Skronski Honored With Henry F. Schricker Award

SkronskiA longtime Knox High School teacher and farmer is the 2014 Starke County Chamber of Commerce Henry F. Schricker Award winner. The honor is given annually to a resident who embodies the former governor’s credo of “service before self.” Frank Skronski moved to North Judson from Chicago with his family as a young man. He joined the Navy, which is where he met his wife of 51 years, Evelyn Leppelt. After leaving the service he attended Elmhurst College and earned a degree from Northern Illinois University. Continue reading →

Area Hospitals Prepared for Ebola Virus

 
 

Hospital officials are taking steps to ensure they can fight the Ebola virus if it enters the area.

The Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, with hospitals in Mishawaka and Plymouth, released a statement where they assured the residents that they are prepared to respond to the Ebola virus with care.

According to a statement on their website, SJRMC officials they say that clinicians are well trained to identify, to care for and to monitor potentially high-risk patients and provide treatment in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s infectious disease procedures.

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North Judson-San Pierre Agenda Includes Balanced Calendar Discussion

Michael Shireman, Jim Menis, Larry Lambert Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
Michael Shireman, Jim Menis, Larry Lambert
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board will consider adoption of a balanced calendar for the 2015-2016 school year when they meet this evening. They are one of several area corporations considering the approach. School would start earlier in August and get out the first of June. Continue reading →

Pursuit Ends With Crash, Arrest

Wayne Nichols
Wayne Nichols

A habitual traffic violator who is accused of fleeing from police Friday night in Marshall County faces numerous charges. A Marshall County Police patrolman tried to stop a pickup truck on Queen Road north of State Road 110 just before 10 p.m., according to a news release. The truck driver, later identified as Wayne Nichols, led the officer on a short pursuit. Continue reading →

Traffic Stop Ends With Warrant Arrest

Preston Smith
Preston Smith

A Friday night traffic stop in Marshall County for an equipment violation ended with a trip to jail after officers learned the driver was wanted in another county. A Marshall County Police Patrolman pulled a vehicle driven by Preston Smith over on Lincoln Highway near Tulip Road at 7:19 p.m. Smith was driving without having received a license, according to a police department news release. He was also wanted on a St. Joseph County warrant for sexual misconduct.

Starke County Health Department Schedules Flu Shot Clinic

 
 

The Starke County Health Department will conduct a flu shot clinic on Wednesday afternoon in their office on the first floor of the courthouse. Vaccines will be available free of charge for children with Medicaid, no insurance or insurance that doesn’t cover shots. Adult flu shots cost $20. Call the health department at 574-772-9137 for more information.

Ancilla College to Offer Valedictorian-Salutatorian Scholarship in 2015

Ancilla College NEWAncilla College is rewarding students who finish at the top of their class.

Beginning in 2015, Ancilla College will be offering free tuition scholarships to top graduates from Marshall, Fulton, Porter, Pulaski, Jasper, Starke, LaPorte, St. Joseph, Elkhart and Kosciusko Counties.

President Ken Zirkle said top students can get their college journey started with the Valedictorian-Salutatorian Scholarship. The college will offer as much as $13,500 each year to local graduates who graduated at the top of their high school class and commit to attend Ancilla College. Local salutatorians will be offered up to $10,000 in free tuition.

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Burning Leaves? Use Caution

 With the arrival of fall, leaves are starting to gather in yards and it’s time for the removal of those leaves.

Knox-Center Township Fire Chief Kenny Pfost asks you to be cautious if you plan to burn leaves on your property.

“First of all, try not to burn on a windy day,” said Pfost. “It seems like that’s when we have the most fires is when it’s really windy. Choose a calm day. Also, make sure you’re compliant with local ordinances. Have a water source and try not to burn outside of what you can handle. Don’t burn after dark.”

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Starke County Extension Homemaker of the Year Honoree Announced

Purdue Extension LogoA longtime extension homemakers member who is active in several community activities is this year’s Starke County Extension Homemaker of the Year. Vicki Jernas is a 16 year member of the Town and Country Homemakers and volunteers for committees and projects when needed. Jernas has served as the club’s citizenship officer for many years. Her special project is ad sales for the 4-H Fair Yearbook. She also assisted with the establishment of the Mint Juleps club. Continue reading →

Gas Prices Continue to Drop

 
 

The price of a gallon of unleaded gasoline has been dropping.

Don Good from the Good Oil Company in Winamac says the prices will continue to drop.

“For the foreseeable near future, the trend is to continue down,” said Good. “We’re probably going to bottom out not too far from here. There are a lot of places that are starting to get under three dollars. That’s kind of under cost for some of them, but they’re trying to beat that three dollar mark. For the long term, we should be under three dollars and unless there’s a world event that changes that we’ll probably stay in that range for a while.”

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February Jury Trial Set for Denham Murder Suspect

Paul Katschke
Paul Katschke

A Denham man accused of killing his live-in girlfriend is scheduled to go on trial in February. Paul Katschke is charged with murder in connection with the Aug. 11 death of Amber Renee Taylor, 34. Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputies and first responders found her dead at the couple’s home after receiving a 911 call about a dead, 30-something-year-old woman. Continue reading →