Knox City Council Pose Questions Concerning Jail Water Project

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

Knox City Council Attorney David Matsey is looking to draft a Memorandum of Understanding between the city council and the Starke County Commissioners regarding the jail water project.

The council thought that it should be spelled out what every party is responsible for, especially when it comes to payment of vouchers. One question that Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston had was how to pay the vouchers. Would the city need to pay up front and wait a possible 45 days for the county council or commissioners to approve the claims in order to reimburse the city?

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Former Knox Girls Swim Coach to Appear in Court of Appeals

Posted on Author WKVI

Robert "Ryan" Corbin
Robert “Ryan” Corbin
A former Knox High School gym teacher and girls varsity swim coach will appear before the Indiana Court of Appeals in an attempt to overturn Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall’s denial of his motion to dismiss the charges against him. Robert “Ryan” Corbin is accused of of inappropriate behavior with a 16-year-old student.

Police had previously interviewed both the student and Corbin and they both allegedly admitted to having conversations with each other. Inappropriate Facebook messages were sent, and conversations were also held via telephone and texting.

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Knox Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council will meet in regular session tonight.

The council members are expected to approve the second reading of ordinance #1138 which establishes the rental property registration and inspection fund. The council will also consider a transfer of funds.

The city attorney will report on any possible litigation, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston will have a report and other items of consideration will also be presented.

The Knox City Council will meet at 7 p.m. CT tonight at the Knox City Hall.

Unsung Hero Award Winner Chosen

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers
A winner of the Unsung Hero/Random Act of Kindness Award has been chosen, but we won’t know who it is until Knox Mayor Rick Chambers has a chance to thank that person in a special ceremony in the Mayor’s office at Knox City Hall.

That ceremony has not yet been scheduled but it will be announced as time gets closer.

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Christmas Cantata Rehearsals to Begin Sept. 22

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Community Choir will be preparing for the annual Christmas Cantata on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. CT at the Knox United Methodist Church.

Any interested vocalists are encouraged to attend this call-out for this year’s performances. The choir grows more and more every year and the music blend keeps getting better and better.

This year’s Cantata will perform on Sunday, Dec. 8.

For more information, call the Knox United Methodist Church at (574) 772-4228 or (574) 772-3609.

Knox School Board Recognizes Retired Staff

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The Knox Community School Board honored 12 teachers who have retired from the corporation in the past two years.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa said it was great to give those former employees the recognition they deserve.

“We had eight teachers, a food service director, one of our school nurses, one of the teacher’s aides and a parent involvement coordinator that had all retired over the last two years,” explained Gappa. “Seven of those people were able to make the meeting and receive a commemorative clock. The others who weren’t able to be here – we will get the clocks sent to them. We wanted to honor those people for all the years of service and the support that they’ve given to the Knox Community Schools.”

Knox Community School Board Discusses School Messenger

Posted on Author WKVI
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members received an update on School Messenger during their meeting Monday night.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa said anyone can sign up to receive emails, text messages or automated calls from the system. School Messenger is the system the corporation uses to alert patrons about school delays, a closure or any emergency situation that may arise.

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Knox Man Arrested on Sexual Misconduct Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A Knox man was arrested by Indiana State Police officers Tuesday morning after an investigation into an alleged sexual misconduct incident.

Indiana State Police Detective Chris Campione received information in August concerning a sexual misconduct incident involving a 15-year-old girl.

State detectives were able to determine that the sexual misconduct took place in July and the actions continued until police were notified on Aug. 6. The juvenile was living in Michigan City when the alleged misconduct occurred.

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Knox Street Supt. Gives Update to Knox Board of Public Works

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Board of Public Works
Knox Board of Public Works

Knox Street Department Superintendent Jeff Borg told the Knox Board of Public Works last week that residents have been utilizing the compost pile and the recycling bin.

Borg stated that 54 truckloads of brush have been hauled from the area that sits across the street from the Knox City Police Department. He doesn’t know what has contributed in the influx of brush other than residents have been out cleaning yards. The rainy spring led to early and healthy growth of grass and brush this year.

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Knox Community School Board Has Full Agenda Tonight

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Knox Community School Board members will have a few important items to talk about during their meeting tonight.

Among the usual agenda items such as the Spotlight on Success and personnel items, the board members are expected to receive an update on the enrollment, discuss the new athletic conference and School Messenger.

The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. CT in the Administrative Office in the Palmer Wing of the Knox Community Elementary School.

Knox Mayor Updates Council on Various Projects

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers gave the city council an update on a few things he has been working on for the city, including housing and demolition grants. Chambers explained the council had previously authorized him in July to seek a housing grant for $195,500, and the city was awarded the grant last week. Since the council has already approved the city’s matching funds for the grant, Chambers said he needed their approval at the meeting to sign the official resolution.

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Knox Board of Public Works Discusses Unsafe Structures

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Board of Public Works
Knox Board of Public Works

Steve Dodge came before the Knox Board of Public Works Wednesday morning to advise the board of an unsafe structure.

The property in question is at 409 and 411 W. Lewis Drive in the Parkview Heights area. The duplex is on two lots with two property owners. One side of the building on the property is up-to-date on taxes and the other side was sold in a tax sale.

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City of Knox Must Purchase 2014 Police Cruiser; Grant Still Applies

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The city of Knox has encountered a minor hiccup in their purchase of a new squad car to replace a police vehicle that had been totaled after striking a deer. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston told the city council this week that the city is no longer able to purchase 2013 model year vehicles and must look into purchasing a 2014 model, which he said will come out to roughly $300 more.

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Knox Council Creates Rental Fee Inspection Fund

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council this week approved a motion creating a fund to be used for rental property inspection fees, a necessary step in order for the city to collect those fees, according to Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston. He explained that the Indiana Code regarding rental property inspection fees was recently changed, and now the money must go into a special non-reverting fund. Because this fund did not yet exist in the city’s budget, Houston said the council must pass a motion to create that fund in order to charge the fees.

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Walorski, Attorney General’s Office Hold Fraud, Identity Theft Workshop in Knox

Posted on Author WKVI

Congresswoman Jackie Walorski spoke with constituents regarding fraud yesterday.
Congresswoman Jackie Walorski spoke with constituents regarding fraud yesterday.
In an effort to update seniors on the latest scams and methods to protect their personal information from identity theft, Congresswoman Jackie Walorski and Linda Gurgel, outreach services specialist for the Indiana Office of the Attorney General, hosted a fraud prevention workshop at Community Services of Starke County. The event, held as part of a district-wide tour to meet with senior groups and constituents in all 10 counties of the Second District, included presentations by Walorski and Gurgel on the most effective ways to protect oneself against fraud and identity theft.

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Knox Council Holds Public Budget Hearing

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox City Council last night held a public hearing during their regularly scheduled meeting to discuss the 2014 budget. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explained to the board that the city expects to see an increase in the overall budget of just under 3 percent; however, he said the city will likely have to make some cuts in order to capture the maximum amount of taxes the city has coming to it, but overall, the budget is in pretty good shape.

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Judge Rules in Roy Bell Bench Trial

Posted on Author WKVI
Roy Bell
Roy Bell

A judge in Fulton County has ruled in the bench trial of a murder defendant accused of brutally slaying an elderly Knox woman. Roy Bell is guilty of murder, robbery and criminal confinement. Fulton Superior Court Judge Wayne Steele says the state proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The charges stem from the November 22, 2011 murder of Wilma Upsall at her daughter’s home near Leiters Ford. Court documents indicate Bell admitted breaking into the home, finding her sitting on the couch in her robe and house slippers and tying her to a chair with a telephone cord while he and two friends ransacked the residence. They decided to kill Upsall because they were afraid she would be able to identify them. Upsall’s daughter found her slumped over dead in a chair when she came home. Bell was arrested two days later at a home in Monterey. The judge set Bell’s sentencing for Monday, Sept. 16 at 1:15 p.m. Eastern. He faces the possibility of life in prison without parole. WKVI’s Anita Goodan was in court for today’s proceedings and will have a complete wrap-up later this afternoon, on the air and online at WKVI.com.