Oregon-Davis Schools On Lockdown Following Weekend Threat

Posted on Author WKVI
Oregon-Davis Jr./Sr. High School
Oregon-Davis Jr./Sr. High School

A local school is on lockdown today after officials discovered some disturbing graffiti in a boys restroom over the weekend after a basketball game. Oregon-Davis Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney says school officials met yesterday with officials from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office and are taking the incident very seriously. He says officers from the sheriff’s department are at the school and all students are remaining inside the building.

Disney says the campus will remain on lockdown throughout the day. He stresses that school officials cannot take any threats lightly in this day and age. Disney adds that he wants parents to be aware of what’s going on and says he understands if they want to keep their children home today. The graffiti incident remains under investigation by the Starke County Sheriff’s Office. Stay tuned to WKVI throughout the day for more on this developing story.

NJ-SP Academic Super Bowl Team Places Third at Lowell Invitational

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson-San Pierre High School Academic Super Bowl Team placed third at the Lowell Invitational Academic Super Bowl Competition on Thursday, March 7. Answering questions about “The Glory That Was Greece,” the Bluejays placed second in Mathematics and Fine Arts and third in Interdisciplinary and Science. The total score for all NJ-SP teams earned them a third place finish behind Lowell and Munster. They will travel to River Forest High School tomorrow for the Conference Super Bowl Competition. NJ-SP will host the area competition on Tuesday, April 16. It will see 16 area schools competing for a chance to go to the state competition on May 4.

Starke Commissioners Accept Sidewalk Repair Quote

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
In an effort to avoid a potential accident and lawsuit for the county, the Starke County Commisioners recently approved a quote to repair the concrete steps on the south side of the county annex building and repair a section of the sidewalk near the meeting room. Courthouse custodian James Coad told the commissioners that the steps on the south side are “falling apart,” and said that a 5-foot-by-5-foot section of sidewalk outside the meeting room door has sunk down, creating a tripping hazard.

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Second District Republicans Elect Officers

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Republican Second Congressional District Committee reorganized this weekend, electing officers for a new four-year term on Saturday at the Monitou Banquet Center in Rochester.

Due in part to this experience serving as treasurer and vice chairman of the district,the committee elected Samuel J. Frain of Winamac as chairman by an unanimous vote. Frain had first been elected chairman two years ago. For vice chair, the committee elected Dr. Deb Fleming of South Bend, who also serves as the chairwoman of the St. Joseph County GOP. Janet Corwin of Peru will serve as secretary, while Fulton County Chair Chad Hartzler of Akron will serve as treasurer.

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Prescribed Fire Workshop Set for March 16

Posted on Author WKVI

A landowner workshop is scheduled for March 16 from 9 a.m. to noon to discuss prescribed fires.

Linda Byer, District 2 wildlife biologist at the Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Headquarters in North Judson, said the class will teach landowners how to do a prescribed burn on their property.

“That is a burn with a plan,” explained Byer. “It is for a specific location to do a specific job. Another term is controlled burn. It is a managed fire.”

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West Central School Board Gets Report on Active Shooter Training

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central School Board reviewed a report submitted by Safety Director Chuck Evans who attended the active shooter training at the Monterey Elementary School on Saturday, Feb. 23. Ten students attended the training and Superintendent Charles Mellon believes that the information they learned will be helpful in planning a similar training at the school corporation in the near future.

The feedback will also aid in reviewing the corporation’s emergency plans.

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Plymouth Hires O-D Ag Teacher, FFA Sponsor

Posted on Author WKVI

A local high school will soon be looking for a new agriculture teacher and FFA coordinator. Jacob Riley is leaving Oregon-Davis at the end of the school year to take a job with Plymouth Schools. Riley has taught a number of agriculture classes at O-D for the past nine years including courses in the school’s new tech model for the past two years. He holds three degrees from Purdue University. Riley will begin his teaching duties at Plymouth in June with summer agricultural experience classes.

WCHS to Host Bi-County Choral Festival

Posted on Author WKVI

Winamac Community High School
Winamac Community High School
Winamac Community High School will be hosting the fourth annual Bi-County Choral Festival on Monday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the socialtorium. There will be a free-will admission at the door, with all proceeds going to benefit all choirs involved.

The event was first planned four years ago when choral directors from Rochester, Caston, and Winamac sought to introduce students to guest conductors with an afternoon of singing and educational fellowship. Caston Choral Director Michelle Byrn and Winamac Choral Director Patrick Schuttrow will be back again this year, welcoming Rochester’s new choral director, Autumn Dalton, who will accompany the performance.

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Senator Arnold Pushing Bills Regarding Property Tax Deductions

Posted on Author WKVI

Senator Jim Arnold
Senator Jim Arnold
State Senator Jim Arnold is backing a number of bills that are now advancing through the Senate, including legislation regarding property tax deductions and safer railroad crossings.

House Bill 1261 would allow homeowners in LaPorte County to receive deductions in delayed property taxes for a current assessment date, authorizing the Department of Local Government Finance to delay payments for the March 1, 2011 or Jan. 15, 2013 assessment dates. A number of property tax policies would also apply to delayed property taxes, including payment via credit or debit card, sales tax exemptions for one year, and a two-percent discount for payments made within 30 days.

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Starke Commissioners Deny Recommendation for Extra Clerk’s Office Employee

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski
Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski
The Starke County Commissioners earlier this week refused to support the county clerk’s request to add an additional employee to her office. Clerk Evelyn Skronski approached the commissioners asking for their recommendation to the county council for another full-time employee and one part-time employee, but the commissioners said that they don’t expect to see an increase in her staffing any time soon.

Skronski told the commissioners that the special election to be held this year is going to be stretching the employees to their limits, and with the regularly-increasing workload for the office, Skronski said extra help is practically a necessity.

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Starke County Dog Tags Expired – Renewal Time is Now

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
For Starke County residents who have a four-legged furry canine friend, it’s time once again to purchase those dog tags. Any tag that was purchased on or after March 1, 2012 is now expired and a new tag is required to be purchased at a cost of $5 per dog.

Any dog six months of age or older must be tagged, and anyone who harbors or keeps a taxable dog in or near their premises – regardless of the dog’s owner – must purchase a tag for the animal. While the tags don’t necessarily have to be picked up by the dog’s actual owner, basic knowledge of the dog is required for form purposes, such as breed, color, sex, and age.

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Marshall County Seeking Leader of the Year Nominations

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Marshall County resident who best exemplifies outstanding leadership, exhibits a passion for community service, possesses the ability to encourage, develop, motivate and influence people and is able to identify and address community problems will be honored with the Leader of the Year Award. Leadership Marshall County is currently seeking nominations for this prestigious honor. Nomination forms are available on the Marshall County Community Foundation website at www.marshallcountylmc.org. Any resident of Marshall County may make a nomination. Completed forms are due by April 5. Nominees must be a current or former Marshall County resident and must also be of good reputation. The award recipient will receive an engraved plaque and a $500 award check for the nonprofit organization of his or her choice.

North Judson Woman Walking to Raise Funds for MDA

Posted on Author WKVI

Melissa Bogart (right), mother Pam Bogart (middle), and niece Adilyn Howard (left).
Melissa Bogart (right), mother Pam Bogart (middle), and niece Adilyn Howard (left).
To honor the memory of her father who passed away from muscular dystrophy, Melissa Bogart of North Judson will be walking at the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association event to raise money for research that, hopefully, can one day control or even cure the life-threatening disease.

Bogart’s father, Neil William Bogart, passed away from the effects of muscular dystrophy at the age of 56, and Bogart is honoring his memory by walking at the event held at Coveleski Stadium. A customer service representative at IU Health Starke Hospital said it was difficult watching Neil cope with an illness that was not well-understood. Bogart herself has also been diagnosed with the disease but it has not prevented her from living her life, as she works a full-time job and raises her family as a single parent of two.

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Knox School Board Spotlights “I Love to Read” Challenge

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The Knox Elementary School recently won WSBT’s I Love to Read challenge and Superintendent A.J. Gappa said that was recognized by the school board Monday night.

“Mr. Ryan Marsh, a second grade teacher, and two of his students came to the board meeting and talked about the success they’re having with reading incentives that are going on in Mr. Marsh’s class,” explained Gappa. “A clip was played from the newscast that afternoon from WSBT that showed all of the elementary students in the gym being read to by one of their newscasters. They also watched a follow up with some of the students in the office talking with the WSBT personnel.”

Some of the board members had not seen the clip and they enjoyed the review the students gave during the meeting.

NJ-SP Academic Super Bowl Team Looking to Make It to State

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre High School
North Judson-San Pierre High School

The North Judson-San Pierre Academic Super Bowl team is speeding toward the state competition, as they snagged third place overall at the Lowell Invitational Academic Super Bowl competition on Thursday, March 7.

The Blue Jays received second place in Mathematics and Fine Arts as they skillfully answered questions about “The Glory That Was Greece,” and earned third place in Interdisciplinary and Science. The total score of all the NJSP teams won them a third place overall finish behind Lowell and Munster.

Now, the NJ-SP Academic Super Bowl team is gearing up for the Conference Super Bowl Competition, set to take place at River Forest High School on March 12. The area competition will take place at NJ-SP High School on Tuesday, April 16, with 16 area schools competing for a chance to make their way to the state competition on May 4.

West Central Students to Make Up Snow Day

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central School Board commended maintenance staff members Glen Tanner and Ron Schultz on their cleanup efforts after the snow event Tuesday night. Superintendent Charles Mellon explained they were at the corporation early to start.

“Their day on Wednesday began at 1 a.m. when they started pushing snow around,” said Mellon. “We did have to take the day off on Wednesday due to the county roads, but we were ready to go. I’m sure all of the students and staff appreciated that when they showed up Thursday morning.”

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