Society of Innovators Issues Call for Nominations

society of innovators logoThe Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana of Ivy Tech Community College is looking for innovators throughout the seven-county region they serve. Officials visited Kemin Industries in North Judson yesterday as part of a seven-county call for nominations tour. The Kemin-Lambert Spearmint Team was the 2013-14 recipient of the Chanute Prize for Team Innovation. Local grower Ed Lambert partnered with Kemin Industries after learning about their aspirations to make a natural food additive during a spearmint growers convention. Continue reading

Starke County Commissioners Hit Brakes on Road Improvements

starke-county-courthouseA request for funds to further improve Klockner Drive through the Knox Industrial Park hit a speed bump in Monday’s Starke County Commissioners meeting. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver asked for a significant appropriation from the county economic development income tax fund to rebuild the intersection with Division Road. The project carries an estimated cost of $343,000. Continue reading

Starke County Economic Development Foundation Seeks Planning Grant

 
 

The Starke County Economic Development Foundation is seeking a $15,000 grant to plan for future workforce needs through the SCILL Center. Executive Director Charlie Weaver says they are looking at the cost of implementing vocational and adult automation robotics equipment maintenance programs. He says there is a growing need for that skill set in manufacturing settings. Continue reading

Starke Commissioners Give Green Light for CR 300 E–SR 8 Project Bids

Charles Weaver
Charles Weaver
The Starke County Commissioners at their meeting yesterday morning approved a request from Charlie Weaver, executive director of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, to authorize the SCEDF to proceed with the bidding process for the County Road 300 East–State Road 8 intersection improvement project. Weaver explained that this reconstruction of the intersection will improve the accessibility of the industrial park for large trucks, which currently have a very difficult time turning onto County Road 300 East or State Road 8 as they attempt to enter or leave the industrial park.

Continue reading

Starke Commissioners Approve Deed for CR 300 E, SR 8 Project

Charles Weaver
Charles Weaver
The Starke County Commissioners met in a special meeting yesterday morning at 10 a.m. to approve and sign documents to allow the County Road 300 East and State Road 8 improvement project to continue. Commissioner Kent Danford and County Attorney Martin Lucas were unable to make it to the meeting, but Lucas was available via speakerphone to add his input to the discussion.

Continue reading

Linda Berndt Steps Down from SCEDF Board After 17 Years

SCEDF Board President Bill Sonnemaker presented Linda Berndt with a plaque for her years of service to the board.
SCEDF Board President Bill Sonnemaker presented Linda Berndt with a plaque for her years of service to the board.
After 17 years of dedicated service on the Starke County Economic Development Foundation Board, Linda Berndt has stepped down to allow someone else to take her place. Berndt said it was an honor and a privilege to be a part of a board with so many like-minded intelligent people, but because of her responsibilities on other boards and her work, she felt she could no longer give the board 100 percent of her focus and thought it was time to let someone else have the opportunity.

Continue reading

Sabre Manufacturing to Expand

Sabre Manufacturing LLC, the Starke County Economic Development Foundation and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation announced plans for the expansion of operations at Sabre in Knox. Development Foundation Director, Charlie Weaver, says that Sabre manufactures temporary environmental equipment known as FRAC and WEIR tanks.

Continue reading

SCILL Center Welcomes New Director

Jerry Gurrado

Jerry Gurrado is the new Director at the SCILL Center in Knox. Jerry is no stranger to Knox and he talks about coming back to the area where he grew up.

“Harry Chapin had one of my favorite songs called “Circle” where he talks about how life’s a circle and it kinda comes back. I was born and raised here in Knox and in those last couple of years of high school I couldn’t wait to get out because there was nothing to do and now in my middle age I find myself back here,” said Gurrado.

Continue reading

J.W. Hicks, Inc. Announces Dual Expansions in Knox

The second expansion will be located at 501 S. 300 E. in Knox

J.W. Hicks, Inc., with locations in both Knox and Merrillville, has announced plans to proceed with two expansions in Knox while continuing the operation in Merrillville. The company has been in Knox since 1998 and these expansions will mark the third and fourth such expansions since the plant has been in Knox.

Continue reading

Maxinkuckee Players Looking to 2011

The Maxinkuckee Players are already making plans for the 2011 summer presentation.  A meeting is scheduled in Culver early next month to elect officers.

If you have a suggestion for a possible musical production for the Players 2011 season you may contact Charlie Weaver at 574-772-5000 in Knox,  who is a member of the selection committee. That committee will make several suggestions to the Players members who, in  turn, will  make the final selection at a meeting in January or early February.
Continue reading