Problems persist with Starke County’s emergency radio system. Several months ago, the Koontz Lake Volunteer Fire Department was having trouble communicating with dispatchers. On Monday, it was the Knox Volunteer Fire Department that was having problems, according to County Commissioner Donnie Binkley. Continue reading
The Hamlet Town Council is nearly ready to award quotes for over $200,000 in improvements to Starke Street. Plans call for the road to be rebuilt from Plymouth Street north to U.S. 30. The work will include drainage improvements and a new sidewalk along the west side of the road.
The Knox Board of Public Works took action this week to enforce unsafe building violations on a downtown building.
The owner of 1 N. Main Street and 3 N. Main Street was previously told to replace glass from a broken window at the storefront at that location and it is currently boarded shut. Knox Mayor Dennis Estok said that the owner has had plenty of time to make the proper changes. He was given 45 days to make repairs on several violations within the buildings and Estok said nothing has been done with only a handful of days left on the time frame allowed for repairs. Owners of buildings or properties that were condemned by a government agency may seek legal assistance from a Private Property Condemnation Lawyer to learn their best course of action. Continue reading
The Culver and Lake Maxinkuckee Visitor Center may soon have a new place to call home.
Becca Pazin asked the Culver Town Council if she could move the visitor center office from the bank to the top floor of the Culver Beach Lodge. She noted that she only has a few items to move. The display of activities on a computer screen will be moved to the Culver Beach Lodge as well. A large, more permanent display will stay at the bank.
On Tuesday evening, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston alerted Knox City Council members that he received a notification from the state about the way the city of Knox administers payroll to city employees. Continue reading
The Starke County Council is slated to approve budgets when they meet in special session this evening.
The council will adopt the 2018 county budgets and the Starke County Solid Waste 2018 budget.
The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. CT to take action on those budgets in the meeting room in the Starke County Annex Building No. 1 in Knox.
Residents of Oregon and Davis townships have another chance to get some help with leaf raking. The Oregon-Davis School Corporation has moved its Community Service Day to Monday, November 13, due to weather. Continue reading
Yesterday afternoon, Knox Elementary School celebrated the completion of a grant-funded project with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Outdoor Odyssey is a one-of-a-kind classroom that was constructed thanks to community collaboration and the dedicated efforts of motivated faculty members.
Second Grade teacher Jamie Shireman worked with Knox High School science teacher Marge Woods to obtain grants to fund the project. They were able to receive $11,000 worth of funding through the Starke County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Arrow Head Country RC & D Grant. Continue reading
Governor Eric Holcomb and Indiana State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick have announced a partnership that aims to give all Hoosier students access to the tools and resources needed for digital learning with high-speed internet in every classroom.
The state is teaming up with Education Super Highway (ESH), the nation’s leading non-profit focused on upgrading internet access in every public school classroom in America, at no cost to tax payers. ESH will work with the Indiana Department of Education and local school districts to determine need, whether that’s fiber infrastructure, greater and more affordable bandwidth or Wi-Fi upgrades. Continue reading
A North Judson man is currently being held at the Starke County Jail on a preliminary charge of arson, a Level 4 felony, after he allegedly confessed to starting a fire at the old Craven’s factory back in September.
According to information disclosed by Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin, on Monday, October 23rd detectives with the Starke County Sheriff’s Office were in the process of conducting interviews with possible suspect(s) about numerous burglaries within the county.
During questioning, 19-year-old Jacob Carter allegeldy confessed to starting a fire at a building in North Judson. Carter reportedly admitted to lighting a fire which led to a large pile of tires burning, according to the release. Continue reading
Potential upgrades to U.S. 30 will be discussed this evening by a group of local stakeholders. The Indiana Department of Transportation may consider upgrading the highway to freeway standards in the coming decade. Starke County has assembled a group of people who’d be impacted by the change, to come up with some recommendations for INDOT to consider.
The Starke County Commissioners have chosen a contractor to replace two of the county’s bridges, but not before some concerns were raised about the county’s responsible bidding ordinance. LaPorte Construction was selected Monday to replace a bridge on County Road 25 North over Eagle Creek for just over $325,000. The company will also replace the bridge on 800 South over Bogus Run for just under $297,000.
Pulaski County has renewed the annual agreements for its court technology, but not without some concerns about the cost. The county’s IT Department is paying nearly $27,000 a year on various agreements with CSI.
The state recognition of the Stellar Communities Designation Program designees is set for today from 10 a.m. to noon ET in Indianapolis. Officials from the Town of Culver and the City of Madison will attend today’s festivities as a Stellarbration of becoming stellar communities.
Culver’s local Stellarbration will be held Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the Culver Beach Lodge. Town Manager Jonathan Leist told the Culver Town Council Tuesday night that Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch will attend the local event that begins at 3 p.m. with an open house from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET. The public is invited to attend.
Members of the Starke County Chamber of Commerce met earlier this week to officially decide the winners of Business of the Year, the Above and Beyond Award and the Henry F. Schricker “Service Before Self” Award.
Starke County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jessica Craig reported that the winner of Business of the Year is the North Judson-based company First Choice Insurance owned by Carrie Block.
The winner of this year’s Henry F. Schricker Award is Jim Kersting. Craig said that Kersting was a recipient of the Business of the Year award back in 2015 but he has been nominated for the Schricker award three years in a row. Henry F. Schricker Award Committee members, as well as past winners, decided to grant Kersting with the award this year for his continued service to the community.
The winner of the Above and Beyond award is Starke County A.B.A.T.E. This award can go to an individual, a business or an organization. This year the award when to the Starke County American Bikers Aimed Toward Education for their countless fundraising efforts and immersive community involvement. Continue reading
On Monday evening, the Knox School Board met briefly in order to adopt the school corporation’s 2018 budget. Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart said board members voted unanimously to adopt the budget as advertised.
By doing so, the Knox School Board has effectively adopted their budget prior to the November 1st adoption deadline. The last day that 2018 budgets, tax rates and tax levies can be submitted to Indiana Department of Local Government Finance through Indiana Gateway is November 3rd.
The Knox Community School Corporation has total budget estimate of $20,662,696. To view the entire budget notice posted to Indiana Gateway, follow this link.
The downtown area in Knox will be getting a little bit brighter thanks to a decision made by the Knox City Council last night. The council members voted unanimously to approve Mayor Dennis Estok’s request to replace 10 bulbs in the downtown area with new LED bulbs.
Mayor Estok started looking into new lighting options after receiving continuous complaints about the darkness downtown. He has been working with a representative from Herrman and Goetz, discussing the best route to take.
Estok started by installing one bulb on Main Street to have council members weigh in with their opinions. They all agreed that there was a noticeable difference. Estok said now that they know the bulbs are brighter, he wants to test out more in order to see how multiple bulbs would illuminate the area. Continue reading
The Knox Board of Public Works will discuss enforcement actions on three pieces of property when they meet this morning.
Knox Director of Building, Planning and Code Compliance Kenny Pfost revoked a permit at 325 Carlson Drive and the board members will have information pertaining to the issue of the construction of a steel carport on the property this morning. Enforcement action at 1 N. Main Street and 3 N. Main Street will also be reviewed.
