Dedicated Community Members Honored at Starke County Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner

Brenda and Van Janovic, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jessica Craig and Chamber President Jerry Gurrado

The Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center was teeming with community spirit Thursday evening during the annual Starke County Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner.

The event was attended by local leaders, state representatives, former award recipients and a plethora of caring community members. It was led by Chamber of Commerce President Jerry Gurrado and Executive Director Jessica Craig.

The man of the hour was the owner of Territorial Engineering Van Janovic, who was presented with the Henry F. Schricker Service Before Self Award. Continue reading

Starke County Park Board May Consider Taking Ownership of Koontz Lake Lions Club Park

Koontz Lake Lions Club Memorial Park could soon be under county ownership. The Lions Club bought the site in the 1970s and has been running it as a park ever since. But with declining membership, club member Van Janovic approached the Starke County Park Board Tuesday to discuss the possibility of gradually handing the park over to the county. Continue reading

Robert E. Hamilton Award Presented to Territorial Engineering Founder

2013 Robert E. Hamilton Award winner Van Janovic
2013 Robert E. Hamilton Award winner Van Janovic

The Grovertown High School graduate who has spent the past 35 years giving back to the county where he was raised is the recipient of the Robert E. Hamilton Award. Territorial Engineering Founder Van Janovic was honored during last night’s Starke County Economic Development Foundation Prospectus and Achievement event. Nancy Dembowski presented the award and says Janovic has put community ahead of self since opening Territorial Engineering in 1978 and has shaped the landscape of Starke County in doing so.

“His work on behalf of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation has resulted in the lead track facility, industrial parks in Hamlet, North Judson and Knox, and many other economic development projects, as well as the design of the industrial buildings,” Dembowski said. Continue reading

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.

Continue reading

Storm Water Improvement Project in Hamlet Substantially Complete

Hamlet Town Board: Curtis Simpkins, Kerry Stone and Bob Yung

The storm water improvement project in Hamlet in now substantially complete, according to Territorial Engineering and the Hamlet Town Board. Van Janovic with Territorial Engineering, the firm that handled designing and overseeing the project, requested the Board to consider the project substantially complete and approve a change order. This would allow them to receive some of the final payments for the project.

Continue reading