Six athletes will be inducted into the Oregon-Davis Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, February 4th.
2001 graduate Tara Kensinger and 1974 graduate Ralph Pearish will be inducted, along with the Howard brothers, Rex, Jim and Jerome, who played sports in the 1950s for the Grovertown Rams. Al Haro, a 1960 graduate from Hamlet High School, will also be inducted.
He hunted from Canada to Africa, and he started an event called Turkey Trax so other hunters (young and old) with physical disabilities like himself could enjoy the sport that he loved– and because of the seriousness of his disease, he made his parents promise that they would carry on the event if and when he passed away.
Eric Corey died on Wednesday afternoon in his home in Washington Township. Because of the number of people he became friends with and inspired, his funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Knox Community Center.
M.C. Smith Funeral Home is in charge of the services.
Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:
A funeral service for Spc. Robert Tauteris, Jr. was held Sunday at the Braman and Bailey Funeral Home in North Judson. Hundreds of people attended the service, including Governor Mitch Daniels, Congressman Joe Donnelly and State Representative Nancy Dembowski.
The Starke County Commissioners learned that the Bass Lake Campground has year-round residents and they stated that they would like it to stay a campground and not a trailer park. Continue reading
A Knox man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly battering his wife and firing a gun at her.
Starke County police received a call from the victim who said that she and James Daniel were arguing and he reportedly shoved her while she was on the phone with her father and she shoved him back. He then allegedly hit her in the face with his fist. He told her to exit the residence and her father came to get her.
LaPorte City Police Department officers were called to an accident in the early morning hours Thursday after a woman hit a pedestrian sitting on a bench.
32-year-old Tonya Wollum, of LaPorte County, was driving on Michigan Avenue when she jumped the curb and struck 35-year-old Ameer Henderson who was sitting on a bench outside 615 Michigan Avenue. Wollum then continued north up the sidewalk for about 75 yards until the vehicle came to rest at 605 Michigan Avenue.
The Starke County Plan Commission was informed by Building Inspector Bruce Williams this week that he has granted Julia (Povilaitis) Ford a permit for a structure that is placed at 6690 East 250 North in rural Grovertown.
The original permit that he had granted was eventually revoked by the BZA board because it was issued as a Type One Manufactured Home. Williams acknowledged that the permit issued on January 11th of this year was a Commercial Unit, but said it was to be converted to a Single Family Dwelling.
A race has developed in the Democrat Primary in Starke County. Current Treasurer, Linda Belork, and Interim Treasurer Kasey Clark have both filed for the May 8th election.
Judy Benninghoff filed this week for a Democrat Council at Large seat and Dan Bridegroom filed for District 3 Commissioner on the Democrat ticket. Continue reading
The third in a series of informational meetings on the Starke County Jail was held at Oregon-Davis High School last night.
Those in attendance heard plans for a bill to be heard in the state legislature that would allow the Starke County Council to adopt an ordinance imposing an additional county economic development income tax rate for the purpose of financing, constructing, acquiring, and equipping a county jail and related buildings and parking facilities. Although this method of funding a project has not been agreed upon by the Jail Committee, if passed by the legislature it would be a funding tool to be used exclusively or in tandem with a property tax levy to fund a new jail.
Dorene Matzat was honored last night as this year’s Henry F. Schricker Award winner at the annual Starke County Chamber of Commerce dinner at the Bass Lake Property Owners Association building.
After hearing accolades given by several friends and her daughter before the award ceremony itself, those assembled heard the story of a woman who always put “service before self.” Whether it was taking an ill and lonely veteran to the VA for treatment, making a delicious meal for community events, singing in the Community Choir, or making a scared little girl feel comfortable on the first day of classes at the Lutheran School, Dorene was always there.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation is going through the process of District Accreditation. For years, the District has been accredited for each school individually, but this year, Superintendent Lynn Johnson says the corporation has been approved for candidacy for District Accreditation.
The North Judson Town Board commended the officers with the Police Department and the firemen with the North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department for their coordinated efforts in the events surrounding Spc. Robert Tauteris Jr.’s funeral at the Braman and Bailey Funeral Home in North Judson on Sunday.
Knox Community School Superintendent, A.J. Gappa, gave the School Board an update on the Elementary School Facility study:
“I told them that we had taken most of the teachers, the certified staff, from the Elementary on a tour of the building. If we decide to proceed with any facility improvements, the staff will be aware of what’s going on and can answer questions on their own because they’ve seen everything,” stated Gappa.
Former Starke County resident, 31-year-old Jerrod L. Minix, was arrested on two active arrest warrants on Tuesday.
Police in LaPorte County received information on the whereabouts of Minix and officers from the Michigan City Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit, the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, LaPorte City Police Department and the United States Marshals Service set out to arrest Minix. They arrived at 115 Tall Timbers Court in Michigan City and surrounded the residence. Police then conducted a search of the residence after speaking with the female owner of the residence and Minix was found hiding underneath insulation in the attic. Minix was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Michigan City Police Department.
Drew Shearin’s legacy has lived on through his loved ones and his music during these past few months. The Knox High School student died in a car accident in Starke County in October.
The Silver Creek High School Band Booster program in Sellersburg, Indiana is hosting a benefit concert for the Drew Shearin Memorial Scholarship fund. Coordinator, Hannah Gibson, said the fundraiser includes performances by students participating in the Indiana State School Music Association Solo and Ensemble event.
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Haley scored her season high 14 points and was one of the team’s leaders in rebounding with 9 in a 69-56 win over New Prairie. Haley’s rebounding was key all game long, helping her team get off to a fast start and stopping runs made by the Lady Cougars in the second half. Her performance was a big reason the Lady Bobcats have advanced to the semi-final round of the Bi-County tournament.
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Matt led the Cougars in both scoring and steals in their 89-38 win over Oregon-Davis. Matt scored a season high 16 points and had 5 steals as New Prairie advanced to the semi-final round of the Bi-County tournament.
William Blankenship III, 22, of Knox, was in Porter County Superior Court 1 in Valparaiso yesterday for his initial hearing.
Porter County Prosecutor Brian Gensel has formally charged Blankenship with Escape as a Class C Felony, plus Auto Theft, Fleeing Law Enforcement, and Criminal Mischief as Class D Felonies. Blankenship pleaded not guilty to all charges and bond was set at $25,000 cash or surety.
Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford’s court has scheduled an omnibus hearing for Blankenship on May 7th, a pre-trial hearing on June 4th and his jury trial is set for July 9th at 1:00 p.m. in Porter County Superior Court 1.
The young man who inspired so many with his gallant fight against Lou Gehrig’s Disease has passed away at the age of 25.
“There are few people that I call my hero, but Eric Corey was that to me,” said Ted Hayes. “I had the privilege of being with Eric during the Turkey hunt he and his family put together for disabled youngsters and old people alike.”
“An avid hunter himself, Eric had traveled the world hunting and four years ago he told his mother that he wanted to give others the chance to hunt that he had. The first year it was just a few, but over the past two years, the Turkey Tracks hunt grew and at the opening night ceremonies Eric Corey was always the happiest person in the room.”
The second informational meeting held by the Starke County Jail Committee was held last night in North Judson.
Those in attendance heard Todd Samuelson of Umbaugh and Associates talk about the funding of a new jail, using the figure $13.5 million. If property taxes were used to fund the project, the tax implication would be $.12 per $100.00 of net assessed value. The bond issue would be for a maximum of 20 years according to Samuelson. Some members of the committee said they are looking into a combination of property taxes and income taxes if a new jail were built.
The Jail Committee stressed that no decision has been made on whether to build a new jail, or not.
It was pointed out that Starke has the second oldest jail in the state with many problems arising over the past year.
The final information meeting will be tonight at the Oregon-Davis High School at 6:00 p.m.
The right to work squabble at the Statehouse kicked into high gear Wednesday with House Democrats again staying away from the chamber. For the second day, the Democrats held an open caucus in the rotunda. With that, Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma fined the 33 of the 40 lawmakers $1,000 for not coming back to the chamber.
17th District State Representative Nancy Dembowski was one of the Democrats who stayed away.
