On this date 65 years ago, three men met in the Commissioners room to map out and help organize the Board of Directors for a proposed new hospital for Starke County. Mr. L.L. Gilliland, Luther Everts and John Hill came up with names for the new board. It was a dream come true in 1951 when Starke Memorial opened its doors. Building cost? $325,000.
“All seems to be positive!” That was the word from Indiana University Health-Starke Hospital CEO, Linda Satkoski, about the name change of our local hospital. WKVI talked with Satkoski last week, and again asked about the build up to the name change.
“When the IU, Riley and Methodist Hospitals in downtown Indianapolis joined, they became Clarian in 1997,” explained Satkoski. “In 1998, LaPorte Hospital joined the Clarian system. Then in 2009, when LaPorte Regional Health System purchased Starke Memorial Hospital we became part of the entire system also.”
When asked about why the name change occurred, she replied, “That means it’s an assurance to the public that they will be getting the same care, same education, same research availability across the system. It really is all about the assurance that we can guarantee to our patients. They will receive the same standard of care across the system.”
Community Hospital Board President, Ben Bennett, has been out and about and reported positive feed back on the name change.
“Ben told me he was quite excited,” stated Satkoski. “He said he’s been out and about in the community and has been getting very a positive response. He said that the IU Health name really brings a lot of recognition.”
Indiana University Health-Starke Hospital. The new name of the former Starke Memorial Hospital.
There is no more Starke Memorial Hospital. Well, there is a hospital at the corner of Culver Road and Heaton Street, but the name of the facility was officially changed Thursday. In keeping with the Clarian change throughout the system Starke Memorial will be known as Indiana University Health-Starke Hospital.
“Talking with Spencer Grove from the Indiana Hospital Association said that this is absolutely the first time we’ve changed the name for Starke Hospital,” said CEO Linda Satoski. “It is an exciting day across the entire State of Indiana, moving to the IU Health name and the assurance that it gives our patients, our communities to quality of care, education and research.”
The Starke Memorial Hospital Community Board retained Board officers at their meeting this week. Ben Bennett was again selected to be the Board President, Sandy Hansen, Vice President and Ed Hasnerl, the Secretary. Other members of the board are Jerry Wilson, Dorothy Bau, Dr. Walter Fritz and Ted Hayes.
In other news from the hospital:
The switch over to the new name of the hospital is tentatively scheduled for the end of the month. All hospitals in the Clarian system will be rebranded using I.U. Health. After the change, the hospital here will be known as I.U. Health-Starke Hospital.
From the WKVI Archives:
Edith Gurrado accepted a job at Starke Memorial Hospital on this date in 1952. She says her starting pay was 85 cents an hour. Beginning in the housekeeping department, Edith moved to Dietary after six months. Yesterday, she completed her 58th year on the job. Still going strong, Edith Gurrado of Starke Memorial Hospital.
Surrounding hospitals are anxiously awaiting the birth of the first baby of 2011. Starke Memorial Hospital has not had an OB department at the hospital since 2008 so the notification of a new baby born will come from hospitals in surrounding communities.
Tony Kerby lost his life in the Yellow River attempting to save his younger brother’s life. The good looking boy went in the treacherous waters to save his 8-year-old brother Dominick when the youngster slipped off a rock. Dominick was saved when a person in the park pulled him to safety, but Tony could not swim to the banks.
Community members were so saddened by the death that a cross was put at the site to honor his efforts and his life. The memorial was created by Shelby Clemons of North Judson, his wife, Danielle, and Misty Baldridge of Knox.
Starke County’s most famous citizen passed away on this date in 1966. Henry Schricker died on December 28th, a Wednesday afternoon after being a hospital patient at Starke Memorial Hospital for almost a month. He died of a heart attack at the age of 83.
He served two terms as Governor of the State of Indiana. He was born in North Judson on August 30th, 1883, when the area was still part of the Great Kankakee Swamp.
A tragic auto accident occurred Sunday afternoon at the intersection of State Road 10 and State Road 35 in Starke County. Police found that Megan Smithson, 19, of Illinois, stopped at the intersection and pulled out onto US 35 and into the path of a vehicle driven by Tony Wagner, 37, of Winamac. Smithson was pronounced dead at the scene by Starke County Coroner, Kris Rannells.
Wagner was transported to Starke Memorial Hospital and airlifted to South Bend Memorial for leg injuries sustained in the accident. An 18-year-old passenger in Smithson’s vehicle was also airlifted to South Bend Memorial due to injuries suffered in the accident. The Bass Lake Fire Department and Starke County EMS assisted the Starke County Sheriff’s Department at the scene.
Sonny Newbauer, Plant Manager at Hoosier Custom Plastics, was struck by lightning in the business’ parking lot on Tuesday, August 3rd.
Gordon Shank, owner of Hoosier Custom Plastics, told WKVI that day that he had heard a clap of thunder at 7:45 a.m., looked outside the plant, and saw Sonny Newbauer on the ground after he was struck by lightning. Newbauer, of Knox, was given CPR by a fellow employee and while still unconscious, he was taken to Starke Memorial Hospital. The medical staff sedated Newbauer and he was flown to a Fort Wayne Hospital.
Newbauer is still recovering from the incident.
Indiana State Fire Marshal, Fred Sumpter, told WKVI Tuesday that the investigation into the cause of a house fire in Washington Township early Monday morning has been postponed. He cited weather conditions and the integrity of the structure as reasons for the postponement. The investigation will continue as soon as the weather clears.
We’re getting closer to the time when Starke Memorial Hospital’s name will change. As WKVI reported recently, Starke Memorial Hospital will change its name to incorporate “Indiana University Health” after the first of the year. Starke Memorial Hospital CEO, Linda Satkoski, reminds us how the name change came about.
