Credits Offered For Running Water to Prevent Frozen Pipes

By: Ben Haut, WKVI
Published: February 12th, 2014

With the cold weather comes frozen pipes, and many area residents are suffering from the inconvenience and expense of having no running water. However, many municipalities have offered residents a credit for letting their water run to prevent pipes from freezing.

In Knox, residents will receive a discount on their sewer bill if their bill is found to be higher than average due to running water to stave off frozen pipes. However, because the State Board of Accounts prohibits crediting the water portion of the bill, the water bill will not be adjusted. The sewer portion will be adjusted, however, and Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston advises anyone whose bill is found to be higher than usual to contact the utility clerk.

The clerk-treasurer of North Judson told WKVI that they will also be adjusting the sewer portion of bills. Donna Henry said as long as the resident advises they have had their water running, the sewer bill will be adjusted toward the end of March on the bill due April 12. Henry explained they are going to wait until that bill to ensure all meters have been read.

The town of Winamac will also adjust bills for residents who have been running water, and in Hamlet, officials will be monitoring consumption but they have not expressed intent on adjusting bills.

For more information, contact your local utility clerk.

2/11/2014 Families and Addiction Seminar Scheduled Tonight in Knox

By: Mary Perren, WKVI
Published: February 11th, 2014

The 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.

“You can’t find a family anymore that has not been touched in some way by addiction. Whether or not it’s a husband, a wife or a child, it could be even aunts and uncles and grandparents, so having an area where people can come and learn about it and just get some information about it. There will be opportunities for some folks to to share from personal experience, but for folks who don’t want to do that, they don’t have to. It’s really going to be about coming together and getting information on how to educate people about how to deal with this in their family,” Willis said.

Willis acknowledges this can be a scary topic to discuss in such a public setting. He encourages anyone who might feel ambivalent to come out and be part of the community-wide conversation in a neutral location.

“We’re not doing it at a mental health center. We’re not doing it at a substance abuse center. We’re doing it at the community center, because this is a community problem. There will be people there who are attending that don’t struggle with addiction themselves. They’re just going for information. We’re trying to pull all kinds of people together, do it in a safe environment, a low-key environment, and we’re really going to be tackling that stigma people still have about addiction,” said Willis.

Willis adds confidentiality will also be addressed during the sessions. He notes addiction is a growing national problem, especially among young people.

“Not the normal ones we’re used to, like cocaine and heroin. I think folks are learning that those are quite damaging. What we’re seeing is prescription drug use skyrocketing, and some of the synthetic drugs for kids. They have access to those, and they’re cheap,” said Willis.

The workshops are all free and open to the anyone who has a loved one that struggles with addiction. They will take place each Tuesday evening in February from 6 until 7:30 p.m. at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center. Call 574-772-2258 ext. 107 or 219-476-4655 for more information.

3/6/2014 Free Financial Aid Workshops @ Ancilla College

Financial aid staff from Ancilla College will be leading workshops for parents and students. College staff will be available to sit down with individuals fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The workshops are open to students, parents and anyone thinking about going to or returning to college - there is no age limit on financial aid.

Workshops at the College (9601 Union Rd near Plymouth)

March 6 10 am - Noon

Starke Commissioners Sign New Hope Proclamation

By: Ben Haut, WKVI
Published: February 7th, 2014

The Starke County Commissioners this week proclaimed each Tuesday in February “New Hope for Families Days,” urging all citizens of the community to participate in all efforts to make Starke County a model of a healthy community.

Bob Hinojosa, director of Starke County Community Corrections, approached the commissioners and introduced case manager Jordan MacKentire, who has been spearheading the effort. The proclamation came about as a result of the high level of drug abuse and addiction that is devastating the well-being of the Starke County community. However, a network of community organizations are making increased education and treatment a top priority, and Starke County Community Corrections is offering a new program called New Hope – Families and Addiction.

The new program covers education on the effects of addiction on the brain and body, how to find support, and where to find other adults with loved ones struggling with these issues to talk to. In addition, the program helps to find treatment, education on resources to pay for treatment, and teaches how to stay healthy through worry and stress.

SCCC is holding the New Hope program each Tuesday night in February from 6 to 7 p.m. CT at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox, free to the public.

The commissioners approved the proclamation unanimously.

North Judson Area Baseball Sign Ups at North Judson Civic Center

Saturday, Feb. 15th 10am - 12pm
Sunday, Feb. 16th 3pm-5pm
Monday, Feb. 24th 5pm-8pm

If unable to sign up by Feb. 24, there will be a $20 late fee per child. No sign ups after March 15th.

COST: $45 per child (+ must sell 5 Raffle Tickets)
$20 each add’l (+ must sell 10 Raffle Tickets)

LEAGUE AGES: 

• 4-5 T-BALL (must be 4 by May 1st)
• 6-7 ROOKIE 
• 8-9 MINORS
• 10-12 MAJORS 
• 13-15 JUNIORS

Please bring birth certificate to sign-ups.

QUESTIONS? CALL:

Eric Materna   896-2317
Jamie Bales   896-0090
Craig Benson   896-2886
Mike Wilcox   249-8615
Michele Ginder   806-0331

2/1 - 3/1/2014 NJ-WT PL Drive for CADA (Coalition Against Domestic Abuse)

North Judson Public Library is conducting their semi-annual drive for donations of non-food Items for CADA (Coalition Against Domestic Abuse) in February.

Items can be dropped off at the library any time during February.

Suggestions include:

• paper towels, 
• plastic wrap,
• foil, 
• plastic bags, 
• dish detergent, 
• laundry soap,
• dryer sheets, 
• sponges, 
• toothpaste, 
• tooth brushes,
• deodorant 
• (no shampoo needed),
• Any cash donations would be converted into store gift cards.

Thank you for your donations.

2/6/2014 TOPS Cancelled

The TOPS meeting has been cancelled for tonight, February 6, 2014.

2/5/2014 Library Closed - Again

Guess what. Yep, the North Judson-Wayne Township Library is CLOSED once again because of the weather. I think I'll have to burn my "Let It Snow" sweatshirt after this year. Hope to be back to work Thursday but we'll see.

Free Online Filing Offered for Hoosier Taxpayers

We haven't received much in the way of tax forms just yet, so you might want to check this out.

By: Ben Haut, WKVI

Published: February 4th, 2014

Close to 1 million Hoosiers will qualify to file their federal and state taxes online this tax season. Indiana Freefile offers free federal and state tax filing online to taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of $58,000 or less during 2013.

More than 119,000 taxpayers used Infreefile last year to file their taxes by visiting www.freefile.dor.in.gov. There, you can see if you qualify for INfreefile based on the vendors’ options. If they qualify, all taxpayers have to do is click the vendor of their choice and complete their tax returns online.

This year, six vendors provide an easy and secure way to file taxes online. The vendors participating in INfreefile include 1040Now, H&R Block, OLT OnLine Taxes, TaxAct, TaxSlayer and Turbo Tax.

There are many advantages to electronically filing, including faster refunds, typically less than two weeks; better security, with fewer people seeing your information; higher return or lower amount due; and better accuracy, with a 2 percent error rate versus 20 percent for paper returns.

If taxpayers have any questions specific to their return, the department encourages them to visit www.in.gov/dor/3392.htm or call (317) 232-2240.

Library Closed February 1, 2014

The North Judson-Wayne Township Library is closed today, Saturday, February 1st.  We don't want to encourage anyone to go out today.