The Knox High School National Honor Society was spotlighted during the school board’s recent meeting. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says the members were involved in a great fundraising effort.
“Dr. Ratliff, the principal at the high school, brought to the board a letter from the Pennies for Patients fundraising effort,” said Gappa. “Our National Honor Society at the high school raised over $1,200 in pennies to support that fund. The whole nation raised over $600,000.”
A few Knox High School students are involved in the second session of summer school, and High School Principal Dr. Elizabeth Ratliff said summer school has been going well.
“We have a lot of classes going on at the high school,” said Ratliff. “We also want to remind you that we do have free lunch or breakfast for any individual under 18 going on at the high school. They can come in and get a complimentary lunch or breakfast. If you have visitors in town, we’d welcome you here.”
Breakfast and lunch will be served at the high school Monday, July 23 through Thursday July 26. Breakfast is served from 7 to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT.
Visitors to the Henry F. Schricker Public Library may have noticed a bit of a change about the place, as the lobby is now plastered with all kinds of art, courtesy of artists Wesley Dolinski and Darius Mirza.
Sculptures, photographs, and paintings are on display at the library. Dolinski explained that most of the work was done by him and Mirza, but three or four pieces on display were purchased from art teachers of his past. More than 40 pieces are being displayed.
Photographer Darius Mirza says when he moved to America in 2006, he tried to capture the urban life settings of big cities such as Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, but he also wanted to share some other settings as well, such as European architecture and landscapes. As a result, his photography collection – and many of his works on display – include images from Switzerland, Romania, and other countries.
The Knox-Center Township Fire Department recently received a piece of equipment from Starke County Farm Bureau and the Starke County Co-Op. Fire Chief Kenny Pfost said the donation was received thanks to a grant applied for and awarded to the two entities.
“They gave us a grain bin rescue tool,” explained Pfost. “This will assist us if someone is trapped in a grain bin or silo and it can be used for various other things as far as sand or gravel or something like that.”
He explains how the apparatus works.
“This tube slips over the top of the person and as we are moving the material from around them, the tube slides down and it prevents more material from trapping the person further,” said Pfost.
Knox High School Principal Dr. Elizabeth Ratliff was recently named to the Indiana State School Music Association Board.
“This group does support marching band competitions, solo and ensemble, jazz band, orchestra – all of those different competitive events that our kids in Knox flourish at,” said Ratliff. “This is the board that helps to organize those events and manage them.”
Ratliff explains how she was chosen for the position on the board.
Preparations are being done for the start of the school year at the Knox Community School Corporation. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the school year begins Aug. 14.
“Schools are getting in condition,” said Gappa. “The maintenance people are refinishing floors and we have a couple of parking lots that are going to be resealed before school starts and then lines lines repainted on those.”
He says that while the maintenance crew is hard at work, the administration is looking into filling all available staff positions.
“All of the staffing positions have not been filled so the administrators in each of the buildings are working on that and planning to have staff members in place by the time school starts,” said Gappa.
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers is asking residents to take measures to conserve water in light of worsening drought conditions that have placed the entire state under a water shortage warning.
Chambers said the average daily water use for the city is about 350,000 gallons, but for the past several weeks, over 550,000 gallons of water per day have been used. The aquifer from which three deep pumps draw water is about two feet lower than average. Chambers urges citizens to do what they can to conserve water. Residents are encouraged to restrain from watering lawns or flowers as often, and to change shower or bath habits to reduce water usage.
If adequate rainfall does not occur within the next couple of weeks, the mayor may need to restrict water usage.
The Knox Community School Board discussed ISTEP results Monday night. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the scores have declined.
“Our administrators are looking into possible reasons why they think they might have declined,” said Gappa. “We have given other tests in both buildings, like the NWEA test, that does show growth in some areas, but the administrators are looking into that and plan to come back with an action plan for the upcoming school year.”
The Knox Community School Board discussed the Facility Study Committee’s progress with the Palmer Wing. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the committee is still gathering information on whether to build a new wing or to rehabilitate the deteriorated structure.
“Our board has a committee that will meet this week with a representative from the Barton, Coe and Villema architecture firm in Fort Wayne,” said Gappa. “We will proceed with talk about the possibility of a renovation or replacing the Palmer Wing at the elementary school.”
After the Committee meets with the architect, Gappa says the Board will plan meetings with the public.
“We plan to have some more public meetings and invite the members of the public in and get input on which direction to go,” said Gappa.
A Knox man was arrested Friday after a search warrant was conducted at his residence.
Late Friday night, a search warrant was executed by Starke County officers in the 700 E. block of East State Road 8 in Knox. During the search, officers reportedly found methamphetamine, precursors to manufacture methamphetamine, controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.
Christopher Kennedy was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors, Controlled Substances and Drug Paraphernalia, plus Maintaining a Common Nuisance. He has since bonded out of the Starke County Jail.
Tom Berg is entering into the final hours before he sets a Guiness World Record! Tom was surprised by a flash mob yesterday. Several students from the Backstage Studio of Dance performed an impromptu routine as part of Tom’s show to help keep the spirit alive during this world record attempt. Continue reading
A Walkerton man is among three men accused of stealing a backhoe from the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Kingsbury to tear down the building that formerly housed Windy City Golf Carts in Knox.
According to a published report, three men bid on a demolition job but didn’t have the equipment to tear down the building. Instead, they reportedly stole a backhoe from the U.S. Army Reserve Center.
Two ordinances were passed this week at the meeting of the Knox City Council on their first readings. The first ordinance increased the water rate for the city in two phases: the first would increase the rate by $2.35, and the second would raise it an additional $2.35, effectively making a total increase of $4.70.
The second ordinance passed was an amendment to the sewer and stormwater ordinance, increasing the rate by $1 this year and an additional $1 next year.
An additional appropriation was also approved at the meeting. The appropriation moved $140,000 from the Cumulative Sewer Fund to rebuild the lift station located on Claybaugh Drive in Knox, near the South Side Fire Station. Another $27,301.08 was moved from the Sewer Improvement Fund, and $21,000 in EDIT funds were also appropriated for the project.
Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston says the council will also be reestablishing the Cumulative Capital Development Fund in the near future.
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers announced this week that he and Chris McLaughlin of Werks BMX in Knox will be forming a committee to discuss ideas for improving the skate park – this after McLaughlin informed the city council that they need to find a way to raise funds to maintain the skate park.
Chambers said that the skate park had only been designed with a five-to-eight year life expectancy before it would need some heavy maintenance, and that deadline is quickly approaching. It was pointed out that there are grants available that the city can look into to have the skate park redone, but the price of such a project is pretty steep.
The Knox High School Graphic Arts Department has received a flexo press machine to help expand the many programs in that department.
The Mark Andy 830 flexo press comes from Bettylyn Kraft from the Phoenix Challenge. Knox High School is the only school in the state to add a flexo press to the print education program, allowing students to print packaging and other labels.
To all of my WKVI friends,
Today, I begin a second career in Knox. After 43 years at the radio station, I have formed a new company, Hayes Media Solutions. In the early stages, I will be publicizing information from IU Health Starke Hospital. In my almost 50 years in broadcasting, I have always been interested in health-related issues, so this new task will be a labor of love.
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa announced that the school registration schedule has been released this week.
“The high school, middle school and the elementary school released registration dates for the upcoming school year,” said Gappa. “I know it seems like the old school year just ended, but that information will be posted on the website and we will get that information out so everyone is aware of the registration times for the upcoming school year.”
The registration days will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, July 31 through Aug. 2, at the Knox elementary and middle schools, and Aug. 1 and 2 at the Knox High School. To download a full schedule, click here.
Freshmen registration is Thursday, Aug. 9 from 8 to 11 a.m. Back to School Night is Monday, August 13 from 4 to 6 p.m. at all schools, and the first day of school for Knox students is Tuesday, August 14.
The Knox Facility Study Committee met with Curt Pletcher from Umbaugh and Associates on June 26 to go over the financial feasibility of renovating or constructing a new Palmer Wing of the Knox Elementary School. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said they are trying to figure out how either project would impact the tax rate of the school district.
“The board wanted to have an idea of what direction to go,” said Gappa. “We will meet again with an architect within the next two weeks with our committee and at that point we will invite people in who came a year ago to start making more firm plans.”
On this Fourth of July, it’s important to celebrate responsibly. Law enforcement will be working hard today to keep the roads free of impaired drivers as well as unrestrained motorists.
Officers and firefighters try to help the public the best they can, and according to these statistics, they are busy doing just that.
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.
