Oregon-Davis School Board to Consider Balanced Calendar

Posted on Author WKVI

Oregon-Davis-Jr_Sr-BuildingThe Oregon-Davis School Board will be considering a balanced calendar during their meeting tonight.

During their last meeting, Superintendent Greg Briles gave the board a couple of different calendars to study. Briles stated that the calenders are very similar in that they have 180 days of student instruction and 184 says for staff which is outlined in their contract. The calendars would include a break in the fall and an intersession to be coordinated with the Starke County Youth Club for remediation purposes. The first day of school would be Aug. 1 and last day would be June 1.

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Oregon-Davis Schools Considering Active Shooter App

Posted on Author WKVI
O-D school resource officers Kyle Hinds and Frank Lonigro discuss the School Guard app and program with marketing consultant Tim Guy.
O-D school resource officers Kyle Hinds and Frank Lonigro discuss the School Guard app and program with marketing consultant Tim Guy.

The Oregon-Davis School Corporation is considering the addition of a smartphone app to quickly notify law enforcement of an active shooter or other emergency. School Guard creates a direct link between teachers, staff and nearby law enforcement officers. The app has a panic button that speed dials 911 and instantly sends an alert directly to nearby law enforcement officers with the companion free Hero 911 app on their phones. Continue reading →

Starke County Voters Invited to Nonpartisan Candidate Forums

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Starke County voters can learn where candidates for local office stand on issues during a series of weekend forums. Larry and Deb Wappel are sponsoring the events in Knox, North Judson and Hamlet. She says the candidates will be asked tough questions about things like their leadership philosophy, what sets them apart from others running for the same office and how they will pay for any sort of new program or service they are proposing. The candidates were given the prepared questions in advance. Audience members will also have a chance to submit written questions for the candidates. A bipartisan panel will screen them and make sure they are respectful. Continue reading →

Commissioners Prepare Packets for Park Board Members

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The five members of the Starke County Park Board will have plenty of reading material prior to their first meeting. The Starke County Commissioners are sending them welcome packets, which will include copies of the state statute under which the board was formed and the state law pertaining to camping on public properties. One of their first challenges will be to decide whether to allow year-round camping at Bass Lake Beach and Campground. The park board members will also get a copy of the management lease between the county and Richard Callahan. The board is charged with oversight and management of the Starke County Forest and other county-owned public lands.

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Hamlet Firefighters Teach O-D Students about Fire Safety

Posted on Author WKVI
Fireman Kyle Hinds, Frank Lonigro, Dave Aquino and Brad Hazelton teach students a fire prevention class
Fireman Kyle Hinds, Frank Lonigro, Dave Aquino and Brad Hazelton teach students a fire prevention class

Firefighters have been educating students on fire safety during Fire Prevention Week.

Hamlet Fire Department members were at the Oregon-Davis Elementary School on Wednesday morning where the students were taught basic prevention skills. The students were also given a demonstration of the extrication tool.

The firefighters challenged the students to remind parents to change the batteries in smoke detectors and to discuss a meeting place outside of the home in the case of a fire. Fire drills should be practiced and a back up plan in place in case of emergency situations.

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New Veterans Monument Almost Complete

Posted on Author WKVI
The Fletcher Cemetery Association is raising money to restore this veterans monument.
The restoration of the veterans monument in Fletcher Cemetery is almost complete. This photo was taken prior to the start of the work.

The refurbished veterans monument at Fletcher Cemetery is almost finished. Members of the Fletcher Cemetery Association have been collecting donations to move the structure east of its original location, pour a new foundation and surround it with commemorative bricks. Continue reading →

Starke County Highway Department Sets Road Improvement Record

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Highway Superintendent Stephen "Rik" Ritzler
Starke County Highway Superintendent Stephen “Rik” Ritzler

The Starke County Highway Department is wrapping up road improvements for the year. Superintendent Rik Ritzler says they’ve improved more than 120 miles of roads through a combination of chip and fog sealing, asphalt paving and wedging and crack sealing. That’s the most road miles improved in a single year by the Starke County Highway Department. Continue reading →

Voter Registration Ends Monday

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 4 and in order to cast your important vote you need to be properly registered.

Voter registration is open this week at all county clerk’s offices. The last day to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 6. You must be registered by the end of the business day on Oct. 6 in order to vote in the November election.

If you need to register to vote or have questions about your current registration, call the Starke County clerk’s office at (574) 772-9160, the Pulaski County clerk’s office at (574) 946-3313 or the Marshall County Clerk’s office at (574) 936-8922. Election and registration information can also be found on the state’s website.

Absentee voting in all three counties begins Tuesday, Oct. 7.

Three Starke County Schools to Take Part in Manufacturer’s Day

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox Middle School is hosting Manufacturer’s Day tomorrow. A total of 15 local companies will have booths set up for 7th graders from Knox, Oregon-Davis and North Judson-San Pierre to visit and learn about what they do. Students will also learn what qualifications are necessary to work there. Knox Middle School Principal Joshua Pugh says hands-on learning like this really helps students think about their futures.

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Coroner Identifies U.S. 30 Crash Victim

Posted on Author WKVI
One driver was killed and a second was injured in a Monday morning crash on U.S. 30 in Hamlet.
One driver was killed and a second was injured in a Monday morning crash on U.S. 30 in Hamlet.

A Hamlet man was killed instantly after the vehicle he was driving collided with a semi truck on U.S. 30 at Frontage Road in Hamlet late Monday morning. Starke County Coroner Kris Rannells says Lawrence Siegel, 72, died of massive blunt force trauma including head, neck, chest and internal injuries. Continue reading →

Schricker Award Nominations Due Today

Posted on Author WKVI
Henry Schricker
Henry Schricker

Today is the deadline to submit your nominations for the Henry F. Schricker award.

The award is given to a Starke County resident who has shown that he or she has put “service before self”. That was the motto of former governor Henry F. Schricker who exemplified that action while he served in office and as a resident of Starke County.

The Starke County Chamber of Commerce will review all submissions and a committee of former award winners will select this year’s recipient. A nomination form is available on the Starke County Chamber’s website at www.starkecountychamber.com. Include the qualities and deeds of your nominee. The entry should include the person’s voluntary contributions and benefits to Starke County.

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City of Knox Receives Thanks from WoodStarke Representatives

Posted on Author WKVI

woodstarkeThe Knox City Council members received praise from the WoodStarke representatives this week for their support of the first festival of its kind on Sept. 13.

The city was presented a thank you note for their efforts. The festival featured local artists, local music, HealthLinc’s mobile dental unit, a cornhole tournament, dance and exercise classes, a Moving Starke County Forward One Mile at a Time walk and a county-wide scavenger hunt.

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Jefferson Jackson Dinner Scheduled in Starke County Tomorrow

Posted on Author WKVI

Democratic Party DonkeyStarke County’s Jefferson Jackson Dinner will be held tomorrow afternoon at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox.

Joe Bock, the Democratic candidate for the Second District Congressional seat in November’s General Election, will speak along with Richard W. “Rich” Ludington who is running for the seat in the Indiana House of Representatives in District 16.

Social hour will begin at 3 p.m. with dinner following an hour later. Route 10 Bar and Grill is catering the meal.