The recent rains aren’t causing widespread problems yet for local farmers, according to Purdue Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator Chad Rushing.
Oregon-Davis School Board to Advertise for Fuel Bids
The Oregon-Davis School Board members decided to advertise for bids for gasoline and diesel fuel for the 2014-2015 school year.
Superintendent Greg Briles said they will be looking for fuel bids and another aspect after experiencing problems at the school’s campus this winter.
The Crossing Officials Working Toward Opening Aug. 1
Plans are coming along for The Crossing alternative school in Starke County.
According to Jena Bontrager from The Crossing’s corporate office, a local board has been formed with Mark Bailey as the president of that board.
A building for classes has been secured. The Starke County Crossing will be holding classes in the old Sears building in the Mint Leaf Plaza. Bontrager said there will be some remodeling inside the building to create walls and different areas that would help in the education process.
Starke County Relay for Life Gets Under Way Today
Starke County’s annual Relay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society gets under way today at noon at the Hamlet Fairgrounds. Organizers of the 18-hour event hope to raise $67,000 this year. Ericka Taylor-Joseph is in charge of fundraising. She says Starke County’s event consistently raises more money than those held in larger communities. Teams range in size from just a few members to 30 or more. Taylor-Joseph says while organizers would like each team to have a participant on the track at all times, it’s not a requirement. Continue reading
Starke County Relay for Life Celebrates “Holidays of Hope”
Organizers of the annual Starke County Relay for Life hope to raise $67,000 for the American Cancer Society during this year’s event. It starts tomorrow at noon at the Hamlet Fairgrounds and continues until 6 a.m. Sunday. Fundraising chair Ericka Taylor-Joseph says all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society to help cancer patients in need.
“It may be getting them back and forth to their treatments. It may be buying a wig for somebody who has lost their hair. Support services – Hope Lodge if they have long-term treatments that they need to have, they can stay in the Hope Lodge with their families. It also goes to cancer research. Besides the United States government, the American Cancer Society is the number one fundraiser for cancer research in America,” she said. Continue reading
Timeline Announced for Emergency Bridge Repair
Starke County Road 700 East north of State Road 8 should be open again to traffic by mid-August. That’s the time frame outlined by Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler. He presented plans for what he calls a “pretty straightforward fix” to the bridge damaged earlier this year by a tree floating down the river that struck the supports. Continue reading
Starke County EMS Director Submits Resignation
Starke County will soon have a new EMS director. The county commissioners last night accepted Paul Matthewson’s resignation from that job, effective July 1st. He plans to remain with the county as a part-time paramedic. Continue reading
Several Vacancies on Starke County November Ballot
Starke County Republican Party Chairperson, Brenda Stanojevic, has several positions to fill for the November General Election ballot.
According to Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski, the vacancies include the clerk; auditor; recorder; coroner; assessor; commissioner district 2; trustee positions in California Township, Center Township, Davis Township, Jackson Township, Oregon Township, Railroad Township and Wayne Township; plus advisory board candidates for California 1, Center 2, Davis 1, Jackson 3, North Bend 1, Oregon 2, Railroad 1, Washington 1 and Wayne 2. These positions need to be filled by noon on June 30. The only exception is the Railroad Township Trustee due to a withdrawn candidate. That vacancy needs to be filled by June 18.
Full Agenda Tonight for Oregon-Davis School Board Members
The Oregon-Davis School Board will meet with several items up for discussion this evening.
The board members will consider several employment changes, transfers, renewals, non-renewals, and resignations. Also up for consideration is the advertisement of bids to purchase gasoline and diesel fuel for the next school year, a one-time stipend of 1.9 percent of current salaries for the 2013-2014 teachers and the approval of the 2015 budget calendar. There is time for public comment if any patrons have any concerns to bring before the school board members.
Cold Water Challenge Issued to Help Local Organization
WKVI Raises $200 for Hoosier Burn Camp
WKVI morning show host Tom Berg and sports director Nathan Welter answered their cold water challenge Thursday afternoon in the radio station parking lot. They were called out by news director Mary Perren to either donate $10 to the Hoosier Burn Camp and get wet or stay dry and write a $100 check. The guys decided to play along, so members of the Bass Lake Fire Department brought their dump tank to our parking lot and filled it with water. Several listeners also stopped by with extra ice and donations to really help the guys chill out. Another Step Forward Walking Challenge Coordinator Ryan Greer had also been called out previously, as had fire chief Les Jensen. They took the plunge as well. So did Knox High School Band Director Craige Phipps, who opted not to prolong his torture when Nathan called him out. WKVI raised $200 in donations for the Hoosier Burn Camp, thanks to the generosity of the listeners who donated and the staff for being such good sports.
Moving Starke County Forward Schedules Community Addiction Discussion
The Moving Starke County Forward Coalition wants input from the entire community about how to best address addiction issues. They are hosting a community discussion on addiction and recovery tomorrow evening at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in downtown Knox. Board member Jordan Morris from Starke County Community Corrections hopes people from all walks of life will come be part of the dialogue and not worry about being profiled or judged. She says although people who have struggled with addiction will speak, the event is not limited to that population. Morris adds the entire community has been touched by the issue as taxpayers, business owners, health care providers, farmers and teachers. Continue reading
Proceeds From Psi Iota Xi Rummage Sale to Fund Scholarships
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
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
Have 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
The 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
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
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
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
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.
