There’s still time to make the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry the big winner in this year’s Knox v. North Judson-San Pierre football rivalry. WKVI Sports Director Nathan Welter is a Knox graduate, and news director Mary Perren is a North Judson alum. Each year they make a friendly wager on the outcome of the county rivalry. Since North Judson won, Nathan had to dye his beard blue and host an hour-long food drive at Heartland Market, formerly Ray’s Super Foods, in downtown North Judson on Saturday. Thanks to the generosity of all who came out, he nearly filled a grocery cart and collected quite a bit of cash as well. Continue reading
WKVI Sports Bet Payoff Continues with Food Drive
WKVI Sports Director Nathan Welter isn’t done paying off his bet on the outcome of the Knox v. North Judson football game just yet. He’s a Knox graduate, and news director Mary Perren is a N.J.-S.P. alum, so they make a friendly wager on the game each year. North Judson beat Knox 21-14 at Community Field two weeks ago. Last week Nathan served lunch at the high school cafeteria and got glitter dumped on him by the four captains from the Knox game during the homecoming pep rally. He also presented a check for $25 to the Bluejay athletic department. Continue reading
Informational Website Launched for N.J.-S.P. School Referendum
Voters who live within the North Judson-San Pierre School District can learn more about the corporation’s proposed general fund referendum by visiting a new website. www.njspfundourfuture.com explains the rationale behind the push for a property tax increase. Corporation officials say it’s necessary due to what they’ve described as a perfect storm of declining enrollment and changes in the way the state funds schools. Without it, they say significant, painful cuts will need to be made to programs and personnel. Continue reading
Starke County Farm Bureau Awards Funds to N.J.-S.P. FFA
North Judson-San Pierre Future Farmers of America members will be headed to Louisville, Ky. next month for the organization’s national convention. Their trip is made possible in part by the Starke County Farm Bureau. Representative Tiffany Naigi presented a $700 check to program during Tuesday’s school board meeting. FFA officers also told the school board about last year’s convention. It featured a career and trade show, motivational speakers and leadership development workshops. Continue reading
N.J.-S.P. Board Approves Budget, Teacher Contracts
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board last night approved a bare-bones budget for 2016. The $8 million general fund spending plan is down about $2.5 million from just a few years ago due to declining enrollment and changes in the way the state funds schools. General fund dollars are mainly used to pay teacher salaries and cover the cost of programs. Continue reading
Budget Adoption, Teacher Contracts on N.J.-S.P. Agenda
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board is poised to adopt an $8 million budget when they meet this evening. That’s down nearly $2.5 million over the past couple of years, according to corporation officials. They say declining enrollment and changes to state funding are to blame. The corporation is asking voters who live within the N.J.-S.P. school district to support a general fund referendum in November to make up the shortfall. Without it they say additional, painful cuts to programs and services will be necessary. Continue reading
Starke County Election Board to Finalize Ballots Today
Starke County Election Board members will finalize ballots for the November General Election when they meet today. Knox, North Judson and Hamlet will all have municipal elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Also voters who reside in Jackson, Wayne, California, and Railroad Townships will weigh in on the proposed North Judson-San Pierre Schools general fund referendum. Rich Grove and Cass Township residents from Pulaski County will also weigh-in. Continue reading
Starke County Students to Attend Third Annual Manufacturers Day
Seventh graders from around Starke County will get a look at the local manufacturing industry. October 8 is the third annual Manufacturers Day celebration, sponsored by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation. Continue reading
Walorski Looks at North Judson-San Pierre to Learn How to Help Students Graduate
U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski is taking a look at local schools in her district, to see what steps they are taking to increase graduation. One of her stops Monday was at North Judson-San Pierre High School. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre School Board Recognizes Staff Efforts
North Judson-San Pierre support staff members are pulling extra duty due to the budget shortfalls the corporation is facing. In addition to extra work, Superintendent Lynn Johnson says they also had less time to get ready for the start of the school year. Students came back a week earlier this year due to the adoption of the balanced calendar. Continue reading
N.J.-S.P. Superintendent Responds to ISTEP Delay
The school year will be half over before corporations know how their students fared on last year’s ISTEP tests. North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson says the state has pushed back the release of the scores to December due to issues with the grading of the exams. Continue reading
N.J.-S.P. Divides Athletic Director Duties
Athletic director duties at North Judson-San Pierre will be split between two existing administrators this year in an effort to save money. The school board eliminated the full-time athletic director position last year. High school assistant principal Kevin Cox and middle school principal Kelly Shepherd will share the responsibilities. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre School Board Discusses Teacher Contracts
North Judson-San Pierre Classroom Teachers Association members want to double check their new contract before submitting it to the school board for approval. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says negotiations with union officials have gone very well, and there are minimal changes. Continue reading
More Than 1600 Hoosier Students Benefit from Field Trip Grant Program
Thanks to the Discovering the Outdoors Field Trip Grant Program, students at 22 Indiana schools will learn about nature by visiting Indiana state parks and reservoirs this school year. The grants are open to public, private, religious and home-school educators and are administered through the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation, the supporting non-profit of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Continue reading
Rainbow Splash to Benefit The Starke County Youth Club
Take a colorful walk through history for a good cause Sunday morning during the Yellowstone Trail Festival in Hamlet. Proceeds from the Rainbow Splash 2015 will benefit the Starke County Youth Club. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says volunteer Hanna Clark organized the fun-filled 5K walk and run. Continue reading
USDA Makes it Their Mission to Make School Lunches Healthier
It’s back-to-school season and that means you’ll no longer be in control of what your child is eating for breakfast and lunch every day. Luckily, the United States Department of Agriculture oversees school lunches nationally. Back in 2010 the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act was put in place to transform the school food environment in order to promote better nutrition, combat childhood hunger and reduce the likelihood of developing obesity. Continue reading
Back-to-School Vaccination Reminder
Are back-to-school vaccinations on your end of the summer to-do-list? If not, they should be. Regardless of what grade your child is going into, there are required immunizations they must receive or have listed on their medical records. The requirements and recommendations are in alignment with the routine vaccination schedules from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Continue reading
Starke County Youth Club Receives Generous Donation from 1st Source Bank
The 1st Source Corporation, the parent company of 1st Source Bank is the largest locally controlled financial institution headquartered in the northern Indiana-southwestern Michigan area and has assets of $5.01 billion. For more than a century, 1st Source has been committed to the success of the communities it serves. Continue reading
Kids Closet Ministry’s Pack-A-Backpack Event is Back!
Starke County students who receive either free or reduced lunch during the school year have a chance to receive a backpack full of free supplies tonight or tomorrow at the North Judson United Methodist Church fellowship hall. Continue reading
Kids Closet Receives a Plethora of Supplies for Upcoming Back-to-School Event
Kids Closet Ministry annually provides school supplies to underprivileged children in Starke County with their Pack-a-Backpack event. Community members get the chance to contribute during their school supply drives. This year while Kids Closet was posted outside the Dollar General stores in North Judson and Knox they received an ample amount of supplies from weekend shoppers. However it was the donations from two other local foundations that helped provide the new backpacks for all the donated supplies. Continue reading
