Three World War II Starke County Veterans were flown to Washington, D.C. Tuesday as part of the Honor Flight Network’s program to honor the surviving members of that generation who fought in that bloody war.
Traveling to Washington were Jack Milner, Chuck Johnson and Floyd Brown. All are members of VFW Post #748 in Knox.
The Winamac Town Board heard from Park Superintendent, Don Thompson, about damage done to the park due to flooding and vandalism.
He reported that the park was under water again this year when the Tippecanoe River swelled and drifted into the park. The Pulaski County Extension Office had removed items from the 4-H buildings to avoid further water damage. Beaver damage was also reported during the flood. Thompson also told the Board that several unknown person(s) caused damage to the playground equipment during a so-called party at the park. Glass was broken around the equipment and clean-up was extensive.
The staff at the Henry F. Schricker Public Library in Knox is celebrating 100 years of the Indy 500.
Nancy Pimm, who worked in the pits at the Indy 500 from 1984-1989, will be at the Library on Thursday, May 12th to discuss her book Indy 500: The Inside Track, and show racing gear that she and her husband have collected. They will show fire suits, visors, racing shoes and gloves, plus a front wing and rear wing mount from Danica Patrick’s car, a custom driver seat from Kenny Brack, racing tires, and more.
What a difference 10 years makes. On May 15th, 2001, Dr. Suellen Reed kicked off the construction of three schools in the Culver Community District. Sod was turned at Culver Community Junior-Senior. High School to mark the beginning of construction. In the $18 million dollar project, Monterey Elementary was remodeled, 16 classrooms were added to Culver Elementary and classrooms and a gymnasium were added at Culver Community Junior-Senior High School.
A tough and controversial decision was made last night by the Culver Community School Board, as they ultimately voted 5-2 to discontinue operation of Monterey Elementary School. The closure of the school was due to a need to meet budget cuts in the amount of $855,928 over two years from the state. While this decision may not have been the most popular one, the Board felt it was the best decision for the school, as well as the teachers, the students, and even the parents.
“The vote ended up being five members voted for the motion, two members voted against the motion, and the motion was to discontinue operation of Monterey Elementary school effective at the end of this current school year,” said Superintendent Brad Schuldt, “and that the students beginning next year would be a part of the Culver Elementary School body.”
In a devastating blow to LaPorte County, 112 people were laid off in a cost saving measure at IU Health LaPorte Hospital. It is not known at this time how many were Starke County residents. The LaPorte facility employs 1,700 people. Continue reading
At the most recent Starke County Commissioner’s meeting, Highway Superintendent, Steve Siddall, was quizzed on the situation with rising fuel prices. Commission President, Dan Bridegroom, made the observation that some counties were cutting back on their mowing of county roadways to conserve fuel. He said that he understood that at least two counties were going to only be mowing the intersections.
Siddall talked with Ted Hayes after the meeting about the plans here.
“There’s more to come.” That was the word from Knox Park Board member, Rodger Weigel, who was at Wythogan Park when Ted Hayes took a tour last week. New dugouts were recently constructed, and a new curly slide was installed at the park. Improvements are now being made at the skate park.
Weigel said that more improvements are coming.
A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 12th, at 9:00 a.m. CT at Bella Vita Pregnancy Resource Center in Knox. An open house will follow until about Noon. Bella Vita is at 206 S. Heaton St. in Knox.
All services at Bella Vita are free and confidential. Services include: pregnancy tests, peer counseling by trained advocates about pregnancy options, referrals to community resources, and education classes that empower women to make healthy choices as well as earn needed material items. Call (574) 772-2877 for more information.
The Culver Community School Board will discuss, and possibly vote on the future of the Monterey Elementary School tonight during their regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. ET in the Administration Building. The Board needs to reduce expenses in order to meet budget cuts from the state level in the amount of $855,928 over two years.
The Culver Community School Corporation has a number of options to explore in order to meet this new budget. Some of the options include increasing revenue through a referenda, in which the school tax rate would be raised $0.11 per $100; the use of the Rainy Day Fund, and decreasing expenses through budget reductions, such as closing Monterey Elementary.
The Board will also look at reducing certified staff, non-certified staff, and administration, and reducing the following programs: business, music, art, athletic, extra curricular, Industrial Technology, Physical Education, Foreign Language, Building Trades, and Vocational.
The North Judson Town Board heard from concerned citizens about the gas prices in North Judson. It was reported to WKVI that the gas prices in North Judson are generally $.10 higher than the surrounding communities.
The Board was expected to write a letter to the gas stations and ask why this is occurring and how it can be fixed. The residents are especially concerned about prices in this economy.
The Marshall County Community Foundation has provided Ancilla College a grant in the amount of $20,300 to help launch the Assistive Developmentally-Enhanced Program and Technology Initiative, or ADEPT.
The Pulaski County United Fund recently awarded 10 non-profit organizations financial support.
Pulaski County YMCA, Pulaski County REACT, West Central Educational Foundation, North Central IN Rural Crisis Center, Pulaski County Human Services, Salvation Army-Pulaski County Service Extension, Girl Scouts of Northern IN-Michiana-Pulaski County Scouts, and Sagamore Council Boy Scouts-Pulaski County Scouts received funds from the Pulaski County United Fund.
Campbell Soup Company will be joining with the National Association of Letter Carriers to Stamp out Hunger across America. The Stamp out Hunger event will be this Saturday, May 14th.
You are encouraged to leave non-perishable food items by your mailbox on Saturday and the mail carriers in the Kankakee Valley will be pick up your donation where it will be distributed to your local Food Bank.
The Knox citywide yard sale is scheduled for this Saturday, May 14th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No permit is required for that day only. You may participate if you live in the city limits and in the two mile jurisdiction.
The only signs permitted will be those provided by City Hall and those signs are $.50 each. Additional sale dates in conjunction with the citywide sale will require the normal permit and two signs are included in the permit price.
The Starke County Youth Club Radiothon brought in over $35,000 during its annual fund raising event.
With only minutes to spare, American Oak pushed the dial over the $35,000 goal to support the club’s activities for another year. Continue reading
During the Spotlight on Success portion of the Knox Community School Board meeting Monday night, the Board honored 4th grade teacher, Sherry Wakal.
Martin’s Supermarkets, along with television station CW 25 and radio station Sunny 101.5 out of South Bend run a yearly program on Teacher of the Month,” explained Superintendent A.J. Gappa. One of our 4th grade teachers, Sherry Wakal, was the February Teacher of the Month and she was presented a certificate. She is planning to attend a luncheon on May 19th at the Martin’s in Granger, where they announce the Teacher of the Year. It was quite an honor.”
The Starke County Youth Club Radiothon is underway! Call 772-6241 to call in your pledge for the youth club that helps children in Knox, North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis schools.
The Youth Club is running the Summer School program at the Knox Middle School this year. They also help kids throughout the school year with homework help, arts and crafts and enrichment activities. Students meet after school, get a snack and get the help they need to help with their studies.
North Judson Police Chief, Doug Vessely, told the North Judson Town Board this week that a recent search warrant conducted at the scrap yard in Knox by the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Knox City Police Department and the North Judson Police Department may have uncovered stolen property from the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson. Museum staff had reported joint bars stolen plus other items worth thousands of dollars. The incident remains under investigation.
The Indiana Department of Education has released a preliminary budget estimate for schools and according to Superintendent, A.J. Gappa, the Knox Community School Corporation looks to be in better shape than its neighboring schools. He said that the School Corporation could see an increase in the next two years.
