UV Bulb Purchase Approved by Knox BOW

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

The Knox Board of Public Works approved an expenditure of $5,528 for the Waste Water Treatment Facility.

Superintendent Kelly Clemons explained that the UV lights at the plant have run about 13,395 hours and the warranty on the lights is good for 20,000 hours. She is looking to buy bulbs to have on hand when those lights need to be replaced.

April 1 is the start of the disinfecting season and the UV lights help kill certain bacteria that is present during the sanitation process. The lights are needed in order to be in compliance with standards set forth by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

The Board of Works approved the purchase of 16 bulbs at $333 apiece, plus shipping and handling, for a total cost of $5,528. When the new bulbs are installed, the company will come to Knox and pick up the old bulbs for recycling purposes.

Knox City Police Dept. Reimbursed for Wrecked Cruiser; Still Short One Vehicle

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Police Department is currently down one police cruiser after an officer struck a deer and totaled the vehicle. Fortunately, Mayor Rick Chambers told the city council this week that the insurance company totaled the vehicle and reimbursed the city $6900 for the 2007 Crown Victoria, but Chambers said that reimbursement isn’t quite enough to cover the cost of a new vehicle.

Continue reading →

Knox Street Department Prepares for Spring

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Knox Street Department superintendent told the Knox Board of Public Works Wednesday morning that he hopes the winter season is over as he and his employees are springing into the next season.

Jeff Borg said the staff will be doing spring cleaning next week which includes leaf pick-up. They will pick up leaves if they are placed in the street along the curb and not in the alley. Brush and limbs will be picked up each Thursday.

Continue reading →

Knox Council Agrees Toll Brothers is in Compliance With Tax Abatement

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council this week reviewed the efforts made by Toll Brothers in keeping with their tax abatement and approved a motion stating that the company is in substantial compliance or has made reasonable effort to keep with the terms of the abatement. Charlie Weaver, the executive director of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, and Toll Brothers owner Brian Trapp approached the council requesting the compliance statement.

Continue reading →

Knox Community School Board Approves Purchase of Mini-Bus

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The Knox Community School Board approved the purchase of a mini-bus that came from the recommendation of the transportation director.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa said a 14-passenger mini-bus will be purchased.

“This bus will be wheelchair-equipped,” explained Gappa. “The reason we wanted to move now was because the price of mini-buses will increase next month so we did beat the price increase. The recommendation was for a Collins mini-bus.”

The bus will be delivered this summer.

March Madness Snowstorm Socks Kankakee Valley

Posted on Author WKVI

It’s a whole different kind of March Madness across the Kankakee Valley this morning. Roads are slick and snow-covered after a late season overnight snowstorm. This is making for hazardous travel. If you do have to be out, allow yourself plenty of time to reach your destination, and remember, ice and snow, take it slow. Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, brake early and accelerate slowly. If you see a snow plow, stay back and give it plenty of room to operate. Don’t tailgate or try to pass a plow truck, as the roadway will be clearer behind the plow than in front of it.

You can check road conditions anywhere in the state by visiting www.trafficwise.in.gov or by dialing toll-free 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) for updated Indiana travel information, including road conditions, road closures, construction information and other traffic alerts.

Snow should taper off into flurries by midday, but additional snowfall is expected tonight and into tomorrow before temperatures warm up into the 40s by the middle of the week. Fortunately the snow will not be a factor for schools today, as most school systems within the WKVI listening area are on spring break this week. However, if we receive word of any other weather-related closings or delays we will pass it along on the closings and delays page at www.wkvi.com as well as on the air and on our Facebook page.

 

Preschool Classes to begin April 2 at Knox Elementary School

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

Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa brought the school board up to speed on the progress of the preschool class that will begin April 2.

“We have 23 students that have been tested and found to be eligible,” stated Gappa. “We have 12 signed up for the morning session and 11 in the afternoon session. We are providing transportation for the morning session. We will reevaluate that later to see if that could be added also for the afternoon session.”

New furniture will be installed this week during spring break.

“Supplies have been ordered and everybody’s been positive so far. The kids seem eager to go to school and the parents are all behind it 100 percent,” Gappa explained.

Knox Community School Board Approves 2013-2014 School Calendar

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The Knox Community School Board approved the 2013-2014 school calendar during their recent meeting. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said it is similar to this year’s calendar.

“Teachers will return Aug. 12 and students will return on Aug. 13 which is a Tuesday,” explained Gappa. “The last day of school, if everything goes according to plan, would be May 29 with the records day on May 30. Commencement would be Friday, June 6, 2014. There would be two weeks off at Christmastime and three days off for Thanksgiving break. Good Friday next year will fall on April 18 so that is not part of spring break. We also have three contingency days built into the calendar for snow days.”

Continue reading →

Open House Scheduled For Knox Elementary School Palmer Wing

Posted on Author WKVI

An open house will be held Tuesday, April 2 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the Palmer Wing of the Knox Elementary School so you can tour the portion of the building that is up for a proposed construction project.

The construction of the Palmer Wing is in the fate of the voters of the Knox Community School District on May 7 where a yes or no majority vote determines the future of that portion of the building.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the open house is sponsored by the “Whatever it Takes Committee” who supports the project. The event will be held in the all-purpose room in the elementary school.

“That’s kind of the heart of the old building,” explained Gappa. “It’s connected to the affected areas including the kitchen and the boiler rooms. Tours will be offered to anybody who hasn’t been through the building.”

The open house is intended to be an informational meeting to address current building concerns, overview of the project and the impact on community members.

IU Health Starke Hospital Names Interim President

Posted on Author WKVI

 

IU Health Starke Hospital Interim President Jared Beasley
IU Health Starke Hospital Interim President Jared Beasley

IU Health Starke Hospital has named a new interim president. Jared Beasley will take over next month for standing President David Hyatt, who is transferring to a new position at Jay County Hospital in Portland, Ind. Beasley has served as vice president of clinical and diagnostic services at IU Health LaPorte Hospital since last June. He previously worked as the emergency department director at partner IU Health Goshen Hospital for six years. Beasley earned a bachelor of science in nursing from Goshen College, a bachelor of science in economics and business administration from Manchester College and a master in business administration from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Continue reading →

Melody Drive-In Theater Opens This Weekend

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Grab some buddies and a few blankets; the Melody Drive-In Theater is set to open Friday, March 22! Drive-In Owner Fred Heise was in WKVI for an interview with morning host Tom Berg, and Heise explained that the theater will be opening for the season on Friday with their all-new digital equipment.

“Set your dates for this Friday, we are going to be open this Friday, and we’re going to be displaying our brand-new, all-new digital format – beautiful picture, so we’re all really looking forward to it,” Heise said.

Continue reading →

Knox City Council Receives Updates on SCEDF Projects

Posted on Author WKVI

Charles Weaver
Charles Weaver
The Knox City Council this week received an update on the projects being undertaken by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation from CharlesWeaver and Bill Sonnemaker. Weaver explained that the County Road 300 East rebuild project is moving along smoothly, and they are just about finished on land purchases.

Weaver explained that it doesn’t appear that the project will require any imminent domain acquirements, and they are now on track for a Feb. 14 project bid letting. Hopefully, Weaver said, this project will be done during the construction season in 2014.

Continue reading →

Knox City Police Squad Car Wrecked; Insurance Reimbursement Pending

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A sobriety checkpoint held at Talmer and Schricker avenues in North Judson Friday night didn’t lead to any arrests, but it did end badly for one Knox police officer when he struck a deer and totaled his squad car. Knox Mayor Rick Chambers told the city council at their meeting this week that the accident totaled the 1997 Crown Victoria squad car, which he said had around 100,000 miles on it at the time of the accident.

Continue reading →

Linda Berndt Steps Down from SCEDF Board After 17 Years

Posted on Author WKVI

SCEDF Board President Bill Sonnemaker presented Linda Berndt with a plaque for her years of service to the board.
SCEDF Board President Bill Sonnemaker presented Linda Berndt with a plaque for her years of service to the board.
After 17 years of dedicated service on the Starke County Economic Development Foundation Board, Linda Berndt has stepped down to allow someone else to take her place. Berndt said it was an honor and a privilege to be a part of a board with so many like-minded intelligent people, but because of her responsibilities on other boards and her work, she felt she could no longer give the board 100 percent of her focus and thought it was time to let someone else have the opportunity.

Continue reading →

Local National Day of Prayer Scheduled for May 2

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The local National Day of Prayer event sponsored by the city of Knox will be on May 2 at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox.

One of the committee members, Dixie Lockridge, said Ed Hasnerl will be the guest speaker.

“The theme this year throughout the nation is Honoring Our Heroes. Who better to do that than our Historian Ed Hasnerl? There will be other clergy members who will be involved as well as our Master of Ceremonies who will be Charlie Hasnerl,” stated Lockridge.

Continue reading →

Knox School Board Spotlights “I Love to Read” Challenge

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The Knox Elementary School recently won WSBT’s I Love to Read challenge and Superintendent A.J. Gappa said that was recognized by the school board Monday night.

“Mr. Ryan Marsh, a second grade teacher, and two of his students came to the board meeting and talked about the success they’re having with reading incentives that are going on in Mr. Marsh’s class,” explained Gappa. “A clip was played from the newscast that afternoon from WSBT that showed all of the elementary students in the gym being read to by one of their newscasters. They also watched a follow up with some of the students in the office talking with the WSBT personnel.”

Some of the board members had not seen the clip and they enjoyed the review the students gave during the meeting.

Knox Percussion, Winter Guard Having Good Seasons

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox Band Director Craig Phipps
Knox Band Director Craig Phipps
The Knox Winter Percussion, which involves more than 25 students, has been very successful this season. Director Craige Phipps notes they’re ending their regular season soon.

“They’ve gotten a gold rating at every competition they’ve gone to and this weekend they’re going to be in Warsaw,” explained Phipps. “Because of the class we’re in with this group, they don’t have a first, second or third place or a state finals per se. What they get is they actually get division ratings. I can tell you that they’ve been ranking extremely high, but I can’t tell you the exact placements. They’ve been doing an outstanding job.”

Continue reading →