Knox Math Class Honored by School Board

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

Mrs. Clemons’, a 6th grade math teacher at the Knox Community Middle School, brought in students from her honors classes to be recognized by the Knox Community School Board during the Spotlight on Success portion of the meeting.

“They had participated in a grant program called Apangea Math where they compete against each other and against schools to do math problems and solve them,” said Superintendent A.J. Gappa. “They get points for the more work they do. They compare their math performances and many of the lessons with other schools. One of Mrs. Clemons’ math classes won the region. They were first place in the region and her other math class was second place in the region and so they were honored by our Board. They were also honored by the state. They ended up sixth and seventh overall in the state as classrooms and we thought that was a pretty good honor.”

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Fire Destroys Home in Washington Township

Posted on Author WKVI
This home, at 2915 S. 800 E. in Washington Township, was a total loss

A fire ripped through a home at 2915 S. and 800 E. in Starke County on Friday, December 23rd.

“The occupants awoke to an extra warm home, but there were no smoke alarms going off,” said Washington Township Assistant Fire Chief, Dave Pearman. “The man entered the living room and saw flames showing in the house and immediately tried to get their dogs out and that took a little bit of time. By the time they had most of the dogs, all but one, out of the house, the house was fully engulfed. Unfortunately, their smoke detector wasn’t working.”

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Linda Belork’s Case Heard in Jasper Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Linda Belork

Jasper County Circuit Court Judge John Potter heard arguments yesterday in a hearing where is was requested that a Temporary Restraining Order be removed to allow Linda Belork to resume her duties as the Starke County Treasurer.

That request was being opposed by the Starke County Commissioners.

In the hearing yesterday, Belork’s attorney, Ethan Lowe, argued that only the State’s Attorney General could remove an elected official from office. He said, “The county commissioners can only “piggy back” on actions brought by the Attorney General’s office. The Attorney General’s office has to initiate civil proceedings with the county prosecutor.”

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Senator Charbonneau Discusses Right-to-Work

Posted on Author WKVI
State Senator Ed Charbonneau

Fifth District Republican Senator Ed Charbonneau was recently questioned about the possible upheaval at the state legislature over Governor Mitch Daniels’ announcement to push right-to-work legislation. Governor Daniels, House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate Speaker David Long, have called getting right-to-work legislation passed their “top priority.”

Charbonneau concurred.

But even though his leadership is pushing the measure hard, Charbonneau is unsure that he can support it.

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Knox Man Arrested on a Battery Charge

Posted on Author WKVI
Steven Gott

A Knox man was arrested after a battery incident on Monday.

The female victim, who is pregnant, went to the Starke County Sheriff’s Department to report a battery. She told police that she and Steven Gott had gotten into an argument earlier in the day and that police were called to the residence. Gott was told to leave the residence and to not return. He returned to the residence later in the day and the police arrived and gave Gott a second warning. The victim then went to her mother’s house to do laundry and Gott arrived at the residence. Gott and the victim started fighting and Gott allegedly put his hands around her throat, hit her in the head and threatened her life. He then left the residence.

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J.E.S.S.E. Co-op to Reorganize

Posted on Author WKVI

The J.E.S.S.E. Co-op is reorganizing. Rochester schools recently pulled out of the special education cooperative that administers more than 80 different special classes and resource programs which leaves 9 school corporations in our area participating in the program.

With the withdrawal of Rochester, Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the majority of the financial services will now come out of Plymouth Schools.

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Knox City Council Approves Appointments

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council #2
Back Row: Mayor Rick Chambers, Ed Blue, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, Greg Matt and Attorney David Matsey. Front Row: Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg and Ron Parker

At the most recent meeting of the Knox City Council, appointments were made for several boards. Linda Berndt agreed to remain on the Starke County Development Board, newly elected City Councilman, Don Kring, will go on the Starke County Environmental Board, Ed Blue will remain on the Board of Works, and the Mayor re-appointed Ollie Lockridge and Jim Collins for the Knox Redevelopment Committee Board.

North Judson Approves Fire Protection Contract

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson Town Board approved the fire protection contract with Wayne Township at a price of $23,000, which is the same price paid in 2011. Two installments of $11,500 are paid to the Township a year for the service.

Mark Knebel from the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum told the Board that 6,280 people rode the trains this year. Since 2006, 22,452 have traveled on the Museum’s tourist trains. He said they were sold out on all Santa trains this year and had riders from Michigan and from the western part of Chicago.

Starke County Historical Society Museum Closes for Repairs

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Museum Christmas Tree
Starke County Museum Christmas Tree

The Starke County Historical Museum will be closed today through January 31st, for maintenance and repair.

Also, when you drive by the museum, you are urged to admire the Memorial Tree donated by Hensler’s Nursery. A record number of memorial bows and names have been attached this year. Toni Snearly, Historical Society volunteer, said that 285 bows have been placed on the tree at 401 South Main St., in Knox.

Linda Belork’s Hearing is Today in Jasper County

Posted on Author WKVI
Linda Belork

A hearing will be held in Jasper County today on Linda Belork’s request to have a court-imposed Temporary Restraining Order removed allowing her to return to her duties as the Starke County Treasurer. Belork has been out of the office since August 13th after being removed by the County Commissioners following the issuance of a State Audit showing thousands of dollars in discrepancies.

The money has been found, but Belork has been blocked by the order from returning to office. Objecting to her return are the Starke County Commissioners. Judge John Potter will be seeking pertinent information from Belork’s attorney, Ethan Lowe, and Martin Lucas, attorney for the commissioners, during today’s hearing.

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Unemployment Rates Remain Steady

Posted on Author WKVI
Indiana Workforce Development

Indiana’s labor force increased by 13,600 in November, holding the state’s unemployment rate steady at 9.0%. Over the past four months, the state’s workforce has grown by almost 50,000. While Indiana saw a 0.4% increase in its labor force during the month, the U.S. labor force decreased by 0.2% percent in November, contributing to the decline in the nation’s unemployment rate from 9.0% to 8.6%.

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Winamac Man Sentenced in U.S. District Court

Posted on Author WKVI

A Winamac man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in South Bend this week.

Gary Marshall, 57, was sentenced to six months imprisonment and two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the felony offense of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Marshall had previous convictions for filing fictitious claims against the United States and transporting in interstate commerce, a falsely made security.

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North Judson Town Board Rejects Trash Bids

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board

The North Judson Town Board decided to reject all trash bids they received for the 2012 contract proposal and will rebid the contract.

Attorney Cassie Hine told the Board that financial statements, equipment lists, and a notice of general liability insurance of at least $3 million were not included in the two bids that were received. The bidding process will be re-advertised with a clarification of what paperwork will need to be completed in the complete bid packet. The bid deadline will be at Noon CT on Monday, February 6th.

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North Judson-San Pierre School Board Discusses Teacher Evaluations

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board discussed teacher evaluation requirements at their meeting this week. Superintendent Lynn Johnson said that evaluations are necessary due to state law and those evaluations will determine merit pay for the teachers. The components that will be required are still being determined.

Kelly Manning from 21st Century Scholars and Senator Ed Charbonneau recognized Suzie Matzat during the Board meeting. She has been instrumental in keeping the program alive in the Middle School where she was the Guidance Counselor for many years and in the High School where she maintains that position. She was given a plaque as a result of her positive promotion in getting the word out about the program where students can earn free tuition to an Indiana College or University if they sign a contract and remain drug and alcohol free throughout their school career.

Henry F. Schricker Award Winner Selected

Posted on Author WKVI
Henry Schricker

The Henry F. Schricker Award winner has been selected. Debbie Mix, the Executive Director of the Starke County Chamber of Commerce, said the name will not be released at this time, but the choice was difficult this year.

“It was a very difficult choice this year because anyone to has ever been nominated is still a nominee and we had several more this year and it was a difficult choice. I’m very excited for who is going to get this award,” said Mix.

The award dinner will be held January 19th at Bass Lake.

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Knox CVS Robbed

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox CVS

The identity of a suspect arrested in connection with the robbery at CVS in Knox last night is still being withheld by Knox City Police.

Knox City Police responded to an armed robbery call at CVS at 9:18 p.m. An officer saw a vehicle leaving the scene at a high rate of speed and a traffic stop was initiated. The driver stopped, then backed into the police cruiser in an attempt to disable the vehicle. A pursuit began which lead into Marshall County. Both suspects abandoned the vehicle on Upas Road in Marshall County and one suspect was arrested. No further information was released by the Knox City Police Department and the robbery remains under investigation.

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Accident Victim Dies of Injuries

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man who was injured in an early morning accident on Monday, December 5th has died. 43-year-old Thomas Guy passed away on Friday, December 16th in Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

Starke County Police responded to a single vehicle accident on December 5th at 4570 South and 100 East. Guy reportedly was traveling on County Road 100 East when he came over a hill and lost control of his vehicle, leaving the roadway and striking a tree. Guy was ejected from the vehicle and was taken to the hospital as a result of injuries sustained the accident. He died of those injuries on Friday.