Freezing rain is possible late tonight into tomorrow morning across much of northwest Indiana. The National Weather Service advises rain will start to fall around midnight and continue through the early morning hours. Continue reading
A discount store chain with locations in Starke and Pulaski Counties is going out of business. Alco Stores is closing all of its 198 locations. The Coppell, Texas-based company filed for bankruptcy protection in the Northern District of Texas on Oct. 12 with the help of a bankruptcy attorney. Continue reading
The Starke County Historical Society hopes to move its museum into a new building within the next three years. It’s currently located in the home of former Indiana Gov. Henry F. Schricker at 401 South Main Street in downtown Knox. Historical Society President Ron Vendl says the home is “jam packed with items of historical significance.” He adds there is no space left to store or display things. Family physician and longtime historical society benefactor Dr. Walter Fritz has offered to sell the historical society his medical office building at 1520 South Heaton St. to use as an additional museum. The 2,550 square-feet of space on the main floor is equal to that of the Schricker home, with an additional 2,100 square feet of storage space in the the basement. Continue reading
A former Knox Community School Corporation administrator is being wooed by a suburban Indianapolis school district. “The Indianapolis Star” reports Hamilton Southeastern Schools officials will recommend Dr. Allen Bourff for the superintendent job there when they meet on Dec. 2. Bourff’s career started at Knox High School as an English teacher in 1978. Continue reading
The voting machines and ballots from the four Wayne and lone Railroad Township Precincts in the Nov. 4 General Election have been impounded to facilitate recounts in two very close races. Republican Party officials sought a recount on behalf of 4th District Council candidate Don White. He lost to Democrat Pamela Stalbaum by two votes in the race to succeed Marvin McLaughlin. That seat represents Wayne and Railroad Townships.
Incumbent Democrat Railroad Township Trustee Roger Chaffins Sr. has also filed a recount petition in his race. He lost to Republican Mandy Thompson by three votes. Continue reading
The former Walkerton-Lincoln Township Public Library Director has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to two of the 10 felony charges filed against him. Scott Klingerman faced 10 counts of wire fraud. He’s accused of using the library’s debit card to pay for vacations, health club memberships and other personal business. Continue reading
A jury in Starke Circuit Court returned a not guilty verdict against a criminal defendant. Heather Ferch was originally charged with intimidation as a Class C felony in connection with an incident in May of this year. After the state’s four witnesses testified, Ferch’s attorney moved to have the case dismissed due to an absence of evidence.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board approved the final reading of the wellness policy on Tuesday evening. It incorporates federal guidelines into the school’s cafeteria food, vending machines and physical activity practices. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says physical activity is an important part of the school day.
Knox City officials will have a better idea after the first of the year how a five year downtown revitalization plan will look. A second public meeting was held last night to gather information from residents, merchants, community leaders and others about a vision for the comprehensive plan. Continue reading
A ground breaking ceremony is set for Saturday in Hamlet for a new 9,300 square-foot fire house. While some ground has already been moved at the site, just east of the Starke County Fairgrounds on County Road 500-North, the “official” ceremony is set for 10 a.m. tomorrow morning. Construction is expected to start in the spring. Continue reading
The fifth annual WKVI Food Drive will take place tomorrow (Saturday) at two local grocery stores. Members of the radio station staff will be broadcasting live from Five Star in the Knox Mall and Sanders in the Winamac Plaza from 10 a.m. until noon CST, encouraging shoppers to stop by and donate non-perishable food or cash to help local families in need. Continue reading
Houston, Texas-based Sysco Corporation’s planned merger with Rosemont, Ill.-based U.S. Foods could bode well for Starke County. Sysco bought 320 acres of land south of U.S. 30 in 2007 after announcing plans to build a redistribution center near Hamlet. At the time the company said the expansion would create 500 local jobs. The project stalled in 2009 due to the weak national economy. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver told the county council this week Sysco still plans to develop the site but has not announced a timeline for doing so. Continue reading
The “Internet Casanova” is out of jail. Marshall County native Raymond Holycross was released on Nov. 2, according to our reporting partners at WNDU-TV, and is now on parole. A judge in South Bend sentenced him to 18 months behind bars in May of 2013 on a theft charge. A live-in girlfriend discovered he wasn’t a jet-setting reporter for “The Huffington Post” when she found a pawn slip for the $850 digital camera she’d loaned him. She then learned Holycross was an unemployed womanizer who made a habit of wooing and stealing from women. Continue reading
The American Cancer Society’s Great American Smoke Out is today. It challenges smokers to put down tobacco for one day and is held every year on the third Thursday in November. The number of adults in Indiana who smoke has decreased significantly since 2011, however Indiana’s smoking rate remains among the highest in the nation with over one million adult smokers. Continue reading
The North Judson and San Pierre fire departments donated $100 each to the N.J.-S.P. Middle School Student Council for their community service project. Students raise money throughout the year to help families in the community in need of assistance. Continue reading
The Plymouth Chamber of Commerce is doing their part to help families in need this holiday season. They have a Christmas tree on display for individuals and businesses to decorate with new pairs of socks. Continue reading
The 40th annual meeting of the Starke County Historical Society, tonight, will feature as guest speaker, author Patrick J. Furlong, whose presentation will be “The rise and fall of the Studebaker Corporation.” Business includes the election of officers and 11 members to the board: one from each township in the county and two at-large members. The Knox schools also name representatives to the Society’s board. Continue reading
A bomb threat was reported at the Culver Community School Corporation today, according to School Superintendent Dr. Vicki McGuire. A note was left inside a restroom stall at the middle and high school building. Continue reading
The fate of two contested races in the November General Election is in the hands of the Starke Circuit Court. Starke County Republican Party Chair Brenda Stanojevic filed a recount petition in the 4th District Council seat on behalf of candidate Don White. Democrat Pam Stalbaum edged him by two votes in the contest for the open seat currently held by Marvin McLaughlin. That district is comprised of the four Wayne Township precincts as well as the one in Railroad Township. Incumbent Democrat Railroad Township Trustee Roger Chaffins Sr. is also seeking a recount after losing to Republican Mandy Thompson by three votes.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation is the second in Starke County to adopt the balanced calendar concept. The school board unanimously approved the plan last night. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says until state test dates are released a set calendar cannot be made. She says they are usually released in January or early February. Continue reading
