Knox City Council Will Not Sell Sandy Acres Park

Posted on Author WKVI
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

A resounding “no” was given to Knox Mayor Rick Chambers when he asked the City Council members last week if they would be interested in selling the Sandy Acres Park. Chambers said that he had been approached about selling the property. Although not announcing who had approached him, it was assumed to be a business person wanting to locate, or re-locate on Heaton Street.

It was noted that in the Five Year Park Plan that there is not have enough park space. Recently, the Park Board has spruced up Sandy Acres and it has been used more according to Park Superintendent, George Byer.

Taylor Quella Prepares for Miss Indiana Outstanding Teen

Posted on Author WKVI
Taylor Quella

Taylor Quella, a Knox High School incoming Senior, is in Zionsville this week participating in the Miss Indiana Outstanding Teen competition. Taylor is the daughter of Kathy and Pete Quella.

Ted Hayes talked with Taylor before she leaves for the competition. He asked her what she has been doing to get ready since early November when she was selected Queen of the local pageant.

“I’ve had mock interviews, I have gotten my wardrobe all ready and I have gotten my nails done and I’m just preparing every day,” said Quella. “Wednesday, we go down there for good until around Saturday. We have rehearsals every day until the final competition on Friday.”

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P.E.O. Chapter B Hosts State Convention in Indianapolis

Posted on Author WKVI
Members of the Knox/North Judson P.E.O. Chapter B host the state convention in Indianapolis

Twelve members of the Philanthropic Educational Organization Chapter B in Knox and North Judson recently traveled to Indianapolis to attend the State P.E.O. Convention held at the Wyndham West Hotel and Convention Center.

Chapter B hosted the Golden Girl Luncheon honoring 34 women who have been members for 50 years. Approximately 570 members and guests attended the luncheon with Chapter B providing the decorations, programs, entertainment and biographies of the Golden Girls. All 144 chapters in Indiana, representing 5,642 members, sent delegates and guests to the convention.

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Police Continue to Investigate Alleged Attempted Abduction

Posted on Author WKVI

A week after a Parkview Heights woman reported an attempted abduction of a child, Knox City Police still are investigating. Officer Harold Smith said yesterday that they have few leads outside of those given by the woman.

The incident was reported to have occurred Thursday afternoon, June 9th. At that time, the woman said a man entered her fenced-in backyard and attempted to grab her one-year-old toddler. Amber Howard said the possible abduction began with the man knocking her seven-year-old daughter off of a swing and onto the ground.

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World War II Veteran, Harvey Hammerlund, Dies

Posted on Author WKVI
Harvey Hammerlund

If you ever visited the Knox VFW during celebrations of patriotism you probably saw Harvey Hammerlund. Dressed in his Navy Blues with a pipe in his mouth, Harvey Hammerlund was the epitome of what’s good about this country.  Hammerlund passed away Wednesday, June 14th.

“It’s probably appropriate that Harvey died so close to Flag Day, June 14th, because Harvey honored that flag and he honored his country,” said WKVI’s Ted Hayes. “If the definition of patriotism is feeling, expressing or inspired by love of one’s country, then you could put that tag on Harvey Hammerlund. He and Joe Smrt flew to Washington, D.C. on one of the first Honor Flights. While there, they visited the World War II monument. Like a slow drum beat, the World War II veterans are leaving us, but they’ll never be forgotten. They’re wonderful people, like Harvey Hammerlund.”

For a complete obituary notice, visit the Obituary page on this website.

Knox Neighborhood Watch Meeting to Focus on Gang Activity

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Neighborhood Watch meeting is tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Knox City Court Room in Knox City Hall. Greg Matt, from the Neighborhood Watch Committee, says it will be an important meeting for residents to attend.

“We’re going to have a program on gangs,” said Matt. “If you’ve noticed in the past few months around Knox, we’ve had some gang taggings on buildings downtown, in the alleys and in other neighborhoods. There are other gang signs that have been going up like sneakers over power lines. Thom Morin will be coming in and discussing gangs and the telltale signs of whether your children are getting involved. It’s something that every citizen in the City of Knox should be aware of and hopefully concerned with.”

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Local Teen to Compete In Miss Indiana’s Outstanding Teen Contest

Posted on Author WKVI
Taylor Quella

Eight young women from the South Bend area will compete for the titles of Miss Indiana and Miss Indiana’s Outstanding Teen in Zionsville.  Teen finals are June 24th and Miss Indiana Finals are Saturday, June 25th.

Celebrating 71 years of service to Hoosier Young Women, the Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant is a preliminary to the Miss America Pageant, the largest source of scholarship money to young women in the world.

Taylor Quella, of Knox, is Miss Kankakee Valley’s Outstanding Teen.  She is 17 years old and she attends Knox Community High School.  Taylor is expected to compete 5th in the Miss Indiana’s Outstanding Teen Competition on Friday, June 24th at 7:00 p.m. ET at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center.  She joins 21 others in the competition.

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Rodger Griffin Charged after Alleged Intimidation Incident

Posted on Author WKVI
police badge

Rodger Griffin was arrested on Thursday after a brief foot pursuit with police.

Griffin, 48, allegedly battered his girlfriend and when her son tried to diffuse the situation, Griffin reportedly threatened his life and pulled a machete and waved it at him making alleged threats.  The police were called and Griffin left the residence. When officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Deparment and the Knox City Police Department arrived, they were advised that Griffin had run into the woods on State Road 8. Officers did locate Griffin and chased him through thick woods. He was eventually taken into custody and booked into the Starke County jail.

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Knox Students Named Unsung Heroes

Posted on Author WKVI
Back Row: Robbie Snowdon, Joey Miller and Knox Mayor Rick Chambers. Front Row: Chastity Griffith, Samantha Piper and Cheyenne Jordon. Not pictured: Destiny Wells

A group consisting of six Knox School students were selected to receive this year’s Unsung Heroes award. The students, Samantha Piper, Joey Miller, Destiny Wells, Chastity Griffith, Robby Snowdon, and Cheyenne Jordon surprised moderately mentally handicapped teacher, Bruce Klimek, with a cash donation for his class. Four students of the team are Knox High School Freshmen, one is an 8th grader and the other is a 5th grader.

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Robert Rozhon Receives Larry Hartley-Striker Award

Posted on Author WKVI
Back Row: James Minkert, Rick Minkert and Chuck Lovins. Front Row: Floyd Burton, Robert Rozhon and Grover Goetz

In a ceremony held at the Knox South Side Fire Station Sunday, Starke County Honor Guard member, Robert Rozhon, of North Judson, was presented the Larry Hartley-Striker award for service to the unit.

Mr. Rozhon, 79, is a charter member of the award winning organization. He was a member of the San Pierre Fire Department from 1963-1976, and the North Judson Fire Department from 1976-1997.

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Vehicle Catches Fire at McDonald’s in Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
Bill Wallace talks to Knox-Center Township Fire Chief, Kenny Pfost, about the car fire

A car caught fire in the McDonald’s parking lot in Knox this morning.  No injuries were reported and the Knox-Center Township Fire Department responded to the scene.  The car was owned by Bill Wallace.  There is no report yet on how the fire started.

Knox City Police Department Acquires Hummer

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Police Department Hummer

The Knox City Police Department recently acquired a 1985 Hummer from the Federal Surplus Property Acquisition Program that Police Chief Clint Norem said they received at no cost to the Department.

“Any property that the Federal Government has or has purchased and no longer needs is made available to law enforcement agencies throughout the United States,” explained Norem. “In order to acquisition this property, we submit an application to them and once approved, we’re assigned an ID and we can go to a website and review this property. Anything that can be used by our department, we submit the request. Once they review it and we can provide a reason of how we can use it and they agree with that, then they will allow us to pick up the property.” Continue reading →

City of Knox Fireworks Celebration July 2nd

Posted on Author WKVI

The City of Knox Fireworks celebration is scheduled for Saturday, July 2nd at the Starke County Airport. Mayor Rick Chambers said the gate will open at 4:00 p.m. so you can take advantage of all the pre-fireworks activities.

“Besides the many food booths, we’ll also have a remote control model airplane club putting on a demonstration all afternoon,” previewed Mayor Chambers. “We will have some ramps set up for a BMX bike riding display and we will have the local Ham Radio Club set up and putting on a demonstration. The Fire Department is sponsoring a car cruise-in and for an additional $5.00 you can cruise down the runway at the airport behind the fire trucks. The best part is that the entry fee for all of this is still $5.00 a carload.”

Herman Hopkins Arrested on Charges of Burglary, Battery

Posted on Author WKVI
Herman Hopkins

Officers from the Knox City Police Department arrested a Knox man on several charges, including Burglary, Saturday night.

Herman Hopkins is suspected of entering the home of Virginia Neace on Ellis Street and battering her son, Kenneth Neace. The Neace family also reported items missing from the home. When Hopkins was taken into custody, police found him in possession of mechanic’s gloves, a walkman tape player and headphones, an electronic car charger, radar detector, needle-nose pliers, a Sears Craftsman lawnmower key, batteries, and loose change. Kenneth Neace was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital for an evaluation of his injuries.

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Race Develops in City of Knox General Election

Posted on Author WKVI

Thomas H. Morin, of Knox, filed his candidacy in the Starke County Clerk’s office last week. He is running as a Republican and will face Democrat Don Kring for a City Council seat. Both are running for the seat now occupied by Ed Blue who has decided not to run for another term.

“Now that we have a race going in Center One between Mr. Morin and Donald Kring, there will definitely be a General Election,” said Starke County Clerk, Evelyn Skronski. “The Election Board, the poll workers and the Absentee Board will all be in here in the Fall to have an election.”

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Monday’s Memorial Day Services

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox VFW Post #748 will be hosting Memorial Day services until Noon on Monday, May 30th, where the the closing ceremonies and the retiring of the guard will be held at the Post Home. Several veterans, firefighters, police officers, and National Guard members will be standing vigil at the Post and a Civil War camp will be set up in the back of the facility.

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