A plethora of garage sales will cover the Francesville area this weekend for the town wide garage sale on Saturday, July 12. Come browse the various items set out and see if anything catches your eye. Continue reading
CVS Robbery Suspect In Custody
A LaPorte man police there say robbed the CVS drug store early Saturday morning was arrested a short time after the early morning holdup. Officers responded to an alarm just before 1 a.m. to the store on Lincolnway. An employee told the officers a man came to the pharmacy with a note requesting specific medications. Continue reading
Bid for Emergency Bridge Repair Comes in Over Budget
The lone bid to fix the bridge on Starke County Road 700 East over the Yellow River came in significantly higher than county officials had anticipated. LaPorte Construction bid $106,872 for the emergency repair. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler says that figure is between $50,000 and $60,000 more than he had budgeted for the work. As a result, repairs that were to begin today and be finished by Aug. 15 have been delayed indefinitely. Continue reading
National Weather Service Confirms Multiple Tornadoes After Last Week’s Storm
The National Weather Service confirms two tornadoes touched down in the northeastern part of Starke County last week. Another pair of tornadoes was also confirmed in LaPorte County in the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 1. All four were EF-1, packing wind speeds of between 95 and 105 miles-per-hour. Continue reading
Saturday Morning Fire Under Investigation
An investigator from the state fire marshal’s office will be in Starke County today to determine the origin and cause of a Saturday morning house fire. The Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department was called to an unoccupied home at 8875 East 25 North in Knox just after 5 a.m. and remained on the scene for nearly two hours.
Prevent Heat-Related Issues While Working
Summer is in full swing and it’s important to remember to stay hydrated in the heat.
Hydration is especially important to workers in construction zones, commercial bakeries and laundries, foundries, transportation and utilities, agriculture, landscaping services, and more.
Heat-related illnesses are preventable. Make sure plenty of water is on hand at your work site. You should not wait until thirst determines your need for water. Drink five to seven ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes, or one bottle of water an hour, to keep hydrated.
Ride for a Reason: Kersting’s Annual Ride for the Muscular Dystrophy Association
The weather is just right for riding motorcycles. If you’re riding anyways, why not do so for a good cause? Chapter 1326 of the Kankakee Valley Harley Owners Group is teaming up with Kersting’s Cycle Center to host their annual ride for the Muscular Dystrophy Association on Saturday, July 12th. Continue reading
Starke County Industrial Park Road Improvements Begin Today
Improvements to the south intersection of 300 East and State Road 8 in Starke County begin today. That’s the main road to the Knox Industrial Park. The goal of the project is to improve access for large trucks. Project manager Andrew Schouten with Milford-based Phend & Brown says the road will be closed sometime today so work can be done. Continue reading
Knox Community School Corporation Board Meeting Preview
School registration dates for the upcoming school year are on the agenda for The Knox Community School Board of Trustees’ first bi-monthly meeting tonight. The regular session begins at 6:30 p.m. and is open to the public. Continue reading
Kid’s Closet Ministry Schedules School Supply Drive
The Kid’s Closet Ministry at North Judson United Methodist Church is taking steps to equip Starke County youngsters with supplies for the start of school. They are hosting their second annual “Pack-a-Backpack” event on Aug. 4 and 5 at the church from 5 until 6:30 p.m. for all youngsters in need who attend local schools. First they need supplies. Continue reading
Storm Damage Assessments Continue in Starke County
Starke County Emergency Management Agency officials are still assessing the damage caused by Monday night’s storms. Director Ted Bombagetti is working with the National Weather Service to conduct an initial damage assessment. They’ve confirmed straight-line winds hit several areas but have yet to officially confirm any tornado touchdowns. Continue reading
Post-Storm Power Restoration Efforts Continue
Several Starke County residents are still in the dark as a result of Monday’s storms. As of 4:30 this morning, NIPSCO reports 349 customers without power in Knox and 52 in North Judson. Numerous outages are still reported in LaPorte County as well, and a handful of Marshall County NIPSCO customers are still without power. Continue reading
Town Marshall Accused of Ghost Employment
An area police officer is on the other side of the law. Fulton Town Marshall Jason R. Coleman, 37, of Rochester is accused of submitting hours for compensation that were not actually worked. He collected in excess of $6,700 over the last five years, according to a news release from the Indiana State Police. Continue reading
Fourth of July Holiday Traffic to Pick up This Year
This Fourth of July holiday will find more travelers than last year.
AAA Hoosier Motor Club estimates that 41 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the holiday weekend from Wednesday to Sunday which is an increase from 2013.
Fourth of July Fireworks Safety
Fourth of July weekend is always full of fun with friends, family and fireworks. There are certain precautions to take to assure a safe time for everyone. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security offers a few tips to take into consideration whenever using fireworks.
Continue reading
INDOT Projects on Hold this Holiday Weekend
All construction work throughout the state will cease during the Fourth of July holiday.
The moratorium will begin at noon today until the morning hours of Monday, July 7. The cessation of construction work will allow drivers a more efficient holiday travel weekend.
Holiday Closings
Showcase Your Collections at the Starke County Historical Society Ice Cream Social
Celebrate the Independence Day weekend with the annual Starke County Historical Society Ice Cream Social. It will take place Sunday, July 6 from 1 until 3 p.m. at the museum on Main Street in Knox. Collectors of historic items are urged to bring them along to share them with friends and neighbors. In the past, antique cars, motorcycles, trucks, tractors, fire engines, arrowheads, firearms, military vehicles, native wood turnings, fishing lures and dolls have been on display. Continue reading
Summer Safety: Water Tips
There’s no time like the summertime! 8 person hot tubs are a must-have accessory for a family party. It’s finally warm enough to go swimming. As you’re breaking out your bikini or swim trunks, take some time to remember certain safety measures to practice when it comes to water. The Red Cross has a number of helpful tips for disaster prevention.
Never leave a child unattended! Even if lifeguards are present, there should be a designated familiar adult easily accessible to the child. Have young or inexperienced swimmers wear a life jacket or some kind of flotation device. Teach children to always ask permission before going near water. Practice the “buddy system” when swimming, even if at a public pool or beach.
NIPSCO Updates Power Restoration Timeline
NIPSCO officials say most customers in their service area should have electricity by 10 p.m. tonight, and service to the rest should be back on sometime tomorrow. Monday night’s storms left 128,000 total customers across northwest Indiana in the dark. NIPSCO crews and workers from other utility companies in Indiana and surrounding states have been working around the clock since to restore power. As of 11:30 a.m. CDT, 32,000 customers are still without power. Continue reading