NJSP Schools Seeking K-12 AdvancED Accreditation

North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson

The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation is currently undergoing the process of K-12 accreditation through AdvancED, which Superintendent Lynn Johnson said is a very lengthy ordeal. She explained that prior to this, each school was individually accredited; however, because the corporation contains three schools, the corporation decided to go with K-12 accreditation.

“We decided to go through K-12 accreditation, so it really helps align the whole process as far as our curriculum instruction. So we went through the process of making sure that the conditions were ready that we could meet the criteria through AdvancED and become a candidate for accreditation,” said Johnson. “It’s a good process; it’s a huge learning process.”

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Oregon-Davis School Holding Food and Coat Drive

Oregon-Davis Jr./Sr. High School

A food drive and a coat drive is underway at the Oregon-Davis School Corporation.

O-D schools, along with the student council, will be collecting non-perishable food items and toiletries for families in need. You may drop off your donation of canned items, toothpaste, laundry detergent, shampoo and a host of other items in the schools during the school day or when you attend an evening school event.

Gently used or new coats will also be collected during this effort.

Collections will continue until Dec. 14. Boxes will be distributed before Christmas break.

Knox School Board Receives Vietnam Memorabilia

Andy Howes' senior picture

The Knox Community School Board graciously accepted a donation of memorabilia from the family of a Knox High School student who was killed in action in the Vietnam War. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the presentation was done during the Spotlight on Success portion of the meeting last week.

“Mr. Bendicsen, the Assistant Principal at the high school, brought in some recent donations from Anne Howes, the sister-in-law of Andy Howes. Andy Howes was a 1968 graduate of Knox High School and he was missing in action in Vietnam. It was recently determined that Howes died in Vietnam. His remains were brought to the states just last year. They found a picture of Andy in uniform and had it framed. Also, a pencil sketching of his name on the Vietnam Wall Memorial in Washington, D.C. and proclamations from the City of Knox and the U.S. Congress were given to the school.”

The items will be put on display.

Hensler’s Christmas Fest Parade Held Saturday

Santa made an appearance during the Christmas Fest Parade at Hensler's Nursery!
Hensler’s Tree Nursery in Hamlet was filled with excited children and parents as they continued their Christmas Fest on Saturday. WKVI was on the scene broadcasting live as Santa and Mrs. Claus rolled in with the local fire departments from Center and Oregon Townships and the Davis-Hamlet Fire Department.

Visitors were invited to shop the Christmas Barn and check out the wreath crib and greenhouse, and snacks and drinks were provided at the event as well. As an additional treat, the Knox High School Jazz Band performed for the festival as well.

Kids queued up to have their picture taken with Santa and families from all around picked out trees for the ever-nearing Christmas holiday. A slideshow with highlights from the event is below!

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Starke County Prosecutor Wants To Reimburse Deputy For Extra Work

Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff and Deputy Prosecutor Autumn Ferch

Starke County Prosecutor Nick Bourff approached the Starke County Commissioners at their meeting this week to request reimbursement for his deputy who has been undertaking an extra workload.

Bourff explained that his office has had since 2009 a part-time deputy, funded by grant money, to handle domestic abuse work. Unfortunately, that part-time deputy has since decided to leave the department, and though Bourff has been advertising the position, he needs someone to handle the work in the meantime.

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Marshall County Highway Dept To Upgrade Radio System

Upgrades are in the works for the Marshall County Highway Department, as the county commissioners approved a request to spend money from the Highway Department budget on a new radio communications system.

Highway Superintendent Neal Haeck explained that they previously had several old radios that were nearly useless. Roughly two-thirds of the radios were obsolete several years ago, and the problem has only worsened since then.

The cost for a new system consisting of 35 radios, tower equipment, and a service contract came out to slightly more than $68,000, and the agreement features a GPS tracking system for department vehicles. Haeck said he has been looking forward to this upgrade for several years.

The commissioners approved his request and he expects the equipment to arrive soon.

North Judson Town Board Discusses Cemetery, Salary Ordinances

The North Judson Town Board this week discussed a number of ordinances, including the cemetery rules and regulations ordinance that had previously been reviewed by Town Attorney Cassandra Hein.

Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained that the board had approved a number of small changes to the ordinance as per Hein’s recommendations, and added a section to the ordinance as well. The first and second readings will be held at their next meeting on Dec. 3.

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Knox School Board Approves Book Fair

Superintendent A.J. Gappa

Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa reported that the school board approved the request to hold the Scholastic Book Fair at the elementary school.

“The Scholastic Book Fair will run Dec. 5–13 during the school day also during the evenings during the elementary Christmas programs,” said Gappa. “Proceeds from the book fair will be used for the student activity fund.”

Week in Review for Nov. 19-23, 2012

David Hollinger of Walkerton died Thursday, November 15 after his car was struck by a train in the Walkerton area. A police investigation found that Hollinger had went around the “road closed” barricades on the tracks that are under construction. He attempted to pass, but got stuck between the rails and was struck by an oncoming train. He was killed upon impact but no other injuries were reported at the scene.  Continue reading

North Judson Man Arrested For Alleged Battery

Formal charges are pending against a North Judson man who allegedly was involved in a domestic battery issue Sunday.

North Judson police responded to a call of a domestic dispute in the 300 block of Franklin Avenue. A woman called police to say she was battered by her husband, Jeffrey Jacobs, in front of a child. She called 911 to report the incident but he took the phone from her and hid.

After an initial investigation by North Judson Police and with the assistance from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and the Knox City Police Department, Jacobs was located and taken into custody. He was arrested on preliminary charges of Domestic Battery, Resisting Law Enforcement and Interfering with the Reporting of a Crime. He was booked in the Starke County Jail.

Starke County Council Approves Sheriff’s Request For Second New Vehicle

Sheriff Oscar Cowen
Sheriff Oscar Cowen

Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen gets to go car shopping, as the county council this week approved his request to purchase a second new squad car.

The council had previously heard a request from Cowen for three new squad cars before the end of the year, but the council decided to approve the first vehicle and see where they’d be budget-wise toward the end of the year. Since then, Cowen said he has received the first car, but now he’s back to see about getting the second.

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Two Locals Sentenced To Prison In U.S. District Court

Two area residents were sentenced in U.S. District Court this week.

Jason Buzzard, 34 of Plymouth, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison and four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to charges of Conspiracy to Manufacture Methamphetamine. This case was the result of an investigation of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Indiana State Police, the Plymouth Police Department and the MSOS.

Oscar Ruelas-Sandoval, 26 of LaPorte, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in federal prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to charges of Distribution of Cocaine, Distribution of Marijuana and Possession of a Firearm in the Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.

Pulaski County Commissioners Take Bids Under Advisement

Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

Two bids for Pulaski County repair work were taken under advisement by the county commissioners this week in light of complications that had developed after awarding a contract for masonry work for the courthouse bell tower.

The commissioners had requested bids for concrete work to be performed at the county annex building as well as an upgrade to the air conditioning unit in the circuit court. Two sealed bids were presented by Maintenance Director Morry DeMarco for each project, including bids by Mau & Son for $4475 and DK & Sons for $18,469.25 for the concrete work at the annex building.

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Knox School Board Receives Action Plan Update

Superintendent A.J. Gappa

Knox Community School Corporation Director of Curriculum and Instruction Peggy Shidaker and the assistant principals from all three schools provided the school board with information on the action plans implemented at the beginning of the year.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa said discussion was held concerning the results of the Fall NWEA test that was given to students in grades K-8.

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NJSP School Board Approves New Evaluation Plan

North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board this week approved the new teacher evaluation plan for the current school year. Superintendent Lynn Johnson explained that they had been previously evaluating certified staff members “per negotiation,” which she explained separated the teachers into three categories: semi-permanent, tenured, and newly-hired.

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Hensler’s Nursery Participates in Trees for Troops Program

Hensler’s Nursery was one of five Indiana Tree Farms that participated in the Trees for Troops program this week.

Volunteers collected, prepared and loaded hundreds of donated trees onto FedEx trucks that will be delivered to bases in Kuwait and Afghanistan. The effort was completed at Dull’s Tree Farm in Thorntown.

The Trees for Troops program is part of FedEx Special Delivery, a nationwide program that provides transportation and logistical assistance for community and non-profit organizations. This year over 18,000 trees will be delivered to more than 60 military bases in the U.S. and overseas.

Christmas Programs Planned Throughout Area

Front – Kathy Overmyer, Brian Liechty, Julie Scott, Jason Basemore, Laura Snipes 2nd row – Becky Liechty, Andrea Mallory, Betty Martens (keyboardist), Sharon Coffey 3rd row - Gregg Underwood, Beth Webster (director), Matt Sutton Back row – Joy Ritenour, Dan Adams, Charlie Weaver, Judy Patton, Brandt Ayoub

Several community Christmas programs are scheduled for this area that features that talent of many local residents.

The Community Choir will present the 15th Annual Christmas Cantata on Sunday, Dec. 9 with two performances at 2 and 6 p.m. CT at the Knox United Methodist Church. The program is “All is Calm, All is Bright,” which is directed by Brian Liechty and Nan Folkers.

The Maxinkuckee Singers will also be performing several shows in the area. “The Maxinkuckee Singers’ Christmas Spectacular,” under the direction of Beth Webster, will feature several standard Christmas favorites and contemporary numbers as well as comedy routines. You never know what to expect during their show! The Singers will perform Dec. 3 at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Rochester, Dec. 6 at the Argos United Methodist Church, Dec. 10 at the Bremen United Methodist Church, Dec. 12 at the First United Church of Christ in Plymouth and Dec. 17 at the Knox United Methodist Church in Knox. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. ET, or 6:30 p.m. CT for the Knox show.