Each of the polling sites for November’s municipal elections will have two electronic voting machines in place. Members of the Starke County Election Board say that will help speed the process and will also provide a backup in case a machine malfunctions. Continue reading
The Knox City Council will discuss the 2016 salary ordinance when they meet this evening. It’s one of several items on the agenda for their 7 p.m. session. Other agenda items include discussion of calendar dates for next year and possibly conducting another town-wide yard sale during the Harvest Festival in September. The council will also consider approval of a contract with Four-Way and discuss a proposal from NIPSCO to establish an electronic vehicle charging station.
Indiana’s Senate Democrats are gearing up for the 2015 summer study committees.
Among the topics is replacing ISTEP with a new state standardized educational assessment. Typically the summer study sessions indicate some of the top issues legislators may consider in the next legislative session.
Officials from the National Weather Service are due in Starke County this afternoon to survey damage from yesterday’s storms. Emergency Management Agency Director Ted Bombagetti says the most significant damage occurred on 400 South between 600 and 700 West. Continue reading
A Knox man is jailed on a $40,000 bond following a city police investigation into drug activity. Officers from the Knox Police Department executed a search warrant on Thursday, June 4 at a home in the 700 block of East Lake Street. Continue reading
More thunderstorms are possible across the Kankakee Valley today. That’s according to the WKVI AccuWeather.com forecast. Strong storms packing wind gusts of up to 80 miles per hour tore through the listening area early last evening. The National Weather Service has yet to confirm whether they were actually tornadoes. Continue reading
The Starke County Sheriff’s Office, EMS and other departments that have their vehicles services at the county highway garage will have to pay the county’s labor cost for maintenance and repairs. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler was advised by the State Board of Accounts the department either has to charge the full hourly rate or not do the work. Continue reading
The Starke County Election Board is making plans for next year’s elections. Offices on the ballot include president and governor, as well as a number of other state and local positions. Continue reading
The new owners of North Judson’s only grocery store can go ahead with upgrades to their equipment, thanks to action by the town council. Members approved a promissory note with Heartland Markets, Inc. for a $50,000 secured revolving loan. Money came from North Judson’s share of the County Economic Development Income Tax. President Jeff Huffman says financial support from the town was imperative.
“We had just purchased a store in Francesville a few months earlier. Without the note from the town, we wouldn’t have been able to do it at this point in time. We would have had to wait. It was pretty evident it was going to close if we didn’t get the loan from the town, so the town stepping up and enabling us to come in here and welcoming us was fantastic. Otherwise we just wouldn’t have been able to do it.” Continue reading
State troopers plan to step up patrols and checkpoints on roads identified as the most dangerous in Indiana between now and Aug. 1. Purdue University data indicates the 53 segments of roadways in 18 counties have accounted for 418 alcohol-related crashes. U.S. 35 between 500 South in Starke County and U.S. 20 in LaPorte County is on the list. Continue reading
The Knox Farmers Market will get under way in a new location on Wednesday, June 17. It will be open each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Wythogan Park across from the train depot. Continue reading
North Judson auctioneer Ben Osinski will conduct the Starke County surplus property auction on Wednesday, June 29. The county commissioners voted Monday to offer him the opportunity to run the sale. D and N Auctions in Hamlet also expressed an interest in doing the sale. The commissioners noted both have done work for the county in the past and suggested they use them on a rotating basis. The auction time and location have not been announced.
Pets probably look forward to the summer season just as much as their owners do, however with weather conditions becoming ideal for outside play time there are a few dangers pet owners should be aware of. Aside from protection from pests and overheating, be sure your pet is safe from prowlers. Continue reading
An employee of Starke County for more than four decades retired yesterday from what was supposed to have been a temporary job. Gerald Ford was in the White House and gas was 55-cents a gallon when Carl Goodrich took over as courthouse custodian on Nov. 26, 1974. Continue reading
The North Judson Town Council will finalize the promissory note for a revolving loan to a local business during a special-called meeting today. That’s the lone topic on the agenda for the 4 p.m. session. Continue reading
Starke County EMS needs new billing software to replace an obsolete program. However, the software package the state recommends costs quite a bit of money to purchase and maintain. Continue reading
Starke County now requires the emergency sealing of structures destroyed or damaged by fires. The county commissioners passed a Monday at the recommendation of building commissioner Terry Stephenson. He says sealing a building preserves the integrity of the fire scene for an insurance company investigation. If a structure is no longer standing, Stephenson says safety tape should be used to cordon off the area. Continue reading
Community Services of Starke County will soon have a new executive director. Joan Haugh is retiring July 31st after 40 years with the nonprofit organization. The board of directors recently hired Becky Anspach of Star City to replace her. Continue reading
Indiana State Auditor Suzanne Crouch is looking to raise the profile of the auditor’s office.
The former Republican State Representative and Vanderburgh County Auditor paid a visit to Knox on Wednesday to meet with Starke County officials. The state auditor oversees payroll, local government distributions, and bill payments.
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Students are typically thrilled when summer break finally begins but individuals who rely on school meals for breakfast and lunch could be feeling bitter sweet about the end of the school year. Luckily, the Summer Food Service Program has a mission to make sure no Hoosier goes hungry.
