Operation Quiet Comfort Prepares to Spread Holiday Cheer

Christmas stocking care packages will be sent to military members serving overseas this year thanks to Operation Quiet Comfort of Marshall County. They are asking for $10 donations to fill stockings with a beef stick, granola bar, hand and toe warmers, a pair of white socks, assorted seasonal goodies and special written holiday cards from members of the nonprofit organization. Continue reading

Ancilla College and Local Businesses Team up for Student Internships

Ancilla College is offering students hands on training and real life experience internship opportunities with local businesses like Jimmy John Shark. Students will have the chance to go out and work in positions they are interested in to see if they like it. Ancilla College Professor Kristin Korcha says the college is taking the right steps to help students figure out their career path.

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Humane Society Director Offers Halloween Pet Safety Tips

Tonight’s Halloween trick-or-treating raises safety concerns for homeowners with pets. Starke County Humane Society Director Shanna Lloyd says trick-or-treating is fun for the kids but can be dangerous for your pets.

“Our pets unfortunately get very frightened not only by the noise but by the costumes and when the door is opened long enough for your dog or your cat to escape then they are surrounded by kids they don’t know. So they will go and they’ll run and they’ll hide. They’ll get up under vehicles. They’ll go into sheds and unfortunately sometimes they run so far away from home you may not be able to find them again,” said Lloyd

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Halloween Safety Tips for Parents

With Halloween trick-or-treating tomorrow evening, parents are urged to consider safety tips before children leave the house.

Keep costumes short to prevent children from tripping and falling. Add reflective tape to dark costumes to keep children visible at night. Children are encouraged to wear make-up instead of wearing a mask for better safety.

Children should stop at familiar homes and remind them to not enter a stranger’s home or car. Only trick-or-treat at homes will outdoor lights illuminated. If they will be out after dark, give them a flashlight and suggest they travel in well-lit areas.

Children should not eat candy until parents inspect each piece.

Motorists are reminded they should do their part to make Halloween safe for children. Drive cautiously and below the speed limit while in town during trick-or-treat hours. Excited children may dart out into traffic at any time. Turn on your headlights even during the daylight hours so your vehicle is more visible to children.

Overseas Military to Receive Holiday Gifts

Christmas stocking care packages will be sent to soldiers overseas this year thanks to Operation Quiet Comfort of Marshall County. You can assist in the effort by making a donation to help fill a stocking. With your donation each stocking is filled with a beef stick, granola bar, hand and toe warmers, a pair of white socks, assorted seasonal goodies and special written holiday cards from members of Operation Quiet Comfort. If you are interested in donating visit admin@operationquietcomfort.com.

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Culver Fire Department Getting New Fire Truck

The Culver Fire Department will be getting a new squad truck to start off the new year. Every five years the fire department sells the oldest vehicle in their fleet and purchases a new one. The new truck is expected to be just over $300,000. The town will pay $151,455 out of the General Fund while the fire department has plans to set $20,000 aside for each of the next five years to pay that back. The township will pay the remaining balance of the new truck. Culver Fire Chief Terry Wakefield explains the payment assistance from the town and the township .

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WKVI to Air Live Election Results

In less than a week voters will go to the polls for the general election. WKVI will provide live anchored coverage of election returns on Tuesday, Nov. 4th. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. local time. Results and complete coverage will begin after the news at 5 p.m. CT. WKVI reporters will be in Starke and Pulaski counties to gather information and interviews with candidates. Election results will also be given from Marshall County.

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Ancilla College Offers Free Tuition to Valedictorians and Salutatorians

Ancilla College is rewarding high school students who finish at the top of their class. Beginning in 2015, Ancilla College will be offering full tuition scholarships to the top high school graduates from schools in 10 north-central Indiana counties. Ancilla’s Val-Sal Scholarship offers free full-time tuition, as much as $13,500 each year, to local graduates who attend Ancilla.

Local salutatorians, traditionally students who graduate second in their class, will be offered up to $10,000 in free tuition. Ancilla College Professor Kristin Korcha says starting your college career at Ancilla can be very beneficial.

“To stay local and to really start your education here with us is just fantastic. Having worked in this community for over ten years in teaching I see firsthand how important it is to really get to know your professors, small class sizes, you can commute and save money from having the tuition and then also being able to have the chance to save up so that when you get ready for your four year school you can just transfer there,” said Korcha.

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Culver Community Schools Applies for State Grant

The Culver Community School Corporation is seeking a $52,747 grant from the state for retention incentives for highly effective teachers. The purpose of the state grant is to increase the academic achievement of all students by helping schools and districts improve teacher and principal quality and effectiveness. Evaluations of the teachers determine who receives part of the grant as a bonus. Director of Operations Chuck Kitchell says if the grant is received, a portion of the grant will be set aside.

“About $6,000 of that money we would like to set aside to help with professional development activities for our teachers,” said Kitchell.

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Marshall County Museum and Weidner School of Inquiry Honor Local Veterans

The Marshall County Museum and the Weidner School of Inquiry recently teamed up to digitally record stories of World War II veterans. The Museum staff contacted nearly 40 known veterans and high school students to schedule face to face interviews. The students generated questions from researching the era and videotaped the conversations. A composite DVD of the interviews was produced by the students to give to each interviewee and to also become part of the Museum’s military exhibit. Executive Director Linda Rippy says the students got into the project and bonded really well with the veterans.

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Balanced Calendar Public Forum Set for Culver Community Schools

Culver Community Schools will host a public forum on Nov. 3rd at 6 p.m. ET to discuss the pros and cons of a balanced calendar. Rochester School Corporation Superintendent Janna Vance, plus a principal and a teacher from the school will be at the Culver High School auditorium to talk about the balanced schedule.

The board will then meet afterward to decide whether or not to switch to balanced calendar.

A balanced calendar still provides the state-mandated 180 days of classroom instruction. School would start about a week or a week-and-a-half earlier than it does now and end at the beginning of June. The schedule would also feature two-week breaks for remediation and vacation in the fall and spring.