The Starke County Council discussed necessary budget cuts to the 2019 budget when they met Monday night.
Democrats Tap Dembowski for Vacant Council Seat
The Starke County Council has a new member. The Democratic Party recently selected Nancy Dembowski to serve the remaining two years of the late Jennifer Davis’ term. Continue reading
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to Feature Moving Starke County Forward
Community nonprofit organization Moving Starke County Forward is receiving national attention for its efforts to improve health outcomes for local residents. Continue reading
WKVI Spearheads Community Clean-Up
WKVI is teaming up with former Knox Mayor Nancy Dembowski to clean up the community. Appropriately we are starting with the first thing everybody sees when the roll into town, the Train Depot visitor center across from Wythogan Park.
This week on Wednesday, join us at the depot from 4 until 6 pm equipped with your gloves, rakes, shovels and any other items that will assist with the clean up. The grounds really just need a sprucing up. Take pride in your town by showing up to help out. Visit the WKVI Facebook page for further information.
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.
Binkley Beats Dembowski in Commissioners Primary
Former Knox Mayor and state representative Nancy Dembowski will not be making a political comeback as a member of the Starke County Board of Commissioners. She lost to fellow Democrat Donald Binkley by 126 votes in the primary.
“It’s just important, I think, for everyone to work together on the county level to make certain we have one goal in mind, and that’s the benefit of the people who live in Starke County,” Dembowski said.
So far Binkley is unopposed in the November 4th General Election. Continue reading
Moving Starke County Forward Looks Deeper into Health Rankings Report
The Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings report came out this week and Starke County ranked in the bottom ten of all 92 counties in the state.
Moving Starke County Forward leader Nancy Dembowski said the organization began working to improve the numbers last year and noted that it takes a while to get things moving in the right direction. She said it’s going to take time and effort to overturn the numbers.
Moving Starke County Forward to Tackle Prescription Drug Abuse Issue in Starke County
Moving Starke County Forward Honored by IPHCA Award
Moving Starke County Across America Campaign Urges Residents to Get Moving
A startling statistic in Starke County has incited an initiative to get residents off the couch and moving. Ted Hayes, marketing and media representative for IU Health Starke Hospital, and Nancy Dembowski of Moving Starke County Forward said a statistic released last year listed the health rankings of counties in Indiana and revealed that Starke County came in second-to-last, ranking 91 out of 92 counties for healthiness. As a result of that, the county has received a grant from the Indiana Department of Health to study the issue and find out how to improve health in the county.
Moving Starke County Forward Organization Focuses on Health Issues
The Moving Starke County Forward organization met in a public session Thursday afternoon and Coordinator Nancy Dembowski said the focus of the meeting was to examine the issue of health in Starke County.
“The idea was just to examine the issue, which is Starke County ranks 91 out of 92 counties in health issues,” said Dembowski. “We wanted to see if we could find some achievable projects or things that could help begin to address the situation.”
Starke County Health Advocacy Group to Hold Public Meeting Tomorrow
A number of local governmental entities have announced their support of Moving Starke County Forward, having declared 2013, “A Year of Health in Starke County.” The North Judson Town Board signed the proclamation in January, while the Starke County Commissioners and Knox City Council had done the same two weeks prior.
Knox City Council Proclaims 2013 Year of Health
Continuing her efforts to raise awareness of the health problems in the county and the newly-formed coalition, “Moving Starke County Forward,” former state representative Nancy Dembowski appeared before the Knox City Council asking them to proclaim 2013 a “Year of Health” for the city of Knox.
Dembowski explained that because the county had come in second-to-last place for health rankings in the state, she said it’s time to see what can be done to improve health in Starke County. She said that a proclamation from all county governments would help spread the word, and she said the organization is also planning a number of county-wide health contests. On top of that, Dembowski said the group is hoping to hold a drug symposium in the spring to raise awareness of the harmful effects of drugs.
Starke Commissioners Proclaim 2013 “Year of Health” For County
This year has been proclaimed a “Year of Health” for Starke County, after former State Representative Nancy Dembowski approached the Starke County Commissioners with the proclamation – the first of many efforts of the newly-formed organization, “Moving Starke County Forward,” to increase awareness of health issues in the county.
Dembowski explained that because the county had come in second-to-last place for health rankings in the state, she said it’s time to see what can be done to improve health in the county. She said that a proclamation from all county governments would help spread the word, and she said the organization is also planning a number of county-wide health contests. On top of that, Dembowski said the group is hoping to hold a drug symposium in the spring to raise awareness of the harmful effects of drugs.
Open House Held for Nancy Dembowski
With family, governmental officials and friends in attendance, former State Representative Nancy Dembowski was honored for her years of service at an open house yesterday. The celebration was held in the building that now bears her name, the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center.
Emcee Ted Hayes brought up several people to speak including Starke County Economic Development Director Charles Weaver; Councilmen Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg and Greg Matt; plus County Democrat Chairman Kenny Wallace. Knox City Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston and his wife Michaelene also thanked Dembowski for representing Starke County so well.
Nancy Dembowski Honored Today At Community Center
One of the first community activities Nancy was involved in was the introduction of the peppermint candy canes as Christmas decorations for the City of Knox. She reminisces about that time.
Knox City Council Renames Community Center In Honor of Dembowski
In honor of Nancy Dembowski’s unwavering dedication and service to the city of Knox, the city council this week passed a motion authorizing the renaming of the Knox Community Center to the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center.
The council originally discussed the idea of honorarily renaming a portion of Main Street, beginning at Claybaugh Drive extending south to County Road 150 South, to Dembowski Drive, but after a lengthy discussion, the council decided to rename the community center instead. Chambers said this was due to Dembowski being instrumental in its construction years ago.
Former Representative Dembowski Continues To Work With Starke County
With his win in the General Election, Tom Dermody took over the seat formerly held by Nancy Dembowski as she chose not to run again in this year’s election, but she won’t be standing idly by.
“Well, I’ll still work with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation which is something that I’ve worked with almost from its inception and it’s made such an incredible contribution to this county. As long as they want me to do that, I definitely will be there for that. I’m also involved in some health organizations that I hope will make some real contributions to the county, too,” said Dembowski.
Representative Dembowski Attends Democratic National Convention
Democrat State Representative Nancy Dembowski, of Knox, is one of six-thousand delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
She said First Lady Michelle Obama’s speech Tuesday night was emotional.
“It was just an incredible speech by the First Lady,” commented Dembowski. “It was just so sincere and so emotional I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house. We saw some other just incredibly good speeches. The whole convention seems to be, or least much of Tuesday night, was about inclusion and how the party stands for everyone.”
Bauer Ousted As Indiana House Minority Leader
Patrick Bauer was voted out as the Indiana House Minority Leader in a caucus Thursday afternoon. State Representative Nancy Dembowski participated in the caucus and talked about the discussion.
“I was in attendance at the caucus and we met with the intent to discuss what type of leadership is needed to best serve our constituents, our districts and the State of Indiana in the future and as we move forward,” said Dembowski.
Linda Lawson was voted in as the Interim Leader by a majority vote. She will serve in the interim position until the General Election in November.
