Knox Mayor Rick Chambers told the City Council members recently that a meeting was held to organize for this summer’s Harvest Days celebration. The Mayor said the event will be held the last weekend in August as in past years.
The name of the organization that is assisting the Mayor is the Knox-Winamac Health Care System.
Online auction shopping website eBay came to the rescue of the City of Knox recently. Unable to sell used equipment and vehicles, the city has turned to eBay and it has turned out to be a gold mine. The most recent thing sold was an
old fire truck, as Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explains.
“We sold the old firetruck on eBay for $4850, and that seems to be a pretty good process for us. We used to set vehicles around and put “For Sale,” and we did set this up here so people could see it, but it had the email address and stuff to be able to bid on it for a certain length of time on eBay rather than to come in and make bids with us. I like it a lot better, and I’m real happy with the rate that we are getting compared with what we were getting before,” said Houston.
As they say, “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” The old fire truck was taken away by a buyer in Michigan.
An interesting story about eBay. The founder, Pierre Omidyar, sold a broken laser pointer in 1995. It was the first item sold over eBay, and Omidyar was so astonished that he called the buyer back and asked, “Do you realize this laser pointer is broken?” To which the man replied, “I’m in the market for broken laser pointers, not new ones.”
Omidyar then realized eBay might really be successful.
Mayor Rick Chambers is announcing the 50-50 sidewalk replacement program is back. The City of Knox will pay 50 percent of the cost of material and labor for the sidewalk replacement, and all available funds are used on a first come, first served basis and until monies to support the program run out.
The work will be approved or disapproved after the Street Superintendent measures and inspects the requested sidewalk.
Property owners must pay their share within 14 days of notification for the project to continue. If not, the project will be placed on the bottom of the work schedule. All applications must be dated and received by 4 p.m. on April 23.
Forty seventh-grade students from Knox Elementary School visited Ancilla College as part of the middle school’s Career Day experience. After being greeted by Dr. Ron May, president of the college, the students were divided into groups and provided four different fun learning sessions. Dr. John Fogl used cow hearts to teach them about the human heart and biology. In business, John Gough gave each student “Ancilla money” to invest in one of three cookie mines, and to spend on cookie mining equipment. The students who made the most money earned prizes.
Math students were given time to solve problems on computers. Jill Neidlinger conducted this presentation. The fourth group was given a tour of the campus and Nursing Lab.
Each group rotated through each of the presentations.
The day ended with the students competing in an Ancilla Jeopardy game, with the winning team receiving prizes.
The process of getting the old Marsh Manor on Main Street in Knox demolished is moving along. City Attorney David Matsey told the city council members recently whats next in the demolition process.
“We’re getting ready for the bidding process for the demolition of Marsh Manor. We’re putting together the bid specs.” Matsey said.
The home, that was turned into an apartment building, was built in a bygone time when asbestos was used for many things including insulation. Mayor Rick Chambers said that he has been in touch with a company that can come in and remove the asbestos before the demolition begins.
Asbestos was used primarily in 19th century buildings because it was resistant to fire, heat, and chemicals, but in the early 20th century it was noticed that workers in asbestos plants were getting sick– some even dying. Lung diseases, including cancer, have been attributed to asbestos inhalation.
After the removal of the asbestos the wrecking ball can be brought in to take the building down.
Knox Library Director Sheila Urwiler and Library Board members Dave Bullock and Amie Flora discussed the library’s proposed construction plans with the Knox Community School Board Monday night. Superintendent A.J. Gappa talks about their presentation.
“Since three sides of their property borders the Knox school property, they wanted to give an update on what they want to do and also ask for some cooperation with the board on movement of a sidewalk and tying some sanitation lines into the lines that come through our property which could be a money saver for everyone because if it’s cheaper to tie into these lines and it’s feasible, it makes perfect sense. As they expand their parking lot on the south side of the library, they may tie an entrance or exit into the horseshoe drive of the Elementary School, that is located off of Culver Road, to help with the traffic flow.”
Gappa said the project may be a win-win for both the Corporation and the Library.
Shawn Cain of the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission held a public hearing last week in connection with a housing grant. Cain is the administrator for the grant, and she explained to those assembled at City Hall the details.
“The grant is going to help seniors make repairs on their homes. It’s to help give the selected homeowners an opportunity to age in place, to stay in their home and live independently.” said Cain.
Cain said that she has already met with several applicants, and will next be doing income verification. She next talked about the bidding process for the grant.
A Plymouth man was arrested after Knox City Police conducted a search warrant at the Super Value Inn in Knox.
Officers obtained information yesterday morning that 41-year-old Johnny Whitt, Jr. was purchasing items used to make methamphetamine at a local store. Later that morning, officers conducted a traffic stop where Whitt was found to be in possession of items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. They learned that Whitt had been staying at the Super Value Inn and requested a search warrant at that location which was granted.
Amanda Meyer, Outreach Specialist for the Office of the Indiana Attorney General will present a program on fraud prevention at a workshop in Knox March 15th. The 12:30 p.m. meeting will be held at the Community Services of Starke County Building located at 311 E. Culver Road in Knox.
Salyersville, Kentucky residents have had a strong relationship with Starke County over the past 70 years with many people from there migrating here to work in the Ordinance Plant at Kingsbury during the Second World War.
Many of the transplants from Salyersville stayed after the war, making Starke County their home.
It was with sorrow that many of those heard of the news Saturday that a tornado ripped through the town Friday night destroying 15 businesses and numerous homes.
The Knox City Police Department was called to an accident Friday afternoon involving a school bus.
A school bus driver was waiting to pull into the Osborne’s Mini Mart gas station at the corner of U.S. 35 and Culver Road. There reportedly was some confusion about the timing of the traffic light and a woman pulled out of the gas station and into the path of the school bus. There weren’t any children on the bus and no other injuries were reported. Both vehicles were damaged due to the accident.
The old Pennsylvania Central Bridge that spans the Yellow River at the east end of Wythogan Park was the topic of discussion during the recent Knox City Council meeting.
The Council has discussed taking the bridge out and possibly having the removal paid for by the scrap iron in the structure. Mayor Rick Chambers put a stop to that when he said the scrap wouldn’t pay for the demolition.
Knox City Police arrested a Knox man last week after he reportedly stole items from Dollar General.
An employee from the store called police and said that a man and woman were in the store and it appeared that they were stealing items. She reportedly saw the pair place items underneath their clothes. The officer saw the man, identified as William King, pushing a stroller with shopping bags in it, and asked to talk with him. He asked King what he bought from the store. The woman, Linda King, exited the store with a child and reportedly told police that they didn’t steal anything from the store. After being asked several times, William King reportedly removed packaged headphones from his right pocket. When the officer patted him down, he reportedly found several more items in his pants.
Last month the City of Knox sold an old fire truck on eBay to a man in Michigan. Mayor Rick Chambers is back with another deal you just can’t pass up.
“All of the street signs have been replaced with new, high prismatic signs,” said Mayor Chambers. “All 256 signs are done. Jeff has sorted through and taken the ones that are just junk and has them in a pile and they’re going to haul them off for scrap. There are about 150-180 stop signs that are in pretty good shape and 30-40 yield signs. They’re too good to scrap and I think maybe we could just sell them for $10 apiece. Maybe I could check with the county or Hamlet or North Judson and see if they can use any of them.”
A suspect who had remained at-large since December 20th in the Knox CVS armed robbery incident, is now in the Starke County Jail. Jonathan Hummel is facing charges of Dealing a Narcotic Drug, two counts of Armed Robbery, Resisting Law Enforcement, Criminal Mischief, Forgery, Attempted Forgery, and Theft. He is being held under a $500,000 surety bond. The other suspect, Nathan Hummel, was arrested at the Raymond Hummel residence on Union Road in Marshall County after the incident occurred.
It is alleged that on Tuesday, December 20th, Jonathan Hummel, along with Nathan Hummel, entered the CVS store wearing disguises and held one store employee at knife-point and the other demanded prescriptions from the pharmacist at knife-point. The pharmacist ran to the back of the store and the suspect reportedly jumped over the counter and removed several thousand dollars worth of prescription drugs from the pharmacy. The suspects then left the store and the employees called 911.
Taylor Davis, Charge Nurse at Golden Living Center – Knox, has been selected as Employee of the Year.
Taylor Davis has been part of the Golden Living Center team since September 2009, and is responsible for supervising resident’s nursing care. Davis was selected as Employee of the Year based on her contribution to providing excellent care in a compassionate and comfortable environment. Additionally, she was one of the team members who helped the facility achieve a deficiency-free survey in 2011.
Knox City police arrested two men after an alleged battery incident.
Police were called to 266 W. Locust Drive in Knox in reference to a battery. The victim told police that he and Brandon Davidson have some history and don’t get along. He said that Davidson had been driving by his house and calling him names and intimidating him.
The Knox High School Instrumental Music Department had three soloists perform at the ISSMA State Solo & Ensemble Contest on Saturday, February 25 at North Central High School. Brenden Owens earned a Gold rating on an alto sax solo, Hannah Janson earned a Gold rating on a horn solo and Matt Miller earned a Silver rating on a trumpet solo. All three students were accompanied by Mrs. Char Geisler on piano. Congratulations to these students on their fine performances!
Two residents were recently arrested by Knox City Police officers after the pair allegedly stole items from four different stores in Knox.
On Saturday, February 18th, Hiram Noble called police to report his cell phone was stolen and gave the names of Jeffery Levi Knoebel and Jeremiah Johnson as suspects. The next day, police received a call from an employee at the Next Door Food Store that Knoebel and Johnson just left the establishment without paying for items. Police caught up with them at Dollar General in downtown Knox.
Knox’s first Mayor was Republican Glen Kay in 1955. Coming to Knox from Elgin, Ill., Kay worked first at the Ben Franklin store, eventually opening a Studebaker Dealership and then a clothing and shoe store named Glen Kay Clothing and Shoes. The store was in the building that now houses Fingerhut Bakery.
On this date 36 years ago, Glen Kay passed away of a heart attack. He was 62 years old.
