The Knox City Council will be holding a public hearing tonight in regards to re-establishing the cumulative capital development fund for the city. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explained that the council would like to re-establish that fund because over time the levy – that is, the amount of money raised from taxes – goes up, while the percentage of funds going toward the cumulative capital fund goes down.
Voters who reside within the Knox Community School Corporation limits can see for themselves the problems with the elementary school’s 60-year-old Palmer wing during an open house and tour this afternoon at 4 p.m. It’s sponsored by the “Whatever It Takes” Committee, who claims the original school lacks the electrical infrastructure necessary to support today’s high-tech classrooms, the heating and air conditioning systems are over-taxed, and foundation problems are causing cracks in the floor. Additionally, they say the kitchen is too cramped for cafeteria staff to prepare enough food for the entire building.
The facility, located in the back of Wythogan Park and near the Yellow River, is prepared for any flooding that may occur. Several years ago, the treatment facility suffered issues from a high Yellow River when there was backflow of water into the equipment. Residents were unable to use restrooms facilities until the workers could get the issue under control. Workers have since revamped the area so backflow will not be an issue.
Wastewater Superintendent Kelly Clemons said the river is expected to reach 10.1 feet and flood stage in Knox is about 10 feet. The river should fall below flood stage around 8 p.m. this evening.
The Knox Community School Corporation will once again offer breakfast and lunch to area youngsters this summer. The Summer Feeding Program starts on Monday, June 3 and continues through Thursday, July 25. All meals will be served in the Knox High School cafeteria. Breakfast will be available from 7:15 until 8:15 each weekday morning. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. until noon. Free meals will be available to children ages 18 and under and to persons over age 18 who are enrolled in a state-approved educational program for the mentally or physically disabled. The program is funded through a federal grant. If you would like more information, call Knox Community School Corporation Director of Food Services Sandra Landry at (574) 772-1632.
On Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m., Emlee H. Smith, Esq. from CFE Enforcement Division of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will discuss the resources available when researching investment decisions. You will learn how to understand the risks, knowing the fees and avoiding fraud. Later that day, Smith will include ten key messages every investor should know from taking control of your finances, setting goals, educating yourself about the market place and potential risks and fraud.
Knox Elementary School has been evacuated after a construction crew at the Henry F. Schricker Public Library struck a gas main. Knox Superintendent A.J. Gappa says students at the elementary school have been moved to other facilities. Students in grades kindergarten, 1 and 2 are at the high school, while students in grades 3, 4 and 5 are at the middle school. Gappa stresses the school was evacuated as a precautionary measure and says he will advise parents as to student pickup arrangements by the end of the day. The Starke County Public Library Henry F. Schricker branch is also closed as a result of the gas main break.
Flooding is likely in the WKVI listening area due to the recent heavy rainfall. The National Weather Services has issued a flood warning for the Tippecanoe River in Ora and above Winamac and for the Yellow River at Knox and Plymouth. The most immediate concern is the Tippy in the Monterey area, which is approaching the flood stage of 12 feet. It’s expected to rise above that stage tonight and crest at 13 feet around 8 a.m. EDT Sunday. At 13 feet the river begins to affect streets and homes in downtown Monterey. This crest compares to the May 18, 2009 flood when the Tippecanoe crested at 13.3 feet. Continue reading
Sunday’s inaugural Relay for Life Pageant, sponsored by DeMotte State Bank, drew an astounding 33 contestants, ranging in age from 1 to 18.
Coordinator Candice Miller hopes to raise $1,500 for cancer research through a combination of entry fees, ticket and concession sales and other donations. Miller says many of the contestants are taking part because proceeds benefit cancer research. That’s also why the DeMotte State Bank is fielding a team. Miller is a cancer survivor, and says many members of the bank’s close-knit staff have been touched by the disease.
Knox Community High School senior and WKVI programming intern Makayla Dillard is one of six Indiana Broadcasters Association Scholarship winners chosen from around the state from a field of 140 applicants. She plans to major in telecommunications at Ball State University.
“I want to be an on-air personality. My ultimate goal would be to be like Ellen DeGeneres and have a talk show, or maybe like Howard Stern, but not as vulgar,” she says.
It was all about chocolate yesterday at the Henry F. Schricker Public Library in Knox. Savannah Gohr, of Dove Chocolatiers, presented the program where she explained the history of chocolate.
“It actually started with the Mayans,” Gohr explained. “They were the ones that harvested and roasted the cacao seeds. They ground the seeds into a paste and mixed it with water to create the first chocolate drink and it sort of went from there.”
A steady flow of voters have already cast ballots in the upcoming May 7 special election.
Absentee voting started last week at the Starke County Courthouse for the May 7 question involving whether taxes should be raised in order to fund construction at Knox Elementary School. As of Monday morning, 66 people have voted in person, according to officials with the Starke County Clerk’s office. Many of those voters are older and don’t want to worry about getting out on Election Day, but you don’t need any special reason to cast an early ballot. Absentee voting continues each weekday at the courthouse through noon on Monday, May 6.
An American Red Cross Lifeguarding Certification course will be taught at Knox High School this summer.
Amy Nimetz will be offering two sessions: June 3-7 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and June 10-14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those sessions will be conducted at the Knox High School pool.
Enjoy 50 years of trick hoops and alley oops when the legendary Harlem Wizards return to Harold Weinberg Gymnasium to take on The Tribe on Friday, April 26.
The deadline is tomorrow for applications for the owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program in the city of Knox.
Applications are available in the Knox city clerk-treasurer’s office. Six to 10 homeowners will be assisted in this program with funding from the Indiana Department of Housing and Community Development. A public hearing on the matter is set for Monday, April 22 at 2 p.m. CT at Knox City Hall.
The program is designed to help elderly, disabled, low-income and single parents with children in the home receive funding to help improve safety conditions at their place of residence. These improvements may include a new furnace, roofing, plumbing, electrical, windows, and other qualified accessibility and safety issues. The home must be structurally sound. Those who apply for this program must meet certain criteria.
Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department found heroin, drug paraphernalia and syringes while serving a search warrant at a home on Long Lane Drive this morning following a six-month-long narcotics investigation. Frank Esparza, Jr. faces charges of dealing heroin, possession of heroin, possession of syringes and maintaining a common nuisance. Maria Esparza was booked on a charge of maintaining a common nuisance, as was Tamara Esparza. She’s also charged with neglect of a dependent. A fourth suspect, Anthony Esparza, faces charges of maintaining a common nuisance, neglect of a dependent and possession of a syringe.
The Junior Achievement Bowl-a-Thon is tonight at Bowlaway Lanes in Knox.
Several teams have signed up to have some fun and raise money for the students of Starke County. Junior Achievement reaches kids in grades two through 12 and teaches them about financial lteracy. Volunteers and business people from the community teach those classes.
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers this week gave the city council updates on several projects currently in the works for the city, including the lift station and Phoenix House projects.
Chambers said the sewer project is moving along after the council at their previous meeting approved an additional appropriation of $140,000 for the project. Now, he said six bid packets have been picked up from the city and they’re waiting to hear back from bidders for the project, which entails installing a new lift station near the South Side Fire Station. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston said the lift station is a necessity for the city to allow for present and future growth in the area as the current system is antiquated and no longer suit’s the city’s needs.
Voters in California, Center and Washington Townships can get a firsthand look at what advocates say are long overdue and necessary repairs to the Palmer wing at Knox Elementary School this evening. The Whatever it Takes Committee is hosting another open house at the school from 5 until 6 p.m. Problems with the 60-year-old original structure include an antiquated heating and cooling system, a cramped cafeteria that is insufficient to prepare food for the entire student population and a host of other problems. The work will only be done if voters agree to support a property tax during a May 7th special election, for which absentee voting is under way at the Starke County Courthouse. Click https://gateway.ifionline.org/CalculatorsDLGF/RefCalculator.aspx to determine how much your property taxes will go up should the referendum pass.
