Officers from the Hamlet Police Department arrested Brandon White, of Hamlet, on methamphetamine charges, Friday, February 4th, after conducting a search warrant in the Hamlet Trailer Court.
According to Police Chief Jeremiah Patrick, Hamlet police received a tip concerning drug activity at the Hamlet Trailer Park at lot #15. Officers went to the residence and spoke with the homeowner concerning the tip. Based on information received, officers were granted a search warrant. The search warrant was executed and officers discovered illegal drugs as well as items used to manufacture illegal drugs in the home.
A group is being assembled under the direction of Knox Middle School Principal, Steve Cronk, to preserve the old Jackson Township School. If the school is actually preserved, it would possibly be placed on a slab behind the WKVI building on property owned by the Knox Community School Corporation.
Later this month, Todd Ziker from the Indiana Landmarks Organization will come to Knox to meet with the group Mr. Cronk is organizing to explore the feasibility of moving and remodeling the building, which would turn into a one-room school museum. Jerry Jernas, whose property the building is on, has the old bell that called the students to come in for the start of school and from the playground.
Mr. Cronk, who is retiring at the end of the school year, said this is something he has wanted to do for some time.
The Starke-Pulaski Junior Achievement Organization is gearing up for a night of bowling at Bowlaway Lanes in Knox. This is the first of what is hoped to be an annual fund-raising event, and it will be held Wednesday night, February 23rd.
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The Knox Community School Board received bids on January 11th to purchase buses. The Board received two bids – one from International and one from Thomas. The Board members took the bids under consideration and will approve a bid at their next meeting.
Knox Middle School teacher, Amie Flora, was approved to be the school’s representative on the Starke County Library Board.
A Winamac man was arrested, Thursday, February 3rd, on preliminary charges of Attempted Murder and Armed Robbery.
According to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department log, an unidentified male complainant called police to report that Glen Sommers was at his home and allegedly tried to stab him. The victim defended himself and was cut on the underside of his thumb. Sommers left the residence and it took the victim 20 minutes to call police because his phone lines were reportedly cut and he could not call out. Sommers also allegedly stole the complainant’s guitar.
Starke County Highway Superintendent, Steve Siddall, appeared before the County Commissioners Monday. One item on Siddall’s agenda was the number of mailbox complaints he has received. He said well over 100 people have complained about mailbox damage. Siddall said it could not be helped during the snowstorms. Most of the damage was from the heavy snow hitting the boxes. Siddall told the Commissioners that he checked with Marshall County and they do not respond to such calls. It’s basically the homeowner’s responsibility to repair the post and box. INDOT also does not repair or replace mailboxes.
On another topic, Siddall said that there is probably going to be a problem with fences at Bass and Koontz Lakes when they start rolling the snow back. The right of way is 40 to 60 feet, and Siddall said there are a number of fences that will probably be damaged because they’re too close.
“In our right-of-ways, yes we are encroaching on people’s yards, but we still own that right-of-way,” explained Siddall. “Where we’re having the biggest trouble or concern is at Bass Lake and Koontz Lake where we can’t stack it any higher and I informed the Commissioners that we might be coming through there with a grader. What we do is what we call benching. If there’s two feet of snow, we may roll a foot of that back so when the snow plow truck comes back through in another big snow event, we have room to put it. Otherwise, it just keeps piling up and we have nowhere to go with it. Another concern was fences or trinkets left in people’s yards that we can’t see. I told the Commissioners that we weren’t going in with a bulldozer and trying to clear property, we were trying not to damage anything.”
Newsman Ted Hayes complimented Siddall on the performance of the highway crew over the winter storm, and he also praised his staff.
“I feel the guys did an excellent job,” replied Siddall. “We have an excellent crew out at the County Highway and I want to give them thanks. I know Scott and Sue and everybody that works out there that are in the offices that weren’t out there battling the elements did a great job. The guys did a wonderful job.”
Mark Smith for Knox Mayor. That was news a couple of weeks ago when Mark Smith, local funeral home operator, signed to run in the Democrat Primary against Rick Chambers.
Yesterday WKVI got a chance to talk with Smith about why he was running.
“I’ve had an interest in the Mayor’s office in Knox for the past two or three elections,” stated Smith. “Two elections ago I had committed to the Democrat Central Committee that if Oscar Cowen were elected as Sheriff, that would vacate two years worth of his seat on the County Council and I committed to that seat and I did not want to go back on my word.”
The West Central Technical Review Committee met prior to the School Board’s work session Thursday to review the wind turbine construction proposal, as well as the price proposal presented by Performance Services.
The West Central School Board is looking to erect one wind turbine on the FFA plot on the school grounds. One turbine will power the entire school and there would be some power left over to sell.
No commitment has been make at this time. Further information is needed from Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) before any contractual agreement can be reached. If an affirmative agreement can be reached in March, it is very possible that the wind turbine can be in operation in November of 2011.
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The Knox Community School Board discussed technology at its meeting Monday night.
Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Peggy Shidaker, explained to the Board that the current generation of students is all about technology. Schools are turning into a digital learning environment. Students use electronic devices and computers on a daily basis and it is becoming apparent that all students need to have their own computer to use throughout their school career. In the future, it appears that students will be tested on technology knowledge in addition to English and Math on standardized testing.
The Board is looking toward the goal of furnishing each student grades 6-12 with their own computer to use at all times. A team will be assembled to attend a meeting in March with Apple technicians to gain more information on the process and cost of equipping the Middle and High Schools with 1,100 computers for student use. The Board realizes that this is the future of education.
Director of Technology, Jim Landrum, told the Board that the school has the infrastructure capable of supporting this transition. The High School is completely wireless and the Middle School will be wireless before the start of the new school year.
Starke County Commissioners ( L to R ) Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom, Jennifer Davis
In actions before the Starke County Commissioners Monday, they approved the lease for office space for Community Corrections.
The Commissioners tabled a request by Ed Truty to have his medical leave extended from February 27th to April 30th. This request was based on his doctor’s recommendation. Truty fell at home and broke his leg. Since no one was at the meeting to comment and answer questions on the request it was tabled to the February 21st meeting.
The West Central School Board held a work session, Thursday, where the Board decided to focus on repairs and improvements with no new construction in the near future.
NJ-SP Decathlon Team Front Row: Hope Harlamert, Rhiannon Millard, Melissa Spears and Jennifer Atkinson. Back Row: Jacob Kieskowski, Steven Miller, Lucus Howard, and Sarah Green
For the sixth time in seven years, the North Judson-San Pierre Academic Decathlon team has qualified for the State Finals in the Small School Division. The NJ-SP competitors scored 25,314.9 points, earning the Blue Jays a 10th place finish in State rankings and the last qualifying spot. The team will compete in the State Finals on Friday and Saturday, February 11th and 12th, at Purdue University in West Lafayette.
(L to R) Brendan Owens, Brittany Shannon, Allie Bulick, Katelyn Peters, Hannah Janson, and Drew Shearin
Congratulations to the Knox MS and Knox HS participants in the Indiana State School Music Association District Solo and Ensemble Competition. The Middle School and High School had nearly a hundred students perform in competition at Valparaiso HS in Valparaiso, Indiana on Saturday, January 29th. They combined for a total of 41 Gold Division Ratings with 8 State qualifiers. Brendan Owens, Brittany Shannon, Allie Bulick, Katelyn Peters, Hannah Janson, and Drew Shearin will compete on February 26th, 2011 at North Central HS for State Gold. Congratulations to all participants and Good Luck State Qualifiers!
The North Judson-San Pierre Bands participated in the annual Indiana State School Music Association District Solo/Ensemble Contest on Saturday, January 29th at Twin Lakes High School. The following ratings were given:
Silver Rating Performances: Connor McBride, Chase Collins, Sarah Green, Paige Madsen, Rachel Brent – woodwind quintet; Matthew Godsey – baritone solo; Sarah Green – clarinet solo; AJ Garay, Katie Farler, Matt Godsey, Austin Stacy – low brass quartet
Gold Rating Performances qualifying for the ISSMA State Solo/Ensemble Contest for February 26th in Indianapolis: Austin Stacy – tuba solo; Rachel Brent-clarinet solo; Carter Tucker – Flugel Horn solo; Rachel Brent, Sarah Green, Paige Madsen – clarinet trio; Matt Godsey, Carter Tucker, AJ Garay, Katie Farler, Austin Stacy – low brass quintet.
Photo provided by Knox High School Principal, Dr. Elizabeth Ratliff.
The U.S. Census Bureau is expected to release Indiana’s 2010 Census data next week. The summary will include data on race and voting age for multiple areas within the State, such as census tracts, voting districts, cities, counties and school districts.
Ben Lipke and Donna Brown prepare for the Grand Opening of the Five Star store
This is Friday, and Ted Hayes presents “Ted Hayes Remembers” twice today, at 12:20 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. CT. Today’s guest is Ben Lipke, who in 1964, was the first manager of Five Star and part owner.
Ben will talk about those early years. As Ben told Ted, the Knox location was one of seven in the Five Star chain. And, even though he might be a little prejudiced, Ben always thought the Knox store was the best.
If the snow and wind Tuesday night and early yesterday morning weren’t bad enough, now we have bone chilling cold.
Billed as the worst storm in decades, with snow and ice stretching 2,000 miles, the inclement weather is now moving to the northeast where they are worried about where to put the white stuff.
Tuesday and Wednesday were slow days for State Legislators as sessions were canceled because of weather for the first time in 10 years.
“We had no session on Tuesday and that included Committee meetings and Committee meetings were called off Wednesday as well,” said State Representative Nancy Dembowski (D-Knox). “Normally on Wednesday we don’t have session, but we have a full day of Committee meetings. All of that has been called off because it’s just really treacherous to move around down here because of the ice.”
Dembowski said the two days were not wasted.
“We were able to get here,” she said. “I don’t live far and I was able to walk over and it gives us uninterrupted time to get a lot of work done and get some things done that we may have been setting aside as busy as we’ve been in session. There are some positives to it as well.”
Cold weather presents another problem. Hypothermia. A person is in a hypothermia state if their temperature drops below 95 degrees. Shivering and mental confusion are signs of hypothermia.
Starke United President, Todd Zeltwanger, has confirmed that Executive Director, Edie Hall, has tendered her resignation. In the resignation notice, Hall said that her husband has retired and the family will be moving out of the area. Her last day at the helm will be March 20th.
Starke United is on its way to wrap up the 2010 campaign by the end of February.
The Knox City Council discussed Halloween at it’s most recent meeting. Even though it’s a little early, the Council established Monday, October 31st as the official Trick or Treat night.
The reason they discussed Halloween is that the Knox Kiwanis Club has traditionally put on the Trick or Treat costume judging and party. The Council has been informed that the Kiwanis Club may not be able to sponsor the activities this year.
