An employee of the Starke County Jail is on the other side of the law. Donald Milbourn, 44, of North Judson, was arrested Monday by officials from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department on charges of theft, fraud and trafficking with an inmate. Milborn has posted a $1,000 bond in Starke Circuit Court. A news release from the sheriff’s office indicates the investigation is still ongoing, and no additional information is being released at this time.
Mint Festival Gets OK From Town Board
The North Judson Mint Festival has taken another step toward preparing for the event; the town board this week approved a motion to authorize the issuance of a special event permit for the festival, during a short meeting held Monday night.
Knox School Board to Meet, Public Meetings Scheduled This Week for Balanced Calendar Discussion
The Knox Community School Board will meet tonight with a light agenda.
The board members will receive an update on the results of the NWEA test as well as a presentation on the Biomedical Science course addition at the high school.
The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT in the administrative office in the Palmer Wing of the Knox Elementary School.
Ray Rohzon Awarded the Nielsen Bluejay Award
A North Judson-San Pierre employee was recently recognized as this year’s Richard and Kareen Nielsen Bluejay award.
The Nielsen award is given to acknowledge special individuals, past and present, who faithfully embody the Bluejay Spirit.
North Judson Mint Festival Committee Eager to Get Started
The North Judson Mint Festival committee is hard at work preparing for their 37th annual event with this year’s theme of, “Mint Is Supreme in 2014!” The committee held their first meeting this season for the festival, and they are excited to get the festival preparations underway.
NJ-SP School Corporation Facing $1.2 Million Cut
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board has some tough decisions to make as they face cuts in their General Fund of more than 12 percent. Superintendent Lynn Johnson explained the corporation is suffering from a $1.2 million reduction in their General Fund caused by the reduction in revenue caused by their decreasing Average Daily Membership.
RoboNinjas at PHS Continue to Push Toward World Championships
The robotics team at Plymouth High School continues to push forward in the championship as they now head to the Indiana State Championships on Saturday, March 1, to defend their title as the 2013 Indiana State Champions. This past Saturday, Feb. 15, the RoboNinjas, comprised of Josh Kuhn and Kennedy Schnieders, traveled to Warren Central where they competed against 85 other teams from Indiana in a VEX Robotics Competition.
NJ-SP Releases Snow Make-Up Day Information
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation this week released information regarding weather-related school cancellations and the days that those cancellations will be made up. The release indicated that Monday, Jan. 6 was a scheduled teacher workday and was reported to the Department of Education in June as a non-instructional day, with no loss of a snow day but no waiver; and Wednesday, Jan. 8, school was closed with a teacher make-up day scheduled for that day. This day is not waived and must be used as a snow make-up day.
North Judson Town Council Meeting Rescheduled
The North Judson Town Council has rescheduled their meeting previously planned for last night; it will now take place on Monday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. due to the weather. According to Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry, about 15 residents in the town are suffering from a lack of running water due to frozen water lines, and the town is offering to provide tap water for any affected residents.
Utility Customers Reminded to Leave Water Running
Communities throughout the WKVI listening area are experiencing problems with frozen pipes due to the deeply frozen ground and thick snow cover. The best way to avoid frozen pipes is to open a faucet to trickle water and leave it open until further notice. The towns of Knox, North Judson, Halmet, Winamac, Medaryville and Culver have all asked us to share that information with listeners. Even though the weather is expected to warm up within the next week, it’s going to take time for the ground to thaw. Please leave water running until further notice. Many communities have agreed to adjust bills so customers will not have to pay for the increased consumption. Customers need to contact their municipal utility company or town hall to request those adjustments.
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DNR Announces Wild Turkey Hunting Workshops
New hunters who want to learn about turkey hunting are invited to sign up for a free workshop put on by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources at the Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area. “Hunt, Fish, Eat: Wild Turkey” is part of the ongoing “Hunt, Fish, Eat” program that is run by the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife and teaches self-reliance. The program is free.
Credits Offered For Running Water to Prevent Frozen Pipes
With the cold weather comes frozen pipes, and many area residents are suffering from the inconvenience and expense of having no running water. However, many municipalities have offered residents a credit for letting their water run to prevent pipes from freezing.
North Judson Town Board Reviewing Ordinance, Handbook
The North Judson Town Board is still reviewing the contractors’ permit ordinance and the employee handbook, according to Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry. She told WKVI that the board is still trying to determine whether or not any revisions are necessary for the contractor’s permit ordinance to ensure it is adequate, and the board is reviewing information from the state and county regarding their applications for contractors.
Henry said the matter will be discussed again at the next meeting.
In addition, the board is reviewing the employee handbook, but that matter was also tabled pending further review, Henry said.
Financial Aid Night Scheduled at NJ-SP Schools
A financial aid night is set for Monday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. CT in the North Judson-San Pierre High School library.
A college representative will discuss the financial aid process with parents and students. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form will be reviewed. The application must be completed online this year.
The deadline for the federal processor to receive the FAFSA is March 10.
If you have any questions, call North Judson-San Pierre High School Guidance Director Colleen McCarthy at (574) 896-2158 ext. 225.
North Judson Residents Still Affected By Frozen Pipes
The town of North Judson is still plagued with frozen water meters and pipes, with four or five residences currently suffering from the effects of this winter’s frigid temperatures. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said the difficult part of this situation is the fact that most of the pipes are frozen on the side of the pipes maintained by the town, but the ground is so frozen that crews are unable to get to the pipe to fix it.
Parking Restricted During Snow Emergencies
As the snow continues to fall on the Kankakee Valley, a number of municipalities have declared snow emergencies and put into place parking restrictions to help facilitate the clearing of snow. Until noon ET on Friday, the town of Winamac has restricted parking, allowing parking only on odd-numbered streets in order to give snow removal crews the room they need to work.
Residents Reminded to Let Faucets Drip During Cold Weather
The Town of North Judson reminds residents and business owners to let water run constantly in a stream about the diameter of a pencil whenever temperatures are below 32 degrees. This helps keep water meters and pipes from freezing. Town utility crews have responded to several frozen pipe and meter calls, and in most cases water had not been left running. Town officials say the first call is a courtesy, but there is a charge of $100 for the second call. Fees are even higher for third and subsequent calls.
Hanley “Warren” Chapman Plea Agreement Rejected
A plea agreement for Hanley “Warren” Chapman was rejected by Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall Wednesday morning.
Judge Hall told those assembled in court that he had questions about the factual basis regarding his charge of Resisting Law Enforcement. According to court documents, Chapman was situated in a basement room when police were outside the home verbally attempting to get him out of the residence in North Judson. No physical force was used to take him into custody.
Several Area Schools Considering Balanced School Calendar
A number of area schools are considering the possibility of implementing a different school calendar than has been the norm for more than a century. North Judson-San Pierre School Superintendent Lynn Johnson told WKVI that she presented the school board with a presentation for the 2015–2016 school calendar using the “balanced calendar” system which stretches breaks out over a school year.
North Judson Unsafe Hearing Authority to Meet Next Week
The North Judson Unsafe Hearing Authority will meet next week to discuss four properties housing potentially unsafe structures. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said the property owners have been notified in writing of the meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the North Judson Civic Center.