Historical Society said this won’t necessarily stop them from establishing the new building.

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Gas Prices Still Fluctuating in Indiana

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
While the national average price for a gallon of gas has been steadily increasing over the last month, having risen from $3.42 to $3.51, the average price per gallon in Indiana has been fluctuating steadily, having last peaked at $3.69 on March 23 after its previous dip to $3.57 on March 21. The average price per gallon in the state is now around $3.65, and according to GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan, these jumps coincide with the time of year when gas prices are most volatile.

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Food Finders Mobile Food Pantry Returns to Pulaski County

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Pulaski County residents who meet income guidelines can get some help stretching their grocery budgets when the Food Finders Mobile Food Pantry rolls into Winamac next week. It will be set up at the Pulaski County Highway Garage north of Winamac on Friday, April 4. Items will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, starting at 11 a.m. EDT. Please do not arrive more than 15 minutes early. Be sure to bring a box or laundry basket to hold your items, which may include frozen meats, beverages, snacks, baked goods, vegetables and cereal.

IU Health Starke Hospital Offers Final Free Affordable Care Act Event

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Area residents have one final chance to get their questions about the Affordable Care Act answered before Monday’s looming deadline. IU Health Starke Hospital is hosting a free question and answer session today from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. CDT in the conference room. IU Health Exchange Navigators will be able to help people sign up for coverage or answer any questions they may have. Monday is the last day for people without insurance to sign up for coverage in order to avoid paying a penalty during next year’s tax season.

The federal government did grant a reprieve for people who have started an application on the healthcare.gov website but can’t complete it by the March 31 deadline. They will be given an extension, although the amount of time was not specified. In order to qualify, the applicant needs to check the blue box on the healthcare.gov website indicating an attempt to sign up for coverage by the March 31 deadline.

Hamlin is Cleared to Race in Martinsville

Posted on Author WKVI
Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin will race this Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.

Hamlin missed the race on Sunday, March 23 as he was having trouble with his vision and the medical staff would not clear him to race.

According to a press release from Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin visited the infield care center at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday night with an eye irritation. The issue worsened the morning of the race and medical officials could not clear him to race.

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Two Injured in Marshall County Accident

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Two people were injured in a three vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon in Marshall County.

Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene in front of Ev and Jayne’s Irish Inn on Michigan Road north of 7B Road in Plymouth at 12:08 p.m. ET. A semi driven by Lavern Sampler of Michigan was traveling south behind a vehicle driven by Summer Scott of Syracuse, Indiana . The semi driver told police that he reportedly did not know the vehicle was turning into the business. The semi rear-ended Scott’s vehicle which was pushed into the path of an SUV driven by Cheryl Kuhn of Plymouth. Kuhn was traveling north on Michigan Road.

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Offenders Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Several offenders were sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Tuesday morning.

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse
Steven Brown pleaded guilty to charges of Possession of a Firearm without a Permit, a Class A misdemeanor and a charge of Possession of a Firearm without a Permit with a Prior Conviction, a Class C felony. Those two charges merged into one count. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of Trespass as a Class A misdemeanor. Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall sentenced Brown to four years in the Department of Corrections with no part of the sentence suspended, plus one year in the Starke County Jail on the trespass charge. The sentences will run concurrently. He was permitted to serve his sentence on home detention with electronic monitoring.

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