Starke County Park Board Chooses New President

The Starke County Park Board welcomed two new members Tuesday. Attorney Richard Ballard was appointed to the board by Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall, following the resignation of Roger Chaffins. Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler had been appointed by the county council back in January, replacing Debbie Mix. Ballard and Ritzler both took their seats on the park board for the first time Tuesday, during the board’s first official meeting since last September.

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Special Swearing-In Ceremony Held in Starke Circuit Court Wednesday Evening

Judge Kim Hall, John M. Acosta, Bryan Cavender, Leslie A. Baker, Roy McCray, Rachel Milner Oesterreich, David Pearman, Mandy Thomason, Jack Rosa, Bernadette Welter Manuel, Bill Dulin, Robert Olejniczak and Howard Bailey

In an unprecedented ceremony, Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall invited all elected officials, regardless of party, to be sworn into office Wednesday evening.

Judge Hall mentioned that while serving in his position at the Starke County Courthouse for more than three decades, he’s never witnessed a swearing-in ceremony where democrats and republicans were recognized simultaneously. Continue reading

Edward Blackburn Gets Maximum Sentence for Colgrove Murder

Edward Blackburn

Edward Blackburn has been given the maximum allowable sentence of 65 years in prison for the murder of Cord Colgrove. During Friday’s sentencing hearing, Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall noted a number of aggravating factors, including a criminal history with multiple felonies and misdemeanors. Hall also pointed out that Blackburn was on probation for a felony count of wire fraud, and as part of that, was legally barred from owning a firearm, when he shot and killed Colgrove in March of 2017.

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