The Knox Community School Facility Study Committee is going to meet with ICE Miller and Umbaugh and Associates this month to talk about what the school corporation needs to do in order to move forward with the Palmer Wing at the Elementary School. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says something needs to be done.
State Road 23 in Koontz Lake will be closed between County Roads 1000 East and 825 North beginning Monday, April 9th. INDOT crews will be constructing a new roadway and bridge at the Koontz Lake dam project site. The road is expected to reopen in July, weather permitting.
Work is being done to replace the Koontz Lake Dam and straighten out the curve in the road that passes over the dam on State Road 23. The project is expected to be completed this year.
Although a commodities truck delivery is coming next week, the Pulaski County Human Service’s Food Pantry is in need of items that cannot be purchased with food stamps.
The pantry is in need of personal items, as well as shampoo, toiletries, childrens’ diapers, and laundry detergent, as well as a number of other items. According to Midge Mendiola of the pantry, they are stocked with meats and other food–though the organization has seen an increase in demand due to unemployment and the economy. With rising food prices, Mendiola explained, food stamps are being stretched thin.
It’s the political campaigning season and the Indiana Department of Transportation wants to remind candidates that all campaign signs are prohibited from federal and state highway rights-of-way.
By law, INDOT crews are required to remove all unauthorized signs within the right-of-way. Prohibited areas include all interstates and their interchanges, all intersections where at least one local, state or federal road intersects with a state or federal highway, and an area that extends from a federal or state highway to the back of a ditch, to the fence line or up to utility poles.
The Annual Easter Egg Hunt for residents of Hamlet is planned for Saturday in the town park. At 1:00 p.m., children will scramble to pick up as many eggs as they can in the hopes of winning one of four grand prizes.
Four age groups have been set up for the event: ages two and under, ages three to five, ages six to eight, and ages nine and up. The eggs for the hunt were provided by the Park Department at no cost.
WKVI Radio has received word from June Binkley that her brother, Don Zingarelli, passed away in Florida. Don, at one time, was a Knox businessman and he was a Knox High School graduate. His most famous endeavor was as the owner-operator of Coiffures by Donato located in downtown Knox. His wife, Mary Ann, writes the following information:
This is Maundy Thursday in the United States, and it is celebrated with services in many Christian churches. Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday, commemorates the institution of the Eucharist, a Christian sacrament that involves consecrating bread and wine. The term “Maundy” derives from the Latin word for “commandment.” The New Testament in the Bible describes events that took place on Holy Thursday. These events include Jesus washing his disciples’ feet and the Last Supper before he was arrested. Many Maundy Thursday church traditions come from practices that took place in Europe for many centuries.
Early this morning, Indiana State Police Trooper Lawrence McFarrin responded to a semi that hit the support of an overhead informational sign on I-80/94 causing the sign to partially come down blocking the interstate.
Fifth District State Senator Ed Charbonneau, of Valparaiso, has championed a bill that passed the state legislature this year that would allow local communities to eliminate personal property tax on equipment for potential companies. This, according to Charbonneau, will make Northern Indiana more appealing to hi-tech companies with high paying jobs to consider locating in our area.
“We’re doing whatever we can as a state to remain one of the best states for business friendliness because that means we’re going to be attractive to bringing new jobs into the state,” stated Charbonneau.
The North Judson Town Board received an update regarding the transition from a three-member board to a five-member board this week. A public meeting regarding the possibility has been scheduled for Thursday, April 12th at 5:00 p.m. CT. The meeting, which will likely take place at the Civic Center, will feature a representative from the Indiana Association of Clerk-Treasurers, and will give an idea of what requirements must be met in order to make the transition.
The Starke County Commissioners gave Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall the go-ahead this week to have the boom truck repaired. At the March meeting, Siddall said the truck had been sidelined because of safety concerns and he asked to have it inspected. Siddall said that he was not willing to send an employee up in a 55-foot boom basket without first having it inspected and repaired. At this week’s board meeting, the needed repairs and cost estimate report was given to the commissioners who approved the request to have it brought up to safety standards.
FEMA and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources will be hosting a Flood Risk Information Open House on Tuesday, April 17th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Knox Community Center. The Open House will provide Starke County residents with an opportunity to review a recently completed preliminary Flood Insurance Study and its accompanying preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
Local groups are planning fundraisers to help pay for annual Fourth of July fireworks celebrations.
The Winamac VFW and the Winamac Kiwanis Club are teaming up to raise money for the Fourth of July display at the Winamac Town Park. A fish fry fundraiser will be held on Friday, April 6th from 4:00-7:30 p.m. ET at the Winamac VFW. Marita Grisel, President of the Winamac Kiwanis Club, says that the VFW has returned to their prior supplier for the larger fish filets. The dinner is $8.00 which includes fish, baked beans and coleslaw. All the money raised will help defray the rising cost of the fireworks.
The Knox Community School Board approved the addition of a new Data Systems Coordinator position Monday night.
There are so many tests that need to be dissected every year from the ISTEP, End of Course Assessment Tests and to the NWEA testing at the lower grade levels, one person needs to be in charge of assessing the data being brought into the corporation.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa says that data is helpful to figure out lesson plans and unit plans and much more.
A Victorian High Tea is being planned by local residents looking to combine a fun afternoon and support a worthy cause at the same time. Proceeds from the event will be given to the Community Services of Starke County’s food pantry.
The event will be held at the Knox Community Center on Thursday, April 26th, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A brunch will be provided by Christo’s Family Dining and served by local celebrities. A silent auction will be held, along with other entertainment, elegant decorations, drawings, and a free gift for all attendees. All tickets must be purchased in advance as no tickets will be sold at the door.
The SCILL Center Director Jerry Gurrado announced this week that a literacy program is coming to Starke County. Gurrado talked about the program’s focus.
“We had a training session at the library in Knox, and we had four volunteers that were trained,” explained Gurrado. “If anyone is in need of getting training in basic reading or math skills, the courses are taught in a one-on-one situation instead of in a big classroom.”
In 1999, Knox Community School Board members were reviewing plans for a proposed $15 million renovation project of Knox Middle School.
One of the biggest concerns was moving the football field to the high school.
Costs were totaled after adding the new addition, renovation, demolition of the existing building, site work, new football field, track, concession building, restrooms, and locker rooms.
The Knox Community School Board has taken action against a teacher accused of inappropriate behavior with a 16-year-old student.
“The Board did approve a letter of suspension with pay for Mr. Ryan Corbin, teacher at Knox High School,” said Superintendent A.J. Gappa. “Beyond that, I’m not at liberty to discuss personnel matters so I have no further comment.”
The Board approved the letter during their regular Board meeting last night.
Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall set a $15,000 bond for Knox Community School swim coach Robert R. Corbin, who is charged with two counts of Attempted Child Seduction as Class D felonies. Corbin, 27, is also prohibited from making any contact with the victim.
In the affidavit in support of probable cause filed today in circuit court by Starke County Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff and prepared by Knox City Police Department Detective David Combs, it is alleged that on Wednesday, March 28, Knox Police Department Officer Chad Keen responded to a call and went to a residence in Knox. He was informed by the victim’s father that his sixteen-year-old daughter had been receiving inappropriate messages from a Knox teacher, and Officer Keen took printed pages of Facebook messages between his daughter and Corbin.
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EMS Director Paul Mathewson appeared before the Starke County Commissioners yesterday and shared a story that points out the advantages of moving to Advanced Life Service here. On March 23rd, the ambulance crew was called out to a case where a television fell on a five year old girl from a dresser. Mathewson was on the run and reported that the likelihood of recovery initially looked gloomy, but because of the advanced training, the crew was able to begin treatment and take her into IU Health Starke Hospital. Once there, the girl was stabilized and a Med Flight helicopter was called in to get her to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis as quickly as possible.
