The annual radiothon was held on WZPL on the Dave Smiley’s show and the goal was to raise $6,000 for each child’s wish and over $120,000 was needed to fulfill all of the wishes for children who suffer from life threatening illnesses.
Vance Flagg of Knox made a wish to go to San Diego and Sea World to visit all of the animals as he loves them so much. The wish was granted during the radiothon yesterday morning.
This year, the cast will be performing “The Seussical,” which is based on 21 different Dr. Seuss stories. The musical features Horton as the main character with narration by the Cat in the Hat. Director Terril Hahn said this is going to be a great show, thanks to the productiveness of their larger-than-usual cast.
A domestic dispute in Knox led police to lock down the Knox Elementary School as a precaution yesterday.
Knox City Police were called to a Knox residence in response to threats that had been made toward family members. When police arrived on the scene, officers learned that the threats that had been made were related to a domestic incident that had occurred the night before. Unfortunately, the male subject had left the home before officers arrived and authorities believed he was in an unstable state of mind.
The Knox City Council at their meeting this week passed a motion to amend the salary ordinance for city police, specifically the pay grade for the corporal position.
Mayor Rick Chambers explained that at some point in time, the corporal’s pay got spread out farther than it should have from the pay for other positions. He said that whenever an officer receives a promotion, he naturally receives a pay raise, but the gap in pay from patrolman to corporal is a $912 increase – way too much, according to Chambers.
A domestic dispute in Knox led police to lock down the Knox Elementary School as a precaution this morning.
Knox City Police were called to a Knox residence in response to threats that had been made toward family members. When police arrived on the scene, officers learned that the threats that had been made were related to a domestic incident that had occurred the night before. Unfortunately, the male subject had left the home before officers arrived and authorities believed he was in an unstable state of mind.
On top of that, police soon learned that the man had made additional threats that morning to remove his children from the Knox Elementary School. Because police believed the man to be mentally unstable, police contacted the school and, through cooperation with the Knox Police Department, Starke County Sheriff’s Department, and the Knox Community School Corporation, the building was locked down. Students were kept inside and the building was secured while officers remained on the premises.
Fortunately, the subject was soon located in LaPorte County and arrested, and the lock-down was lifted shortly afterward.
In honor of Nancy Dembowski’s unwavering dedication and service to the city of Knox, the city council this week passed a motion authorizing the renaming of the Knox Community Center to the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center.
The council originally discussed the idea of honorarily renaming a portion of Main Street, beginning at Claybaugh Drive extending south to County Road 150 South, to Dembowski Drive, but after a lengthy discussion, the council decided to rename the community center instead. Chambers said this was due to Dembowski being instrumental in its construction years ago.
Wythogan Park in Knox is closed for the season, but repairs and improvements are still ongoing. Park Superintendent George Byer told the city council this week that they are currently waiting for the delivery of 30 trees to be planted in the park, and crews are also working on installing a new piece of playground equipment.
It’s one of those things that you just have to see it to believe it.
One Knox resident was surprised to find out that a deer had jumped through a picture window at his home on W. Lake Street Sunday morning.
The Starke County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a resident on Lake Street who stated that a deer reportedly had just jumped through his neighbor’s picture window. It jumped in and jumped right back out again. No other damage was reported to the home.
The Knox City Police Department responded to the scene.
The K-9 aspect of the Knox City Police Department may soon be a thing of the past, as K-9 Marco’s current handler, Chad Keen, is leaving the department and Police Chief Clint Norem said there is no one in the department interested in undergoing the training or taking on the extra responsibilities that being a K-9 handler entails.
Norem told the city council last night that Keen is leaving by Dec. 1 for a new position in Logansport, and he will be leaving Marco with the department. Because Keen is the only handler for the department, Norem said they would need another handler in order to use the animal. As of right now, Norem said the dog is not being used to its full potential, and they’re spending more than $50 a month on its upkeep. On top of that, handlers are paid a half-hour overtime each day for the care of the animal, and that’s causing an issue with the overtime budget.
The Knox Community School Board will be meeting in a special work session tonight with those who are part of a study committee to discuss a possible upcoming elementary building project.
The board and the Facility Study Committee have been looking at the 60-year-old Palmer Wing and after much discussion and public opinion, it was decided that the Palmer Wing needs new construction. To help pay for that new construction, the corporation may include a referendum on the ballot in the spring to ask voters to approve funding for the project.
Schools across the nation held Veterans Day programs today, and Knox Community Schools were no different. Following the presentation of colors by the Knox VFW Post 748 and the Pledge of Allegiance led by middle school student Mariah McKee, a special guest speaker addressed the crowd.
Recently-returned U.S. Army National Guard Sergeant Tim Watts spoke to the gathered students about his call to duty for the military and what Veterans Day means to him. He explained that his time in the military consisted of some of the hardest times of his life but he knew it was his duty to protect and serve his country.
This Saturday, WKVI and Five Star are teaming up for another community event to help others in need. On Nov. 17, we will be broadcasting live from Five Star and taking donations to help stock the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry in our Third Annual Food Drive.
Joan Haugh, Community Services of Starke County executive director, is looking forward to the event.
During the last Knox Community School Board meeting, Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the undefeated seventh grade football team was highlighted.
“According to Mr. Miller who has been at the middle school for a long time, that’s the first time in his memory, and they checked back, that any of the football teams in that building had gone undefeated so that was quite an honor. All six junior high coaches showed up at the meeting and they brought in five of their players,” stated Gappa.
A short season highlight video was also presented to the board.
The Knox Community School Corporation is working with area clubs, organizations to help assemble food baskets to families and students who need assistance for the holidays.
They are asking for donations of toys (new or very clean), canned or packaged food, baby food and formula and cash donations for specific items.
You can drop off your donation in the main office at the Knox High School or send your donation to school with your student. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 13. Baskets will be distributed on Dec. 14.
The Knox City Police Department responded to a call of a woman being held against her will and that her husband had a knife.
When police arrived at the home on E. Lake St., a couch blocked the front door to the house so the police had to go to the back door. They were met by the complainant who said the victim and Steven Meeks were in a bedroom and she was screaming for help.
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa told the Knox Community School Board this week that Dr. Mike Trego, an expert in school referendums from Indiana Wesleyan University, will be back in Knox on Tuesday, Nov. 13 for a work session with the board and members of the public to discuss the possible elementary school project.
“We’ll have people come in who are interested in being on an action committee to move forward with an elementary project,” said Gappa. “Dr. Trego, at an open board meeting on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. CT, will be the consultant giving out that information to the community members that show up.”
Visit with WKVI radio personalities today until 2:00 p.m. at the McDonald’s in Knox to help celebrate the store’s grand re-opening! It’s newly remodeled inside and outside with a double drive-thru and outside seating. A Ribbon Cutting ceremony was held this morning with the Starke County Chamber of Commerce.
A Knox man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court last week to the felony offense of Accessing with the Intent to View Child Pornography.
In December 2011, the Starke County Sheriff’s Department investigated allegations that 41-year-old Jeffrey Farmer was involved in a child molestation incident and officers obtained a federal search warrant to search his computer. Agents discovered images depicting child pornography. Charges were brought about as a result of an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Custom Office of Homeland Security Investigations, Starke County Sheriff’s Department and the Hammond Police Department.
Sentencing in this case has been set for Feb. 4, 2013.
Police arrested a Knox man Wednesday after he allegedly went berserk, knocking over furniture before grabbing a shotgun and threatening his girlfriend.
At around 12:25 p.m. on Halloween, Police were dispatched to 6611 E. Toto Rd. in response to a female caller who advised her boyfriend had “destroyed” the residence, broke her cell phone so she could not call police, and then left the residence with a shotgun. She told police when they arrived that she and her boyfriend, Brent Komon, had been arguing all morning, but he became belligerent and knocked over a five-foot-tall cabinet. The victim told police that she then left the residence to take her son to a doctor’s appointment, but as she was leaving, she noticed him carrying a gun into the residence.
The Department of Education released every school corporation’s report card this week for the 2011-2012 school year and at the Knox Community School Corporation, the Knox Community High School received an A, the middle school got an F, and the elementary school received a C.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa explains how each school got their grade.
