A downtown North Judson building is on the verge of collapsing. That’s what Town Attorney Justin Schramm told the town council Thursday. Council members met for an emergency session, after neighbors reported that a portion of the building at 205 and 207 Lane Street had collapsed in on itself earlier in the day. Continue reading
Appeals Court Upholds Drug Conviction from Starke Circuit Court
The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld a conviction from Starke Circuit Court. Last June a jury found Earl Beem of Hamlet guilty of possession of methamphetamine and maintaining a common nuisance, both of which are Level 6 felonies, and of possession of paraphernalia. Continue reading
Murder Defendant Makes Initial Court Appearance
The Arkansas man accused of fatally shooting a Knox man Friday night at a rural North Judson home remains jailed without bond. Edward Blackburn entered a plea of not guilty during his initial hearing this morning in Starke Circuit Court in connection with Cord Colgrove’s death. He advised Judge Kim Hall his family intends to hire an attorney to represent him. Continue reading
Railroad Township Volunteer Fire Department Up and Running
Railroad Township officially has a new fire protection provider. The Railroad Township Volunteer Fire Department took over from the San Pierre Volunteer Fire Department Monday afternoon, according to Railroad Township Fire Chief Andy Tilleraas. Continue reading
Court Decision Paves Way for Change in Railroad Township Fire Protection
The restructuring of Railroad Township’s fire protection will be able to proceed, following a decision in Starke Circuit Court Monday. Continue reading
Demolition Planned for Downtown North Judson Building
A dilapidated downtown North Judson building may soon be heading for demolition. The building at 205 and 207 Lane Street was found last year to have numerous safety violations, including a broken window, unsecured doors, falling debris, and roofing issues. Continue reading
Railroad Township Trustee to Continue Fire Protection Negotiations, Following Court Hearing
The Railroad Township Trustee says she’s willing to make another attempt at negotiating a 2017 contract with the San Pierre Volunteer Fire Department. In a press release, Trustee Mandy Thomason called Friday’s court hearing a “positive step forward.” Continue reading
Railroad Township Fire Protection Contract Gets Temporary Extension, Following Court Hearing
The San Pierre Volunteer Fire Department will continue providing fire protection to Railroad Township for another month, following an emergency hearing in Starke Circuit Court Friday. It ended with both parties reaching an agreement to continue fire protection under the terms of the township’s current contract with the fire department until January 30. However, Fire Chief Joe Kryzyzanowski will temporarily step down during that time, with Assistant Chief Mike Korous taking over in an interim capacity. Continue reading
Starke Circuit Court Schedules Emergency Hearing on Railroad Township Fire Protection Contract
The controversy surrounding the planned restructuring of the San Pierre Volunteer Fire Department has led to an emergency hearing in Starke Circuit Court. A complaint filed on behalf of Fire Chief Joe Kryzyzanowski and Railroad Township Board members Clarence Gehrke and Gus Eckert requests an emergency order allowing the department to continue providing fire protection under a temporary contract. Continue reading
Brief Jury Trial Results in Guilty Verdict
A jury in Starke Circuit Court this week found a defendant guilty on all three counts following a brief trial before Judge Kim Hall. Continue reading
State Appellate Court Upholds Starke County Murder Sentence
A state appellate court has upheld the maximum murder sentence for a man accused of killing his estranged wife at his rural California Township home. A jury in Starke Circuit Court deliberated for less than two hours in July of 2015 before finding Gary Chavez guilty of murder. Continue reading
North Judson Proceeds with Legal Action Over Downtown Building
Legal action continues over a downtown North Judson building. The town sued the owners of 205 and 207 Lane Street, after town officials determined the owners did not make the required repairs to bring the building up to safety standards. Continue reading
North Judson Takes Legal Action Over Unsafe Properties
The Town of North Judson is proceeding with legal action over a couple properties deemed to be unsafe. A legal notice has been published that the town is suing the owners of 205 and 207 Lane Street. Continue reading
Appeals Court Affirms Starke Circuit Ruling
The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld a ruling from Starke Circuit Court involving a child molestation charge. Continue reading
Jury Returns Guilty Verdict Against Christmas Day Crook
A jury in Starke Circuit Court heard a different kind of Christmas story this week, and returned a guilty verdict against a defendant following a two-day jury trial. Continue reading
Jury Returns Guilty Verdicts in Battery Trial
A jury in Starke Circuit Court returned guilty verdicts this week against a man accused of abusing two children. Continue reading
Judge Sets Sentencing Date for Accused Child Molester
The Knox man accused of molesting a young boy at his Heaton Street home earlier this year will be sentenced in late October. Robert “Moped Bob” Wislinski, 67, pleaded guilty to one count of child molesting and one count of possession of child pornography during a hearing Thursday morning in Starke Circuit Court. Continue reading
Chavez Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court
Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall sentenced the Knox man convicted last month of murdering his estranged wife, kidnapping an employee from Mark Bailey’s Discount Center and carjacking an English Lake couple last June to 105 years in prison with no time suspended. Continue reading
Chavez Sentencing Scheduled Today
The Knox man convicted last month of murdering his estranged wife, kidnapping an employee from Mark Bailey’s Discount Center and carjacking an English Lake couple last June will learn his fate today. Gary Chavez is due in Starke Circuit Court for a sentencing hearing this morning. A jury of eight men and four women returned guilty verdicts after about 90 minutes of deliberations. Defense attorney David Welter argued unsuccessfully for a conviction of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Kimberly Chavez of Portage and of auto theft instead of carjacking. Continue reading
Judge Uses New Courtroom for First Time
Chalk up another first at the Starke County Justice Center. Judge Kim Hall conducted the first hearings in the circuit courtroom at the facility yesterday. Continue reading
