The Starke County Sheriff’s Department has reported that there have been approximately eleven accidents and twenty eight slide offs since last night due to the winter storm we are experiencing. The Sheriff’s Department requests that only emergency travel be undertaken at this time until the snow emergency is lifted.
Hensler Nursery to Deliver Trees to the Statehouse
Trees from Hensler Nursery in Hamlet are going to Indianapolis today. Hensler’s will provide a 25 foot Concolor Fir for the Statehouse Rotunda. The tree is approximately 28 years old and had stood for years at Hensler’s main location.
A second tree grown by Hensler Nursery is an 8 foot Fraser Fir that is being presented to Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman.
Starke County Commissioners Discuss Burn Ordinance at Recent Meeting
When is a burn ban, not a burn ban? According to the Starke County Commissioners, it’s when a local ordinance is updated that would spell out the penalties for violations. Commission President, Dan Bridegroom, said this week that when the burn ordinance was discussed it came out as meaning a “burn-ban” and that is not what the commission wanted to convey to the public.
“I think the biggest misconception right away was the word ‘ban’ was in everything they read,” said Commission President, Dan Bridegroom. “As soon as I would explain to the people that called me and talked to me and stopped me, it’s not a ban, then they were ok. They were ok almost immediately to know that they can still burn their leaves and burn their brush. I guess that part of the blame should fall back on us in that we didn’t get it out, specifically, what we were looking at.”
Starke County Development Foundation Holds 25th Anniversary Celebration
Dignitaries from throughout the county and Northwest Indiana attended the 25th Anniversary celebration for the Starke County Development Foundation Friday afternoon at the Knox Community Center.
Emcee, Ted Hayes, brought a number of people to the microphone during the program. They included State Representative Nancy Dembowski, State Senator Ed Charbonneau, Northwest Indiana Forum President, Mark Maassel; Starke County Development Foundation President, Bill Sonnemaker; Foundation Director, Charles Weaver; and former Foundation Director, Terry Kimmel.
Marvin Allen Wins Hubert Hawkins History Award
Marvin Allen of Knox is this year’s recipient of the Indiana Historical Society’s Hubert Hawkins History Award. The presentation will be made during the Society’s annual Founders Day Dinner at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis. The Hubert Hawkins History Award is made annually to a local historian for his or her distinguished service and career in local history.
Starke County Community Foundation Awards Grants
The Starke County Community Foundation made the holiday bright for many community organizations during its 2010 Grant Award Banquet. Over $24,000 was awarded on Monday, December 6th at the Community Center in Knox.
The grants are part of the Community Foundation’s Unrestricted Funds which allow the Community Foundation to assess the greatest needs of the community and assist the individual agency programs. Since 1998, the Community Foundation has awarded over $1.7 million to local organizations and projects that make a difference in Starke County.
Gilsinger Implement Purchases Kauffman Sons Inc.
Gilsinger Implement, Indiana’s oldest John Deere Dealership, recently purchased Kauffman Sons, Inc., a fourth-generation commercial and lawn and garden dealer. With established locations in Winamac, Knox, Leesburg, and Plymouth, Gilsinger Implement will now operate dealerships in Goshen and Mishawaka.
Local Lawmaker to Serve on Several Key Senate Committees
President Pro Tem David C. Long (R-Fort Wayne) has appointed State Senator Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) to serve as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Charbonneau said the committee examines the budget bill and the school funding formula, along with other legislation allocating state funds to numerous government agencies, departments and organizations on a biannual basis, in addition to other related issues.
Knox Community School Board Moves Ahead with High School Project
The Knox Community School Board approved two agenda items that involve the Qualified School Construction Bond project at the high school. The project includes rehabilitating the roof, lighting, ceiling and HVAC unit in the pool area and water piping throughout the building.
Two Arrested in Knox on Methamphetamine Charges
Knox City Police Department officers arrested Matthew Blount, 23, of Wheatfield and Erica Bailey, 21, of Knox on methamphetamine related charges Wednesday night.
Many Activities are Scheduled Saturday and Sunday in the Kankakee Valley!
Even though Christmas Eve is a few days off, many children in our area will get some gifts early. The Starke County Abate organization will be handing out toys, clothing and food items to 90 families at the Bass Lake Golf Course on Saturday. “It will be at the Bass Lake Golf Course,” said Abate President, Terry Young. “We have 90 families that will be coming out this year. They were all sent out invitations to come. There are 240 kids and all the families will have a turkey and all kinds of gifts. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will also be there.” When it comes to a big heart for children, the 290 members of Abate are in the forefront.
Week in Review for December 6th-10th, 2010
Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.
Diana Jedynak, 67, died of fire related injuries after her home caught fire early Monday morning in Washington Township. Indiana State Fire Marshal, Fred Sumpter, said the investigation into the cause of the fire was postponed due to the weather conditions and the integrity of the structure.
The Northwest Indiana Forum’s Board of Directors have voted to acknowldge the organization’s service territory to extend beyond Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Starke Counties to include Newton, Jasper and Pulaski Counties.
Starke County Development Foundation Celebrates 25th Anniversary Today
Today, a gala will be held at the Knox Community Center to celebrate the formation of the Starke County Development Foundation. The program will begin at 12:30 p.m. CT and is open to the public.
Supporting the Development Foundation over the course of 25 years have been our U.S. Representatives who have represented Starke County. They include Republicans John Hiler, Chris Chocola, and Steve Buyer and Democrats Tim Roemer and Joe Donnelly.
North Judson Town Board Approves First Reading of Synthetic Marijuana Ordinance
The North Judson Town Board approved the first reading of an ordinance that prohibits the sale of synthetic marijuana within the incorporated town of North Judson. The ordinance mirrors the same guidelines as passed by the Starke County Commissioners. The Knox City Council has approved a similar ordinance on second reading and the final reading will be discussed at its meeting on Tuesday, December 14th.
1982 North Judson-San Pierre Graduate Killed in Car Accident
A 1982 graduate of North Judson-San Pierre High School was killed in a traffic accident Wednesday morning. Leon Wera, of New Buffalo, Michigan, died when the SUV he was driving landed upside down in a creek in New Buffalo Township. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police surmise he hit an ice patch and lost control of the SUV.
Wera was off work from the Four Winds Casino running errands at the time of the accident. He was reportedly 5 minutes from his home when he lost control of his SUV. Locally, he is the brother of Mary Rowe of North Judson and his brother-in-law is Ken Rowe.
Photos provided.
Congressman Joe Donnelly to Vote in Favor of the President’s Tax Cut Compromise
Second District Congressman Joe Donnelly said Thursday that he will be voting for the President’s tax cut compromise. Democrat opponents are poised to attempt to sink the measure that came after a compromise with Republicans.
The Obama plan, agreed to in principal by the Republican side, would prevent the December expiration of all the Bush tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003. Obama had originally balked at cutting taxes for the highest earners.
News from the Hamlet Town Board
The Hamlet Town Board members approved next year’s salary ordinance at their meeting Tuesday night. The salary ordinance has not changed in three years. The employees have not been given a raise in three years.
SCILL Center Coat Drive a Success
The instructors and students at the SCILL Center in Knox recently held a coat drive for those in need this winter season. The coats were delivered Thursday to the Community Services of Starke County building where they will be distributed.
Knox Students and Volunteers Assemble Kiwanis Food Baskets for Friday Delivery
Members of the Knox Student Council, National Honor Society and dedicated volunteers assembled food baskets, Thursday, at the Community Services of Starke County building for the less fortunate families in Knox. Students and members of the Knox Kiwanis Club will distribute food to those families in Knox.
Knox School Board Library Board Appointee, Claude Slisher, Gives Report to Knox School Board
The Knox Community School Board heard a report from the school’s appointed Library Board member, Claude Slisher, during the Board’s regular meeting Monday night.
