Indiana Destination Development Corporation Denies Application for Yellow River Kayak Launch Funding

Yellow River

The Starke County Park Board will still move ahead with plans for a series of kayak launches along the Yellow River, even though its application for thousands of dollars in grant funding was unsuccessful. The board’s application for almost $70,000 from the Indiana Destination Development Corporation failed to make it to the finalist round, according to Starke County Highway Department Office Manager Mary Perren, who helped oversee the application.

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Vintage Steam Engine Train to Roll Through Knox Shortly After 11 a.m. Today!

A railroad relic will be making its way through the Knox area via the Norfolk Southern Railway.

Starke County citizens have a chance to catch a glimpse of a steam engine train today. Dr. Walter Fritz contacted WKVI News to share some information about this opportunity. He noted that it will be coming through the Knox area around 11:15 a.m. Continue reading

Historical Society Buys Knox Family Practice Building

Seated: Dr. and Mrs. Walter Fritz; standing, Ron Vendl, president of the Starke County Historical Society.
Seated: Dr. and Mrs. Walter Fritz; standing, Ron Vendl, president of the Starke County Historical Society.

Dr. and Mrs. Walter Fritz transferred ownership of the former Knox Family Practice building and parking lot at 1520 South Heaton Street in Knox to the Starke County Historical Society  yesterday in a signing ceremony at the 1st Source Bank in Plymouth.

The property is to be developed as additional display and storage space for the Starke County Museum now located at 401 South Main Street in Knox. The Main Street building, the home of former Indiana Governor Henry F. Schricker, will continue to be a major area attraction. Continue reading

Starke County Historical Society Building Fund Gets a Boost

Ron Vendl, president of the Starke County Historical Society, accepts a check for $5,000 from Blanche Richardson, President of the Starke County Genealogical Society, while other members of the Genealogical Society look on,  Front Row:  Ron Vendl, Alice Dolezal, Blanche Richardson, Ida Kennedy, Susie Szynalski,  Back Row:  Audrey Kinezian and Patty Williams.
Ron Vendl, president of the Starke County Historical Society, accepts a check for $5,000 from Blanche Richardson, President of the Starke County Genealogical Society, while other members of the Genealogical Society look on, Front Row: Ron Vendl, Alice Dolezal, Blanche Richardson, Ida Kennedy, Susie Szynalski, Back Row: Audrey Kinezian and Patty Williams.

The Starke County Historical Society received a check for $5,000 from the Starke County Genealogical Society on Sunday at the annual museum open house on Sunday. The gift will be added to the museum’s building and acquisition fund. The museum is currently using only the Main Street home of former Gov. and Mrs. Henry F. Schricker. Continue reading

Starke County Historical Society Announces Museum Capital Campaign

Starke County Historical Society
The Starke County Historical Society Museum is currently located in the former Gov. Henry F. Schricker home at 401 S. Main St. in Knox.

The Starke County Historical Society hopes to move its museum into a new building within the next three years. It’s currently located in the home of former Indiana Gov. Henry F. Schricker at 401 South Main Street in downtown Knox. Historical Society President Ron Vendl says the home is “jam packed with items of historical significance.” He adds there is no space left to store or display things. Family physician and longtime historical society benefactor Dr. Walter Fritz has offered to sell the historical society his medical office building at 1520 South Heaton St. to use as an additional museum. The 2,550 square-feet of space on the main floor is equal to that of the Schricker home, with an additional 2,100 square feet of storage space in the the basement. Continue reading

Dr. Fritz Joins Staff At Knox-Winamac Community Center

Walter Fritz
Dr. Walter Fritz

Long-time physician Dr. Walter Fritz is now seeing patients at the Knox-Winamac Community Center on Edgewood Drive in Knox.

According to interim CEO Kyle Small, the office is a Federally Qualified Health Care (FQHC) center that provides a high quality of care to under-insured and underprivileged patients, and the addition of Dr. Fritz to the staff will help in the goal in providing that care.

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Ed Hasnerl Recognized for Years of Service on Hospital Board

IU Health Starke Hospital CEO Linda Satkoski, Ed Hasnerl and Board President Ben Bennett

Ed Hasnerl was recognized for serving 14 years on the IU Health Starke Hospital’s Community Board during a special meeting Monday night. At the same time Hasnerl was receiving his award, the board was welcoming his replacement, Martin Bedrock.

In board business, Ben Bennett was reelected the Board President, Sandy Hansen remains as Vice President, and Dr. Walter Fritz was selected to be the new Secretary taking the place of newly retired member, Ed Hasnerl. Continue reading

Starke County Commissioners Reorganize

Starke County Commissioners: Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis

In the first meeting of the new year, the Starke County Commissioners reorganized and made appointments to several boards. Kathy Norem was elected as the President of the Board of Commissioners with Dan Bridegroom as Vice President and Jennifer Davis as Secretary. The vote for commissioner Norem was unanimous, and she thanked her predecessor, Dan Bridegroom, for his three years of service as Board President. Martin Lucas was retained as the county attorney.

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Dr. Walter Fritz Denies Asking for Starke County Health Board Members’ Removal

Walter Fritz
Dr. Walter Fritz

WKVI ran a story quoting Bob Howard, former Starke County Health Board President, that he suspected Dr. Walter Fritz had requested that the Commissioners not name him back on the Board for another term.

Dr. Fritz denied asking for his removal when questioned by WKVI. He did say that he kept in touch with the Commissioners during his many years as the County’s Health Officer, discussing many topics.

The new Health Officer is Dr. Theresa Alexander who began her duties January 1st.

Week in Review for December 13th-17th, 2010

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

IHS Board of Trustees Chair Thomas Hoback and Marvin Allen

Marvin Allen of Knox is this year’s recipient of the Indiana Historical Society’s Hubert Hawkins History Award. The award is made annually to a local historian for his or her distinguished service and career in local history.

Picture provided by Hensler Nursery

Two trees from Hensler Nursery were delivered to the Statehouse this week.

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Week in Review for November 22nd-26th, 2010

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

The WKVI Food Drive at the Knox Mall was a success last Saturday $2,167.73 was collected and over 2,500 pounds of food was collected.

Starke United

It was announced that the Starke United Radio Auction is scheduled for Friday, December 3rd, and it will be broadcast live beginning at 10:00 a.m. on WKVI AM 1520.

Dr. Walter Fritz will be stepping down as the Starke County Health Officer at the end of the year. He will be replaced by Dr. Teresa Alexander.

Stephen Braasch
Stephen Braasch

Christina Orange
Christina Orange

Christina D. Orange of North Judson and Stephen Adrian Braasch of Argos were arrested Saturday, November 20th by the North Judson Police Department. They were arrested on methamphetamine related charges.

The Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office were honored at the recent Annual Operation Pull Over Awards Banquet. Both entities received Equipment Awards to purchase law enforcement equipment of their choice.

Knox City Council #2

The Knox City Council approved the second reading of an ordinance to prohibit the sale and possession of synthetic marijuana in the city limits. Several questions were raised by Knox Mayor Rick Chambers about the enforceability of the ordinance.

Charles Weaver
Charles Weaver

Starke County Development Director, Charles Weaver, appeared before the County Commissioners at its most recent meeting. He asked the Board to sign an application to be submitted to the Indiana Department of Transportation to classify County Road 300 East between Culver Road south and State Road 8 on the north as a rural major collector.

LaPorte County Sheriff's Department

Anthony Ferris attempted to escape from the LaPorte County Security Complex, Wednesday morning. He was quickly apprehended by the LaPorte County K9 unit.

And that is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.