The Starke County Commissioners will get their monthly management report for the Bass Lake Beach and Campground when they meet this evening. Manager Richard Callahan and his attorney Dave Wallsmith are first on the agenda for tonight’s 7 p.m. meeting at the Starke County Annex Building. The commissioners voted recently to limit camping to 15 days instead of allowing season-long leasing of campsites. Continue reading
Public Meeting Scheduled Tonight to Discuss New Fire Station
Plans for a new 9,300 square foot fire station in downtown Hamlet will be presented during a public meeting this evening at 6 p.m. at the existing fire hall on Pearl Street. Continue reading
2015 Budget on Oregon-Davis School Board Agenda Tonight
The Oregon-Davis School Board members will discuss personnel changes and discuss the 2015 budget schedule during their meeting tonight. Continue reading
Starke County Food Pantry in Need of Donations
The cupboards are bare at the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry. They are in need of canned fruits and vegetables, macaroni and cheese dinners, pancake mix, spaghetti noodles and all varieties of breakfast cereals. Continue reading
Yellowstone Trail Fest Continues Today
The Yellowstone Trail Festival continues in Hamlet today.
The Indiana Patriot Guard riders will be collecting donations for care boxes for soldiers overseas. They are looking for non-perishable food items like Ramen noodles, cookies, beef jerky and other snacks, plus baby wipes and socks. If you don’t know what may be needed, money will be collected and the members will purchase items. Your money can also be used to help ship the boxes overseas. If you know of a soldier that could benefit from this organization, give them the address and they can receive a care package.
American Red Cross Hosts Blood Drive at Yellowstone Trail Festival
Roll up your sleeve for a good cause at today’s Yellowstone Trail Festival. The American Red Cross is hosting a blood donation drive in Hamlet from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. today at the Starke County Fairgrounds. Continue reading
County Road 700 East Could Reopen Next Week
Emergency repairs to the bridge over the Yellow River on Starke County Road 700 East are almost finished. It’s been closed since April, when a tree floating down the river struck the bridge supports and compromised the structure. Continue reading
Yellowstone Trail Fest Begins Today in Hamlet
The Yellowstone Trail Festival gets underway today in Hamlet and every effort is being made to salute our veterans. You are invited to bring a poster of your family hero and information about their service in the Armed Forces. The poster will be displayed on the Hero’s Wall during the entire festival.
SCILL Enrolling High School Students in Welding and Automotive Tech Programs
Starke County high school students wishing to pursue a career in either welding or automotive technology can get a head start on doing so without leaving home. The Starke County Initiative for Lifelong Learning offers courses in both fields of study to high school juniors and seniors. Continue reading
County Officials Considering Uses for Existing Jail Building
The current Starke County Jail in downtown Knox will still be owned by the county and used for correctional programs once the new Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center east of Knox on State Road 8 opens next year. Commissioner Kathy Norem says the building is part of the collateral for the loan to build the new structure, so it cannot be sold or torn down and must be used in the justice arena. She says the county set aside money to renovate the building. Continue reading
Starke County Sheriff Warns about Scam
Several local residents have been getting phone calls that their grandson or granddaughter is in jail and they need bail money but Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen said this is a scam.
The caller will tell the victim that the person is in jail and explains ways to send money to get them out of jail. Cowen warns that this is a way to scam you out of money and to not give out any personal information.
Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center Takes Shape
The new Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center east of Knox on State Road 8 is still on schedule for a spring 2015 completion. The project is also on budget and features a number of state-of-the-art amenities like video visitation. Commissioner and Starke County Building Corporation President Kathy Norem says it will be much safer and will cut down on the import of contraband into the jail. Continue reading
Starke County Association of Firefighters to Assist with Fallen Firefighters Funeral
Members of the Starke County Association of Firefighters will be active in the visitation and funeral for New Carlisle Assistant Fire Chief Jamie Middlebrook.
Middlebrook died Tuesday while fighting a fire at a LaPorte County business, K-Fex, near the intersection of U.S. 20 and 800 East. Visitation is Sunday from 2 until 7 p.m. ET at the Everest-Rohrer Auditorium at Bethel College while the funeral service will be on Monday, Aug. 11 at 11 a.m. at the college.
Commissioners Vote To Reestablish Dormant Funds
The Starke County Commissioners voted unanimously this week to reestablish two funds that were somehow discontinued by the state. Monday’s action on the cumulative capital development and cumulative bridge funds will allow the county to keep more of the property tax money it collects and spend money that is currently set aside.
Emergency Bridge Repairs On Schedule
Emergency repairs to the bridge on Starke County Road 700 East over the Yellow River are on schedule to wrap up next week. Continue reading
Public Hearing Set for Fire Station Project in Davis Township
A public hearing is set for Monday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. CT to hear comments on a proposed lease between the Davis Township Building Corporation and Davis Township for a new fire station.
The project includes the construction of a fire station that will house eight fire trucks and an adjacent space for a community center. The new fire station will be located just east of the Starke County Fairgrounds in Hamlet off of Indiana Street.
Back-to-School Shots and More Available at HealthLinc Event
Uninsured youngsters who still need back-to-school physicals and shots can get both at HealthLinc in Knox. The facility is celebrating National Health Center Week today with an open house from 3 until 6 p.m. Appointments are necessary to get physicals and shots, but a number of other services are available to walk-in customers. Continue reading
Blood Supplies Dwindling, Donations Needed
Area Schools Prepping for First Day of School
Doors will open to students next week at our area school corporations.
Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Greg Briles explained that some teachers have been training with Apple representatives to better understand how they can provide a more effective use of the technology that is available in the buildings. Briles said a back to school event is set for Monday.
“On Monday evening from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT, we are having what we are going to start calling a traditional cookout,” said Briles. “We’ll have hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, iced tea, lemonade, and water for everybody if they’d like to come out and join us. They can go through the buildings. If any of the children want to bring their supplies in prior to the start of school on Wednesday, this would give them an opportunity to meet their teacher and get their supplies in there so they’re not having to carry everything on the school buses the first day.”
Starke County Commissioners Approve Ambulance Service Expansion
The Starke County EMS base in North Judson will soon have a paramedic on duty around the clock. The county commissioners approved the expansion of Advanced Life Support, or ALS, service to that base immediately and to Grovertown starting Jan. 1. Knox already has 24-hour ALS coverage. Continue reading
