Hazel M. Parker Skinner, 104, Dies

Posted on Author WKVI

The year was 1907. The Chicago Cubs swept the Detroit Tigers in four games to win the World Series. Taxis first began running in New York City. Houdini escaped from chains underwater in :57 seconds, the Ball at Times Square dropped to signal the New Year, and John Wayne and Gene Autry were born. Yes, 1907 was quite a year.

Also born in 1907 was Hazel M. Parker Skinner of Plymouth. On Saturday July 9th, Hazel died at her home at the age of 104. Funeral services will be Friday at the Tyner United Methodist Church.

Week in Review for July 4th-8th, 2011

Posted on Author WKVI

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

Wythogan Park

Irene Szakonyi and Kurt Snearly are not eligible to serve on the Knox Park Board because they are not members of the Board that named them to the Park Board. They are Ex-Officio members.

Ruth Matsey, President of the Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, says that she has been seeing a lot of child abuse in the form of neglect in Starke County. Matsey says that statistics show that more abuse happens where there is a lot of unemployment and Starke County does have a high rate of unemployment. Continue reading →

Indiana’s Economic Front Looking Positive

Posted on Author WKVI

There’s good news for Hoosiers on the economic front, according to Fifth District State Senator Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso).

First, Charbonneau points out that Indiana’s real gross domestic product grew at a remarkable rate of 4.6% in 2010. In comparison, other states averaged 2.6 percent GDP improvements. Indiana and Oregon led the nation in durable goods manufacturing with statistically twice the growth of our closest state competitors in that industry. In the Great Lakes region, Michigan had a GDP of 2.9%; Wisconsin 2.5%; and Illinois, 1.9%. Nationwide, only New York and North Dakota experienced GDP growth outpacing that of Indiana.

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Week in Review for June 27th-July 1st, 2011

Posted on Author WKVI

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

Mercan Lyncook of Parma, Ohio lost his life early Sunday morning after he jumped into the Yellow River off the abandoned train Bridge near the historic Depot in Knox and never resurfaced. Preliminary autopsy results have found that Lyncook died of asphyxiation because of drowning.  The Knox-Center Township Fire Department recently purchased a boat for river rescues and it was used in the rescue attempt. Continue reading →

Week in Review for June 20th-24th, 2011

Posted on Author WKVI

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

Starke County Jail

The Starke County Commissioners revisited the issue of a new Starke County Jail after inmate Jack Haut brought a class action lawsuit against the County over conditions at the jail. This week, the Starke County Council approved the transfer of $100,000 to help fund the County’s defense in the lawsuit.

The Knox City Council members told Knox Mayor Rick Chambers no when he asked the Council if they would be interested in selling Sandy Acres Park. It is assumed the land would be used for a business venture. Continue reading →

Knox Middle School Principal to Retire June 30th

Posted on Author WKVI
Steve Cronk

Knox Middle School Principal, Steve Cronk, was going over his last analysis of ISTEP results when Anita Goodan walked into his office for his last radio interview. The reigns are being handed to Assistant Principal, Dave Miller, who has been in that position for the past 17 years.

“Dave will do a marvelous job. He does a great job of things that a lot of people haven’t really seen because he’s had the Assistant Principal job. Dave is a real lover of kids. He has a very close relationship with kids which will get closer as he moves out of that discipline role into the Principal role.”

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Knox City Council Reviews New Park Board Ordinance

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 reviewed a new Park Board Ordinance at its meeting this week.

“This was brought about when we were doing our five year plan,” said Mayor Chambers. “Our five year plan was sent to OCRA for approval and they found that our original park plan was outdated by state statute. It had to be newer than what ours was so Dave [Matsey, City Attorney] has put together this ordinance and it is almost identical to the old one. There’s very little difference. It’s right out of the state statute books.”

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600 INDOT Vans Converted to Run on Propane

Posted on Author WKVI

Lt. Governor Becky Skillman this week joined Indiana Department of Transportation officials to announce that nearly 600 INDOT work trucks and cargo vans are being converted to run on cleaner burning domestic propane. To be fueled at 115 INDOT sites covering the state, the propane vehicles are projected to save taxpayers more than $1 million in fuel costs each year.

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Perform Four-Way Stop during Traffic Light Outage

Posted on Author WKVI

When severe weather strikes in the area, there is a chance traffic signals can lose power. The Indiana Department of Transportation has technicians on 24 hours per day to manage these issues.

Under Indiana law, drivers who encounter an intersection where the signal has lost power should treat the intersection as a four way stop. After stopping and when it is safe to do so, the driver should proceed with caution through the intersection. Drivers should yield to the right of way of traffic already in the intersection.

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Week in Review for June 6th-10th, 2011

Posted on Author WKVI

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

Herman Hopkins

Herman Hopkins, of Knox, was arrested Saturday, June 4th, after he allegedly broke into the residence of Virginia Neace and battered her son. He was also reportedly in possession of stolen goods from the residence and the residence of Tony and Nina Radkiewicz.

The Starke County Election Board continues to look into the consolidation of several polling places.

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Joe Donnelly Urges President Obama to Tap into Oil Reserves

Posted on Author WKVI
Joe Donnelly
Congressman Joe Donnelly

Second District Congressman Joe Donnelly confirmed this week that he is part of a group of Democrat Representatives who are urging President Barack Obama to tap into the Strategic Premium Oil Reserves.

“These prices are outrageous,” said Donnelly. “I’ve asked the President to open up the Strategic Petroleum Reserve right away. I am trying to lead the fight against speculators. We need to be an energy independent country. We need to open up the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and go after speculators. If we do those things, we will see prices drop.”

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Police Hunt For Man in Attempted Kidnapping

Posted on Author WKVI

Police in Knox are looking for a man who attempted to kidnap a child on Roosevelt Road near the Shannon Auto repair shop next to the Post Office in Knox around 4.00pm June 2nd.

The person the police are searching for  knocked a six year old girl off of a swingset  and then grabbed  a one year old toddler and started running away with the baby when the mother, Amber Stacy Howard,  gave chase  at which time the man dropped the child and ran, jumped a waist high fence and escaped.

This attempted kidnapping is not thought to be a custodial situation and the man police are searching for is unknown to the mother.

The man was wearing a red T-shirt and black jogging pants.  Police are asking for help in locating this individual and ask anyone who might have seen a person matching this description either earlier in the day or near the time of the attempted abduction to call the Knox City Police at 772-4122 or the Starke Co. Sheriff’s Department at 772-3771 with any information or tips regarding this incident.