Sparks may soon start flying at the Knox Middle School, as the Knox Community School Corporation has been working with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, the SCILL Center, and North Central Vocational Area School representatives to set up a vocational welding class in the middle school.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charles Weaver says that the class would benefit not just students, but adults as well.
Twenty Knox children will be attending a Kindergarten Camp in June to get them ready for school. The class is taught by Jill Keiper and Allison Martinkus. Peggy Shidaker, the curriculum director for the Knox School District, explains how the camp is helping the children.
“We do many different activities to get the students ready for school. The biggest activity is getting these students ready to leave home for the classroom,” said Shidaker.
If you signed up for the winter energy assistance program and need help with cooling assistance this summer, the Summer Cool Program through Community Services of Starke County will provide an additional $65 toward your electric bill.
Air conditioners will be available on a first come, first served basis this summer to current and new members, if you qualify. You must meet three requirements to be eligible for the air conditioner installation program. You must be financially eligible based on the income guidelines for the program, you must have a residing member that is elderly or if you have a child under the age of six and have a verified medical requirement for an air conditioner. Air Conditioner Certification affidavit forms are available at Community Services of Starke County and must be completed by a doctor or nurse practitioner.
We have been following the military career of Jim Hardesty of Hamlet this week after he was featured in the latest issue of Generations the Magazine, recounting his military experience in World War II. D-Day was June 6, and every day after that had a number attached. Hardesty landed with the 172nd Field Artillery Battalion on D-8 – June 14.
Today, however, the story focuses on the battles fought in hedgerow country.
Hedgerows were mounds of dirt covered with trees or bushes that were so thick that a tank couldn’t get through them. As the American forces worked their way through this terrain they were forced to endure a considerable cost in lives. The Germans took full advantage of these barricades. Initial attempts at fighting through these barriers consisted of American tanks charging the hedgerows. When it reached the mound it would lift up, exposing the unprotected underbelly. This unarmored part of the tank was vulnerable and, Continue reading
On this date in 1974, the Starke County Commissioners met in special session and discussed plans and costs for the new county jail. According to Starke County Auditor John “Jack” Milner, the new jail could cost $500,000 to $580,000. The sheriff’s office was currently being operated from the Starke County Courthouse.
Also in 1974, a new addition was planned for the U.S. Army Reserve Center in North Judson. The new addition would house an indoor rifle range, assembly hall, a large kitchen, and a motor pool. The new addition will cost $1,000,000 and an open house and groundbreaking ceremony would be held on Sunday, July 14.
Farmers in Pulaski County once again voiced their outrage to a previously-drafted ordinance prohibiting the spray of water from irrigation system end-guns onto roads. The concerned residents filled the county commissioners’ meeting room in the courthouse on Monday to express their opposition to the ordinance, which they claim is detrimental to their livelihood and singles out farmers.
The ordinance was originally drafted by the commissioners because of complaints from irritated taxpayers who had driven beneath a stream of water from irrigation systems. More than one person complained that they had been driving a motorcycle or convertible and had gotten drenched from the water spraying onto the road, and the commissioners felt that the ordinance was necessary to prevent an accident in the future.
The Starke County Commissioners and Linda Belork will be back in Jasper Circuit Court Wednesday June 6 at 9 a.m. Judge John Potter will hear oral arguments in the case that involves Belork’s removal from the treasurer’s office in August of last year. At the time it was announced that there was a discrepancy in funds in the office. Although the discrepancy was ultimately cleared up, Belork was never returned to the office as treasurer.
The key issue in the case in Rensselaer is whether the commissioners acted correctly under statute in removing Belork from office.
Affidavits of people with knowledge of the case will be presented.
It’s not known whether Judge Potter will render an opinion Wednesday or if he will take the information received under advisement and give his opinion at a later date.
Knox City Police officers arrested a Knox man Thursday on methamphetamine-related charges after executing an arrest warrant.
Police learned of the whereabouts of Anthony Clemons and confirmed that he had an active arrest warrant for Failure to Appear on narcotics-related charges in Starke Circuit Court. Police arrived at the residence and asked the homeowner if Clemons was there. He was seen on a bed in the home and was ordered to surrender to police before being taken into custody without incident.
Two Indiana Department of Transportation construction projects are moving along in the Starke County area.
The Koontz Lake dam road project is nearing completion. Officials say the bridge deck has been poured and the road is expected to be open to traffic sometime in early July.
The Yellow River Bridge project on U.S. 35 in Knox is still in the beginning stages. Half of the bridge has been demolished and the beams should be set on the east side of the bridge in the next two weeks. The one lane restriction will remain in place until the completion of the project, which INDOT predicts will take place in November.
A fireworks ordinance is in effect in the City of Knox.
According to the ordinance, fireworks may only be discharged between 5 p.m. and two hours after sunset from June 29 to July 3, and July 5 through July 9. On the Fourth of July, you may ignite fireworks between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight. This includes all consumer fireworks with the exception of sparklers, cone fountains, ground spinners, snakes or glow worms, and smoke devices. Anyone in violation of the ordinance shall be subject to a $100 fine for the first offense, $250 for the second offense, and $500 for a third offense and every subsequent offense.
In an effort to introduce students to business operations and economic issues in the United States, volunteers from the community hosted the Junior Achievement’s Our Nation program for fifth grade students at Eastern Pulaski Elementary School on May 18.
Nancy Griffeth, Lori Brumm, Jenny Keller, and Denise Hattinger graciously gave their time to mentor the youths during the Junior Achievement in a Day.
Special education teachers in the Oregon-Davis school district are now being employed by the school itself instead of the Joint Educational Services in Special Education cooperative.
The switch is in response to a reorganization of the cooperative. Now being employed by O.D. are Heidi Temme, Robert Kleindeinst, and Roberta Salyer.
The announcement was made by Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney.
The Knox Community School Corporation has started the Summer Food Service Program, and is offering free meals to any child 18 years of age and younger. Free meals are also available for any adults who are enrolled in a state-approved educational program for the mentally or physically disabled.
Breakfast and lunch will be served at the Knox Community High School Monday through Thursday until July 26, although the kitchen will be closed July 4. Breakfast is served from 7 to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT.
The USDA Summer Food Service Program for Children (SFSP) was created to serve nutritious meals to children when the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program meals are not available. To ensure that all children receive proper nutrition throughout the year, SFSP reimburses organizations that prepare and serve meals to eligible children during the summer.
Generations the Magazine recently presented an article on Jim Hardesty of Hamlet, a World War II veteran. The article chronicled Hardesty’s Army service during that war, and this week WKVI is presenting excerpts from that article.
Hardesty and his group landed in Swansea, Wales, and relocated to the south of England. Hardesty detailed his travel from the states to England.
“We boarded a cargo ship to take us across the Atlantic,” said Hardesty. “It took two weeks in rough North Atlantic weather worrying about submarine attacks. Nothing much happened except being sea sick. I was never so glad to see land in my life.”
On this date in 1970, the owners of the Kankakee Valley Broadcasting Corporation were receiving notice that the Federal Communications Commission had approved a new AM radio station in Knox. The announcement came from the office of Ray Paul of the firm of Prince and Paul in Washington D.C., the attorneys for the applicant.
The standard broadcast station would operate on 1520 kilohertz at a power of 250 watts during daytime hours. The station would go on to carry the call letters of WKVI. The AM application had been submitted in May 1968.
South Central freshman Kyleigh Werner finished her first year of varsity track in fine fashion. The Satellite distance runner placed fourth and cut four seconds off of her mile time to advance out of the Chesterton sectional. She was then able to shave another five seconds off her time a week later at the Chesterton regional earning her a third place finish and a birth in the state finals at Indiana University. Werner ended her season with a 23rd place finish at state, where she was just one of six freshmen to compete in the 1600 meter run.
With three years left in her varsity running career, the future is very bright for Kyleigh who also competes in cross country at South Central. Congratulations to Kyleigh Werner on an incredible freshman year!
A Medaryville man was arrested Saturday after robbing the Lake City Bank in Medaryville at gunpoint.
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a teller at the bank at about 9:30 a.m. ET informing them that the bank had just been robbed at gunpoint. The responding officers gathered information from the tellers and a description of the suspect was given to police. Four additional off-duty county officers responded to the scene to help in the investigation.
Four people were arrested Thursday after a search warrant was executed at a residence in Culver.
Officers from the Culver Police Department received information from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department about possible drug activity at 515 W. Jefferson Street in Culver. Police obtained a search warrant and found items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine and precursors along with other drug-related items and paraphernalia.
Amber S. Rippe, 28, of Culver and Russell M. Fuller, 32, of Culver were arrested on preliminary charges of Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Illegal Drug Lab, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Legend Drug and Maintaining a Common Nuisance. Forty-nine-year-old Mark Thompson of Rochester and 45-year-old Tracey Holloman of Culver were also arrested at the scene.
The Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team assisted the Culver Police Department in the investigation.
David Hyatt takes over as the interim CEO of IU Health Starke Hospital today. Hyatt says that he is looking forward to the new opportunity and has some good changes in mind.
“I’ve been here at Starke Hospital for the past three years now. I really enjoy it, and love working with the people here. I’m just excited for this new opportunity, and making some good changes and taking Starke Hospital to the next level,” Hyatt said.
The first statewide smoke-free air law takes effect July 1.
Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County and the Tobacco Free Coalition will be holding an Indiana Smoke Free Law Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, June 21 at 6 p.m. at the Bass Lake Community Center, where information will be provided concerning the new law and how it affects businesses and organizations. Information will be given on what the law covers, who to contact with questions and complaints, and who enforces the law.
