Proceeds From Psi Iota Xi Rummage Sale to Fund Scholarships

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
 
 

The Psi Iota Xi Sorority will be holding a Rummage Sale this Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. CST at the Knox United Methodist Church. The proceeds from this sale will be used to fund preschool and college scholarships for Starke County residents. Psi Iota Xi contributed over $3,000 to Starke County scholarships this year and are looking to increase that number. The Sorority is constantly looking for ways to give funds throughout our are with events like their Rummage Sale. Donations are made to worthy causes by Psi Iota Xi on a monthly basis. If you would like to get involved with their charity events, contact Tammy Fletcher at 574-772-4348.

Starke County Community Foundation Gives Generously to Local Organizations

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A number of charitable organizations are on the receiving end of more than $40,000 in grants from the Starke County Community Foundation. The gifts are made possible through the foundation’s endowment fund, which is supported by gifts to the SCCF. The money is invested. Each year some of the interest goes back into the fund to help it grow, while some is given locally in the form of scholarships and grants. Continue reading →

Dog-a-Palooza Proceeds to Benefit Starke County Humane Society

Posted on Author WKVI

Dog A PaloozaHave you been looking for a fun summer activity to do with your dog? Look no further, the Starke County Humane Society Dog-a-Palooza at Fair Oaks Farms is sure to get your dog’s tail wagging! There will be an array of activities to participate in on Saturday, June 14, including a 2K dog walk, obstacle courses and a dog show. Starke County Humane Society Director Shanna Lloyd is thrilled that half of the proceeds from the dog walk will go to the local animal shelter. Continue reading →

Starke County Commissioners Give to Community Services

Posted on Author WKVI

Community Services of Starke CountyThe Starke County Commissioners this week approved a $10,000 appropriation to Community Services of Starke County. Executive Director Joan Haugh says the money the nonprofit agency gets from the county each year helps meet the matching requirements for various federal government grants they receive. This year the agency is using the county money for the homemaker and meal programs. Continue reading →

Starke County Sheriff’s Office Warns of Scams

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Telephone scammers are at it again. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department has received numerous reports from local residents of a variety of suspicious calls from people seeking to have money wired to them for various reasons. These include winning a Publisher’s Clearinghouse sweepstakes or other prize and having a grandchild in jail. Most of the calls seem to be targeting elderly people. Sheriff’s department officials urge anyone who gets such a call not to send money, no matter how persuasive the person on the other end of the phone is. Continue reading →

Starke County Commissioners Increase Election Meal Allowance

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Starke County Commissioners voted unanimously to increase the meal allowance for Election Day vendors from $25 to $35 per poll worker. That cost covers breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., and workers cannot leave during that time. Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski says she will need an additional $582.14 to cover the expense for the Nov. 4 General Election. She can transfer that money from her postage account. Skronski notes the council will need to consider the added cost when they craft future budgets. Municipal elections will take place next year, and 2016 is a presidential election year.

Celebrate Smart This Graduation Season

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Graduation season is in full swing, with more ceremonies tonight and parties throughout the coming weeks to celebrate the class of 2014. Oregon-Davis High School Principal Tim Pletcher is finishing his first year at the school. He recently shared a personal experience with members of the student body about a former student he taught and coached at South Bend Washington High School who was killed by a drunk driver.

“You guys make decisions, you go out, you have a good time, you have fun, and I always tell you the only thing you can control is yourself, your decisions,” Pletcher said. “Well, here’s a kid who was making decent decisions. He was hanging out with his friends. They were enjoying a moment. He was on his way home, but because somebody else made a decision it affected him, and affected his family, his friends, a community and a school.” Continue reading →

Starke County EMS Finalizing Expansion Proposals

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Starke County EMS Director Paul Matthewson and Council President Dave Pearman hope to have a final recommendation for the county commissioners at their next meeting with regard to expanded paramedic service. They’re still crunching numbers to determine if the county can sustain the additional cost of adding more paramedics and ambulances in order to provide transfers from IU Health Starke Hospital to other facilities. Commissioner Kathy Norem says they need to proceed carefully and make a sound financial decision so as not to incur a huge deficit. She says while offering additional transportation services will increase revenues, overhead costs will go up as well. Money to cover those costs would come from the county’s general fund.

Continue reading →

Starke County Highway Department Releases Road Maintenance List

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Starke County Highway Department will be busy throughout the summer making improvements to 145 miles of county roads. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler says the projects are based on the PASER, or Pavement, Surface, Evaluation and Rating, system and average daily traffic.

“All of the townships are well-represented on the list,” Ritzler told the county commissioners. “The San Pierre area now has the most roads. Most of the roads we added we’re adding in that area because they had the lowest PASER ratings and were a little under-represented on the previous list, and now we’ve put those on there. We’re probably going to chip-seal all of the roads in town and probably a couple of the roads out west of there.” Continue reading →

Starke County Commissioners Approve Bridge Plans, Set Bid Openings

Posted on Author WKVI
700 E bridge
The Starke County Commissioners are set to approve plans to replace the bridge over the Yellow River on 700 East at their June 16 meeting and open bids for the work on July 7.

The Starke County Commissioners will open bids for two scheduled and one emergency bridge replacement at their Monday, July 7th meeting. Highway superintendent Rik Ritzler is is working with a design firm to finalize plans for the emergency bridge replacement on County Road 700 East over the Yellow River. The road has been closed since a tree struck the bridge earlier this year. Ritzler says the project will be considerably less expensive than originally anticipated.

“I thought it was going to cost $150,000 for the repair. It came in at about $45,000,” Ritzler told the commissioners. The reconstructed bridge will be able to open to full traffic, including farm vehicles. It’s still scheduled for replacement in 2018. He adds plans for the bridge will be finalized and sent to the commissioners for review prior to their June 16th meeting. Continue reading →

Services Scheduled for Starke County Philanthropist

Posted on Author WKVI
James R. Hardesty
James R. Hardesty

Funeral services for James R. Hardesty, 92, Starke County philanthropist, historian, banker, supporter of higher education and of community programs and projects, as well as an active Davis Township farmer until his mid-80s, are scheduled Saturday, June 7 at the Hamlet United Methodist Church.

Much of his community work had been in the background, as he always preferred to go about it without fanfare.

Often recognized for his support of many community activities, he was honored with the Henry F. Schricker Award, given for “service before self,” and the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Ancilla College at Donaldson, where he has been a member of the Board of Trustees and a major financial contributor.

A graduate of Purdue University and a World War II veteran, he was a local historian, authoring publications on the history of the Starke County Courthouse and the Town of Hamlet, as well as being active in the Starke County Historical Society.

Mr. Hardesty was an active member of the Hamlet United Methodist Church and many, many area community organizations.

WKVIdol Competition Planned During Starke County Fair

Posted on Author WKVI

WKVI is sponsoring a singing competition for youngsters during the Starke County Fair. WKVIdol will take place Monday, July 14 at 8 p.m. at the fairgrounds. The competition will be divided into three age groups: ages 7-10, 11-14 and 15-18. Each age group will have a maximum of four contestants. The first step for would-be contestants is to submit a 1 minute singing demo with your name, address, email and telephone number. You can drop it off at the station on a compact disc or other digital media file or email an mp3 to wkvidol@wkvi.com. Please list the top three family-friendly songs you would like to perform. Duplicate songs will not be allowed, so the sooner you submit your demo, the greater your chances of getting to sing your favorite song for the competition. Continue reading →

Oregon-Davis Students Surpass Mini-Relay Goal

Posted on Author WKVI

20140530_134900Each year the Oregon-Davis School Corporation does their part for cancer research by collecting donations for the American Cancer Society.

Elementary school special education teacher Roberta Salyer is responsible for starting the program and for keeping it running for ten years now. Last year the school raised $1,200 for ACS. This year their goal was $1500. Classrooms had donation jars in them over the last few weeks and people could make donations at yesterday’s mini relay for life.

Continue reading →

SCILL Center Students Graduate

Posted on Author WKVI

20140529_182649“The choices you make today will follow you tomorrow” was the message that guest speaker Janice Hernandez wanted the students to take away from the SCILL graduation ceremony Thursday evening.

Hernandez is in charge over at Integrity Trade Services and advised the students gradating from the program to include their work with the SCILL Center on their resumes.

Continue reading →

Starke County Environmental Management District Collection Event Planned for June

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Starke County Environmental Management District will hold its two-day collection event in June.

The purpose of this event is to help residents get rid of unwanted and recyclable material from their households.

On Friday, June 13 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. CT, Starke County residents may discard tires, appliances, computers and televisions. Five tires will be accepted for free. One of those tires may be a farm-type tire.

Continue reading →

Knox Fireworks Committee to Hold Fundraiser for County Event

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox fireworks committee will hold a fundraiser on June 21 to help gather funds for this year’s extravaganza.

The Saturday, July 5 celebration event will be at the Starke County Airport. The gates will open around 6 p.m. CT with the fireworks show at dusk. Several vendors will be available so you can go early and get a snack and listen to some music before the show begins.

Continue reading →

Starke County Youth Club Receives Operation Round Up Grant

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Youth Club Executive Director Irene Szakonyi and Amanda Steeb from Kanakee Valley REMC
Starke County Youth Club Executive Director Irene Szakonyi and Amanda Steeb from Kanakee Valley REMC

The Starke County Youth Club is benefiting from Kankakee Valley REMC members who choose to round their monthly bills up to the nearest dollar. The organization received a $3,000 Operation Round Up grant from the electrical cooperative. SCYC Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says the money will provide supplies for the many science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) projects the club offers at sites across Starke County. She says the activities the club offers in an after-school setting help youngsters develop critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving skills and build confidence. Visit www.thescyc.org for more information. Kankakee Valley REMC is a member-owned rural electric cooperative serving approximately 18,000 members throughout portions of Starke, Pulaski, Porter, Lake, Marshall, St. Joseph and LaPorte Counties. Members who take part in Operation Round Up donate an average of $6 per year, which is then distributed to local nonprofit organizations throughout the service territory.

 

Job Fair and Butterfly Garden Planned at Library

Posted on Author WKVI
Henry F. Schricker Library
Henry F. Schricker Library

The Henry F. Shricker Public Library in Knox is offering programs for everyone this weekend. Elwood Staffing is sponsoring a job fair tomorrow from 10 a.m until 2 p.m. This program is open to all local adults and will take place in the meeting room of the library.

On Saturday, local man Jack O’Malley will be hosting a program and planting flowers that attract monarch butterflies. This opportunity is aimed at young adults but open to everyone. This special gardening event happening at 10 a.m Saturday, but it will run all weekend. This is the first of several summer programs in the butterfly garden at the library. For more information regarding library programs you can contact Andrea Brown at abrown@starkecountylibrary.org or call her at 574-772-7323.

Starke County Election Board Accepts Resignation, Discusses Issues at the Polls

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Starke County Election Board met Tuesday morning to discuss some issues that arose during the Primary Election.

Pat Mitchell, who has been a member of the Starke County Election Board for many years, tendered his resignation. He cited declining health as his reason for resigning, but noted that he’s enjoyed serving the county in this capacity for many years.

Continue reading →