Starke County Welcomes Indiana Bicentennial Torch

Starke County Welcomes Indiana Bicentennial Torch
Posted on October 8, 2016Author Mary Perren

Starke County rolled out the red carpet to welcome the Indiana Bicentennial Torch last evening. It visited Bass Lake, North Judson, Toto and Knox on its journey. Along the way it was carried by 20 notable community members on everything from a steam train to an antique fire truck to a bicycle before being placed in the  Knox Volunteer Fire Department’s rescue boat for its final stop at Wythogan Park. Hundreds of spectators gathered there to celebrate 200 years of statehood, enjoy cake from Fingerhut Bakery and tour the traveling Bicentennial Experience interactive museum. WKVI will air the remarks offered at the celebration on Sunday at noon on Kankakee Valley Viewpoints.

Starke County was the 76th stop on the torch relay route. The festivities started in Corydon, which was Indiana’s first capital, on Sept. 9 and will conclude in Indianapolis on Oct. 15.

Click Starke County Bicentennial Torch Relay to view photos.

Starke County Prepares for Bicentennial Torch Visit

Posted on October 6, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI

Starke County residents are preparing for a celebration 200 years in the making. The Indiana Bicentennial Torch will travel up U.S. 35 from Pulaski into Starke County around 5:30 p.m. tomorrow evening, according to the schedule posted on the state’s website. Starke is the 76th of Indiana’s 92 counties the torch is visiting on its 3,200 mile journey.

The symbolic flame will travel up U.S. 35 to State Road 10 and through North Judson, where it will board the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum’s train before heading out of town by caravan. The torch will take Toto Road to get from North Judson to Knox, where it will cross over onto 300 East/Klockner Drive and be transported by canoe up the Yellow River to Wythogan Park.

That’s where tomorrow night’s community celebration will commence. Highlights include the presentation of the new Starke County flag, a special Fingerhut Bakery cake and opportunities to tour the mobile “Bicentennial Experience” museum exhibit.

The Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay is designed to inspire and unify Hoosiers as one of the major commemorative events of the 2016 Bicentennial celebration. Hoosiers will also symbolically “pass the torch” connecting generations to IGNITE our future.

Indiana Bicentennial Torch Route Through Starke County

I was talking to someone today who said that it was difficult to find a large map of the route that the Indiana Bicentennial Relay was going to follow through Starke County. So, I downloaded a copy of the map, did a bit of cropping and enlarging, and here ya go.

Should you want to print them out, the North Judson and Knox maps are typical 8.5 x 11 inch (letter size), the Starke County map is 8.5 x 14 inch (legal size).

Where is the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Today?

To keep up to date about where the Indiana Bicentennial Torch is today, and see lots of photos, check out their Facebook page.

And don't forget, they will be in Starke County on October 7th from approximately 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Starke County Bicentennial Torch Relay Route

It's almost September and the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay will be starting it's 3,200 mile journey soon.  

It starts in Corydon on September 9th, then makes its way through all 92 Indiana counties, showcasing locations of "natural beauty, local interest and historic significance" to the state. On October 15th, the torch will end its journey at the statehouse in Indianapolis with a celebration.

You can see the torch relay in Michiana on the following dates:

Kosciusko County: September 29, 10 am - 12:30 pm

LaGrange County: October 3, 11 am - 2 pm

Elkhart County: October 4, 9 am - 2: 30 pm

Marshall County: October 4, 3 pm - 7 pm

Fulton County: October 5, 10 am - 11:30 am

Pulaski County: October 7, 3 pm - 5 pm

Starke County: October 7, 5:30 pm - 8 pm

St Joseph County: October 8, 10 am - 2 pm

For more information on the exact routes through each county, click here, and select your county to view a map of the torch's exact route.

Here is the torch relay route for Starke County, click on the map to see a larger version. 

Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay torchbearer names, uniforms announced

INDIANAPOLIS (June 29, 2016) –Lt. Governor Eric Holcomb, Indiana Office of Tourism Development (IOTD) Executive Director Mark Newman, Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance President and CEO Kim Smith and Bicentennial Torch Relay State Director Noelle Szydlyk today unveiled the names of more than 2,000 Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay torchbearers, as well as the official torchbearer uniforms. The unveiling took place during a press conference at the Indiana Statehouse.

“The 2,000 plus Hoosiers selected as torchbearers embody the Indiana traditions of service, civic pride, community involvement and volunteerism,” said Lt. Governor Holcomb. “As we reflect on Indiana’s first two hundred years, it is only fitting that we celebrate Hoosiers who serve as inspirations in their communities.”

A list of the torchbearer names and the counties they represent can be found here.  Graphics of the torchbearer uniforms are also available by request.

Torchbearers were nominated by the public and selected by local committees on a county-by-county basis. More than 4,000 torchbearer nominations were received. Those selected are Hoosiers who demonstrate exceptional public service, excellence in their profession, acts of heroism or volunteer service to their neighborhood, community, region or state.

Developed by IOTD, the Relay is patterned after the Olympic Torch Relay and is designed to connect Hoosiers everywhere during the bicentennial year. The unifying nature of the torch relay underscores the achievement, influence and aspirations of Indiana and its people while symbolically passing the torch to future generations of Hoosiers. The torch relay route was charted by a committee of representatives from multiple state agencies and the private sector. The route showcases locations of natural beauty, local interest and historic significance. The Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay will start Friday, September 9, 2016 in Corydon, Indiana’s first state capital, and culminate with a celebration on Saturday, October 15, 2016 on the grounds of the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. The torch relay will touch each of Indiana’s 92 counties during the 3,200-mile journey across the state.

"Enthusiasm is building as the start of the torch relay approaches," remarked IOTD's Mark Newman. "Communities large and small are pulling out all the stops to honor their torchbearers and celebrate Indiana’s 200^th birthday.  Collectively, the over 2,000 torchbearers have had far reaching impact and all of Indiana should be proud.”

In addition to the selected torchbearers, the relay will employ other modes of conveyance that are symbolic of the history and heritage of Indiana, including watercraft, farm equipment, racecars, horse and wagon, antique automobile and others.

In order to conduct an event the size of the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay, a strong team and critical partnerships are necessary.  Newest among those partners is Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance who is the official sponsor of the uniforms that will outfit the torchbearers, community volunteers and torch relay staff.  The specially designed torch bearer uniform is comprised of a light weight  lined wind resistant jacket made of ripstop polyester fabric, a 100% micro polyester moisture wicking t-shirt and a specially designed cap. 

“We are excited and proud to be an official partner of the Bicentennial Torch Relay. It’s not often that you have the opportunity to participate in a historic event that will touch every county across the state, and we are honored to join with our fellow Hoosiers in celebrating 200 years of statehood,” said Kim O. Smith, President and CEO of Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance Company.

To follow the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay on social media, visit INTorchRelay on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Bicentennial Torchbearers Chosen

June 20, 2016AuthorEd Hasnerl, WKVI 

Indiana Gov. Michael Pence has selected 20 people from Starke County to be torchbearers in the Indiana Bicentennial Torch relay when it passes through Starke County on Friday, Oct. 7th.

The local group is among 2,200 Hoosiers who will pass along the torch on a 3,200-mile route through each of Indiana’s counties. The torch will pass through Starke County October 7th between 4:30 and 7 p.m., starting at Bass Lake. There will be a program and celebration in Wythogan Park in Knox when the torch reaches the county seat.

Torchbearers are Hoosiers who demonstrate exceptional public service, excellence in their profession, acts of heroism or volunteer service to the neighborhood, community, region, or state.

The Governor’s office expects to release the names of the torchbearers chosen next week, after the nominees have agreed to participate. Torchbearers will receive a baseball cap, windbreaker jacket and t-shirt.

Starke County Councilman Dave Pearman, chairman of the local Bicentennial Committee, announced last week that Starke County will receive a fiberglass bison for the “Bison-entennial” celebration. A bison appears on the State Seal. The figure, once painted, will be shown at libraries, meetings and festivals to promote the State of Indiana and Starke County. Loretta Kosloske, local committee member from North Judson, made a presentation in Indianapolis 10 days ago, which was successful in obtaining the $2,200 statue, without charge.

State Releases Bicentennial Route Details

March 25, 2016AuthorMary Perren, WKVI 

The route is set for this fall’s Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay. The event, patterned after the Olympic torch relay, will start in Corydon on Sept. 9 and travel more than 3,200 miles through all 92 counties. Corydon was chosen as the starting destination as it was Indiana’s original capitol.

More than 2,000 torchbearers will shepherd the flame through the state along a route designed to showcase Indiana’s natural beauty, local interest and historic significance to the state. Each county’s bicentennial committee solicited nominees to carry the torch. That list is being vetted at the state level now.

Communities along the torch route will host celebrations as the flame passes through. A specialized Mobile Visitors Center will accompany the torch along its journey.

The torch will come up U.S. 35 into Pulaski County on Friday, Oct. 7th  and along part of the Panhandle Pathway. A celebration is planned in the Winamac Town Park.

From there it will head into Starke County up U.S. 35 to State Road 10 into North Judson, take a ride on the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum’s rail line, travel north out of town onto 350 West to Toto Road and into Knox, where an overnight stop is planned before heading north to St. Joseph County the following day.

Marion County is the final stop along the 92 county relay route. An all-day celebration is planned in Indianapolis on Saturday, Oct. 15.

Visit http://www.in.gov/ibc/torchrelay/2624.htm for details about the route.

Starke County Bicentennial Committee Finalizes Torch Relay Route

October 29, 2015AuthorMichael Gallenberger, WKVI 

Plans are moving ahead for Starke County’s celebration of the state’s bicentennial next year.

During its meeting Tuesday, the Starke County Bicentennial Committee received approval to share the details of the bicentennial torch relay route. Chairman Dave Pearman says the torch will pass through the county Friday, October 7 between 4:30 and 7:00 p.m., “It’s going to begin in the area of Bass Lake. It’ll go down State Road 10. At State Road 10 and the North Judson Trail, it’ll actually diverge then, and the torch will travel on one of the trains from the train museum.”

Once residents have a chance to meet the train at the museum, the torch will head toward Knox, “From there, we’ll make our way to 300 East in Knox and then start a little bit slower cadence and begin the torch route again on 300 East. Moving through to the river where it meets at 300 East just past the Industrial Park, the torch will join a boat and will arrive by boat into the park to a great deal of fanfare.” At that point, the relay will meet up with a youth relay taking place in the park for the celebration’s grand finale.

Pearman says the committee’s still looking for nominations for torchbearers, “It’s been fairly slow. We’ve got about a half a dozen so far, but one of the things I’ve been telling the state is that we’re not super-nervous about that in Starke County. We’ve got a great committee put together. Also, the deadline has been extended from December 31, 2015 to January 31, 2016, and so essentially what will happen is that our committee will also be involved in selection and recommendation, so we’re not really concerned about the lack of nominations at this point.”

Nominations can be turned in at local libraries, the chamber of commerce, or the Indiana Bicentennial: Starke County Facebook page.

The Bicentennial Committee’s also finalizing plans for its fund-raising efforts for the celebration. During Tuesday’s meeting, they worked on commemorative artwork that will appear on place mats in local restaurants. The committee’s also getting prices from print shops and asking businesses to advertise in the place mats. They plan to have them, along with the rest of their marketing program, ready to launch in January.

Pearman also says a special bicentennial flag has been given to the county to fly at the courthouse on December 11.

Starke County Officials Prepare for State Bicentennial Celebration

Published: September 28, 2015 By: Ed Hasnerl, WKVI 

Starke County will soon have a special flag flying. The local Indiana Bicentennial Committee is designing a flag

for the state’s 200th anniversary in the county. Committee member Melba Shilling brought in a county flag from Ottawa County, Ohio as a suggestion. Ottawa County is Starke County’s “sister county,” with a courthouse that was built from the same plan as Starke County’s county seat center.

Another plan that is under consideration by the committee are place mats that can be placed in local restaurants to call attention to the arrival of the of the Bicentennial Torch in Starke County on Friday, October 7, 2016.

Nominations are available for local people to assist in carrying the flag through the county. Look for them at local libraries and on line thru Dec. 31 ,2015.