The local business community is chiming in on an issue that has garnered national attention.
A survey was conducted by the Starke County Chamber of Commerce about the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The bill was signed into law earlier this year by Governor Mike Pence.
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Two Knox residents were arrested on Friday after police allegedly found items to manufacture methamphetamine and the finished product inside a residence.
Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at a residence in the 2000 E. block of 400 S. in Knox. Inactive methamphetamine labs were found along with precursors, drug paraphernalia, and Schedule II controlled substances, according to a news release.
Firefighters from the Knox-Center Township Fire Department battled a house fire in the 1400 block of U.S. 35 just north of Knox.
When they arrived at the scene just after 9:30 p.m. Monday, flames could be seen from the back of the residence. Dark, heavy smoke billowed from the eaves. According to Fire Chief Kenny Pfost, all of the occupants were out of the house, but a dog remained inside. Firefighters entered the house, located the dog and carried it to safety. No injuries were reported.
Temperatures are becoming more spring-like and it’s tempting to get out into the yard to get rid of leaves and brush left over from the winter months. The most common way to get rid of the debris is to burn it. On occasion, burn piles can get out of control, and the fire department is called to assist a homeowner in putting out the flames.
Firefighters have responded to several brush fires in the past few days.
Knox-Center Township Fire Chief Kenny Pfost urges you to choose a nice day to burn any of that debris.
Some questionable business tactics are being used to sell advertising.
That’s according to a notice sent by the Starke County Chamber of Commerce to its member business. The Chamber says it was notified by members that local businesses had been receiving phone calls from companies claiming to sell advertising for maps.
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IU Health LaPorte and Starke Hospitals may partner with Community Health Systems, Inc. to strengthen the health care needs of the area. The IU Health LaPorte Hospital Board has entered into exclusive negotiations with a CHS subsidiary and IU Health, according to a news release sent late Monday afternoon. Final details will be worked out during a due diligence period. The proposed limited liability company will include IU Health LaPorte and Starke Hospitals and all related entities, including physician practices. Continue reading
The contractor that widened 300 East through the Knox Industrial Park last summer is ready to put the finishing touches on that project. Work will begin today to repair driveways, install topsoil, seed and sod and clean existing pavement. Once that is done, a final surface coat will be applied and the pavement will be marked. No road closures are planned. Lane restrictions and flagging operations will be used to restrict traffic until the project is complete in May.
The Knox Water Department had a mild winter this year compared to last season.
Superintendent Todd Gardner informed the Knox Board of Public Works members this week that there weren’t too many calls about frozen water pipes. There was one call, but Gardner said the line from the resident’s home to the city hookup is the issue. If the issue were to be repaired, it would be the homeowner’s responsibility to take care of the problem.
Knox Building Administrator Bruce Williams has sent letters to businesses in the city to alert them to follow regulations set forth in the outdoor storage ordinance.
The ordinance was approved by the Knox Cty Council members last year after a two-year discussion on the issue. The ordinance allows outdoor sales and displays, but the items need to be placed in an area not greater than 15 percent of the gross floor area of the building, except outdoor garden displays. Outdoor sales and displays must be located 25 feet from the property and meet all other setbacks.
A 25-year-old Knox man who is accused of trying to molest a preschooler in February of 2013 remains jailed on a $35,000 surety bond. Magistrate Jeanene Calabrese denied a request to lower Luther Nies’ bond or release him on his own recognizance during his initial appearance in Starke Circuit Court this morning. Continue reading
A Knox man accused of felony attempted child seduction and child solicitation is scheduled to appear in Starke Circuit Court today for an initial hearing.
Luther Nies, 25, was arrested on a warrant Wednesday morning on the charges that stem from alleged actions in Feb. 2013. According to court documents, Nies attempted to molest a five-year-old child. Knox City Police Department officers placed Nies into custody without incident and he remains in the Starke County Jail on a $35,000 surety bond.
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers is attempting to clear misinformation that residents have received concerning the homes that are part of the Blight Elimination Program Grant.
If a property owner is not interested in being a part of this program, that person can opt out of consideration. The city is not forcing anyone to sell or vacate a property, according to Mayor Chambers.
He explained that five homes were added to a list of proposed homes for demolition, but those have since been removed from the list.
Knox Street Superintendent Jeff Borg said the road crews have attempted to work on spring projects, but the snow was a surprise on Monday.
Street department employees were filling potholes and working grading alleys when the storm hit. Luckily, Borg said, the equipment was still prepared for snow removal.
After nearly 12 hours of deliberation the jury in the arson trial of a Knox businessman was unable to reach a verdict. Starke Circuit Judge Kim Hall declared a mistrial in State v. James Campbell at 12:14 a.m. due to the jury being an impasse and deadlocked. They began deliberations at 12:30 p.m. Continue reading
A Knox man was arrested on a bench warrant yesterday after a two-month investigation by the Knox City Police Department.
Luther J. Nies, 25, was arrested on charges of attempted child molestation as a Class C felony and child solicitation is a Class D felony. The alleged acts involved a small child in 2013. No other details are available at this time.
Nies is in the Starke County Jail on a $35,000 bond.
The Knox City Council members held a lengthy discussion Tuesday night concerning seed money for the 2015 Harvest Festival.
A request for $2,500 was made by Mayor Rick Chambers to front the organization money just to cover initial expenses. The money will be returned once revenue is received.
The Knox Board of Public Works reviewed a new towing agreement for four companies currently being utilized for service in the case of a car accident. Those companies include Buzz’s Towing, Howard and Sons Towing, Hauser’s Towing and Wagner’s Towing.
The agreement states that if the service is needed within the City of Knox contractors will be called on a rotating basis. The Knox City Police Department or the Starke County Sheriff’s Department would be working directly with the companies to request service. If the contractor does not answer the phone, the next company on the list will be called. It will be considered a rotational call and will not be made up.
The fate of a Knox man accused of setting his businesses on fire will soon be in the hands of a jury. The defense in James Campbell’s arson trial rested at 4:16 p.m. Tuesday after calling three witnesses. The first, a former ATF agent turned fire investigation consultant, questioned whether the fire that destroyed Campbell’s Tire Barn, Starke County Recycling and C&C Salvage on U.S. 35 south of Toto Road last March was deliberately set. Mike Vergon has operated a private fire investigation practice in Indianapolis for the past two-and-a-half years. He visited the burned out business on June 23 and Oct. 2 of last year. Vergon testified burn patterns don’t help with origin and cause determinations with damage as extensive as what he saw and said it’s his opinion the cause cannot be determined without good witness corroboration. Continue reading
The power issue in downtown Knox on Monday morning affected 700 homes and businesses.
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers informed the council members last night that City Hall was shut down for the day until repairs were made, and MPI had to close production for the day due to lack of power.
The driver of a garbage hauler dropped off the large recycling bins at City Hall and failed to lower the rack on the truck. That rack caught the telephone lines as he was pulling away from the parking lot and snapped the pole in half. The lines were attached to City Hall.
Volunteers are being sought for this year’s Harvest Festival in Knox.
Several committees have been formed to take care of certain aspects of the festival and those leaders are looking for community volunteers.
A fundraiser is planned and help is being sought for the event. An entertainment committee will also need help along with other groups to help put together a successful event.
