Moving Starke County Forward Announces Summer Challenge

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Moving Starke County Forward organization is ready to “race” into the summer with this year’s walking challenge.

The theme this year is patterned after NASCAR races to see if all participants can reach the lap goal every two weeks with the number of miles walked, ran, biked, or swam. The Healthy Challenge Series, a healthy reference to NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, will begin on May 2 with the kick-off event at 10 a.m. in Wythogan Park. An inaugural pace lap will officially start the event that will continue through Aug. 29.

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Enroll Now for Freedom from Smoking Classes

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

If you made a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking, you will soon have a program to help you stay smoke-free, presented by IU Health Starke Hospital, Moving Starke County Forward and Porter-Starke Services.

Cindy Reister, who is an American Lung Association-trained facilitator, will lead eight small group sessions to help participants get personalized attention to quit smoking. Evaluation studies show that individuals, who participate in small group sessions like this Freedom from Smoking Clinic, are more likely to stay smoke-free one year later than those who try to quit on their own.

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Many Activities Going on in Knox this Weekend

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Downtown Knox will be bustling today with a veteran’s parade and the free WoodStarke Festival at Wythogan Park. The parade organized by the Blue Star Mothers will begin at 10 a.m. CT at Five Star and concludes at the Starke County Courthouse. U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly, Representative Jackie Walorski and veterans will speak on the courthouse steps after the parade concludes. Veterans, service members and their families are invited afterward to lunch at Knox United Methodist Church. Continue reading →

WoodStarke Festival Planned Tomorrow in Knox

Posted on Author WKVI

woodstarkeThe inaugural WoodStarke Festival at Wythogan Park in Knox promises a day full of healthy, family fun. A group of volunteers has put together a slate of activities. They will be set to a background of music by local, original bands from genres ranging from bluegrass and bagpipes to hard rock. Performers include Commander, Culver Pipes and Drums, Jerry Nenycz, Damien Acoustics, Adam Combs, Josh Grace, 10 Gauge, Welder and Company, South of Sorrow and Seldom Told.  Continue reading →

Artists and Farmers Wanted for WoodStarke Festival

Posted on Author WKVI

woodstarkeOrganizers of next weekend’s WoodStarke Festival at Wythogan Park in Knox are looking for vendors for the farmer’s market and artists who would like to display their wares. The Art in the Park area will be along the walkway near the Yellow River. Participants must bring their own easels or other displays. Sales are not allowed during the event, but arrangements may be made for later purchase. Continue reading →

Turn in Steps for Another Step Forward

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Moving Starke County Forward organization’s Another Step Forward walking challenge is drawing to a close.

If you are taking part in the challenge, officials ask that you turn in your steps so they can be added to the grand total. Walking, biking, running and swimming all count toward the total. Send in your statistics to anotherstepforward2014@gmail.com.

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Another Step Forward Campaign Moving Forward

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Moving Starke County Forward organization’s Another Step Forward campaign is rolling right along.

The organization signed up several walkers, runners, bikers and swimmers in May to take part in making Starke County a healthier place to live. So far, 6,000 miles have been recorded. Officials ask that you turn in your steps as often as possible so miles can be added to the total.

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Moving Starke County Forward Schedules Community Addiction Discussion

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The Moving Starke County Forward Coalition wants input from the entire community about how to best address addiction issues. They are hosting a community discussion on addiction and recovery tomorrow evening at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in downtown Knox. Board member Jordan Morris from Starke County Community Corrections hopes people from all walks of life will come be part of the dialogue and not worry about being profiled or judged. She says although people who have struggled with addiction will speak, the event is not limited to that population. Morris adds the entire community has been touched by the issue as taxpayers, business owners, health care providers, farmers and teachers. Continue reading →

Move “Another Step Forward” During This Summer’s Walking Challenge

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Starke County residents are encouraged to take “another step forward” this summer. That’s the name of the second annual “Moving Starke County Forward” walking challenge. Last year 250 residents collectively walked 27,000 miles between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That’s enough to lap the globe three times. This year’s goal is a more ambitious 50,000 miles. Coordinator Ryan Greer hopes 500 people will sign up. He adds miles don’t have to be earned by walking. Other types of physical activity like swimming, bicycle riding and jogging can also be logged toward the total. A kickoff event will take place Saturday, May 31 at 10 a.m. at Wythogen Park in Knox. If you can’t make it, registration sheets are available at local libraries, city and town halls and can be picked up throughout the summer. More information about this year’s walking challenge and other initiatives is also available on the Moving Starke County Forward Facebook page.

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 →

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 →

Drop Boxes Available to Discard Prescription Medications

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

It was recently reported that one of the biggest issues in Starke County is prescription drug abuse. A program sponsored by Moving Starke County Forward will be held in the next couple of months that will give information to community members on how to combat this pressing issue.

If you have unwanted, unused or expired prescription medication, you may take that medication to drop off locations at the Knox City Police Department and at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.

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Families and Addiction Seminar Scheduled Tonight in Knox

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke-County-ForwardThe second of four Families and Addiction Seminars is scheduled this evening at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in downtown Knox. They are an outgrowth of last spring’s Moving Starke County Forward Drug Symposium. Porter-Starke Substance Abuse and Addiction Counselor Todd Willis says the goal is to present information in a non-threatening, educational setting.

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Families and Addiction Seminar Planned for Starke County Residents

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Several community groups are teaming up to sponsor a family education and support program on a significant, but often taboo, topic in Starke County. IU Health Starke Hospital, Mayor Rick Chambers and the city of Knox, Moving Starke County Forward, the Starke County Community Corrections Advisory Board and Porter Starke Services present four Families and Addiction programs. They will take place each Tuesday in February from 6 until 7:30 p.m. CST at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center. Porter Starke Substance Abuse and Addiction Counselor Todd Willis says they wanted to present information in a non-threatening, educational setting.

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Moving Starke County Forward to Take More Issues in 2014

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke-County-ForwardThe Moving Starke County Forward organization will be focusing on more community issues as we roll into 2014.

The organization plans to continue to focus on drug abuse awareness and physical activity programs. A smoking cessation project has also been discussed along with a wellness initiative. Another program that will be continued is support for a preschool enrollment campaign by the Northern Indiana Community Foundation and a youth mentorship program through the Starke County Youth Club.

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Moving Starke County Forward Honored by IPHCA Award

Posted on Author WKVI

Nancy Dembowski
Nancy Dembowski
Moving Starke County Forward – a health coalition working to improve the quality of life for Starke County residents through the encouragement, creation and advocacy for a healthy Starke County – was recently heralded for their efforts. HealthLinc was given the Special Exemplary Project Award by the Indiana Primary Health Care Association for their role in creating the organization, and according to Beth Wrobel, CEO of HealthLinc, Moving Starke County Forward is “emblematic of community groups coming together to focus not only on improving health outcomes, but also identifying the social determinants that lead to poor health.”

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Moving Starke County Forward Reaches Goal

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

It was a secret until now. How many miles did the participants log in the Moving Starke County Forward walking challenge? Organization member Nancy Dembowski gives us the answer.

“We made 27,426 miles which is around the world to San Francisco overseas to the west and all the way back to Starke County – and a little further,” said Dembowski. “We are just so proud of the people of Starke County. 269 people participated. We truly believe that this initiative has made 269 people healthier today than they were when they started and that’s what it’s all about.”

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