The board had met April 23 to put some initial thoughts on paper and Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman will present those ideas again tonight to refresh discussion and initialize more input from the board on what they expect of his successor.
ISTEP+ Testing Returns to Normal Levels
Schools can resume ISTEP+ testing at normal levels today. Officials with the Indiana Department of Education say software vendor CTB McGraw-Hill is confident fixes made to their servers last week will allow for full testing. Problems administering the online test last week prompted state officials to ask schools to administer the test to half of their students at a time. They also extended the testing window for schools until May 17. So far, about 48 percent of total ISTEP+ sessions have been completed. State officials say minimal interruptions were reported Friday.
Oregon-Davis School Board to Hold Special Meeting
The board members will be discussing off-campus cooperative programs including Auto Tech I and II, Construction, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Graphic Imaging, and Health and Science Education. The School-to-School and School-to-Work Programs will also be presented for discussion.
Pharmaceutical Companies Push Back on Drug Abuse
Methamphetamine makers who shop at a local pharmacy are out of luck. Drug manufacturers have come up with a new cold medication formula. Nexafed contains psuedoephedrine, which is the active ingredient in meth, but can’t be easily used to make the illicit drug. Walgreen’s pharmacist Joe Lark says his store has a new policy.
Ride to Remember to Honor Fallen Knox Soldier
The Patriot Guard Riders are encouraging everyone to join them and the families in honoring the fallen of the area who died in the line of duty, serving the United States military during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflict. The riders and other participants visit the grave sites of those who were lost, where possible, and conduct a short memorial service in their honor. This year, the Patriot Guard Riders are honoring 16 men and women.
Willard E. George
Williard E. George, 67, of Winamac, passed away on Sunday, May 5 at his residence. No funeral services will be scheduled. The Frain Mortuary in Winamac is in charge of arrangements.
Attorney General’s Office Cracks Down on Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions. An estimated seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. That’s more than the number using cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and inhalants combined. Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller chairs the statewide Rx Abuse Task Force, which brought shareholders from the law enforcement and medical community together to address the problem.
West Central School Board Takes Action on Several Items
The board approved the student accident insurance policy for the next school year.
Pulaski Memorial Celebrates 50th Anniversary, Holds Health Fair
IU Health LaPorte Hospital to “Build a Better Trail to Health”
Jake Owen to Perform at Marshall County Blueberry Festival
Sign-up Dates Approaching for Mint Fest Pageant
Application distribution dates are approaching for the Mint Festival pageant, and Festival Committee Member Teresa Trout said the committee has been working hard to get the event planning wrapped up. The committee is currently taking applications and have set aside five days this month to distribute applications at the North Judson Public Library and the Starke County Public Library.
Pageant sign-up sheets are available today at the Starke County Public Library from 2 to 4 p.m. The sign-up sheets will also be available at the library in Knox on May 10 from 3 to 5 p.m., and on May 11, sign-ups will take place at the North Judson Public Library from 10 a.m. to noon. On May 13, the North Judson Public Library will once again host sign-ups from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Starke County Youth Club Radiothon is Today!
Absentee Voting Going Strong in Special Election
Voters in California, Center and Washington townships are eligible to vote on a public question offered by the Knox Community School Board concerning a construction and remodeling project in the Palmer Wing at the elementary school.
Absentee voting is available today and tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Starke County Courthouse. The last day to vote absentee in-office is Monday from 8 a.m. to noon. The polls will be open on Election Day Tuesday, May 7 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
A total of 207 in-office absentee ballots have been cast, 32 mail-in ballots received and 8 travel board votes collected.
Drug Symposium Scheduled Today in Knox
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller will be the keynote speaker during the drug symposium today at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox beginning at 9 a.m.
IU Health Starke Hospital has partnered with the Moving Starke County Forward Coalition to present this drug symposium to address the abuse of methamphetamine and prescription drugs in Starke County. Zoeller is taking a more aggressive role in the issue and assisting in finding solutions.
Zoeller will be giving a presentation and will answer questions. A local panel of presenters will also share information. Small group discussions will be held in order to gather ideas for innovative ways to curb the drug issues in the county.
LaPorte Police Working on Safety in the Month of May
The LaPorte City Police Department will be involved in an Operation Pullover Blitz from May 17 to June 2.
Officers will be working overtime to enforce seat belt laws, especially during the Memorial Day holiday. More than 100 hours will be devoted to patrolling the streets to make sure travelers are buckled in safely. Traffic safety is the number one priority during the Memorial Day holiday.
Culver Elementary School to Begin HVAC Project June 1
The Culver Community School Corporation is preparing for summer break which kicks off on May 30 but the corporation still has some work to do over the summer while the students enjoy their time away from school. Superintendent Brad Schuldt said the school board approved three resolutions at their meeting Monday night, beginning the process of selling bonds to finance a project at Culver Elementary School.
Schuldt said the corporation is looking to improve every single classroom in the building by providing better temperature control and indoor air quality through the heating, air conditioning, and ventilation system. Schuldt said the project is expected to start as soon as the school year comes to a close, with the work to be wrapped up before the beginning of the next school year.
Leadership Starke County Class to Hold Final Session May 8
Jessup said the class emphasized three main ideas: networking, skill-building, and information.
April Revenue Report Indicates Healthy Tax Collections Overall
April was a good month for the state’s general fund in terms of tax collections, which are $71.3 million above the most recent revenue forecast and $81.4 million above collections for the same period last year. State Budget Agency Director Christopher Atkins credits an 11-percent increase in individual income tax collections, which are also up significantly from last year and are running 3.7 percent ahead of the forecast amount.
Sales tax collections for April were up slightly over last year but missed the forecast mark by .05 percent. They’ve increased since last year but are still less than one-percent below the forecast amount. Corporate income tax collections missed the mark significantly for April, coming in at 11.4 percent below forecast for the month. Year-to-date they’re half-a-percent below forecast.
Newly Approved Principal Eager to Begin at O-D
The Oregon-Davis School Board recently named a new high school principal to take the place of Greg Briles.
Tim Pletcher has been in education for the past 19 years and has spent his entire career at South Bend schools – mainly at Washington High School. He completed his undergraduate work at IUSB and he got his Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois. He also completed a doctorate at the University of Illinois and licensing at Indiana Wesleyan.
