The North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department was called to a house fire at 112 Lane Street Friday evening. Fire Chief Joe Leszek said the fire occurred at a multiple family dwelling and the structure sustained damage.
No preliminary cause of the fire has been given and it remains under investigation with the State Fire Marshal’s Office. More information on the fire will be released as the investigation unfolds.
The Town of North Judson has announced that it is in compliance with the new smoke-free air law as required by the state, but the town board has announced plans to draft their own, more stringent no-tobacco policy.
Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says that the ordinance would not only prevent smoking, but all use of tobacco where smoking is prohibited. She says the ordinance would include park shelters because they are currently not covered by the state law, which only applies to enclosed structures. The board is interested in including these shelters in the no-tobacco policy because they feel the shelters are there for people to enjoy, and the board feels they have the right to enjoy them without having to tolerate tobacco smoke close to them.
The board will soon have the ordinance drafted and then read for approval at an upcoming meeting.
Henry says the board also commended the town’s street department on the good job they did over the weekend in cleaning up brush and debris from last weekend’s storms.
In an effort to reduce the cost of watering lawns with sprinklers, the Town of North Judson has applied nearly $6000 in sprinkling rate credits. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says this last billing gave $5991.28 in credits to their water customers who have been using sprinklers to keep their lawns watered.
Henry explained that because the water that is used to sprinkle lawns doesn’t go through the sewer system, the sewage charges are reduced. She says the discounted sprinkling rate is applied to customers that have used more than their average amount of water, and the credit is applied automatically.
With this hot, dry summer, it’s the perfect incentive for residents to sprinkle their lawns and bring some green back to their grass. Henry says this reduced rate is a big service to the community because it encourages them to water their yards and keep grass and plants from becoming too dry from the arid heat.
On this Fourth of July, it’s important to celebrate responsibly. Law enforcement will be working hard today to keep the roads free of impaired drivers as well as unrestrained motorists.
Officers and firefighters try to help the public the best they can, and according to these statistics, they are busy doing just that.
The Attorney General filed a civil lawsuit against former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller last week.
The lawsuit stems from a special report for the Town of North Judson filed by the State Board of Accounts earlier this year citing alleged financial discrepancies totaling $74,408.67 during the period of time between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2011. Miller was asked to reimburse the town for the alleged discrepancies.
Miller, in a letter to the state board of accounts, wrote that she “strenuously objected to any allegations or suggestions” that she had “done any wrong for personal gain.” She also wrote that she was confident that the discrepancies set out in the report can be rectified.
A moped driver was injured in an accident during the storms that went through the North Judson area last night.
The moped hit a tree in the middle of the road on 250 West near 700 South. The driver was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital and later airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend with unspecified injuries. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department has not released the name of the man involved in the accident.
The USDA Summer Food Service Program is in full force at the North Judson-San Pierre Schools. Superintendent Lynn Johnson encourages you to eat at the school – for free.
“Any student under the age of 18 can come and eat and there is no cost at all,” said Johnson. “I would encourage families, whether or not they fall under the guidelines of free and reduced lunch, it is open to every student, or every child, under the age of 18.”
The USDA Summer Food Service program continues through July 22. Breakfast is served from 7:45-8:15 a.m. CT and lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT in the North Judson-San Pierre Elementary School. Meals are free for those aged 18 years and younger. Adults may eat lunch for $2.
Most of the schools in our listening area are participating in this program. Free breakfast and lunch are available at most sites.
A fireworks ordinance prohibits residents from discharging any type of device until this Friday, June 29 in the Town of North Judson and the City of Knox. This includes all consumer fireworks with the exception of sparklers, cone fountains, ground spinners, snakes or glow worms, and smoke devices. Anyone in violation of the ordinance shall be subject to a $100 fine for the first offense, $250 for the second offense, and $500 for a third offense and every subsequent offense.
According to the ordinance, fireworks may only be discharged between 5 p.m. and two hours after sunset from June 29 to July 3, and July 5 through July 9. On the Fourth of July, fireworks may be ignited between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight.
For more information, the ordinance is available in Knox City Hall and the North Judson Clerk’s office.
North Judson Town Marshal Doug Vessely reminds residents that you must be 18 or older to legally use fireworks.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board approved an increase in the school lunch prices for this coming school year, but Superintendent Lynn Johnson said it was a small increase.
“We do see some slight increases and they are minimal as far as lunch prices,” said Johnson. “We have been behind with our increases and we’re trying to catch up just a bit. It’s just a slight increase.”
The prices are going up due to the inflation in the cost of food and a new diet guideline from the state.
“We are trying to get much healthier choices and the cost of food does increase over time. We do try to keep those at a minimum. Parents and families with multiple children know it’s an expense. We do try and keep that down as much as we can.”
The North Judson Town Board this week discussed an audit report from the State Board of Accounts for the audit that had been performed for the town in January and February. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the report is available online at www.in.gov/sboa, and an official record is available in her office.
Henry says the meeting included some discussion over the audit, which identified financial discrepancies totaling $74,408.67 with the majority of discrepancies in the cemetery lot sales category. Based on the information posted in the cemetery book, and the confirmations that were returned with receipts, the examiners determined that $40,350 was collected for cemetery lots sales but that amount was not receipted to the records. Former Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller was requested to reimburse the town for this amount, but in a letter to the state board of accounts, Miller wrote that she “strenuously objected to any allegations or suggestions” that she had “done any wrong for personal gain.”
The North Judson Town Board passed two resolutions at its meeting this week. The first resolution concerned modifications to the grant received by the board from the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission for the State Road 39 project. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says she received an email from a KIRPC representative who informed her that the board needed to pass a resolution concerning modifications to the grant.
The board also passed a resolution concerning the town’s anti-nepotism policy, which Henry says is included in the handbook, but a revision was required. She says although their current policy is more stringent than the state-mandated policy, the state requires that the policy address step-relatives. The handbook was revised to include the required content.
A surveyor gave the board an estimate on the cost to plot, measure, and place markers in the Highland Cemetery’s 13th section, which was never properly surveyed. She says the estimate came in at $2200, but it is a very rough estimate and will likely change. The board voted to go ahead with the plotting.
The North Judson Mint Festival Parade was held under clear skies and hot and humid weather conditions yesterday afternoon. The parade, one of the highlights of the three-day event, featured Betty and Allen Chesak as the Grand Marshals.
Betty Chesak had been featured in an article in 1976, the Bicentennial Year, and the beginning of what is now the Mint Festival.
“Seems like just yesterday doesn’t it? When you’re having fun time flies,” Chesak said.
Yesterday was a special day for Paul Gougeon, who found himself in the North Judson Mint Festival Parade as the 2012 Grandfather of the Year.
Gougeon says he felt honored when he was nominated by his granddaughter, Kaeleigh Higgins.
“I’m not only honored to have been selected, but honored that my granddaughter wrote the winning entry,” Gougeon said.
The North Judson Mint Festival begins today!
The carnival opens at 5 p.m. and fair-goers can enjoy music from the band 30 South from 5 to 7 p.m. at Norwayne Field. The winner of the Father and Grandfather of the Year awards will be announced at 7 p.m. at Norwayne Field, and music from Half Track will follow that ceremony.
The Mint Idol Contest and the Guitar Hero contest have been canceled this year. Look for those features in next year’s festival.
Plenty of other activities are scheduled during the three-day festival. We’ll highlight more events in tomorrow’s news.
May the Force be with you during the North Judson Mint Festival!
This Saturday and Sunday, Star Wars characters from the the Dark Side and the Rebel Alliance will be at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, signing autographs and taking photos with fans.
Six trains will be operating this weekend with round-trip train rides available to English Lake and LaCrosse. These trains take you through the scenic countryside and allow you to relax on a short trip. Several pieces of equipment will also be on display, including the massive C&O No. 2789 locomotive, plus other pieces under restoration.
The Museum will also be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is free admission to the museum, but there is a fee for train rides. For more information, visit www.hoosiervalley.org.
There is one element of the Mint Festival that makes it completely unique: mint! The agricultural aspect of mint is celebrated during this time and many farmers in the North Judson area and in Starke County produce mint that is used in every day items such as toothpaste, gum and candies.
Mint Festival President, Terry Thompson, says the oil that is distilled from the mint plants will be available for purchase during the festival.
“We do have the mint oil that everybody loves,” said Thompson. “We have mint plants and hopefully we’ll have some mint candy.”
Starke County Prosecutor Nicolas Bourff has confirmed that he has received a State Board of Accounts special report for the town of North Judson. The report covers the period of time between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2011.
In the summary of the report, the field examiners who worked on the audit identified financial discrepancies totaling $74,408.67.
The largest discrepancy was in the cemetery lot sales category. Based on the information posted in the cemetery book, and the confirmations that were returned with receipts, the examiners determined that $40,350 was collected for cemetery lots sales but that amount was not receipted to the records. Former Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller was requested to reimburse the town for this amount, and it was also noted that Miller required cash payments for the cemetery lot sales.
The 35th Annual Mint Festival begins Friday, June 15 and runs through Sunday, June 17. The event is held every year during the Father’s Day weekend and a Father and Grandfather of the Year are selected annually. Mint Festival President Terry Thompson has a few other items that will be featured during the event.
“We have a lot of vendors this year,” stated Thompson. “There are a lot of craft vendors and food vendors. We also have a lot of music. Mike McBride has a lot of live bands this year which include a lot of new bands for your entertainment.”
Don’t forget the parade on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m., and Thompson will discuss another unique aspect of the Mint Festival tomorrow.
The 35th Annual North Judson Mint Festival is this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and Mint Festival President Terry Thompson says plenty of activities are planned.
“We have more carnival rides this year and some are new and we have karaoke, which is a big event this year for us,” said Thompson. “It will be in the middle of town on Saturday from 1 – 4 p.m. The Mint Idol Contest will be Friday night at 6 p.m., and there will be town-wide yard sales Saturday and Sunday.”
Those are just a few of the events scheduled, and Thompson will talk about more Mint Festival events through the week as the event nears.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation is participating in the Summer Food Service Program where free meals will be available to all children age 18 and younger. This is the fourth area school that has announced its participation in the program, following Knox, Culver, and Oregon-Davis.
Breakfast will be served to all children from 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and lunch will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meals will be provided Monday through Thursday to all children without charge and all meals are the same for everyone. Breakfast and lunch will be served at the North Judson-San Pierre Elementary School Cafeteria.
Adults may eat at the site for a charge of $1 for breakfast and $2 for lunch.
