Monday, July 18, 2016
7/22/2016 Early Registration Bicycle Ride for Panhandle Pathway
Posted on July 16, 2016
Author Tyler Maffitt, WKVI
Early registration for the Tippecanoe and Bicycles Too ride are being accepted until late next week.
The event, hosted by Friends of the Panhandle Pathway, acts as a fundraiser for the group by offering bike routes of differing lengths to those looking to compete. The race has been recognized as an official Indiana Bicentennial Legacy Project.
Routes include a 12 mile, 28 mile, 44 mile, and 62 mile course. The non-profit says the entire length of the Panhandle Pathway trail from Winamac to Kenneth is 44 miles roundtrip.
The group has the goal of maintaining and preserving the panhandle pathway through fundraising and educational ventures.
The race won’t take place until Saturday, August 6th . Early registration, however, will offer a $5 discounted price for those signing-up before July 22nd. Those 7 and under and those 80 and over do not owe an entry fee.
Mass time for the bike ride will be 7:00 a.m. with the ride concluding at Noon.
According to the registration forms, bikers are expected to use proper etiquette and obey traffic laws while traveling the course.
Author Tyler Maffitt, WKVI
Early registration for the Tippecanoe and Bicycles Too ride are being accepted until late next week.
The event, hosted by Friends of the Panhandle Pathway, acts as a fundraiser for the group by offering bike routes of differing lengths to those looking to compete. The race has been recognized as an official Indiana Bicentennial Legacy Project.
Routes include a 12 mile, 28 mile, 44 mile, and 62 mile course. The non-profit says the entire length of the Panhandle Pathway trail from Winamac to Kenneth is 44 miles roundtrip.
The group has the goal of maintaining and preserving the panhandle pathway through fundraising and educational ventures.
The race won’t take place until Saturday, August 6th . Early registration, however, will offer a $5 discounted price for those signing-up before July 22nd. Those 7 and under and those 80 and over do not owe an entry fee.
Mass time for the bike ride will be 7:00 a.m. with the ride concluding at Noon.
According to the registration forms, bikers are expected to use proper etiquette and obey traffic laws while traveling the course.
Starke County Council to Consider Tax Abatement Request
Posted on July 18, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The Starke County Commissioners tonight will formally consider a tax abatement request from an Illinois-based company that’s looking to move to North Judson.
Outstanding Tradeshow Exhibit Services, OTES for short, wants to buy the Thermo Products building on State Road 10 west of town and set up shop in there. The company creates tradeshow exhibits for businesses.
President Nan Wellman plans to buy and renovate the building and lease space to existing tenants Thermo Product and Kemin Industries.
The company is seeking real estate and personal property tax abatements worth about $1 million total over the next 10 years from the county, as well as a designation of the property as an economic revitalization area. The Starke County Council granted non-binding preliminary approval of those request at their June meeting and set the matter for public hearing tonight.
Last month Wellman told the council Illinois is, quote, “killing me in taxes.”
Tonight’s Starke County Council meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at the annex building. Other business on tonight’s agenda includes consideration of a resolution on encumberances for the coming year and the scheduling of budget workshops.
The Starke County Commissioners are also scheduled to meet this evening at the conclusion of the council meeting. They will open bids for a bridge replacement, review price quotes from CenturyLink and Mediacom for fiber optic cable and discuss a list of violations at Bass Lake Beach and Campground. Their meeting will begin at 6 p.m. or at the conclusion of the county council meeting.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
The Starke County Commissioners tonight will formally consider a tax abatement request from an Illinois-based company that’s looking to move to North Judson.
Outstanding Tradeshow Exhibit Services, OTES for short, wants to buy the Thermo Products building on State Road 10 west of town and set up shop in there. The company creates tradeshow exhibits for businesses.
President Nan Wellman plans to buy and renovate the building and lease space to existing tenants Thermo Product and Kemin Industries.
The company is seeking real estate and personal property tax abatements worth about $1 million total over the next 10 years from the county, as well as a designation of the property as an economic revitalization area. The Starke County Council granted non-binding preliminary approval of those request at their June meeting and set the matter for public hearing tonight.
Last month Wellman told the council Illinois is, quote, “killing me in taxes.”
Tonight’s Starke County Council meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at the annex building. Other business on tonight’s agenda includes consideration of a resolution on encumberances for the coming year and the scheduling of budget workshops.
The Starke County Commissioners are also scheduled to meet this evening at the conclusion of the council meeting. They will open bids for a bridge replacement, review price quotes from CenturyLink and Mediacom for fiber optic cable and discuss a list of violations at Bass Lake Beach and Campground. Their meeting will begin at 6 p.m. or at the conclusion of the county council meeting.
North Judson Council to Introduce Town Marshal Choice
Posted on July 18, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
North Judson residents will have the chance to meet the presumptive town marshal this evening. John Ramos is expected to introduce himself to the public during tonight’s town council meeting, according to Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins.
The town council voted to offer the position to Ramos earlier this month after reviewing several applications. If Ramos is officially hired, he would fill the vacancy created by the death of former town marshal Doug Vessely in April.
Tonight’s North Judson Town Council meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at North Judson Town Hall.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
North Judson residents will have the chance to meet the presumptive town marshal this evening. John Ramos is expected to introduce himself to the public during tonight’s town council meeting, according to Clerk-Treasurer Alicia Collins.
The town council voted to offer the position to Ramos earlier this month after reviewing several applications. If Ramos is officially hired, he would fill the vacancy created by the death of former town marshal Doug Vessely in April.
Tonight’s North Judson Town Council meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at North Judson Town Hall.
Friday, July 8, 2016
Starke County May Suffer Due to State Grant Timeline Extension
Posted on July 8, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
Starke County was among the first to have the required road and bridge asset management plan and project list ready for the state transportation grant application process. However, they’re still waiting to find out how much 50/50 matching money they will get for road and bridge projects. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners the original June 29th deadline was delayed because a lot of communities didn’t have the required plans together.
That pushes the awarding of grant funds back to late August, which Ritzler says will be too late in the year to start paving projects.
“That really put us in a bind, because we were ready to go,” Ritzler said. “And more communities now are going to be involved in getting the money, so we may lose out on some. We may not get the full match because more communities are doing that. They weren’t ready. They warned us for a couple years to get asset management in place, and I think it’s going to kind of hurt us a little bit that other places did not have that in place and they gave them the extended time.”
If the state funds Starke County’s bridge projects, Ritzler says they can still be completed this year. However, he says any money for road projects will likely have to be deferred until spring.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
Starke County was among the first to have the required road and bridge asset management plan and project list ready for the state transportation grant application process. However, they’re still waiting to find out how much 50/50 matching money they will get for road and bridge projects. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners the original June 29th deadline was delayed because a lot of communities didn’t have the required plans together.
That pushes the awarding of grant funds back to late August, which Ritzler says will be too late in the year to start paving projects.
“That really put us in a bind, because we were ready to go,” Ritzler said. “And more communities now are going to be involved in getting the money, so we may lose out on some. We may not get the full match because more communities are doing that. They weren’t ready. They warned us for a couple years to get asset management in place, and I think it’s going to kind of hurt us a little bit that other places did not have that in place and they gave them the extended time.”
If the state funds Starke County’s bridge projects, Ritzler says they can still be completed this year. However, he says any money for road projects will likely have to be deferred until spring.
North Judson to Restore Water at Pioneer Cemetery
Posted on July 8, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Efforts to restore North Judson’s Pioneer Cemetery are getting a boost from the town. Dr. Dennis Dalphond has been leading efforts to beautify the cemetery, but a lack of water at the cemetery has made landscaping work difficult.
While Pioneer Cemetery has a water system, it hasn’t been used in decades and needs significant repairs, according to Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann. “We would have to go through the entire cemetery and replace all the broken and bent standpipes,” he says. “The old meter would have to be changed out with a new one. There’s a small shutoff valve prior to the meter, but there is nothing prior to the pit.”
Horstmann told the town council Tuesday that while a shutoff valve could be installed, there’s no indication of how many leaks there may be in the system. He said leaks may lead to sinkholes, collapsed headstones and flooded graves.
Instead of repairing the existing system, Horstmann recommended a different solution, “The second option would be to dig up the 10-inch main in the driveway at the top of the hill. We could put a tapping saddle on it, tap the line, and run tubing over to a new meter pit, out of the way of the driveway, and from the meter pit run it over to a yard hydrant, and just have one yard hydrant for the whole cemetery.” He says it would be placed in a central location by the memorial garden.
Even though the plan would only provide one water source for the cemetery, it’s an improvement over the current situation. Right now, volunteers have to run hoses from the Methodist Church across the street.
The town council voted Tuesday to allow Horstmann to proceed with his recommended plan.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Efforts to restore North Judson’s Pioneer Cemetery are getting a boost from the town. Dr. Dennis Dalphond has been leading efforts to beautify the cemetery, but a lack of water at the cemetery has made landscaping work difficult.
While Pioneer Cemetery has a water system, it hasn’t been used in decades and needs significant repairs, according to Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann. “We would have to go through the entire cemetery and replace all the broken and bent standpipes,” he says. “The old meter would have to be changed out with a new one. There’s a small shutoff valve prior to the meter, but there is nothing prior to the pit.”
Horstmann told the town council Tuesday that while a shutoff valve could be installed, there’s no indication of how many leaks there may be in the system. He said leaks may lead to sinkholes, collapsed headstones and flooded graves.
Instead of repairing the existing system, Horstmann recommended a different solution, “The second option would be to dig up the 10-inch main in the driveway at the top of the hill. We could put a tapping saddle on it, tap the line, and run tubing over to a new meter pit, out of the way of the driveway, and from the meter pit run it over to a yard hydrant, and just have one yard hydrant for the whole cemetery.” He says it would be placed in a central location by the memorial garden.
Even though the plan would only provide one water source for the cemetery, it’s an improvement over the current situation. Right now, volunteers have to run hoses from the Methodist Church across the street.
The town council voted Tuesday to allow Horstmann to proceed with his recommended plan.
Hardesty Nominations Being Sought for Annual Philanthropic Efforts
Posted on July 8, 2016
Author Tyler Maffitt, WKVI
Nominations are being sought for an annual award that recognizes charitable contributions and community involvement.
The Starke County Community Foundation says the James R. Hardesty Leadership in Philanthropy Award celebrates the efforts made by both individuals and charitable organizations in the local area.
This is the second year the award will be bestowed. Last year’s winners were Marilyn and Mathew Swanson of Bass Lake. The Community Foundation says individual awards will alternate with the organizational awards, meaning a group making an impact on Starke County will be recognized for their efforts.
The award’s namesake comes from Jim Hardesty’s legacy of giving back to the town of Hamlet. His donations constitute the largest single donor gift in any of the three county area served by the Northern Indiana Community Foundation.
Author Tyler Maffitt, WKVI
Nominations are being sought for an annual award that recognizes charitable contributions and community involvement.
The Starke County Community Foundation says the James R. Hardesty Leadership in Philanthropy Award celebrates the efforts made by both individuals and charitable organizations in the local area.
This is the second year the award will be bestowed. Last year’s winners were Marilyn and Mathew Swanson of Bass Lake. The Community Foundation says individual awards will alternate with the organizational awards, meaning a group making an impact on Starke County will be recognized for their efforts.
The award’s namesake comes from Jim Hardesty’s legacy of giving back to the town of Hamlet. His donations constitute the largest single donor gift in any of the three county area served by the Northern Indiana Community Foundation.
7/9/2016 Kid’s Closet Ministry Hosts Starke County School Supply Drive
Posted on July 8, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
Volunteers will be collecting school supplies for Starke County children at locations in Knox and North Judson tomorrow. Donated items will be distributed as part of the annual Pack a Backpack event sponsored by Kid’s Closet Ministry at North Judson United Methodist Church. Director Linda Lewandowski says the goal is to help local youngsters start the school year with confidence.
“We supply all the school supplies and backpacks needed for kids in Starke County. So if you attend a Starke County school, you are eligible for this event.”
Students who qualify for free and reduced lunches can get their supplies from Kid’s Closet later this month. Last year they served 350 kids.Donation drives are taking place tomorrow from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Dollar General stores in Knox and North Judson. Lewandowski says all types of school supplies are needed. Lists will be available, but popular items include backpacks, pencils, crayons, scissors, glue and glue sticks. Lewandowski adds they never have enough black dry erase markers, facial tissues, baggies and baby wipes.
Monetary donations are also welcome, as they can be used to purchase any additional supplies prior to the event. It’s scheduled July 25 and 26 at North Judson United Methodist Church.
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
Volunteers will be collecting school supplies for Starke County children at locations in Knox and North Judson tomorrow. Donated items will be distributed as part of the annual Pack a Backpack event sponsored by Kid’s Closet Ministry at North Judson United Methodist Church. Director Linda Lewandowski says the goal is to help local youngsters start the school year with confidence.
“We supply all the school supplies and backpacks needed for kids in Starke County. So if you attend a Starke County school, you are eligible for this event.”
Students who qualify for free and reduced lunches can get their supplies from Kid’s Closet later this month. Last year they served 350 kids.Donation drives are taking place tomorrow from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Dollar General stores in Knox and North Judson. Lewandowski says all types of school supplies are needed. Lists will be available, but popular items include backpacks, pencils, crayons, scissors, glue and glue sticks. Lewandowski adds they never have enough black dry erase markers, facial tissues, baggies and baby wipes.
Monetary donations are also welcome, as they can be used to purchase any additional supplies prior to the event. It’s scheduled July 25 and 26 at North Judson United Methodist Church.
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