Several properties are up for sale in Starke County that could lead to economic development if sold.
Starke County Council Approves Gary Poppins Tax Abatements
The Starke County Council last night cleared the way for a new tenant to move into the long-vacant Stelrema building north of Knox. Continue reading
Starke County Council Clears Way for Stelrema Building Occupant
A long vacant Starke County industrial building could soon have a new occupant. Chicagoland-area-based gourmet snack food producer Gary Poppins plans to move into the Stelrema building on U.S. 35 this summer and be fully operational in that space by the end of the year. Continue reading
Industry Expresses Interest in Stelrema Building
Non-binding action by the Starke County Council this week could soon fill up a vacant commercial building. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver says a company is looking to purchase the vacant Stelrema building on U.S. 35 south of U.S. 30. Continue reading
Efforts for Stelrema Continued with Spring Open House Planned
A follow-up to a November open house could be in the former Stelrema Building’s future.
The site, located on U.S. 35 North of Knox, has sat empty since 2012. That’s when Stelrema’s parent company Gettig Technologies filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy protections.
Continue reading
Sysco Merger Could Put Starke County Site Back in Play
Houston, Texas-based Sysco Corporation’s planned merger with Rosemont, Ill.-based U.S. Foods could bode well for Starke County. Sysco bought 320 acres of land south of U.S. 30 in 2007 after announcing plans to build a redistribution center near Hamlet. At the time the company said the expansion would create 500 local jobs. The project stalled in 2009 due to the weak national economy. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver told the county council this week Sysco still plans to develop the site but has not announced a timeline for doing so. Continue reading
Former Stelrema Building Sold, County Recoups Back Taxes
The former Stelrema building on U.S. 35 north of Knox will soon be ready for occupancy. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Special Projects Coordinator Ron Gifford says it was recently sold to the Michigan man who owns the Freeman Products building at the corner of 300 East and Culver Road. Continue reading
Stelrema Building Falling Into Disrepair; Prospects Wanted
Fiery Crash Closes U.S. 35
A fiery Friday afternoon crash on U.S. 35 in front of Stelrema closed the highway and sent one person to IU Health Starke Hospital to be checked out. It happened around 3:15 this afternoon. Jennifer Bye, 40, of LaPorte, was southbound on 35 in a Chevrolet TrailBlazer and slowed for a farm implement crossing CR 250 N. William Trent, 36, of Hamlet, was behind Bye in a Buick and was unable to avoid rear-ending her, spinning her SUV into a ditch on the east side of the highway. Trent’s car burst into flames. Neither driver was injured. A juvenile passenger in Bye’s car was taken by ambulance to the hospital as a precautionary measure. Firefighters from the Knox-Center Township Volunteer Fire Department extinguished the blaze. The heat was so intense a portion of the pavement beneath the car melted.
News from the Knox City Council
An agreement between the City of Knox and Dean Wells has been reached on a building owned by Mr. Wells across from City Hall. Originally, Mr. Wells had offered the building and adjoining parking area to the City for $125,000. After securing two appraisals on the property, it was determined the City could offer no more than the average of the two which was $103,250. Mayor Rick Chambers announced that Mr. Wells would accept that price.
