Stories from Friday, February 25, 2005

Linton-Stockton Junior High and the entire White River Valley School Corporation were recently presented with a "Top Gainer" award recognizing improved Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus (ISTEP+) scores. The award was based on ISTEP+ results from 2002-04, and only 30 schools in the entire state received the award...

WRV sectional tickets on sale through Monday Anyone who is interested in attending the White River Valley Class A boys sectional can purchase tickets through Monday, February 28 at each participating school. The cost of the tickets will be $9.00 for the four sessions season pass. ...

HUNTINGBURG ---- The Bloomfield Lady Cardinals got a small taste of what life will be like come Saturday afternoon when they travel to Huntingburg to face Northeast Dubois for the right to play in the Class A girls state basketball championship game in Indianapolis...

CLAY CITY ---- Imogene "Jean" Jenkins Royer, 76, of Clay City, passed away at 10:33 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005 at her home. Born Nov. 18, 1928 in Worthington, she was the daughter of Manuel and Goldie (Miller) Jenkins. On Jan. 19, 1947, she married Richard L. Royer...

Both pieces of federal legislation, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and "No Child Left Behind," encourage integrated preschools. For the past two years, Patti Weinheimer, Preschool Coordinator for the Greene-Sullivan Special Education Cooperative has been working with Open Arms Christian Daycare Academy in an effort to provide an integrated preschool for the Bloomfield and White River Valley school districts...

Greene County United Way through 4community has been successful in receiving a Lilly Endowment Grant in the amount of $28,000. Partnering with businesses and towns for a 1:1 match, Kerry Conway, director of Greene County Foundation, announced at the Wednesday meeting that the total county improvement project amounts to $57,000...

Higher property tax rates for the Bloomfield School District have been certified by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, the board of school trustees learned Thursday night. The year 2005 rate is up about 13 cents per $100 of assessed valuation over the 2004 rate, according to a report presented by superintendent Ron Hasler. A total rate of $1.8666 was certified for this year. That compares with a $1.7316 rate in 2004...

The Linton Police Department recently participated in a statewide blitz to increase awareness of child restraint and safety belt laws. "We went out into the community to make sure people understand that Indiana's law is going to be changing in a few months," said LPD Chief Keith McDonald. "At the same time, we were able to reinforce the state's existing safety belt laws by issuing tickets to drivers and passengers who were not buckled up."...

A White River Valley-Lyons Elementary/Junior High teacher is working hard to offer yet another option for students when it comes to music. Virgil Franklin, a music teacher at WRV-Lyons, is working closely with Ken Smith of the Indiana University School of Music at Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) and the International Bluegrass Music Association to offer a bluegrass program to students at Lyons...

A Bloomfield High School student has been recognized among the state's elite for work she has done in the medical careers program at Twin Rivers Vocational Cooperative Program. Shelby Neeley was selected as one of nine students in the state to receive "Outstanding Student" designation from the Indiana State Department of Education in connection with the Careers and Technical Division and Department of Workforce Development...

EASTERN HEIGHTS ---- More than 670 Eastern Greene Elementary and Pre-school students got to experience a touch of farm life hands-on Thursday as part of the school's observance of National FFA Week. The Eastern FFA chapter sponsored an educational Farm Day program for the students that was complete with a small herd of petting zoo livestock that included donkeys, calves, goats, pigs, lambs, ducks, chickens ---- even a couple of dogs...

WORTHINGTON ---- The Worthington Town Council, sans one member, met Thursday night to vote on an administrator for a $300,000 housing rehabilitation grant the town received. Seven businesses were contacted by the council and asked to submit an application, but only Southern Indiana Development Commission responded, submitting a comprehensive packet of information explaining their services and outlining a work schedule. ...

Although the girls basketball season is not over for one area team, coaches met recently to select the 12 players for the 2005 All-SouthWestern Indiana Athletic Conference team. The Bloomfield Cardinals, who finished second in the SWIAC, placed the most players on the All-SWIAC team with three players...