The organizers of Starke County’s newest festival are meeting this afternoon to get ready for the upcoming event. The WoodStarke Committee will convene from 3 until 5 p.m. at the Starke County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center Office, which is located in the depot on U.S. 35 at the north edge of the city. Continue reading
Rape Charge Filed Against Knox Man
A Knox man has been charged after an alleged sexual assault.
A call was made to the Starke County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday afternoon that a female had been raped. The victim was transported to IU Health Starke Hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
The incident occurred in the 200 block of North Main Street, according to Knox City Police Department officials. A warrant was secured to search the residence. Michael J. Salita, 28, was taken into custody for questioning and was held in the Starke County Jail while the investigation continued through Friday.
Monthly Bass Lake Beach Report on Commissioners Agenda
The Starke County Commissioners will get their monthly management report for the Bass Lake Beach and Campground when they meet this evening. Manager Richard Callahan and his attorney Dave Wallsmith are first on the agenda for tonight’s 7 p.m. meeting at the Starke County Annex Building. The commissioners voted recently to limit camping to 15 days instead of allowing season-long leasing of campsites. Continue reading
Harvest Festival to be Revived in 2015
The Harvest Festival in Knox has an organizer for 2015.
Paula Voss approached the Knox City Council last week and offered to take on the popular festival. She noted that it will be held the same weekend as in the past and she’s already in contact with vendors to revive the three-day event in downtown Knox.
Knox Community School Board to Meet Tonight
The Knox School Board members have a healthy agenda tonight after having to cancel their prior meeting.
The board will have several hires and resignations to discuss as well as reductions in force.
The elementary assistant principal salary will be under discussion. Rebecca Despot has moved from the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation to the Knox Community School Corporation in that administrative position.
Starke County Food Pantry in Need of Donations
The cupboards are bare at the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry. They are in need of canned fruits and vegetables, macaroni and cheese dinners, pancake mix, spaghetti noodles and all varieties of breakfast cereals. Continue reading
County Road 700 East Could Reopen Next Week
Emergency repairs to the bridge over the Yellow River on Starke County Road 700 East are almost finished. It’s been closed since April, when a tree floating down the river struck the bridge supports and compromised the structure. Continue reading
Ideas Offered to Combat Wythogan Park Vandalism
Knox City officials have several options to consider when it comes to curbing vandalism at Wythogan Park. Mayor Rick Chambers hosted a community discussion last night to gather thoughts on the issue. He says several good suggestions were offered.
Knox City Council to Review Budget
The Knox City Council members were presented with the 2015 budget and the budget calendar during Tuesday night’s meeting.
Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explained that the budget process has been pushed back a bit due to a pilot program with which the county is involved.
SCILL Enrolling High School Students in Welding and Automotive Tech Programs
Starke County high school students wishing to pursue a career in either welding or automotive technology can get a head start on doing so without leaving home. The Starke County Initiative for Lifelong Learning offers courses in both fields of study to high school juniors and seniors. Continue reading
Knox Park Department Completing Projects
Knox Park Superintendent George Byer gave an update to the Knox City Council members last night on the state of the city’s parks.
Byer said since the vandalism has tapered off a bit, the park crews have been able to work in Heritage Park. They’ve installed a bench, a swing set, teeter-totter, and rehabilitated the monkey bars. Water Superintendent Todd Gardner will be helping the park department with running a line for a water fountain at the park. The board has plans to build a shelter at the park next year.
Public Input Sought on Problems at Knox Park
City and county officials want the public’s input on how to make Wythogan Park safer. Mayor Rick Chambers and others are hosting a community meeting this evening at 6:30 at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in downtown Knox to discuss incidents of vandalism at the park. The Knox City Police Department has stepped up patrols through the park, but Mayor Chambers is seeking other suggestions as well. Continue reading
Fiery Toto Road Crash Under Investigation
The Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Division is still investigating a fiery crash on Toto Road that sent a North Judson man to a South Bend Hospital. It happened Friday, Aug. 8 at 8:45 p.m. on Toto Road at 200 East, according to a news release from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department. Continue reading
County Officials Considering Uses for Existing Jail Building
The current Starke County Jail in downtown Knox will still be owned by the county and used for correctional programs once the new Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center east of Knox on State Road 8 opens next year. Commissioner Kathy Norem says the building is part of the collateral for the loan to build the new structure, so it cannot be sold or torn down and must be used in the justice arena. She says the county set aside money to renovate the building. Continue reading
Starke County Sheriff Warns about Scam
Several local residents have been getting phone calls that their grandson or granddaughter is in jail and they need bail money but Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen said this is a scam.
The caller will tell the victim that the person is in jail and explains ways to send money to get them out of jail. Cowen warns that this is a way to scam you out of money and to not give out any personal information.
Knox City Council to Meet Tonight
The Knox City Council members will meet tonight at 7 p.m. CT at Knox City Hall.
The council will move forward with the 2015 budget calendar and discuss the 2015 budget tonight in a public session. Mayor Rick Chambers and Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston will have a report and members of the public are welcome to share comments during this meeting.
Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center Takes Shape
The new Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center east of Knox on State Road 8 is still on schedule for a spring 2015 completion. The project is also on budget and features a number of state-of-the-art amenities like video visitation. Commissioner and Starke County Building Corporation President Kathy Norem says it will be much safer and will cut down on the import of contraband into the jail. Continue reading
Commissioners Approve Landfill Purchase Pending Title Work
The Starke County Commissioners may soon own the site of the former county landfill again. They approved a claim for $25,473.55 from the County Economic Development Income Tax, or CEDIT, fund to buy the 22-acre property, subject to satisfactory title work. Continue reading
Starke County Association of Firefighters to Assist with Fallen Firefighters Funeral
Members of the Starke County Association of Firefighters will be active in the visitation and funeral for New Carlisle Assistant Fire Chief Jamie Middlebrook.
Middlebrook died Tuesday while fighting a fire at a LaPorte County business, K-Fex, near the intersection of U.S. 20 and 800 East. Visitation is Sunday from 2 until 7 p.m. ET at the Everest-Rohrer Auditorium at Bethel College while the funeral service will be on Monday, Aug. 11 at 11 a.m. at the college.
Commissioners Vote To Reestablish Dormant Funds
The Starke County Commissioners voted unanimously this week to reestablish two funds that were somehow discontinued by the state. Monday’s action on the cumulative capital development and cumulative bridge funds will allow the county to keep more of the property tax money it collects and spend money that is currently set aside.
