Knox TIF District Fund over $151,000

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

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers has notified the Knox City Council that the TIF fund has grown to just over $151,000. The fund has grown to this level over the past two years. Before that, those funds were not building, but the City contracted with Umbaugh and Associates to determine the amount due. Money from the TIF fund can be used within the district for redevelopment, public improvement projects, training, or making bond payments.

The Council members are to prepare suggestions for how a portion of the funds can be used for upgrades.

Knox City Council Discusses Friends of the Park Funding, Tax Exempt Status

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

The Knox City Council, which has been asked to make a monetary donation to the Friends of the Park organization, is demanding better accounting of the money received from donations and booth fees before voting to approve the request.

“I do think we need to get a better report on their funds and on their flow of cash this time than what we have been demanding from them,” said Clerk-Treasurer, Jeff Houston.

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Knox City Council Discusses Community Center Rental Agreement

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community Center

Mayor Rick Chambers has given Knox City Council members copies of the newest Community Center Rental Agreement.

One of the sections of the agreement spells out the restrictions of serving alcohol at an event. If alcohol is to be served, the renter must apply for and obtain a temporary beer/wine permit from the Indiana Alcohol Beverage Commission. Only a licensed bartender may supply or dispense alcoholic beverages. And security is required through the Starke County Sheriff’s Posse at the renter’s expense. The Posse members on duty must stay for the entire duration of the event and lock the facility. All events where alcohol is served must be ended by 12:00 midnight.

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Mark Smith Announces His Candidacy for Mayor of Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
Mark Smith

Knox resident and local businessman, Mark Smith, has announced his intention to seek the office of Knox Mayor. Smith is the owner of the M.C. Smith Funeral Home and the current President of the Starke County Council as well as a very active member of the community.

He says, “The fiscal condition of the City of Knox has traditionally been good, however, with the changes that we have been handed, close attention must be given to the finances of the City if we are to continue the level of service currently being provided to our residents.”

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Sanctity of Life Service Held in Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
Residents participate in the Sanctity of Life service in Knox

A March For Life Rally will be held in Washington, D.C. today. The rally will begin at the National Mall and ends at the Supreme Court where abortions were made legal in the United States in 1973.

A “Sanctity of Life” service was held in Knox Sunday night. Prayers and hymns began the service at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, followed by a candlelight hymn sing at the Monument of the Unborn and a program at the Knox Community Center.

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State Supreme Court Justice Visits Knox City Court

Posted on Author WKVI
City Court Judge Charlie Hasnerl (R) welcomes Justice Frank Sullivan, Jr.

State Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan, Jr. was in Knox Friday afternoon. Justice Sullivan chairs the Court’s Judicial Technology and Automation Committee which guides courts throughout the state to upgrade it’s technology.

“The Judicial Technology and Automation Committee has many projects, but the single biggest and most important one is providing to each of the courts in Indiana, and there are about 400 of them, a computer system to help those courts keep track of their cases,” explained Justice Sullivan.

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Fluoride Levels Could Dilute in Knox’s Water Supply

Posted on Author WKVI

Those old enough to remember the early days of fluoridation of drinking water also remember the controversy it caused. In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, many people thought it was a communist plot to undermine public health.
Most public officials that added fluoride to the town or city’s drinking water claimed that it helped prevent tooth decay.

Whatever side you were on, fluoridation continued.

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Second Ladies Car Care Session Scheduled

Posted on Author WKVI
Mark Anderson
Mark Anderson

The SCILL Center has rescheduled the second session of the Ladies Car Care Clinic. The second class will be on Tuesday, January 18th, from 6:00-8:30 p.m. CT at the SCILL Center in Knox. The cost of the class is $5.00.

For the ladies who did not attend the first class, you are urged to attend the second class. A brief review from the first class will be conducted at the beginning of this session.

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Knox City Police Department Statistics for December and for 2010

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Police Chief Clint Norem
Knox City Police Chief Clint Norem

Knox City Police Chief, Clint Norem, has released the Department’s December statistics. The Department had 370 calls, 11 accident reports and 18 incident reports. There were 7 Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated reports and 1 Public Intoxication report. 12 people were arrested on 15 traffic charges, 29 people were arrested on 55 criminal charges, 5 juveniles were arrested on 6 charges, and 3 people were cited for ordinance violations.

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News from the Knox City Council

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

The Knox City Council learned that the City of Knox received a storm water infrastructure project grant worth $837,095. The Council will be providing a 20% match of $166,000 toward this project.

Clerk-Treasurer, Jeff Houston, announced that new tables and chairs have been ordered for the Knox Community Center. The dance floor was repaired and the carpets cleaned. The Council plans to review procedures for the Community Center in the near future.

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Knox City Police Department Receives New Cameras and Thermal Imagers

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Police Chief Clint Norem
Knox City Police Chief Clint Norem

The Knox City Police Department recently received new cameras and thermal imagers for the squad cars. Three cameras were received and two have been installed. The third camera will be installed in the last squad car in the near future.

“The cameras are activated on traffic stops,” explained Knox City Chief, Clint Norem. “We have ours hooked into the light system so once an officer activates his overhead lights, the camera system will start recording. The interesting feature with this system is it actually records between 30 and 60 seconds prior to the lights being activated. You may be able to catch the actual incident that occurred that led up to the traffic stop. In accident situations, there is a setting the camera that should the vehicle be involved in an accident, it will actually record 60 seconds prior to the accident. It’s a great benefit for not only the officers, but also the public.”

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A Knox Man is Arrested on Charges of Residential Entry, Possession of Methamphetamine

Posted on Author WKVI
Justin Miller

A Starke County police officer arrested a Knox resident on Wednesday, December 23rd, on charges of Residential Entry and Possession of Methamphetamine, both Class D Felonies.

Officers were called to a residence on 250 North after a call was made to the Sheriff’s Department about a possible break-in at the residence. Justin Miller was attempting to leave the residence and got stuck in the snow when police were called to the scene. After further investigation, police found that Miller had allegedly broken into the basement by breaking the basement window and gaining entry into the residence. When police searched Miller’s vehicle, they reportedly found methamphetamine and paraphernalia in his pickup truck. Justin Miller was taken to the Starke County Jail and currently has no bond.