Free Thanksgiving Meal at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church

 If you don’t have someone to share Thanksgiving with this year, the members at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Knox invite you to the church to share in a traditional Thanksgiving feast.

The dinner is free and will feature the traditional favorites: turkey, dressing, potatoes, gravy, and more – even dessert! The meal will be served on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Family Life Center, 1600 S. Heaton St. in Knox.

This is an annual event and all are welcome.

Use Caution When Using Alternative Heating Sources this Winter

 
 
A cold snap has hit the Kankakee Valley. While we turn up the heat, State Fire Marshal James Greeson heeds caution when using alternative heating sources, such as wood stoves or space heaters.

If you are using woodstoves or fireplaces, use only dry, seasoned wood to avoid the build-up of creosote. Creosote is an oily deposit that can easily catch fire. Avoid using a flammable liquid to start the fire. A sturdy screen should be placed in front of the fireplace to avoid sparks from flying into the room.

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Be Safe When Cooking This Thanksgiving

 
 
Several fatal fires occurred over the weekend in Indiana and the State Fire Marshal urges you to use caution and pay attention while cooking this Thanksgiving.

We all get wrapped up visiting with family for the holidays which leads to distractions. Fire Marshal James Greeson reminds you to check your home’s smoke detectors to make sure they’re working. If you need to install smoke detectors, place them on all levels of the house, including the basement. Smoke alarms should be placed near every sleeping area.

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Sponsor to go with Ty Dillon to Nationwide Series

Ty Dillon is making the move up to the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the sponsor he had while in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will make the move with Dillon.

Bass Pro Shops will serve as Dillon’s primary sponsor on the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro with Richard Childress Racing for 11 races, including the DRIVE4COPD 300 race at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 22.

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Sport Clips Haircuts will Stay with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2014

Sport Clips Haircuts will be the primary sponsor for nine races with Joe Gibbs Racing in the next season.

The company will serve as the primary sponsor for Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 Toyota Camry for two races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Sport Clips will also be the sponsor for six races in the No. 11 Toyota with Elliott Sadler behind the wheel in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Drew Herring will pilot the car at Chicagoland Speedway on Sept. 13 in the Nationwide Series.

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CASA Swearing-In Ceremony Held Friday in Starke Circuit Court

 
 
In a ceremony held open to the public, four Court Appointed Special Advocate trainees were sworn in to their duties by Judge Kim Hall in Starke Circuit Court. Rhonda Adcock, CASA director, said each of the trainees are volunteers with a passion to serve children who have gone through a rigorous screening and training process in order to be available to advocate for children in the court who have been abused or neglected.

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Starke County Council Weighs Ambulance Options

 
 
Members of the Starke County Council are considering their ambulance purchase options and may vote next month to buy a new vehicle for the county EMS. Last year they put $60,000 earmarked for the purchase of a new ambulance into the rainy day fund. A super-majority is required in order to authorize that money to be spent. It would only cover part of the cost for a replacement rig, as diesel trucks range in price from $80,000 for a new chassis with a refurbished box mounted on it to $150,000 for a completely new truck. Council President Dave Pearman says the crush specifications on the boxes change each year, so the savings could place the county in a precarious position should a refurbished truck ever be involved in a wreck. A third option is to buy a new unit with less than a couple thousand miles from a vendor that has offered the county a favorable price on such a vehicle. Based on the quote from Fire Service, Pearman says the county could get a truck that is essentially new for $108,000. Many of their vehicles are used at trade shows and elsewhere as demonstrator models. Pearman presented the three options to the council, and members opted to take them under advisement and make a decision later.

Culver School Board May Announce New Superintendent Today

Culver Community School Superintendent Brad Schuldt
Culver Community School Superintendent Brad Schuldt
The Culver Community School Board is scheduled to consider the contract for the corporation’s new superintendent to replace Brad Schuldt, who has announced he will be leaving the corporation at the end of the year. Board President Ryan Sieber explained that the board has gone through the application and interview processes, and held a public input meeting on Nov. 18 regarding the contract that has been offered and publicized.

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HealthLinc to Host Coffee Talks on Affordable Care Act at SCPL

 
 
HealthLinc will be hosting “coffee talks” on the Affordable Care Act and its enrollment today at the Starke County Library, where they will discuss provide an opportunity for individuals to learn about the Affordable Care Act and how the law affects them and their loved ones. Certified application counselors will be on hand to help people enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace and help them find out if they qualify for subsidies that offset the cost of insurance coverage.

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Our Heroes Tree to be Placed at Knox Library

Henry F. Schricker Library
Henry F. Schricker Library
The Starke County Public Library is partnering with the Indiana State Library, the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University and other libraries in the state to participate in the Our Heroes Tree program.

This is a chance for you to honor military members, veterans and their families in a unique way this holiday. All you need to do is create a handmade ornament honoring a service member from past and present wars, conflicts or peacetime operations. When your ornament is crafted, take it to the Henry F. Schricker Public Library in Knox this month to be included on the tree with all of the other ornaments. If you have a story to include about that certain service member, those may also be submitted. The stories will be kept in a binder under the tree.

This also helps create awareness of military families affected by deployment.

A library member can help you with any questions you may have by calling (574) 772-7323.

Purdue Extension Expert Offers Holiday Shopping Budget Tips

  
 
Christmas is one month from today, and the biggest shopping day of the year is Friday. Purdue Extension Health and Human Sciences Educator Julie Butus says the best way to avoid the post-holiday blues when you get your bank or credit card statements in January is to make a realistic plan before you head to the mall.

“Decide who you’re going to buy your gifts for. Set a limit. You might make some of the gifts. You might go shopping early and find really nice selections in the stores. The longer you wait, you tend to spend more,” said Butus.

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Time to Enter the Holiday Lights Contest in Pulaski County

  
 
The Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce is inviting you to take part in the 2013 holiday lights contest.

Residents and business owners are encouraged to pick up a registration form at the Chamber of Commerce, fill it out and pay $10 cash to enter into the contest. On Dec. 4 and Dec. 5, judges will be traveling around Pulaski County to see which house and which business has the most festive decorations for the season. Make sure all lighted displays are on from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET both days.

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Monterey Bridge Opens to Traffic

Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Vice President Terry Young, and President Tracey Shorter
The Monterey bridge, or bridge 291, is now open to traffic.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Friday afternoon to officially open the bridge that had been under construction since March. The project had been on the drawing board for several years.

Commissioner Larry Brady attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and was happy with the work of all involved.

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Cause Found for Electrical Blinks

  
 
Kankakee Valley REMC officials have received word on what caused three separate electrical blinks Thursday night around 8 p.m. CT.

According to spokesperson Amanda Steeb, customers in Hanna, Bass Lake, North Judson and Knox were affected. REMC contacted NIPSCO who found a failed insulator on a pole. The foggy conditions during the evening Thursday and the moisture in the air caused a short in the electric current which led to the short electrical blinks.

Crews are repairing the issue.

Winamac Police Department Investigates Accident

 
 
The Winamac Police Department continues to investigate an accident that occurred just after midnight where a vehicle ran into a home at the intersection of State Road 14 west and State Road 35.

When police arrived at the scene two minutes later, officer found that the vehicle struck the home’s foundation at the intersection which caused considerable damage. The passenger car came to rest along a fence.

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