The Fireworks presentation at the Starke County Airport went off without a hitch Saturday night. It was a hot day to start off with, but a rain shower came through the area late in the afternoon and it cooled off nicely for the fireworks show at dusk.
Several representatives of organizations showed up early in the afternoon to present some information on their programs.
The Pulaski County 4-H Fair Royalty was crowned Saturday night in ceremonies at the Pulaski County fairgrounds.
Erica Putt and Veronica Leman were crowned 4-H Royalty. The court members were Jacob Frasa, Jessica Brooke, Justine Kruger, and Baleigh Dickson.
Congratulations to the Royalty winners! The Pulaski County 4-H Fair continues through Thursday, July 7th. A complete list of fair events can be found on this website.
Photo submitted by Rosenbaum Photography.
“Knee high by the Fourth of July.” The Fourth of July has historically been the measuring stick to judge the quality of the corn crop, but that isn’t the case anymore. Aside from a few areas damaged by water, most corn is at least knee high, some waist high in our listening area.
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According to Assistant Director Charles Weaver, the sets are completed and the rehearsals have begun in earnest for the Maxinkuckee Players summer musical, Nunsense – The Mega Musical.
The show’s Director, Becky Liechty, had earlier said the performances this year will come with a larger cast and more music than the original production, seen at Culver a few years ago. The cast is rehearsing as Argos High School where six performances will be presented beginning Friday, July 22nd. Opening night tickets are just $5.00.
A suspect has been produced from DNA evidence retrieved from a burglary incident in Starke County.
Caroline Gregory reported a burglary at her residence in June of 2010 where she told police that her computer and a muzzleloader were stolen. Blood samples were retrieved as evidence from the scene was well as several fingerprints. The evidence was sent to the Indiana State Police Crime Lab in Lowell, Indiana and on June 17th, 2011, the Starke County Sheriff’s Department received notice that DNA evidence was recovered from one of the items. A hit in the DNA databank found Bruce Banks to be the suspect in the case.
Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:
Mercan Lyncook of Parma, Ohio lost his life early Sunday morning after he jumped into the Yellow River off the abandoned train Bridge near the historic Depot in Knox and never resurfaced. Preliminary autopsy results have found that Lyncook died of asphyxiation because of drowning. The Knox-Center Township Fire Department recently purchased a boat for river rescues and it was used in the rescue attempt. Continue reading
The trial of Niki Hochstetler continued yesterday in Starke Circuit Court as the defense called Hochstetler to the stand. Hochstetler, a resident of Walkerton, told the jury that she was at the Country Roads Bar and Grill with two of her friends when Eric Amore began insulting and cussing at her. She said that she was not bothering him and had not spoken to him before he began making these disparaging comments.
Indiana’s texting while driving ban goes into effect today, and it carries with it a $500 fine if convicted. State Representative Nancy Dembowski (D-Knox) said it’s about time.
“Texting while driving is a very dangerous activity,” said Dembowski. “Last year, or a couple of years ago, we prohibited young people under 18 from doing that and I suppose they are the most frequent who misuse it, but it made no sense to me and the legislature that we should prohibit it for young people but not for all of us so it takes effect for all of us.”
Starke County Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff said yesterday that the death of a three-year-old Knox boy is still under investigation. The three-year-old died after being rushed to IU Health Starke Hospital by his father on June 19th. He was transferred to a South Bend Hospital where he passed away.
Bourff said he still has not received the autopsy report from the St. Joseph County Coroner’s office.
John Julien of Umbaugh and Associates came before the Knox City Council this week to bring them up to speed on the savings associated with refinancing the outstanding debt on the Knox Community Building. In 1997, the bonds on the building sold at a 5.5% interest rate. Julien told the Council that they could now be sold at 2.9%.
“$23,000 isn’t going to make the City rich, but it’s $23,000 that you don’t have access to right now,” said Julien. “In the grand scheme of things, I think it’s worthwhile for the City to pursue. The savings aren’t earth shattering, but it’s hard to imagine that interest rates are going to go much lower.”
Going back to the 1950’s, Walkerton, Indiana has been one of the places to be over the 4th of July weekend. This year is no exception and it all gets started today with the Independence Day Parade at 7:30 p.m. ET. The parade will begin at the Urey Middle School and ends at the John Glenn High School. There’s plenty of weekend fun, so grab a schedule, and enjoy some of the events.
Forty-three probationary troopers from the 70th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy were issued their state police cars recently at the Indiana State Police garage located at the Indiana State Police Indianapolis District. Five of the troopers have been assigned to the Lowell Post, including Ryan Hovarter from Starke County. Hovarter has been assigned to work Porter and LaPorte Counties.
Other probationary troopers assigned to the post are Corey Dupuy from Jasper County, Davonne Barlow from Lake County, Danielle Elwood from Whitley County, and Brandon Henderson from DuPage County, Illinois.
Ruth Matsey, President of the Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, and Edwin Buswell of the Kankakee Regional Planning Commission appeared before the Knox City Council Tuesday night to ask the City officials to approve sponsorship of an addition at the Phoenix House. Since 1995, the Phoenix House has served as a short-term emergency shelter for women fleeing abusive relationships.
The Pulaski County 4-H Fair begins today. Most of the 4-H projects will be entered today. Vendors will also be moving in for the week-long event.
At 5:30 p.m. ET this evening, there will be a 4-H Class Tractor Pull on the pull strip and then at 7:00 p.m. ET, a Truck and Tractor Pull will be featured on the pull strip.
Students who never had been in a school setting and who will be entering Kindergarten at the Knox Community School Corporation this Fall have been in a Kindergarten Countdown class for the past two weeks. The students have made great strides since their first day, according to Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Peggy Shidaker.
“They have been learning their numbers, their letters, their colors, their shapes and they have learned not only how to get acclimated to the school, but to their peers, to the bus, to the rules and to the cafeteria,” said Miss Shidaker. “Most importantly, they have started to learn the process of learning. We just couldn’t be more pleased.” Continue reading
Officers from the Knox City Police Department were called two a two vehicle accident Thursday morning on US 35 in Knox. It appears that a motorcycle in the southbound lane was attempting to turn left into Advanced Auto Parts and a car hit the rear of the motorcycle. Injuries were reported at the scene. Individuals were taken to the hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. Continue reading
There’s finally some movement on the Sysco project in Hamlet. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Director, Charles Weaver, revealed yesterday that he has been securing information for three general contractors who have been asked by the Baugh Midwest Cooperative to submit bids for the construction of the massive redistribution center. Baugh Midwest Cooperative is the parent company of Sysco.
Three weeks ago today, Amber Howard was in her home in Knox when she heard her daughter, Korie, screaming that someone was in the back yard trying to abduct her one-year-old brother, Evan.
When the mother went into the yard, the daughter said the man, dressed in red jogging pants, came into the yard, grabbed her off a swing set, and then picked up the baby as if to take him. When she screamed, the man ran off down Roosevelt Road in the Parkview section of Knox. He dropped the baby before climbing over a fence.
After a lengthy selection process, a jury of 12 citizens and one alternate juror was chosen in the case of Niki Hochstetler, charged with two counts of Battery with a Deadly Weapon, and one count of Criminal Mischief after allegedly stabbing Eric Amore at the Country Roads Bar and Grill in Walkerton last July. The defense had requested a motion to limit, requesting that witnesses be questioned outside of the presence of the jury to ensure that what the witnesses say is acceptable before the jury, but this request was denied by Judge Kim Hall in the Starke Circuit Court.
Van Janovic appeared before the Hamlet Town Board last week to request the release of funds for the sewer improvement project that was recently completed. The Board agreed to retain a small percentage of funds contingent upon KIRPC’s approval of the project. Once the project gets the ok, all of the funds will be released to H&G Underground.
