The 50/50 sidewalk replacement program in the Town of Hamlet has moved forward with the approval of a bid from Covenant Concrete for a total of of six projects. The bid, at $19,761, was lower than one other bid received for the work. The town has set aside $10,000 for its portion of the sidewalk replacement program. Continue reading
The General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 4 and in order to cast your important vote you need to be properly registered.
Voter registration is open this week at all county clerk’s offices. The last day to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 6. You must be registered by the end of the business day on Oct. 6 in order to vote in the November election.
If you need to register to vote or have questions about your current registration, call the Starke County clerk’s office at (574) 772-9160, the Pulaski County clerk’s office at (574) 946-3313 or the Marshall County Clerk’s office at (574) 936-8922. Election and registration information can also be found on the state’s website.
Absentee voting in all three counties begins Tuesday, Oct. 7.
The Knox Middle School is hosting Manufacturer’s Day tomorrow. A total of 15 local companies will have booths set up for 7th graders from Knox, Oregon-Davis and North Judson-San Pierre to visit and learn about what they do. Students will also learn what qualifications are necessary to work there. Knox Middle School Principal Joshua Pugh says hands-on learning like this really helps students think about their futures.
A Hamlet man was killed instantly after the vehicle he was driving collided with a semi truck on U.S. 30 at Frontage Road in Hamlet late Monday morning. Starke County Coroner Kris Rannells says Lawrence Siegel, 72, died of massive blunt force trauma including head, neck, chest and internal injuries. Continue reading
Today is the deadline to submit your nominations for the Henry F. Schricker award.
The award is given to a Starke County resident who has shown that he or she has put “service before self”. That was the motto of former governor Henry F. Schricker who exemplified that action while he served in office and as a resident of Starke County.
The Starke County Chamber of Commerce will review all submissions and a committee of former award winners will select this year’s recipient. A nomination form is available on the Starke County Chamber’s website at http://www.starkecountychamber.com. Include the qualities and deeds of your nominee. The entry should include the person’s voluntary contributions and benefits to Starke County.
A tractor-trailer versus car crash on U.S. 30 in Hamlet late this morning claimed a life. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police and Hamlet Police Department are investigating the wreck. Continue reading
The Oregon-Davis School Board heard a presentation by Ron Henningsmith for a new trophy case.
Territorial Engineering provided Henningsmith with a layout to present to the school board to display the school’s state basketball trophies.
The Knox City Council members received praise from the WoodStarke representatives this week for their support of the first festival of its kind on Sept. 13.
The city was presented a thank you note for their efforts. The festival featured local artists, local music, HealthLinc’s mobile dental unit, a cornhole tournament, dance and exercise classes, a Moving Starke County Forward One Mile at a Time walk and a county-wide scavenger hunt.
Starke County’s Jefferson Jackson Dinner will be held tomorrow afternoon at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox.
Joe Bock, the Democratic candidate for the Second District Congressional seat in November’s General Election, will speak along with Richard W. “Rich” Ludington who is running for the seat in the Indiana House of Representatives in District 16.
Social hour will begin at 3 p.m. with dinner following an hour later. Route 10 Bar and Grill is catering the meal.
Storms that recently swept through the Kankakee Valley area hit the town of Hamlet hard. Limbs and trees have been removed from the main roads leading in and out of Hamlet, but more cleanup in the residential areas is still needed. Continue reading
Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Greg Briles praised the newly installed school resource officers for their efforts in school safety.
Briles told the school board members this week that Hamlet Town Marshal Frank Lonigro and Patrolman Kyle Hinds have been working to create plans in case of an emergency.
Clean-up of the town’s streets, many filled with trees and limbs, from last week’s wind storm took up much of the discussion at the Hamlet Town Board meeting last night. The street department reported to the citizens in attendance that all streets are now open, and limb pickup will continue this week. Continue reading
The Oregon-Davis School Board members reviewed quotes or a copier lease during their meeting Monday night.
Superintendent Greg Briles explained that the current lease agreement is almost over and two proposals were gathered for consideration. Chris Smith from Monticello had a quote for Xerox machines and the Adams Remco company in South Bend provided a quote for Toshiba copiers.
The Oregon-Davis School Board members are looking at a balanced calendar for the 2015-2016 school year.
Superintendent Greg Briles gave the board a couple of different calendars to study to possibly make a decision at their October meeting.
Work on the new bridge over Eagle Creek is under way. LaPorte Construction Company won the bid to replace the bridge on Starke County Road 800 East. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler tells WKVI News 800 East will be closed between 25 North and 50 South for the next couple of months. Take 25 north to 700 East down to 50 South and back to 800 East to get around the road work. Detour signs are up.
IU Health Starke and LaPorte Hospitals are in search of health care delivery partners to provide the best care possible to the residents they serve. IU Health Starke President Craig Felty says they’ve sent out requests for proposals and are keeping their options open.
“Our goal would really be to maintain a relationship with IU Health,” Felty said last week during an interview at WKVI. “We cherish that relationship, but we also just identify that over the years as health care has changed we need to look for somebody additional who might be able to help us meet that need.” Continue reading
The Oregon-Davis School Board members held a public hearing for the 2015 budget during their meeting last night.
The General Fund budget was budgeted at $4.6 million. The General Fund takes care of the salaries for the staff, including coaches and extra-curricular coaches and more. Board member Lee Nagai stressed that the General Fund had a shortfall due to state budget cuts and the referendum money supplemented that fund to cover salaries.
Other funds discussed include the Capital Projects Fund, Transportation Fund, Debt Fund Plan, Retirement/Severance Bond, Debt Service Fund, Referendum/Exempt Operating, Rainy Day Fund.
Superintendent Greg Briles explained that the Average Daily Membership, or ADM, is 609 which is higher than the state-projected student count of 580. Briles added that the corporation is three students down from last year.
The tax rate will be 1.5702 which is less than 2014.
Briles said the budget will be sent to the state. The board approved a motion to authorize any cuts that are mandated by the state.
Starke County’s Park Board is now fully populated. Judge Kim Hall named Mike Meadows and Skyler Ellinger to the five-member panel. They join Starke County Council appointees Debbie Mix and Rosemary Rose and Starke County Commissioners appointee Marsha Bedrock. Continue reading
The Oregon-Davis School Board will host a public hearing for the 2015 annual budget tonight.
The budget includes the General Fund, Capital Projects Fund, Transportation Fund, Debt Fund Plan, Retirement/Severance Bond Debt Service Fund, Referendum Fund/Exempt Operating, Rainy Day Fund. The board will entertain comments on the budget during the public hearing.
