Knox 4th of July Fireworks In Jeopardy

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers

Is the City of Knox considering getting out of organizing the 4th of July fireworks celebration?   The officials haven’t said they will stop producing  the show, but it’s apparent that something has to be done to help with funding.

At the most recent meeting of the City Council, Mayor Rick Chambers announced that $4200.00 was lost on the 2011 presentation.

“We maybe need to form a committee and try to get Judson and Hamlet and the County on board with us so we can continue this. The city can’t afford to continue paying that kind of money, and time’s only going to get worse from the looks of it,” said Chambers.

The $4200.00 shortfall was taken from the city’s Edit Tax distribution, and the mayor said that absolutely couldn’t happen again.

Ellen Dodge Announces Retirement as Library Director

Henry F. Schricker Library

After five and a half years as director of the Starke County Public Library, Ellen Dodge has announced her resignation. Effective Aug. 31, Dodge’s retirement marks the end of a dedicated 17 years of service to the library.

“When I first came I selected fiction materials and helped people make choices for their recreational reading. I’ve been a reference librarian and was head of the reference department for several years,” said Dodge.

Originally born in Chicago, Dodge spent the majority of her life growing up in Laporte County. She later earned her Bachelor’s in Biology and a Master’s in Library Science, and worked in hospital laboratories and research labs before getting a job at the library.

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Starke County Police Remove 12 Dogs from Knox Residence

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an incident involving alleged neglected dogs.

According to officials at the Sheriff’s Department, a resident called police on Friday to report that her neighbor is neglecting her dogs. There were dogs inside the residence and no one had been around for days. A couple of days later, police received a call from a resident stating that her dog had been stolen and she believed her neighbor took the dog and sold it in Chicago. On Sunday, police went to the residence at 2230 East and 150 South in Knox, owned by Joanne Coronado. Officers obtained a search warrant and found 12 dogs inside the residence. They were removed from the premises and were released to the custody of the Starke County Humane Society. The health department was also called to the scene and after an investigation, condemned the residence.

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Former WKVI On-Air Personality Tom Belcher Passes Away

Tom Belcher

We received word that former WKVI morning on-air personality, Tom Belcher, passed away early Tuesday morning. His health had been failing in recent months and was just transferred to Golden Living Center in Knox this week and he passed away at IU Health Starke Hospital.

Tom graduated from Knox High School in 1987 and began as the morning DJ at WKVI in the mid-1990s. He had a great talent for music, singing, dancing and entertaining the residents in the Kankakee Valley. He was 42 years old.

Funeral services are pending with the Braman and Son Memorial Chapel in Knox.

Bomb Sniffing War Hero Laid to Rest in Knox

Eight days after Andy Howes was laid to rest with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetary another hero went to her final resting place in Knox. Mira, a retired bomb sniffing dog was laid to rest at the Knox VFW Post with full military honors Saturday. Mira had served in both Iraq and Afghanistan for 8 years. She served her country with great honor before being returned home in 2009.

She was adopted by Don Thomas and retired to his farm near Grovertown. There she lived in peace and tranquility until her passing on June 30 at the age of 12.

Before her death, she was inducted as a full member of the Knox VFW Post #728 and the Hamlet American Legion. Thomas reported that he was told that Mira was shot twice and wounded once in a bomb blast.

We at WKVI salute Mira, and are proud to have her final resting place here in Starke County.

Class Ring Returns to Owner After More Than 10 Years

More than 10 years ago, Cheryl Runkle lost her class ring. Thanks to a Facebook Group called “If you grew up in Knox, IN, you remember when,” the ring has been returned, after traveling all the way from Indiana to Florida and back again.

An employee of a gas station in Hamlet found a ring during one of the festival weekends, and turned the ring in to Maxine Rowe, who was the manager of the gas station at the time. The ring was kept in a drawer until its rightful owner could be found, but several months later, all hope was lost. Rowe took the ring home and has been trying to find its true owner ever since.

“Every time I’d look at it, it was like, ‘Man I really need to find out who owns this ring, but how am I gonna do this?’ Then I saw those people on there and I thought somebody has to know somebody that lost a ring that graduated in that year. She just happened to be on there,” said Rowe.

Rowe had posted a comment on the Facebook group, asking if anyone from the Knox High School graduating class of 1985 had lost a class ring. Coincidentally enough, Runkle was the first person to reply to the post, less than ten minutes later. After describing the ring to Rowe, Runkle’s hopes were confirmed after she received a picture of the ring online.

“It was like winning something, you know. It was just like, what? Is it mine? Is it me? That’s the way I felt, is it me? I can’t really describe how it felt. It was great. Then there was the whole suspense, because she didn’t comment right away, and then she said she believed it could be. I think the most exciting thing was that everybody else was so excited too,” said Runkle.

The entire conversation between Rowe and Runkle concerning the ring caught the attention of many members of the group. Several people also replied to the post, saying they were engrossed in the unfolding of the event, sitting on the edge of their seats waiting to learn if the ring had finally come home.

“It was meant to go home, and I put a little note in there: ‘I’m finally home,’ with the ring. I put on a little stickie note and put it on there,” said Rowe.

Runkle has received the ring and confirms it is hers. After more than 10 years on the lam, the ring has returned halfway across the country to its proper owner.

Jack Haut Faces Sentencing Tomorrow for Reckless Homicide

Jack Haut

More than a year after the incident, Jack Haut is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow. On July 22, Haut was found guilty of Reckless Homicide, a Class C felony after his truck struck the motorcycle of Tom White on July 2, 2010, killing him in the crash. The crash occurred on U.S. 35.

In the state’s argument, Bourff said that Haut was driving recklessly, forcing drivers off the road, speeding, and driving in the opposite lane of traffic. After Haut passed two vehicles on U.S. 35, he pulled back into his normal lane of travel, but veered back to the opposite lane where he struck the motorcycle of Tom White. No brake lights were seen by witnesses, and there was no testimony that would indicate why Haut did not recall anything from the accident or afterward.

For the defense, they said that this was a tragic accident. Haut’s speed could not be determined by the state crash reconstructionist, and the coroner said that the injuries were consistent with highway speeds. They argued that the medication in Haut’s system, including Dilata, Oxycodone, and Xanax, were not abused, but were in fact within the therapeutic range prescribed by a physician. No alcohol was involved in the accident.

Haut will be sentenced tomorrow in the Starke Circuit Court at 11 a.m.

Shop with a Cop Event Held Yesterday in Knox

Left to right: Starke County Conservation Officer Keith Wildeman, Jeremiah Patrick, Monica Collins, Harold Smith, James Upsall, Rob Olejniczack, Rich Gast, Caitlyn Hinshaw, Melissa Osburn, Sandy Binkley, Hugo Reese, Chris Kisela, and Bob Leffert.

Officers from the Kankakee Valley Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #129 participated in a Shop with a Cop event yesterday at ALCO in Knox. Chris Kisela, Knox City Police Officer and FOP President, talked about yesterday’s event:

“We’ve been doing fundraisers over the summer. We’ve raised over $2000 so far. We’ll take that $2000 and spend it on school clothes. The kids will have $100 each to buy school clothes for the upcoming school year,” said Kisela.

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Knox Board of Public Works Approves Bid for Storm Water Project

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers announced that the Knox Board of Public Works approved the lowest conforming bid for the upcoming storm water project.

“H & G Underground Services from Laporte, Indiana, their bid for $688,977 was the lowest bid and that was taken under advisement until that could be checked by Territorial Engineering and the City of Knox attorney,” said Chambers.

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Presentation on Gas Prices to Be Held at Knox Community Center

Have you ever wondered why gas prices go up at the pump when consumption is down, or why pricing varies so much from station to station or even town to town? What about why, when oil prices drop considerably, prices at the pump only drop a few pennies?

Well, WKVI Radio has arranged for those questions and more to be answered by an “insider.” Scott Imus, Executive Director of the Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, will be in Knox August 25th at the Knox Community Center for a presentation and will be available to answer your questions. All governmental officials and individuals alike are invited to attend. Imus will begin his presentation at 6:30 p.m. CT.

The session is co-sponsored by Senator Ed Charbonneau, Representative Nancy Dembowski, and Knox Mayor Rick Chambers.

Former Starke County Car Dealer Passes Away

Leonard Rudd

As reported yesterday, Leonard Rudd, 85, passed away at his home Wednesday evening. For the better part of his life, he was involved in the automotive business, owning and operating his Chevrolet-Buick store in Knox from 1961 to 1989.

He was also an auctioneer, and for many years sang with the original Rudd Family Singers.

Leonard Rudd, age 85 passed away on Wednesday, August 10 at his home in Knox. He was born to Rev. Orban and Anna (Mullins) Rudd on June 13, 1926 in McGoffin County Kentucky. In 1939 the Rudd Family relocated from the mountains of southeastern Kentucky to the flatlands of northwest Indiana, making a home here in Starke County.
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Knox, Indiana Resident Shows Support on Today Show

The city of Knox got its moment in the spotlight thanks to Jeannie Little, a Knox resident on vacation in New York City. During the broadcast of the Today Show, Little held up a large sign with the words “Knox, Indiana,” and caught quite a bit of attention.

After receiving an email with a mobile contact number for Little, WKVI’s Tom Berg was able to contact Little and ask her a few questions on the air.

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Knox City Council Discusses Budget

Knox City Council #2
Back Row: Mayor Rick Chambers, Ed Blue, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, Greg Matt and Attorney David Matsey. Front Row: Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg and Ron Parker

In a special session with Knox City Clerk-Treasurer, Jeff Houston on Tuesday evening, the Council walked through the completed budget that will soon be submitted to the Department of Local Government Finance. Presented was a budget that totals $3,112,071.

“At our next meeting, on the 23rd of August, we’re going to have our Public Hearing at 7:00 when we have our Council meeting,” said Houston when explaining the next step in the budget process. “The budget is also advertised and we’ll have our third reading of the salary ordinance.”

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National Night Out in Knox to be Bigger and Better in 2012

The Knox Neighborhood Watch Committee had to cancel this year’s observation of the National Night Out event, but Greg Matt assured us that it will be bigger and better in 2012.

Already postponed once because of the Andy Howes Memorial Service in Knox, the event was rained out Monday night. Matt said the event was canceled for this year but it will return in August next year.

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Knox-Center Township Fire Department Receives New Fire Truck

The Knox-Center Township Fire Department's new truck

The Knox-Center Township Volunteer Fire Department took possession of its new fire truck last week.

“It has more storage and we can carry more firemen,” said Fire Chief, Ken Pfost. “The other truck that this vehicle is replacing could only hold three guys in the cab, but not comfortably. This truck hauls six firefighters. They can get their air packs on on the way to a call and be ready the moment they get to the scene and step off the truck. It has a refrigerator in it for rehab so we can keep water in it. If the guys get overheated they can get something to drink. It holds 1,000 gallons of water which is 250 gallons more than our other truck. It has a lot more capability.”

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National Night Out Activities Scheduled in Knox Tonight

The City of Knox will observe the National Night Out event tonight.

“We’ll have a street dance for everyone of all ages,” said Knox Neighborhood Watch Committee Spokesman, Greg Matt, of the festivities. “The Boy Scouts will be downtown helping us out and there were will be police cars, the new Hummer and the fire trucks will be there. We’re going to have the flashlight parade starting dusk and this year we’re going to take the parade, lead by new Hummer, down Main Street.”

The Police Department will be doing fingerprinting for the kids and there will be informational items for you concerning Neighborhood Watch.

The purpose of the National Night Out event is for you to get out and meet officers on the police force, the emergency responders and others in your neighborhood.

Knox-Center Township Fire Department Celebrates 100 Years; Parade Held Sunday

These items were on display at the Southside Firehouse during the weekend.

The Knox-Center Township Fire Department held its 100th Anniversary celebration over the weekend and the festivities included an equipment and apparatus parade Sunday afternoon. Several fire departments from the area participated in the parade.

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Andy Howes to be Buried in Arlington National Cemetery Today

Andy Howes' casket will be transported his gravesite in a manner similar to this Army caisson

After being honored by his hometown Monday and Tuesday, Chief Warrant officer Andy Howes will be buried today in Arlington National Cemetery.

Services will be held at Memorial Chapel on the Ft. Myers property at 11:00 a.m. ET. Following the services, the procession will go to Arlington with the casket riding on a horse drawn caisson. Also participating in the services will be an Army band and a firing squad will fire the 21 gun salute.

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