North Judson Christmas Parade Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI

A Christmas parade will be held tonight in North Judson at 5:45 p.m. and will travel down Lane Street to Main Street and end at Norwayne Park. Santa will be riding in the parade and will help with the tree lighting ceremony at Norwayne Park at 6:00 p.m. After the tree lighting ceremony, the Community Building, or the old firehouse, will be open for refreshments after the ceremony and those attending can sing Christmas carols. Kids will also be able to visit with Santa.

Officials in the Town of Hamlet will hold the Christmas Tree Lighting and Social on Saturday, December 3rd. The tree lighting will begin at 5:00 p.m. on the front lawn of Hamlet Town Hall. You are welcome to join in singing Christmas carols out by the tree and then inside for some hot chocolate and “surprises”. Santa might even be there.

WKVI Helps Hensler Nursery Bring in Christmas Season

Posted on Author WKVI

WKVI was at Hensler Nursery in Hamlet on Saturday morning broadcasting live and helping the staff bring in the Christmas season.  Many people were there picking out their perfect Christmas tree or getting wreaths and other greenery to create the perfect scene for the holiday season.  It was a great way to kick off the wonderful time of the year.  Enjoy these pictures from the event! Continue reading →

Starke County and Pulaski County Election Results

Posted on Author WKVI

The Municipal Election results from Starke County show that it was a breakthrough for the Republicans in the Democrat stronghold of North Judson and a new City Councilman in Knox was elected.

In the most thrilling race of the night, Republican Donna Henry defeated Incumbent Democrat Connie Miller for the North Judson Town Clerk-Treasurer position with a vote of 221 to 217. Henry waged a vigorous door-to-door campaign, visiting many of the homes numerous times. She was asked what did it for her.

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Today is Election Day!

Posted on Author WKVI

Today is Election Day! Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. prevailing time today.

Knox residents will be voting at the Knox Community Center, North Judson residents will vote at the North Judson Community Building (the old firehouse) and Hamlet residents will be voting at the Hamlet Fire Station.

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Starke County Economic Development Foundation to Host Awards Night

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Economic Development Foundation will play host to its “Prospectus and Achievements Night” on Thursday, November 10th at 5:30 p.m. CT at the Knox Community Center.

Several awards will be given that night, and over the next few days, Charles Weaver, the Executive Director of the Development Foundation, will announce the recipients.

Four industries will be getting expansion awards.

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Giant Pumpkin Drop at Hensler’s!

Posted on Author WKVI
These are two of the pumpkins that will be featured during today's pumpkin drop!

The WKVI Giant Pumpkin Drop is today from Noon-2:00 p.m. CT at Hensler Nursery in Hamlet.

Two giant pumpkins will be dropped from a crane. One pumpkin weighs 700 pounds and a 1,100 pound pumpkin will be dropped onto a panel van! Smaller pumpkins will be launched out of a cannon by the Fahrfunflinger group out of Illinois. There could be a 1,200 pound watermelon dropped as well.

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Meet the Candidates for Hamlet Clerk-Treasurer

Posted on Author WKVI

Voters in the town of Hamlet will be electing a new Clerk-Treasurer on November 8th. Current Hamlet Town Clerk-Treasurer, Neva Johnson, has decided to step down, and both the Democrats and Republicans have selected candidates who are working hard to fill the position.

Democrat Christy Pitts is one of those candidates and she has lived in Hamlet for 10 years. She’s married and has three children in the Oregon-Davis School system. She told WKVI news that she loves the community and is anxious to serve.

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November Election to Offer Only Contested Races on Ballot

Posted on Author WKVI

The November General Election is now less than one month away. Voters will be selecting a Clerk-Treasurer, Town Council members and Mayors, in some cases in this Municipal Election.

For the City of Knox, only one race is contested and that is the City Council District One race with candidates Don Kring, a Democrat and Republican Thom Morin. That will be the only race that will appear on the ballot. This year’s legislature approved the printing of only contested races on this year’s ballot. Starke County Clerk, Evelyn Skronski, said that may cause some confusion for voters.

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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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