Starke County Courthouse Elevator to be Functional October 1st

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

The Starke County Courthouse elevator is scheduled to be up and running by October 1st.

That was especially good news to Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall who has been moving his docket to accommodate people who could not get to the third floor for legal matters, because they were unable to climb the steps due to disabilities.

The County Commissioners discussed cleaning the murals on the walls and ceilings at the Courthouse. A figure of $100,000 was initially used to do the work, but after a check with Jim Shilling, it was decided that it might be as low as $13,000. The Commissioners also discussed seeing if the Division of Historic Preservation might be able to release some grant money to help finance the project.

Starke County Courthouse Elevator Still under Construction

Posted on Author WKVI
All of the electrical components are coming together for the new elevator

The Starke County Courthouse elevator is still out of order.

“We finally got the hydraulic jack in and the crew did that last week,” said Courthouse Custodian Carl Goodrich on the progress of the construction. “Now, another crew is going to put in the hard-wiring, get the controllers hooked up and all of the handicapped part of it put together. They’re putting in new push buttons and kind of modernize it a little bit and they should be done with that by next week. All that’s left is to have an inspector come and see if everything’s been done right.”

The elevator will be in use once the State inspects it and gives the notice to proceed with operation. Oracle Elevator in Kentucky has been working on the project. Continue reading →

Memorial Day Services in Knox, Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox VFW Post #748 will be hosting Memorial Day services beginning this Sunday, May 29th. Opening ceremonies begin at Noon on Sunday with the posting of the guard for a 24-hour vigil. Congressman Joe Donnelly will be speaking, along with State Representative Nancy Dembowski and Knox Mayor Rick Chambers. The Candlelight ceremony will be Sunday at 8:30 p.m. and all of the POW MIA soldiers’ names from the Iraq and Afghanistan War will be read. At Noon on Monday, May 30th, the closing ceremonies and the retiring of the guard will be held at the Post Home. Several veterans, firefighters, police officers, and National Guard members will be standing vigil at the Post and a Civil War camp will be set up in the back of the facility.

Continue reading →

North Judson-San Pierre 3rd Grade Class Tours Starke County Museum, Courthouse

Posted on Author WKVI
Dan Roscka tells the students some of Starke County's history

Mrs. Ridley’s third grade class from North Judson-San Pierre Elementary School took a tour of the Starke County Museum in Knox Tuesday morning. The tours were given by Marianne Gappa, June Golding, Peg Brettin and Dan Roscka. Dan Roscka told the students about the time capsule that was opened during the County’s Sesquicentennial.

Continue reading →

Absentee Voting is Available to Knox Residents Throughout this Week

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski

Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski reminds residents of the City of Knox that only a few more days remain to vote an absentee ballot in the Primary Election.

“Monday, April 25th, we will be open from 8:00 a.m. to Noon and from 1:00-4:00 p.m. and that will be daily, Monday through Saturday,” said Skronski. “Evening hours will be on April 28th from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. We will conclude our absentee early voting on May 2nd and you may vote from 8:00 a.m. until Noon.”

Continue reading →

Starke County Courthouse Elevator Remains Under Construction

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

Work continues on the elevator in the Starke County Courthouse. Carl Goodrich told WKVI that they’re waiting for the elevator and parts to arrive so the elevator can be constructed.

The old elevator in the Courthouse needed to be modernized and brought up to code. It had not been updated since it was first installed in the Courthouse. A quote from Oracle Elevator in the amount of $62,971 was approved by the Starke County Commissioners for the purchase of a new elevator.

Continue reading →

Vote Absentee at the Starke County Courthouse

Posted on Author WKVI

Absentee voting has begun in the Starke County Courthouse for the May Primary Election. This election will feature the City of Knox candidates running for office only.

Absentee voting is available on the first floor of the Starke County Courthouse, Monday through Friday from now until Friday, April 29th from 8:00 a.m. to Noon and from 1:00-4:00 p.m. CT. Absentee voting will also be available on Saturday, April 23rd and Saturday, April 30th from 8:00 a.m. to Noon and 1:00-4:00 p.m. On Thursday, April 28th, absentee voting will be available from 5:00-7:00 p.m. You may vote absentee May 2nd from 8:00 a.m. to Noon. The Starke County Courthouse will be closed on Good Friday so absentee voting will not be available.

Continue reading →

Capital Assets Study on the Starke County Courthouse

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

This week we are presenting parts of a report given to Starke County officials assessing County buildings. The report was prepared by RQAW an Indianapolis Consulting and Architecture Firm. Today’s report covers the Starke County Courthouse.

The Courthouse has an issue of limits on space available for some of the offices, particularly the Probation Department, the Clerk and the Magistrate. These functions are located on the second and third floors of the Courthouse.

Some space limitations can be alleviated by more efficient layouts, more efficient record storage and furniture and/or computerization of records and off-site storage. The County has adequate space for off-site record storage at the Glove Factory.

Continue reading →

Starke County Commissioners Discuss Courthouse Safety

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners ( L to R ) Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom, Jennifer Davis

The Starke County Commissioners addressed the concern of safety in the Courthouse at this week’s meeting. Commissioner Kathy Norem, who is a member of the Courthouse Security Committee, recommended that signs be posted at each entrance of the courthouse advertising that no weapons, unless authorized, will be allowed in the building. It was also advised that the same signage be posted on all County buildings.

The Commissioners have talked about installing a metal detector at certain entrances and closing off the rest for safety.

Commissioners Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis agreed to the recommendation and the signs will be placed on all County buildings once the signs are produced.

Starke County Courthouse Elevator to be Repaired

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

The Starke County Courthouse elevator is scheduled for repairs. Courthouse Custodian, Carl Goodrich, talked with the Commissioners this week about this relic. Goodrich was asked exactly what’s wrong with the elevator.

“Basically, the hydraulic system is leaking and it needs to be replaced,” replied Goodrich. “It was put in in 1956 and it needs to be reworked. We’re going to modernize it and bring it up to code. The elevator car itself is going to be there but they’re going to repair the hydraulic systems and everything that goes with the unit.” They need some hydraulic equipment from places like www.cir.net/ to repair the elevator.

Continue reading →

Starke County Commissioners Discuss Security at Courthouse

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

The Starke County Commissioners had a brief discussion last week on added security at the Starke County Courthouse. In light of violence seen at the political event in Arizona, it seems that everyone is considering security.

Two problems with metal detectors at the Starke County Courthouse immediately were evident. One was the added employment of person, or persons, to man the metal detector and the second was the fact that if a metal detector were installed, it would mean only one entrance into the courthouse could be used as all doors couldn’t be provided with a detector.

Continue reading →

Starke County Commissioners Discuss Snow Days and Pay for County Employees

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners ( L to R ) Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom, Jennifer Davis

On December 13th, Starke County had a level one snow emergency, prompting the County Commissioners to close the Courthouse. That brought up the question of “should employees be paid when the courthouse is closed?”

It was noted that no policy is in place to address this question. At the last Commissioners meeting, it was decided to pay the employees for that day, but in the future, “snow days” must be used as a vacation day, or a non-paid day. Sick days cannot be used for this type of situation.

Continue reading →

New Lighting in Parts of the Starke County Courthouse Deemed Unsatisfactory

Posted on Author WKVI
Judge Hall discusses the lighting in the Courtroom with Greg Scarpone from M&I Engineering in Indianapolis

A meeting was held in the Starke County Courthouse, Thursday, between the engineer, contractor, two Commissioners and Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall to assess the new lighting in various rooms, including the Starke Circuit Courtroom.

Some of the installation of lighting in the rooms controlled by the Judge was deemed to be unfinished, or unsatisfactory, by Judge Hall.

Continue reading →

Government Offices Will be Closed for Christmas Holiday

Posted on Author WKVI

Several government buildings will be closed due to the Christmas holiday.

The Post Office will be open Friday from 8:00 a.m. to Noon CT only. Mail will not be delivered until Monday, December 27th. The Starke County Courthouse and the Pulaski County Courthouse will be closed Thursday and Friday this week. The Bureau of Motor Vehicle branches will be closed Friday and will resume normal hours of operation on Tuesday, December 28th.

Continue reading →

Starke County Election Board to Hold Post Election Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI
voting booth

The Starke County Election Board has scheduled a post election meeting for Friday, December 10th, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in the 2nd floor meeting room in the Starke County Courthouse.

The Board, consisting of President Pat Mitchell, Vice President Jim Henriott and Clerk Evelyn Skronski, will review the 2010 election, make plans for the 2011 City Election and approve election workers. The public is invited to attend the meeting.

Joe Donnelly’s Representative to Hear Public Concerns Today at the Starke County Courthouse

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

A representative of Congressman Joe Donnelly’s office will hold office hours in Starke County on Wednesday, December 8th from 12:30-1:30 p.m. CT.

All members of the public are invited to attend and present questions and concerns to Congressman Donnelly.  Office hours will be held in the 2nd floor meeting room in the Starke County Courthouse