94 cav won't start

My son said the ignition has been sticky. He started the car and the start was stuck engaged for a period of time. He drove it to work and then after work the car wouldn't start.
Here is what I have so far. The battery is only months old. Tested ok.
When you try to start the car all the instruments and lights operate fine. The head lights don't dim you just hear a click sound when you turn and release the ignition. No response from starter.
Changed the ignition switch and found one wire that some of the insulation was melted. Taped up. Visual inspection of the rest of the wires looked ok. The lock cylinder is a little sticky. I tried the to turn the ignition switch with a screw driver just to make sure it turned far enough.
Next changed the starter. Still nothing. Just a click and no diming lights no response from the starter.
I am going to check to see if there is a voltage on the starter. Do I check from the purple wire to ground or across the purple and the red +?
I haven't tried to jump the 2 posts on the starter to see if it will turn over.
I checked the fuses under the dash. I see that there are some relays or something like that under the hood. Is there anything in line that could be my problem. I have read about the neutral safety switch and tried to start the car in all the gears with brake applied. Nothing.
It is as though there is nothing getting to the starter. I will have to check for voltage.
Also trying to boost the car doesn't make a diff either.

Ideas?

I'm really no expert, but I had this problem on my 98 cavalier - turned out to be the starter solenoid. I also had something similar happen last winter, where the solenoid wasn't grounded properly - I would start at taking a look at those two.

I will double check the grounding of the starter. I did install a new one and that made no diff.