Starke County Youth Club Helps Schools Help Students

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Starke County Youth Club aims to be a support system for children, families and the three county school corporations.

“We know that schools are under tremendous pressure to have kids succeed academically, and that a lot of funding for schools is tied to how kids perform on standardized tests. That’s really a lot to ask of a school community. It is part of our job to ensure we are supporting what the schools need to accomplish.”

Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says the Starke County Youth Club does that by providing after school enrichment programs for 600 youngsters at four sites across the county. All of the programs are based in local schools, so Szakonyi says the staff is in constant contact with teachers, administrators and others to make sure students are getting what they need. She says children who succeed academically have a greater likelihood of being successful adults.  Continue reading →

Educator Stresses Importance of Early Childhood Education

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Preschool Project logoStarke County Preschool Project logoStarke County parents of young children are encouraged to attend tomorrow’s Starke County Preschool Fair at the community center in downtown Knox. The Starke County Early Education Advisory Council organized the event, which will take place from 5 until 7 p.m. CDT. More than 25 preschools and community organizations will have booths, and several will offer activities for children. Starke County Head Start Education Manager Dawn Wallen says sending your child to a quality preschool is an investment in their future. The kindergarten curriculum has become more rigorous since many of today’s parents and grandparents were in school. Wallen says students are expected to know and recognize all 26 letters of the alphabet and the sounds of letters. They should also be able to recognize numerals 1 through 20. Continue reading →

Starke County Youth Club Prepares for Annual WKVI Radiothon

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Starke County Youth Club members and volunteers will take over the WKVI airwaves on Friday to raise money for the nonprofit organization. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says they provide academic support to 600 youngsters across the county at after-school sites at Knox, North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis Elementary schools and at O-D Junior/Senior High School. They give students quiet time to do homework, offer one-on-one tutoring in a specific subject and offer a variety of enrichment programs like technology classes, videography and world travel through culture centers. Services are offered each Monday through Friday for three hours after school.

“That is the time when kids are most likely to be the victims of or perpetrators of violent crime. We know that kids who don’t have proper supervision, who don’t have great role models, who aren’t engaged in something productive, make the wrong choices in their lives. So we’re there to provide a safe, engaging and positive environment for kids once the school day ends,” Szakonyi says. Continue reading →

Commissioners Proclaim Starke County Youth Club Day

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Friday, May 2 is Starke County Youth Club Day, by proclamation of the county commissioners. That’s also the day of the club’s 7th Annual RadioThon on WKVI from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The club offers after-school programs at Knox, North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis Elementary Schools and Oregon-Davis Junior-Senior High School each weekday as well as summer programs for local youngsters. Staff and volunteers provide homework help, enrichment activities, recreational centers and community engagement through service projects. The proclamation notes the staff and volunteers at the Starke County Youth Club are committed to assisting children in acquiring the skills they need to learn and lead. They will be taking over our airwaves on Friday to share success stories and talk about the services they provide. The nonprofit organization has set a goal of raising $40,000 during that event. Find more information at www.thescyc.org.

KVREMC Sets Little League Light Poles

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The little league diamond at the North Judson Town Park is shining brightly, thanks to a recent assist from Kankakee Valley REMC. A crew from the utility company set the three new light poles the town purchased for the park. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the town board sent them a thank you letter.

Starke County Officials Appoint Committee to Study Wheel Tax

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Starke County Council members want more information about proposed wheel tax rates, types of vehicles that would be taxed and how any funds generated would be used for road improvements before making any decision about implementing such a tax. County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler will chair a committee comprised of council members Marvin McLaughlin, Freddie Baker and Bob Sims and Commissioner Kathy Norem. After they discuss the details, a public input meeting will be scheduled to further explain the process. Ritzler has streamlined the highway department’s operations since taking over but says efficiency can only go so far. “Our limiting factor is the oil and stone that we use to improve roads. We have a certain amount of funding sources, we used them all. The only way of increasing is a user tax that is available to us, a user fee. 47 of the 92 counties in Indiana have it. Of the counties that don’t have it, many have an additional source of funding that’s not available to us, and that’s riverboat gambling money. We are in the bottom fifth of road conditions in the state,” Ritzler told the council. Continue reading →

The Starke County Youth Club Radiothon is Friday!

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Starke County Youth Club Radiothon is set for Friday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT on K99.3 WKVI.

Testimonials, special guests and challenges will be featured on the air as volunteers answer the phone to take your pledges toward this worthwhile youth organization.

The SCYC provides high quality homework assistance, engaging enrichment activities, and recreational centers with adults who care. SCYC provides innovative services to children and families every day at four sites across the county during the school year and the summer.

Continue reading →

Second Arrest Made in Hamlet Trailer Fire Investigation

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Another arrest has been made in a trailer fire investigation in Hamlet.

North Judson officers brought in Heather Mann on Monday, April 14 to question her about the Tuesday, April 8 trailer fire at 504 North Starke Street, lot 10 in Hamlet. Firefighters reportedly found a meth lab in the smoldering debris.

After the interview conducted by Hamlet police officers she was placed into custody and booked into the Starke County Jail. She was arrested on preliminary charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of two or more precursors with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, and visiting a common nuisance.

Continue reading →

North Judson-San Pierre School Board Continues to Study Budget for Cuts

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board continues to find ways to cut $1.2 million from the general fund in the corporation’s budget.

Superintendent Lynn Johnson said a budget work session was held last week to tackle this issue.

“We’re still in the process of making reductions,” stated Johnson. “We did have some retirements this year and so that does help with the budget. Some of the budget reductions will be basically a half of a year because we’re just talking just half of the year in 2014. In 2015, you’ll have the whole year’s advantage. We’re looking at making final recommendations at the May 20 meeting.”

Continue reading →

Adult Learning Center Registration Dates Announced

Posted on Author WKVI

Center of Workforce InnovationsArea adults who want to take their high school equivalency test or brush up on some other skills can register now for classes in Starke County offered through the Center of Workforce Innovations Adult Learning Centers. Courses prepare individuals for the new Indiana High School Equivalency test, which replaces the GED. Courses in basic reading, math and language are also available. Some sites offer English as a Second Language instruction as well.

Classes in North Judson meet at the North Judson Wayne Township Public Library on Keller Avenue. Registration for that site is Monday, April 21 at 10 a.m. Call 574-896-2841 for more information. Registration for classes in Knox takes place each Monday and Wednesday except Monday, April 21 at the Starke County WorkOne office on North Shield Street. Call 574-249-8720 for more information.

Junior Achievement Bowl-a-Thon Strikes Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

It’s an activity your family, friends or co-workers can enjoy and you’ll be helping a youth organization at the same time. It’s the annual Junior Achievement Bowl-a-Thon.

The Bowl-a-Thon is tonight at 6 p.m. CT at Bowlaway Lanes in Knox and teams are needed to help gather funds for Junior Achievement. Bridget Markin, a Junior Achievement representative, says this fundraiser is a worthwhile program for Starke County students.

Continue reading →

North Judson-San Pierre School Board Members to Tackle Topics in Regular Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI
Michael Shireman, Jim Menis, Larry Lambert Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
Michael Shireman, Jim Menis, Larry Lambert
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board will meet tonight in regular session.

The board members are expected to discuss budget reduction recommendations. More than $1 million needs to be cut from the budget and it is the goal of the board to eliminate positions instead of jobs.

During the board’s last meeting in March, Superintendent Lynn Johnson said it may take some creative scheduling in order to accomplish that goal. The corporation has until May 1 to issue reduction in force notices to affected teachers if the process goes in that direction.

Continue reading →

Starke County Commissioners Approve Precinct Changes

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Voters who cast ballots in one Starke County precinct will do so in a new location, starting with the May 6 primary. Clerk Evelyn Skronski told the commissioners Wayne Township 4 was previously located at the North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation Administration Building. School officials said it’s becoming too crowded and offered an alternative.

“They told us that we could use the atrium area at the high school,” Skronski said. “The east side has the handicapped parking and a lot of space. It’s got what we need. The only thing is we have these big, open windows that let in lots of light. That’s fine. They’re going to cover them so that candidates cannot stand out there and do whatever they do.” Continue reading →

Community Services of Starke County Hosts Tailgaiting Fundraiser

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

 

David Haugh
David Haugh

Attention sports fans. Don’t miss your chance to hang out with Chicago Tribune sports writer David Haugh and bid on some exclusive Chicago sports SWAG Saturday night. He’s headlining a tailgaiting party Saturday night at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center to benefit a nonprofit organization close to his heart. His mother, Joan, is the executive director of Community Services of Starke County. Proceeds from “Tailgaiting with David Haugh and Charlie Adams” will all benefit the agency. Haugh says the organization was a part of his life when he was growing up in North Judson and is very important to Starke County because of all of the services they provide. He and former WSBT sportscaster Charlie Adams will be at the 5 p.m. event, which will include a live auction of a lot of sports memorabilia. Items up for bid include items from the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks and footballs signed by Chicago Bears players. The Chicago White Sox also donated items, and a signed Notre Dame Football will be sold as well. Continue reading →

North Judson Maintenance Building Progressing

Posted on Author WKVI

North Judson Water TowerThe exterior of the new North Judson maintenance building should be finished by the end of the month. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says town employees will complete the interior work. The new structure replaces the dilapidated building on George Street near the town park.

Speaking of the park, Henry says the town is looking for a seasonal caretaker to work through September taking care of mowing and maintenance issues there. Applicants can submit resumes to the town office through Friday, April 18. Continue reading →

Starke County Commissioners Approve Seed Demolition Money

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse

The Starke County Plan Commission is cracking down on enforcement of unsafe and blighted buildings. President Dennis Estok told the county commissioners they’ve restructured their enforcement letters and means of taking owners to court but still have a backlog of structures that need to be torn down.

“You’ve got to have some seed money, because if they don’t do it you can go in there and take care of these unsafe structures,” Estok said. “Then basically what you do is you fine them, and you bill them. If they don’t pay the bill, then you put a special assessment on their taxes. You wind up getting the property, and then you re-sell the property to try to recoup some of your cost.” Continue reading →