Knox Community School Board Approves Small Cafeteria Price Increase

The Knox Community School Board approved a small increase in cafeteria prices for the 2011-2012 school year:

“This year the State is requiring schools to increase by at least a dime,” said Superintendent, A.J. Gappa. “We’re going to hold our breakfast the same but we’re going to increase our lunch price at the Elementary, Middle and High Schools by $.20. Next year, our breakfasts will still be $1.10 for each student at all of the buildings, but lunch at the Elementary School will be $1.70 and lunch at the Middle School and High School will be $1.95.”

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Knox City Police Department Acquires Hummer

Knox City Police Department Hummer

The Knox City Police Department recently acquired a 1985 Hummer from the Federal Surplus Property Acquisition Program that Police Chief Clint Norem said they received at no cost to the Department.

“Any property that the Federal Government has or has purchased and no longer needs is made available to law enforcement agencies throughout the United States,” explained Norem. “In order to acquisition this property, we submit an application to them and once approved, we’re assigned an ID and we can go to a website and review this property. Anything that can be used by our department, we submit the request. Once they review it and we can provide a reason of how we can use it and they agree with that, then they will allow us to pick up the property.” Continue reading

City of Knox Fireworks Celebration July 2nd

The City of Knox Fireworks celebration is scheduled for Saturday, July 2nd at the Starke County Airport. Mayor Rick Chambers said the gate will open at 4:00 p.m. so you can take advantage of all the pre-fireworks activities.

“Besides the many food booths, we’ll also have a remote control model airplane club putting on a demonstration all afternoon,” previewed Mayor Chambers. “We will have some ramps set up for a BMX bike riding display and we will have the local Ham Radio Club set up and putting on a demonstration. The Fire Department is sponsoring a car cruise-in and for an additional $5.00 you can cruise down the runway at the airport behind the fire trucks. The best part is that the entry fee for all of this is still $5.00 a carload.”

Thieves Hit Medaryville Marathon Station

A burglary occurred at the Marathon Station in Medaryville on Sunday, June 5th.

The power had gone out in the store late Saturday and the store was forced to close. At approximately 1:30 a.m. ET, an employee drove around the store to check on it and all doors were secured. The store manager arrived at the business about four hours later and discovered the west door had been kicked open. The suspect(s) went into the cash register area and forced open a change box, but no money was reported missing. After a preliminary inventory check, it was found that seven to eight cartons of cigarettes were stolen, seven or eight 24 pack cases of beer were stolen along with an unknown amount of alcohol.

The police continue to investigate this incident. An Indiana State Police Crime Scene Technician was called to investigate the scene. If you know anything about this incident, call the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department and leave an anonymous tip at (574) 946-6655. The case has been turned over to Pulaski County investigations and the Medaryville Police Department.

Bridge 156 Project Still Hopeful to be Complete by Fall Harvest

County bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch

The Starke County Commissioners received a promising update regarding Bridge 156 over the Robbins Ditch on Range Road on Monday. Surveys are expected to be done soon, Debco has provided the loads on the trusses, and everything is expected to be back in operating order in time for our local farmers to use the road during their busy harvest season.

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Pulaski County Commissioners Grant Request for Full-Time Health Nurse

Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede

Terri Hansen of the Pulaski County Health Department informed the Commissioners this week that she has received a letter from the entire health board requesting permission to hire the current part-time nurse as full-time, which would help tremendously with the amount of work they are now required to do. Last week, the Health Department began charging an administrative fee for vaccinations and other shots, and this has been generating roughly $200 per day. With this new income, hiring the employee full-time should not be a problem, especially since the additional cost of the employee would be covered by the Master Tobacco grant money, and the only cost to the county would be to cover her benefits.

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Star City Man Arrested on Methamphetamine Related Charges

Nathan VanDerAa

Nathan VanDerAa, 33, of Star City, was arrested in Monterey on Friday, June 3rd, on suspicion of Possession of Methamphetamine.

An officer from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department reportedly saw VanDerAa pass by him and noted that he was speeding on 700 North in the area of 450 East. As the officer was turning around to follow VanDerAa, the officer allegedly saw VanDerAa’s left hand reach out of the driver’s window and let go of a bright white bag. The officer retrieved the bag and it contained a white powdery substance that later field-tested to be positive for methamphetamine.

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Two Injured in Motorcycle Accident in Pulaski County

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department investigated a single motorcycle accident on Tuesday, May 31st, near the intersection of 1000 South and 1400 West. The driver of the motorcycle, Kyle Anderson, 23, of Buffalo and his passenger, Joshua Anderson, 21, were traveling westbound on County Road 1000 South when the motorcycle collided with a deer. The motorcycle then struck a concrete culvert and a utility pole. The pair were located in the ditch on the north side of the roadway and were airlifted to South Bend Memorial for their injuries. The extent of their injuries is unknown. Alcohol is not suspected in this case.

Joseph Giselbach Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Joseph Giselbach

Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall sentenced Joseph Giselbach to 10 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections, with no part of the sentence suspended, on a charge of Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Class B Felony and Possession of Methamphetamine, a Class D Felony.

Giselbach, 32, of Knox, plead guilty to the charges. Judge Hall will recommend to the Department of Corrections that Giselbach be placed into an intensive methamphetamine treatment program while in prison. If he successfully completes the program, he may petition to have his sentence modified.

Short Vehicle Pursuit Leads to Drug Arrest

A short vehicle pursuit on Sunday, June 5th, lead to the arrest of a suspect on drug charges.

A Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department officer recognized Jeffrey Jacobs, 24, of Winamac, traveling on State Road 14 headed west in his truck. The officer initiated a traffic stop and Jacobs did not stop. Jacobs turned onto Logan Street and continued until heavy traffic forced him to pull over. When Jacobs stopped, he unfastened his seat belt and exited the the door. The officer ordered him to stop. Jacobs did stop and he was placed into custody.

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Herman Hopkins Arrested on Charges of Burglary, Battery

Herman Hopkins

Officers from the Knox City Police Department arrested a Knox man on several charges, including Burglary, Saturday night.

Herman Hopkins is suspected of entering the home of Virginia Neace on Ellis Street and battering her son, Kenneth Neace. The Neace family also reported items missing from the home. When Hopkins was taken into custody, police found him in possession of mechanic’s gloves, a walkman tape player and headphones, an electronic car charger, radar detector, needle-nose pliers, a Sears Craftsman lawnmower key, batteries, and loose change. Kenneth Neace was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital for an evaluation of his injuries.

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Starke County Youth Club to Offer Summer School

The Starke County Youth Club will be offering summer school for Knox Middle School students and North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis Elementary students.

Students will be engaged in Math and Language Arts during the summer, but no textbooks will be used. Hands-on computer applications and games and activities will help students learn the skills needed in those subjects. During the afternoon, 20 camps will be offered that range from science and sporting events to dancing and music.

The Starke County Youth Club summer school program will begin June 20th and go until July 22nd. Transportation will be provided.

Boater Education Course this Saturday

A boater education course will be offered Saturday, June 11th, at the Bass Lake Property Owners Building from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT

“This course is free course for anyone willing to take it. They need to attend the entire day. At the end there will be a short exam. Upon completion of that, anybody that takes the course will have their boater education certificate. Those folks that are 15, or may not have a valid Driver’s License, can then legally operate a motorboat in the State of Indiana,” said Conservation Officer, Keith Wildeman.

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IU Health Starke Hospital, Knox Elementary PTO Community Project a Success

PTO donates tools to park staff. (L to R) Patrick Jesuit, Assistant Park Superintendent, Shelly Kemble, Park Superintendent George Byer and park employee Clarence Marshall

The Knox Community Elementary School PTO and staff members from IU Health Starke Hospital participated in a community project at the Knox Elementary School. IU Health Starke Hospital donated $3,000 and the PTO bought two semi loads of mulch which was placed around the playground equipment and leftover mulch was placed in flower beds and other places around the Elementary School. Continue reading

North Judson Mint Royalty Crowned

Justin Reynolds, Shayna Shelton, Sarah Moore, Michael Ray Wilcox III, Jesiah McDaniel, Kenzie McDaniel, and WKVI's Tom Berg

The North Judson Mint Festival Committee presented the Royal Mint Pageant on Saturday June 4th, 2011 at the North Judson San-Pierre High School.

The winners are as follows:
Royal Mint King: Justin Reynolds, 15, son of Eric and Lorrie Reynolds. Justin attends Knox Community High School.
Royal Mint Queen: Shayna Shelton, 18, daughter of Linda Harrison. Shayna attends North Judson San-Pierre High School.
Royal Mint Princess: Sarah Moore, 12, daughter of David M and Jennifer Moore. Sarah attends North Judson San-Pierre Middle School.
Royal Mint Prince: Michael Ray Wilcox, III , 12, son of Michael and Beth Wilcox. Michael attends North Judson San-Pierre Middle School.
Royal Little Mister Mint: Jesiah McDaniel, 5, son of Devin and Teresa McDaniel. Jesiah attends Little Lights Pre-School.
Royal Little Miss Mint: Kenzie McDaniel, 9, daughter of Devin and Teresa McDaniel. Kenzie attends North Judson San-Pierre Liberty Elementary School.

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Lyme Disease A Concern this Time of Year

With the spring and summer months upon us the tick-borne Lyme Disease concern is with us.

“Deer ticks are the ones that primarily carry the Lyme Disease,” said Starke County Health Nurse, Frank Lynch. “With any tick bite, you want to keep an eye on the area where you’ve been bitten where they’ve attached themselves. Keep an eye on that area and make sure there isn’t any redness or swelling that looks like a bulls-eye mark. You’ll want to consult with your doctor whenever you come across a tick bite. It seems like this time of year, people are finding them right and left. The dogs are carrying them in and people are carrying them in on their pant legs. If the kids are playing outside, make sure you’re checking for ticks on their head and all over their body.”

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Jeremiah Harvey Named WKVI/Tyler Roth Athlete of the Year

Mr. Roth, Trenda Garcia, Jeremiah Harvey, Mrs. Roth and Harold Welter

Our Tyler Roth/WKVI Athlete of the Year for the 2010-2011 sports season is Jeremiah Harvey, a member of the Football, Wrestling and Track teams at Culver High School.

Jeremiah capped a remarkable Senior season with a State Championship in the Heavyweight division at the State Wrestling Meet in February, and will be further recognized as a member of the North All-Star Team in their game against the South in July. Continue reading