Even though it’s cooled off a little, spring bugs are still thinking it’s mid-April. Pests, such as wasps, have begun to appear and in Southern Indiana there’s been reports of mosquitoes.
Along with the bugs we don’t like to see, there are some pretty species out, like butterflies.
The warm winter, and summer-like March temperatures have allowed bugs to move up their seasonal appearances.
Some Entomologists are even saying that ticks didn’t rest at all over the winter.
To most people in the Republican Party in Starke County, Ione Moore was thought of as “Mrs. Republican.” A Starke County office holder and faithful party worker, Mrs. Moore was given many awards by the local party, and only three years ago received a special state certificate for her years of service to her community by then-Secretary of State Todd Rokita.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. today for Mrs. Moore at the Braman and Son Memorial Chapel in Knox. She passed away at the age of 92 on Friday.
Besides the special state award, Mrs. Moore was the 1997 Schricker Award winner and was the Senior Volunteer of the Year in 1996.
Tom Berg has been talking about going into the Guinness Book of World Records for a radio broadcasting endurance mark. It was on this date in 1928 at Bass Lake when George Byer, of Knox, won the roller skating endurance contest.
He roller skated continuously, except for five minute rests for 25 hours and 28 minutes. He was one of 11 entrants in the contest, which was sponsored by Nehi Company and Rannells and Kriss. It attracted the attention of scores of people.
The North Judson Town Board discussed the new key policy at their recent meeting. There is a new key log for all employees and all keys will be accounted for for all buildings and employees.
Town Superintendent Marshall Horstman reported to the board that a position with the utility department has been filled pending a drug test.
The Town of North Judson has a new Facebook page. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry and Billing Clerk, Jennifer Vanek, have been reworking the site and they post town information as well as board minutes, which will be posted as they are approved.
It was on this date five years ago that the Oregon-Davis Boys Basketball team won the Class A IHSAA Basketball Tournament. Quick, who did they beat? If you said Barr-Reeve, you’d win a prize. The final score was 63-52.
Three weeks before the O.D. Girls won the state tournament 54-42 beating Wood Memorial in the final game. It was the first time a boys and girls team from the same school won the tournament in the same year.
To top off the day, five years ago, Adam Pflugshaupt won the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude award.
Plymouth won the 3-A tournament, beating Evansville Bosse 72-61.
The Starke County Council discussed the proposed hospital sale at their meeting this week. Council President David Pearman suggested that before any decision be made on the sale to IU Health LaPorte Hospital that a consultant needs to be secured to give the members some idea of what the facility is worth.
A Monterey man has been charged in a Monday battery incident.
David Zachary, 40, allegedly battered his girlfriend. The victim told police about the incident the day after the event. She explained that she was not allowed to leave the house or make any phone calls so she couldn’t report the incident right away. She was allowed to go to work the next day and after she picked up her children from school and day care, she went to the Starke County Sheriff’s Department to report the incident. The victim stated that Zachary reportedly became mad at her the day before and struck her. The victim’s children told police that Zachary allegedly said that if their mother called the police, he would kill her.
Members of the Starke County Farm Bureau attended the organization’s annual meeting this week and heard Director of State Government Relations, Bob Kraft, talk about legislative successes this year.
Kraft talked about the success in the repeal of the inheritance tax.
“Probably the most noteworthy was the passing of the Inheritance Tax repeal,” said Kraft. “This has been a priority of Farm Bureau for years and years. All of a sudden all of the chips fell where they needed to and the Inheritance Tax will be phased out beginning in 2013.”
The Starke County Youth Club is getting ready for its annual WKVI Radiothon fundraiser to be held May 4th.
The Director of the SCYC, Irene Szakonyi, said they recently had their annual evaluation.
“We had our annual evaluation this year, and our results were phenomenal,” she praised. “All of our sites were visited by the state, and out of all possible points we only missed two. It’s fantastic! We’re proud of our staff and kids.”
In 1979, 68 percent of those polled by WKVI thought the energy shortage was a hoax or a scheme by the oil companies to raise prices. Prices of gasoline had already hit $.90 per gallon of regular and it was expected that $1.00 a gallon would hit before mid-summer.
The Starke County Commissioners this week voted to enter into a contract with DLZ Corporation to assess the needs of the county for a new or remodeled jail.
Work will primarily be done by Criminal Justice Planning Specialist and Criminal Justice Systems Analyst, Paul Downing. He talked about the current jail facility.
The Starke County Commissioners and Auditor Kay Chaffins have instituted a new monthly report form for offices that have cash drawers. Some offices missed the turn-in deadline this month, including the highway department.
Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall explains why.
“Kay sent us out a financial statement that has to be prepared every month,” explained Siddall. “We don’t handle cash, so we have been instructed by the State Board of Accounts to fill out another type of form.”
IU Health Starke Hospital is joining other IU facilities around the state in disseminating information on early spring allergies. The unseasonably warm winter and spring so far is presenting challenges for allergy suffers.
IU Health allergist, Dr. Deb Baylos, says allergies are more a function of pollen count in the air. However, she says allergies are starting earlier and will likely end earlier. Weather conditions really affect the intensity of allergies. For example, a warm, moist spring will intensify mold which tends to intensify mold allergies. If you notice signs of mold growth in your property, you may need to contact a mold remediation company immediately especially if someone in the house has allergies.
Knox native Jerry Johnson played in the 1969 NCAA Basketball Final game on this date. His Purdue Boilermakers lost to UCLA 92-72.
Chicago gangster, Diamond Joe Esposito, who owned a cottage at Bass Lake, was shot and killed in a gangland slaying in the Windy City. He had his hand in bootlegging and prostitution. He was killed on this date in 1928.
The issue between Sheriff Oscar Cowen and Starke County Merit Board President Ken Arnett seems to have been resolved, they were using mediation in court last Friday. Former Starke County Circuit Court Judge Marvin McLaughlin conducted the session and reported back to the county council Monday night.
“All the parties showed up and brought their common sense,” McLaughlin said. “We got an agreement that took care of the whole lawsuit. We also established a procedure for settling all the disputes and the council and courts should not be bothered again.”
A five-year-old child was transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend earlier this afternoon after he was reportedly found unresponsive after falling into a small pond in the North 600 Block of Ind. 23. A witness called 911 and told police that the child had fallen into the pond, and Starke County EMS rushed to the scene where they found the unresponsive child partially in the water.
The Hamlet Fire Department set up a landing zone near the intersection of 600 E and U.S. 30 for Memorial Hospital’s Med-Flight helicopter to land and transport the child to the hospital, where he was being held at last report.
No more information is available at this time, but the incident is still under investigation and WKVI will keep you informed as more information becomes available.
Starke County Tourism Board President Julie Dessauer appeared before the county council and commissioners this week seeking release of funds for the organization to function. Funding from the Innkeeper’s Tax has been frozen in the auditor’s office until an investigation into financial irregularities is completed. The financial issue stems from actions conducted by Jennie Carter.
Commissioner Kathy Norem said that the funding did not come directly to the Tourism Board.
The members of the Church of the Heartland will be taking a trailer full of supplies to tornado victims in southern Indiana this weekend, but items are still needed.
You may donate non-perishable food items, detergent, hair care products, cleaning supplies, paper products, diapers, baby food and bottled water. You may take your donation to the Church of the Heartland at 6020 S. 300 E. in Knox from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT everyday this week.
The Starke County Farm Bureau organization has come out against the Oregon-Davis school referendum scheduled for a vote on May 8th. Farm Bureau President, Brad Lawrence, explains the reason why the organization chooses to oppose the referendum.
Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski has sent in a check to the State of Indiana for unclaimed funds.
“As of now, we have turned in $55,836.22,” said Skronski.
