City of Knox spring leaf pick-up

Posted on Author Rusty Nixon

KNOX — Spring leaf pick-up for the City of Knox will take place on the first week of April and May.
Please place all leaves in front of your residence next to the curb on the street in a long row, not in the alley. Please do not bag the leaves, as the garbage contractors will not pick up bagged leaves. Remember to keep all trash out of leaf piles so the vacuum can pick the leaves up.

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Knox Board of Works to meet

Posted on Author Rusty Nixon

KNOX — The Knox Board of Public Works and Safety will meet at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Knox City Hall.


The Board will discuss NIPSCO pole replacement, parking at 8 N. Main and 60 E. Washington, Jack and Diane’s, as well as hold a public hearing regarding 307 W. Bender.

Special Olympics Winter Season Wraps Up.

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

Special Olympics Marshall & Starke Counties program is wrapping up their first season of 2025.  This season included Basketball, Cheer, Powerlifting, and this was also the first year that MSSO participated in Winter Games!  The Basketball teams participated in tournaments at Goshen High School, the Area 4 tournament held at Caston High School, and our very first locally hosted Basketball Tournament in Plymouth.

Read more: Special Olympics Winter Season Wraps Up.

            The Cheer Team participated in the local Tournament in Plymouth, traveled to the Goshen Tournament and cheered at the Area 4 Tournament in Caston.  The Cheer Team consists of 3 athletes from Marshall County and 1 unified partner from Starke County.  Coaches Amber Jones and Temple Kipper have been working with their spirit filled Cheer Team since early January.

            Winter Games was held at Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.  Athletes competed in Skiing, Snowshoeing, and Snowboarding.  2 athletes from Marshall County headed down this year.  Ian Radican participated in Snowshoeing and Christian Radican participated in Skiing- both receiving medals in their divisions.

Harold Welter to receive 2025 ‘Virgil Sweet Award’

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

Three individuals with significant ties to Indiana high school basketball will be recognized with Virgil Sweet Awards from the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association in 2025, it was announced Monday (March 17). Harold Welter of WKVI Radio in Knox, Greg Rakestraw of the ISC Sports Network in Indianapolis and Mark Brochin of WWBL Radio in Washington are the recipients of this year’s awards. One person is honored from each IHSAA district — Welter in District 1,  Rakestraw in District 2 and Brochin in District 3.

Read more: Harold Welter to receive 2025 ‘Virgil Sweet Award’

 Virgil Sweet Awards are presented to those who have provided meritorious service in the promotion of basketball across Indiana. The award is named in honor of Sweet, a former Valparaiso High School basketball coach and executive director of the IBCA from 1974 through 1984. Sweet passed away on June 7, 2023.

            This is the 50th year that the IBCA has presented an award or awards for service to basketball beyond coaching. A single winner was named from 1974 through 1979. Multiple winners have been named from 1980 to the present, although no winners were named in 1991 (no clinic was held that year) or 2021 (when the 2020 winners were honored because of the COVID-19 pandemic).

This year’s awards will be presented as part of the 2025 IBCA Clinic on April 24-25 at Mt. Vernon High School in Fortville, Ind.

 Harold Welter has been best-known as a play-by-play announcer who began covering high school sports in 1965 at WRIN Radio in Rensselaer and continued at WLOI Radio in LaPorte. Over 57 years and in part of six decades, he broadcast more than 3,500 sporting events, traveling more than 250,000 miles to 147 different locations to call games. 

            Since establishing WKVI Radio in Knox as its first general manager at age 24, Welter has concentrated on covering high school sports at nine area schools – Knox, North Judson, Oregon-Davis, Winamac, West Central, John Glenn, Culver Community, South Central (Union Mills) and Tri-Township (formerly known as LaCrosse). Welter’s radio play-by-play on WKVI has been featured on ABC-TV’s “NightLine” and his signature shout of “unbelievable” when witnessing exciting plays has been a familiar refrain for three generations of players in the Kankakee Valley area.

            Welter stepped away from his radio career in 1973 to become a congressional assistant in Washington, D.C. He returned to Knox in 1975 to start Financial Partners of Knox LLC and to return to the airwaves on WKVI. Welter has also covered college sports, but his main focus has been high school sports. He has done play-by-play for basketball, football, baseball, softball, volleyball and wrestling.

            He also has hosted the “Saturday Sportsline” coaches’ interview show on WKVI for more than 50 years with guests including six Hall of Fame coaches. He continues to contribute to the Saturday show by interviewing players he has covered with a weekly segment called “Where Are They Now?” He has used radio sportscasting as a positive vehicle for listeners and for promoting young people. He has taught classes for high school-age students at his church and frequently speaks with high school classes about life’s challenges and their destination of greatness.

            Welter received an IHSAA Distinguished Media Service Award in 1989-90. The 1963 Knox High School graduate was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994. He received the Broadcaster of the Year Award in 2004 from the Indiana Football Coaches Association, which was memorialized in the Congressional Record for the 108th Congress by Indiana representative Steve Buyer. Welter also was inducted into the Indiana Sportswriters & Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame in 2023.

            He and his wife, Becky, have four children, Susan, Laura, Cheryl and Nathan – and five grandchildren. Cheryl was killed in an auto accident the night before homecoming during her senior year of high school. In memory of her, Welter and his wife established the Cheryl Lyn Welter Charitable Foundation to help teachers who work with underprivileged children in rural Indiana schools. Welter published a book in 2024, “Joy in the Mourning (Growing Through Grief),” which tells Cheryl’s story and the story of how and why the Foundation was established.

Structure Fire in Knox

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

On Match 17th at approximately 16:14, the Knox-Center Township Fire Department responded to Burger King in Knox for a reported structure fire. Engine 3 and Ladder 1 responded. Units arrived on the scene to find no fire conditions showing from the exterior of the structure. A light haze was present throughout the structure. KFD members investigated and determined a small grease fire had caused the automatic fire suppression system to activate. There was no fire upon our arrival and very minimal damage was done.

Starke County EMS and Knox Police Officers also responded to the scene.

The Hamlet Fire Department and the North Judson Fire Department also responded as part of our Box Alarm System however were disregarded after no fire was found.

Picture and Story provided by The Knox Center Township Fire Department.

WYMR MAX 98.3 FM – Kankakee Valley Broadcasting is looking to hire a Radio Sales Account Executive!

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

Do you have a passion for radio and a drive to succeed? Kankakee Valley Broadcasting and WYMR 98.3 FM, Marshall County’s #1 radio station, are seeking a dynamic and motivated Sales Account Executive to join our winning team!

Read more: WYMR MAX 98.3 FM – Kankakee Valley Broadcasting is looking to hire a Radio Sales Account Executive!

About the Role:

As a Radio Sales Account Executive, you will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with local businesses, developing creative advertising campaigns, and exceeding revenue goals. You will work closely with clients to understand their marketing needs and provide customized solutions using the power of radio advertising.

Responsibilities:

  • Prospect and develop new business through cold calling, networking, and referrals.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with existing clients.
  • Conduct needs assessments and create customized advertising proposals.
  • Present advertising solutions to clients and negotiate contracts.
  • Manage client accounts and ensure campaign success.
  • Achieve and exceed monthly sales targets.
  • Stay up-to-date on industry trends and competitive landscape.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to ensure smooth campaign execution.

Qualifications:

  • Proven track record in sales, preferably in media or advertising.
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
  • Strong understanding of marketing principles and advertising strategies.
  • Ability to build rapport and establish long-term relationships with clients.
  • Self-motivated, results-oriented, and highly organized.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office.
  • Passion for radio and local community.

Pay Structure:

We offer a competitive package including base salary plus high commission percentage, as well as, paid time off, and opportunities for professional development.

To Apply:

If you are a driven and enthusiastic individual with a passion for sales and radio, we encourage you to apply! Please send your resume and cover letter to lenny@wkvi.com, no calls please

Join the team at WYMR 98.3 FM and Kankakee Valley Broadcasting and help local businesses thrive!

WYMR 98.3 FM – Your Local Radio Connection!(Kankakee Valley Broadcasting is an Equal Opportunity Employer.)

Two Arrested Following La Porte County Crash

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Kally Rowe
Austin Higgins

Two people were arrested Thursday, February 13 after La Porte County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 6500 north block of County Road 400 West in reference to a motor vehicle crash.  A pickup truck was found off the east side of the roadway in a ditch.  There was also debris scattered about in the area due to the pickup truck crashing into several mailboxes before becoming stuck in the ditch.

The driver of the pickup truck was identified as 25-year-old Austin T. Higgins. Police say Higgins exhibited indicators of being impaired and was later taken into custody.

The passenger of the pickup truck was identified as 30-year-old Kally N. Rowe. Rowe was asked to exit the pickup truck, to which she refused, according to the report. She was asked several additional times to exit.  However, she reportedly continued to refuse and became increasingly aggressive and belligerent. 

Rowe was assisted out of the vehicle.  She then physically resisted before being taken into custody. Prior to being transported from the scene, Rowe projectile spat into the direction of a deputy, according to the report.

During transport to the La Porte County Jail, police say Rowe began kicking the windshield of the police car causing the deputy to stop his vehicle.  Rowe was re-secured in the vehicle while she continued to be non-compliant.  Upon arrival at the at the jail, Rowe’s combative behavior continued where she allegeldy kicked a jail deputy. 

Higgins was arrested on preliminary charges of operating while intoxicated. Rowe was arrested on preliminary charged of resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct.

The La Porte and Trail Creek Police Departments assisted at the scene.

Suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Knox P.E.O. Chapter Awards Scholarship to Brianna Korcha

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
Brianna Korcha (left) receives P.E.O’s scholarship check from Chapter Treasurer LaVern Smith at the Korcha home in Knox.

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Chapter B of the P.E.O. Sisterhood recently presented a scholarship check to Brianna E. Korcha of Knox. Brianna, previously a P.E.O. STAR Scholarship awardee, is a 2022 honors graduate of Knox Community High School. She attends Indiana University in Bloomington and is part of the Hutton Honors College. She majors in biology, with a minor in English.

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