Habitat for Humanity to Host Informational Meeting on Knox Home Project

Posted on January 31, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

Habitat for Humanity will be building a house in Knox for the first time, and that means a local family will have a chance to become homeowners.

Steve Morrison, the executive director of Starke/Pulaski Habitat for Humanity, says the home will be built on a donated lot on Prettyman Street. “We had not built a house in Knox yet, and so we just saw this as an opportunity, and working with your mayor and some of the other people in Knox, we saw it as an opportunity to build a house in Knox,” he says.

Potential homeowners can begin the application process by attending an informational meeting Saturday at 10:00 a.m. CST at the Henry F. Schricker Public Library in Knox. Morrison says there are a few things the organization looks for when determining someone’s eligibility for a home. “Basically, we follow three principles,” he explains, “those who have a need for housing, are living in a poor place right now or whatever and needing to raise a family in a better place, they have the financial means to pay for a mortgage, just through the help and the service of those friends and family and people who want to help those in need.”

He adds that Habitat for Humanity is always looking for donors, as well. “It takes money to build a house, and we pay for this ourselves and we hold the mortgages ourselves,” he says. “And through those donations and so forth, we’re able to build the houses and keep building houses. So just see it as a great opportunity for the community and get a house back and property back on the tax rolls and helping those in need.”

For more information on Starke/Pulaski Habitat for Humanity, visit sphabitat.org or call 574-896-2811.

Free Tax Preparation Program Available at Henry F. Schricker Library

February 5, 2016AuthorMichael Gallenberger, WKVI 

 

Starke County residents may be able to get some free help preparing this year’s income taxes. The Henry F. Schricker Public Library in Knox is hosting a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Certified volunteers will prepare and e-file federal and state tax returns for qualified residents. These include people making $54,000 or less, those with disabilities, the elderly, and those speaking limited amounts of English.

Appointments are available every Wednesday from noon until 7:00 p.m. between now and April 6. You can also schedule appointments on some Saturdays, including tomorrow, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The program is funded locally by a grant from the Northwest Indiana Community Action Agency and the Internal Revenue Service.

To schedule an appointment, call the library’s Reference Department at 574-772-7323 ext. 1005. Click here for more information on the VITA program and a list of what to bring to your appointment.

9/22/2014 Everglades of the North, Part 2

Many of you have seen the PBS documentary Everglades of the North on Channel 34 or some other PBS station, a wonderful and great video production about one of the largest marshes in the world.  It was located right here in Starke County.   Well, it went a little farther than just Starke County - it went from South Bend, IN. to Momence, IL.   That's why it was called "one of the largest" -  perhaps over a million acres.  And much of Starke County was in it.

Example of the size of it -- If you wanted to go to Valparaiso from Logansport, you would have to go to South Bend to get around the marsh.  Or you would have to go to Kankakee, IL. to get around it.  The marsh was huge!

Now, when they produced the original Everglades of the North, a second part to that video was also produced - a part two.   Many of the interviews in part two were done here in Starke County.  This brings a whole new dimension to the main program.  If you enjoyed the first part of the Everglades of the North, I'm sure that you will enjoy part two.  If you haven't seen the first part, we do have a few videos available.

On September 22, 2014, at 5:00 P.M., Ron Vendl and I will bring you the part two video of  Everglades of the North, a 45-minute extension to the first part.  It will be held at the Henry F. Schricker Library in Knox.

I hope you can join us.  But remember, space is limited, so make your reservations by calling the Library at 574-772-7323.

Jim Shilling
Starke County Historical Society

http://www.starkehistory.com
http://www.scpl.lib.in.us/historical/

1/23/2013 Discussion of "Everglades of the North"

On Wednesday, January 23, 2013, from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., the Henry F. Schricker Library in Knox will be hosting a panel discussion on the Grand Kankakee Marsh - its history and its future.  

Jody Melton—Executive Director of the Kankakee River Basin Commission, Pat Wisniewski and Jeff Manes—producers of the Everglades of the North, and Jim Shilling—Starke County Historical Society - will speak about the fascinating history and future of the Grand Kankakee.

1/16/2013 "Everglades of the North " @ Henry F. Schricker Library

The Starke County Public Library is proud to present Everglades of the North, produced by Pat Wisniewski, Jeff Manes, Brian Kallies and Tom Desch.  The Library will be showing the documentary  Wednesday, January 16, 2013 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.in the meeting room at the Henry F. Schricker Library in Knox.

This one-hour documentary tells the history of the Grand Kankakee Marsh and how people have used and perceived this wetland for more than 10,000 years.  The Grand Kankakee Marsh may have been as large as one million acres in northern Indiana and Illinois and was home to some of the highest concentrations of wildlife and waterfowl in North America.  Less than 5% of the Kankakee River marshes survived modern development an the film explores the important role this wetland played in the history of the area.  It looks at the natural and cultural history of the area and the different uses of the land from the earliest Native Americans to the European settlement to modern agriculture.