Proposed Library Tax Rate Clarified

Henry F. Schricker Library

The announcement of the renovation of the Henry F. Schricker Public Library in Knox caused an avalanche of comments to the story on our website. Most of the comments have to do with the cost to the taxpayers.

Starke County Auditor, Kay Chaffins, contacted WKVI yesterday to correct a figure we used as a taxpayer obligation over the next 20 years.

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Plymouth Woman Arrested after Police Pursuit

Kristy Jimerson

An officer from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Plymouth woman after a pursuit incident Tuesday afternoon.

A caller notified the Sheriff’s Department of an intoxicated driver leaving the area of 900 East and 300 North in Starke County. A detective was in the area and spotted the suspect vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop but the vehicle failed to stop. The detective pursued the vehicle from 150 North and State Road 23 in Starke County to Plymouth and then to Culver. The driver stopped the vehicle after a minor vehicle accident in Marshall County on Tulip Road, just north of 14B road.

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Nathan Welter Named Starke United Campaign Chair

Nathan Welter gave an address as Starke United's Campaign Chair

The Starke United Campaign Kickoff Breakfast was held yesterday. The breakfast was sponsored by Integrity Trade Services and was prepared by the Country Kettle.

Announced as the 2011 Campaign Chair was Nathan Welter, who also acted as the Master of Ceremony for the event.

Those attending heard presentations by Board Chairperson Todd Zeltwanger and Starke United Director Julie Dessauer. Testimonials were given by Irene Szakonyi of the Starke County Youth Club and Peggy Shidaker of Knox Community Schools. The Key Note Speaker was Pastor Ed Hasnerl, who gave an inspiring “Talking of Many Things” presentation.

Numerous pacesetter checks were presented to end the festivities.

Following the event we talked with Nathan Welter, who is a sports reporter at WKVI, about his involvement with Starke United. Continue reading

Youth of Integrity Holds NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Event

The official NFL Punt, Pass & Kick event sponsored by Youth of Integrity was held on Saturday, September 17th. This was Youth of Integrity’s first year hosting this event which was a huge success with over 120 youth participating. Each participant was awarded an official NFL participant certificate and all received a door prize. Five age groups per gender competed on distance and accuracy of punting, passing and kicking with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards given.

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Starke County Council Discusses and Approves Proposed Starke County Library Project

Henry F. Schricker Library

The Starke County Council approved a proposal by the Starke County Library Board to finance an expansion-renovation project. A representative from Umbaugh and Associates told the council members that the bonds would not exceed $1,785,000 and would cost the taxpayers 17 cents per $1,000 in assessed valuation.

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Knox City Council Discusses Abolishing City Court

The Knox City Council recently discussed abolishing Knox City Court. Even though the court takes away almost $100,000 from the City’s General Fund, Mayor Rick Chambers says there’s no opportunity to abolish it until 2014.

“State statute states during 2006 and every fourth year after that, a second or third class town, or city may, by ordinance, establish or abolish a city or town court,” said Chambers. “So, we can’t just snap our fingers and say no more City Court next year. By state statute, every fourth year you have to do an ordinance.”

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Starke United Kick-off Breakfast Scheduled for Today

Starke United

The Starke United campaign kick-off breakfast is this morning at the Knox Community Center. The theme for this year’s campaign is, “Together, we can inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow.”

The campaign chairman will be announced as well as the goal for the year. Julie Dessauer is the Starke United Director and she promises an inspiring breakfast, and campaign.  The breakfast begins at 8:00 a.m. CT and it is sponsored by Integrity Trade Services.

Work Almost Complete on Bridge in Brems

County bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch

The bridge at Range Road and 400 North is almost complete. Yesterday, crews were pouring cement at the site and the bridge should be demolished on Thursday. Highway Superintendent, Steve Siddall, explains what comes next.

“They have to set their forms up and get ready for the abutment to hold the pre-cast box beams to go on it,” said Siddall. “Then the box beams will be delivered, they will set them into place, then they’ll form up and pour the top over it and we should be almost done.”

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Ivy Tech Classes Could Return to Winamac High School

Industry isn’t the only thing in Pulaski County with a positive outlook; education may also be receiving a shot in the arm thanks to Ivy Tech Kokomo. Through their Logansport campus, Ivy Tech had previously conducted classes at the Winamac High School for some time, but they ran into a snag. The administrative support staff could only be at the school until the guidance offices closed at 4:00 p.m. This caused a number of issues, particularly since the classes took place at night when no support staff was present.

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Unopposed Candidates to Remain off November Ballots in Starke, Pulaski Counties

There are some counties in the state that are considering putting all candidates on the November Municipal Election ballot, although state law only allows contested races on the ballot.

Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski and Pulaski County Clerk Tasha Foerg told WKVI that only contested races will appear on the Municipal election ballots. Skronski indicated that legislators may reverse this decision for future Municipal elections with the confusion it may cause voters. The Starke County Election Board voted to follow the state statute to only allow contested races. The Pulaski County Clerk said she is also following state statute.

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Marshall County Jail Inmate Dies

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police and the Marshall County Coronor’s Office are investigating the death of Marshall County Jail inmate, Georgia M. Onofre.

The 35-year-old woman was in a special observation area in the jail due to her past medical history and was under constant surveillance by jail staff. She became unresponsive around 4:00 a.m. ET yesterday morning and jail staff immediately started resuscitation efforts. Plymouth paramedics transported Onofre to the Emergency Department where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

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Starke County Council Approves Library Project

Henry F. Schricker Library

After a great amount of discussion, the Starke County Council approved the remodeling project proposed by the Starke County Library Board on a 4-2 vote.

The request had been stalled for several months as the council members gained information. As it stands, the Library Board will be able to solicit bids to bond for a less than $2 million remodeling project at the Henry F. Schricker Library in Knox.

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Knox City Police Continue with Death Investigation

Knox City Police Department detectives continue to investigate the death of 59-year-old Bertha Clabaugh, of Knox. Police were called to the Oak Valley Apartments in Knox on Friday on a report that she was unresponsive. She was later pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy was conducted Friday and detectives are waiting on the pathology report and toxicology report to make a determination in the case. Starke County Coroner, Kris Rannells, said those results will probably not be available for 10 weeks. Detectives still indicate that no foul play is suspected.

Knox and North Judson Fire Departments to Trade Equipment

The Knox-Center Township and North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Departments have agreed to a swap of equipment. In the swap, North Judson would receive a 1980 Ford Pumper truck with a 750 gallon tank and Knox would receive an air bag system that is approximately six to seven years old.

Knox-Center Township Volunteer Fire Chief, Ken Pfost, explained to the City Council members that the air bag system new would cost approximately $10,000.

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Courageous to Open in Plymouth Theatre on September 30th

The religious movie, Courageous, is coming to Showland Cinemas in Plymouth on September 30th. It was produced by a movie making ministry out of Albany, Georgia. This is the company’s fourth movie, and follows on the heels of the very popular Fireproof.

Dawn Roose, who is promoting the movie locally, talked about bringing the movie to Plymouth.

“Our original challenge was to pre-sell 1,000 tickets to have the movie in our local Showland theatre,” said Roose. “We did get word from Provident Films that they will allow it to come which we are just praising the Lord for. We have not reached that benchmark yet, but we are working toward it and I’m sure we’re going to surpass it.”

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