The North Judson-Wayne Township Public Library recently held a drive for the Phoenix House. They collected consumable items such as paper towels, toilet paper, and laundry detergent.
Roslynn Bejes mobilized the community, the schools, and businesses into supporting the organization. The goods that were collected filled two vans to capacity. In addition, the history, science, and English departments at the high school collected the most items.
Absentee voting is underway in Pulaski County with three local contested races: County Commissioner District One, County Commissioner District Two, and the County Council At-Large position.
Republicans Kenneth Boswell and Terry Young compete for the position of County Commissioner for District One, while Republicans Larry Brady and Michael Tiede battle for District Two. The County Council At-Large position is contested by Republicans Brian Ledley, Steven Nellans, Roger Querry, Douglas Roth, and Jerry Sullivan, Jr.
The Annual Starke County Health Fair will be held tomorrow. Various free screenings will be available along with a number of prizes, says Ashley Norem of IU Health Starke Hospital.
“The Health Fair includes various free screenings along with free give away prizes. One of the items will be a beautiful red leather IU Health Starke Hospital tote,” said Norem.
A Knox man was arrested on Friday following a pursuit incident in Starke County.
When a police officer observed a motorcycle traveling south on 1025 East from 300 North, an attempt was made to initiate a traffic stop but the driver did not halt to police. Police say that the driver, Raymond Higdon, looked over his shoulder, saw the officer, and immediately took off.
With the Starke County Youth Club Radiothon creeping closer each day, WKVI visited one of the organization’s “homework rooms” yesterday at the Knox Elementary School. Teacher Cristy Back explained that the students are always kept busy.
“Right now they are working on homework from their second grade classroom. If they don’t have homework, we give them work sheets or let them read a book,” Back said.
Usually the members work on their own, but if they do need help there is tutoring available. Back explained that a lot of progress is made after school, and the extra help comes in handy.
The Knox City Police Department has moved to its new office in a building purchased from Dean Wells last year, located across from City Hall.
The move was made last week, and gives the police department much more room,
as each officer now has a desk and work area plus garage space for the police cars and more space for evidence and records. Continue reading
A Logansport man was taken into custody on Friday after allegedly battering his estranged wife and children.
Matthew Quaife’s wife was reportedly moving items out of their house in North Judson and according to police, Matthew Quaife allegedly went “crazy” and battered his wife and children.
Quaife was arrested on three counts of Battery, as a Class D Felony and he is currently in the Starke County Jail on $75,000 surety bond and is to have no contact with the alleged victims. He has not yet had his preliminary hearing in Starke Circuit Court.
Each day brings Starke County Youth Club Radiothon closer, and Irene Szakonyi, Executive Director of the Youth Club, says they are getting ready for the event which is planned for Friday, and she encourages everyone to make a donation. Szakonyi explained that the club gives students the opportunity to collaborate with many different schools and organizations across the country.
“We really appreciate that we are able to collaborate not just with our school corporations, but with other local agencies, too. We feel like we can be part of that network that brings people together, whether it’s Purdue Extension and 4-H programs, or Junior Achievement and Starke United. All the way across the board we feel like we have partners in helping kids and families succeed,” said Szakonyi.
Szakonyi will explain more about the event tomorrow, and on Friday, the radiothon will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Spring Tax Sale held last week brought in over $800,000, according to Starke County Interim Treasurer Kasey Clark. In all, 54 properties were sold, including a quarter-million-dollar home and property at Bass Lake.
Next up will be a certificate sale, followed by a Fall Tax Sale.
Absentee voting has picked up a bit this week in Starke County, says Clerk Evelyn Skronski. Nearly 225 walk-in absentee votes have been filed and another 125 have been mailed in.
Absentee voting will be open until Saturday from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT. Thursday, however, voting will be open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, May 7 will be the last day for absentee voting, with polls open from 8 a.m. until noon.
In Pulaski County, absentee voting is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. There have been 109 walk-in absentee votes, but there is no total yet on mail-ins.
Three contested races will be up for voting on the Starke County ballots: County Commissioner District Three, County Council At-Large, and County Treasurer.
Democrats Daniel Bridegroom and Joseph Woods will compete for the County Commissioner District Three seat, while Republicans Bryan Cavender, Talia Reed, and Bruce Williams and Democrats Freddie Baker, Judy Benninghoff, and Bob Sims vie for the County Council At-Large position. Democrats Linda Belork and Kasey Clark will go toe-to-toe for the County Treasurer position.
The Starke County TRIAD organization recently met and discussed the future of the organization. Starke County Triad is comprised of members from law enforcement, senior citizens, and members of organizations concerned for senior welfare. The organization meets quarterly.
Joan Haugh, Executive Director of Community Services of Starke County, explained that the organization will soon have some tough choices to make.
“At the meeting, we did discuss how often we should meet and should we consider partnering with LaPorte County TRIAD because they may have more resources at their fingertips,” said Haugh. “We are going to have another meeting July 23rd and we would like to have a few more of the regular members in attendance before we make any final decisions on whether we should partner, whether we should disband, or keep going as we have been going,” said Haugh.
The City of Knox has voted money for a bank account for Harvest Days expenditures. The city council voted to approve $500 at the request of Michelle Bechtel, as Mayor Rick Chambers explained.
“Michelle Bechtel has taken over the chairmanship of the Harvest Fest. She has filed a Certificate of Incorporation and obtained an Employee Identification number from the I.R.S. She has also set up a bank account, and needs funds for postage, and miscellaneous bills she has right off the bat. I’ve explained to her at the end of the year a complete financial report of all expenditures and receipts is expected,” Chambers said.
A woman’s hat led to a successful promotion for the Starke County Food Pantry.
Lois Bock noticed a woman’s interesting hat during services at the Eagle Creek Church, and it was that hat that inspired her to organize last week’s Victorian High Tea event.
Of course, her pastor also had something to do with the event, as Bock explained.
According to the second of a two-part forum last Thursday night at Bass Lake, a county’s health ranking can impact many different areas– one of which is industrial attraction. State Representative Nancy Dembowski said that “quality of life” is one of the issues that arises when industry considers Starke County, because being ranked next-to-lowest in the state’s health ranking is definitely not a postive.
At the forum Thursday night, Dembowski pointed out a number of areas to work on, as the assembled members separated into groups.
WKVI is gearing up for its annual Radiothon for the Starke County Youth Club. This Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., we’ll be on the air taking pledges and informing the public about this award-winning club.
Youth Club Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says her main goal for the radiothon is educate the community about the club’s purpose.
The Drew Shearin Scholarship Fund is receiving some support from local student Taylor Kemble, who has organized a rummage sale to take place Friday, May 4 at the Knox United Methodist Church. Kemble says that because this will likely be her last rummage sale, she felt she needed to benefit someone who had a huge impact on her life– the late Drew Shearin.
“Well, I’ve been doing this for, I believe, the past four years now, and I just decided that since this was probably going to be my last rummage sale, I wanted to do something for Drew because he was a huge part of my life, and he inspired me to do many things and I just decided that this was going to be dedicated to him,” said Kemble. (05-01-12 Kemble – Drew)
Area firefighters recently completed a new recruit course.
Captain Joe Short from the Washington Township Fire Department said the course started in November and finished April 22. Firefighters met three days a week for a combination of lectures and hands-on activities. Those who completed the training received certifications in National Incident Management System (NIMS) 100, NIMS 200, NIMS 700, Autism, HAZMAT Awareness, HAZMAT Operations, Mandatory Firefighter, Firefighter I and Firefighter II. The courses were taught by Washington Township, Hamlet and Bremen Fire Officials and Starke County EMS Director Paul Mathewson.
The Knox Community School Corporation will be participating in the USDA Summer Food Program again this year.
Free meals will be made available to children 18 years of age and under beginning in June. Any child is welcome to eat for free at the Knox High School from June 4 to July 26, and at the Knox Elementary School from June 4 to June 28.
No child will be discriminated against and every child from all over the area is welcome to participate. Both breakfast and lunch will be served.
The three-day Turkey Tracks event was held this past weekend. As of Noon yesterday, the disabled hunters and guides had taken in 20 wild turkeys. The event was sponsored by the Eric Corey Foundation, and the 31 hunters enjoyed a weekend in the woods.
Activities occurred during the evening and in fundraising efforts, two specially-crafted Eric Corey plaques were auctioned for $4,600.00. A third plaque was presented to Carol and Doug Corey to be hung in Eric’s trophy room.
Starke County’s unemployment rate dropped .5% from February to March, but the county is still tied with Lawrence county as the fifth highest in the state.
Starke County’s rate went from 11.3% to 10.8%. Other counties in the top 5 are Vermillion at 12.1%, which is highest in the state, Fayette, Tipton, and Newton.
