The fireworks celebration hosted by the city of Knox is scheduled for July 5 at the Starke County Airport.
A recent fundraiser at Downtown Depot raised $1,562 and business donations have totaled $1,976 so far. Another fundraiser is scheduled for this Friday, June 27 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT at the Knox Moose Family Center. The Starke County Commissioners personally donated money toward the event as well as the town of Hamlet and the town of North Judson.
A group of individuals from the Starke County Pride and Leadership Task Force and Moving Starke County Forward are in the early stages of planning a community family fun day. Right now they are still looking for volunteers willing to help out with the planning process. Some of the ideas that have been brainstormed so far are a scavenger hunt, various pre-approved, family-friendly musical acts and some other outside-the-box ideas that combine learning and fun. Continue reading
The recent rains aren’t causing widespread problems yet for local farmers, according to Purdue Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator Chad Rushing.
Plans are coming along for The Crossing alternative school in Starke County.
According to Jena Bontrager from The Crossing’s corporate office, a local board has been formed with Mark Bailey as the president of that board.
A building for classes has been secured. The Starke County Crossing will be holding classes in the old Sears building in the Mint Leaf Plaza. Bontrager said there will be some remodeling inside the building to create walls and different areas that would help in the education process.
Starke County’s annual Relay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society gets under way today at noon at the Hamlet Fairgrounds. Organizers of the 18-hour event hope to raise $67,000 this year. Ericka Taylor-Joseph is in charge of fundraising. She says Starke County’s event consistently raises more money than those held in larger communities. Teams range in size from just a few members to 30 or more. Taylor-Joseph says while organizers would like each team to have a participant on the track at all times, it’s not a requirement. Continue reading
A 12-member jury has returned with a verdict a trial in Starke Circuit Court.
The jury members took 50 minutes to find Brad Allen guilty on charges of dealing in methamphetamine as a Class B felony and possession of precursors or chemical reagents as a Class D felony.
The North Judson Town Council members approved the purchase of a new fire truck for the North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department.
According to Fire Chief Joe Leszek, the department will be purchasing a used KME pumper truck with a five-man cab. The truck will be the first truck out on structure fires and auto accidents.
A graduate of North Judson-San Pierre High School has been cast on the first season of a reality show called The Reel Deal.
Christine Barger said she was cast as a result of online voting and she will be working with some celebrity mentors.
“It’s up-and-coming actors and actresses hat get to work with celebrities in different aspects,” said Barger. “We have Judy Norton, Eric Roberts, Don “The Dragon” Wilson, Tim Russ, Dustin Diamond, and Holly Fields. What we’re going to do is work together in teams to compete against each other to create short films.”
Organizers of the annual Starke County Relay for Life hope to raise $67,000 for the American Cancer Society during this year’s event. It starts tomorrow at noon at the Hamlet Fairgrounds and continues until 6 a.m. Sunday. Fundraising chair Ericka Taylor-Joseph says all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society to help cancer patients in need.
“It may be getting them back and forth to their treatments. It may be buying a wig for somebody who has lost their hair. Support services – Hope Lodge if they have long-term treatments that they need to have, they can stay in the Hope Lodge with their families. It also goes to cancer research. Besides the United States government, the American Cancer Society is the number one fundraiser for cancer research in America,” she said. Continue reading
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board members unanimously approved a donation from a local business.
Chester, Inc., a company that specializes in irrigation systems with manufacturing plants in Valparaiso and North Judson, donated $500 to the school.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board members discussed budget reductions during their meeting last night.
There were only three members in attendance, but Superintendent Lynn Johnson explained to those present what cuts they were looking to make. Johnson said the cancellation of grants and declining school enrollment were two main reasons for the $1.2 million cut.
Starke County will soon have a new EMS director. The county commissioners last night accepted Paul Matthewson’s resignation from that job, effective July 1st. He plans to remain with the county as a part-time paramedic. Continue reading
Starke County Republican Party Chairperson, Brenda Stanojevic, has several positions to fill for the November General Election ballot.
According to Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski, the vacancies include the clerk; auditor; recorder; coroner; assessor; commissioner district 2; trustee positions in California Township, Center Township, Davis Township, Jackson Township, Oregon Township, Railroad Township and Wayne Township; plus advisory board candidates for California 1, Center 2, Davis 1, Jackson 3, North Bend 1, Oregon 2, Railroad 1, Washington 1 and Wayne 2. These positions need to be filled by noon on June 30. The only exception is the Railroad Township Trustee due to a withdrawn candidate. That vacancy needs to be filled by June 18.
WKVI morning show host Tom Berg and sports director Nathan Welter answered their cold water challenge Thursday afternoon in the radio station parking lot. They were called out by news director Mary Perren to either donate $10 to the Hoosier Burn Camp and get wet or stay dry and write a $100 check. The guys decided to play along, so members of the Bass Lake Fire Department brought their dump tank to our parking lot and filled it with water. Several listeners also stopped by with extra ice and donations to really help the guys chill out. Another Step Forward Walking Challenge Coordinator Ryan Greer had also been called out previously, as had fire chief Les Jensen. They took the plunge as well. So did Knox High School Band Director Craige Phipps, who opted not to prolong his torture when Nathan called him out. WKVI raised $200 in donations for the Hoosier Burn Camp, thanks to the generosity of the listeners who donated and the staff for being such good sports.
The theme of the 37th annual North Judson Mint Festival sets up a supreme scene that begins tonight!
There’s something for everyone; young or old, person or pet, the festival has something for you to do. A carnival will be in the Catholic church parking lot all weekend. Music lovers have something to look forward to because several area bands will take the stage at Norwayne Field Friday, Saturday and Sunday at various times during the festival.
Starke County Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff has filed three felony charges against the Knox man accused of stealing two cars in Starke County and a third in Hebron before shooting himself when police in Lake County used stop sticks to end a high-speed chase Friday afternoon. Continue reading
WKVI morning show host Tom Berg and sports director Nathan Welter will be chilling out, or perhaps freezing to death, for charity this afternoon at the WKVI studios in Knox. News director Mary Perren paid it forward by calling both of them out as part of the cold water challenge. Continue reading
The Moving Starke County Forward Coalition wants input from the entire community about how to best address addiction issues. They are hosting a community discussion on addiction and recovery tomorrow evening at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in downtown Knox. Board member Jordan Morris from Starke County Community Corrections hopes people from all walks of life will come be part of the dialogue and not worry about being profiled or judged. She says although people who have struggled with addiction will speak, the event is not limited to that population. Morris adds the entire community has been touched by the issue as taxpayers, business owners, health care providers, farmers and teachers. Continue reading
