Hamlet Town Board Looks into Phase II of Wellhead Protection Program

Posted on Author WKVI
Hamlet Town Board: Curtis Simpkins, Kerry Stone and Bob Yung

During their meeting this week, the Hamlet Town Board discussed entering into Phase II of the Wellhead Protection Program.

The Wellhead Protection Program is a strategy to protect ground water drinking supplies from pollution. The State of Indiana mandates that all communities implement this program and identify the area around the well that needs to be protected. The program consists of two phases. The first phase was done in Hamlet in 2002. The Wellhead Protection Area was identified around City Hall, potential sources of contamination were also identified and then management and contingency plans were made. The Phase II report is due in May of 2012 which will involve reporting on the implementation of the plan created in Phase I and updating it.

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Starke County Mint Farmer Sentenced in U.S. District Court

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Mint Farmer, Mike Materna, was sentenced in U.S. District Court yesterday. The judge sentenced Materna to two years of probation, eight months in home detention and he was fined $20,000.

He avoided a 10-month jail sentence.

He plead guilty to one count of Discharge of Pollutants without a Permit in violation of the Clean Air Act. He reportedly admitted in court that he discharged hot water into a ditch without the proper permit.

Classic Cruise-in this Sunday at Hensler’s Nursery

Posted on Author WKVI

Hensler Nursery’s Annual Classic Car Cruise-In will be held this Sunday, October 2nd, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. CT. Last year’s Cruise-In featured over 60 cars. The show is open to all vehicles and there will be no gate or admission charges. The Award Presentation is at 2:00, dash plaques will be given to the first 100 entries and other door prizes will be awarded.

Hensler’s “Fall! All over the Place” continues concurrently with horse rides to the pumpkin patch. Both the Christmas Barn and the Fall Decorating Barn will be open. Pumpkins, gourds, straw, and mums are available in the yard. Food service includes pulled pork sandwiches, beef sandwiches, assorted cakes, apple dumplings, and….a possibility of Hensler’s home made vanilla and pumpkin ice cream!

Giant Pumpkin Breaks State Record

Posted on Author WKVI
John Barenie's 1,308 pound pumpkin

Hensler’s Nursery in Hamlet had its Fourth Annual Giant Pumpkin Growers Contest on Saturday.

John Barenie of Griffith, Indiana, was the contest winner with a pumpkin weighing in at 1,308 pounds. He is now the Indiana state record holder. Barenie’s pumpkin beat the previous state record of 1,273 pounds, held by Roger Howard, of Grovertown, since 2005. Don Young, of Des Moines, Iowa, came in second with a 1,159.5 pound pumpkin and Julie Young, of Des Moines, was in third place with a pumpkin weighing 924.5 pounds.

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Starke County Election Board Sets Absentee Voting Hours

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Election Board set absentee voting times for the November Municipal General Election yesterday. Absentee voting will be available Saturday, October 29th and Monday, October 31st through Saturday, November 5th from 8:00 a.m. to Noon and from 1:00-4:00 p.m. in the Starke County Courthouse. On Thursday, November 3rd, the hours will be from 1:00-4:00 and from 5:00-9:00 p.m.
The Travel Board will start collecting votes beginning October 20th.

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Hamlet Police Department Investigating Theft from Hamlet Golf Course

Posted on Author WKVI

Officers from the Hamlet Police Department are investigating a theft from the Hamlet Golf Course.

A golf cart was stolen from the premises during the evening hours on Sunday, September 11th. The cart was driven off the course onto Indiana Avenue where the suspect(s) loaded the golf cart onto a trailer and fled the scene. The suspect vehicle has been described as a newer style black Dodge Ram with large polished wheels pulling a utility trailer with metal grate style bottom and ramp. Officials at the Hamlet Golf Course are offering a reward for the return of the golf cart.

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Officials Meet to Discuss Hamlet West Infrastructure Project

Posted on Author WKVI
This water tower was constructed as part of the Hamlet West Infrastructure project

A meeting was held yesterday with county officials to discuss the funding of the Hamlet West Infrastructure project. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Director, Charles Weaver, has a synopsis of the meeting.

“The meeting came about because we’ve finalized the grant reimbursement with the Economic Development Administration (EDA) which we turned a little more than $128,000 this last last draw for the project. With the completion of the EDA part of the project, we can now go back and do the final billings to the State of Indiana under the Industrial Development Grant Fund, as well as to TIF bonds managed by SYSCO. This will allow the county to be reimbursed, in whole, for the project.”

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Names Released from Friday Accident Near Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI

The names of those involved in an accident at 600 East and 700 North have been released. The moped driver, Divvad Nieburrt of Grovertown, was hit by a pickup truck on Friday. His condition has been upgraded from critical to stable. Nieburrt was hit by a pickup truck driven by Brandon Ferch. Nieburrt apparently failed to stop at the intersection, pulling into the path of Ferch.

Ferch was not injured in the accident.

Starke County Sheriff’s Department Investigates Accident Near Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an accident that occurred Friday at 600 East and 700 North.

The accident involved a pickup truck and a moped. The driver of the moped, whose name has not been released by police, was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital and later airlifted by Med Flight to Memorial Hospital Trauma Center where he was listed in critical condition. The driver of the pickup truck was not injured in the accident.

The names of either individual have not been released. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by the Hamlet Fire Department, Starke County EMS and the Koontz Lake Fire Department.

Oregon-Davis Students Return to School

Posted on Author WKVI
Oregon-Davis Jr/Sr High School

There was excitement in Superintendent Steve Disney’s voice as he talked Friday about the beginning of the school year at Oregon-Davis. The school ended the summer on a high having seen ISTEP scores increased greatly in the 2010-2011 school year. Disney said the staff is building on the momentum of that accomplishment. He talked about walking through the elementary school last week, and feeling that excitement.

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Hamlet Yellowstone Trail Festival Begins Today

Posted on Author WKVI

The residents of Hamlet have their arms wide open welcoming all to the annual Yellowstone Trail Fest. The three day event begins today at the fairgrounds, and ends Sunday with a parade at 3 p.m.

Today the 1840s Rendezvous participants will be setting up camp, and the vendors will be in setting up their booths. The vendors should be ready for business at about 4 p.m., and for those of you who enjoy clogging there will be a demonstration at 6 p.m.

Saturday the fest will start in earnest with a pancake breakfast, car show, a magician, bands, gospel singers, and more. Times for those activities will be available tomorrow. One thing you won’t want to miss on Saturday is the Chili Cook Off. Tasting starts at 12:30 p.m., and for $2 you can sample many chili delicacies.

There will also be a townwide garage sale throughout the festival itself, and Richard Jensen will have his military museum open for all to tour as well.

Grand Marshals Chosen for Hamlet Yellowstone Trail Fest

Posted on Author WKVI

Robert and Susan Rowles have been selected as the Grand Marshals for the Hamlet Yellowstone Trail Fest parade this weekend.

Robert has lived in Hamlet since he was 2 years old. Growing up in Hamlet he was very busy; in his lifetime he has worked at his stepfather’s car dealership and the Thompson Smith Company. He also served in several positions with the county, and was a Hamlet Town Board member for 12 years.

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Town Conventions to be Held in Hamlet, North Judson

Posted on Author WKVI

Town Conventions will be held in Hamlet and North Judson as several contested races have surfaced for town offices.

In Hamlet, Republicans Debra Goble and Jill Hovarter have filed for the Clerk-Treasurer’s office. A Town Convention will be held to determine the lone Republican candidate who will face Democrat candidate is Kristina Pitts on the November ballot. Brian Jeffrey Earnest, a Democrat, is the only candidate who filed for the Ward 1 seat on the Hamlet Town Council. Democrats Kerry Stone and Dean Hoy Goble have filed for the Ward 2 seat along with Republicans Dave Kesvormas, Sr. and Todd Leinbach. Democrats Frank Lonigro, Jr. and Leo Robert “Bob” Yung are on the Ward 3 seat.

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Candidate Filing Deadline Approaches for Municipal Election

Posted on Author WKVI

Potential candidates wanting to file for a Clerk-Treasurer or Town Board position in the towns of North Judson, Hamlet, Winamac, Monterey, Francesville or Medaryville have until Monday, August 1st at Noon to file.

So far, the towns of Hamlet, Winamac, Francesville and Medaryville will be conducting Town Conventions. A Town Convention is held when there is competition between candidates in the same political party for any town office. In the Town of Hamlet, there is a race on the Republican ticket for Clerk-Treasurer and two Town Council seats are contested on the Democrat ticket. In Winamac, there is a race for Clerk-Treasurer on the Republican ticket. In Francesville, there are four people seeking a seat on the Town Council and only three seats are available so one candidate will be eliminated in that Town Convention. In Medaryville, four Democrats filed for a seat on the Town Council and a Town Convention will determine the candidate for that party for the General Election.

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Deadline to File for Candidacy is August 1st for Town Offices

Posted on Author WKVI

North Judson and Hamlet residents wishing to file for candidacy for the position of Town Clerk-Treasurer or Town Board have until Monday, August 1st at Noon to file in the Starke County Clerk’s Office. Clerk Evelyn Skronski talks about the current filings.

“North Judson has a Clerk-Treasurer race going for the General Election right now and they also have their three Council seats. The incumbents are all signed up for that and there’s nobody running against them. Hamlet has got some races coming up for a caucus in August. The Clerk-Treasurer and the Council seats all have opposition so they’ll have to eliminate a candidate in that particular party so that they can have a ballot for the November General Election,” said Skronski.

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Military Veteran Canine Dies

Posted on Author WKVI
Maya is pictured here with Neil Berg from the Hamlet American Legion

A military veteran, and hero will be laid to rest August 13th. Ceremonies will be held for Maya, who served two tours in the middle east war on terror. Maya, a bomb sniffing dog that served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, mustered out of the military to eventually live out her life on the Don Thomas farm. She was 12 years old at the time of her death.

Maya was made a member of two military service organizations after moving to Starke County; the American Legion in Hamlet, and Knox VFW Post #748.

While not exactly Arlington Cemetery, the front lawn of the VFW Post will be Maya’s last resting place.

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