The February unemployment report looks more favorable than the January report.
The January report released earlier this month indicated an increase in unemployment where the February numbers showed a decrease in figures in all counties.
New Library Director to Begin Duties Today
A new library director will be taking over the chief duties with the Starke County Public Library system.
Rose Frost is coming to the area from the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library where she was the director there beginning in 2011. Prior to her work at the library she was an online instructor with library and information studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Frost also worked as a Public Library Consultant/Grant Coordinator in Utah.
North Judson Officials Move Into New Town Office Building
The North Judson Clerk-Treasurer’s Office and Water Department are settling into their new space. The town offices are now located in the former bank building at 310 Lane Street. First Farmers Bank and Trust donated the structure to the town last year. Continue reading
Starke County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Winner Announced
The Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. has selected Starke County’s 2015 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar.
North Judson-San Pierre High School senior Joshua Mullens will receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to an Indiana college of his choice and a $900 yearly stipend for books and equipment.
Mullens is a member of the National Honor Society and a four-year member of the basketball team. Mullens is the part of the North Judson United Methodist Church media team and volunteers with local blood drives. He plans to study chemical engineering in college.
Fire Officials: Don’t Burn Yard Debris on a Windy Day
Temperatures are becoming more spring-like and it’s tempting to get out into the yard to get rid of leaves and brush left over from the winter months. The most common way to get rid of the debris is to burn it. On occasion, burn piles can get out of control, and the fire department is called to assist a homeowner in putting out the flames.
Firefighters have responded to several brush fires in the past few days.
Knox-Center Township Fire Chief Kenny Pfost urges you to choose a nice day to burn any of that debris.
Chamber: Advertising Company Using Questionable Tactics
Some questionable business tactics are being used to sell advertising.
That’s according to a notice sent by the Starke County Chamber of Commerce to its member business. The Chamber says it was notified by members that local businesses had been receiving phone calls from companies claiming to sell advertising for maps.
Continue reading
IU Health La Porte and Starke Hospitals Announce Exclusive Negotiations With CHS Subsidiary
IU Health LaPorte and Starke Hospitals may partner with Community Health Systems, Inc. to strengthen the health care needs of the area. The IU Health LaPorte Hospital Board has entered into exclusive negotiations with a CHS subsidiary and IU Health, according to a news release sent late Monday afternoon. Final details will be worked out during a due diligence period. The proposed limited liability company will include IU Health LaPorte and Starke Hospitals and all related entities, including physician practices. Continue reading
Starke County Polling Site to be Upgraded
The Starke County Election Board Monday morning discussed improvements planned at the North Bend Township polling site at Bass Lake. A $24,000 grant was obtained last year to upgrade the facility to standards outlined in the Help America Vote Act.
The grant will improve the voting center on Prairie Avenue to make it more handicapped accessible. According to Starke County Election Board President Dan Bridegroom, one door will be replaced, and one installed to make two exits in the building. Those with walkers or another type of mobility assistance will be able to have a smoother walkway with improvements planned for the site. Parking will be expanded and improved so voters of all abilities can better access the site to vote.
Wednesday is National Walking Day
The American Heart Association’s National Walking Day is a chance for idle residents to get up and start moving to improve heart health.
National Walking Day will be observed tomorrow. Residents are becoming less active and the observance of walking and other activities allow young and old people alike to decrease the chance of heart disease, stroke and other diseases.
Final Work on 300 East to Start Today
The contractor that widened 300 East through the Knox Industrial Park last summer is ready to put the finishing touches on that project. Work will begin today to repair driveways, install topsoil, seed and sod and clean existing pavement. Once that is done, a final surface coat will be applied and the pavement will be marked. No road closures are planned. Lane restrictions and flagging operations will be used to restrict traffic until the project is complete in May.
Moving Starke County Forward Announces Summer Challenge
The Moving Starke County Forward organization is ready to “race” into the summer with this year’s walking challenge.
The theme this year is patterned after NASCAR races to see if all participants can reach the lap goal every two weeks with the number of miles walked, ran, biked, or swam. The Healthy Challenge Series, a healthy reference to NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, will begin on May 2 with the kick-off event at 10 a.m. in Wythogan Park. An inaugural pace lap will officially start the event that will continue through Aug. 29.
Don’t Miss the Bus to the Tulip Festival
Kankakee Valley Broadcasting Travel Coordinator Ed Hasnerl has a few available slots for his upcoming trip to Holland, Mich. Enjoy the beauty of the annual Tulip Festival May 4-7. It’s just one of the adventures Ed has planned.
“Several people have talked to me about going to the Henry Ford Museum and eating dinner in an auto baron’s home – Edsel Ford, Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s home. It’s a wonderful home full of antiques and art, besides having dinner there,” Hasnerl said. Continue reading
Melody Drive In Set to Open Next Weekend
A sure sign of spring is the grand opening of the Melody Drive In Theater at Bass Lake. Owner Fred Heise says both screens are ready for Friday night’s features. They include “Furious 7″, “Cinderella” and “McFarland USA.” Continue reading
Indiana Senate Dems Reviewing Minimum Wage Data
Indiana’s Senate Democrats are taking a look at the minimum wage in Indiana.
According to information put forward by the caucus, data from the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis has Indiana making slow strides in income growth compared with other states.
Continue reading
Students Can Earn Scholarships for Driving Now, TXTing L8R
Multiple government agencies are partnering to give students scholarship opportunities.
The scholarships have been conducted in the past to help promote safe driving behind the wheel – especially when it comes to teens using their mobile devices. The “Drive Now. TXT L8R” campaign gives $5-thousand scholarships.
Triple A Studies Teen Driving, Distraction Levels High
A video analysis of teen driving has shown evidence that distracted driving is more of a problem than previous thought.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reviewed video evidence and found that distraction was a factor in about 6 of 10 moderate-to-severe crashes when teens were the drivers. Information released by AAA suggests that’s four times higher than the data suggests based on police reports.
Palm Sunday Tornado Anniversary Tomorrow
Sunday marks the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Palm Sunday tornadoes here in the Starke-Marshall area.
Shortly before 6 p.m. after massive thunderstorms passed through the area, the first tornado of many reported that day touched down in Starke County a few miles southwest of Hamlet. It crossed U.S. 30 and tore directly across Koontz Lake.
One-hundred vacation cottages were damaged. As one of the cottages was blown to pieces, the man inside was lifted into the air and thrown to his death 600 feet away.
Accused Child Molester Remains Jailed on $35,000 Bond
A 25-year-old Knox man who is accused of trying to molest a preschooler in February of 2013 remains jailed on a $35,000 surety bond. Magistrate Jeanene Calabrese denied a request to lower Luther Nies’ bond or release him on his own recognizance during his initial appearance in Starke Circuit Court this morning. Continue reading
911 Call Leads to Arrest of Starke County Fugitive
A Starke County fugitive is in jail after Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an open-line 911 call in rural Medaryville last night. The call from a home in the 15000 block of West 160 North came in just before 9:30 p.m., according to a news release. Dispatchers called back and were told a child was playing with the telephone, and there was not an emergency. Continue reading
No New HIV Cases Reported in Immediate Area
Injection drug use is pinpointed as a cause of a jump in HIV cases in Scott County. No new cases of HIV have been reported locally.
Governor Mike Pence declared a public health emergency in Scott County yesterday due to an outbreak of HIV cases. The Indiana State Department of Health has identified 79 cases of HIV originating in Scott County.
