The Indiana Publisher

Frederick A. (Fred) Karst, 87, a journalist and writer, died Sunday, Dec. 18. Karst, who lived in Culver, had been an editorial writer and a member of the editorial board of the South Bend Tribune and, more recently, publisher of the Culver Citizen. He joined the Tribune as a copy editor in 1966 and was named to the editorial department post in 1971, when he also became the Tribune's travel editor. He served in both positions until 1989, the year in which he and his wife, Judith, a former Tribune reporter, purchased the Citizen. During the years he worked at the Tribune, the paper added an op-ed page, which Karst designed and continued to edit. In 1989, he chose early retirement and sold his stock in Schurz Communications Inc., then parent company of the Tribune. Until the Karsts sold the Culver paper in 1998, he was the president of Citizen Publications Inc., as well as publisher of the Citizen. From 1991 to 1995 they also published the Marshall County LIFE, a free weekly paper that circulated to households throughout the county and adjoining areas, with an office in Plymouth. He had been a director of the Hoosier State Press Association, president of the Midwest Travel Writers Association and a member of the South Bend Press Club. His commitment to journalism began as a University of Chicago student, when he was a news editor of the college newspaper, the Chicago Maroon, in a period when he also served as an elected member of the student government and as head usher at the university's Rockefeller Chapel. Karst also became a reporter for the City News Bureau of Chicago, where he added to his knowledge of journalism on the streets of the city and burnished his news writing on the rewrite desk. He later worked as a reporter for the Logansport, Ind., Press, covering the courthouse along with other assignments, and later as city editor of the Morris, Ill., Daily Herald, where he also wrote a column providing commentary on local affairs. He had been a correspondent for the Indianapolis News and for the Times of Northwest Indiana, Munster. Karst was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Plymouth, where he had been a lay reader. He had also been a member of the National Guard in Indiana and Illinois. At the Culver Citizen, he said his goal was fair and accurate coverage of local news and providing a forum for readers who wished to be heard. He cited the nonpartisan policy of the paper's founders and said he was trying to maintain a continuity with the paper's traditional style, as much as was compatible with contemporary newspaper design, which involved the first use of modern computers in getting out the paper. He wrote most of the weekly editorials that appeared in the Citizen. The paper's editorials at the time frequently addressed local issues like the continued cleanup of Lake Maxinkuckee, keeping the public library downtown and the establishment of historic districts in Culver and on the East Shore. In 1994, the Karsts presided over the celebration of the centennial of the paper's founding, with three previous publishers participating. The Hoosier State Press Association recognized him with two first-place awards, in statewide competition, for distinguished editorial writing and for best news photograph. He received two of the Midwest Travel Writers Association's Mark Twain Awards. He was also named the 1986 Mark Twain Travel Writer of the Year by the MTWA and received the association's Crystal Award for the length of time he spent in professional travel writing. After the sale of the Citizen, he continued to work as a freelance writer, contributing frequently to Outdoor Indiana, the Culver Academies' alumni magazine and other publications. Local history and rural history were among his interests. Subjects included in his research were the displacement of Native Americans, the Underground Railroad, 19th century communi- tarian groups and the settlement of "plain people" in Indiana. There was a requiem Mass on Dec. 29 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Plymouth. Former Culver City publisher Frederick Karst dies at 87 Karst The schedule for publication of local government unit's annual reports is as follows: COUNTY Following the second regular meeting of the county commis- sioners, the report should be posted and published (IC 36-2-2- 19). According to the state Board of Accounts, newspapers should expect those reports in February. The annual financial report output that will meet the require- ment of the receipts and disburse- ment portion for IC 36-2-2-19 is called Cash & Investments Combined, according to the state Board of Accounts. Counties often use the 100R report for the total compensation paid to each of the county officers, deputies and employees. TOWNSHIPS Within four weeks after the third Tuesday following the first Monday in February (dead- line - Tuesday, March 22), the township trustee is to publish an abstract of receipts and disburse- ments (IC 36-6-4-13). To avoid squabbles over pub- lication costs, township trustees and newspaper should note that budget lines with $0 amounts do not have to be included in the published report. This will serve to condense the size of the pub- lication. CITIES, TOWNS Within 60 days after the end of the calendar year (deadline – Tuesday, March 1), the fiscal officer is to publish an annual report of receipts and disburse- ments (IC 5-3-1-3). SCHOOL CORPORATIONS No earlier than Aug. 1 nor later than Aug. 15, the secretary of each school corporation must publish an annual financial report (IC 5-3-1-3). OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION as defined under IC 36-1-2-13 For those political subdivi- sions with an annual budget of at least $300,000 and the power to levy taxes, and do not have a requirement to publish an annual report under another statute, an annual report of receipts and disbursements is required to be published not later than 60 days after year end – Tuesday, March 1. (IC 5-3-1-3.5). 2023 schedule for publication of local government units Page 4 January 2023 Journalist served as HSPA director, president of Midwest Travel Writers Association

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