Starke County Humane Society Staying Put

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Humane SocietyThe Starke County Humane Society is still open for business six days a week. Longtime employee Shanna Lloyd was named the director last week after Suzanne Crider resigned and says it’s business as usual.

“We’re still here for the animals that need a place to stay. We’re still going to remain a nonprofit. We are privately funded. We are not supported by any government funding, so we still need those donations coming in to help us keep the doors open and keep us running so we can take care of all the stray dogs and cats in our area and even outside our area,” Lloyd told WKVI News.

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Starke County Humane Society Board Names New Director

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Humane SocietyThe Starke County Humane Society has a new director.

Shanna Lloyd took over that role on May 6 after longtime director Suzanne Crider resigned the previous day. Lloyd has been an employee of the shelter since 2009 and a volunteer since 1998. The board also reorganized last week and elected new officers. R.J. Howard is now the president. Tom O’Day is the vice-president, and Amanda Pollard is the secretary.

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Bridge to Be Named for Medal of Honor Recipient

Posted on Author WKVI
U.S. Army PFC Frank Ono
U.S. Army PFC Frank Ono

The new bridge on U.S. 35 just south of U.S. 30 will soon be named in honor of Starke County’s most decorated veteran. State Senator Jim Arnold sponsored a resolution to name the structure after PFC Frank Ono, who distinguished himself as a member of the U.S. Army’s Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. During a July 4, 1944 battle near Castellina, Italy, Ono advanced ahead of his unit and single-handedly defended his position against an enemy counter-attack. He then braved intense hostile fire to aide two wounded comrades and voluntarily covered his unit’s withdrawal when retreat became necessary. Ono was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions. During the 1990s, a review of service records for Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross led to Ono’s award being upgraded to the Medal of Honor. President Bill Clinton presented the award to his surviving family members during a White House ceremony on June 21, 2000. Continue reading →

Starke County Residents Urged to Take “Another Step Forward”

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Last year Starke County residents logged enough miles from Memorial Day to Labor Day to lap the globe three times as part of the Moving Starke County Forward Walking Challenge. This year they are encouraged to take “Another Step Forward.” Ryan Greer is heading up this year’s effort and has set a goal of walking a collective 50,000 miles as a county during the same time period. Last year’s original goal was 3,000 collective miles, which is the equivalent of a trek from the Statue of Liberty to the Golden Gate Bridge. That goal was quickly met and exceeded nine times over, with 27,000 total miles walked. Continue reading →

The North Judson Mint Festival to Begin in Less Than a Month

Posted on Author WKVI
Joan Ludwig of CenturyLink presents a check to Mint Festival President Donna Henry in the amount of $500 for the Mint Queen sponsorship
Joan Ludwig of CenturyLink presents a check to Mint Festival President Donna Henry in the amount of $500 for the Mint Queen sponsorship

The North Judson Mint Festival is June 13-15 and the theme this year is “Mint is Supreme in 2014”.

All of your favorite events are coming back this year: Father/Grandfather of the Year Contest, magic and puppet shows, bingo, lots of vendors, a frog jumping contest, pork chop dinner, car show and swap meet, Pet Fun Walk and Parade, music and the parade.

The Mint Queen pageant will be sponsored by CenturyLink and the last scheduled sign-up is this Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT at the North Judson-Wayne Township Public Library. For information on the Mint Festival Queen pageant, call Teresa at (219) 205-2440.

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Local Cops to Wait Tables for Charity

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

If you’ve ever wanted to give orders to a cop, you’ll have a chance Monday night.

Several members of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 128 will be waiting tables at the Knox Pizza Hut from 4 until 8 p.m.

Be sure to tip generously, though. Proceeds from the Tip A Cop Fundraiser will be used to help local youngsters in need buy school supplies as part of the Shop With a Cop program before school starts in August.

Local Rock Band Hits the Road With Saving Abel

Posted on Author WKVI

Seldom ToldMembers of a local rock band will be living the dream for the

next two weeks. North Judson-based Seldom Told formed in 2006 and has developed a solid regional fan base. That support earned them a slot on tour as an opening act for Saving Abel. That band’s first single “Addicted” reached number one on several charts, and their debut album sold more than 750,000 copies. Saving Abel toured with rock bands Buckcherry, Avenged Sevenfold and Nickelback.

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IU Health Offers Discounted Mammograms in May

Posted on Author WKVI

Breast Cancer Pink RibbonGive Mom, or any special woman in your life the gift of peace of mind this Mother’s Day. Encourage them to take advantage of the discounted mammograms IU Health Starke Hospital is offering this month. Josephine Klicek is the director of diagnostic imaging. She says women can get their mammogram and reading for $95, and mo doctor’s order is needed if it’s just a screening test.

Women should get their first mammogram when they turn 40, unless they develop problems like a lump, redness or inflammation sooner. Also, if there is a family history of breast cancer, women are urged to get a mammogram 10 years before that woman was diagnosed. For instance, if the diagnosis was made at age 44, get a mammogram when you are 34.  Continue reading →

First Farmers Announces Plans to Acquire BMO Harris Branches

Posted on Author WKVI

FFBT LogoThe parent company of First Farmers Bank & Trust has announced plans to expand.

First Farmers Financial Corporation has entered into an agreement to acquire deposit relationships of nine central Indiana BMO Harris Bank branches. The purchase includes locations in Marion, Logansport, Terre Haute, Farmersburg, Sullivan, Clay City, Brazil, Carlisle and Shelburn. First Farmers Bank and Trust will acquire seven of the nine branches and retain employees from all nine locations.

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North Judson Town Council Finalizing Social Media Policy

Posted on Author WKVI

North Judson Water TowerThe North Judson Town Council is expected to vote on a social media policy for employees when they meet on Monday, May 19. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry tells WKVI News it’s a new addition to the employee handbook. Councilman Tim Cummins has been working to revise and update it. The changes are mostly clarifications of things like how vacation time is earned. Once the policy is adopted, the handbook will be reprinted and given to town employees.

The council is also revising the contractors permit ordinance, with a first reading set for their mid-month meeting. They also acknowledged the park board’s recent hiring of Bill Hemphill as the seasonal caretaker for the town park. Town council members also set Aug. 9 as the date for this year’s town-wide yard sale. Henry says more information about permits and other requirements will be provided closer to that date. The exterior of the new maintenance building is finished, and the interior should be complete by the end of the month.

North Judson Police Investigating Speed Bump Theft

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A portable speed bump used by the Town of North Judson to slow traffic near the little league field on Weninger Street was stolen sometime over the weekend. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the town marshal’s office is investigating the theft. Each spring town officials place one near the park and another one on Ufkes Drive near the soccer field. Even though they are portable, they still have to be anchored into the pavement. Henry says the town got a quote of $675 to replace the speed bump. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call 574-772-5914.

North Judson Spring Brush Pickup Scheduled This Week

Posted on Author WKVI

North Judson Water TowerSpring 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.

7th Annual Starke County Youth Club WKVI Radiothon Begins Today

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

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 →

Starke County Youth Club Cooking Class Serves Life Skills

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

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.

 

 

 

 

Community Invited to N.J.-S.P. Grand March

Posted on Author WKVI

NJSP High SchoolNorth Judson-San Pierre High School students and their dates are putting the “prom” in promenade on Saturday. For the first time, the school is hosting a grand march in the high school gym from 6 until 7 p.m. The community is invited to come see the prom goers in their formal finery before they head off to the main event at Chesapeake Run Golf Course east of town.

Starke County Youth Club Stresses Health and Wellness

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Starke County Youth Club provides more than homework help for the 600 students it serves at four after-school sites. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi  says health and wellness is a critical component of the Starke County Youth Club’s mission.

“When we survey our kids about how much time they would be watching television or how much time they’d be playing on their game systems or video gaming, we know that’s significant, and it’s way more time than is healthy for them,” Szakonyi  says.

She adds the Starke County Youth Club is constantly looking for ways to help the students they serve be more active. Instructors try to balance technology-based learning with physical activity, nutrition classes and life skills that help them to be healthier in all aspects. Continue reading →

North Judson-San Pierre Drama Department to Present Familiar Musical

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson-San Pierre drama department will present Grease: The Musical on May 8, 9, 10 and 11.

Director Erin Sprouse said the musical will mirror the movie.

“The movie was actually based off the play,” said Sprouse. “It’s a lot of fun. We’re doing a lot of the costuming from the movie and trying to keep it as true to form so that everybody is really excited about it.”

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Preschool Helps Children Develop Social Skills

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Preschool Project logoThe Starke County Early Education Advisory Council invites families with young children to a preschool fair this evening from 5 until 7 at the community center in downtown Knox. More than 25 preschools and community organizations will have booths, and several will offer activities for children. Porter-Starke Director of Children’s Services Todd Willis says preschool is a good opportunity for children and parents to get used to being away from one another. He says one of the main causes of stress for young children is separating from their family, so getting them into an environment where they can learn to take turns and make peer relationships outside the family is extremely important.

“When I don’t learn as a young child how to resolve conflict with my peer, and I need to resort to throwing a temper tantrum or aggression, if those basic skills are not learned early, they follow the kid into adulthood. Really, the opportunity for a child in that 3 to 4 age learning that early is crucial,” Willis says. Continue reading →

Starke United Fund Grant Applications Due Friday

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke United
 

Nonprofit organizations interested in applying for Starke United Fund grants have just a few more days to finish their applications. They are due Friday, May 2. The Starke United Fund Committee will review applications and award the grants to the chosen organizations. Last year 12 grants totaling $11,000 were given to Starke County organizations including: The Caring Place, Community Services of Starke County, HealthLinc, Junior Achievement, Marshall-Starke Development Center, Moving Starke County Forward, Love INC., North Judson-San Pierre School JumpStart, Psi Iota Xi, A.B.A.T.E. Toys 4 Tots, Starke County WIC Program and the Starke County Youth Club. Continue reading →