April 2014 – Page 3 – WKVI Information Center

The former superintendent of Pleasant View Rest Home in Pulaski County is suing the commissioners, auditor and county attorney for defamation, slander, libel and invasion of privacy. Sandra Hurd’s lawsuit stems from the circumstances that led to her suspension with pay and subsequent termination last August. Her lawsuit claims she found a possible clerical error in reports filed with a state agency last July, notified them and asked how to fix it. Hurd contends the commissioners convened an executive session July 29^th and accused her of committing Medicaid fraud. She filed the necessary paperwork the following day to correct the error, according to the suit, and the county was notified in writing on Aug. 22 that no fraud was committed. The commissioners fired Hurd during an emergency public meeting on Aug. 27^th.

“She can be fired for screwing up these reports, which she admits she did, and she resulted in the county paying a fine,” county attorney Kevin Tankersley tells WKVI news. “These are all hard facts that nobody can dispute. The wrongful discharge has got no chance of winning, no chance. The defamation is equally bad, because it doesn’t say anything we said.” Continue reading →

Knox City Council Gets Update on Industrial Park Projects

The Knox City Council received an update on the 300 East construction project in the Industrial Park.

Starke County Economic Development Foundation Director Charlie Weaver said that bids were opened in March for the reconstruction of the intersection of State Road 8 and County Road 300 East. The southern part of the intersection will be reconstructed.

Dog Park Advocate Addresses Knox Park Board

The Knox Park Board supports the notion of establishing an off-the-leash dog park in the city but lacks the funds to make it a reality any time soon. Chuck Richardson spoke at length to the board last night about his desire to give canines and their humans a place to exercise and socialize at Wythogen Park. President Ray Stevenson says it’s in the five-year plan for park improvements the board adopted a few years ago. He says a 150 foot by 300 foot area with a six-foot high fence and carries an estimated cost of more than $11,000. Stevenson stresses the park board is interested in establishing such a park when funds are available. He says the area south of the basketball court just off the walking trail where 150 trees were blown down during a summer storm a few years ago would be an ideal spot. It has ample space, shade and is also accessible by road. Board members suggested Richardson form a committee to raise money for the park and possibly get a school or scout group or other civic organization involved in the process.

Knox Street Department Superintendent Updates Board of Public Works

The Knox Board of Public Works received an update on how things are moving along in the street department.

Street Superintendent Jeff Borg said the traffic light seized again at the intersection of Culver Road and Main Street by the Knox Middle School. The light is obsolete and Borg said it’s getting harder and harder to find parts to repair it. At one time, they got all of the parts they could from the South Bend department as they were going to throw them away. Most of their lights are upgraded.

Oregon-Davis Invites Community Members to Review English Textbooks

The Oregon-Davis School Board discussed English textbook recommendations this week.

Superintendent Greg Briles said the teachers and students have reviewed the proposed textbooks and now members of the public are welcome to come in and review them as well.

“They’re going to set some dates for individuals in the community to come in, look at the textbooks that they’re planning on adopting,” said Briles. “If community members are unable to come in, they can email Mr. Pletcher, the high school principal, any concerns or comments or things they would like to see in those textbooks moving forward. He would be more than happy to include those in the conversations as they bring in a recommendation to the school board at our May board meeting.”

U.S. News Awards Medals to Several Area Schools

The Kankakee Valley boasts some of the best high schools in the state, according to recent rankings by a national publication. John Glenn High School in Walkerton ranks 17^th on the 2014 U.S. News and World Report list. The magazine awarded the school silver medal. Students there have an opportunity to take advanced placement tests, and 36 percent do. Of the school’s 611 students, 85 percent are proficient in English and 84 percent are proficient in math. Knox Community High School earned a bronze medal from U.S. News and World Report. The publication notes 25 percent of the 606 students enrolled take AP courses and tests, 77 percent are proficient in English and 69 percent are proficient in Algebra. Continue reading →

Turkey Tracks Event Begins Tonight

April 25, 2014April 29, 2021WKVI

The annual Turkey Tracks event is this weekend.

Forty-two physically disabled hunters and their guides will be hunting for turkeys this Saturday beginning at 4:30 a.m. and a full weekend is planned. Hunters can also visit https://ballachy.com/hunting/ for all their equipment.

The festivities begin at 5 p.m. tonight with a taco bar and then it’s up early on Saturday for the big hunt. On Saturday evening, once the hunters return from their quest, a buffet dinner will be featured along with many fundraising activities. This year’s event will end on Sunday around noon. All activities will be held in the Washington Township Community Building.

Indiana Bicentennial Workshop Planned at Marshall County Museum

A workshop will be held Monday, April 28 in order to assist in planning Indiana’s bicentennial celebration. The Indiana Historical Society will host the workshop at the Marshall County Museum at 123 N. Michigan Street in Plymouth.

Indiana turns 200 years old on Dec. 11, 2016, but work is being done now to plan the celebration. This will be an opportunity to celebrate the state’s identity and reflect on how the state has changed. It’s also a change to think creatively and a once-in-a lifetime chance to capture the attention of the public of the importance of Indiana history.

The workshop will include the Marshall County Museum staff and local organizations. It will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET and you are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch. Drinks and dessert will be provided. If you plan to attend, call the Marshall County Museum at (574) 936-2306.

Indiana Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Corbin Case

April 24, 2014WKVI

The Indiana Supreme Court gave no indication of when they might rule on a case from Starke County. The justices heard oral arguments this morning in Robert Corbin v. State of Indiana. Corbin was arrested in April of 2012 on attempted child seduction charges stemming from Facebook messages between him and a 16-year-old female Knox High School student. At the time Corbin was a teacher at Knox. His attorney argued unsuccessfully before Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall that Corbin did not take a “substantial step” to constitute the crime. A state appeals court ruled in Corbin’s favor and dismissed the charges. The state appealed, and the Supreme Court took the case. Continue reading →

Donald Frazier Found Guilty

April 24, 2014WKVI

A Starke County jury has found Donald Frazier guilty on two counts in a one-day trial.

The six-member jury took less than 15 minutes Wednesday to find Frazier guilty on charges of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Possession of Paraphernalia. He pleaded guilty to a charge of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated with a Prior Conviction and that merged with the other OVWI charge which made it a Class D felony.

Knox City Water Department Uncovers Large Water Leak

The crew at the Knox City Water Department has been working hard to repair leaks and other water issues since the temperatures rose above freezing. They found a rather large leak Tuesday morning.

Water Superintendent Todd Gardner said the crews turned on the water at Wythogan Park and heard a large vibration which is indicative of a water leak. Gardner said it wasn’t visible and the leak may account for a large portion of the city’s discrepancy in water use.

Starke County Council Approves Unsafe Building Demolition Money

The Starke County Plan Commission can now enforce demolition orders for dilapidated properties after the county council appropriated $20,000 for that purpose. Plan Commission President Dennis Estok told them the county already has a process in place.

“We have a public hearing with these people, and then we give an order whether to rehab that house or to demolish it. If it’s too far gone, we want it demolished. They have X amount of days to do it. Now I can tell you right now I’ve been sitting on planning for five years. I bet you we’ve had a handful out of probably 200 cases that have actually done something on their own. So basically if they don’t do it, by law we can go in there and take care of the problem,” Estok said. Until now, funds have not been available for the plan commission to carry out demolition orders, some of which date back to 2006. Continue reading →

LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department Receives 3D Scanner

The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department recently purchased a machine to help spot evidence with any sort of investigation.

Major John Boyd told WKVI that the sheriff’s department partnered with the LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney’s office to purchase a 3D crime scene and accident scene forensic scanner.

Water Line Project for New Jail Complete

This building on SR 8 at CR 550 E will soon house the new Starke County Sheriff's Office and Detention Center. — This building on SR 8 at CR 550 E will soon house the new Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center.

The Knox Board of Public Works received an update on the water project for the new Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center.

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers said the project should be complete today.

“The weather has finally broken so we have gotten caught up,” explained Chambers. “The contractor has gotten in there and pretty much finished his job. The water line has been de-sanitized and pressure checked. There will be some additional work to be done. The line will have to be moved – it’s been deflected too much so we will go in and correct that problem, but should be up and operational within the next day or so.”

Pulaski County EMS In Limbo Waiting On Insurance Adjuster

Pulaski County EMS is down one ambulance until one damaged during a recent fire can be either certified and put back into service or totaled and replaced.

Director Nikki Lowry told the county commissioners Monday that the county’s insurance adjuster asked her to inspect the truck. Lowry said she’s not qualified to do anything more than determine whether it’s clean. The vendor from whom the county bought the most recent ambulance is willing to help if the county will bring the truck to Iowa.

Oregon-Davis School Board Approves Technology Plan

The Oregon-Davis School Board members approved a three-year technology plan during their regular meeting Monday night.

Superintendent Greg Briles said a computer will be in the hands of every student.

“We’re looking at putting iPad Minis in our Kindergarten through second grade students’ hands, full-sized iPads for three through eight and laptops for nine through twelve students. In doing so, we will also have portable labs with the full-size computer laptops for the students to utilize if they need to for testing and other activities throughout the school year,” explained Briles.

Knox School Board Approves Personnel Changes

The Knox Community School Board met Monday where the members approved several personnel items.

In addition to the appointment of Neill Minix as the high school girls basketball coach, Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the board approved two retirements.

Marshall County Building Permit Numbers Rise

April 24, 2014April 24, 2014WKVI

Marshall County Building Inspector Chuck DeWitt had some good news for the county commissioners this week.

March was a good month for permit applications. Twenty-four applications were issued in March which brings the permit count to 61 so far this year. Over $4.6 million in value of construction was noted in March to bring the quarter total to $8.375 million.