A Knox High School program that pairs special needs students with buddies in the general ed population has gotten a funding boost for one of its activities. The school board Tuesday accepted a $700 Target Field Trip Grant. That will help with the cost of tickets for the Best Buddies program’s upcoming trip to see a live production of The Lion King in South Bend.
Continue readingThe Hamlet Police Department received funding for police vests and community outreach efforts, thanks to the generosity of the local community. Town Marshal Clint Norem told the town council Wednesday that the Knox VFW donated $1,800 for vests, on top of the funding that was authorized by the council.
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A new Starke County treasurer will be selected during a Democratic Party caucus tonight. Kay Chaffins, Debbie Keiper and Tammie Taulbee are vying to fill the seat, according to the Starke County Clerk’s Office. The winner will replace Kasey Clark. She stepped down to take over as treasurer for the Knox Community School Corporation.
Continue readingStarke County Democrats will be choosing a couple new officials during a caucus next week. County Treasurer Kasey Clark recently resigned to take over as treasurer for the Knox Community School Corporation. Additionally, Kenny Wallace says he’s stepping down from his position of Starke County Democratic Party chair.
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The Starke County Youth Club’s annual radiothon is less than a month a way. It’s a chance for residents to help the organization continue to provide its after-school, summer, and recreational programs across the county. “We’re usually there after school for three hours, making sure kids have a safe place to be, making sure they get help with their homework and their academic needs,” says Executive Director Irene Szakonyi, “and then expanding on that, so kids get exposure to other cultures. They learn about technology and robotics, and maybe they’re even learning to cook and having a workforce readiness or life skill.” Continue reading
Inmates at the Starke County Jail have been spreading some holiday cheer by making Christmas wreaths. Jail Warden Phil Cherry says the project was inspired by the jail’s popular garden program. “It was just kind of a natural extension from what we did all summer, and the guys thought it would be something admirable to give back to the community,” he explains. “It was mostly focused on senior citizens and veterans.”
Residents of Oregon and Davis townships who need help with leaf raking can get some assistance next week. The Oregon-Davis School Corporation is having a Community Service Day on Thursday, October 26.
A caucus to find a replacement for the clerk-treasurer position in North Judson is scheduled for this Thursday. The current clerk-treasurer, Alicia Collins, announced her resignation during the first North Judson Town Council meeting in October.
Alicia Collin’s last North Judson Town Council meeting will be October 16th and her final day at the office is October 20th. She told council members she will make her self available for training during the transition period. Continue reading
A caucus has been scheduled to find a replacement for the clerk-treasurer position in the Town of North Judson. The current clerk-treasurer, Alicia Collins, submitted her resignation to the North Judson Town Council yesterday at their first meeting in October.
During the clerk-treasurer’s report Collins stated she would be leaving the office in good standing, with the 2018 budget pending approval and all other records and filing up to date. Her final day will be October 20th and she said she will make her self available for training during the transition period. Continue reading
Giving students the chance to play a musical instrument is the goal of a fundraiser taking place this weekend in Knox. Drew’s Gift of Music will host its sixth annual event this Saturday afternoon at 4:00 at the Knox VFW.
A bunch of innocent people will be taken to “jail” today, to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Continue reading
“We can do better.” That’s the message several Democratic candidates for statewide elected office had for Starke County voters Friday. Among those rallying a crowd of supporters at the Knox VFW was gubernatorial candidate John Gregg. Continue reading
Plans are shaping up for the Independence Day celebration in downtown Knox. A parade down Main Street into Wythogan Park on Saturday, July 2nd will kick off the day of events leading up to the county fireworks display. Mayor Dennis Estok and the Knox City Council have opted to move them from the airport to the park this year.
Parade applications are available at city hall for anyone who would like to have a float or vehicle and can be picked up during business hours. Continue reading
A local soldier is returning home from Afghanistan this evening. Cody Foust will be welcomed home with a police and fire escort and a salute at the Knox VFW. Continue reading
The Knox VFW is boasting some newly replaced ceiling tiles in their building, thanks to a Team Depot grant and the efforts of associates at the Valparaiso Home Depot. Joe Lapointe, department head of plumbing at the Home Depot, said they donated $4600 worth of material to the VFW through a Team Depot grant from Home Depot’s corporate level and associates from the store installed the tiles free of charge.
The Knox VFW yesterday welcomed home two local heroes: Clinton Jordon and Jared Dietrich, two U.S. Army veterans who returned home from one-year tours in Afghanistan. Jordon and Dietrich both hail from North Judson and even grew up together as they both attended the same school.
A sign was hung between flag poles at the VFW welcoming Jordon back to the community, and family and friends were present to welcome both Jordon and Dietrich home.
The Knox VFW and American Legion posts will participate Sunday in the Wreaths Across America program. Three wreaths, donated by Hensler Nursery, will be laid at the Courthouse Memorials at 1 p.m. CT. There will be a short ceremony conducted by the veteran’s organizations.
Wreaths Across America is a national campaign to honor our fallen heros, and Knox is one of 545 locations across America that will participate in the program.
Most of wreaths will be laid at Arlington National Cemetery.
Veteran’s Day programs were held in communities and schools throughout the Kankakee Valley area today. At Knox, Travis Flora, a United States Marine veteran spoke to the assembled students at the high school and middle school using the theme, “Freedom Isn’t Free.” Following the presentation, Flora told what Veteran’s Day means to him.
“Veteran’s Day is a time where we pause and reflect and thank those millions of people who have come before us and those millions of people who are currently serving and defending our way of life,” said Flora. “I would like those students to realize that within every veteran there’s a story and that they should ask those veterans their story. They may not hear what they want to hear but in the end, if they listen, they’ll have a better understanding of what a veteran is. When you see that sign outside of the VFW that reads ‘Freedom is not Free’, they should realize that our freedom has been bought and paid for by people who have signed their name on the dotted line and sacrificed.”
The Knox VFW Post #748 will be hosting Memorial Day services until Noon on Monday, May 30th, where the the closing ceremonies and the retiring of the guard will be held at the Post Home. Several veterans, firefighters, police officers, and National Guard members will be standing vigil at the Post and a Civil War camp will be set up in the back of the facility.
Memorial Day Services in the Kankakee Valley began Sunday at the Knox VFW Post 748. The posting of the guard ceremonies began at 12:00 noon. Speakers included Tim Shepherd of the VFW, Dewayne Arndt, representing Congressman Joe Donnelly, State Representative Nancy Dembowski, and Knox Mayor Rick Chambers.
