County’s Share of Bass Lake Beach and Campground Revenues $42,000 Short of Actual Collections

Merging the Bass Lake Beach and Campground’s finances into Starke County’s is proving to be tricky. During a special park board meeting Wednesday, Board Member Kathy Norem said that one batch of receipts shows the facility has brought in more than $58,000 this season, but only about $16,000 ever made it to Starke County.

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Starke County Park Board Members, Lessee to Discuss Operation Plans

The Starke County Park Board is considering the future of the Bass Lake Beach and Campground’s operations. “I don’t know if everyone knows, but we were informed earlier this month, maybe last month, I don’t know, that Mr. Callahan is deceased now, is my understanding,” Board President Richard Ballard told the rest of the board Tuesday.

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Indiana Destination Development Corporation Denies Application for Yellow River Kayak Launch Funding

Yellow River

The Starke County Park Board will still move ahead with plans for a series of kayak launches along the Yellow River, even though its application for thousands of dollars in grant funding was unsuccessful. The board’s application for almost $70,000 from the Indiana Destination Development Corporation failed to make it to the finalist round, according to Starke County Highway Department Office Manager Mary Perren, who helped oversee the application.

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Bass Lake Beach May Open Sunday

The Bass Lake Beach could open as soon as Sunday. In an email Wednesday, Starke County Park Board Member Rik Ritzler told the rest of the board that the facility’s manager, Larry Clarich, is awaiting the results of required water testing. Ritzler said as long as there are no problems, Clarich plans to open the beach this Sunday.

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Starke County Residents Share Ideas for Spending Stellar Consolation Money

A county-wide art installation, more amenities at the Starke County Forest, and a relocated shelter at Wythogan Park were a few of the ideas Starke County residents had, when it comes to figuring out how Constellation of Starke should spend its $333,000. That’s the money the region was awarded by the state for being a finalist in last year’s Stellar Communities Designation Program.

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Starke County Park Board Denies Rent Credit for Bass Lake Campground Electrical Upgrades

Starke County will not help the operator of the Bass Lake Campground with the cost of electrical upgrades. After six months of discussion, the county park board voted Tuesday to deny a request to deduct the $7,800 cost from the operator’s rent payment. The project would have increased the electrical capacity in the back half of the campground, to accommodate newer RVs.

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