North Judson Grocery Store Property Owner Completes Tax Requirements

Posted on September 14, 2016
Author Tyler Maffitt,k WKVI

Heartland Market in North Judson will not be headed for tax sale this year.

According to Starke County Treasurer Kasey Clark, the owners of the property on which the North Judson grocery store operates completed their tax requirements shortly after a legal advertisement published in the local newspaper alerted the public of the issue.

The site, located in the 300 block of Lane Street, comprises both the physical grocery store and the parking lot.

The property was formerly occupied by Ray’s Superfoods, owned by Ray and Dena Wajda, but closed around March of 2015.

Heartland Market – which had recently opened a location in Francesville – stepped in with the help of a $50-thousand revolving loan from the Starke County Economic Development Foundation and the Town of North Judson. Loan funds were used for updating the interior of the building, but also to prevent a food desert in the southern portion of Starke county.

According to the legal notice announcing the deadlines, the building and the parking lot carried delinquent taxes in the amount of $7,170 and $1,162.

Now that the property tax levy payments have been satisfied, plans for a tax sale were not sought according to the Treasurer’s office.

The owners of the property had until September 12th when the court petition was expected to be filed to judge against the tracts and sell the property. That process was never sought.

Food Pantry Emerges Victorious in WKVI Sports Bet

October 15, 2015AuthorMary Perren, WKVI 

WKVI Sports Director Nathan Welter, Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry Director Rhonda Overmyer and WKVI News Director Mary Perren

Starke County residents who need a hand up are the big winners in the good-natured bet between WKVI’s Nathan Welter and Mary Perren over the outcome of the recent Knox v. North Judson-San Pierre football game. Since Nathan is a graduate and Knox and they lost, part of his payoff was hosting an hour-long food drive at Heartland Markets in North Judson. Manager Ray Wadja kept a donation can at the register as well for a week afterward.

Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry Director Rhonda Overmyer made a welcome sign for the payoff of the WKVI sports bet.

Thanks to all who gave everything from canned vegetables and cereal to spare change and singles, Welter and Perren presented a combined $170 worth of food (based on weight) and money to the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry.

Director Rhonda Overmyer says patrons are allowed one documented visit per month and are given an allotment of items based on the size of their family. This month alone she says they’ve already served about eight to 10 first-time visitors.

“We want everyone who walks through our doors to regain their dignity,” Overmyer said.

The most-needed items in the food pantry include boxed cereals, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, laundry soap, toilet paper, toothpaste and other personal care items like diapers and feminine hygiene products that can’t be purchased with food stamps.

Monetary donations also allow the food pantry to buy bulk items at a low cost through the Food Bank of Northern Indiana.

Adcock says they also need a few volunteers to help staff the food pantry. If you would like to help, call 574-772-7070.

WKVI Sports Bet Payoff Continues with Food Drive

Published: September 25, 2015 By: Mary Perren, WKVI

WKVI Sports Director Nathan Welter, the N.J.-S.P. mascot and news director Mary Perren

WKVI Sports Director Nathan Welter isn’t done paying off his bet on the outcome of the Knox v. North Judson football game just yet. He’s a Knox graduate, and news director Mary Perren is a N.J.-S.P. alum, so they make a friendly wager on the game each year. North Judson beat Knox 21-14 at Community Field two weeks ago. Last week Nathan served lunch at the high school cafeteria and got glitter dumped on him by the four captains from the Knox game during the homecoming pep rally. He also presented a check for $25 to the Bluejay athletic department.

Tomorrow the final payoff will take place from 11 a.m. until noon at Heartland Market, formerly Ray’s Super Foods, in downtown North Judson. First Nathan has to dye his beard blue, since he doesn’t have hair, and then he and Mary will conduct a food drive at the store. All donations will go to the Community Services of Starke County food pantry. We’ll leave the donation bin in place for a few days if you can’t make it during the drive. However, it may be worth rearranging your schedule to come help a good cause and snap an epic selfie with Nathan “Blue Beard” Welter.