The latest photo opportunity for U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly happened to be in Knox on Tuesday.
The Senator was touring multiple businesses in the Northern Indiana region as part of a “Donnelly Day.” The Democrat uses the visits to learn more about what’s important to workers in Indiana by performing tasks alongside various employees.
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The Starke County Clerk’s Office welcomed nine voters Tuesday on the first day to vote absentee in the May 5 Knox Primary Election.
Incumbent Democrat Mayor Rick Chambers is seeking another term. He faces opposition from Democrat Dennis Estok, who previously served as mayor. Incumbent District 2 Councilman Ron Parker has drawn a primary challenge from fellow Democrat Priscilla Upp. Council District 4 incumbent Gregory L. Matt is opposed by Democrat Tim Manns in the primary. The winner of that contest will face Republican Anthony (Tony) Radkiewicz, Sr. in the November General Election. Democrats Bertha Blue and Dorine Barbara Godinez are vying for the Knox City Council At-Large seat given up by Linda Berndt. Incumbent councilmen Donald L. Kring and Jeff Berg are unopposed. So is Knox Clerk-Treasurer Jeffery J. Houston. Voters will choose between incumbent Republican City Court Judge Charles F. Hasnerl and Democrat Angelo Masuka in November.
Head to Weinberg Gym in Knox tonight for “trick-hoops and alley-oops” courtesy of the Harlem Wizards. The legendary exhibition basketball team will take on “The Tribe” – a team comprised of local celebrities in a fundraiser for the Knox High School Band Boosters. Director Craige Phipps says general admission, reserve seat and meet-and-greet tickets are available. Continue reading
A Knox man was arrested Tuesday morning after allegedly making threats to harm individuals within the Knox Community High School.
Officers from the Knox City Police Department were notified of the situation after Paul J. Esparza, 20, had entered Knox High School and was escorted from the building by school officials twice. The initial complaint suggested that Esparza was in possession of a handgun, according to a news release. Officers found Esparza in the area of the school shortly after notification and took him into custody. Police say he was not armed at the time.
A murder trial scheduled to start April 13 in Starke Circuit Court has been pushed back to at least July so the defendant can have surgery deemed medically necessary by a provider under contract with the county. Gary Chavez is accused of beating his estranged wife, Kimberly Chavez, to death at their rural California Township home last June. From there police say he drove to Mark Bailey’s Discount Center, kidnapped an employee and drove to English Lake where he’s accused of stealing a second vehicle. Chavez then led police on a high-speed chase into LaPorte and Porter Counties, according to court records. He’s accused of stealing a third vehicle in Kouts and continuing into Lake County. Police there say Chavez shot himself in the face when officers in Crown Point managed to stop his vehicle. He was airlifted to a Chicagoland area hospital and released to the custody of the Starke County Sheriff last August. Chavez remains in jail. Continue reading
Construction of the addition to the Knox Elementary School is expected to begin within 30 days, Dana J. Wannemacher, vice president Barton Coe Vilamaa, architects and engineers, reported to the Knox School Board last night. Weather and scheduling were cited as contributing to about a month’s delay in breaking ground. The board approved details of the kitchen and cafeteria area and equipment. Continue reading
In-office absentee voting for the City of Knox Municipal Primary Election begins today and will be available through Monday, May 4. Absentee voting hours will be from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in the second-floor meeting room in the Starke County Courthouse. Evening absentee voting hours are available on Tuesday, April 21 and Thursday, April 30 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday absentee voting hours will be April 25 and May 2 from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Starke County Election Board advertised early and absentee voting hours, and then considered changing them the day before it’s supposed to start.
Following a vote at their last meeting to set the hours for voting prior to the primary election, Starke County Clerk Vicky Cooley brought a proposal to the board to reduce the number of hours early voting can take place.
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The good news is the rough railroad crossing on U.S. 35 in downtown Knox will soon be fixed. The bad news is the road will be shut down so those repairs can be made. Starting today the highway is closed between East John and East Bender streets. Continue reading
A local physician with deep roots in Starke County is making a change. Dr. Curtis Bejes is a North Judson native who has been practicing medicine in his home town for 18 years.
“Although I’ve enjoyed my time here immensely, I’ve decided to take some time away from my practice,” Bejes said. He added he’s not selling his home or leaving the area for good. He is taking a year off to do other things. Continue reading
Monday is the final day for those looking to vote in the municipal primary election to register.
Forms must be turned into the voter registration office by 4:00 p.m. or, at the very least, postmarked by today. Voters can register to cast their ballot online, in-person, or through the U.S. Postal Service. Registration can be completed through the local county election office or at any BMV office.
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Federal and state income taxes are due April 15. Michelle Bachtel with the H&R Block office in Knox says anyone whose income exceeds the filing threshold set by the IRS needs to file a tax return. Thresholds are based on your age and filing status, which is either single, married filing joint, married filing separate, head of household or qualifying widower.
Income requirements vary, but Bachtel offers a general guideline. Continue reading
A hospital group that serves Knox, LaPorte, and the surrounding areas made a big announcement earlier this week.
IU Health is entering into an exclusive negotiating period with Community Health Systems. That company is based in Tennessee.
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Time is running out for Knox residents and business owners to sign up for the city’s 50/50 sidewalk replacement program. The city will split the cost of new sidewalks with qualified owners. Requests must be submitted to the mayor’s office by 4 p.m. on Friday, April 17 and will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis until available money runs out. Continue reading
A boil order was in effect on Friday for a portion of the City of Knox after a water main began leaking.
Areas affected included residences between the 700 and 900 blocks of South Bower Street. The areas between 700 and 900 South Shield Street were also being affected.
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The rough railroad crossing on U.S. 35 in Knox will soon be fixed. Starting Monday INDOT officials plan to close the highway between East John and East Bender Streets to fix the crossing. INDOT’s official marked detour takes motorists around the work using State Roads 8, 39 and 10 to get back to U.S. 35. Drivers of passenger cars can use city streets to bypass the closure. The road is set to reopen on Monday, April 13. Continue reading
The City of Knox will pick up leaves next week. They need to be placed in the street along the curb, and not in the alley. Also the Knox Street Department will pick up brush and limbs each Thursday, but they will not take brush left over from professional tree jobs. That material is the responsibility of the removal company. Continue reading
The Knox City-Wide Yard Sales are coming up, and organizers are looking for participants. Sale dates are May 14 through the 17th. Permit fees are waived for residents, and spaces are available in the Knox Moose parking lot for anyone who lives outside the city limits but would like to take part. They can be reserved for any or all days. Sales can also be included on a free map. Call 574-772-2098 for more information or to save your spot. Continue reading
Time is running out for contractors to registerto participate in the City of Knox 2015 Residential/Business Sidewalk Replacement Program. Stop by the Knox Planning Commission office at 101 W. Washington St. between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays through Thursday, April 9 and from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday, April 10 to sign up. Continue reading
