Home Care In Kingsford Heights, IN

Friday, October 6, 2023- Elkhart County

10 a.m. – Noon ET *While supplies last.

Where: Wakarusa Missionary Church, 202 W. Waterford St., Wakarusa, IN 46573

*This is a USDA distribution and will serve 200 households.

Monday, October 9, 2023- Marshall County

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET *While supplies last.

Where: Argos United Methodist Church, 570 N. Michigan St., Argos, IN 46501

*This distribution is sponsored by Kroger with added USDA product and will serve 200 households.

Wednesday, October 11, 2023- LaPorte County

9 a.m.- 11 a.m. CT *While supplies last.

Where: Kingsford Heights Community Center, 515 Wayland Rd., Kingsford Heights, IN 46346

*This is a USDA distribution and will serve 200 households.

Friday, October 13, 2023- Kosciusko County

10 a.m. – 12p.m. ET *While supplies last.

Where: Heritage Park, 301 S. Walnut St., Etna Green, IN 46524

*This distribution is sponsored by Kroger with added USDA product and will serve 200 households.

Monday, October 16, 2023 – Marshall County

10 .a.m. – Noon ET

Where: Riverside Intermediate School, 905 Baker St., Plymouth, IN 46563

*This distribution is sponsored by Saint Joseph Health System and will serve 215 households.

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 – LaPorte County

10 a.m. – Noon CT *While supplies last.

Where: Marquette Mall, 201 W. US 20, Michigan City, IN 46360

*This distribution in sponsored by United Way of LaPorte County and will serve 350 households

Thursday, October 19, 2023 – Starke County

9 a.m. – 11 a.m. CT *While supplies last.

Where: Koontz Lake Missionary Church, 8044 IN-23, Walkerton, IN 46574

*This is a USDA distribution and will serve 200 households

Friday, October 20, 2023 – St. Joseph County

10 a.m. – Noon ET *While supplies last.

Where: Emmons Elementary School, 1306 S. Main St., Mishawaka, IN 46544

*This distribution is sponsored by Saint Joseph Health System and will serve 215 households.

Monday, October 23, 2023 – St. Joseph County

Noon – 2 p.m. ET *While supplies last.

Where: HealthLinc, 420 W. 4^th Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544

*This distribution is sponsored by HealthLinc and will serve 250 households.

Assorted food items offered free of charge. All items are pre-boxed and pre-bagged. First come, first served, while supplies last for those in need of food assistance. One box/bag per household.

Distributions are drive thru. Please remain in your vehicle and open your trunk to receive items. An area will be available for self-loading if your trunk does not open.

A LaPorte couple who accused teachers at the LaPorte Community school district of restraining their daughter, who has autism, with a wooden structure in 2017 reached a settlement with the district earlier this week.

In their lawsuit, Heather and Charles Castle said the staff members at Kingsford Heights Elementary School placed wooden partitions, covered with a felt-like material, around their daughter Kennedi's desk to prevent her from getting up during class.

The case was scheduled to go to trial Monday after four years of litigation, however, the two sides agreed to a settlement and asked for the case to be dismissed with the pool of jurors already present in the courthouse.

“We’re very happy with the settlement,” said Heather Castle. “Of course, the settlement is for Kennedi. It’s something no family or child should have to go through; it shouldn’t be like this.”

Corbin Fowler, an attorney representing the Castles, declined to provide the Tribune with the terms of the settlement, saying the agreement prevented him from disclosing the information.

Fowler said the settlement came about at the last minute because his clients had to "prove to them that we had a good case."

"I think the closer we got to trial, the more they got to realize that they were in fact wrong and a jury was likely to agree with us," Fowler said, noting that the settlement does not require LaPorte Community Schools to admit wrongdoing.

The Castles are receiving a payout from the district that will go toward paying for “services Kennedi needs moving forward,” Heather Castle said.

The settlement agreement does not stipulate the district make any specific policy changes regarding instruction for students with disabilities, but Kennedi’s family hopes the case will lead to changes.

“We hope this case helps other children. They learned what not to do,” Heather Castle said.

A spokeswoman for the LaPorte County School District did respond to multiple requests for comment on the settlement.

Kevin Vanderground, an attorney who represents the school district, said Thursday the district still denies the Castles' allegations that their daughter was ever restrained.

The lawsuit, filed in 2018, alleged that Kennedi's parents noticed she started having nightmares and hated to wear a seatbelt or participate in any structured activities, the lawsuit said. They also noticed some small abrasions around her midsection.

Kennedi was 7 at the time and cannot effectively communicate her thoughts due to her disability, the lawsuit said.

A week after the change in Kennedi’s behavior, William Castle slipped past the principal and went to Kennedi’s classroom. When he got there, he found a desk with Kennedi's name on it. Underneath the seat was a raised wooden platform, and the desk top had boards forming partitions on two sides.

William Castle also saw a belt on the desk, presumably used to strap Kennedi into the chair to restrict her movement, the complaint says.

The Castles' complaint says teachers working with Kennedi confined the girl to the “restraint chair” for extended periods of time over more than five days.

Indiana law allows school staff members to restrict a child's movement only as a last resort in response to “an immediate risk of injury,” or if the child's parents agreed beforehand to such measures.

Schools should only restrain a child for a short period of time, according to state guidelines, and restraint should not be used routinely to address behavioral problems, such as students being disrespectful or leaving their seats.

State code also requires schools to inform parents when restraint is used on their child.

After William Castle discovered the desk, he and his wife met with school administrators and Kennedi’s teachers who apologized for failing to inform the parents. However, they denied they had harmed Kennedi, saying the teacher had acted in Kennedi's best interest, the Castles previously told the Tribune.

The Castles have since moved to Valparaiso and currently homeschool Kennedi, who is now 11.

Lawmakers and educators around the country have placed increasing scrutiny on the use of restraint and seclusion. In 2012, students were subjected to physical restraint or seclusion at least 267,000 times around the country, according to federal data examined by ProPublica, a journalism nonprofit. Those cases included tactics such as handcuffs, duct tape and isolation rooms.

In 2013, the Indiana General Assembly created the Commission on Seclusion and Restraint in Schools, which drafted the model policies for local schools. Lawmakers required school corporations to create their own policies to follow the state guidelines, and to track and report to the state their annual uses of restraint and seclusion.

In the 2016-2017 school year, LaPorte Community Schools reported six uses of restraint and no uses of seclusion, according to state data.

Email Marek Mazurek at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @marek_mazurek

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana will distribute free frozen turkeys to households in need at 29 sites across six counties in the coming weeks. They are provided thanks to WNDU-TV’s "Turkeys on the Table Challenge."

The turkeys will be given out via drive-thru at the following locations, one per household, while supplies last:

? 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 8 at Kosciusko County Fairgrounds, 1400 E. Smith St., Warsaw.

? 1 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at Gospel Hill Church, 303 S. Jefferson, Sliver Lake, Ind.

? 9 to 11 a.m. CST Nov. 8 at Marquette Mall, 201 W. U.S. 20, Michigan City.

? 1 to 2:30 p.m. CST Nov. 8 at LaPorte Civic Auditorium, 1001 Ridge St., LaPorte.

? 9 to 10:30 a.m. CST Nov. 9 at Knox United Methodist Church, 201 S. Shield St., Knox.

? 10 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 9 at Argos United Methodist Church, 570 N. Michigan St., Argos.

? 1 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at Bourbon Helping Hands, 204 N. Washington St., Bourbon.

? 10 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 10 at Helping Hands, 10072 W. 600 South, Mentone, Ind.

? 1 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at Leesburg Grace Brethren Church, 101 W. School St., Leesburg, Ind.

? 9 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 10 at Twin Branch Bible Church, 3807 Vistula Road, Mishawaka.

? Noon to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at North Liberty Church of Christ, 65225 Indiana 23, North Liberty.

? 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, 702 Chapin St., South Bend.

? 2:30 to 4 p.m. Nov. 13 at Hawthorne Elementary School, 501 Lusher Ave., Elkhart.

? 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 13 at Maple City Chapel, 2015 Lincolnway E., Goshen.

? 10 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 13 at The HUB (formerly Bristol Community Food Pantry), 101 W. Vistula St., Bristol.

? 1 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at Wakarusa Missionary Church, 202 W. Waterford St., Wakarusa.

? 10 to 11:30 a.m. CST Nov. 14 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 810 W. Talmer Ave., North Judson.

? 1 to 2:30 p.m. CST Nov. 14 at Kingsford Heights Community Center, 515 Wayland Road, Kingsford Heights, Ind.

? 10 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 15 at Jane’s Park Playground, 600 Woodies Lane, Bremen.

? 1 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at Plymouth Parks, 1660 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.

? 10 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 15 at Shepherd’s Cove Food Pantry, 1010 E. Mishawaka Ave., Elkhart.

? 1 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at Mary Beck Elementary School, 818 McDonald St., Elkhart.

? 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 16 at Ozark Pawn, 1006 S. Merrifield Ave., Mishawaka.

? 12:30 to 2 p.m. Nov. 16 at Walker Field Park, 2198 S. Walnut St., South Bend.

? 10 to 11:30 a.m. CST Nov. 16 at LaPorte County Fairgrounds, 2581 W. Indiana 2, LaPorte.

? 1 to 2:30 p.m. CST Nov. 16 at Community Food Pantry of Galena, Hudson, Kankakee, and Wills Township, 3444 E. U.S. 20-350 East, Rolling Prairie.

? 9 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 17 at Former Bargain Lane parking lot, 1302 Elwood Ave., South Bend.

? 10 to 11:30 a.m. CST Nov. 17 at H.O.P.E. Building, 222 McClelland Ave., Michigan City.

? 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 20 at Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium, 501 W. South St., South Bend.

This is a drive-through distribution of pre-boxed and pre-bagged items.

The boxes are free and will be distributed first come, first served.

Friday, December 2, 2022 – Marshall County – Produce Box Distribution

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET *While supplies last.

WHERE: Bourbon Helping Hands/First United Methodist Church, 204 N. Washington St., Bourbon, IN 46504

*This distribution is sponsored by KeyBank and will serve 300 households.

Monday, December 5, 2022 – Elkhart County

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET *While supplies last.

WHERE: Excel Center, 2626 Prairie St., Elkhart, IN 46517

*This distribution is sponsored by Kroger and will serve 300 households.

Wednesday, December 7, 2022 – LaPorte County

10 a.m. – Noon CT *While supplies last.

WHERE: Marquette Mall, 201 W. U.S. 20, Michigan City, IN 46360

*This distribution is sponsored by Kroger and will serve 300 households.

Thursday, December 8, 2022 – St. Joseph County

2 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET *While supplies last.

WHERE: Ivy Tech Community College, 220 Dean Johnson Blvd., South Bend, IN 46601

*This distribution is sponsored by Saint Joseph Health System and will serve 300 households.

Friday, December 9, 2022 – St. Joseph County

10 a.m. – Noon ET *While supplies last.

WHERE: Ozark Pawn, 1006 Merrifield St., Mishawaka, IN 46545

*This distribution is sponsored by the City of Mishawaka and will serve 300 households.

Monday, December 12, 2022 – Elkhart County – Turkey Distribution

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET *While supplies last.

WHERE: Shepherd’s Cove Food Pantry, 1010 E. Mishawaka Rd., Elkhart, IN 46517

*This distribution is provided by Beacon Health System and will provide turkeys for 263 households.

Tuesday, December 13, 2022 – Starke County

9 a.m. – 11 a.m. CT *While supplies last.

WHERE: Knox United Methodist Church, 201 S. Shield St., Knox, IN 46534

*This is a USDA distribution and will serve 250 households.

Wednesday, December 14, 2022 – LaPorte County – Turkey Distribution

Noon – 2 p.m. CT *While supplies last.

WHERE: Kingsford Heights Community Center, 515 Wayland Rd., Kingsford Heights, IN 46346

*This distribution is provided by Beacon Health System and will provide turkeys for 263 households.

Friday, December 16, 2022 – St. Joseph County

1 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET *While supplies last.

WHERE: Bargain Lane, 1302 Elwood Ave., South Bend, IN 46616

*This distribution is sponsored by CVS and will serve 250 households.

Monday, December 19, 2022 – Elkhart County

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET *While supplies last.

WHERE: Maple City Chapel, 2015 Lincoln Way E., Goshen, IN 46526

*This distribution is sponsored by The City of Goshen and will serve 200 households.

Wednesday, December 21, 2022 – Marshall County

10 a.m. – Noon ET *While supplies last.

WHERE: The Pines, 1820 W. Plymouth St., Bremen, IN 46506

*This distribution is provided by Beacon Health System and will provide turkeys for 263 households.

This will be a drive-thru distribution. Please remain in your vehicle and pop open your trunk to receive your items. An area will be available to load items if your trunk does not open.

WEST BRANCH - The Ogemaw Heights Falcons saw their season come a close in heart-breaking fashion on Saturday afternoon, falling to Kingsford 19-14 in a division five district final.

The Falcons led nearly the entire game, but Kingsford kept things close, and after getting a turnover on downs with a minute and a half to play in the fourth, the Flivvers needed just two plays to take the lead, as Nic Novara found Jack Kriegl behind the defense for a 50-yard go-ahead touchdown with 1:05 to play that would prove to be the game-winning play.

Ogemaw Heights got on the board first late in the first quarter with a 61-yard touchdown pass from Xander Kartes to Nolan Hines. That would be the only points of the first half, as the Falcons took a 7-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Kingsford got on the board on the second snap of the third quarter, on a long touchdown run by Elizin Rouse. The Falcons would block the point-after attempt to hold a slim 7-6 lead.

Ogemaw Heights answered by marching right down the field and punching it in on a 2-yard TD run by Kartes to give the Falcons a 14-6 advantage.

Kingsford would start a drive late in the third quarter, and on the first snap of the fourth quarter, Nic Novara, who sat out much of the first half due to injury, found Cardel Morton with a beautiful pitch-and-catch at the back of the end zone to pull the Flivvers within two points. The two-point conversion attempt was stuffed by the Falcons defense to make it a 14-12 game.

After the teams traded punts, Ogemaw Heights got the ball midway through the fourth quarter, and marched into the Kingsford red zone while working on killing the clock. But, with 1:21 to play, Kingsford stuffed an Ogemaw Heights run on fourth and three for a turnover on downs. Novara quickly completed a 31-yard pass to get the Flivvers out to midfield and set up the heroics by Kriegl.

Ogemaw Heights got to their own 45-yard line with less than a minute to play, but threw three incomplete passes, followed by a sack on fourth down to clinch the win for the visitors.

Kingsford (10-1) advances to face Frankenmuth on the road next week in a regional final, while Ogemaw Heights finishes their season with a 9-2 overall record.