Six applications for Hamlet’s 50-50 sidewalk program were reviewed last night. One contractor applied to do the cement work. The board took all applications under advisement.
The Maxinkuckee Players will hold open auditions for this year’s summer production on Saturday, May 2.
Those interested in a part in Hello Dolly will read from a script prepared on site and sing a song of choice. A pianist and a CD player will be available for accompaniment.
The musical surrounds the antics of Dolly Levi as she decides that she needs to find someone for herself after years of finding matches for everyone else. The musical is set in the City of New York at the turn of the century and provides some famous musical hits such as “Before the Parade Passes By,” “It Only Takes a Moment,” “Put on Your Sunday Clothes,” and the title number, “Hello, Dolly!”.
Income taxes are due in six days. There’s still plenty of time to file if you haven’t already done so. Michelle Bachtel with the Knox H&R Block office says it’s important to choose the federal form that best meets your needs. A popular option is the 1040-EZ. However, it has limits.
“As long as you are under the age of 65, your income is below $100,000 and the income only comes from things like wages, salaries, tips and unemployment, with less than $1,500 in interest, you can use this form. But you cannot itemize deductions, claim dependents or be filing separate from your spouse. With this form your credits are limited, so just because you are eligible to file this form doesn’t mean you should, Bachtel said. Continue reading
A Knox man is jailed after reportedly making threats on a social media website that prompted a school lockdown. 20-year-old Paul J. Esparza entered Knox High School twice yesterday and was escorted from the building both times, according to police. A post on Esparza’s Facebook page led officials to believe he was in possession of a handgun. Continue reading
A grocery store put up for sale in March of this year may be taking another step.
Whether the deal goes through for the store’s purchase, however, may be influenced by the North Judson Town Council. Ray’s Super Foods operated in North Judson for the past 18 years, but the owners announced in an advertisement that they intended to “make a change.”
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Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin hopes to raise enough money through donations to add a second drug and search dog to his department. The county commissioners Monday gave him permission to proceed with fundraisers to cover the cost of a dog, training for the animal and its handler. Money will also go toward veterinary expenses, food and equipment for the county’s existing dog. Continue reading
The latest photo opportunity for U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly happened to be in Knox on Tuesday.
The Senator was touring multiple businesses in the Northern Indiana region as part of a “Donnelly Day.” The Democrat uses the visits to learn more about what’s important to workers in Indiana by performing tasks alongside various employees.
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The Starke County Clerk’s Office welcomed nine voters Tuesday on the first day to vote absentee in the May 5 Knox Primary Election.
Incumbent Democrat Mayor Rick Chambers is seeking another term. He faces opposition from Democrat Dennis Estok, who previously served as mayor. Incumbent District 2 Councilman Ron Parker has drawn a primary challenge from fellow Democrat Priscilla Upp. Council District 4 incumbent Gregory L. Matt is opposed by Democrat Tim Manns in the primary. The winner of that contest will face Republican Anthony (Tony) Radkiewicz, Sr. in the November General Election. Democrats Bertha Blue and Dorine Barbara Godinez are vying for the Knox City Council At-Large seat given up by Linda Berndt. Incumbent councilmen Donald L. Kring and Jeff Berg are unopposed. So is Knox Clerk-Treasurer Jeffery J. Houston. Voters will choose between incumbent Republican City Court Judge Charles F. Hasnerl and Democrat Angelo Masuka in November.
Work continues to help improve a polling site in North Bend Township.
During Monday’s Starke County Election Board meeting, an update was received on construction at the site. Starke County was awarded a Help America Vote Act, or HAVA, grant worth nearly $25-thousand to complete several projects.
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Head to Weinberg Gym in Knox tonight for “trick-hoops and alley-oops” courtesy of the Harlem Wizards. The legendary exhibition basketball team will take on “The Tribe” – a team comprised of local celebrities in a fundraiser for the Knox High School Band Boosters. Director Craige Phipps says general admission, reserve seat and meet-and-greet tickets are available. Continue reading
Members of a group charged with improving local access to post-secondary education will meet Thursday to review their visions and goals and make a plan to attain them. The Starke County Career Success Coalition’s objectives address access to higher education and its completion. Specifically they hope 25 percent of local students finish college by 2025. Continue reading
A Knox man was arrested Tuesday morning after allegedly making threats to harm individuals within the Knox Community High School.
Officers from the Knox City Police Department were notified of the situation after Paul J. Esparza, 20, had entered Knox High School and was escorted from the building by school officials twice. The initial complaint suggested that Esparza was in possession of a handgun, according to a news release. Officers found Esparza in the area of the school shortly after notification and took him into custody. Police say he was not armed at the time.
The North Judson-Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department spent about two hours battling a blaze at a home southeast of town early this morning. Continue reading
A murder trial scheduled to start April 13 in Starke Circuit Court has been pushed back to at least July so the defendant can have surgery deemed medically necessary by a provider under contract with the county. Gary Chavez is accused of beating his estranged wife, Kimberly Chavez, to death at their rural California Township home last June. From there police say he drove to Mark Bailey’s Discount Center, kidnapped an employee and drove to English Lake where he’s accused of stealing a second vehicle. Chavez then led police on a high-speed chase into LaPorte and Porter Counties, according to court records. He’s accused of stealing a third vehicle in Kouts and continuing into Lake County. Police there say Chavez shot himself in the face when officers in Crown Point managed to stop his vehicle. He was airlifted to a Chicagoland area hospital and released to the custody of the Starke County Sheriff last August. Chavez remains in jail. Continue reading
Construction of the addition to the Knox Elementary School is expected to begin within 30 days, Dana J. Wannemacher, vice president Barton Coe Vilamaa, architects and engineers, reported to the Knox School Board last night. Weather and scheduling were cited as contributing to about a month’s delay in breaking ground. The board approved details of the kitchen and cafeteria area and equipment. Continue reading
In-office absentee voting for the City of Knox Municipal Primary Election begins today and will be available through Monday, May 4. Absentee voting hours will be from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in the second-floor meeting room in the Starke County Courthouse. Evening absentee voting hours are available on Tuesday, April 21 and Thursday, April 30 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday absentee voting hours will be April 25 and May 2 from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Starke County Election Board advertised early and absentee voting hours, and then considered changing them the day before it’s supposed to start.
Following a vote at their last meeting to set the hours for voting prior to the primary election, Starke County Clerk Vicky Cooley brought a proposal to the board to reduce the number of hours early voting can take place.
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To use a baseball analogy, construction of the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Detention Center has rounded third base and is heading for home plate. That’s how Dion Katsouros from Skillman Corporation described the project to the Starke County Building Corporation during their monthly meeting. Continue reading
Federal and state income taxes are due in eight days. Michelle Bachtel from H&R Block in Knox says it’s important not to exclude any sources of income.
“Pretty much all income, whether it’s reported or not reported, is taxable unless the law specifically excludes it,” Bachtel said. “This includes non-cash income from things like bartering or exchanging of assets. Both parties are expected to include the fair market value of the item or services they received as income on their tax returns.” Continue reading
A local physician with deep roots in Starke County is making a change. Dr. Curtis Bejes is a North Judson native who has been practicing medicine in his home town for 18 years.
“Although I’ve enjoyed my time here immensely, I’ve decided to take some time away from my practice,” Bejes said. He added he’s not selling his home or leaving the area for good. He is taking a year off to do other things. Continue reading
