Knox School Board Accepts Funds from Starke County Community Foundation

The Knox School Board last week accepted nearly $3,700 in funding from the Starke County Community Foundation. Just under $3,500 of that was a regular payout from the Knox Community School Corporation Student Scholarship/Presentation Fund, according to Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart. “That’s the interest that we earn off of that, and we use that, then, for presentations,” he said. “So I was not aware that that fund existed.”

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Starke County Youth Club Radiothon Set for May 4

The Starke County Youth Club’s annual radiothon is less than a month a way. It’s a chance for residents to help the organization continue to provide its after-school, summer, and recreational programs across the county. “We’re usually there after school for three hours, making sure kids have a safe place to be, making sure they get help with their homework and their academic needs,” says Executive Director Irene Szakonyi, “and then expanding on that, so kids get exposure to other cultures. They learn about technology and robotics, and maybe they’re even learning to cook and having a workforce readiness or life skill.” Continue reading

Culver Relay for Life Set for Tonight

 
 

The Culver Relay for Life event kicks off today with the survivor dinner at 5 p.m. ET on the campus of the Culver Military Academy.

The committee has been working hard to bring in more donations to help fight cancer. So far, 39 teams with 349 participants have raised $27,741 toward the cause. More donations will be accepted during the event that runs through Saturday morning at 6 a.m.

Several fundraisers are planned throughout the evening.

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Demotte State Bank Plans Relay for Life Golf Outing

 
 

Golfers can take to the links for a good cause Saturday. The Demotte State Bank Relay for Life team is hosting a golf outing at Chesapeake Run Golf Course. There’s still time to sign up or sponsor a hole. All proceeds go to Starke County Relay for Life. Candice Miller says golfers will also have a shot at a large prize. Cambe Chevrolet has donated a new car, and the first golfer to hit a hole-in-one will win it.

The Demotte State Bank team is one of several taking part in the Starke County Relay for Life on June 21 and 22nd at the Hamlet Fairgrounds. Miller says it’s a very family-oriented event that raises money for and awareness of cancer research. She adds it’s special to her for personal reasons because a lot of her family members have been affected by or lost their lives to cancer. Miller is also a cancer survivor. She calls Relay for Life a “really excellent organization” and says she tries to promote it in any way she can.

Stop by Demotte State Bank to sign up for Saturday’s Relay for Life Golf Tournament or to get more information about hole sponsorship opportunities.

 

 

Relay for Life Team Holding Fundraiser Today

 
 
A Relay for Life team is holding a fundraiser today at the Starke County Public Library, and according to team captain Laura Hardin, there are a ton of events planned to keep kids and parents entertained. Hardin said the fundraiser is sponsored by the Relay for Life team “Crazy for a Cure,” and it features opportunities like pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a chance to meet their special elf, an English Mastiff. The fundraiser runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Haunted Corn Maze to Scare Most this Weekend

  
 

The Fisher family and the DeMotte State Bank Relay for Life team are teaming up to present a haunted corn maze this weekend.

The Fisher family puts together one of the best corn mazes in the area and they work hard to make it a scary experience for all who dare to enter.

The corn maze is at 1202 E. 200 S. in Knox and will be open Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26 from 6:30 until 11 p.m. CT and on Sunday, Oct. 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are available for $5.00 at the DeMotte State Bank and at the gate.

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Knox Mayor Rick Chambers Signs Relay for Life Proclamation

Mayor Rick Chambers and Relay for Life Event Coordinator Samantha Sims
Mayor Rick Chambers and Relay for Life Event Coordinator Samantha Sims

The Starke County Relay for Life is this Friday and Saturday at the Starke County Fairgrounds in Hamlet. Opening ceremonies are at 6 p.m., the luminaria ceremony is around 9:30 p.m. Friday night and several fundraisers are planned throughout the event. Several teams have signed up to help in the fight against cancer.

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Starke County Businesses Decorate for Relay for Life

 
 
The Relay for Life in Starke County begins Friday, June 7 at 6 p.m. CT at the Starke County Fairgrounds in Hamlet.

In a prelude to the event, several businesses are decorating their store fronts in everything purple to help support the cause and spread the word about Relay for Life. Event Coordinator Samantha Sims said the winner of the competition will get bragging rights. She added that it’s great to get business support in helping the fight against cancer.

The winner will be announced at the relay event next weekend.

Relay for Life Kick-Off Event A Success, Says Hamand

Megan Hamand “fires up the troops” for a successful event.

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Starke County kicked off their event on Thursday as volunteers and participants gathered at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Knox to launch their fundraising efforts for the year.

Although there’s more than six months left to go before the Relay event, it’s still the perfect time to get involved, and more than 80 people did as the event boasted a terrific turnout. Attendees received information about the different ways to get involved in Relay and witnessed a moving Luminaria Ceremony honoring cancer survivors and remember those lost to the disease.

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Relay For Life Kicks Off In Two Weeks

Megan Hamand

In just two weeks, Relay for Life will host their Kick Off Event to jump start the Relay season. Megan Hamand of Key Bank said the event aims not only to kick off the start of the season, but also to give information to anyone interested.

Hamand explained the kickoff event features a number of important ceremonies like Luminaria, and this year they will focus on honoring cancer survivors and caregivers.

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Demotte State Bank’s Relay for Life Team To Sponsor Haunted Cornmaze

Demotte State Bank Team Captain Candice Miller

With the Starke County Relay for Life January kickoff quickly approaching, teams are prepping fundraisers to raise community awareness and money for the American Cancer Society. This year’s Relay theme is “Colors of Cancer,” and Demotte State Bank has chosen the color yellow to represent Sarcoma, and their first fundraiser, according to Team Captain Candice Miller, is sure to be frightfully fun: the team is sponsoring two days of the three-day Haunted Cornmaze attraction in Knox with the help of Sonya and Melvin Fisher.

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Relay For Life Kickoff Planned for January

Though the event doesn’t start until June, teams are already raising funds for the upcoming Relay for Life event, featuring this year’s theme of “Colors of Cancer.” Meghan Hamand of Relay said they always start planning the following year’s event as soon as possible because it takes a significant amount of time to prepare for such an event.

Last year, Relay for Life raised over $60,000, and this year they aim to top that. With a steep goal of $65,000, Hamand said they really need all the time they can get.

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Relay for Life Already Gearing Up For Next Year’s Event

Fundraising is already underway for next year’s Relay for Life event with this year’s theme of “Colors of Cancer.”

Meghan Hamand of Relay for Life said each team will display a different color representing a form of cancer – pink, for example, to represent breast cancer – in all different shapes, sizes and forms, and each will also provide information about their particular type of cancer. Hamand said her team chose gold to represent childhood cancer, and they will be taking it “to the extreme,” with plans to embellish their team like the Olympics with gold medals and other decorations.

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Starke County Relay For Life Kicks Off Today

Megan Hamand

The annual Starke County Relay for Life event begins today with opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. at the Starke County Fairgrounds in Hamlet. Event Chairperson Megan Hamand says there are a number of activities planned for the event.

“We’ve got games for kids, food, a car show, bands will be performing, including Narrow Gate and Konundrum, an American Red Cross blood drive, a food drive for Community Services of Starke County, and then we’ve got our regular relay events that you’ve learned to expect from us every year,” said Hamand.

Hamand says that two activities in particular are popular at the event.

“The Survivor Lap where we really honor and celebrate our survivors, and our solemn Luminaria ceremony which takes time to remember and honor those who that have fought cancer and those who have unfortunately lost their lives to it,” said Hamand.

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Cruise-In For A Cure To Take Place Friday, June 8

A Cruise-In For A Cure event is planned for Friday, June 8. Rhonda Noah of Key Bank says this is the first time they’ve hosted a show like this, and they’re proud to welcome cars, trucks, motorcycles, and all other types of vehicles to compete in the cruise-in. A $15 donation is required per vehicle, and all proceeds from the event will go directly to the Starke County Relay For Life.

Cancer survivors will judge the cars and pick a top three, and Noah says they’re hopeful this event brings in some new faces.

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Weekend Events Planned In Starke County

A new Mint Festival Queen will be crowned Sunday evening at 6 p.m. at the North Judson-San Pierre Cafetorium.

Kersting’s Cycle Center Train Adventure Ride will take place at noon today, with the group ride leaving the center followed by a one-hour scenic country motorcycle ride, followed by lunch and a 45-minute train ride. The cost is $15 per rider, and that includes the motorcycle ride, lunch, and the train ride.

There will also be a Relay for Life of Starke County Fishing Tournament from 6 a.m. until 12 p.m. CT at Bass Lake. There is an entry fee and prizes will be awarded. All proceeds will go to the Starke County Relay for Life on June 8 and 9.

Knox Soon To Go Purple For Relay For Life

Things may soon be looking a bit purple in Knox, thanks to the Paint the Town Purple effort for Relay for Life.

Megan Hamand of Key Bank says that supporters will be hanging posters, putting up yard signs, tying purple ribbons around various items in the city, and they will encourage local businesses to show their support for Relay with a window decorating contest. Hamand says she will begin passing out flyers to storefront businesses next week informing them of a competition.

The goal of the competition is for local businesses to decorate their storefronts in purple and encourage visitors to donate money for Relay. Community members can “vote” for the best-decorated business by making a donation to Relay For Life in the business’s donation canister, and whichever business raises the most funds will receive six months of free advertising through Main Street Computers in Knox.

Hamand says she feels local businesses will participate in the event because the community has always shown such a high level of support for the Relay For Life organization.

“I just think that Relay for Life is such a community-wide event. I think everybody really embraces it, so it’s kind of fun to drive through the week before Relay and see the entire town purple and just get a feel. Especially if you’re battling cancer, or if you’re a cancer survivor, just to see that the whole community is behind you, that’s kind of a cool thing,” said Hamand.

The event will take place from May 28 to June 1, with the Relay to take place on June 8.