First responders in Starke County will have an easier time locating several homes thanks to the efforts of Kankakee Valley REMC employees. They spent the second annual Indiana’s Electric Cooperative Community Day installing reflective mailbox signs. Continue reading
The Town of North Judson’s getting a new hand-held radar gun thanks to a grant from Kankakee Valley REMC’s Operation Round Up program. The program raises money for local causes by giving customers the option to have their electric bill rounded up to the next highest dollar, with that extra money going to the program. Continue reading
Students in Starke, LaPorte and Porter Counties went back to school with new supplies thanks to Kankakee Valley REMC’s second annual Pack a Backpack program. Members purchased supplies or made monetary donations to help provide for students in need. Continue reading
The Starke County Sheriff’s Office will be able to equip seven officers with bullet resistant vests thanks to a grant from Kankakee Valley REMC. Continue reading
Women and children fleeing from domestic or family violence can rest a little easier at the Phoenix House, thanks to a grant from Kankakee Valley REMC. The electric cooperative recently gave the shelter $3,115 to assist with security at the transitional home for women and children. Counseling and other support services are also offered. Continue reading
Gov. Mike Pence has declared this “Indiana’s Electric Cooperative Community Day.” Kankakee Valley REMC members are spending it giving back to the community. They are adding a new section of privacy and security fence at the Phoenix House in Knox. It’s a transitional facility for women and children who have left home to escape domestic violence. They are also painting a 700-foot-long fence for longtime REMC member Mrs. Dolores Hammerlund at her home on 350 West in Knox. Continue reading
The lights are back on for NIPSCO and Kankakee Valley REMC customers after a strong thunderstorm rolled through the area yesterday afternoon. Neither utility is reporting outages at this time. Yesterday more than 1,000 NIPSCO and 230 Kankakee Valley REMC customers were without power. Continue reading
The proposed Environmental Protection Agency regulations of coal-fired power plants could hit Hoosier energy consumers hard in the pocketbook. That’s the contention of organizations like Kankakee Valley REMC, NIPSCO and even Gov. Mike Pence, who are all opposed to what they say is an overreaching proposal by EPA to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Kankakee Valley REMC is committed to serving their community. They provide electric services to approximately 18,000 individuals in Starke, Pulaski, Porter, Lake, Marshall, St. Joseph and La Porte counties.
NIPSCO officials say it could take several days to restore power to areas affected by Monday night’s storms. As of 4:30 this morning, nearly 35,000 customers are still in the dark. That number includes more than 700 in Starke County, more than 600 in Marshall County and a handful in Pulaski County. Nearly 2,000 NIPSCO customers in LaPorte are without power as well. Continue reading
Power is still out this morning across much of the Kankakee Valley after two lines of strong storms tore through the area last night. NIPSCO and Kanakee Valley REMC crews are working as fast as they can to restore power to affected areas. About 3,800 REMC customers in Starke, Pulaski and Marshall Counties are in the dark. More than 86,000 NIPSCO customers across the northern Indiana are without power as well. Continue reading
Indiana’s electrical cooperative are among the first to file opposition to proposed federal changes to the way coal-fired power plants are regulated. REMC officials say the restrictions on emissions are too strict and will drive the cost of power significantly higher for all utility customers. They also fear Indiana will lost its competitive edge in recruiting and retaining businesses because of the state’s current low-cost electricity. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register this week, which marks the beginning of a 120-day public comment period. Continue reading
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.
The little league diamond at the North Judson Town Park is shining brightly, thanks to a recent assist from Kankakee Valley REMC. A crew from the utility company set the three new light poles the town purchased for the park. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the town board sent them a thank you letter.
A Knox man will continue to serve parts of Starke and Marshall County as a member of the Kanakee Valley REMC Board of Directors.
Ronald Singleton was reelected to the District 4 seat for another three-year term during the cooperative’s annual membership meeting Tuesday night. He’s served on the board since 1987. During his tenure he has held numerous leadership roles, including secretary-treasurer from 1988-2003 and 2008 to 2010. Singleton received his Credentialed Cooperative Leadership Certificate in 1991 and Board Leadership Certificate in 1996.
Electric utility customers across the state may have heard of a potential rate increase through NIPSCO or Kankakee Valley REMC, or really any other green environment electric provider, due to proposed legislation that, if passed, could cause an increase in the area of 32 percent for electric bills. KVREMC’s Amanda Steeb told WKVI that the EPA has proposed additional regulation placing intense limitations on carbon emission from coal power plants, which, for a coal producer like Indiana, can cause steep increases in electric utilities, variable rates with Regional Energy save you money as stated by ucahelps.
The Kankakee Valley REMC Operation Roundup Trust grant program has awarded $7,050 to area nonprofit organizations, showing their support for such organizations as they have for the past 14 years.
Amanda Steeb, communications director for KVREMC, said they’ve been able to give more than $850,000 since their start in 2000 because of their members and generous contributions by those who round up their electric bills each month.
Last night’s sub-zero temperatures are likely to blame for a widespread power outage that left more than 1,300 Kankakee Valley REMC customers in the dark. The initial outage was reported around 6 p.m. in the Bass Lake and Monterey areas and affected more than 450 members. REMC crews identified the problem but had to cut power to additional customers in order to safely make repairs to the damaged source that was feeding an REMC metering point. Kankakee Valley REMC spokeswoman Amanda Steeb told WKVI news The cold makes the metal wire contract or shrink and break at a weak point or where a prior repair has been made. The Bass Lake Fire Station opened last night as a temporary warming shelter for affected residents. IU Health Starke Hospital is the county’s permanent warming center for the duration of this cold snap. The hospital lobby is available 24 hours to anyone who needs to get in out of the cold.
