Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Contributes to North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department Fundraiser

Posted on June 18, 2018Author Jacque Ryan

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum provided a donation to the North Judson-Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department earlier this month.

HVRM President Cory Bennett presented Assistant Fire Chief Mike Scutchfield with a $300 check, just before the annual Fish Fry Fundraiser that was held on June 9th. According to a press release, this is the sixth donation that the museum has made to the fire department in recent years.

Fire Department representatives reported that this year’s fish fry had one of the biggest turn outs they can recall and said that the fundraiser was a huge success.

HVRM President Cory Bennett and Assistant Fire Chief Mike Scutchfield

6/9/2018 NJVFD Fish Fry

North Judson Town Council Permits Fire Chief to Utilize Call Fees for Equipment Purchase

Posted on December 20, 2017
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

During Monday night’s North Judson Town Council meeting, Fire Chief Joe Leszek told members that the first installment of Rich Grove Township’s call-fees has been submitted.

At the last town council meeting he explained that Rich Grove Township is on a pay-by-call basis where the Township pays $660 per call.

That agreement didn’t present much of an issue when they only had 5 calls in 2016 but this year they had a total of 46 calls, resulting in a charge of $30,360. Leszek said a check for $18,000 was recently sent from Township Trustee Deloris Locke. Locke told him that the remaining $12,360 will be paid after the first of the year.

Since Rich Grove Township is on a 2-year contract, no changes will be made in 2018. However, Trustee Locke did ask the fire chief to provide a summary of runs in June so she can better allocate funds to pay for the calls when the time comes.

Chief Leszek also revisited his request from the last town council meeting, seeking permission to utilize some of the Rich Grove Township funds for equipment. He explained that the extrication tools the department wants to purchase from 5-Alarm are on a price hold until after the first of the year. He said if they aren’t purchased by then, the price would jump up seven percent.

He said if they make the purchase prior to January 1st, all three tools would cost a total of $23,999. The town council members unanimously approved Leszek’s request to utilize the first portion of the Rich Grove Township fees to help cover the cost of the tools.

North Judson Fire Chief Shares Ways The Department is Raising Funds for the Town

Posted on December 7, 2017
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

North Judson Fire Chief Joe Leszek presented council members with a few different ways the fire department is helping bring money into the town at Monday’s town council meeting.

Leszek shared that the fire fighters host a number of fundraisers which prove successful and added that the volunteers also go out of their way to apply for grants. They recently received $8,000 worth of grant funding

“We got a $3,000 dollar Starke County Community Foundation Grant, no match, it’s $3,000 of free money for us. We also got a $2,500 REMC Grant and then we also got a $2,500 Monsanto Grant.”

Leszek explained that the grant funds will be put toward the purchase of brush fire gear for all members and will also be spent to upgrade some leaky tanks on a couple of trucks.

The fire chief also shared the status of a few different township contracts. He explained that Wayne and Jackson Townships have fixed contracts where they pay $10,000 annually. He added that Rich Grove Township, on the other hand, has a contract where they pay $660 per-run.

Leszek said last year, Rich Grove only required 5 runs but this year they had a total of 46, resulting in a bill of $30,360. The payment has yet to be made, however Leszek presented a proposal of how the additional money could be used.

He told council members, “What I’m asking is, since that’s such a huge chunk and unexpected chunk, I believe those contracts usually get paid into the general. I was hoping that we could split that and use $15,000 to reinvest into the department for equipment.”

He said the department is currently working towards a goal of $23,000 to purchase some edraulic extrication tools. Council President Wendy Hoppe said the matter would be taken under advisement and further action could be taken once the funds are received.

Additionally, Leszek said he’s discussed the possibility of implementing a fixed contract with Rich Grove Township. He was asked to come present some additional information at one of their advisory board meetings and then they’d deliberate about which option would be more beneficial to the township.

6/10/2017 NJFD Fish Fry

4/9/2016 NJ Fire Department Country Breakfast

9/6/2014 NJ Volunteer Fire Dept 8th Annual Firehouse Run

North Judson Volunteer Fire Dept. 8th Annual Firehouse Run, Motorcycle Group Ride/Poker Run

Sign Up 1 PM Central Time/ Ride leaves 2 PM Central Time

$25 Single/$35 Couple

Includes T-shirt, Ride & Entry for music following the ride.

!!!!!Firehouse Run T-shirts are Back!!!!!