Testimony Resumes Today in Salvage Yard Arson Trial

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The state will call more witnesses today in the arson trial of a Knox man accused of setting his business on fire. James Campbell owns C&C Salvage, also known as Starke County Recycling, at the intersection of U.S. 35 and Toto Road. The business caught fire last March 20, and Campbell was arrested eight days later on an arson charge. The state’s first witness was a mechanic named Tim Graves, who worked for Campbell for two weeks prior to the fire. He testified Campbell sent him out to get seven gallons of gas and a 50-foot extension cord about two hours before the fire started. Continue reading →

Knox School Board Extends One-To-One Computer Contract

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox School Board took action Monday evening to approve a new 4-year contract for the “one-to-one” computer program for students. The computers will become the property of the corporation at the end of the contract. The lease can be shortened with early payment to the supplier. The details of the lease were extensively reviewed by the board at its last meeting. Continue reading →

First Witnesses Testify in Salvage Yard Arson Trial

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The first two witnesses for the state have testified in the arson trial of a Knox man accused of setting his business on fire. James Campbell owns C&C Salvage, also known as Starke County Recycling, at the intersection of U.S. 35 and Toto Road. The business caught fire last March 20, and Campbell was arrested eight days later on an arson charge. The state’s first witness was a mechanic named Tim Graves, who worked for Campbell for two weeks prior to the fire. He testified Campbell sent him out to get seven gallons of gas and a 50-foot extension cord about two hours before the fire started. Continue reading →

Man Turns Himself In On Sexual Misconduct Warrant

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A Culver man turned himself into Plymouth Police on Monday after he was accused of sexual contact with a minor several months ago.

Plymouth police say they received a phone call from 43-year-old Joey Maxon who stated he would be waiting for officers at the Wal-Mart in Plymouth. Maxon had an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of Pulaski County. He was taken into custody.
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Jury Seated in C&C Salvage Arson Trial

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A jury of eight men and six women will hear testimony in the C&C Salvage arson trial in Starke Circuit Court. Attorneys for the state and defendant James Campbell spent yesterday screening prospective jurors and finally settled on a panel of 12 with two alternates around 5:20 p.m. The scrap yard south of Knox at the intersection of U.S. 35 and Toto Road caught fire on March 20, 2014. Firefighters from eight local departments responded and spent several hours battling the blaze. One firefighter from the Bass Lake Fire Department was injured. Campbell owns the business. He was arrested eight days later on a charge of arson as a Class A felony. If convicted he faces between 20 and 50 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Continue reading →

Knox School Board Adds Days to School Year

Posted on Author WKVI

CalendarThe last day of school for students for the spring semester of 2015 at Knox Schools has been moved forward by two days to June 1st. Superintendent A.J. Gappa told the school board last night that originally four days had been set aside for weather-related “make-up” days, but so far there have been six days of weather delay. The scheduled contingency days have already been used. Continue reading →

Knox Indoor Percussion Ensemble Places at State

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox Indoor PercussionThe Knox High School Indoor Percussion Ensemble performed well at the state level over the weekend.

The state preliminary competition was held Saturday morning at Avon High School where they placed second. Their evening performance in the final round of competition found them in third place.

Knox Band Director Craige Phipps commented that the Indoor Percussion Ensemble somewhat resembles a marching band.

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Arson Trial Set to Start in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Almost a year after a set fire destroyed a Knox business the owner is scheduled to stand trial in Starke Circuit Court. James Campbell owns C&C Salvage on U.S. 35 just south of Toto Road. It caught fire on March 20. The Bass Lake, Knox-Center Township, Hamlet, Washington Township, Koontz Lake, North Judson-Wayne Township, San Pierre and Monterey Fire Departments all responded to the blaze and spent several hours getting it under control. One firefighter was injured. Black smoke was visible for miles, and a brigade of tanker trucks hauled water to the scene. Continue reading →

Knox City Council Encourages Residents to Look at the Bright Side

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council encourages all to work hard to highlight positive aspects in Knox.

Several projects are upcoming that city council members are looking toward to help improve the city. The City of Knox is working on a comprehensive plan to improve the downtown area and blighted properties. Knox High School students are doing their part in beautifying the downtown area with a Serenity Garden project. Gazebos, benches and plants will be placed at the site for an uplifting feel for the downtown area.

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Robert Corbin Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Robert "Ryan" Corbin
Robert “Ryan” Corbin

Robert Corbin was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Thursday afternoon.

Corbin pleaded guilty to child seduction as a Class C felony in a previous court setting. Judge Kim Hall accepted the plea agreement that called for a seven-year sentence in the Indiana Department of Corrections. His sentence was broken into three components: 28 months will be served in the Indiana Department of Corrections, 28 months will be served on home detention with electronic monitoring and 28-months was suspended to be served on probation. By pleading guilty, all other counts against Corbin were dropped.

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Knox Officials Continue to Move Forward with Blight Elimination Grant

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Paperwork will need to be published in order for Knox officials to move along with a grant for blighted properties.

Mayor Rick Chambers explained to the city council members this week that the city purchased five properties in the recent tax sale and those properties will be included as part of the Blight Elimination grant. Chambers said Judge Kim Hall informed the city that the sale needs to be published three times in order before deeds can be issued. Certified letters were also sent.

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U.S. 35 Railroad Repairs to be Conducted in April

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Work will begin soon to repair the railroad crossing on Heaton Street or U.S. 35, in Knox.

Mayor Rick Chambers told the city council this week that he received several emails in the past two weeks from the Indiana Department of Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railroad. They’re waiting until the asphalt plants open up in April in order to form a plan of attack. There is no timeline of when the work will be complete.  They want to repair the crossing with a hot asphalt mix instead of applying cold patch. The hot mix will ensure a more permanent fix.

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Fund Established to Help with Medical Expenses for Knox Veteran Injured in Crash

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

An account has been set up to help a Knox man with hospital expenses after he was involved in a car accident on Saturday morning.

John Binkowski, 22, recently returned home from serving a term in Afghanistan. He was stopped at a red light when a semi disregarded the red light and rear-ended Binkowski’s car. Binkowski is recovering from injuries sustained in the accident at the intersection of State Road 49 and 500 North in Valparaiso. He remains in a Chicago hospital.

Binkowski is a member of the National Guard and was on his way home from a Reserve meeting in Gary when the accident occurred.

Binkowski’s military friends have come to his aid by asking for funds to help cover expenses as they are with Binkowski as he recovers. Go to http://www.gofundme.com/o9g0mc to donate.

Smoke Detectors Available from Community Services of Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI

Smoke DetectorA local nonprofit agency has smoke detectors available for families in need of the potentially life-saving devices. Community Services of Starke County Executive Director Joan Haugh says a couple of recent fire fatalities got her to thinking.

“I just felt we could save a life or two if we made sure every home had a smoke alarm – a working smoke alarm or sometimes two. So we applied to State Farm because they had a safety grant, and they awarded me some funds to purchase smoke detectors,” Haugh said. Continue reading →

Record Amount of Food Pantry Donations Collected at Local Event

Posted on Author WKVI
Stephanie Shepard, Sarah Clemons and Jake Skorup help gather donations at the Bluegrass Jam
Stephanie Shepard, Sarah Clemons and Jake Skorup help gather donations at the Bluegrass Jam

The Starke County Community Services food pantry received a donation from a recent community event.

The holidays usually bring in a good amount of food for underprivileged families and then donations drop off. The Bluegrass Jam event helps supply the food pantry with needed funds and items to stock the shelves. The admission fee to the concert featuring local talent is a donation for the food pantry or a monetary gift so the staff at Community Services of Starke County can purchase what is needed for families.

The event at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox on Saturday collected 998 pounds of food and $440 was raised.

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers told the city council members this week that since the program started six years ago, this is a record high for collections in a single event. In all of those years, 6,529 pounds of food and $2,586 has been collected.