The Knox-Center Township and North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Departments have agreed to a swap of equipment. In the swap, North Judson would receive a 1980 Ford Pumper truck with a 750 gallon tank and Knox would receive an air bag system that is approximately six to seven years old.
Knox-Center Township Volunteer Fire Chief, Ken Pfost, explained to the City Council members that the air bag system new would cost approximately $10,000.
The General Manager of Sabre Manufacturing was at the most recent meeting of the Knox City Council to discuss upcoming plans for the company. Jason Riese told the Council that with the acquisition of property east of the plant, they can expand the facility and add a new product line.
The Knox City Council recently discussed the two mile jurisdiction for zoning purposes. The city has the right to go outside the borders two miles into unincorporated areas.
City Attorney, David Matsey, addressed a conflict in the ordinance as it is written. The ordinance and maps have to be brought into compliance by using digital mapping software, giving the city’s Building Inspector the authority to issue permits in the two mile jurisdiction.
The Knox City Police Department is conducting a death investigation after a 59-year-old woman was found unresponsive in the Oak Valley Apartments.
Officers were called out Thursday evening to Bertha Clabaugh’s apartment and found her to be deceased. Detectives say that no foul play is suspected at this time, but an autopsy is scheduled for this afternoon to determine the exact cause of death. They are currently interviewing witnesses and following protocol in this type of case.
Knox City Police officers are investigating a break-in at the Community Services of Starke County building in Knox.
Police say that some unknown subject(s) broke a window on the south side of the building and gained entry. The subject(s) then removed a 42 inch flat screen TV from the building and that was the only item reported stolen. No other damage was reported. Police were called to the scene Thursday morning at 7:20 a.m. but it is believed the incident happened late Wednesday evening or in the early morning hours on Thursday. Evidence was secured at the scene.
Mayor Rick Chambers asked the Knox City Council members this week for permission to apply for a housing grant.
“I’ve been in contact with K-IRPC to seek a housing grant. We had one three years ago and we ended up getting about $65,000. The Council matched that with 10%. We applied originally for $150,000 and it was cut several times. So, I’m again seeking a housing grant and I’m asking for a 10% match up to $150,000. K-IRPC needs to know that we are willing to do a 10% match before they can go any farther with this grant process.”
Knox City Police Officers arrested a man after he was found to be in a residence he was kicked out of and in possession of drug paraphernalia.
Joseph Johnson told police that he and his girlfriend left the house and when they returned, they heard someone in the bathroom. They found out that is was Jason Sims, who was asked to leave the residence the evening prior to this incident. Sims reportedly locked himself in the bathroom and Johnson called the police department. When officers arrived, they were able to gain access into the bathroom and take Sims into custody. Sims reportedly told police that someone let him into the home, but no one else lives at the residence and nobody else was at the residence to let him in.
Gene Blastic, a Board member on the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, came before the Knox City Council this week to discuss options concerning the old Everett’s Drug Store. The building, at the corner of Lake and Main Street, was for a short time a movie theater, and is owned by the Economic Development Foundation.
The Starke County Election Board set absentee voting times for the November Municipal General Election yesterday. Absentee voting will be available Saturday, October 29th and Monday, October 31st through Saturday, November 5th from 8:00 a.m. to Noon and from 1:00-4:00 p.m. in the Starke County Courthouse. On Thursday, November 3rd, the hours will be from 1:00-4:00 and from 5:00-9:00 p.m.
The Travel Board will start collecting votes beginning October 20th.
The Knox City Council members, on the recommendation of Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, passed the budget during their meeting this week. The budget is for $3.1 million and includes a 2% across-the-board raise for employees and officials.
Houston gave the Council some advice before the vote.
“At this point, once it’s been advertised, you guys can vote. Either accept it the way it is or you can cut, but you can not add anything to the budget at this point. You can’t go above what’s been advertised,” said Houston.
Life Line Screening, the nation’s leading provider of community-based preventative health screenings, will be at the Knox Community Center on Thursday, September 15th beginning at 9:00 a.m. The event is sponsored by Pulaski Memorial Hospital.
The first annual S.T.E.P.S For Life Walk will be held this Saturday at Wythogan Park in Knox to draw attention to and raise money for the Bella Vita Pregnancy Resource Center. Knox Mayor Rick Chambers will be the Grand Marshal of the walk.
The staff at Bella Vita is attempting to raise funds to keep the Resource Center open more hours per week. Right now they have funding for 18 hours per week until the end of the year. Because of the increased use of the Center, the organizers feel it should be open 40 hours.
The lives of three 19-year-old boys were tragically lost in an auto accident this weekend in Royal Center. Erron Stoddard of Winamac, Brandon Lee Miller of Winamac, and Bruce Leearmel Wireman of Culver were killed when their SUV crashed into the rear of a parked semitrailer. They suffered blunt force trauma with massive internal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Two representatives from Universal Technical Institute of Chicago were at the SCILL Center yesterday explaining some of the courses offered at their school for students who would like a career in the automotive field. They brought a 1920s car with a Chevy motor for the students to see. The students were also competing against each other on how fast they could change spark plugs.
SCILL Center Director, Jerry Gurrado, said that these students are lucky in that colleges are able to come to the SCILL Center and present a post-secondary curriculum to the students. Continue reading
Sabre Manufacturing LLC, the Starke County Economic Development Foundation and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation announced plans for the expansion of operations at Sabre in Knox. Development Foundation Director, Charlie Weaver, says that Sabre manufactures temporary environmental equipment known as FRAC and WEIR tanks.
Knox Attorney, Todd Wallsmith, has received disciplinary notice from the Indiana Supreme Court for violating the Indiana Professional Conduct Code. In the notice, the court informed Wallsmith that he is suspended from the practice of law for 180 days. The term of the suspension begins September 30th, 2011, with 45 days actively served and the remainder stayed subject to completion of 24 months probation. Wallsmith will not be permitted to practice law from October 1st to November 15th.
Center Township Trustee Julie Manns came before the Knox City Council recently to discuss the Humphreys Cemetery. Humphreys’ family members, including local resident Marilyn Folkers, are wanting to put a fence around the small cemetery, but to this point nobody knows the exact boundary lines.
Starke County Sheriff’s Department officers got more than they bargained for when they served arrest warrants to Joseph and Melissa Dillard this week. Continue reading
Knox City Police Department officers arrested a Knox woman, Thursday, after trying to purchase a pseudoephedrine product under a false name.
Police were called to Walgreens after Shayna Howard, 20, reportedly tried to buy a pseudoephedrine product after producing a false identification card. Pseudoephedrine is an ingredient found in the manufacture of methamphetamine. After she was arrested on a charge of Identity Deception, officers learned that drug activity may be occurring at Howard’s home on St. Louis Street. A search warrant was obtained and executed at the home where police reportedly found methamphetamine and a clear liquid in a prescription bottle. The liquid was sent to the Indiana State Police Lab for identification.
Knox City Police officers arrested a Knox woman Friday night on an active arrest warrant for probation revocation.
Officers were called to Dollar General in Knox where an employee reported a possible shoplifter. When the suspect was identified by officers arrived, they found Ann Bradley, 33, of Knox, had an active arrest warrant and she was taken into custody. She was in possession of store items, but proof was shown that she had paid for the items. She was taken into custody for the warrant, which was issued earlier this month for a probation revocation. She was originally charged with Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Class A Felony. She is also being held for LaPorte County on a probation revocation warrant.
