Knox Council Approves Purchase of Parkview Lots

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council this week approved a resolution purchasing five lots in Parkview Heights. City attorney David Matsey said the county has already approved a resolution and this resolution for the city is strongly based on the county’s version.

The properties the city will acquire in Parkview are located at 322 Spruce Street , 424 and 426 Maple Street, and a parcel on Clark Street. The Spruce Street house is actually located on two lots. The parcels will be purchased for a cost of $35 per property, and the city council has expressed interest in using those properties – and other properties in Parkview Heights that the city has acquired over the years – to benefit the city.

The council approved a motion purchasing the lots.

Knox Council Receives Update on Jail Water Line Issue

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The attorney for the city of Knox presented an update on the water line issue regarding the construction of the new county jail facility at the meeting of the city council this week. Attorney David Matsey told the council that the project is making progress, and he recently reviewed the final draft of the memorandum of understanding with County Attorney Martin Lucas. In addition, the owners of the property to be used by the county to build the jail are reviewing the documents related to the easement.

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Marsh Manor Purchased In Tax Sale – Buyer Unhappy

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

Knox City Attorney David Matsey told the city council this week that Marsh Manor, located at 304 S. Main St., was recently sold in the county’s online tax sale.

Matsey says the woman who purchased the property was unaware that the building had previously caught fire, and he says she paid about $15,000 in a bidding war on the property. The back-taxes on the property are currently around $18,000.

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Knox City Council Adopts Anti-Nepotism Policy

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council last week passed a motion to adopt a policy regarding conflicts of interest and nepotism in office, a policy required by new state law as of today. City Attorney David Matsey says this is the first step required to conform to Indiana’s new guidelines, and they will next pass a resolution and draft an ordinance reenforcing the policy.

The council adopted the minimum provisions required by state statutes for nepotism, prohibiting a person from supervising a direct relative. Matsey pointed out that the law does not prevent grandparents from supervising grandchildren in office, and it only affects direct supervisors.

The law only applies to future hirings, and Matsey told the council that a list of all employees will need to be made to note employees that are related.

Kenneth K. Wallace’s Attorney Files Motion to Dismiss Case in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Kenneth K. Wallace

Kenneth K. Wallace made an appearance in the Starke Circuit Court Tuesday morning. Wallace’s attorney told Judge Kim Hall that he was interested in obtaining field notes from officers on duty that had responded to the incident. In addition, he requested several other forms of information that he says he was not provided with as part of the discovery process.

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Comments Show Residents not in Favor Lisa Owens’ Possible Early Prison Release

Posted on Author WKVI
Lisa Owens

A deluge of posts came into the comment area on the WKVI Discussion Board about the story on Lisa Owens yesterday. Owens is the woman who is reportedly going to get an early release from prison after being convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter in the death of her husband in 2001. Owens was sentenced to 40 years by then Starke Circuit Court Judge David Matsey after being found guilty of shooting and killing her husband in the shower. Current Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall was the Prosecutor in the case.

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A Recap of the Top 10 Stories of 2010

Posted on Author WKVI

Story #10

Tony Kerby Memorial at the Yellow River

Tony Kerby lost his life in the Yellow River attempting to save his younger brother’s life. The good looking boy went in the treacherous waters to save his 8-year-old brother Dominick when the youngster slipped off a rock. Dominick was saved when a person in the park pulled him to safety, but Tony could not swim to the banks.

Community members were so saddened by the death that a cross was put at the site to honor his efforts and his life. The memorial was created by Shelby Clemons of North Judson, his wife, Danielle, and Misty Baldridge of Knox.

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Top 10 Stories of 2010; Story #4

Posted on Author WKVI

The number four story of 2010 is the Republican resurgence in Starke County.

Long a bastion of Democrat government, the Republicans rode the wave of national sentiment to local success. The major impact will be felt on the Starke County Council where the Republicans won three of four seats up for election. Tony Radkiewicz defeated longtime council member Chuck Estok, Mitchell Semans defeated Becky Ferch in a seat that had been held by Dan Awald, and Dave Pearman defeated E.J. Rogers in the seat held by Bill Dulin.
Judge Kim Hall beat back a challenge by former Judge David Matsey by a wide margin.

The state races went Republican, as did the U.S. Senate Race that saw Dan Coats return to the senate by a wide margin. Democrat Representative Joe Donnelly was returned to his seat with a narrow victory over Jackie Walorski, and Democrat Nancy Dembowski got by Frances Ellert for the 17th District House seat. Both candidates, though, blamed the votes that went to the Libertarian candidates for their defeats.

The Republicans gave notice in Starke County that the GOP Party is back, and to be reckoned with in the future.

Knox City Council Approves Knox Industrial Park Name Change

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

At the recent meeting of the Knox City Council, Starke County Development Foundation Director, Charles Weaver, requested that the Council change the name of the Knox Industrial Park to the Starke County Rail Park. The Council unanimously approved the name change and the proposal will be taken to the Starke County Commissioners for approval. The name was changed to give it a county feel rather than a city feel.

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