Nancy J. Dembowski Accepts Henry F. Schricker Award

debbie-and-nancy
Starke County Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Mix and 2016 Henry F. Schricker Award Winner Nancy Dembowski

A lifelong Knox resident who has made a career of community service is the recipient of the 2016 Starke County Chamber of Commerce Henry F. Schricker Award. The honor is named after the former governor and is given annually to someone who embodies his credo of “service before self.” Continue reading

Ted Hayes Remembers His Friend, Jennifer Davis

jennifer-davis
Jennifer Davis

A Memorial Mass is scheduled tomorrow for a Starke County native and longtime public servant. Ted Hayes will deliver the eulogy for his friend, Jennifer Davis, and was kind enough to share a few thoughts with us.

A gathering of friends will take place this evening from 4 until 8 p.m. at O’Donnell Funeral Home in North Judson, with a 4 p.m. Rosary Service. Tomorrow’s Memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. at S.S. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in North Judson.

 

Take a bow

Ted Hayes
Ted Hayes

Today, we say a fond farewell to our mentor, colleague and friend, Ted Hayes. Over the years, Ted has served in many capacities at WKVI: general manager, news director, commercial producer and longtime on-air personality, forging many friendships throughout the Kankakee Valley and our listening area.

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Moving Starke County Across America Campaign Urges Residents to Get Moving

Nancy Dembowski (middle) presented Anita Goodan (left) and Jerry Curtis (right) with a pedometer to kick off the campaign.
Nancy Dembowski (middle) presented Anita Goodan (left) and Jerry Curtis (right) with a pedometer to kick off the campaign.

A startling statistic in Starke County has incited an initiative to get residents off the couch and moving. Ted Hayes, marketing and media representative for IU Health Starke Hospital, and Nancy Dembowski of Moving Starke County Forward said a statistic released last year listed the health rankings of counties in Indiana and revealed that Starke County came in second-to-last, ranking 91 out of 92 counties for healthiness. As a result of that, the county has received a grant from the Indiana Department of Health to study the issue and find out how to improve health in the county.

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Walking Challenge Extended to Starke County Residents

Julie Butus
Julie Butus

It’s National Walking Day today! In light of today’s observance, Julie Butus, health and human sciences educator at Purdue Extension in Starke County, is asking you to take part a walking challenge.

“What we want to do it get people up and moving,” said Butus. “We want them to get out and walk, run, jog, and bike and we will have a contest from Memorial Day to Labor Day.” If you have limited storage and you want to try cycling, there is a great range available from UK folding bike brand Ecosmo.

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Starke County Health Advocacy Group to Hold Public Meeting Tomorrow

Nancy Dembowski
Nancy Dembowski
A group advocating for a healthy Starke County is holding a community discussion on Thursday in an effort to raise awareness of a number of issues, including the county’s low health ranking, local drug abuse, and the necessity of a preschool project.

A number of local governmental entities have announced their support of Moving Starke County Forward, having declared 2013, “A Year of Health in Starke County.” The North Judson Town Board signed the proclamation in January, while the Starke County Commissioners and Knox City Council had done the same two weeks prior.

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Symposium On Drugs Aims To End Drug Abuse in Starke County

David Hyatt

IU Health Starke Hospital President David Hyatt and Marketing and Media Representative Ted Hayes are sponsoring a community program to end drug abuse in Starke County.

The pair have collaborated with Sarah Hoshaw of Healthlinc to create “Symposium on Drugs,” which focuses mainly on methamphetamine abuse. The Symposium on Drugs will be held in April and more information on what to expect during the event will be released soon. The event will include support and education from law enforcement authorities, previous offenders and the court system. Detective Rob Olejniczak from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Jordan McIntire from Starke County Community Corrections have been instrument in helping plan the symposium.

Starke County is the ninth-highest producer of methamphetamine in the state. Prescription drug abuse also continues to increase.

Ted Hayes Begins New Career

WKVI Groundbreaking in 1987 (L to R) LeRoy Gudeman, Harold Weinberg, Tom Bell, Ted Hayes, Ralph Harbison and Mike Gurrado (missing from the picture-Almo Smith)

To all of my WKVI friends,

Today, I begin a second career in Knox.  After 43 years at the radio station, I have formed a new company, Hayes Media Solutions.  In the early stages, I will be publicizing information from IU Health Starke Hospital.  In my almost 50 years in broadcasting, I have always been interested in health-related issues, so this new task will be a labor of love.

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WKVI Receives Freedom of the Road Award

Ted Hayes accepts the Freedom of the Road Award from Ernie Brewer

WKVI Radio was recently presented the prestigious “Freedom of the Road” award by ABATE of Indiana. The presentation was made at the WKVI studio with local ABATE officer, Ernie Brewer, presenting the plaque to Ted Hayes.

In accepting the award, Ted commented on how proud he was that the station was involved with such a worthwhile group, and pledged to help promote the club’s activities in the future.

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Retirement Party Held for Winamac Clerk-Treasurer

Jennifer Zimmer, Judy Heater and Deanna Pletka

Winamac Clerk-Treasurer Judy Heater will be retiring at the end of the year and she was honored Friday afternoon at the Winamac Fire Department.

Ted Hayes asked Judy what she will be doing in her retirement.

“I going to spend time with my husband, Vic, and my daughters and grandchildren,” she laughs. “I’ve been the Clerk-Treasurer for the past 16 years and there were so many good times and so many wonderful people it would be hard to pick out just one highlight. I’m not giving up the people, just the Clerk-Treasurer’s position. I’d have to say that winning the Halleck Award the same time you were named the Henry F. Schricker Award winner was a wonderful highlight.”

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On this Date in History

On this date, Apollo 11 landed the first humans on the moon.

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first to step out onto the moon’s surface.

While that was going on, Harold Welter and Ted Hayes were testing the equipment at WKVI FM because the next day they would be broadcasting to the Kankakee Valley for the first time. Continue reading

Starke County 4-H Fair Continues Today

The Starke County 4-H Fair continues today. Lenny Dessauer will be broadcasting live from the Fair today from 2:00-6:00 p.m.

This is a big day at the Fair! The 4-H Club Parade is at 6:00 p.m. Opening ceremonies are at 6:15 p.m. where the 4-H Club and Leader Recognitions, Fairboard scholarships and the Jr. Leader Achievement Royalty will be announced. The Starke County Ministerial Association music is at 7:00 p.m. and the Pig Scramble is at 7:30 p.m. Celebrity Fun Night, sponsored by the Starke County Fairboard and WKVI, begins at 8:00 p.m. Other events today include judging for cake decorating, flowers gardening and crops; the 4-H Poultry, Waterfowl and Pigeon Show at 12:30 p.m.; the Open Class Bake Sale at 5:00 p.m., and the Fairboard’s Ham and Bean and Chicken and Noodle Dinner at 5:00 p.m.

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Ted Hayes Accompanies Civil Air Patrol on Mission

WKVI’s own Ted Hayes was given the opportunity to go airborne with members of Indiana’s Wing of the Civil Air Patrol last Friday as they conducted a simulated mission to provide aerial photographs of bridges along the Kankakee River. Col. Mark Reeves of Indianapolis was the Commander for the evaluation. Lt. Col Matt Creed, First Lt. Lindsay Shipps, and Captain David Sinn conducted the mission.

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Civil Air Patrol Conducts Training in Starke County

The plane is prepared for take-off

On July 1st, 1946, President Harry Truman established the Civil Air Patrol. It was charged with three primary missions: Aerospace education, cadet programs and emergency services. Over the past weekend, members of Indiana’s Wing of the Civil Air Patrol were in Knox conducting exercises to prepare themselves for whatever disasters they might be called to in the state.

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Ted Hayes Remembers Don Paul

Don Paul, Sr.

“We lost a good man last week,” said Ted Hayes. “Don Paul was one of those guys who was a good husband, a good father, and a good grandfather. He was good for 4-H in Starke County having devoted thousands of hours in his lifetime to making sure 4-Hers had good guidance, and better still, a good role model.”

“But when I think of Don Paul, I will remember him as a great team-mate with his wife, Mabel. If you know Mabel as I do, you know she’s a take charge woman in a good way. And that was alright with Don because he was always there for her. Her accomplishments, which were many, made him so proud.”

“I remember the night Mabel was honored with the Schricker Award. There wasn’t a person in the room who was happier for her, than her husband Don.”

“And his grandchildren, well, his shirt buttons popped when mentioning their accomplishments.”

“Yes, we lost a good man last week. He’ll be missed by all who knew him. But we were all richer because he lived among us. We were all richer because of the example he set.”

Mark Anderson Wins Aarons/WKVI NCAA Bracket Challenge!

Mark Anderson (R) is the winner of the Aarons/WKVI NCAA bracket challenge. Ted Hayes poses with Mark by Mark's new TV!

Congratulations to Mark Anderson, of Knox, who is the winner of the Aarons/WKVI NCAA bracket challenge! Mark won a 42” Plasma TV from Aarons in LaPorte by picking the right teams in the NCAA men’s bracket and getting the most points to win the contest. Mark was asked his strategy for the contest:

“I’ve got to admit, it was just mostly luck,” he replied. “I have been a March madness fan for years and years and I fill out a bracket with my students every single year. I watch nearly every single game and so I’m pretty hooked on it. I’ve got to tell you that this was all luck.”

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Ted Hayes and Harold Welter to Talk about Their Broadcasting Days on ‘Ted Hayes Remembers’ Program

Ted Hayes and Harold Welter

TED HAYES REMEMBERS Ted & Harold 3-11

On “Ted Hayes Remembers” today, Ted will be joined by a man who he has worked with for 43 years. They began together in Rensselaer, worked two years there, then Ted went to Peoria, Illinois, and Harold to LaPorte.

When WKVI was granted a permit, Harold turned to Ted as his first hire. Ted was the morning man (Three for the Road was the name of the show) and Harold, who was also the manager, read the news across from him.

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