Knox City Council to Consider Written Contract for Water and Sewer Customers

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

Knox municipal water and sewer customers might be asked to sign a written contract for services in the near future. That subject was discussed at last week’s Knox City Council meeting.

Attorney David Matsey said most small town utilities demand a signed contract. He said the information could be used in court in case a party doesn’t pay or “skips” without making payment for the services provided.

One ticklish part of the contract would be how to identify the homeowner or tenant. Asking for a drivers license number or social security number must include protection for identity theft.

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West Central Technical Review Committee Discusses Wind Turbine Project

Posted on Author WKVI

The West Central Technical Review Committee met recently to discuss the wind turbine project.

“At our last meeting, we were actually going over the proposal from Performance Services, Inc.,” said Superintendent Charles Mellon, a Committee participant. “We talked about the identification of the site. It’s actually going to be on the AG plot. Of course there’s different studies including environmental studies that have taken place. We talked about the development plan and there’s still a lot of components yet to put in place. We’re still waiting on NIPSCO to finalize rates. The final meeting will take place February 25th. The earliest our Board would make a final decision would be on March 17th.”

If the project goes as planned, the turbine could be operational in November of this year.

SCILL Center Students to Attend Chicago Auto Show

Posted on Author WKVI
Mark Anderson
Mark Anderson

SCILL Center instructors, students and several chaperones will be attending the Chicago Auto Show this Wednesday.

“The great thing about the Auto Show is that we get to see just about every car manufactured that there is,” said Instructor Mark Anderson. “These kids are going to be able to see cars that are $1 million Bentleys, Maybachs, and cars that you may not encounter any other time in your lifetime. We’re also going to see engine cutaways and what we’re pushing them for is green. We want them to see all of the electric cars. We really want them to key in on those because by the time they get out of our program and out of college, those are more likely the cars they’re going to be working on.”

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Knox Middle School Students, Staff Raise $600 for American Heart Association

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox Middle School faculty and students recently participated in a fundraiser for the American Heart Association.

“We decided that the best way to raise money to help the American Heart Association was to sell Heart Association t-shirts and arrange a pie-in-the-face competition for Valentine’s Day,” explained Knox Middle School Principal, Steve Cronk. “By combining those two exercises, we have raised over $600.”

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Starke County Commissioners Approve Resolution for Travel Expenses

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners ( L to R ) Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom, Jennifer Davis

The Starke County Commissioners passed a resolution this week that would be used as a guideline for all office holders and staff to follow when traveling. The subject came up when several claims from December came in over what is recommended by the State.

In question were lodging and food claims turned in by some officials and staff members who attended the Newly Elected Prosecutor’s Conference and Attorney General’s Winter Meeting.

Attempting to answer questions on the claims were current Prosecutor, Nicholas Bourff, and his Chief Deputy, Mary Ryan. Discussed were claims turned in by then-Prosecutor Julieanne Havens, Mary Ryan, Jeff Williams, and Ryan Bratcher.

It was noted that all claims did not surpass the limit, but the Commissioners reminded Bourff and Ryan of the limits. The County will pay $6.50 for breakfasts and lunches, and $13.00 for dinner. The difference between what is allowed and the receipts for meals and lodging will be paid for by the attendee. The Commissioners also instructed those traveling to attempt to car pool when possible.

Pulaski County Commissioners Discuss Recycling at Recent Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

There was some heated discussion regarding the recycling center’s purchase of aluminum and other recyclables at the last Pulaski County Commissioners meeting. Ed Clark, of the Pulaski County Recycling Center, approached the commissioners and mentioned his interest in allowing the recycling center to once again purchase aluminum from county residents and businesses.

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News from the Knox City Council

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council (L to R) Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg, Ron Parker, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, Mayor Rick Chambers, Attorney David Matsey, Ed Blue and Greg Matt

Mayor Rick Chambers told the City Council members this week that the sign at the Community Center has to be replaced. The sign is 12 years old and is obsolete. The control box has quit.

The time clock at City Hall has quit.

“It’s an hour off and there’s no way to adjust it,” said Mayor Chambers. “They want about $300 to come in and fix that. I don’t know how long the time clock has been here. A new one is anywhere between $250 and $900, depending on what you get. We either need to get a new time clock or just do away with the time clock.”

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Cost of February Storms in Starke County Nears $81,000

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County EMA Director Ted Bombagetti said this week that the total cost during the storms the first week in February was almost $81,000. Almost $7,000 was overtime pay. The rest was in materials and fuel.

On a related topic, County Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall implored the County Commissioners to set up a meeting with the Bass Lake Property Owners Association to explain the right-of-way situation at the lake. Siddall said it’s been about 10 years since residents were notified that the county has 40 to 60 feet of right of way to plow snow. Since that time, many of the property owners have been encroaching on that space to place fences, trinkets, rocks and boulders.

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Knox City Council Approves Building Purchase; Deal Falls Through Next Day

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

The Knox City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday night to purchase a building from Dean Wells, located at the north end of the city parking lot, across from City Hall. 12 hours later, the deal fell through. The Council had voted to purchase the building for $120,000 with $25,000 down and $20,000 due each year for 5 years.

It was discovered that the building needed two appraisals before the transaction could be completed so the deal fell through. The sale might be successful at a later time, but Mr. Wells informed the Council that he is going ahead with remodeling plans for the building, and that it probably would not be listed at that price again.

The City was going to use the building for storage, with a possibility of moving the Police Department there at a future date.

Voting for the purchase was Greg Matt, Jeff Berg Council President Ed Blue. Voting against were Council members Linda Berndt and Ron Parker.

Knox Snow Removal Budget Stable Despite Heavy Snow Storms

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers

It has snowed a lot this year! We asked Knox Mayor, Rick Chambers, if the City’s snow removal budget is in good shape:

“We’re doing excellent with our budget,” replied Mayor Chambers. “We haven’t had to work a lot of overtime. I think this past weekend was the first weekend that our street crew has actually worked overtime. We ran out of sand and my Street Department Superintendent did find a new supply of sand so we’re in good shape.

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Knox Community School Board Spotlights Students Involved in Community Projects

Posted on Author WKVI
Libby Flora, Erica Pick, Taylor Kemble, Logan Short, Grant Warren, Hayley Windbigler and Keisten Childers talk to the Board about community projects

At their recent meeting, the Knox Community School Board members commended the students who took part in the Kiwanis Food Basket project and distribution during the Christmas holiday. The students helped 130 families. Food donations were taken from the public and from the students in the corporation.

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North Judson Police Department Statistics for January

Posted on Author WKVI

North Judson Town Marshal, Doug Vessely, reports that in the month of January, the Department received 17 citizen assist calls, conducted 35 traffic stops, responded to 6 theft-conversion calls, 3 accidents, 11 juvenile-family disturbance calls and 2 assault calls.

Officers completed 3 battery reports, 4 theft-conversion reports, and 1 alcohol-drug report. In addition, the officers gave 13 ordinance tickets, 11 traffic warnings and made 6 adult arrests.

Charles Hasnerl Officially Files for Knox City Court Judge in 2011 Municipal Election

Posted on Author WKVI
Charles Hasnerl

After announcing his reelection last week, Republican Knox City Court Judge Charles Hasnerl made it official this week when he filed his candidacy in the Starke County Clerk’s office.

Hasnerl has been the Judge of the City Court since 1996 and said in a prepared release that he looks forward to facing the challenge of handling 3,000-4,000 cases a year with new technology. He also praised the establishment of the Starke County Community Corrections organization for giving him sentencing alternatives that he did not have in the past.

Pregnancy Resource Center to Open in Knox on March 15th

Posted on Author WKVI
Susanne Lange

A pregnancy resource center will be opening in a few weeks. Susanne Lange, a registered nurse, will be the administrator of the crisis center that has been named Bella Vita, which means beautiful life. If you’re an expectant mother, a site like adatewithbaby.com – a 3D ultrasound provider in Toronto, offers baby gender reveal services for all expecting mothers.

“What we’re going to have what we call crisis counseling,” Lange explained. “When a woman or girl comes in and she’s trying to make a decision, we’ll have trained counselors that she can sit with and talk about her options and make a decision. Our ultimate goal is to save the life of the unborn child”

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Harold Weinberg to be Featured on Friday’s ‘Ted Hayes Remembers’ Program

Posted on Author WKVI
Harold Weinberg and Alice Kay at the WKVI Night at the Starke County Fair

WKVI Radio began broadcasting in 1969. It’s unusual for a station this size to have two of the original members of the announcing staff still broadcasting. Ted Hayes and Harold Welter were the first voices ever heard on the air in July of 1969. Between them, they have a lot of memories.

How many remember the tag line, “All Roads Lead to Weinberg’s in Toto?”

Weinberg’s was known as one of the first of the great discount stores. Harold Weinberg and his sister Rose could be seen on a daily basis running the store every day except Tuesday, when Harold went to Chicago to shop for merchandise.

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Pulaski County Prosecutor Hands Down Official Charges Against Glen Sommers

Posted on Author WKVI
Glen Sommers

The Pulaski County Prosecutor’s Office has amended charges against Glen Sommers of Winamac who allegedly wielded a knife to his victim at the victim’s home in Pulaski County on February 4th. Sommers also allegedly stole a guitar from the victim.

Prosecutor Stacey Mrak told WKVI that Sommers is being charged with Robbery Resulting in Bodily Injury and Battery with a Deadly Weapon, both felony charges. He is in the Pulaski County jail with a $50,000 bond. Sommers had preliminary charges of Attempted Murder and Armed Robbery.

Sommers’ initial hearing was Monday in Pulaski Circuit Court where a plea of not guilty was given. A pretrial hearing will be held March 31st.

Knox Man Travels Wrong Way on I-65 and Causes Multi-Car Crashes

Posted on Author WKVI

Indiana State Police officials closed southbound Interstate 65 near the Winamac exit Tuesday afternoon in order to investigate a series of crashes that involved seven cars, semitrailers and SUVs.

George G. Kallis, 88, of Knox, caused several accidents on the interstate by driving the wrong way about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. Kallis met several vehicles on the interstate and they all swerved to miss Kallis as he traveled northbound in the southbound lanes in I-65. James Denton of Oak Lawn, Illinois was the only injured driver and he was taken to Jasper County Hospital in Rensselaer with neck and back pains. His car was totaled. He had driven his Jeep between two semis and hit one semi’s drive tandems and diesel fuel tanks. This action caused another semi to rear end his vehicle.

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Sysco Project to Continue in Hamlet When Economy Recovers

Posted on Author WKVI

The question of when Sysco is breaking ground at the Hamlet site was brought up at the Starke County Commissioners meeting this week. Commission President, Dan Bridegroom, said to Starke County Development Director, Charles Weaver, in a lighthearted way, “I don’t know what to tell people who ask me.”

Bridegroom said he read in last week’s Leader that groundbreaking for the distribution center could be this summer.

Weaver said that he has “no” word that the summer is a consideration for groundbreaking. The last conversation he had with Baugh Midwest Cooperative Inc. is that the project is still viable, but that nothing is going to be done until the economy returns. He said that this added distribution center will cover 12 to 13 states and at the moment with the economy down those states can be serviced through existing centers.

Pulaski County Commissioners Discuss County Employee Policies at Recent Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

Settling disputes regarding county employee policies in Pulaski County is going to become a lot simpler, thanks to the development of a new personnel policy manual for the county. Paula Reimers of Wagner, Irwin & Sheely appeared before the commissioners to discuss revising the county’s policy handbook. The current handbook, which has not been modified since 1997, may contain current policies that are not compliant with federal standards. The commissioners signed a contract to begin the construction of a new county handbook and policies.

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Hamlet Police Arrest Resident on Meth Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Brandon White

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.

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