Monterey Elementary School to Close Doors Today

Monterey Elementary School

The Monterey Elementary School is in its final day as a location for learning in the Culver School District. Beginning next school year, the students will be transported to Culver as part of a cost cutting measure.

In 1968, Monterey was consolidated into the Culver Community School District and was turned into a stand-alone elementary school.

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Culver Woman Arrested after Star City Couple Finds her Sleeping on Couch

Kelly Patterson

A Culver woman was arrested on Thursday, May 26th after a Star City couple found an her sleeping on their couch without any pants.

According to the police report, Kelly Patterson told police that she was involved in an accident and started walking until she found a residence. She found that the residence on S. Judson Street in Star City was unlocked so she walked in and went to sleep. Patterson’s pants were found on the back porch of the residence where police found drug paraphernalia and several blister packs containing pseudoephedrine tablets which is a key ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Police also reportedly found a small plastic bag containing methamphetamine in the couch where she was reportedly sleeping. She was arrested on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia and Residential Entry.

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Culver Man Dies in Motorcycle Accident

A Culver man died in a Friday night accident in Lake County. The accident occurred on U.S. 30. Aaron Broeker, 27, died from blunt force trauma at around 11:15 p.m. CT when the motorcycle he was riding slammed into the rear of a car driven by a Cedar Lake resident.

Another motorcyclist was riding with Broeker at the time of the accident.

Broeker was pronounced dead at the scene.

Public Areas in Culver Soon to be Alcohol-Free

Public areas in Culver may soon be alcohol-free, as the town council approved the ordinance on its first reading this Tuesday. This ordinance has been discussed for over a year, but this is the first draft of such an ordinance.

The ordinance prohibits open containers of alcohol from public property, but restaurants, bars, and other similar places of business remain unaffected.

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Culver Town Board Addresses Residential Water Issues

The Culver Town Council has received several letters from residents of the town notifying them of water issues, and they plan to attach these letters to a grant application to get these problems fixed. Recently, the review committee met with three different engineers in regards to a grant to conduct a water study. Commonwealth Engineers, DLZ, and GAI Consultants were reviewed, and Commonwealth was approved as the engineer if the water study grant is received.

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Monterey Elementary to be Closed at the end of the School Year


Culver School Board
Culver Community School Board Members (from left to right) Jack Jones, Ryan Seiber, Ken Vandeputte, Brad Schuldt, Eugene Baker, Marilyn Swanson, and Ed Behnke.

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.”

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$127,000 Raised in Culver Academies’ Relay for Life

Kelly Cares Foundation donated $2,500 to Culver Academies' Relay for Life. Pictured are Mike Wilcox, former Culver parent and Trustee, Paqui Kelly, and Kyle Blankenship, Co-Chairman. Academies photo by Gary Mills

A record $127,000 was raised during the Relay For Life effort at Culver Academies in April. It was the fourth Relay for Life event held at the school and because of the weather it was the first Relay held indoors.

In all, there were 100 volunteers working on the event, that was co-chaired by Kyle Blankenship who said, “We weren’t about to cancel the two day event because of a little rain.”

The Academies’ fund raising effort was bolstered April 13th by a $2,500 check from the Kelly Cares Foundation, and its founders Brian and Paqui Kelly. Paqui Kelly is a two time cancer survivor and the wife of the University of Notre Dame football coach.

Auditions for ‘Nunsense: The Mega-Musical’ Scheduled for May 7th

Auditions for the Maxinkuckee Players 2011 production of “Nunsense: The Mega-Musical” are set for Saturday, May 7th in Culver. Three sessions: 9:00 a.m. to Noon, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., and 5:00-9:00 p.m. ET are scheduled at the Culver High School choir room.

There are two female lead roles in the show, six secondary roles for either male or females and a number of people are needed for the chorus. There is a lot of singing and according to the Director, Becky Liechty, “reasonable” dancing for all. You can call Becky at (574) 941-2343 or reach her at bliechty@embarqmail,com if you have questions or need additional details.

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Relay for Life of Culver Steps off Friday

Kelly Cares Foundation donated $2,500 Wednesday to Culver Academies' Relay for Life. Pictured are Mike Wilcox, former Culver parent and Trustee, Paqui Kelly, and Kyle Blankenship, Relay Co-Chairman. Academies photo by Gary Mills

Walkers for the fourth annual Relay For Life of Culver will take their first steps toward a $130,000 goal at 7 p.m. Friday, April 15, at Culver Academies Oliver Field, located on at the intersection of Indiana 10 and 117.

The all-night event will feature Indianapolis Colts placekicker Adam Vinatieri for the second consecutive year. Vinatieri will speak at the survivor dinner preceding the Relay, attend the opening ceremony, and walk the first lap. New this year will be a fireworks show after dusk provided by Mad Bomber Fireworks Productions, according to Co-chairman Kyle Blankenship, a Crown Point, Ind., senior.

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Paqui Kelly to Help Kick off Culver Academies’ Relay for Life

Brian and Paqui Kelly in 2006

Two-time cancer survivor Paqui Kelly, the wife of Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly, will share her story and personal experience with students of Culver Academies at an all-school assembly at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 13th, at Eppley Auditorium.

Kelly’s appearance will serve as a prelude to the Academies’ fourth annual Relay For Life at 7 p.m. ET, Friday , April 15th, at Oliver Field, located at the corner of Indiana 10 and 117. The Academies’ Relay was the first in Indiana to be student-organized and has raised more than $350,000. This year’s goal, which will be donated to cancer research, is $130,000.

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