Former Congressma John Hiler is celebrating his 59th birthday today. Also born on this date 85 years ago was the late G. Edward Cook. Mr. Hiler represented Starke County as a U.S. Representative, and Mr. Cook represented us as a State Representative.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and last week the Starke County Commissioners signed a proclamation urging all citizens in the county to become aware of this tragic problem and commit themselves to helping a child in need. Presenting the proclamation were CADA members Wendy Elam and Annette Ohman.
This is also the twelfth anniversary of the death of Lilliana Ciprianu, who had been brutally beaten by her stepfather two days earlier. CADA President Ruth Matsey told WKVI that it was the most tragic case she has had to work on.
Drawings from two Lottery Jackpots will be held tonight.
The Power Ball, worth an estimated $162 million, and Hoosier Lotto worth $9 million will be drawn.
Kenneth Lebeda of Peru, an Iraq War veteran won a Hoosier Lottery prize on Friday, August 13th, proving that “Friday the 13th was his lucky day.”
The national average for gas prices is falling slightly, according to GasBuddy.com. At the beginning of April, the national average was around $3.90, but today it has dropped to $3.86. Indiana’s average is only a cent higher at $3.87.
The lowest gas prices currently reported in Indiana are in Martinsville, where regular gas can be found for $3.65. One of the highest prices is in Valparaiso, where regular gas can be found for $4.35 per gallon.
While gas prices may be dropping a bit now, it’s sure to be only a matter of time before they spike again. Remember, to save on fuel mileage, avoid high speeds, don’t accelerate or brake hard, keep those tires inflated, use your air-conditioning sparingly, and keep the windows closed. Be sure to keep your vehicle maintained, use your cruise control where you can, avoid heavy loads that increase weight on the vehicle, avoid long idles, and if you are purchasing a new vehicle, be sure to check the vehicle’s fuel economy.
With April comes the Fifth Annual National Safe Digging Month, and CenturyLink wants to remind all Indiana residents to always call 811 at least a few days prior to any digging project.
Striking a single line can cause injury, repair costs, fines, and inconvenient outages. Big or small, all digging projects should be reported by calling 811, even if you are just installing a mailbox, building a deck, or planting a tree or garden.
The depth of utility lines can vary for any number of reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects, and uneven surfaces. By calling 811, you can ensure these lines are properly marked, eliminating the risk of striking an underground utility line.
According to the Damage Information Reporting Tool report, utility lines are damaged by digging once every three minutes nationwide, and one-third of these incidents are caused by failure of the professional excavator or homeowner to call 811 before beginning their digging project.
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon told the School Board Thursday night that the search is on for substitute bus drivers.
“We have different flyers out in the different areas in the community and hopefully we can come up with some interest in people wanting to drive a bus for us,” stated Mellon. “On that flyer it’s noted that there are a couple of seminars coming up in the near future that people can participate in that are fairly close — Twin Lakes has one in April and Kankakee Valley has one in July. We’re encouraging our community to get involved in the school in this matter and that would definitely help us out.”
Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.
Data collection will begin now to get the paperwork ready for construction, or renovation, of the Starke County Jail. The Starke County Jail Committee is looking for estimates to give to the public and all the information gathered will be used to assemble a proposal for a jail project. The data will be collected over a period of 60-90 days and all will be given to the Committee for review. Continue reading
It was 20 years ago in 1992 that a 1970 North Judson graduate, Dr. Richard Radke, and a 1965 grad, Robert “Leo” Schreiber, were inducted into the 5th Annual North Judson-San Pierre Academic Hall of Fame.
Back in 1945, the Chicago Cubs played in the World Series. They didn’t win the series, but at least they played.
This photo from 1912 shows the former residence of Starke County’s Sheriff. The attached jail was just out of view to the right. Gabriel Doyle was the sheriff at that time.
The facility had been built in 1887 and was located at the southeast corner of Mound and Pearl Streets in Knox, the same location as the jail today. This view is looking north. The two story brick residence of the sheriff was one of the finest homes in Knox when it was built. It was an honor to be invited to the annual sheriff’s picnic, which was held on the south lawn. This was a formal affair attended by such folks as the Koffels, Peters, Vanderweeles, Bortz’s, Moormans, Longs, Whitsons and Hartzlers.
The second photo shows the Jail, which was attached to the east side of the house and had a separate entrance on the south side. In the early days, there was also a stable located in the southeast corner of the lot, where the sheriff’s horses and buggies were kept. Starke County’s first sheriff was Jacob S. Wampler, who was appointed in 1850 instead of being elected like all later sheriffs. In 1914, the sheriff’s salary was $1,100 and the jail’s annual operating expenses were $700. In 1971, the Indiana Department of Corrections found the facility inadequate and recommended that the 84 year old facility be closed.
Jim Shilling
Starke County Historical Society
http://www.starkehistory.com
http://www.scpl.lib.in.us/historical/
A wanted fugitive was arrested in LaPorte after police received word of his whereabouts and a potential meth lab at the location.
Detectives went to the residence and arrested 19-year-old Blake Brown of La Porte for an outstanding theft warrant. Ryan Goethals, 29, was also at the residence and police took him into custody as he had an active arrest warrant for purchasing ephedrine. They were both taken to the La Porte County Jail.
We’re only 12 days away from this year’s Turkey Tracks Hunt sponsored by the Eric Corey Foundation.
Carol Corey announced last last week that this should be the biggest hunt since the event was established, with over 35 hunters with disabilities expected to be out the weekend of April 27 and 28 trying to “bag a wild turkey.”
The Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent, will appear July 14 at the La Porte County Fair. Nugent will be stopping on his “Great White Buffalo Tour” to perform on stage.
The Eli Young Band will appear the night before, on July 13.
Other nights you can enjoy International Demolition Derby action.
For more information on tickets you can call 219-362-2647.
We’ll tell you more about the La Porte County Fair as we get closer to July.
Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.
Starke County Farm Bureau President Brad Lawrence told Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney that the Farm Bureau is encouraging its members to vote with their conscience when it comes to the tax levy referendum on the May 8th ballot.
Kurt Kemble was recently appointed as the Grant Green Knox Post Office Postmaster. Continue reading
20 years ago today, Thomas Jefferson Bell was given the Henry F. Schricker Award. William Davis, Sr. was named Citizen of the Year. His award was accepted for him by his wife, Almo Jean.
Here is a look at some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.
Knox High School gym teacher, Robert “Ryan” Corbin, was arrested Sunday after an alleged improper internet contact incident was reported by a parent. The Knox City Police Department investigated the call and subsequently arrested Corbin on two preliminary charges of Attempted Child Seduction, both Class D Felonies. Corbin is the Physical Education teacher at Knox High School and he is the varsity boys and girls swim coach. The Knox Community School Board suspended Corbin, with pay. Corbin hired an attorney, Nicholas T. Otis, from a law firm in LaPorte, to represent him. Continue reading
Early this morning, Indiana State Police Trooper Lawrence McFarrin responded to a semi that hit the support of an overhead informational sign on I-80/94 causing the sign to partially come down blocking the interstate.
This is the date in 1974 that multiple tornadoes traveled through Indiana. The most devastated town was Monticello where most of the downtown buildings were demolished beyond recognition. Structures in shambles included the White County Courthouse, the First Presbyterian Church and the First National Bank. Another community hard-hit was Thornhope in Pulaski County.
With Spring on its way, the Indiana State Department of Health’s Rabies Lab has been receiving an increased number of animal specimens to test for rabies. Four bats have been found to carry rabies within the last two weeks– two in Allen County, one in LaPorte, and one in Monroe. The ISDH is pushing for more rabies awareness to ensure that people know that bats very often carry rabies and the dangers involved in being bitten or scratched.
An Indiana University student was recently bit by a rabid bat on his hand while he slept, and after shaking the bat off in the hallway, it was found alive by a residence hall employee.There is this pest control services reports that says that a pest control officer was called to take the animal, and the student, his roommate, and the pest control officer will have to undergo a 14-day regiment for rabies shots. Such steps are mandatory for anyone working with pest control agencies like RISE Pest Control Kansas City. The animal was sent to the ISDH for testing and was found positive for rabies.
Rabies is a viral disease affecting the brain that can affect any mammal. The only way to know for sure if an animal has rabies is to have it sent to the state for testing– so don’t expect to see a rabies-infected animal foaming at the mouth. To avoid getting rabies, do not approach a wild animal, and be careful of pets or other animals you don’t know. Call your local control officer if you see an animal behaving oddly.
It can take up to two months after being bitten or scratched before any symptoms of rabies appear. When the disease reaches the brain, it is often too late for doctors to cure. If bitten by an animal that may be infected, wash the wound immediately with soap and water for at least five minutes and see a doctor as soon as possible. In the United States, more raccoons carry rabies than any other animal, but bat bites are the most common.
The state’s top climate expert says warm weather should cintinue for the next three months– but with the warm weather comes a higher risk or tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.
But Dev Niyogi says we can expect cold weather to pop up every now and then, too, and could threaten flowers and trees that are in bloom.
As of March 27, Indiana’s average temperatures for the month were 15 degrees above normal, making it the warmest March since 1895.
Nathan VanDerAa, of Star City, was sentenced to 33 months in the Bureau of Prisons, with two years of supervised release following his plea of guilty to charges of Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm.
Ione Moore, who was known to some as Mrs. Republican, passed away Friday, March 23rd, at the age of 92. Continue reading
