There is a collection of containers belonging to our cookie bakers – some with names, some without – that can be picked up at the library at their convenience. If you would like to be a member of the North Judson-Wayne Township Friends of the Library contact us by either calling 574-896-2841 or emailing us at lib.norjud@gmail.com.
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Thank You For a Successful Cookie Walk!
THANK YOU! Thank You! Thank you to everyone who baked for our Friends of the Library Cookie Walk on Saturday, those who manned the table at Bailey’s, to Bailey’s Discount for allowing us to set up in their store, and to those who bought cookies! As usual it was a great success and the money made ($500) will be used for children’s programming in the year to come. Hope those delicious cookies made it home safely. When we closed up shop this year there were only two boxes left and they were quickly snapped up.
There is a collection of containers belonging to our cookie bakers – some with names, some without – that can be picked up at the library at their convenience. If you would like to be a member of the North Judson-Wayne Township Friends of the Library contact us by either calling 574-896-2841 or emailing us at lib.norjud@gmail.com.
There is a collection of containers belonging to our cookie bakers – some with names, some without – that can be picked up at the library at their convenience. If you would like to be a member of the North Judson-Wayne Township Friends of the Library contact us by either calling 574-896-2841 or emailing us at lib.norjud@gmail.com.
Starke County Council to Cut 2019 Budget
Posted on November 20, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Starke County officials will need to push the pencil to the paper to come up with about $838,000 in cuts to the 2019 budget as mandated from the state.
County department heads were notified of the 11 percent budget cut and were asked to make suggestions on where to cut the budget, but no replies were received by the auditor, county council members or commissioners.
Auditor Kay Chaffins was able to shift some money around in the Jail CEDIT fund and the regular CEDIT fund to help with the cuts. Another aspect that is helping with the budget situation is that the employee insurance quote for 2019 was much lower so the county realized about a $100,000 savings there.
The council members stressed that they would like to keep the three percent raise for employees in the budget, which is about $91,000. In order to do that, a minimum six percent reduction in each budget will help preserve that incentive.
After much discussion on the matter, the county council members unanimously voted to require the department heads to cut six percent out of their budgets or the council members will need to do the reductions.
The reduction information will need to be submitted prior to the council’s next regular meeting in December. The budget needs to be finalized by the end of the year.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
Starke County officials will need to push the pencil to the paper to come up with about $838,000 in cuts to the 2019 budget as mandated from the state.
County department heads were notified of the 11 percent budget cut and were asked to make suggestions on where to cut the budget, but no replies were received by the auditor, county council members or commissioners.
Auditor Kay Chaffins was able to shift some money around in the Jail CEDIT fund and the regular CEDIT fund to help with the cuts. Another aspect that is helping with the budget situation is that the employee insurance quote for 2019 was much lower so the county realized about a $100,000 savings there.
The council members stressed that they would like to keep the three percent raise for employees in the budget, which is about $91,000. In order to do that, a minimum six percent reduction in each budget will help preserve that incentive.
After much discussion on the matter, the county council members unanimously voted to require the department heads to cut six percent out of their budgets or the council members will need to do the reductions.
The reduction information will need to be submitted prior to the council’s next regular meeting in December. The budget needs to be finalized by the end of the year.
North Judson Town Council Approves Water Rate Adjustment
Posted on November 20, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
Residents in the Town of North Judson will see an increase on their next water bill. When the Town Council met Monday evening, Umbaugh representative Ross Hagan provided members and meeting attendees with the finalized figures for a water rate adjustment.
He stated that an 18.3 percent increase is required to help cover the cost of a required waterworks project. Hagan noted, “Currently your residents are paying for $26.05 for a 4,000-gallon bill, that’s going to be $30.70 now on an average monthly bill.”
Some of the major elements of the project, such as the rehabilitation of the water towers and the installation of a backup generator at the water plant, will bring the town into compliance with mandated standards from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). In other words, these are not cosmetic fixes but necessary upgrades that are required by the state.
When this rate adjustment was introduced to the council last month, they were told it would be about a 15 percent increase based on engineer’s estimates. However, after the only viable project bid came in about $250,000 over budget, it required the adjustment to be increased to cover the additional commitment. Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann noted that two other bids came in but since they were received after the deadline they could not be opened.
While discussing the matter, Council members noted that they’d like to speak with Vince Sommers from Common Wealth Engineers to discuss the bidding process and the large difference between the engineer’s estimate and the actual price of the contractor’s bid.
Councilwoman Jane-Ellen Felchuck asked if the project could be re-bid to see if any other contractors could provide a lower cost. She was informed that in order to stick to the schedule that will allow the Town to secure the required SRF Loan needed to fund this project, they would not have enough time to start the bidding process over again.
Hagan added that if they were to scrap this path and try re-bid the project on their own, they’d face even higher interest rates in the open market and would run the risk of not being eligible for loans from the State Revolving Fund down the line.
When asked if another rate increase will be required in the near future Hagan noted that, barring any major unforeseen expenditures popping up, this increase should suffice since it takes into account long-term maintenance and operation costs related to the project.
While council members were anticipating a lower rate adjustment, they recognized that they’ve already committed to the SRF Loan and realized the necessity of the increase as demonstrated in the rate study conducted by Umbaugh.
Much to their chagrin, members approved the ordinance amending the waterworks schedule of rates and charges. The ordinance went into effect immediately after adoption, meaning the new rate will be reflected on the next water bills.
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
Residents in the Town of North Judson will see an increase on their next water bill. When the Town Council met Monday evening, Umbaugh representative Ross Hagan provided members and meeting attendees with the finalized figures for a water rate adjustment.
He stated that an 18.3 percent increase is required to help cover the cost of a required waterworks project. Hagan noted, “Currently your residents are paying for $26.05 for a 4,000-gallon bill, that’s going to be $30.70 now on an average monthly bill.”
Some of the major elements of the project, such as the rehabilitation of the water towers and the installation of a backup generator at the water plant, will bring the town into compliance with mandated standards from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). In other words, these are not cosmetic fixes but necessary upgrades that are required by the state.
When this rate adjustment was introduced to the council last month, they were told it would be about a 15 percent increase based on engineer’s estimates. However, after the only viable project bid came in about $250,000 over budget, it required the adjustment to be increased to cover the additional commitment. Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann noted that two other bids came in but since they were received after the deadline they could not be opened.
While discussing the matter, Council members noted that they’d like to speak with Vince Sommers from Common Wealth Engineers to discuss the bidding process and the large difference between the engineer’s estimate and the actual price of the contractor’s bid.
Councilwoman Jane-Ellen Felchuck asked if the project could be re-bid to see if any other contractors could provide a lower cost. She was informed that in order to stick to the schedule that will allow the Town to secure the required SRF Loan needed to fund this project, they would not have enough time to start the bidding process over again.
Hagan added that if they were to scrap this path and try re-bid the project on their own, they’d face even higher interest rates in the open market and would run the risk of not being eligible for loans from the State Revolving Fund down the line.
When asked if another rate increase will be required in the near future Hagan noted that, barring any major unforeseen expenditures popping up, this increase should suffice since it takes into account long-term maintenance and operation costs related to the project.
While council members were anticipating a lower rate adjustment, they recognized that they’ve already committed to the SRF Loan and realized the necessity of the increase as demonstrated in the rate study conducted by Umbaugh.
Much to their chagrin, members approved the ordinance amending the waterworks schedule of rates and charges. The ordinance went into effect immediately after adoption, meaning the new rate will be reflected on the next water bills.
Starke County’s Unemployment Rate Climbs to 4.1 Percent, Numbers Mixed in Pulaski County
Posted on November 20, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Unemployment is up in Starke County. The county saw a 4.1-percent unemployment rate in October, according to the latest report from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. That’s up from 3.6 percent in September and 3.7 percent in October of 2017.
Meanwhile, Pulaski County’s unemployment rate is 3.1 percent. That’s an increase of three-tenths of a percent from the previous month but unchanged from the same period last year. However, the number of Pulaski County residents working is actually higher than it was in October of 2017. Pulaski County’s labor force grew over the past year, while Starke County’s shrunk slightly.
The state as a whole saw a non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.6 percent last month, while the national rate was 3.5 percent.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Unemployment is up in Starke County. The county saw a 4.1-percent unemployment rate in October, according to the latest report from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. That’s up from 3.6 percent in September and 3.7 percent in October of 2017.
Meanwhile, Pulaski County’s unemployment rate is 3.1 percent. That’s an increase of three-tenths of a percent from the previous month but unchanged from the same period last year. However, the number of Pulaski County residents working is actually higher than it was in October of 2017. Pulaski County’s labor force grew over the past year, while Starke County’s shrunk slightly.
The state as a whole saw a non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.6 percent last month, while the national rate was 3.5 percent.
Here’s How to Keep Your Recyclables from Ending up in a Landfill
Posted on November 20, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
Every day, people all over the world recycle plastic, paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, and glass. Not only can these items be repurposed for future use but the practice of recycling helps reduce our dependence on landfills.
However, if an item is wet or soiled with any kind of food, it cannot be recycled and it runs the risk of contaminating other items you hoped to recycle.
To help cut down on contaminants in local recyclables and to keep them from winding up in a landfill, Knox Mayor Dennis Estok has shared some vital information from Republic Services.
Representatives of the waste management company say to keep these three words in mind when recycling; empty, clean and dry.
Be sure that all containers are completely empty by dumping out excess liquid or food. Next, rinse out the items that can be exposed to water such as glass, plastic and aluminum. Lastly, check that all materials are absolutely dry before they make it into your container.
Residents should also be aware of what items are permissible. For instance, a lot of people don’t realize that plastic bags are not recyclable. Rather than putting your items in a bag, residents are encouraged to place them directly in their recycling bin.
Other items such as bubble wrap, pizza boxes, waxed cartons and Styrofoam cups and containers should never be placed in recycling. You can find more specific rules that Republic Services has in their Recycling Guide.
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
Every day, people all over the world recycle plastic, paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, and glass. Not only can these items be repurposed for future use but the practice of recycling helps reduce our dependence on landfills.
However, if an item is wet or soiled with any kind of food, it cannot be recycled and it runs the risk of contaminating other items you hoped to recycle.
To help cut down on contaminants in local recyclables and to keep them from winding up in a landfill, Knox Mayor Dennis Estok has shared some vital information from Republic Services.
Representatives of the waste management company say to keep these three words in mind when recycling; empty, clean and dry.
Be sure that all containers are completely empty by dumping out excess liquid or food. Next, rinse out the items that can be exposed to water such as glass, plastic and aluminum. Lastly, check that all materials are absolutely dry before they make it into your container.
Residents should also be aware of what items are permissible. For instance, a lot of people don’t realize that plastic bags are not recyclable. Rather than putting your items in a bag, residents are encouraged to place them directly in their recycling bin.
Other items such as bubble wrap, pizza boxes, waxed cartons and Styrofoam cups and containers should never be placed in recycling. You can find more specific rules that Republic Services has in their Recycling Guide.
Monday, November 19, 2018
Light Up North Judson Holiday Decorating Contest
Prizes are $125 each for the two best decorated homes. Two honorable mentions will be awarded at the judges’ discretion. (Bragging rights only.)
Entry applications are due no later than December 7, 2018 at 4pm CST at the Town Hall (310 Lane Street).
Judging will be the weekend of December 15th & 16th, 2018.
Winners will be announced at the Council Meeting on Monday, December 17, 2018.
Participants who agree to the following rules and guidelines are eligible to participate.
- Participation is open to all residences within the corporate boundaries.
- There is no entry fee but registration is required.
- Deadline to register is December 7, 2018 by 4pm CST and should be mailed or turned in to the Town Hall at 310 Lane Street.
- Town Employees and Board Members are not eligible to participate.
- The contest is for exterior decorations only, although judges will consider window decorations that are visible.
- Judging will be based on “curb appeal” as viewed from the street. Judges will not enter property to back or side yards.
- Participants must agree to have one of more photos of their decorated resident exterior to be posted on the Town’s Facebook page.
- Be Creative – Be Festive - & Have Fun!!!
11/30 Tree Lighting @ Norwayne Field
Tree decorating at Norwayne Field is underway. We currently have 1 large maple available for anyone still wanting a tree. Lighting will be on Friday, November 30, at 6 PM. 🌳
Friday, November 16, 2018
Knox High School, Oregon-Davis Elementary Earn A’s in Latest School Accountability Grades
Posted on November 16, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Three local schools saw their letter grades decline in the latest round of School Accountability Grades. Knox Middle School and West Central Elementary School both got a D for the 2017-2018 school year, down from a C the year before. North Judson-San Pierre Elementary dropped from a B to a C.
The biggest increase in the local area was at Oregon-Davis Elementary School, which jumped from a C to an A. Meanwhile, Winamac Middle School and Culver Community Middle/High School both improved from a C to a B.
All other schools in Starke and Pulaski counties saw their letter grades stay the same. Knox was the only high school in the area to earn an A.
In the corporation-level accountability grades, North Judson-San Pierre declined from a B to a C, while Culver Community Schools did the opposite. The Knox and Eastern Pulaski community school corporations kept their B grades, while Oregon-Davis and West Central remained at a C.
The 2017-2018 School Accountability Grades were released this week by the Indiana Department of Education. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick said in a statement that the “grades are an indication of the great education Indiana students are receiving,” and that the state’s work is paying off.
A complete list of School Accountability Grades for 2017-2018 can be found on the Indiana Department of Education’s website.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Three local schools saw their letter grades decline in the latest round of School Accountability Grades. Knox Middle School and West Central Elementary School both got a D for the 2017-2018 school year, down from a C the year before. North Judson-San Pierre Elementary dropped from a B to a C.
The biggest increase in the local area was at Oregon-Davis Elementary School, which jumped from a C to an A. Meanwhile, Winamac Middle School and Culver Community Middle/High School both improved from a C to a B.
All other schools in Starke and Pulaski counties saw their letter grades stay the same. Knox was the only high school in the area to earn an A.
In the corporation-level accountability grades, North Judson-San Pierre declined from a B to a C, while Culver Community Schools did the opposite. The Knox and Eastern Pulaski community school corporations kept their B grades, while Oregon-Davis and West Central remained at a C.
The 2017-2018 School Accountability Grades were released this week by the Indiana Department of Education. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick said in a statement that the “grades are an indication of the great education Indiana students are receiving,” and that the state’s work is paying off.
A complete list of School Accountability Grades for 2017-2018 can be found on the Indiana Department of Education’s website.
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