Spring brush pickup is scheduled this week in North Judson. Brush piles need to be placed along the edge of the alleyway by 7 a.m. on Monday, May 5. Residents who do not have an alleyway should pile their brush along the street curb. This pickup is for brush only, not for leaves. Utility crews will not be able to return once they finish picking up brush on a particular street or from an alley. Residents are welcome to haul brush, grass and leaves to the town dump site. The key is available at the town water department office during business hours, which are 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office closes for lunch from noon until 1 p.m. daily.
Retiring Ancilla President Reflects on School’s Role
The 47th class of graduates from Ancilla College in Donaldson will go through commencement exercises today. It’s the last ceremony for Dr. Ron May. He’s retiring June 30th after serving as Ancilla College president for the past eight years.
“Ancilla is probably in terms of my own personal philosophy and professional philosophy about what a two year college should be, what the first two years of college should be like, is almost a perfect fit for me. I just believe in the mission of the college and the values and philosophy that drives it, and what we do there in terms of trying to change the lives of students,” May said.
He added many of the students who attend Ancilla probably would not have an opportunity to go to college otherwise. Continue reading
Final Knox Spring Leaf Pick Up Starts Monday
If your weekend plans include yard work, you may be in luck if you live within the Knox city limits.
The final spring leaf pick up of the year will take place Monday, May 5 through Friday, May 9. Residents should place leaves in the street along the curb and not in the alley. Brush and limbs will be picked up each Thursday by the Knox street department. However, debris left over from professional tree trimming or removal jobs will not be taken by the city. The tree company is responsible for disposing of them.
Farmer Assists Trooper in Arrest
A farmer helped an Indiana State Police trooper make an arrest last week.
A trooper spotted an erratic driver in Kosciusko County and a chase ensued. The suspect was able to get away but the trooper later saw the suspect’s vehicle parked in a driveway at 4985 N. 920 W. in Etna Green. The officer exited his car and found the suspect running through a farm field. The trooper returned to his car and paralleled the man on 400 North as the man began to run faster through the field.
Marshall County Sheriff’s Department Issues Scam Alert
Marshall County Sheriff’s Department officials are warning residents of a local scam.
Several reports have been made to police that an agency claiming to be collecting funds for the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department is calling residents for donations. The caller claims that funds are being raised to donate teddy bears to local police.
Allergies Could Worsen This Season
Allergy sufferers are in for a long spring as the “Polar Vortex” has turned into the “Pollen/Allergy Vortex”.
The slow start to spring has delayed the blooming of trees. With the delay, the trees will be blooming at the same time grasses are blooming which will create a dramatic rise in pollen.
Watch out for a Microsoft Scam
The Better Business Bureau is urging consumers to beware of callers claiming to be from Microsoft.
In this latest scam, a “Microsoft caller” randomly calls consumers and explains that a computer that is in use in their possession has a virus or needs an update. The caller then gives instructions on what to do to fix the problem. Eventually, the scammer will ask for credit card information so the proper software can be purchased or the caller will “fix” the problem if you follow instructions.
7th Annual Starke County Youth Club WKVI Radiothon Begins Today
Starke County Youth Club participants, volunteers, members and community leaders will take over the WKVI airwaves today to share information about and raise money for the nonprofit organization. The club provides enrichment programs for local youngsters. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says they are tied to the state’s curriculum standards. and lesson plans accompany every activity. They stress Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, STEM for short, activities in a outside-the-box type of way.
“It’s everything from science experiments like you might remember from middle school, to teaching kids, even young ones, what engineering is about. How do you engineer a bridge? What kind of materials can you use? What’s stronger, this material or that material? All of those skills help prepare the next workforce.”
Szakonyi says careers in STEM fields are the wave of the future and adds its an exciting time to be teaching youngsters about math and science concepts. Continue reading
Practice Safe Driving Habits during Motorcycle Awareness Month
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
All motorists and motorcyclists are reminded to share the road and to practice safe driving habits. Motor vehicle operators are urged to be aware of motorcycles especially at intersections and while making turns and lane changes. As it is difficult to accurately judge the time, speed and distance of an approaching motorcycle, make sure you check the position of an oncoming motorcycle two or three times before driving through an intersection or making a turn.
Marshall County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Multiple Thefts
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department is investigating two thefts reported Tuesday evening by residents in the 16,000 block of 12th road. Dan Miller told deputies two bicycles were taken from his home. Joseph McKee said items were taken from his unlocked vehicle.
A Culver man got an unpleasant surprise Wednesday night when he returned to his home after being away for the winter. He told deputies from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department that someone broke into his pole barn in the 16,000 block of 20th Road and stole several tools and other items. He’s not sure when the crime occurred.
Plymouth Man Arrested on Drug Charges Following Traffic Stop
A Plymouth man faces felony drug charges following a traffic stop early Saturday morning. An officer from the Marshall County Police Department stopped a car driven by David Rhoades, 25, at the on Oakhill near the intersection of Nutmeg Road around 2 a.m. County Police K9 Arras indicated the presence of drugs in the vehicle, according to a news release from the sheriff’s department. Officers searched the vehicle and reportedly found a substance believed to be heroin, needles and other paraphernalia. Rhoades refused a certified drug test and was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a syringe, operating a vehicle while intoxicated controlled substance and operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person.
Schricker Award Winner to Speak at Ancilla Commencement
Starke County’s most recent Henry F. Schricker Award winner will be the commencement speaker at Ancilla College on Saturday. Community Services of Starke County Executive Director Joan Haugh was honored earlier this year for her embodiment of the two-term governor’s philosophy of service before self. Ancilla College President Dr. Ron May attended the Schricker Awards dinner and knew when he heard Haugh speak that he had found this year’s commencement speaker. He adds commencement is a special time for faculty, staff and especially students. “You celebrate the achievements of the students who have completed their degree programs and are ready to move on to what’s next in life,” May says. Saturday’s ceremony marks Ancilla’s 47th graduating class.
Starke County Celebrates National Day of Prayer
One Voice United in Prayer is the theme of Starke County’s National Day of Prayer observation. It will take place this morning at 7 a.m. at the community center in downtown Knox. The program will feature a concert of prayer under the direction of Rich Wallen. Eagle Creek Community Church Pastor Ed Hasnerl will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. Congress passed a joint resolution in 1952 establishing the first Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer. President Harry S. Truman signed it into law.
Culver Schools to Participate in Summer Food Service Program
The Culver Community School Corporation will take part in the Summer Food Service Program. It’s funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and offers free meals to all children 18 and younger. The program was created to ensure children have access to nutritious meals when the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs are not available. Meals are also served to persons over the age of 18 who are enrolled in a state-approved educational program for the mentally or physically disabled.Free meals will be served beginning Tuesday, June 3 and continuing through the summer. All meals must be eaten on site. All nutrition sites are closed on Friday, July 4. Click here to view locations, dates and times Culver Nutrition Sites.
West Central School Board Plans for Next Year
West Central School Board members are getting ready for the next school year. Items on the agenda for their board meeting tonight include setting school breakfast and lunch prices, considering changes to the student handbook and discussion and possible adoption of a student accident insurance plan for 2014-2015. Board meeting and pay dates for the upcoming year will also be set, as will a budget calendar. Discussion and possible approval of classified staff contracts is also listed on the agenda. The board will also continue the discussion of insurance for the school corporation’s wind turbine when they meet this evening at 7:30 p.m. EDT in the board room at the school corporation office in downtown Francesville.
Starke County Youth Club Cooking Class Serves Life Skills
The Starke County Youth Club teaches life skills to the 600 youngsters enrolled in their after-school programs. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says the cooking class is one of the most popular enrichment activities they offer. She says it teaches nutrition, kitchen safety and self-reliance. Even the youngest participants can learn basic terminology like what it means to dice or core. Szakonyi says youngsters learn how to prepare food and also how to make healthy food choices. She says youngsters learn that filling their bodies with sugar and other harmful things will compromise their ability to learn well and will make them feel sick.
“The cooking class is a lot of fun because kids get to eat, but they also get a lot of information that is important for their lives, Szakonyi says. Learn about the cooking class and more during tomorrow’s 7th Annual Starke County Youth Club WKVI Radiothon. It starts tomorrow at10 a.m. CDT right here on WKVI. They hope to raise $40,000. Find more information about the club on their website, http://www.thescyc.org/index.html.
LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office Investigating Child Neglect
The LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office may file child neglect charges against three adults after a 12-month old was reportedly seen wandering outside the Country Acres Apartments Tuesday wearing only a diaper. When officers from the LaPorte Police Department arrived, they found the child’s father holding the boy. The man told the officers he came to the apartment the night before to visit a female friend. A second woman was also there, according to a news release from the LaPorte Police Department. The adults drank together, and all three grownups and their four respective children spent the night. Continue reading
Child Says Suspicious Men Tried to Lure Her Into Pickup Truck
Police in LaPorte are on the lookout for an older red truck with a black bed cap after a passenger in a vehicle matching that description reportedly tried to lure a 12-year-old girl into the vehicle. The child told police she was walking her dog around 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon on Bosserman Street near Oberreich Street when the truck pulled up. She said the passenger claimed he knew her mother and encouraged her to get into the vehicle. The girl told the man she did not know him, according to the police report, but he continued to urge her to come with him. She refused, walked back to her grandmother’s nearby house and told officers she saw the truck leave the area. The suspect is described as an older white man with gray and brown curly hair and a beard. Anyone with information about the vehicle or suspect is asked to call the LaPorte Police Department at 219-362-9446 visit their website at www.lpcitypd.com to submit a crime tip.
Ivy Tech Corporate College Honors Area Company
An area company is set to receive one of Ivy Tech Corporate College’s 2013 Partner Awards. Ivy Tecn Community College President Thomas Snyder will present the award to officials at Polygon Company in Walkerton on Friday, May 9th at noon. Recipients are chosen based on their level of commitment to workforce training and development programs. Ivy Tech also looks at their adoption of standardized and portable workforce credentials and the use of assessments in the hiring of new workers and determining skills gaps. Other factors include their commitment to financially supporting worker training and ongoing partnership with Ivy Tech Corporate College for continuous improvement and development of programs and services. Continue reading
Knox High School Stages Guys and Dolls
Students at Knox High School are staging a popular musical this weekend. Catch “Guys and Dolls” on Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5 in the high school auditorium. Saturday’s show starts at 7 p.m., and Sunday’s performance begins at 2 p.m. Tickets are $7. The play made its Broadway debut in 1950 and won a Tony award for Best Musical. It’s an adaptation of several Damon Runyon short stories written in the 1920s and 30s about gamblers, gangsters and others in the New York underworld.
