Today is Dyngus Day, a day that began as a Polish tradition to celebrate Easter Monday. Boys used to hit girls legs with pussy willow branches and splash water on them as a way of flirting.
It’s also an opportunity for community members to meet candidates for local, state and national political office – a practice that has been a tradition since the 1930s. In South Bend, candidates meet at the West-Side Democratic Club where they speak on a small stage in front of a mural illustrating a 19th century Dyngus Day celebration.
They gave it their all, but the burger defeated them.
WKVI’s Tom Berg and Lenny Dessauer took the challenge at the Downtown Depot on Saturday, along with others from the community. Sadly, no one could finish the giant burger. Their pictures were taken and Downtown Depot owner, Robert Neuberg, said they will be proudly shown on the “Wall of Shame”. Continue reading →
Earlier in the week, words of praise were heard regarding the local EMS efforts in the successful transport of a five year old girl who had been struck by a television that fell from a dresser.
Paul Mathewson has shared another letter from the wife of a DeKalb, Illinois truck driver who was rescued after suffering a massive brain stem stroke while driving his semi.
“Because of your coordinated efforts, you were able to locate my husband and transport him to St. Joseph Medical Center in Plymouth for help. After being stabilized in the ER at St. Joseph’s, we were able to transport Steve via ambulance to our home hospital in Illinois. Following treatment he was released, and is currently in home rehab. Although we may never know who you are or see you in person please know that your efforts that morning went above and beyond in our minds and hearts. It is my prayer that God continue to bless each one of you and protect you daily as you continue to serve, and save the lives of others,” wrote Shari Dixon.
Her husband is currently making improvements daily and is able to walk with only a cane, recovered his ability to speak, see, and swallow and has recovered some use of his left arm.
Also assisting in finding her husband who was traveling on U.S. 30 near Grovertown on the morning of Jan. 7, was the Indiana State Police.
Driving a semi can be a risky profession when traveling alone, and struck by a life threatening ailment.
The transport was performed before the local EMS went to Advanced Life Service.
Kindergarten Round-up at Oregon-Davis Elementary School will be held on Wednesday, April 11 from noon to 6 p.m. CT.
Parents should bring the student’s birth certificate and immunization records at the time of registration. Children who turn five before August 1 should attend. Parents who cannot make it on this date can arrange a time to come in by contacting the school at 867-2711.
Oregon-Davis School Corporation is an open enrollment school district and accepts any students in the State of Indiana.
Starke County’s unemployment numbers are still in double digits. The February figures were released this week, and even though we’re down 0.4 percent from January, the unemployment rate still is over 11 percent at 11.3 percent. This places Starke County at number five in the state.
The number one county is Vermillion at 12.5 percent, followed by Fayette at 11.8 percent, and Clay and Lawrence both at 11.4 percent.
Hamilton County is the lowest in the state at 5.9 percent.
Pulaski County is the lowest of the surrounding counties at 7.3 percent, followed by Porter at 8.1 percent. Fulton at 9.2 percent, Marshall at 9.6 percent, St. Joseph at 9.9 percent, and La Porte at 10.9 percent.
Indiana’s figure is 8.4 percent with only Ohio at 7.6 percent lower in the Midwest.
The Department of Revenue Commissioner, John Eckart, has resigned after state officials found $205 million in local option income tax money owed to counties wasn’t distributed. State Budget Director, Adam Horst, blamed the problem on a programming error.
The problem with distribution of the local income tax money comes months after the state found $320 million in corporate taxes that were collected over four years but not transferred to the state’s general fund.
Starke County and North Judson Police arrested a suspect after a pursuit incident.
On Wednesday, police were attempting to arrest Nickolas Lozzi at a residence on Detroiter Lane in North Judson for two outstanding warrants through Starke Circuit Court and Lake County Court.
Starke County Commissioners: Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis
Betty and George Dotlich appeared before the Starke County Commissioners this week seeking answers to questions about a possible Board of Review session.
The pair have inquired before about a Board of Review hearing to examine the details of a permit issued to Julia Ford to place a structure next to their residence in rural Grovertown.
Jason Allen, left, won a 32-inch TV by playing Movie Quote Trivia.
It was his first time playing Movie Quote Trivia, but that didn’t stop Jason Allen of Knox from guessing the movie, “Natural Born Killers,” and getting his name entered into the drawing for a 32-inch LCD television from Young’s TV and Appliance in Plymouth.
Allen says that this was his first time playing this contest, but he’s competed in various WKVI contests and drawings. That didn’t stop him from getting his hopes up, however, as he laid in bed with his phone in his hand.
This is a special day in the lives of all Christians around the world. Today is Good Friday on which all Christians commemorate the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. According to Theologians, the death brings salvation to all who believe.
Good Friday is the culmination of Holy Week that began on Palm Sunday and takes place two days before Easter.
Attorney Nicholas T. Otis, of Newby Lewis Kaminski & Jones, of LaPorte, has been retained by Mr. Robert “Ryan” Corbin regarding the pending criminal charges in Starke County.
In a news release to WKVI, Otis says that established Indiana law does not support the charges of attempted child seduction against Corbin. There is no evidence that Mr. Corbin was in the physical presence, or in the immediate vicinity, of the alleged victim when the alleged statements were made.
State Road 23 in Koontz Lake will be closed between County Roads 1000 East and 825 North beginning Monday, April 9th. INDOT crews will be constructing a new roadway and bridge at the Koontz Lake dam project site. The road is expected to reopen in July, weather permitting.
Work is being done to replace the Koontz Lake Dam and straighten out the curve in the road that passes over the dam on State Road 23. The project is expected to be completed this year.
It’s the political campaigning season and the Indiana Department of Transportation wants to remind candidates that all campaign signs are prohibited from federal and state highway rights-of-way.
By law, INDOT crews are required to remove all unauthorized signs within the right-of-way. Prohibited areas include all interstates and their interchanges, all intersections where at least one local, state or federal road intersects with a state or federal highway, and an area that extends from a federal or state highway to the back of a ditch, to the fence line or up to utility poles.
This is Maundy Thursday in the United States, and it is celebrated with services in many Christian churches. Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday, commemorates the institution of the Eucharist, a Christian sacrament that involves consecrating bread and wine. The term “Maundy” derives from the Latin word for “commandment.” The New Testament in the Bible describes events that took place on Holy Thursday. These events include Jesus washing his disciples’ feet and the Last Supper before he was arrested. Many Maundy Thursday church traditions come from practices that took place in Europe for many centuries.
Fifth District State Senator Ed Charbonneau, of Valparaiso, has championed a bill that passed the state legislature this year that would allow local communities to eliminate personal property tax on equipment for potential companies. This, according to Charbonneau, will make Northern Indiana more appealing to hi-tech companies with high paying jobs to consider locating in our area.
“We’re doing whatever we can as a state to remain one of the best states for business friendliness because that means we’re going to be attractive to bringing new jobs into the state,” stated Charbonneau.
The Starke County Commissioners gave Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall the go-ahead this week to have the boom truck repaired. At the March meeting, Siddall said the truck had been sidelined because of safety concerns and he asked to have it inspected. Siddall said that he was not willing to send an employee up in a 55-foot boom basket without first having it inspected and repaired. At this week’s board meeting, the needed repairs and cost estimate report was given to the commissioners who approved the request to have it brought up to safety standards.
FEMA and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources will be hosting a Flood Risk Information Open House on Tuesday, April 17th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Knox Community Center. The Open House will provide Starke County residents with an opportunity to review a recently completed preliminary Flood Insurance Study and its accompanying preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
Local groups are planning fundraisers to help pay for annual Fourth of July fireworks celebrations.
The Winamac VFW and the Winamac Kiwanis Club are teaming up to raise money for the Fourth of July display at the Winamac Town Park. A fish fry fundraiser will be held on Friday, April 6th from 4:00-7:30 p.m. ET at the Winamac VFW. Marita Grisel, President of the Winamac Kiwanis Club, says that the VFW has returned to their prior supplier for the larger fish filets. The dinner is $8.00 which includes fish, baked beans and coleslaw. All the money raised will help defray the rising cost of the fireworks.
A Victorian High Tea is being planned by local residents looking to combine a fun afternoon and support a worthy cause at the same time. Proceeds from the event will be given to the Community Services of Starke County’s food pantry.
The event will be held at the Knox Community Center on Thursday, April 26th, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A brunch will be provided by Christo’s Family Dining and served by local celebrities. A silent auction will be held, along with other entertainment, elegant decorations, drawings, and a free gift for all attendees. All tickets must be purchased in advance as no tickets will be sold at the door.
