Hamlet and Davis Township officials will open bids on Monday, Sept. 15 for the new fire station they plan to build next to the Starke County Fairgrounds. Bids are due by 2 p.m. CDT to the clerk-treasurer’s office and will be opened and read. The Davis Township Building Corporation will take them under advisement. Continue reading
The investigation into Wednesday’s high-speed pursuit through Grovertown and into Marshall County is continuing. A Starke County Sheriff’s Deputy initially tried to stop a car driven by Paul Coffin on U.S. 30 at 1200 East. Coffin drove for another mile before pulling over, according to information released by the Starke County Sheriff’s Department. As the deputy was getting out of his car, Coffin reportedly backed into it, causing the patrol car to strike the deputy. Continue reading
The Starke County Highway Department is on pace to meet and possibly exceed its road improvement goals for the year. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler says they paved 10 miles of roadway in August at a cost of slightly more than $21,000 per mile. He says they may add to that total by the end of September. Continue reading
The Starke County Youth Club is the recipient of a $5,000 Sustainability Fund grant from the Northern Indiana Community Foundation. SCYC Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says the money will be used to establish an endowment to support the youth club’s work and mission. Funds in the endowment are invested, and a portion of the interest comes back to the organization each year to help offset operating expenses. Continue reading
The Starke County Sheriff’s Department has released more information about a high-speed pursuit that started near Grovertown and ended in Marshall County. A sheriff’s deputy tried to stop a vehicle on U.S. 30 west of 1200 East, but the driver kept going. He finally stopped at 1100 East but put his car into reverse when the officer got out of his patrol vehicle. The suspect backed into the police car, causing the vehicle to strike the deputy. Continue reading
An attempted traffic stop in Starke County last evening ended with a crash in Marshall County after the driver fled from police. Dispatchers at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department tell WKVI News the chase began on U.S. 30 at 1100 East at 6:15 p.m. CDT last night and ended on 7th Road east of Union Road in Marshall County. Continue reading
Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler is shopping for less expensive road salt to use this winter. He told the county commissioners he’s already got one contract in place through the state bid process but is attempting to negotiate better prices with other suppliers who lost out on the state bid. Continue reading
The Starke County Planning Commission is busy ridding the county of blighted and vacant homes. In the past four months, 18 enforcement letters have been sent out for unsafe structures, and 15 property owners have taken care of the problems themselves. The county will demolish three unsafe structures. Of those, two are already down. Dirtworks Excavating, J.D. Excavating and Pioneer Excavating have each volunteered to demolish one structure at no cost to the county. Planning Commission President Dennis Estok is pleased with the process.
U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski is impressed with the workforce training that’s taking place at the SCILL Center welding lab. She stopped there yesterday as part of her district-wide education tour. Continue reading
The Starke County Commissioners plan to interview six applicants for the EMS director position on Tuesday, Sept. 23. All six either live in Starke County or work for Starke County EMS. Other applicants will be considered as part of a secondary list. Continue reading
Construction of the new Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center is still on schedule to wrap up next spring. Information shared with the Starke County Building Corporation indicates the metal addition to the rear of the existing building on State Road 8 east of Knox is 80-percent finished. Continue reading
Hamlet residents who want to replace their sidewalks can do so at a discounted rate if they opt to take part in the 50-50 sidewalk replacement program. The town will pay half the cost for materials and labor for participating property owners. Funds are available on a first-come, first served basis. Continue reading
Indiana University Health LaPorte VNA is offering flu and pneumonia shots at a walk-in clinic in Hamlet. Starting today the vaccines are available to people ages 65 and older at IU Health VNA, located at 5595 County Road 600 North in Hamlet. Medicare Part B covers the shots, or participants may pay with cash or check. Continue reading
The Starke County Commissioners have asked the county attorney to look into work restrictions for county employees who have been cleared to return to work by their physicians but are still under restrictions. Interim EMS Director Keith Emigh asked about the county’s policy during the most recent regular commissioners meeting and was told employees cannot return to work unless they can perform all of their required job duties. The commissioners last week asked county attorney Marty Lucas to further research the issue and placed the matter on the agenda for their meeting this morning. Continue reading
The 29 students enrolled at Starke County’s newest school are thriving in the non-traditional learning environment. The Crossing alternative school opened recently and offers a second chance to students who have been expelled from or dropped out of public schools. Principal Quentin Bishop says the school is an extension of the students’ sending schools.
“This is like a classroom just down the road from their sending school. We have that type of relationship, that type of partnership to say we’re not only just The Crossing Education Center working as an independent school. We’re actually in partnership with our public schools,” Bishop said. Continue reading
The Knox City Police Department is working with Hamlet Police Chief Frank Lonigro in introducing a new app to school corporations for emergency purposes.
Chief Clint Norem told the Knox Board of Public Works members Wednesday morning that Chief Lonigro learned about this app in training and both of them are finding out more information on how to provide the app to the schools that will allow teachers to hit a panic button on their smart phone if there happens to be an emergency.
Adults who want to learn to weld or enhance their skills can take advantage of opportunities offered through the Starke County Initiative for Lifelong Learning. Classes offered through the SCILL Center’s Adult Welding Technology program meet two evenings per week for four hours at a time for 12 weeks. Continue reading
The investigation into the origin of a recent fire at a Knox business has been delayed. Knox-Center Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kenny Pfost says they will look into the cause of the Aug. 22 blaze at Standard Pallet on County Road 300 East on Friday. Continue reading
A Starke County road that has been closed since April is once again open to traffic. The county’s bridge inspector signed off on the emergency repair on 700 East over the Yellow River. A log floating down the river struck the bridge supports, rendering the structure unstable and forcing the emergency closure. A field inspection performed Sunday recommended additional monitoring of the timber piles, as they are starting to deteriorate, but found the bridge is able to handle traffic again.
