The North Judson Town Council will soon consider increasing water and sewer rates for the first time since 2008. CPA Eric Walsh with Umbaugh and Associates says the current rates are not adequate to cover operating costs, which has forced the town to dip into its reserves. Continue reading
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Starke County EMS Expands Electronic Billing
Starke County EMS is working to expand electronic billing in an effort to improve the efficiency of the service. Office manager Marylynn Richie is now able to electronically bill both traditional and railroad Medicare, BlueCross and Medicaid. By the end of the year she hopes to have all of the companies that can be billed electronically set up and running. Continue reading
Starke County Youth Club Radiothon to Raise Money, Awareness of After School Programs
Residents can invest in the future of Starke County by making a contribution to the Starke County Youth Club. They’re taking over the WKVI airwaves today for their annual radiothon fundraiser. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says tax-deductible contributions to the local nonprofit can help make changes happen in our community by helping youngsters to find success. Continue reading
“Miracle on Ice” Message of Faith, Unity Resonates Today
One of the greatest moments in the history of sports still has implications today, right here in Starke County. That’s the message former WSBT-TV sports anchor Charlie Adams shared during the National Day of Prayer breakfast in Knox yesterday. He’s studied the “Miracle on Ice” at length. It took place in Lake Placid, New York during the 1980 Winter Olympics. An unlikely group of young men, mostly from the Midwest, stunned the world when they beat the Soviet Union’s hockey team during the first game of the medal round . Continue reading
Mowing Season Gets Underway for Starke County Highway Department
Mowing crews from the Starke County Highway Department are making their first pass of the year. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners Monday six mowing tractors and two brush choppers are actively clearing rights of way. Continue reading
SMART Recovery Family & Friends Support Group Launches Tonight
Starke County Community Corrections is putting its new office space in downtown Knox to use for a new family support group meeting.
The first SMART Recovery Family & Friends meeting will take place this evening from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. at the recently renovated Annex 2 building across from the Starke County Courthouse. Continue reading
Starke County Youth Club Programs Prepare Students for Workforce
The Starke County Youth Club’s after school and summer programs are helping to prepare youngsters in all grade levels for life after graduation. Program Director Melissa Smith-Watkins oversees all six sites. Ultimately she says they want to help Starke County thrive by teaching skills like collaboration, problem solving and goal setting to students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Continue reading
State Health Officials Raise Awareness of Hepatitis Risk, Encourage Prevention
May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, and state health officials are encouraging Hoosiers to get tested for the disease and learn how to prevent it. They say more than 7,000 cases of viral hepatitis were reported in Indiana in 2015. Additionally the number of reported acute Hepatitis C cases has risen by 400 percent since 2010. Continue reading
Starke County Highway Superintendent Hones Truck Route Ordinance
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler wants to hear from local farmers and over-the-road truck drivers before presenting the final truck route ordinance to the county commissioners for approval.
During a public hearing Monday evening, he stressed farm vehicles will be exempt as long as they have a farm plate issued by the BMV. Continue reading
Starke County Youth Club Programs Reinforce Curriculum
After-school programs offered by the Starke County Youth Club at six sites across the county are designed with curriculum in mind. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says they serve students in kindergarten through 12th grade at Knox, North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis. She notes the homework centers are mapped out by grade level. Students receive very specific help with their homework assignments. Continue reading
Knox Residents Reminded of Upcoming Yard Sales
Knox residents still have time to get on the map for next weekend’s city wide yard sales. They will run from Thursday, May 11th through Saturday, May 13th. Continue reading
Starke County May Be Able to Accelerate Bridge Replacements
The number of structurally deficient bridges in Starke County could drop sooner than anticipated thanks to the road funding bill passed by the Indiana General Assembly. It includes money for Community Crossings projects and a three-to-one state match for counties with populations under 50,000. Continue reading
Bowlaway Lanes Closing After Customer Appreciation Day
A longtime Knox attraction is closing. Bowlaway Lanes will be open on Saturday, May 20th for a customer appreciation day from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m., according to a posting on their Facebook page.
All bowlers are asked to remove personal items from their lockers at that time. Continue reading
Starke County Youth Club Prepares for Annual Radiothon
The Starke County Youth Club needs the public’s help to continue fulfilling their mission. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says they meet a critical need in the community.
“The Starke County Youth Club is a youth development agency supporting children and families with after school, summer and recreational programs. We do that all across the county for kids in K through 12. We’re the only after-school provider in our county, and so we’re meeting some really critical needs.” Continue reading
Proposed Starke County Truck Route Ordinance Set for Second Reading Tonight
The Starke County Commissioners will consider a proposed truck route ordinance on second reading when they meet this evening.
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler has been working with a committee comprised of county officials, farmers, Sheriff Bill Dulin and Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver on the policy.
The eventual goal is to have several local hot-mix asphalt roads to accommodate heavy truck traffic in addition to the highways that crisscross Starke County. Ritzler says eventually all locations in the county will be within a mile of such a road. Continue reading
North Judson Council Addresses Potential Cell Tower Law
The North Judson Town Council on Saturday hurriedly passed a resolution to prohibit small cell phone towers from cropping up within their rights of way. It establishes an underground and buried utility district to restrict the addition of any sort of new pole insidethe town limits without council permission. A petition must be brought before the town council, and a public hearing is required. Continue reading
North Judson Town Marshal Appeals Termination
North Judson’s recently terminated town marshal has filed a formal appeal of his firing. The town council fired John Ramos during a special-called meeting on Friday, April 21. He had until 5 p.m. the following Friday to appeal. Town council members did not publicly announce a reason for Raoms’ dismissal. Continue reading
Knox Street Superintendent Completes Training to Rate Roads
The City of Knox will be better able to control its asset management plan for streets thanks to a recent online training course. Continue reading
Proposed Federal Budget Slashes Funds for The Starke County Youth Club
Officials with the Starke County Youth Club are preparing for Friday’s annual WKVI Radiothon amid overall funding uncertainty for the organization. The nonprofit youth development agency supports students and families with after school and summer enrichment programs at six local sites. Continue reading
Farm Bureau Survey Finds Drop in Grocery Prices
Grocery prices have dropped significantly over the past year, according to an Indiana Farm Bureau survey.
In Indiana prices are down 14 percent over last year. Nationwide the American Farm Bureau Federation survey finds a decrease of about 6 percent. Continue reading
