Saturday, January 31, 2015

Thursday, January 29, 2015

2015 North Judson Youth Basketball

Boys and girls in grades 2-5 - $35 for first child, $25 for additional children in same family; price includes reversible jersey.

Season begins week of March 16 and ends Saturday, May 9.  One practice per week and a game every Saturday (excluding Spring Break).


Registration is now available at http://www.bluejaybasketball.com/njyb-registration.html or call Coach Shabi at 574-896-2167 ext. 333 and leave a message

Adam Miller In Concert

The North Judson-Wayne Township Library has arranged to present Adam Miller in concert on April 20th at 6 p.m.

One of the premier autoharpists in the world, Adam Miller is a renowned American folksinger and natural-born storyteller. An accomplished folklorist, historian, musicologist, and song-collector, he has amassed a remarkable repertoire of over 5,000 songs. Miller accompanies his rich, resonant baritone voice with lively finger-picking acoustic guitar and stunningly beautiful autoharp melodies. A masterful entertainer who never fails to get his audience singing along, he has distinguished himself as one of the great interpreters of American folktales and folksongs, and as a performer who appeals to audiences of all ages.

In order to allow the greatest number of people to enjoy this program it will be held in the auditorium of the North Judson-San Pierre High School.


Do You Need To Be Fingerprinted?

Starting February 4, 2015 The Starke County Sheriff's Office will be asking that anyone that needs fingerprints done for hand gun permits, employment, federal firearms licensing, etc., call the Starke Co. Sheriff's Office at 574-772-3771 option #2 to schedule an appointment. Appointments will be scheduled on Wednesdays between the hours of 9 am to 11 am and Fridays between the hours of 6 pm and 8 pm. We will no longer be accepting walk-ins for fingerprints. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

New eBooks at the North Judson-Wayne Township Library

FaceOff by David Baldacci - An unprecedented collective features pairings by 23 best-selling and critically acclaimed suspense writers, including John Sandford, F. Paul Wilson and R. L. Stine, who in short high-action stories pit their most popular characters against one another.

All the light we cannot see by Anthony Doerr -  When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.

An abundance of Katherines by John Green - Always being dumped by girls named Katherine, Colin Singleton, a washed-up child prodigy with a Judge-Judy obsessed best friend, embarks on a quest to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which will impact all of his future relationships and change his life.

Paper towns by John Green - Having been in love with Margo forever, Quentin is happy to help her with her strange plots and campaigns for revenge, but when she vanishes one evening without a trace, Quentin finds himself delving into clues in order to resolve many unanswered questions.

Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan - Traces the unknown contributions of tens of thousands of women residents of the Manhattan Project's then-secret city of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, whose uranium-enriching jobs in support of the Project were shrouded in secrecy and whose legacy is still being felt today.

Orphan Train by Christina Kline - Close to aging out of the foster care system, Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer takes a community service position helping an elderly woman named Vivian clean out her home and discovers that they are more alike than different as she helps Vivian solve a mystery from her past.

Thirteen Soldiers by John McCain - The personal accounts of 13 remarkable soldiers who fought in major military conflicts, from the Revolutionary War to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The things they carried by Tim O’Brien - The Things They Carried depicts the men of Alpha Company: Jimmy Cross, Henry Dobbins, Rat Kiley, Mitchell Sanders, Norman Bowker, Kiowa, and the character Tim O’Brien, who has survived his tour in Vietnam to become a father and writer at the age of forty-three.Taught everywhere—from high school classrooms to graduate seminars in creative writing—it has become required reading for any American and continues to challenge readers in their perceptions of fact and fiction, war and peace, courage and fear and longing.

Larger than life by Jodi Picoult - A researcher studying memory in elephants, Alice is fascinated by the bonds between mother and calf—the mother’s powerful protective instincts and her newborn’s unwavering loyalty. Living on a game reserve in Botswana, Alice is able to view the animals in their natural habitat—while following an important rule: She must only observe and never interfere. Then she finds an orphaned young elephant in the bush and cannot bear to leave the helpless baby behind. Thinking back on her own childhood, and on her shifting relationship with her mother, Alice risks her career to care for the calf.

Ghosts in the fog by Samantha Seiple - A narrative account of the lesser-known World War II invasion of Alaska by the Japanese is presented from the viewpoints of American civilians who were captured on the Aleutian Islands and is complemented by more than 80 photographs.

The sign of the beaver by Elizabeth George Speare -  In the late-eighteenth century, eleven-year-old Matt befriends an Indian boy of the Beaver clan who helps him survive alone in the wilderness.

Soldier Girls: The Battles of Three Women at Home and at War by Helen Thorpe - Describes the experiences of three women soldiers deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq to reveal how their military service has affected their friendship, personal lives and families, detailing the realities of their work on bases and in war zones and how their choices and losses shaped their perspectives.

February Sign-Ups for North Judson Area Baseball

North Judson Area Baseball Sign-Ups

During the month of February there will be North Judson Area Baseball sign-ups at the North Judson Civic Center.
Sunday – February 8th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday – February 16th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday – February 21st from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday – February 23rd from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
You must bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate to sign-up.

If you are unable to sign-up by February 23rd, there will be a $20 late fee per child.  No sign-ups after March 15th.

Cost:
$45 per child (+ must sell 5 Raffle Tickets)
$30 each additional child (+must sell 10 Raffle Tickets)
League Ages: 
4 – 5 T-Ball (must be 4 by May 1st)
6 – 7 Rookie
8 – 9 Minor
10 – 12 Major
13 – 15 Junior
Any questions? 
Eric Materna 896-2317
Mike Wilcox 249-8615
Michelle Ginder 806-0331
(Like us on Facebook:  North Judson Area Baseball League)

2/2/2015 Financial Aid Night in North Judson

North Judson - San Pierre High School will be hosting the annual Financial Aid Night on Monday, February 2nd, starting at 6:30 pm in the high school library. A college representative will be present to discuss the financial aid process. The rep will walk parents through completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form that must be completed online. If you have a senior planning to attend post-secondary education, then you do not want to miss this important event! The deadline for the federal processor to receive the FAFSA is March 10, 2015.

Indiana Granted Approval for Health Reform Program

Published: January 28, 2015
By: Tyler Maffitt, WKVI

The state of Indiana received approval yesterday to use an updated version of the consumer-driven Healthy Indiana Plan instead of Medicaid.

The program is expected to offer healthcare to 350-thousand uninsured Hoosiers.

IU Health LaPorte Public Information Officer Stacey Kellogg says it affects their locations in a great way.

“This program will now enable those who kind of fell through the cracks, who are in that gap and kind of been waiting for this decision to happen, who may have lost their HIP coverage, to go back online, sign up, and get the coverage that they deserve and that they need,” says Kellogg.

IU Health says they simply need to update information they already have. The Family and Social Services Administration says they will be taking applications immediately with coverage beginning February 1st.

HIP 2.0 participants are required to contribute to a POWER account – which works similarly to a Health Savings Account – and are rewarded for using preventive care services.

Governor Mike Pence says the program is based on a similar program that has been used for the last seven years. Kellogg says they have a good relationship with the previous program.

“It’s a little too early to compare the two because the announcement has just been made, but for the most part, very responsive program and very successful for our patients,” says Kellogg.

The Healthy Indiana Plan also offers assistance to low-income residents to purchase private insurance through their employers.

Approval from the federal government effectively ends Medicaid for all non-disabled Indiana residents between 19 and 64.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

North Judson Police Get Reports of Scam Phone Calls

Published: January 27, 2015
By: Anita Goodan, WKVI
 
Officers from the North Judson Police Department warn residents that scams are making the rounds.

Several complaints have been made about a caller posing as a Social Security or an IRS worker looking for information and requesting account numbers. Police have also received information that people are posing as other county officers are calling residents asking for bail money for a loved one. Other calls have been reported involving a police detective looking for information about a warrant. If the resident puts up bail money immediately, then the arrest warrant would not be carried out.

North Judson officers stress that police officers would not make these types of phone calls at any time.

They encourage residents to be very cautious about giving out any personal information during an unsolicited phone call. If the phone call sounds suspicious, hang up and notify the police. Social Security information and bank account information should not be given to anyone over the phone.

For more information or to report a scam, call the North Judson Police Department at (574) 772-5914.

File Your Taxes, Complete Your FAFSA

Published: January 27, 2015
By: Mary Perren, WKVI

Income tax filing time means it’s also time to see where you stand in terms of need-based college financial aid for the 2015-16 academic year. Ancilla College Executive Director of Admissions Eric Wignall says you need to have family income information handy before visiting www.fafsa.gov to fill out the necessary form. Last year’s tax information can be used to estimate, and this year’s data can be plugged in after taxes are finished.

Completing the FAFSA will determine what types of federal and state aid you qualify for based on your income. Wignall says anyone who thinks they may attend college in the coming year needs to complete a FAFSA. He stresses there is no age limit when it comes to financial aid. Find more information online at www.fafsa.gov. Ancilla College has several free college financial aid workshops scheduled in the coming weeks as well. Find a scheduled workshop online at http://www.ancilla.edu/fafsa/.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Homework Hotline


New Filings for Municipal Election

Published: January 26, 2015
By: Anita Goodan, WKVI

The clerk’s offices in Starke County and Marshall County were busy tending to more candidates who wish to file for office for this year’s Municipal Election.

In Starke County, Republican Anthony Radkiewicz filed for Knox City Council District 4 while Democrat Tim Manns filed for Knox City Council District 4. Republican Wendy Hoppe filed for another term on the North Judson Town Council in Ward 2, and Democrat Tamara Brantley is seeking a seat on the Hamlet Town Council. Republican Charles Hasnerl is seeking another term as Knox City Court Judge.

In Marshall County, former Democrat State Representative Gary Gook has filed for an at-large seat on the Plymouth City Council while Republican Larry Wattenbarger filed for Bourbon Town Council. Republicans William L. Daily and Rick Lee Graverson both filed for seats on the Bremen Town Council.

Pulaski County Clerk Tasha Foerg told WKVI News that were no filings in her office last week.

The city positions up for election will have a primary election while towns with a population under 3,500 will have town conventions if there is opposition on any positions on the ballot. If there is no opposition, all names will be on the General Election ballot in November.


City candidates have until Feb. 6 to file while candidates seeking office in towns with a population under 3,500 have until Aug. 3 to file.

Prescription Drop-offs Continue Hazard Prevention Efforts

Published: January 26, 2015
By: Tyler Maffitt, WKVI

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department says their prescription drug drop-off program continues to bode well.

A box sits in the lobby of the Starke County Jail that’s intended to act as a receptacle for the prescriptions. Drop-off programs are designed to protect water supplies, prevent taking expired medication, and reduce the spread of medications used as an illegal narcotic.

Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin says this streamlines the process.

“Well you don’t want to flush them down in the stool,” says Dulin. “This, it’s just an easier way for us to dispose of them in the proper way rather than discarding them in the septic or the toilet.”

Starke County says its busiest time of year for prescription drop-offs is typically during warmer weather when individuals perform annual spring cleaning.

Typically, any prescription drugs received at the county level are kept in a locked box until they can be cataloged. Dulin says there is a person on staff designated to handle those tasks.

“The person that’s going to be assigned to it does log them down, and then their duties are just a basic chain of evidence, then they give them to me and we dispose of them with the state,” says Dulin.

Prior to the program, Dulin says there was no systematic way for individuals to properly get rid of their prescriptions.

If individuals find it difficult to come to the Starke County Jail, the Food and Drug Administration says there are items that can be mixed with certain prescription drugs prior to disposal in your household trash.

Friday, January 23, 2015

IU Health Starke Hospital Seeks Community Health Needs Input

Published: January 23, 2015
By: Mary Perren, WKVI

Officials at IU Health Starke Hospital want input from members of the community as to the health needs that need to be met. Members of the public are invited to complete a brief online survey, which can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/s/inhealthneedssurvey.

This is a first step to developing new programming. Additional information will be gathered through targeted focus groups later this year. Examples of successful programs developed as a result of these sorts of initiatives are the regional Women’s Fair and numerous other free screenings and other events held throughout the year. A link to the survey is also posted on the hospital’s home page at iuhealth.org/starke.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Skywarn Storm Spotter Training

Skywarn storm spotter training season will begin in less than 2 weeks.

The closest training for our area is:

February 25, 2015 - 2015 SKYWARN Spotter Training

Michigan City Hall
100 E Michigan Blvd (Lower Level - EOC)
Michigan City, IN 46360

February 26, 2015 - 2015 SKYWARN Spotter Training

Marshall County Building
112 W. Jefferson Street
Room 203
Plymouth, IN 46563

Registration is preferred and more specific information can be found online at this link:
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/iwx/program_areas/outreach/index.php.

Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Contributes Matching Funds for North Judson Railroad Project

Published: January 22, 2015
By: Mary Perren, WKVI

The Town of North Judson has more than half of the matching funds needed for an INDOT Transportation Enhancement Project Grant. They’ve applied for $512,066 from the state to replace railroad ties along the town’s rail line. A 20-percent local match of 102,413.20 is required.

During this week’s town council meeting, Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Secretary and Railroad Committee Advisory Member Mark Knebel presented a check to the town from HVRM for $51,015 toward the match and some supplemental work. The town of North Judson has also received $15,000 from the Starke County Economic Development Foundation towards the local match.

In other business, the council agreed to give the owner of a commercial property at 214 Lane Street until April 6 to make substantial progress on repairs to the building. He’s submitted a design plan to the State of Indiana and is waiting for their approval. He’s due to give a progress report to the council in April.

The council is still looking into options to replace part of the carpet at the former bank building on Lane Street that will soon be the town office and should have information to consider at their next meeting.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

1/25/2015 North Judson Area Baseball

North Judson Area Baseball will have a meeting at the North Judson Civic Center at 2 p.m. on January 25th at the North Judson Civic Center. 


Volunteer positions are still available.  If you are interested, please attend.

4/1/2015 Deadline for Indiana Sheriff’s Association Offers Scholarships

Published: January 21, 2015
By: Mary Perren, WKVI

Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin says college scholarships are available from the Indiana Sheriff’s Association for qualified high school seniors or college students pursuing a career in criminal justice studies.

The Indiana Sheriff’s Association Scholarship Fund will award approximately 40 $500 scholarships to Indiana residents who are a current member of the association or a dependent child or grandchild of a current member. They must also attend an Indiana college or university, major in a law enforcement field and enroll as a full-time student.

Scholarship applications are available from high school guidance counselors, the Starke County Sheriff’s Office or on the Indiana Sheriff’s Association website at www.indianasheriffs.org. They must be completed and received by the Indiana Sheriff’s Association on or before April 1.

North Judson- San Pierre School Board Discusses Threat Assessments

Published: January 21, 2015
By: Tyler Maffitt, WKVI

While the policies were already in place, the North Judson-San Pierre School District has decided to compile them into one place.

During last night’s School Board meeting, a process for determining the severity of a threat made by students, and the potential causes of that threat were discussed.

North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson says that included in the screening process is determining whether the student making the threat and other students are safe, and identifying the target of the threats.

“If you would have a student who would pose a threat, this is an opportunity for the principals, or actually what we call the crisis team, to go through this and assess where we are with the student,” says Johnson.

A crisis team includes administration, a counselor, and a psychologist to help determine whether any threats made are credible. Various team members are trained in crisis management.

Johnson says threats that are considered an immediate danger are to be handled by police.

“It’s basically getting a picture so you can say: okay, this is what we found, and this is the action we have taken,” says Johnson.


Investigation of incidents can take between 24 and 48 hours. Board members said it was preferable to have the threat assessments in writing.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

College Financial Aid Workshop Scheduled at Knox High School

Published: January 20, 2015
By: Mary Perren, WKVI

Get answers to all of your questions about applying for financial aid during an upcoming workshop at Knox High School. Ancilla College Executive Director of Admissions Eric Wignall says filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA makes you eligible for need-based assistance, including student loans and state and federal grants.

Wignall says there’s lots of financial aid available to help offset the cost of college.

“You never have to pay back a grant or state aid that is based on your income level. If you don’t think you’ve got enough money for college, that means you may be able to qualify for supplemental grants from the state and federal government, whether it’s a Pell Grant or other programs we have out there. That’s money you can apply toward going to school,” Wignall said.

Ancilla College is hosting a series of free college financial aid workshops in the coming weeks. The first one is Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. CST in Knox High School cafeteria and is open to anyone with questions about the process.

Find more information online at http://fafsa.gov/.

Friday, January 16, 2015

Starke County Veterans Service Officer Provides Range of Services

Published: January 16, 2015
By: Mary Perren, WKVI

Veterans who are having issues with Medicare, Social Security, VA or other types of federal programs can enlist help from Starke County Veterans Service Officer Terry Turner.

“If they come talk to me, I can help them fix that. It’s been several times where they’ve had hospital bills that run up to about $6,000, and I’ve been able to get them hardships,” Turner said. “I got one call that the bill was $700 and they cut it to $20. If you’ve got problems with the hospital or doctors as far as money, give me a call. I might be able to help you.”

Starke County veterans can contact Turner at 574-772-9132 or 574-249-0415. He’s in his office at the Starke County Annex from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. CST Monday through Wednesday but is available by appointment during other times.

Indiana House Makes Another Attempt To Dissolve Township Government

Published: January 16, 2015
By: Tyler Maffitt, WKVI

Starke County Townships could be affected if another attempt to transfer their duties to the county level is successful.

House Bill 1309 was recently filed and looks to dissolve township governments. The transition would take place by 2019. Starke County has nine townships with hundreds more in the state of Indiana.

Mark Allen has been Oregon Township Trustee for the last five years. He has spent time in the past lobbying against similar measures. Allen says House Bill 1309 is a poor bill.

“I wish the state legislators would stand down from local government,” says Allen. “This is the best government, and the most efficient government you can find because it’s in touch with the people on an everyday basis.”

If signed into law, the bill would transfer services such as fire protection, cemetery maintenance, parks, and libraries under the duty of the county government. It would also allow county governments to levy greater property taxes to pay Township indebtedness.

Allen says he believes there is plenty Townships can do more effectively than county government.

“You have to be accountable for your own Township, you get funding from your own Township, so if your Township is in a good area and is getting growth, then you can grow with that,” says Allen.

The process for transferring services to the county level remains to be seen, but Allen says ensuring outlying areas of Indiana’s counties don’t get left behind will be key.

Allen says he does not believe House Bill 1309 will pass.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Engineering Team Honored for High-Efficiency Furnace

Published: January 15, 2015
By: Tyler Maffitt, WKVI
 
A design team from a local company has been honored for their innovation in high efficiency oil-fired furnaces.

According to a release from the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, engineers from Thermo Products were recently inducted into the Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana.

Everett James and Michael Sharkozy were inducted among those in a seven county area, including Starke and Pulaski County.

The design team was nominated by the Economic Development Foundation as part of a challenge to develop a new furnace that is more efficient and doesn’t create carbon build-up.

The Thermo Products team created a furnace with an efficiency of 95-percent. That compares with the 87-percent efficiency of other oil furnaces. The press release says the furnace can be used for both residential and commercial purposes.

Thermo Products was founded in the 1940’s in Starke County, but was purchased by another company in the late 1990’s.

The society recognizes those they believe have proven themselves as innovators.

SCCF Lilly Endowment Scholarship Application Available Online

Published: January 15, 2015
By: Mary Perren, WKVI

Applications for the Starke County Community Foundation’s Lilly Endowment Scholarship are due next week. The application is available online at www.ncif.org and must be turned in by Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2015.

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program offers a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to one local high school senior who will start college in the fall of 2015. The recipient must intend to be a full-time student and pursue a baccalaureate degree at any accredited public or private Indiana college or university. Prospective applicants must currently live in Starke County and be high school seniors graduating by the end of June 2015 with a diploma from an accredited Indiana high school.

The award is based on academic performance, service in the community, work and school and application essays, as well as a personal interview. The Starke County Community Foundation Scholarship Committee will select the nominee and alternates, but the Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) will make a final decision.

The award was first offered in 1998. To date, more than $2.25 million has been awarded in scholarships to Starke County Lilly Scholars.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Thank You from the North Judson-San Pierre Middle School Student Council


Starke County Veterans Service Officer Can Help Navigate VA Health Care System

Published: January 14, 2015
By: Mary Perren, WKVI

A program rolled out late last year by the Veterans Administration in an attempt to ensure timely access to health care services is creating confusion locally. The Veterans Choice Program gives veterans the option to seek non-VA health care rather than waiting for a VA appointment or traveling a long distance to the nearest facility. Starke County Veterans Service Officer Terry Turner says Starke County is geographically situated between the facilities in Crown Point and in Knox. Both places are more than 45 miles away by car, but Turner says the VA looks at distance as the crow flies. He adds the VA will allow patients to see other health care providers if certain qualifications are met. These include having to wait longer than 30 days for an appointment. However, the steps in the process are confusing. Starke County veterans with questions about the VA health care system or any other programs can contact Turner at 574-772-9132 or 574-249-0415. He’s in his office at the Starke County Annex from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. CST Monday through Wednesday but is available by appointment during other times. Find more information about the Veterans Choice Program online at http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Schools to Make up Missed Days of School

Published: January 12, 2015
By: Anita Goodan, WKVI

Schools closed three days last week due to weather which means students will be making up those lost days of instruction.

West Central School Superintendent Don Street explains what his corporation will do to make up those days.

“Feb. 16 and April 20 are two snow make-up days we have. We’re also exploring the possibility of e-learning days and designate Saturdays as a possibility to make up future days missed,” said Street.

If the school board chooses the option, the e-learning days would only be utilized if there are any other missed days of school due to weather. The built-in school make-up days have already been taken.

Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa said there are three built-in school days which will be used. If any more days are missed, Gappa noted they will most likely be added to the end of the school year.

At North Judson-San Pierre Schools, there could be a chance that time is added to the end of school days to make up any additional missed days of school. Superintendent Lynn Johnson said the school board could also choose to add days to the end of the school year.

Greg Briles, Superintendent at Oregon-Davis schools, told WKVI News that they will use their three make-up days built into the calendar and if any more days need to made up, the school board will discuss their options. More than likely, days will be added to the end of the school year.

Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent Dan Foster said the corporation sent out a survey where e-learning could be the best option for the students, but he doesn’t feel they are quite ready to take that step. However, the corporation applied for the provision earlier and was approved. Like the other school corporations, days would probably be added to the school calendar.


Superintendent Dr. Vicki McGuire sent notice that Culver Community School students would be attending school on Monday, Jan. 19, Monday, Feb. 16 and Friday, May 8 as make up days as of Friday. If there are more all-day school closures, the school board will review procedure.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Rep. Gutwein Supportive of New VA Position

Published: January 10, 2015
By: Tyler Maffitt, WKVI

He had a bill prepared, but 16th District State Representative Doug Gutwein says he is just as pleased with a new resource for female veterans in Indiana.

There are 38-thousand vets in the state who also happen to be women.

Plans have been in the works for some time to hire a female state coordinator for the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs. A hire has been made according to Gutwein with an announcement planned soon.

Gutwein says he was prepared to introduce a bill to create the position in the instance the role wasn’t allowed through the state budget process.

“My bill wouldn’t change anything that’s happened over the last six months,” says Gutwein. “It’s a done deal. It’s a done deal unless something comes out of the Senate and I have not heard that any legislation is coming from there yet.”

The new resource would offer an avenue to resolve concerns that the state’s female service members may not wish to discuss with a male serving in the role.

It’s rumored a similar position may have existed at one time in the state. As the process was being completed over the summer of last year, input was gathered detailing how to proceed from the VA and other organizations.

Gutwein says he’s looking for great things for female veterans in the state.

“I just think this is going to be an avenue for them and it’s going to be like something they’ve never seen before,” says Gutwein.

Funding was found in the current budget cycle to fill the position – which will be continued for the position.

Friday, January 9, 2015

2/7/2015 The Great American Standards

Do you enjoy listening to the great ballads of yesterday? 

Those songs made popular by Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and others?

Then you definitely want to be at the North Judson-Wayne Township Library at 12 noon on February 7, 2015 for The Great American Songbook:A Tribute to the golden age of music, featuring Michael Booth and Ashley Rodwell.

Seating is limited so please call 574-896-2841, email norjudlib@gmail.com, or stop in at the library to reserve your spot.

Analyst Explains Gas Price Spike

Published: January 9, 2015
By: Anita Goodan, WKVI

The lower price of unleaded gasoline has relieved a pinch from consumer pocketbooks, but some retailers have dropped the price too low for a profit margin. GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan said that has caused prices to spike.

“What you’re seeing with the big spike is essentially gas stations losing 20 or 25 cents a gallon and raising their price back up to where they’re making about 15 or 20 cents a gallon. Obviously, you have a 40 cent a gallon difference between a station losing 20 cents and making 20 cents and that’s where these big spikes come from. The good news is that prices are already coming back down,” said DeHaan.

Prices will not go much lower than where they are now.

“I think we’re very close to where we are going to bottom out this time around. Prices will likely go back under two dollars and will continue to bounce around maybe in the high one dollar range to the low two dollar a gallon range.”

Thursday, January 8, 2015

INDOT Offers Tips to Stay Safe on Slick Roads

Published: January 8, 2015
By: Mary Perren, WKVI

A disabled or stranded vehicle could potentially be a life or death situation due to cold temperatures and extended response times for police and tow truck drivers. If you do venture out, let someone know your route of travel, and keep your gas tank full when driving in cold weather. Pack a winter survival kit of blankets, extra warm clothes, a flashlight and extra batteries, a brightly-colored cloth to tie on your antenna for visibility, sand or a bag of cat litter to use for traction, a shovel, candles and matches, non-perishable, high-calorie foods like nuts, raisins and protein or energy bars, newspapers for insulation, a first aid kit and jumper cables.

Should you become stranded, your car is your best protection. Stay with your vehicle. An idling car only uses an average of one gallon of gas per hour, so don’t panic. Crack your window in order to get fresh air into the vehicle, and make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Leave your dome light on at night. Carry a cell phone and charger with you so you can call for help if necessary. Remember, ice and snow, take it slow. Also wind gusts and blowing snow cause bridges and overpasses to freeze. If your vehicle starts to slide, don’t panic and slam on the brakes. Calmly steer into the direction of the spin until it straightens out.


Information about Indiana road conditions is available by calling INDOT at 1-800-261-7623 or visit the INDOT web site at TrafficWise.IN.gov.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

1/11/2015 North Judson Area Baseball Meeting

There will be a winter meeting of North Judson Area Baseball at the North Judson Civic Center on Sunday, January 11, 2015 at 2 p.m.

The public is welcome to attend.

1/17/2015 Relay for Life Chili Cook-off for Cancer

Relay for Life Chili Cook-off for Cancer, January 17, 2015 from 1-4 p.m. CST at the Knox VFW – 1511 S. Heaton Street.

There is a $25 fee for Chili entries.  Prizes will be given for 1st and 2nd place and People’s Choice.  Celebrity judges are Mary Perren, Lenny Dessauer, Ted Hayes, and Nick Bourff.

$5 will get you an “All You Can Eat” Chili Bowl.  There will also be a silent auction and bake sale.

For more information contact:  Ericka Taylor-Joseph at 574-252-9489.

Reorganized North Judson Council Approves Contract for Sidewalk Replacement

Published: January 7, 2015
By: Mary Perren, WKVI

The Town of North Judson will be able to leverage grant money for sidewalk and ramp replacement as part of their ADA improvement plan. Town board members approved a contract with consulting firm Fleis and Vandenbrink to assist with that project. The town’s plan calls for sidewalks to be replaced in 2015 and 2016 as funds allow. However, the 80-20 matching grant will allow the town to stretch its resources. The process is in the very early planning stages, and there’s no timeline yet for when work will be done.

In other business, Wendy Hoppe was reelected town council president. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry swore in recently reelected council members Josh Brown and Justin Davis. Both were appointed to the council when it expanded from a three to a five-member board and were just elected to their first four-year terms.

Council members appointed Jeff Abrams as building inspector. He replaces Tony Benson. By virtue of that position Abrams will also serve on the town’s unsafe building committee. Council members still need to fill two seats on that board. Other appointments include Jill Bejes to a four-year term on the park board and Rich Warner to the railroad advisory committee. Mike Sharkozy and Ken Dolezal were reappointed to the planning commission. Jerry Jernas, Tina Hittle and John Silhavey were reappointed to the BZA. The town still has two positions to fill on that board.

Hoppe will serve as the town’s representative on the Starke County Economic Development Commission Board of Directors and the railroad advisory board. Josh Brown was appointed to the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission and Tim Cummins to the Starke County Solid Waste Board.

Davis was named the town’s liaison for utilities, water and sewer; Brown will work with the police department; and Cummins will serve in that capacity with the town fire department and human resources.

Municipal Election Candidate Filing Begins Today

Published: January 7, 2015
By: Anita Goodan, WKVI

Today is the first day to file for candidacy for the Municipal Election. Candidates may file in the county clerk’s office.

In the City of Knox, District 1-4 council seats are up for election including an at-large seat. Voters will also elect a mayor, city clerk-treasurer and the judge of the city court.

A town clerk-treasurer for the town of North Judson will be voted on along with three council seat in Ward 1, Ward 2 and Ward 3.

Hamlet voters will elect a clerk-treasurer plus three council members in Ward 1, Ward 2 and Ward 3.

Municipal offices up for election in Marshall County include the Mayor of Plymouth, clerk-treasurer in Argos, Bourbon, Bremen, Culver, LaPaz, and Plymouth. Voters will also elect three council members in Argos, two in Bourbon, four in Culver and three in LaPaz. All five city council seats in Plymouth will be elected as well as two additional at-large seats.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

1/21 to 2/25/2015 Story Hour: Hilariously Ever After

Come listen to stories and do crafts about the Fairy Tales you know and love, with different points of view.

Wednesdays, January 21st to February 25th, at 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon OR 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. 

For children ages 3 to 5.

To sign up contact Kelsie Purcell by calling 574-896-2841, email her at purcellkelsienjwt@gmail.com, or just stop in at the library.


1/20 to 2/25/2015 Tot-time: Puppy Pals

Come listen to stories and do crafts all about lovable puppies.

Tuesdays, January 20th to February 24th, from 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon. 

For children ages 18 months to 3 years.

To sign up contact Kelsie Purcell by calling 574-896-2841, email her at purcellkelsienjwt@gmail.com, or just stop in at the library.


Humane Society Urges Animal Safety In Cold Temperatures

Published: January 6, 2015
By: Tyler Maffitt, WKVI

Winter weather can pose a danger to your four-legged friends.

The Starke County Humane Society says that exposure to the elements should be limited and house pets should be brought indoors when possible.

Starke County Humane Society Director Shanna Lloyd says checking on your animal can prevent health problems.

“If they go outside, even right now just to go out in the yard for a little bit, they can get ice-balls stuck from snow in between their toes and they can actually get frostbite,” says Lloyd.

Animals remaining outside may require a few essentials such as consistent water, and cover from the wind such as a garage or outbuilding.

Although blankets can provide warmth indoors, they can retain moisture and create even colder temperatures for the animal when used outside. Instead, the Humane Society recommends using straw to provide a covering on the ground for the animals.

Lloyd says their operation sees quite a few strays during bad weather.

“We actually see more animals typically brought into the shelter during temperatures like this because people see them out and about,” says Lloyd.

To ensure animal safety, Lloyd also recommends tapping on the hood of your car to ensure cats have not crawled into the space for warmth.

If an animal is spotted outdoors without essentials, the Starke County Humane Society can be contacted for assistance.

Monday, January 5, 2015

IU Health Starke Hospital Opens Warming Shelter

Published: January 5, 2015
By: Mary Perren, WKVI

Single digit temperatures pose a threat to health and safety. IU Health Starke Hospital is open as a warming shelter. Anyone needing that service can check in at the registration desk. Food may be purchased in the cafeteria, and patients who take medications will need to bring their own.

If you must be outdoors, wear several layers of loose, warm clothing and keep your head, hands and feet covered. Hypothermia symptoms include stiff muscles, shivering, cold skin and slow breathing. Avoid alcoholic beverages, as they can thin blood. Also do not use extension cords with space heaters and do not use ovens to heat your home.

Learn Before You Burn: Reduce Health and Environmental Hazards with a More Efficient Fire

Published: January 5, 2015
By: Jacque Ryan, WKVI

As the Indiana temperatures continue to get colder many residents are turning to their fireplaces or wood stoves for warmth. Keep in mind, there are ways to burn a more efficient fire and reduce wood smoke which is harmful to human health and a source of air pollution.

Alison Davis, senior adviser of the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards with the Environmental Protection Agency advises the best way to burn the hottest and most efficient fire possible is to use only dry, seasoned wood. According to her, dry wood burns more completely. This is good for two reasons. First, you get more energy out of the firewood because it burns more of the actual wood. The second reason is the fire then produces less smoke.

Davis disclosed that wood smoke contains fine particle pollution which can cause health problems. When that air is inhaled it can penetrate deep into the lungs where it can cause harm there as well as in the heart and blood vessels. Fine particles are linked to strokes and heart attacks.

If certain materials find their way into your fire, there is the danger of smoke being filled with toxins or harmful chemicals. To avoid the adverse effects of inhaling that smoke, the EPA advises to never burn items such as wood that has been coated, painted or pressure treated or any plastics, foams and other garbage.

To maintain efficiency and proper airflow it is suggested that ashes be regularly removed from your wood-burning stove or fireplace.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency burning a cleaner fire is not only helpful to Hoosiers’ health but also benefits the state’s climate.

Friday, January 2, 2015

When It Gets COLD, Let Your Water Run


Classes offered in Learning Center of Pulaski County Extension Office, Winamac

Start 2015 with a BANG!

Call 574-946-3412 to register for any of these classes.

Classes listed below are $30 and offered at 1-3 p.m. or 6-8 p.m. unless indicated
Getting Started With Computers: Jan. 5th, 6th, and 8th OR Feb. 2nd, 3rd, and 5th
Basic Excel: Jan. 15th and 22nd
Power Point: Jan. 26th and 29th
Basic Word: Feb. 12th and 19th
Learning about your iPad: Feb. 18th and 25th, 6-8p.m.
Facebook (Free Class), Feb. 23rd, 6-8 p.m.
Intermediate Excel: Feb. 24th and 25th
Learning about your Tablet: March 25th and 26th, 6-8 p.m.

SPECIALTY CLASSES:
Adult Conversational Spanish, Feb. 10th, 17th, and 24th, 6-8 p.m.,  $40/adult, $30/child

**NEW**SIGN LANGUAGE
For adults - Jan 13th, 20th and 27th, 1-3 p.m. or 6-8 p.m., $30/person
For youth - Feb. 5th, 12th and 19th, 3:45-5:15 p.m., $30/person

Quote of the Month - January 2015


Betty White's birthday is January 17th.

Motor Driven Cycle Laws Take Effect Soon

Published: December 31, 2014
By: Tyler Maffitt, WKVI

New laws for mopeds and scooters will take effect on January 1st in Indiana.

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles says the legislation for Motor Driven Cycles, as they’re called, requires owners to obtain a license endorsement and register the vehicles.

According to a press release, two different classes of license can be obtained to be in compliance when operating the devices.

Deputy Commissioner of Communications Josh Gillespie says the law requires registering the vehicle, and that can make things easier for both law enforcement and the vehicle owner.

“Part of the reason that this law exists is because there has been, especially with these vehicles, a rash of stolen vehicles over the years, and it’s made it very difficult for police and other law enforcement to track these vehicles down,” says Gillespie.

The legislation, House Bill 1342, was signed into law by Governor Mike Pence this year after slim approval in the state Senate.

Individuals who are 15-years of age or older, do not already have a valid state driver’s license, and who intend to drive on public roads are eligible to obtain a Class B endorsement.

After one of the problems received debate in Indianapolis, Gillespie says the law still allows people with suspended licenses to get around.

“You don’t necessarily need to have a valid driver’s license or a valid learner’s permit. Now it is a requirement to have those to drive them, but you can also have a valid identification card with a Motor Driven Cycle Endorsement,” says Gillespie.

Because BMV branches will be closed on New Year’s Day, MDC owners can begin registering their scooter or moped on Friday.

Some MDC drivers may need time to register their device, so the Indiana State Police will limit enforcement to warnings throughout January.

Traffic tickets will be issued in February.