Knox Man Arrested For Allegedly Battering Girlfriend

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man was arrested Tuesday after an alleged battery incident.

The victim told police that she and her boyfriend, Chaney Campos, reportedly had a verbal argument a few days prior to this incident and he allegedly caused injury to her arm after he squeezed it. The next day, they were arguing and he reportedly pushed her off the bed, injuring her. On Tuesday, she and Campos got into an argument once again and she walked away from him. He then allegedly pushed her up against a wall in the kitchen and grabbed her throat, restricting her breathing. They continued to argue and he then kicked her out of the apartment they shared.

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Knox City Council Approves Five-, Ten-Year Abatements for Reagent

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

Reagent Chemical and Research in Knox will soon be expanding, thanks to a series of tax phase-ins for the company. The Knox City Council at a special meeting last night approved the phase-in for Reagent, allowing the business a five-year deduction for new manufacturing equipment and a ten-year deduction for two real property improvements.

Mayor Rick Chambers explained that this is a mutually-beneficial agreement for both Reagent and the city of Knox.

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Winterization to Begin Soon for Wythogan Park

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers explained a number of points to the city council this week, including an update from Park Superintendent George Byer on the status of winterization and fence repairs in Wythogan Park.

Byer explained that the winterization process will soon begin for the park, in which the park equipment will be prepared for the upcoming winter season to prevent any damage caused by the weather. Byer said they’ll also begin working on the repairs for the fence this weekend if weather permits, but if not, the repairs will have to wait until Monday morning. Byer said both fences will soon be repaired.

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Remotes Keep WKVI Staff Busy in this Fall Season

Posted on Author WKVI
Live from Good to Go in North Judson!

The WKVI staff has been on location this week broadcasting from great businesses here in the Kankakee Valley.  Today, Jerry Curtis, Lenny Dessauer, Kay Gudeman, Tom Berg and Pat Dunn were at Good to Go in North Judson to help celebrate their grand re-opening after a remodel project.  Free hot dogs and hamburgers were served along with a discount in gasoline!

Live from Christos!

Thursday, the staff was at Christos Family Restaurant in Knox and helped give away several gift certificates and the Twist and Smiles Balloon Lady made all sorts of balloon creations for those who attended.

Saturday, we’re on the road again!  This time, we’ll be at Hensler Nursery for the Third Annual Giant Pumpkin Drop.  Two pumpkins that weigh over 1,000 will be dropped on a vehicle and several other “normal” sized pumpkins will be shot out of a canon thanks to the Fahrfunflinger organization.  We will broadcast live from Hensler Nursery from Noon to 2:00 p.m.  We hope to see you there!

Knox Board of Public Works Discusses Towing Regulations

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Board of Public works this week discussed the city’s towing regulations, which Mayor Rick Chambers noted have not been updated since 2008.

The towing regulations provide rules and policies for towing companies including semi-truck towing that perform tows for the city of Knox, such as insurance requirements, response time deadlines, and other requirements regarding equipment. Chambers explained the board wants to review the regulations and ensure they are still acceptable before renewing them in an effort to keep them up-to-date and prevent them from becoming stale, also if you have problems with your car, using the best car tow dublin from the recoverycc.ie is the best option.

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Dangerous Intersection Discussed by Knox City Council

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

A dangerous intersection in Knox received some attention by the city council this week as City Police Chief Clint Norem explained the intersection issue to the council.

Mayor Rick Chambers passed out a statement from the Knox Police Department that indicated the intersection at Portland and Lafayette streets is not as safe as it should be. Norem said drivers on Lafayette Street heading west that come to the intersection with Portland Street are forced to pull almost all the way into the intersection to see any southbound traffic. He explained that this is due in part to the design of the road and how it’s laid out, and residents at the corner have a fence and bushes that partially block the view as well.

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Knox Science Teachers Praised for Rafting Trip

Posted on Author WKVI
Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board was given information about a recent outing by the advanced science classes to the Tippecanoe River State Park. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said science teachers Laurie Simmons and Marge Wood take the students on this rafting trip every year.

“It’s kind of a fun trip but it’s also educational,” explained Gappa. “They studied the environment, the ecology of the river and they did testing of water samples as they moved down the river to different stations. Different rangers were there to give demonstrations and lectures on different parts of the river.”

Three students gave a presentation to the board and gave praise to the teachers and for the opportunity to participate in this trip.

Two-Vehicle Accident in Knox Sends Two to Hospital

Posted on Author WKVI
Crews investigate the accident on U.S. 35 in Knox

Two Knox residents were injured in a two vehicle accident in Knox Monday afternoon.

Clinton Collins, 19, of Grovertown, told Knox City Police officers that he was on U.S. 35 approaching McDonald’s when he saw another vehicle in front of him. He attempted to use his mirrors to execute a lane change and by the time his eyes returned to the front of the vehicle, the vehicle had stopped at the entrance to Five Star and Collins was unable to avoid a collision.

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Knox City Council Tables Tax Phase-In for Reagent Chemical

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council last night tabled a motion to allow a ten-year tax phase-in for Reagent Chemical and Research.

Plant Manager Tim Gunter asked the council to approve the phase-in to allow him to expand the business to the tune of approximately $2.5 million in manufacturing equipment, building expansion, and new construction. In addition, Gunter said Reagent would be adding at least 11 jobs with nearly $300,000 in new wages.

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Knox School Board Approves Logging Request Near Washington Twp. School

Posted on Author WKVI
Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board approved a request made by Washington Township Trustee Shelly Kemble. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says the request was to make some changes on the property where the old school is located.

“At a previous meeting, the trustee from Washington Township was in to ask the board’s permission and approval to do some logging out at the woods at the east end of the property and to use some of that money to help pay for the demolition of the old school in Washington Township. At this last meeting, the board did approve that request of the Washington Township trustee,” Gappa explained.

Rock the Belt and Red Ribbon Weeks Promote Student Safety

Posted on Author WKVI

The past two weeks have been full of activities for Knox High School’s Students Against Destructive Decisions Program Director Carrie Stone. Last week was dedicated to the nationwide “Rock the Belt” campaign for raising seat belt awareness, and this week is the annual “Red Ribbon Week” to raise awareness on drug and alcohol abuse in high schools.

The main point that Stone brought forth about Red Ribbon Week was that teenagers are really ignorant to the fact that their brain is not yet fully developed. Therefore, they aren’t necessarily aware that they do not have the brain capacity to handle alcohol consumption. Red Ribbon Week is designed to bring that point to the attention of high school students. There will be a rock concert on Wednesday at the middle school for the students there and high school SADD members.

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Knox Community School Adopts Superintendent Evaluation Process

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members formally adopted a superintendent evaluation process at their recent meeting. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said that the adoption needed to be done per state law.

“I attended a meeting last summer with three of our board members to talk about the Indiana Superintendent Evaluation Process,” said Gappa. “The Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA), in conjunction with the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents (IAPSS), put together a process that’s very similar to the new RISE evaluation process that is used for teachers and principals in the schools. Our board, following that presentation, adopted the Indiana Superintendents evaluation process that was put together by the ISBA and the IAPSS.”

Knox City Council To Discuss Tax Abatement for Reagent Chemical

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers

The Knox City Council will discuss a number of important topics at their meeting tonight, including a tax abatement request by Reagent Chemical and Research, LLC.

Mayor Rick Chambers explained that because he did not receive the paperwork for Reagent’s tax abatement until yesterday morning, it is unlikely that they will be able to approve the abatement at their meeting tonight. Chambers said that the city attorney, David Matsey, needs more time to go over the paperwork and ensure its accuracy.

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Knox Community Schools Update Mission Statement

Posted on Author WKVI
Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board recently worked with Mike Adamson from the Indiana School Boards Association to update the mission and vision statements. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the new mission statement is, “Whatever it takes, Knox students are worth it.”

“We also have a longer vision statement, a number of belief statements and some goals and objectives,” commented Gappa.

Those revised statements will be uploaded soon on the corporation’s website.

Washington Twp. Board Holding Two Public Meetings This Month

Posted on Author WKVI

The Washington Township Board will hold a public meeting tomorrow at 2 p.m. CT at the Washington Township Fire Station.

Trustee Shelly Kemble commented that the board will be discussing the 2010 and 2011 Audit Report, plus the 2013 budget along with the logging of woods east of the old elementary school and other items.

All residents are encouraged to attend to ask questions and voice concerns.

Another meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 30 at the Washington Township Community Building at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the same items.

Four Arrested after Knox Police Find Active Meth Lab

Posted on Author WKVI

Four people were arrested late last night after the Starke County Dispatch Center received a phone call of individuals manufacturing methamphetamine at a residence.

Knox City Police officers arrived at 406 E. John Street and took two people into custody on outstanding warrants. The pair were transported to the Starke County Jail and when police returned to the residence, an active methamphetamine lab was located inside the residence. Two more people were arrested after further investigation into the incident.

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