North Judson Mint Royalty Crowned

Posted on Author WKVI
Justin Reynolds, Shayna Shelton, Sarah Moore, Michael Ray Wilcox III, Jesiah McDaniel, Kenzie McDaniel, and WKVI's Tom Berg

The North Judson Mint Festival Committee presented the Royal Mint Pageant on Saturday June 4th, 2011 at the North Judson San-Pierre High School.

The winners are as follows:
Royal Mint King: Justin Reynolds, 15, son of Eric and Lorrie Reynolds. Justin attends Knox Community High School.
Royal Mint Queen: Shayna Shelton, 18, daughter of Linda Harrison. Shayna attends North Judson San-Pierre High School.
Royal Mint Princess: Sarah Moore, 12, daughter of David M and Jennifer Moore. Sarah attends North Judson San-Pierre Middle School.
Royal Mint Prince: Michael Ray Wilcox, III , 12, son of Michael and Beth Wilcox. Michael attends North Judson San-Pierre Middle School.
Royal Little Mister Mint: Jesiah McDaniel, 5, son of Devin and Teresa McDaniel. Jesiah attends Little Lights Pre-School.
Royal Little Miss Mint: Kenzie McDaniel, 9, daughter of Devin and Teresa McDaniel. Kenzie attends North Judson San-Pierre Liberty Elementary School.

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Race Develops in City of Knox General Election

Posted on Author WKVI

Thomas H. Morin, of Knox, filed his candidacy in the Starke County Clerk’s office last week. He is running as a Republican and will face Democrat Don Kring for a City Council seat. Both are running for the seat now occupied by Ed Blue who has decided not to run for another term.

“Now that we have a race going in Center One between Mr. Morin and Donald Kring, there will definitely be a General Election,” said Starke County Clerk, Evelyn Skronski. “The Election Board, the poll workers and the Absentee Board will all be in here in the Fall to have an election.”

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Monday’s Memorial Day Services

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox VFW Post #748 will be hosting Memorial Day services until Noon on Monday, May 30th, where the the closing ceremonies and the retiring of the guard will be held at the Post Home. Several veterans, firefighters, police officers, and National Guard members will be standing vigil at the Post and a Civil War camp will be set up in the back of the facility.

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Harry L. Keller Post to Provide Honor Guard for Ceremony at Frank Ono Park

Posted on Author WKVI
Frank Ono

The Harry L. Keller American Legion Post 92 is honored to have been asked to provide an Honor Guard for the Westville Community at the Frank Ono Park Saturday.

Ono posthumously received the Medal of Honor 10 years ago. Then-Lt. Governor Joseph Kernan presided over the services at Norwayne Field in North Judson.

Ono, a North Judson High School graduate, received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic action on Hill 140 in Italy on July 4th, 1944.

The Harry L. Keller American Legion Post 92 will fire a 21 gun salute and blow taps.

Other services conducted by the Harry L. Keller Post will be:
Sunday: 11:30 a.m. CT at Round Lake Cemetery
Monday: 8:45 a.m. CT Parade; 9:00 a.m. at Pioneer Cemetery; 10:00 a.m. at San Pierre Cemetery; 11:00 a.m. Wreath deposit on the Kankakee River on Highway 421. A ceremony at the Vel Mar Park in LaCrosse will follow.

North Judson Town Board Approves Bid Ordinance, Sewer Separation Bid Deadline Extended

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board: Dan Anderson, Wendy Hoppe, Jane Ellen Felchuk, Attorney Cassie Hine and Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller

The North Judson Town Board approved the final reading on an ordinance that establishes the requirements for responsible and responsive bidders that bid on a town project. The Board is required to accept the lowest bid received. Under this ordinance, if the Town Board members receive a low bid on a project and the lowest bidder is found to not be the best company for the job and it can be documented, the Town would have the right to accept the next lowest bid.

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Historic Locomotive No. 765 to Visit Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum

Posted on Author WKVI
Locomotive No. 765

The staff at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum are gearing up for another busy season with train rides and visits to the Museum on Mulberry Street in North Judson.

The Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive no. 765 will be making another trip to the Museum during the Memorial Day weekend, May 28th through the 30th. Recognized as a national historic landmark, locomotive no. 765 is the largest operating steam locomotive east of the Mississippi River. It was rebuilt and is operated by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society. The locomotive will take passengers on a 2 hour, 20 mile round-trip journey in Starke County. Passengers will have the rare opportunity to enjoy “the steam experience” in an open-air sightseeing car.

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North Judson Residents Take Gas Price Concerns to North Judson Town Board

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board: Dan Anderson, Wendy Hoppe, Jane Ellen Felchuk, Attorney Cassie Hine and Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller

The North Judson Town Board heard from concerned citizens about the gas prices in North Judson. It was reported to WKVI that the gas prices in North Judson are generally $.10 higher than the surrounding communities.

The Board was expected to write a letter to the gas stations and ask why this is occurring and how it can be fixed. The residents are especially concerned about prices in this economy.

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Search Warrant Served at Scrap Yard May have Uncovered Stolen Items from Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum

Posted on Author WKVI

North Judson Police Chief, Doug Vessely, told the North Judson Town Board this week that a recent search warrant conducted at the scrap yard in Knox by the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Knox City Police Department and the North Judson Police Department may have uncovered stolen property from the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson. Museum staff had reported joint bars stolen plus other items worth thousands of dollars. The incident remains under investigation.

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Knox City, North Judson Police Department Statistics for April

Posted on Author WKVI
police badge

Knox City Police Chief, Clint Norem, says the Department handled 396 calls in the month of April, investigated 6 accidents and filed 36 incident reports.

19 people were arrested on 24 traffic charges, 50 people were arrested on 66 criminal charges and 2 people were cited for 2 ordinance violations. There were 7 battery arrests, 10 warrant arrests and 11 drug arrests made in April.

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News from the North Judson Town Board

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board: Dan Anderson, Wendy Hoppe, Jane Ellen Felchuk, Attorney Cassie Hine and Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller

The North Judson Town Board members received information on implementing a 50/50 sidewalk program at their meeting on April 4th. The Board has not made a decision on whether or not to move forward with the project. The attorney will look over the proposal and other information and bring it back for discussion at the May 2nd meeting.

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Purple Toilet Placed in Yard at WKVI for Relay for Life Promotion

Posted on Author WKVI

If in the course of your travels you drive by WKVI, you will see a beautiful purple toilet sitting in our front yard. Now you might wonder what that toilet is doing here and especially sitting in our yard.

We were selected to be a part of Starke County Relay for Life’s Toilet Parade.

Someone in Starke County donated the toilet in our honor and we get to proudly display it in our yard.

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North Judson Police Investigate Vandalism at Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson Police Department investigated vandalism and damage to property at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum.

On Wednesday, April 6th, officer Dennis Fornelli located three juvenile males on the grounds of the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, in and around the train cars. After a short time, the three were picked up and transported to their respective parents. The following morning, the volunteers at the Museum reported to officer Joe Budner that several train cars, the building, and equipment had been vandalized and damaged. Many windows were broken out as well. Police returned and conducted interviews with the three juveniles and learned they had done the damage. A complete investigative report was furnished to the Starke County Probation Department and the Prosecutor’s Office requesting charges and restitution from the juveniles.

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North Judson Man Arrested on Battery Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Jesus Pedroza, Jr.

Starke County and North Judson police officers arrested a North Judson man early this morning after he allegedly hit and threatened his girlfriend.

According to the police report, the victim called police to report that her boyfriend, Jesus Pedroza, Jr. had battered her and threatened to kill her with a gun. Officers responded to 2683 W. and 500 S. and asked to enter the residence to find the suspect. Police found Pedroza, Jr. running away from the residence. When officers announced the K9 would be released, Pedroza, Jr.surrendered himself to police.

The victim told police that Pedroza, Jr. had punched her when returning home in the car from “The Pub”. He allegedly slammed her head against the passenger side window. Pedroza, Jr. was arrested and taken to the Starke County Jail on preliminary charges of Strangulation, Domestic Battery, Intimidation, and Resisting Law Enforcement.

News from the North Judson Town Board

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board: Dan Anderson, Wendy Hoppe, Jane Ellen Felchuk, Attorney Cassie Hine and Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller

The North Judson Town Board heard a presentation from Clerk-Treasurer, Connie Miller, about a 50/50 sidewalk program. The Clerk presented ordinances and other papers to the Board members for their consideration. It is a new program for the town and it mirrors the program in Knox where the property owner submits their project to the Board, the Utility Superintendent inspects the site and determines whether or not the applicant’s project is acceptable. The homeowner would pay for half the project and the Town would pay for the other half. The discussion was tabled until the April 18th meeting so the Attorney and the Board members can decide how to move forward.

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The Starke and Pulaski Lilly Scholarship Winners to be Featured on ‘Ted Hayes Remembers’

Posted on Author WKVI
Andrew Frasure and Jessica Jachim

TED HAYES REMEMBERS -4-8

Today on “Ted Hayes Remembers”, our host will be talking about the achievements of the Lilly Scholarship Program in our area, specifically the Starke County Lilly Scholarship effort.

Ted will have not only this year’s Starke County Lilly Scholar, Jessica Jachim, but the Pulaski County Lilly Scholar winner, too. He’s Andrew Frasure.

One question Ted asked was, “At what point did studying and getting good grades become a focus?” Here is Jessica’s response:

“In third grade, I began my interest in writing and I got my first journal and ever since then, I’ve loved to write,” said Jessica. “I have 52 journals now. I began writing short stories in fourth grade on my Grandmother’s computer everyday after school. Ever since then, I’ve just developed my passion for writing.”

Andrew had this response:

“Ever since I started school, my parents were a big influence on me,” said Andrew. “They taught me to work hard and to give everything my best effort. All my coaches that have coached me throughout my entire athletic career, they’ve taught me to work hard at everything I do. In going through Elementary School and Middle School, I realized I had a talent for math and science and in High School I really progressed on this talent and I feel that Chemistry is my best subject.”

Jessica and Andrew will be with Ted today on “Ted Hayes Remembers”. The program airs at 12:20 p.m. and at 5:30 p.m. CT.

North Judson Town Board Approves Special Event Permit for World War II Reenactment

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board: Dan Anderson, Wendy Hoppe, Jane Ellen Felchuk, Attorney Cassie Hine and Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller

On Monday night, the North Judson Town Board approved a special event permit submitted by the Illiana Historical Association. The members in the organization hope to participate in a World War II reenactment event on Friday, June 3rd through Sunday, June 5th, on the old railroad bed property, east of Luken Street, north of the new Firehouse. More details of the event will be available as the event draws closer.

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North Judson Town Board News

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board: Dan Anderson, Wendy Hoppe, Jane Ellen Felchuk, Attorney Cassie Hine and Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller

The North Judson Town Board approved the first reading of an ordinance that establishes bidder requirements when the Board seeks bids on a project. The ordinance sets guidelines and wording on companies bidding on projects. Normally the Board accepts the lowest bid for a project. This ordinance lets the Board accept the second lowest bid if the lowest bid does not meet bid specifications of the project and if the bidder is not a responsible bidder.

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