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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Demotte State Bank Plans Relay for Life Golf Outing

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Golfers can take to the links for a good cause Saturday. The Demotte State Bank Relay for Life team is hosting a golf outing at Chesapeake Run Golf Course. There’s still time to sign up or sponsor a hole. All proceeds go to Starke County Relay for Life. Candice Miller says golfers will also have a shot at a large prize. Cambe Chevrolet has donated a new car, and the first golfer to hit a hole-in-one will win it.

The Demotte State Bank team is one of several taking part in the Starke County Relay for Life on June 21 and 22nd at the Hamlet Fairgrounds. Miller says it’s a very family-oriented event that raises money for and awareness of cancer research. She adds it’s special to her for personal reasons because a lot of her family members have been affected by or lost their lives to cancer. Miller is also a cancer survivor. She calls Relay for Life a “really excellent organization” and says she tries to promote it in any way she can.

Stop by Demotte State Bank to sign up for Saturday’s Relay for Life Golf Tournament or to get more information about hole sponsorship opportunities.

 

 

Starke County Election Board to Tackle Complaints from Primary Election

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Starke County Election Board members will meet today at 9 a.m. to go over several complaints issued during the Primary Election.

The board members will discuss complaints from the poll workers, from candidates and supporter and about the food vendor. Remedies will be considered for the General Election.

A candidate has withdrawn and more information will be available during the meeting.

The Starke County Election Board will meet in the second floor meeting room in the Starke County Courthouse.

Fletcher Cemetery Association Raising Money to Restore Veterans Monument

Posted on Author WKVI
The Fletcher Cemetery Association is raising money to restore this veterans monument.
The Fletcher Cemetery Association is raising money to restore this veterans monument.

Members of the Fletcher Cemetery Association want to restore and expand the monument there dedicated to the memory of local men and women who served in our nation’s armed forces. The statue dates to the 1950s, and there is no more room to add names to it. Fletcher Cemetery Association Board Member Hobart Martin says the foundation is also giving way. The board hopes to raise enough money through private donations to move the monument east of its current location, pour a new foundation and add commemorative bricks nearby with more names. Fletcher Cemetery is located at the intersection of County Road 400 North and County Road 700 East. Martin says the cemetery gets no funds from the federal, state or local government. All maintenance and upkeep is done through lot sales and donations. Any business or individual who gives at least $500 to the monument restoration will have a commemorative block engraved to acknowledge their support. However Martin says gifts in any amount are welcome. The Hamlet American Legion and several local businesses have already contributed to the project. Click here Fletcher Cemetery Association to read more about how you can contribute to the monument restoration.

Move “Another Step Forward” During This Summer’s Walking Challenge

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Starke County residents are encouraged to take “another step forward” this summer. That’s the name of the second annual “Moving Starke County Forward” walking challenge. Last year 250 residents collectively walked 27,000 miles between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That’s enough to lap the globe three times. This year’s goal is a more ambitious 50,000 miles. Coordinator Ryan Greer hopes 500 people will sign up. He adds miles don’t have to be earned by walking. Other types of physical activity like swimming, bicycle riding and jogging can also be logged toward the total. A kickoff event will take place Saturday, May 31 at 10 a.m. at Wythogen Park in Knox. If you can’t make it, registration sheets are available at local libraries, city and town halls and can be picked up throughout the summer. More information about this year’s walking challenge and other initiatives is also available on the Moving Starke County Forward Facebook page.

Starke County Unemployment Rate Explained

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The unemployment rate for the state and for individual counties was released this week.

The rate in Starke County dropped a point, according to the April statistics. The rate is 6.9 percent which is a 1.3 percent decrease. Starke County still ranks in the top ten in unemployment. All 92 counties reported a decrease in the unemployment rate.

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Mobile Food Pantry Servicing Starke County Residents

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Are you having trouble making ends meet? No need to worry about affording groceries this week because representatives from the Food Bank of Northern Indiana will be making rounds in the area providing food to less fortunate Indiana residents.

This Mobile Food Pantry works on a first come, first served basis. The only requirements needed are a valid Indiana driver’s license or ID and bags or boxes to carry your food.

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