Organization needs matching grant

A local service that has been helping prenatal mothers and young mothers in Jay, Blackford and Randolph counties will now have to come up with a matching grant to continue receiving state funding.
Tri-County Healthy Families program, which operates through the Youth Service Bureau in Portland, receives money from the Kids First Trust Fund. The funding comes from sales of license plates with “Kids First” and a child’s handprints printed on them.
Healthy Families will receive $2,303 in funding only if they match that amount. The matching grant will have to come from business and personal donations.
The Healthy Families program had its funding cut by 39% for 2010-2011 and will experience another 10% cut for 2011-2012.
Healthy Families helps prenatal mothers by providing information and support.
After a baby is born Healthy Families will send a family support worker, at the mother’s request, into the home to help recognize a baby’s needs, encourage normal development in a baby, help the mother know what to expect as the baby grows, help make a home baby safe and teach how to care for a baby’s needs as well as the new mother’s needs.
Donations need to be received by Feb. 18. Checks should be payable to Youth Service Bureau/Healthy Families Match. Mail to Attn: Christy, Youth Service Bureau, 603 W. Arch, Portland, IN 47371.
Anyone that already has a “Kid’s First” license plate and wants to make a donation, can visit www.in.gov.dcs and click on Kid’s First Trust Fund.

Spring classes
The National Center for Great Lakes Native American Culture will have its Spring Cultural Arts Classes on March 26 and 27 in the Women’s Building at Jay County Fairgrounds.
For more information, call Kay Neumayr at (765) 426-3022    

Competes
Samantha Freeman, Portland, recently attended the regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival with several other Huntington University theater performance majors.
Students competed in playwriting, acting, technical design and dramaturgy.
Freeman, a senior, was also nominated for the Irene Ryan Scholarship at the event.

Railroad classes
The historic Whitewater Valley Railroad in Connersville will begin its annual training classes on Feb. 5 at the South Connersville Yard Complex at 300 S. Eastern Ave.
The training includes classroom instruction, hands-on practice in train operations, signaling and switching and an introduction to  diesel and steam locomotive operation.
The free classes will be held for eight consecutive Saturdays from 9:01 a.m. to 1:01 p.m., with the class on March 26.
There is a $15 charge for printed materials used in the course.
For more information, call (765) 825-2054 or visit www.whitewatervalleyrr.org.

Dean’s list
Meaghan E. Boynton made the dean’s list for the fall semester at the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is the granddaughter of Eva Wyrick, Portland. 
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