Community Provides Input to Senator Donnelly at Ancilla Farm Bill Listening Session

On Friday, Senator Joe Donnelly visited the Ancilla College campus to hold a listening session over the farm bill that is currently being written. Before Donnelly talked with group gathered in Cana Hall about business, he got comfortable by removing his tie and greeting individuals in the crowd.

Ancilla President Kenneth Zirkle began the event by briefly discussing the agriculture program at the college, stating that when they started two and half years ago they only had three individuals involved, now that number is up to nearly 50 agriculture students.

Agriculture director Tim McLochlin introduced the senator, but first he acknowledged all the community members who help make Ancilla’s agriculture program so immersive and impactful.

During the session, various individuals voiced their concerns about the needs of the agriculture community. One individual spoke about how the current farm bill does little to help the dairy industry and suggested that more needs to be done with supply and control management. Many people spoke about the importance of family-run farms and asked Senator Donnelly to build the bill with generational farms in mind. Continue reading

Senator Donnelly to Talk Future Farm Bill at Ancilla Tomorrow

Photo: Lauren Chapman – Indiana Public Media

This Friday, Senator Joe Donnelly will hold a farm bill listening session beginning in Cana Hall on the Ancilla College campus.

Senator Donnelly is a member of the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. The current farm bill is scheduled to expire next year so Donnelly is seeking public input about agricultural matters, specifically farm policy issues that are integral to consider when the new farm bill is being written. Continue reading

Indiana Farm Bureau Pleased to Welcome Sen. Donnelly to Ag Committee

Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

Senator-elect Joe Donnelly received his committee assignments this week for the 113th Congress. Donnelly will serve on the committees for Armed Services, Agriculture, and Aging, and said he is pleased to have the opportunity to working on such a diverse group of committees.

Donnelly is set to be sworn in as Indiana’s next U.S. Senator on Jan. 3, 2012.

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Meet The Candidates Night Planned for Wednesday

A Meet the Candidates Night is set for Wednesday, Oct. 3 from 6–8 p.m. at the Knox Community Center.

Candidates will be allowed five minutes to speak during the event. In the U.S. Senate race, a representative for Democratic U.S. Senate–candidate Joe Donnelly–will appear along with Libertarian candidate Andrew “Andy” Horning. A representative for Brendan Mullen will appear on his behalf as he campaigns for the U.S. Representative District 2 seat. Libertarian U.S. Representative District 2 candidate Joseph Ruiz will attend.

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Former Senator Joins Donnelly’s Campaign Throughout Indiana

Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

As part of his campaign for U.S. Senate, Joe Donnelly has announced that he will be joined by former Senator Evan Bayh on a “Main Street Tour,” through five communities in Indiana this week.

Donnelly says he’s honored to be joined on the tour by Bayh, and says his example of “bipartisan, common-sense leadership” is something he hopes to bring to the senate. The duo will tour businesses across the state to talk about their shared focus on creating jobs, lowering the debt, and balancing the budget.

Donnelly says that while Richard Mourdock promises more “politics of division,” Donnelly will work with anyone and everyone to get things done for middle class families.

Donnelly and Bayh will tour businesses and meet with Hoosiers in Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Fort Wayne, Plymouth, and Whiting on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 12 and 13.

Donnelly Appreciative Of Emergency Grazing During Drought

Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Indiana Farm Service Agency announced yesterday that 22 counties throughout Indiana have been authorized for emergency grazing of Conservation Reserve Program lands.

Congressman Joe Donnelly says he’s pleased with the recent decision to allow grazing, which he says will greatly benefit farmers.

“I am pleased that the USDA and the Indiana Farm Service Agency authorized the emergency grazing of CRP acres,” Donnelly said. “The drought has caused Indiana’s fields to suffer, limiting the food options for the livestock that rely on those crops from those fields for food. Today’s announcement authorizing 22 counties for emergency grazing will give farmers more flexibility as they seek to provide adequate hay and forage to feed their livestock.”

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Student Loan Interest Rates Could Soon Spike

Interest rates for student loans are expected to double if Congress doesn’t act to keep them low.

U.S. Representative Joe Donnelly has called on Congress to act quickly so the more than 260,000 students in Indiana with loans can save an average of nearly $1,000 over the life of their loans.

Donnelly previously supported cutting student loan interest rates in half – lowering them from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent in 2007. If Congress doesn’t act by June 30, these rates will increase back to their original rate.

More Than 100 Indiana Democrats To Attend National Convention In September

State Representative Nancy Dembowski

Indiana State Democrats Saturday picked 106 delegates to go to the National Convention, scheduled for Sept. 4 – 6 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

One of those delegates is State Representative Nancy Dembowski of Knox. Dembowski said yesterday that she was asked to run, and after giving it some thought, decided to “throw her hat into the ring” for a district spot. Not only did Dembowski win, but she was the top vote-getter.

“I am very humbled by the opportunity to go to the convention where I will get to cast a vote for President Obama,” Dembowski said.

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Joe Donnelly Urges President Obama to Tap into Oil Reserves

Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

Second District Congressman Joe Donnelly confirmed this week that he is part of a group of Democrat Representatives who are urging President Barack Obama to tap into the Strategic Premium Oil Reserves.

“These prices are outrageous,” said Donnelly. “I’ve asked the President to open up the Strategic Petroleum Reserve right away. I am trying to lead the fight against speculators. We need to be an energy independent country. We need to open up the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and go after speculators. If we do those things, we will see prices drop.”

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Goshen Attorney to Run for Second District Congressional Seat in 2012

Andrew Straw

A Goshen attorney is expected to run for the Second District Congressional seat in Indiana. Andrew Straw, 42, is a Northridge High School graduate and he holds a bachelor’s, masters, and law degree from Indiana University. If he gets the nomination, he would be running as a Democrat. Republican Jackie Walorski has also announced that she will be running for the seat that is expected to be abandoned by current Representative, Joe Donnelly.

Donnelly is expected to abandon the seat after three terms to run for the U.S. Senate against either Senator Richard Lugar or State Treasurer Richard Mourdock. Mourdock is trying to unseat Lugar in the 2012 Republican Primary.

A Recap of the Top 10 Stories of 2010

Story #10

Tony Kerby Memorial at the Yellow River

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.

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Top 10 Stories of 2010; Story #4

The number four story of 2010 is the Republican resurgence in Starke County.

Long a bastion of Democrat government, the Republicans rode the wave of national sentiment to local success. The major impact will be felt on the Starke County Council where the Republicans won three of four seats up for election. Tony Radkiewicz defeated longtime council member Chuck Estok, Mitchell Semans defeated Becky Ferch in a seat that had been held by Dan Awald, and Dave Pearman defeated E.J. Rogers in the seat held by Bill Dulin.
Judge Kim Hall beat back a challenge by former Judge David Matsey by a wide margin.

The state races went Republican, as did the U.S. Senate Race that saw Dan Coats return to the senate by a wide margin. Democrat Representative Joe Donnelly was returned to his seat with a narrow victory over Jackie Walorski, and Democrat Nancy Dembowski got by Frances Ellert for the 17th District House seat. Both candidates, though, blamed the votes that went to the Libertarian candidates for their defeats.

The Republicans gave notice in Starke County that the GOP Party is back, and to be reckoned with in the future.

Starke County Development Foundation Celebrates 25th Anniversary Today

Charles Weaver
Charles Weaver

Today, a gala will be held at the Knox Community Center to celebrate the formation of the Starke County Development Foundation. The program will begin at 12:30 p.m. CT and is open to the public.

Supporting the Development Foundation over the course of 25 years have been our U.S. Representatives who have represented Starke County. They include Republicans John Hiler, Chris Chocola, and Steve Buyer and Democrats Tim Roemer and Joe Donnelly.

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Joe Donnelly’s Representative to Hear Public Concerns Today at the Starke County Courthouse

Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

A representative of Congressman Joe Donnelly’s office will hold office hours in Starke County on Wednesday, December 8th from 12:30-1:30 p.m. CT.

All members of the public are invited to attend and present questions and concerns to Congressman Donnelly.  Office hours will be held in the 2nd floor meeting room in the Starke County Courthouse