Knox Community Elementary School Officially Opens New Outdoor Learning Lab

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Yesterday afternoon, Knox Elementary School celebrated the completion of a grant-funded project with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Outdoor Odyssey is a one-of-a-kind classroom that was constructed thanks to community collaboration and the dedicated efforts of motivated faculty members.

Second Grade teacher Jamie Shireman worked with Knox High School science teacher Marge Woods to obtain grants to fund the project. They were able to receive $11,000 worth of funding through the Starke County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Arrow Head Country RC & D Grant. Continue reading →

Knox City Council Votes to Shed Some Light on Reported Darkness Downtown

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The downtown area in Knox will be getting a little bit brighter thanks to a decision made by the Knox City Council last night. The council members voted unanimously to approve Mayor Dennis Estok’s request to replace 10 bulbs in the downtown area with new LED bulbs.

Mayor Estok started looking into new lighting options after receiving continuous complaints about the darkness downtown. He has been working with a representative from Herrman and Goetz, discussing the best route to take.

Estok started by installing one bulb on Main Street to have council members weigh in with their opinions. They all agreed that there was a noticeable difference. Estok said now that they know the bulbs are brighter, he wants to test out more in order to see how multiple bulbs would illuminate the area. Continue reading →

Knox Water Department to Start Hydrant and Waterline Flushing Wednesday

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The Knox Water Department will begin flushing waterlines and fire hydrants tomorrow morning.

Knox Water Superintendent Todd Garner said this procedure is performed to test the working order of the fire hydrants and to keep the water mains clean. Gardner said the work will be done during the day and should be completed, at the latest, by Tuesday of next week.

Keep an eye out for Knox Water Department crews while driving around town this week.

Starke County Chamber of Commerce Coffee With a Cop Event

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Today from 7:30 until 9 a.m. the Starke County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Coffee with a Cop event at the Downtown Depot in Knox.

Whether it’s to ask questions, voice concerns, or to simply chat and listen, the Chamber of Commerce encourages Starke County residents to spend a few minutes conversing with Sheriff Bill Dulin, Police Chief Harold Smith and other local authorities over a cup of a joe.

Coffee with a Cop is a way to connect law-enforcement officials with members of the community directly. The event provides a casual platform for residents to share their voices and feel that they’re being heard. To learn more about the program that started as a grass-roots initiative and developed into a world-wide movement, visit coffeewithacop.com.

Community Members Encouraged to Attend Tomorrow’s Starke County Health Fair

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Starke Hospital will be holding their annual health fair tomorrow in the Knox Middle School gymnasium. WKVI will be broadcasting live from this free community event which will feature a number of interactive health exhibits, health screenings, healthy snack samples and more.

From 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. a number community vendors will be on site. “Ask a provider” is a feature of the fair where health care professionals from Knox and North Judson will be present to answer various questions.

There also will be CPR and self-defense demonstrations. Free flu-shots for adults will be available while supplies last. They will even hold some for individuals who won’t be able to attend until after 5 p.m.

For more information, visit starkehealth.com or call 574-772-6231.

Want to be Part of the 2017 Knox Peppermint Parade? Apply Today!

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

2017 Peppermint Parade Application

Knox’s annual Peppermint Parade will take place on December 2nd this year but the application deadline to be a part of the parade is coming soon. Applications were  originally due on Wednesday, November 22nd but the deadline has been extended to allow more people to sign-up.

There is no registration fee but applicants are required to share their contact information, the name of their organization, a brief description and they must specify whether they are entering as a church, a non-profit, a business or as an individual. This year, the Peppermint Parade will feature a reviewing station and a winner will be selected from each specific category and one will be chosen for best overall holiday spirit.

Continue reading →

Knox Residents in Need of Fall Lawn Care Assistance Can Call the Mayor’s Office for Help

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

As the fall season is upon us, leaves will start to scatter across yards all over town. Knox residents who are unable to tend to their lawns due to advanced age or physical disability are able to submit a request for assistance to the Mayor’s Office.

Mayor Dennis Estok announced the start of the call out for the fall leaf pick-up program at the Knox City Council meeting earlier this week. He informed council members that the Mayor’s Office works in conjunction with the SCILL Center to get the leaves raked. The program is carried out on a first come, first serve basis and they’re able to attend to up to 15 properties. Continue reading →

Update About Upgrades to Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

An update about ongoing renovations to the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center was provided by Mayor Dennis Estok during last night’s brief Knox City Council meeting.

Mayor Estok told council members that work being done to the heating and air conditioning systems is nearly complete. He said only one compressor still needs to be installed. He went on to say that roofers will be commencing their work this week, possibly as soon as today. Continue reading →

Knox City Council Meets Tonight

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

No specific action or discussion items are listed on the agenda for the Knox City Council meeting being held tonight at 7 p.m. in Knox City Hall.

The council will hear reports from Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston and Mayor Dennis Estok. There will be time allotted toward the end of the meeting for citizen’s comments and council items.

In recent meetings, council items included the potential striping of Culver Road and an ordinance pertaining to parking downtown. There is a possibility these items will be revisited tonight but they are not specifically listed on the agenda.

Knox Mayor Announces Committee Meeting, Requests Volunteers

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

A committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4 at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center. During a Knox City Council meeting Tuesday evening, Mayor Dennis Estok reminded council members that the focus would be on some past and future projects.

Estok said the committee will discuss the financial results of this year’s fireworks display as well as address the upcoming Peppermint Parade. Estok said the parade applications have already been submitted for the event.  Continue reading →

Potential Ordinance Readdressed During Knox City Council Meeting

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Last Tuesday, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston provided an update about an issue discussed during a previous Knox City Council meeting. Back in August, concerns over improper parking methods in town were addressed during the council items. Houston said he would look into whether or not an ordinance regarding those issues exists on the books.

“I looked back and saw what we had about parking on the sidewalk, also there have been some other issues about people parking their car in their front yards or parking RVs in the street so you’ve got wider than a vehicle,” Houston explained, “so I think that we’re going to have to come up with an ordinance.” Continue reading →

Public Hearing over 2018 Budget Held During Knox City Council Meeting

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Knox City Council held a public hearing over the 2018 budget during their meeting Tuesday night. If you missed it, don’t worry, the budget can be seen online through the Indiana Gateway for Government Units website. Click here to access the 2018 Budget for the City of Knox.

During the hearing, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston went over specific items on the notice to the taxpayer. He explained that the max civil levy is the maximum amount of money that is allowed to be collected from property taxes. The estimated max civil levy is $1,567,438. He also described that the tax cap, the amount of money not allowed to be collected based on the classification of particular properties, is $221,292. The estimated general fund is $1,563,107. Continue reading →

Christmas Celebrations Planned in North Judson, Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
Santa Claus
Santa Claus

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Starke County, with several holiday happenings scheduled this weekend. Festivities get underway tonight  in North Judson with the lighting of the town’s Christmas Tree at Norwayne Field. Santa will be on hand for the 6 p.m. community celebration. Children can visit with him at the top of the hill by the fireplace, and cookies and cocoa will also be served. Continue reading →