Knox School Board Met Monday for 2018 Budget Adoption

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

On Monday evening, the Knox School Board met briefly in order to adopt the school corporation’s 2018 budget. Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart said board members voted unanimously to adopt the budget as advertised.

By doing so, the Knox School Board has effectively adopted their budget prior to the November 1st adoption deadline. The last day that 2018 budgets, tax rates and tax levies can be submitted to Indiana Department of Local Government Finance through Indiana Gateway is November 3rd.

The Knox Community School Corporation has total budget estimate of $20,662,696. To view the entire budget notice posted to Indiana Gateway, follow this link.

Knox City Council Votes to Shed Some Light on Reported Darkness Downtown

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The downtown area in Knox will be getting a little bit brighter thanks to a decision made by the Knox City Council last night. The council members voted unanimously to approve Mayor Dennis Estok’s request to replace 10 bulbs in the downtown area with new LED bulbs.

Mayor Estok started looking into new lighting options after receiving continuous complaints about the darkness downtown. He has been working with a representative from Herrman and Goetz, discussing the best route to take.

Estok started by installing one bulb on Main Street to have council members weigh in with their opinions. They all agreed that there was a noticeable difference. Estok said now that they know the bulbs are brighter, he wants to test out more in order to see how multiple bulbs would illuminate the area. Continue reading →

Knox Board of Public Works to Meet Today

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Knox Board of Public Works will discuss enforcement actions on three pieces of property when they meet this morning.

Knox Director of Building, Planning and Code Compliance Kenny Pfost revoked a permit at 325 Carlson Drive and the board members will have information pertaining to the issue of the construction of a steel carport on the property this morning. Enforcement action at 1 N. Main Street and 3 N. Main Street will also be reviewed.

Continue reading →

Knox and Koontz Lake Firefighters Assist Hamlet Fire Department With Railroad Street Fire

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

State Fire Marshal Fred Sumpter has officially ruled the cause of a structure fire that took place in Hamlet last week as undetermined.

Hamlet Fire Chief Brad Hazelton reported that on Friday, October 20th the Hamlet Fire Department received a call about a fire at a vacant structure located on West Railroad Street around 2 a.m. The fire was extinguished but the house was significantly damaged.

Chief Hazelton said that the State Fire Marshall conducted an investigation. Hazelton determined that it was too dangerous for the firefighters involved to enter the crawlspace under the house so the cause was established as undetermined.

Hazelton also reported that thanks to the use of their alarm system, Knox and Koontz Lake Firefighters we called out to assist with the incident. He said the departments often assist one another when they’re in need of more firefighters and to utilize equipment that one department may have access to that another does not. Continue reading →

Culver Town Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council will meet tonight where an update will be given on where to go now that the town was named a Stellar Community that will be followed by Jonathan Leist’s report on town activities.

Becca Pazin from the Culver and Lake Maxinkuckee Visitor Center will present information during tonight’s meeting and Kathy Clark will have a contract request on behalf of the Southwest Conservancy District.

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This Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

This Saturday, individuals have the opportunity to help prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. The Indiana State Police and the Drug Enforcement Agency are holding the 14th Prescription Drug Take Back on Saturday October 28th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This service is free, anonymous and there are no questions asked. The initiative addresses the prevalent public safety and health issue of prescription drugs being obtained from family and friends in order to be abused or sold. In the past 13 drug take back events, the DEA and its partners have taken in over 8.1 million pounds of pills, which is more than 4,000 tons. Continue reading →

Knox City Council Meets Tonight

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Knox City Council meets tonight, where members will discuss the replacement of downtown streetlights.

This topic has been talked about during meetings in the past. Mayor Dennis Estok had one experimental bulb installed and has been asking for council feedback about it over the last few months. Council members reported seeing a significant difference in brightness between the old lights and the new bulb.

The council will also hear from Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation.

The council members will meet in Knox City Hall at 7 p.m. tonight.

Knox Water Department to Start Hydrant and Waterline Flushing Wednesday

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The Knox Water Department will begin flushing waterlines and fire hydrants tomorrow morning.

Knox Water Superintendent Todd Garner said this procedure is performed to test the working order of the fire hydrants and to keep the water mains clean. Gardner said the work will be done during the day and should be completed, at the latest, by Tuesday of next week.

Keep an eye out for Knox Water Department crews while driving around town this week.

Preliminary Investigation Results of Three Vehicle Accident on State Road 8 Released

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Shortly after 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 22nd, the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Knox City Police, Starke County EMS, Knox Fire Department and Washington Township Fire Department responded to a traffic accident on State Road 8 near 600 East.

According to the police report, the accident involved three vehicles. The preliminary investigation indicates that a male juvenile was driving a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am traveling east on State Road 8 when he veered across the center line, striking a full-size handicap Ford van, occupied by a male and female traveling west on SR 8. Continue reading →

Three Vehicle Accident on State Road 8 Remains Under Investigation

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department Dispatch Center was able to confirm that a three vehicle accident took place in the vicinity of County Road 600 East and State Road 8, Sunday evening. Two medical helicopters were called to the scene and an unspecified number of individuals were transported to Starke Hospital for treatment.

The accident remains under investigation. More details pertaining to specifics will be released as that information becomes available.

Town of Culver to Take Part in Stellarbration Activities

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Culver Town officials and those who are a part of the Stellar Committee will be joining Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch for a Stellarbration on Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon ET at the Indiana Statehouse North Atrium in Indianapolis.

The Town of Culver and the City of Madison were officially named Stellar Communities in the Stellar Communities Designation Program in their respective divisions on Wednesday, Oct. 18.

Continue reading →