North Judson residents can put any brush they would like to have hauled off by the town alongside their alleys for pickup starting Monday. If the home doesn’t have an alley, brush can be placed along the curb. Either way, clerk-treasurer Donna Henry says it needs to be in place by 7 a.m. Monday to ensure pickup, as crews will only make one pass through town. She adds this pickup is for brush only, as leaves will be collected again this fall.
Starke County to Celebrate Lincoln Funeral Train Anniversary
The western Starke County community of San Pierre will be the focus of area attention the afternoon of Saturday, May 2nd. Starke County’s Historical Society has planned a program to commemorate the travel of President Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train through the area on May 1, 1865. Continue reading
New Trial Date Set in James Campbell Case
An October trial date has been set for the owner of a Knox business destroyed by fire last March, but that may change.
A jury last month in Starke County Recycling owner James Campbell’s arson trial deadlocked after 12 hours of deliberations. Chief Deputy Prosecutor Mary Ryan and Campbell’s attorneys agreed to set aside two weeks for a new trial starting Oct. 19. However Campbell’s attorney says he has not been paid yet and may withdraw as counsel if payment isn’t made within 30 days. If that happens a new trial date will be set. Campbell was ordered to appear at the next status conference on May 27.
Dog Credited with Saving Homeowner from House Fire
A dog bite may have been the difference between life and death for a Bass Lake man. Fire Chief Les Jensen says his department was called to a house fire in Boa Shores around 3:30 Saturday morning. The homeowner was asleep when the fire started. Continue reading
Drug Search Conducted at Knox Middle School
Starke County K9 Terror with handler Rob Olejniczak, along with other K9 officers from Pulaski County, Marshall County and Plymouth, conducted a drug sweep of the Knox Middle School this week. Additional officers were asked to join the Starke County K9 unit due to the size of the middle school.
According to the Starke County Sheriff’s Office, the K9s swept lockers in addition to vehicles in the parking lots. No illegal substances were found on school grounds.
North Judson-San Pierre High School Graduation Rate Soars
The North Judson-San Pierre High School principal attributes the uptick in the graduation rate at the corporation to the efforts of determined students, staff, and counselors.
The rate has only gone up slightly each year for the past few years, but Annette Zupin told the school board this week that it means a lot to see students improve. Zupin believes an 11 percent increase in the graduation rate between 2013 and 2014 is due to the determination of students to graduate. The graduation rate was at 84.7 percent in 2013 and 95.8 percent in 2014. The school board members are hoping for the same or better results this year. Continue reading
Starke County Council Authorizes Mailing of Inkeepers Tax Letters
Starke County inkeepers taxes are now payable to the county treasurer’s office each month. The forms that need to be submitted with those payments are available on the county’s website, and any questions can be directed to the treasurer’s office. Payments were previously submitted to the state. Continue reading
Local Grower Places Hopes in Hops
Starke County is generally known for growing three crops: corn. soybeans and peppermint. A local man plans to join a dozen or so other Hoosier farmers that are now planting hops – a main ingredient in beer that could become a major local crop.
Typically grown in the Pacific Northwest, there are half-a-dozen varieties adapting to Hoosier weather. Hops are essentially flowers that grow on a vine. The crop requires a tall trellis system about 20 feet tall and then every year you have to tie strings to the top of the trellis and anchor them down. Continue reading
Industrial Park Road Rehab Forces Temporary Closure of 300 East
Part of Starke County Road 300 East through the Knox Industrial Park is closed today so concrete can cure. Contractors are working in the area to restore lawns and driveways that were disturbed by last year’s road widening project. Continue reading
Plea Hearing Set in Attempted Murder Case
A plea hearing has been set in Starke Circuit Court for a man accused of stabbing a Knox resident in the early morning hours of Sunday, Nov. 30.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Benton Christopher Howard and Brandon Davidson got into an argument at a home in Knox which escalated to a physical confrontation. Howard allegedly unsheathed a knife and stabbed Davidson in the chest. Davidson was taken to the hospital with a collapsed lung and damage to his heart.
Howard is charged with attempted murder as a Level 1 felony and aggravated battery as a Level 3 felony.
March County Unemployment Rates Reflect Two Extremes
The March unemployment rates in Starke, LaPorte and Jasper Counties are well above the state average, while Marshall and Pulaski Counties are slightly under that number. That’s according to figures released by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Continue reading
Summer School Classes Approved for North Judson-San Pierre Students
North Judson-San Pierre students can attend summer school classes that have been offered in the past, or they can take new classes.
Superintendent Lynn Johnson said summer school classes will be meet Monday through Thursday starting June 8th and continuing through June 25th.
North Judson Town Board Approves Mowing Contract, Issues Sewage Reminder
The lone contractor to submit a timely cemetery mowing bid to the town of North Judson will do the work this year. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the town council awarded the bid to Shef’s Lawn Care Services. Their $15,000 bid includes mowing of Highland and Pioneer Cemeteries and other miscellaneous lawn care around town. Continue reading
Starke County Council Approves Mower Purchase for Jail
Starke County officials have opted to do their own lawn maintenance and snow removal at the new jail in an effort to contain costs. On Monday the county council approved the purchase of a mower with a commercial grade deck for the facility. It will be paid for with tax money set aside for construction of the building east of Knox on State Road 8. Continue reading
Knox Board of Public Works Approves Loan of K9 Kennel
The Starke County Sheriff’s Office will have a vehicle kennel for another K9 when the time comes to purchase another dog.
The Knox Board of Public Works agreed to loan the city-owned kennel to the county to help reduce the county’s costs toward another K9 unit. Mayor Rick Chambers explained that the Knox City Police Department no longer has a K9 unit and had the kennel in storage. Sheriff Bill Dulin requested the use of the kennel and the request was granted Wednesday morning.
Hamlet Town Council Accepts Sidewalk Bid
A bid of $13,100 was accepted by the Hamlet Town Board last night to complete six improvements in Hamlet’s 2015 50-50 sidewalk replacement project. There was also discussion with engineer Lee Nagai about installing new street lights and sidewalks in a possible downtown revitalization project.
Another improvement under consideration includes solving the standing water problem at a street intersection near the Lutheran Church. Continue reading
Industrial Park Road Rehab Forces Temporary Closure of 300 East
Part of Starke County Road 300 East through the Knox Industrial Park will be closed overnight and through the day tomorrow to allow concrete to cure. Contractors are working in the area to restore lawns and driveways that were disturbed by last year’s road widening project. Continue reading
Grovertown Man Faces Theft, Drug Charges in Marshall County
A Grovertown man faces theft and drug charges in Marshall County following a weekend undercover investigation. A patrolman from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department was investigating the theft of truck rims and tires which the victim had located for sale on Craigslist. Continue reading
Formal Charges Filed in Alleged Criminal Confinement Incidents
Formal charges have been filed against a Knox man accused of handcuffing, shackling and water boarding a woman at his Bass Lake area home. Employees at Bass Lake Pub and Ristorante called 911 after the woman showed up there early last Wednesday afternoon and told them she had managed to escape. Benny Giselbach was arrested nearby by deputies from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office after a multi-agency manhunt. Continue reading
North Judson Town Council Sets Up Revolving Loan Fund
North Judson will still have a grocery store thanks to quick action by the town council. Heartland Markets has signed a letter of intent to buy Ray’s Super Foods on Lane Street. Company officials also asked the town if they could offer any incentives. North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry recently spoke with representatives from the State Board of Accounts, who suggested they could set up a revolving loan fund for economic development projects. Continue reading
