The Starke County Council is in the process of crafting the 2015 budget. Once it’s finished, it will be published for taxpayer review. Council President Dave Pearman says that process is changing after this year. Continue reading
Nominations Sought for Starke County Park Board
Starke County officials are seeking nominations for volunteers to serve on the county park board. Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall and the Starke County Council each have two nominations – one Democrat and one Republican. The Starke County Commissioners will select the fifth member. Political affiliation is not a consideration for the commissioners nominee. Continue reading
Starke County Tax Rates Unchanged for Upcoming Year
Starke County’s local option income tax rates are not going up. The county council Monday set the rates for the County Adjusted Gross Income Tax (CAGIT) and County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) Funds and the Starke County Jail CEDIT. Continue reading
North Judson Town Maintenance Building Nearing Completion
he North Judson Town Council members held discussion on a number of topics during their Monday meeting.
Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann told the council members the new maintenance building should be completed by the end of the month. The project was to be complete a few months ago, but the weather and other unforeseen circumstances delayed the start of the project until late March. The town employees have been working on the building’s interior.
Michigan City Native Joins SCILL Center Welding Program Staff
A Michigan City native with extensive hands-on welding experience is set to join the staff of the SCILL Center welding technology program. Starting Monday, Elizabeth Tylisz will be teaching the morning vocational welding class and some of the adult welding classes. Continue reading
Preschool scholarships available at SCCF
Many local preschools still have openings for children to ensure your child is ready for kindergarten.
Full and partial scholarships are still available at several local preschools through the Starke County Community Foundation’s Preschool Scholarship Program. Preschools participating in the scholarship program that still have openings include Foundations Preschool and Little Lambs Preschool, both located in Knox plus adventure Island Preschool and St. Peter Lutheran Preschool in North Judson.
WoodStarke Organizers Meeting Today
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
Back-to-School Shots and More Available at HealthLinc Event
Uninsured youngsters who still need back-to-school physicals and shots can get both at HealthLinc in Knox. The facility is celebrating National Health Center Week today with an open house from 3 until 6 p.m. Appointments are necessary to get physicals and shots, but a number of other services are available to walk-in customers. Continue reading
North Judson Yard Sales Scheduled Tomorrow
Head to North Judson for bargains tomorrow. Town-wide yard sales start at 8 a.m. and continue through the day, rain or shine. Continue reading
Additional Gravesites Available in Highland Cemetery
The Town of North Judson has additional graves available for purchase in Highland Cemetery. A recent survey of the east side of the current property allowed the addition of approximately 84 sites. Continue reading
North Judson Town Council Accepts Building Donation
North Judson will soon have a new town hall. First Farmers Bank and Trust has offered their former bank building and properties on Lane Street as a donation to the town. The council voted unanimously to accept that offer Monday night. Continue reading