Starke Election Board to Review Polling Place Change in Hamlet
The Town of Hamlet wants to move their polling site to a newly constructed facility.
During Monday morning’s Starke County Election Board meeting, the request was reviewed. The Election Board says that although Hamlet has already voted on the move, the change must also be approved at the County level.
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Senator Decries Legislature’s “Education Session”

A local lawmaker says the recently completed session of the Indiana General Assembly was the most trying and most contentious of his nine-year legislative career. Gov. Mike Pence touted it as the education session. Sen. Jim Arnold, D-LaPorte, agrees this year’s 2.2 percent increase in school funding and next year’s 2.5 percent hike are the largest increases in education funding in history.
“It sounds very good. The downside of that is that the vast majority of our increased money now is going to vouchers and going to charter schools, not going to public school systems,” Arnold recently told the Starke County Council and Commissioners. “The big winners of this are going to be the urban schools. The rural schools such as Knox are going to be the big losers.” Continue reading
Calling All Farmers Interested in Getting Involved with the Community
If you know someone interested in serving on a local Indiana Farm Service Agency County Committee, now is the time to submit that person’s name as a nominee for the 2015 County Committee Elections. Act fast because you only have until the beginning of August to submit your nomination. Continue reading
Kersting’s-sponsored MDA Ride Touted as Tremendous Success

This year’s charitable motorcycle ride sponsored by the North Judson Kersting’s Cycle Center was a success. The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office extended a congratulatory thanks to the Kankakee Valley chapter 1326 of the Harley Owners Group for raising nearly $700 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Continue reading
Murder Trial Starts Today in Starke Circuit Court

The trial for a Knox man accused of killing his estranged wife last June at his rural California Township residence gets under way today with jury selection. Continue reading
Starke County Election Board Continues Preparations for November

The Starke County Election Board will be preparing for the upcoming November General Election. Continue reading
Starke County Officials Seeking Redevelopment Commission Candidates
Starke County officials are looking for members to serve on the long-dormant county redevelopment commission by appointing new members. It was established in 2006 to oversee a tax increment financing district set up by the county as part of the effort to bring Sysco to Hamlet. Continue reading
Kids Closet Ministry’s Pack-A-Backpack Event is Back!
Starke County students who receive either free or reduced lunch during the school year have a chance to receive a backpack full of free supplies tonight or tomorrow at the North Judson United Methodist Church fellowship hall. Continue reading
Explore South Dakota With Kankakee Valley Broadcasting

Enjoy the beauty of the Black Hills, Badlands and more on a six-day, five-night trip with Kankakee Valley Broadcasting. Travel coordinator Ed Hasnerl has a few last-minute seats available for next month’s motorcoach trip to South Dakota. The bus will leave early Aug. 17 from Knox and return on the 22nd. Continue reading
Yellowstone Trail Pageant Deadline Approaching
Time is running out to sign-up for the 6th annual Yellowstone Pageant. The deadline to submit your entry form and fee is tomorrow. To qualify for the pageant you must live or attend school in Starke County. The event will be held outdoors, rain or shine, at 1 pm on August 15th in the Starke County Fairgrounds. Continue reading
State Still Short of FEMA Damage Qualification Threshold
Businesses, individual and nonprofit organizations whose property has sustained damages as a result of recent flooding and storms have a few more days to report uninsured damage to the state. Doing so is a first step to see if Indiana may qualify for federal disaster assistance funds. Continue reading
Indiana State Police Post Adds K-9

The newest addition to the Indiana State Police Lowell post has four legs and a tail. Master Trooper Steve Caylor and his K-9 partner, Nikan, are graduates of the 2015 ISP K-9 Class. Caylor has been with the department for almost 20 years. Nikan is an 18 month old Malinherd, which is a cross between a Belgian Malinois and a German Shepherd. Continue reading
Free Dental Exams Available for Uninsured Children
Children without dental insurance can get a free back-to-school checkup at the Indiana University Health LaPorte Dental Center. Appointments are required. During the screening, a dentist from meschkesmiles.com will do a visual exam and create a dental map of the child’s teeth and diagnose any problems or decay. Referrals will be given for follow-up care as needed. Continue reading
Kids Closet Receives a Plethora of Supplies for Upcoming Back-to-School Event
Kids Closet Ministry annually provides school supplies to underprivileged children in Starke County with their Pack-a-Backpack event. Community members get the chance to contribute during their school supply drives. This year while Kids Closet was posted outside the Dollar General stores in North Judson and Knox they received an ample amount of supplies from weekend shoppers. However it was the donations from two other local foundations that helped provide the new backpacks for all the donated supplies. Continue reading
Bass Lake Festival Continues Today and Tomorrow
Friday’s festivities were a good way to start off the weekend but the fun at Bass Lake continues today and tomorrow. Continue reading
Arrest Made, Charges Filed in Pulaski County Hit-and-Run

A San Pierre man faces multiple felony charges in connection with a Tuesday afternoon hit-and-run accident in Pulaski County. Continue reading
Knox Sewer System Requires Expensive Upgrades
The City of Knox wastewater treatment system needs some costly upgrades to address aging infrastructure. Superintendent Kelly Clemons told the board of works this week a sewer main that broke near the White House Motel a few weeks ago is 80 years old. Crews patched it together, but that’s not considered a long-term fix. Continue reading
Volunteer Fire Department To Host Grand Opening Celebration Sunday
Historical Marker Commemorates Knox Drugstore Site
A historical marker now stands on the site of one of downtown Knox’s first commercial structures. The Koffel Building at the corner of Main and Lake Streets was completed in 1891, a year before the city’s streets were paved with brick, four years before municipal electrical service was offered and 17 years before city water was available. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver says drug stores were a vital part of a booming business district.
“Always in the drugstore the fountain was a big thing. From the very beginning there were tables where it was appropriate for the ladies to come in to have coffee, tea or a soft drink or whatever from the fountain. That became quite a social center in the day.” Continue reading



















