This weekend during the North Judson Mint Festival, patrons will have the opportunity to ride the rails at the Hoosier Valley Rail Road Museum. Passengers have their choice of riding in a vintage caboose, an open-air car or a vintage commuter coach. The train will leave the depot for the 10-mile round-trip excursions to English Lake/Kankakee River at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The longer, 20-mile round-trip excursion to LaCrosse, lasts approximately two hours and leaves the depot at 2 p.m. Continue reading
Proceeds From Psi Iota Xi Rummage Sale to Fund Scholarships
The Psi Iota Xi Sorority will be holding a Rummage Sale this Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. CST at the Knox United Methodist Church. The proceeds from this sale will be used to fund preschool and college scholarships for Starke County residents. Psi Iota Xi contributed over $3,000 to Starke County scholarships this year and are looking to increase that number. The Sorority is constantly looking for ways to give funds throughout our are with events like their Rummage Sale. Donations are made to worthy causes by Psi Iota Xi on a monthly basis. If you would like to get involved with their charity events, contact Tammy Fletcher at 574-772-4348.
Royalty Reigns Over Mint Festival Pageant
Participants ranging from ages 5 to 18 competed for the crown in their category at the Mint Festival Pageant Sunday evening. The North Judson-San Pierre High School had a plethora of young ladies in pretty dresses and sharply dressed young men all competing for a title. Continue reading
Starke County Community Foundation Gives Generously to Local Organizations
A number of charitable organizations are on the receiving end of more than $40,000 in grants from the Starke County Community Foundation. The gifts are made possible through the foundation’s endowment fund, which is supported by gifts to the SCCF. The money is invested. Each year some of the interest goes back into the fund to help it grow, while some is given locally in the form of scholarships and grants. Continue reading
Dog-a-Palooza Proceeds to Benefit Starke County Humane Society
Have you been looking for a fun summer activity to do with your dog? Look no further, the Starke County Humane Society Dog-a-Palooza at Fair Oaks Farms is sure to get your dog’s tail wagging! There will be an array of activities to participate in on Saturday, June 14, including a 2K dog walk, obstacle courses and a dog show. Starke County Humane Society Director Shanna Lloyd is thrilled that half of the proceeds from the dog walk will go to the local animal shelter. Continue reading
Prosecutor Waiting for Autopsy Report Before Filing Charges Against Chavez
Starke County Prosecutor Nichoals Bourff does not anticipate filing charges against the Knox man police say stole two cars in Starke County and led them on a high-speed chase through four northwest Indiana counties until at least tomorrow. Gary Chavez, 57, of Knox is still in critical condition at Christ Advocate Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill. He’s been there since Friday night after shooting himself in an apparent attempt to avoid arrest by police in Crown Point. They used stop sticks to flatten the tires on the truck Chavez was driving. Continue reading
Accused Carjacker Still Critical, Formal Charges Pending
The Knox man police say stole three vehicles and led officers from multiple departments on a high-speed chase through four counties Friday afternoon is still in critical condition at Christ Advocate Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill. The pursuit started in Starke County when Gary Chavez, 57, of Knox, allegedly stole a car at gunpoint from the parking lot at Mark Bailey’s Discount Center. Continue reading
Starke County Commissioners Give to Community Services
The Starke County Commissioners this week approved a $10,000 appropriation to Community Services of Starke County. Executive Director Joan Haugh says the money the nonprofit agency gets from the county each year helps meet the matching requirements for various federal government grants they receive. This year the agency is using the county money for the homemaker and meal programs. Continue reading
Starke County Sheriff’s Office Warns of Scams
Telephone scammers are at it again. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department has received numerous reports from local residents of a variety of suspicious calls from people seeking to have money wired to them for various reasons. These include winning a Publisher’s Clearinghouse sweepstakes or other prize and having a grandchild in jail. Most of the calls seem to be targeting elderly people. Sheriff’s department officials urge anyone who gets such a call not to send money, no matter how persuasive the person on the other end of the phone is. Continue reading
Starke County Commissioners Increase Election Meal Allowance
The Starke County Commissioners voted unanimously to increase the meal allowance for Election Day vendors from $25 to $35 per poll worker. That cost covers breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., and workers cannot leave during that time. Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski says she will need an additional $582.14 to cover the expense for the Nov. 4 General Election. She can transfer that money from her postage account. Skronski notes the council will need to consider the added cost when they craft future budgets. Municipal elections will take place next year, and 2016 is a presidential election year.
Mint Festival Pageant Scheduled This Weekend
North Judson-San Pierre High School will be hosting royalty this weekend. The annual Mint Festival Pageant will take place in the auditorium on Sunday, June 8 at 6 p.m. Admission for anyone over preschool age is $5. WKVI General Manager Jerry Curtis will be the master of ceremonies. Local contestants will compete in one of the following categories: Mint King & Queen, Jr. Mint King & Queen, Mint Prince and Princess and Little Miss & Little Mister Mint, depending on their age. The winners will ride in the Mint Festival Parade on Sunday, June 15.
Starke County EMS Finalizing Expansion Proposals
Starke County EMS Director Paul Matthewson and Council President Dave Pearman hope to have a final recommendation for the county commissioners at their next meeting with regard to expanded paramedic service. They’re still crunching numbers to determine if the county can sustain the additional cost of adding more paramedics and ambulances in order to provide transfers from IU Health Starke Hospital to other facilities. Commissioner Kathy Norem says they need to proceed carefully and make a sound financial decision so as not to incur a huge deficit. She says while offering additional transportation services will increase revenues, overhead costs will go up as well. Money to cover those costs would come from the county’s general fund.
North Judson Town Board Updates Contractors Ordinance
Contractors or subcontractors doing business in or with the town of North Judson must obtain a permit from the town and be properly insured. That’s the gist of the contractor permit ordinance passed on final reading Monday night by the town board. The new policy does not apply to homeowners who perform their own renovations. However, anyone hired to build, remodel or renovate a structure is subject to the law. Continue reading
Starke County Highway Department Releases Road Maintenance List
The Starke County Highway Department will be busy throughout the summer making improvements to 145 miles of county roads. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler says the projects are based on the PASER, or Pavement, Surface, Evaluation and Rating, system and average daily traffic.
“All of the townships are well-represented on the list,” Ritzler told the county commissioners. “The San Pierre area now has the most roads. Most of the roads we added we’re adding in that area because they had the lowest PASER ratings and were a little under-represented on the previous list, and now we’ve put those on there. We’re probably going to chip-seal all of the roads in town and probably a couple of the roads out west of there.” Continue reading
North Judson Adding Lots to Highland Cemetery
The North Judson Town Board plans to add three additional rows of grave sites to Highland Cemetery. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry tells WKVI news that there is room to do so on the far east side of the existing property. Board members voted Monday night to proceed with surveying and plotting the land. Henry says the expansion will add between 100 and 115 grave sites. They will be available within the next few months. Contact the North Judson Clerk’s Office at 574-896-3340 for more information.
Mint Idol Contest Deadline Approaching
Do you have what it takes to be a singing sensation? Don’t hide your talent, share it with the everyone at the North Judson Mint Festival in the Mint Idol contest! Friday, June 6 is the entry deadline for the Friday, June 13 contest, so get your application in as soon as possible! The competition is open to individuals ages 5 and up. All participants will receive ribbons, and first, second and third place prizes will be awarded in each age group. Age groups are as follows: 5-9, 10-13, 14-17 and 18 and older. Contestants under 18 require parental consent. Contestants must have their song chosen and ready to go in time for the Thursday June 12 rehearsal. It will take place from 6 until 9 p.m CDT at St. Peter Lutheran School in North Judson. Tracks cannot have lead vocals. Music on CDs, MP3 players, iPods and phones are acceptable, but contestants are responsible for bringing the appropriate connector or format to play the songs. The Mint Idol competition will be Friday June 13 at 6 p.m. at St. Peter Lutheran School. Click here for the Mint Idol 2014 Registration Form. Entry forms can be completed and sent to Mint Idol, P.O. Box 33, North Judson, IN 46366.
Starke County Commissioners Approve Bridge Plans, Set Bid Openings
The Starke County Commissioners will open bids for two scheduled and one emergency bridge replacement at their Monday, July 7th meeting. Highway superintendent Rik Ritzler is is working with a design firm to finalize plans for the emergency bridge replacement on County Road 700 East over the Yellow River. The road has been closed since a tree struck the bridge earlier this year. Ritzler says the project will be considerably less expensive than originally anticipated.
“I thought it was going to cost $150,000 for the repair. It came in at about $45,000,” Ritzler told the commissioners. The reconstructed bridge will be able to open to full traffic, including farm vehicles. It’s still scheduled for replacement in 2018. He adds plans for the bridge will be finalized and sent to the commissioners for review prior to their June 16th meeting. Continue reading
WKVIdol Competition Planned During Starke County Fair
WKVI is sponsoring a singing competition for youngsters during the Starke County Fair. WKVIdol will take place Monday, July 14 at 8 p.m. at the fairgrounds. The competition will be divided into three age groups: ages 7-10, 11-14 and 15-18. Each age group will have a maximum of four contestants. The first step for would-be contestants is to submit a 1 minute singing demo with your name, address, email and telephone number. You can drop it off at the station on a compact disc or other digital media file or email an mp3 to wkvidol@wkvi.com. Please list the top three family-friendly songs you would like to perform. Duplicate songs will not be allowed, so the sooner you submit your demo, the greater your chances of getting to sing your favorite song for the competition. Continue reading
Starke County Residents Ready to Take Another Step Forward
Starke County residents have signed up to take another step forward in improving the health in Starke County.
The kick off event for Moving Starke County Forward’s “Another Step Forward” walking challenge was held Saturday where a ceremonial first lap around Wythogan Park was taken by those in attendance.
SCILL Center Students Graduate
“The choices you make today will follow you tomorrow” was the message that guest speaker Janice Hernandez wanted the students to take away from the SCILL graduation ceremony Thursday evening.
Hernandez is in charge over at Integrity Trade Services and advised the students gradating from the program to include their work with the SCILL Center on their resumes.
